The Cross Campus tech hub in Santa Monica provided the backdrop on July 15th for the Content Strategy Salon, hosted by Digital Diversity Network and Warner Bros. This evening of conversations and connecting—both live and via social media–was designed to inform, educate and inspire diverse professionals in the digital media sector. The dialogue between the more than 100 attendees extended beyond the walls of Cross Campus with more than 684,000 impressions on Twitter.
The 90-minute program got underway with a fireside chat themed, Creating an Immersive Experience, which featured Guy Primus, co-founder & COO, The Virtual Reality Company (VRC) in conversation with Laurence “Lo” Toney, partner, Comcast Ventures and DDN board director, about virtual reality, immersive experiences and emerging spaces. VRC is a newly launched content studio—helmed by some of Hollywood’s most successful creators—to produce the best VR experiences by combining the best in technology, art and storytelling.
This new role at VRC is also blends Primus’ experience in technology and entertainment. The Georgia Tech and Harvard Business School alum was formerly Chief Operating Officer of Overbrook Entertainment, the film and television production company founded by actor/producer Will Smith and producer James Lassiter. He also co-founded and managed Tentpole Ventures, a seed-stage tech investment fund that focuses on consumer lifestyle companies. And, prior to joining Overbrook, Guy was Director of Digital Media at Starbucks, where he co-created the popular “Pick of the Week” program.
Primus strongly advocates for women and people of color to get in on the ground floor of emerging technologies and entrepreneurial opportunities, and advised those who are starting businesses of their own to “always play for the love of the game.”
In a crowd-pleasing rarity for a digital media event, our panel featured an all-female line-up. Themed M3: Multi-Platform, Multi-Cultural, Multi-Purpose Content this session was moderated by Diana Mogollon, Business Strategy & Development, Warner Bros. Television Group and included: Amy DuBois Barnett, Media Executive/Brand Architect; Robinne Burrell, Founder & Head of Mobile Innovation, Redflight Mobile; Anna Fieler, EVP, Marketing, POPSUGAR Brands; and Evette Vargas, CEO, Writer, Director, Executive Producer & Multiplatform Storyteller, Digital-Reign Productions.
This group of accomplished professionals possesses background and experiences from the realms of linear television content and distribution; publishing and online media; mobile; advertising; e-commerce; and digital content creation. The conversation touched upon shifts in media consumption and demographics; engaging moving audiences; content strategy and monetization; and the definition of success.
There seemed to be a consensus around the need to reevaluate the definition of targeted marketing—particularly as it applies to Millennial audiences. Given that this generation is more bi-racial and multicultural than those that came before them, it gives pause to the notion of segmenting for demographics vs. psychographics.
Other key takeaways from the conversation:
The story is first. The platform is second.
Making consumers happy is a measure of success.
For highlights from the Content Strategy Salon, please click on the link, below.