SXSWorld
Issue link: https://sxsw.uberflip.com/i/81859
Saturday–Sunday, March 12-13 I ATTENDED MY FIRST SXSW 8 YEARS AGO and to this day, I credit the event with kick-starting my career. I haven't skipped a year since. One thing has remained consistent: I always lose my voice. In 2011, I hosted a panel which brought together leaders in local technology for a thoughtful discussion about how technology can improve local communities - "Local Online Communities: Won't You Be My Neighbor." Most importantly, I competed in the Microsoft Bizspark Accelerator Startup Showcase and brought home the award for Best Bootstrapped Startup for NeighborGoods. net. The Accelerator event has had a huge impact on my business by building awareness and attracting partners and investors. It was totally worth losing my voice (again)! - Micki Krimmel (NeighborGoods) Rainn Wilson, director James Gunn and HitFix's Drew McWeeny at the "SUPER-talented" panel. AS A NEWBIE, I WAS A LITTLE OVERWHELMED by the options at SXSW Interactive. However, one event which I stumbled upon turned into a great learning experience: the SXSW Accelerator, which exposed my friends and me to a wide array of pitches from early stage startups of every stripe. What was particularly useful was observing the Q&A between the presenter and the judges, which helped clarify common questions to expect, how to respond on your feet, the facts you should know beforehand, etc. Besides the obvious lessons learned, I was sur- rounded by a room full of industry heavyweights and venture capitalists. It wasn't much harder than simply saying "hello" to the person sitting to my right or left to introduce myself, and the conversation would typically end with an exchange of business cards. Future SXSW attendees should not miss this opportunity! - Aaron Kligman (InsideWord.com) WE WERE BLESSED to have 4 screenings of Room 4 Rent at SXSW, which was paired with a feature called Fuck My Life, directed by Nicolas Lopez. Interestingly, that fi lm had digital ads inserted in post-production, which paid for the entire production. What a clever idea… Howard Gerler, Robert Rodriguez and Greg Rucka present "Of Fanboys and Fidelity: Adapting Comics for Broad Audiences." From left, Matthew Thomas Woolven and Marco Marino accept the Grand Prize from co-host Meredith Molinari at the Independent Propeller Awards. "The 4-Hour Body: Hacking the Human Body" presented by Tim Ferriss. Keynote: Christopher Poole John Mellencamp with directors Kurt and Ian Markus at the premiere of It's About You. Conan O'Brien and director Rodman Flender at the premiere of Conan O'Brien Can't Stop. From left, Ze Frank, Tommy Pallotta, Rob McLaughlin and Caspar Sonnen discuss "Unexpected Non-fi ction Storytelling." 22 SXSW ORLD / M AY 2010 EARL MCGEHEE BRITTANY RYAN JEANNE WILKINSON MONA BROOKS ERIN FOTOS KATIE WARNER MICHAEL PAOLINI MARY SLEDD