CREATIVE LAB HAWAII ANNOUNCES THE START OF ITS 2018 PROGRAM

HONOLULU – The state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism’s (DBEDT) Creative Industries Division (CID) announces its 2018 Creative Lab Hawaii (CLH) Media Programs in Screenwriting, Producing, Web Series and Ideation, which are expanding to Kauai, Maui and Hawaii islands. The application submission period is now open and closes on April 15, 2018, 4:30 p.m. HST.

Founded in 2012, CLH is a media, music and fashion design accelerator that is designed to increase export, business opportunities, attract investment and build the state’s creative entrepreneurial ecosystem. This year, CLH program will take place on the neighboring islands, expanding the network and growing business opportunities.

“Creative Lab Hawaii’s growing network delivers focused business development opportunities to our creative community,” said DBEDT Director Luis P. Salaveria. “We are seeing great success stories come out of our unique programs, which provide progressive mentoring to prepare individuals with the skills and tools necessary to enter the year-long accelerator program.”

“With the recent successes of screenwriters from CLH like Amy Bircher from Hawaii island, having their work produced for television cable networks like Lifetime, and many others, we are seeing more opportunities for the fellows in our various CLH programs,” explained Georja Skinner, chief officer, DBEDT’s Creative Industries Division and founder of CLH. “The power of the creative workforce has increased around the world, and we are making sure our creative entrepreneurs have the skills, qualifications and network needed to succeed in today’s global economy.”

Below are the confirmed dates for CLH programs in 2018. Program Executive Director, Michael Palmieri will be conducting a series of information sessions for interested entrepreneurs to learn more in-depth details about the CLH Immersives and Weekend Ideation programs.

2018 Creative Lab Hawaii Media Programs:

Web-Series Immersive (Maui – May 28 to June 1, 2018) – The CLH Web-Series Immersive program is a track for content creators whose scripts or shows primary distribution outlet is the Internet. From originally scripted content to personality driven short form series, Web Immersive participants are coached in writing, producing, marketing, and new avenues of monetization of their content for web and mobile platforms.

Writers Immersive (Kauai – June 4 to June 8, 2018) – The Writers Immersive is a track for writers in all genres to develop new content for motion pictures and television. In partnership with the Diversity Program of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) West, the Writers Immersive is designed to empower writers to take their stories and craft to the next level via five-days of intensive coaching on script writing and taking projects to market, followed by a year-long coaching program that supports participants in executing their material via one-on-one and small group coaching. In addition, three of the most promising participants will be selected by the coaches to participate in networking opportunities with motion picture and television industry leaders in Los Angeles.

Producers Immersive (Kauai – June 11 to June 15, 2018) – In partnership with industry leaders such as members of the Producers Guild of America (PGA), the Producers Immersive is a track for producers in all genres to develop new content for motion pictures and television in traditional and new emerging formats. The Producers Immersive is similar to the Writers Immersive in structure with emphasis on packaging, marketing and distribution opportunities in content development/export. As with the Screenwriters Immersive, selected finalists are flown to Los Angeles, where they are exposed to the business of producing.

Weekend Ideation Program in Transmedia (June 16 to June 17, 2018 – Island of Hawaii – Kona) – The CLH Transmedia Ideation Weekend is designed for individuals who have an idea, concept, a fully developed story, script or other content (a book, a play, a pitch, etc.) who are interested in taking next steps in the development of their intellectual property into content and getting their property developed, produced, sold or distributed across multiple platforms (i.e., motion pictures, television, games, web-series, publishing, etc.). The CLH weekend is an intensive, curated, two-day bootcamp with industry leaders designed for 30 creative entrepreneurs who are dedicated to furthering their craft.

Deadline for Submissions for CLH Media Programs — April 15, 2018:

CLH is now taking submissions for our media programs. We highly recommend individuals first participate in an information session before requesting the application which they obtain by writing to our Executive Director, Michael Palmieri, at [email protected]. Submissions are due by 4:30 p.m. HST, on April 15, 2018. Participants selected by a panel of media industry leaders will be announced by May 1, 2018. The programs are offered free to a limited number of qualified applicants per program.

Upcoming Creative Lab Hawaii Information Sessions:

Join us to learn about Creative Lab Hawaii’s programs coming in 2018. The event is open to all creative entrepreneurs in the field of screenwriting (television, motion pictures, web, animation), producers (television, motion pictures, web, animation, and games), music and fashion. The session will be using the Zoom webplatflorm to conduct the meeting. For more info on this platform, please visit: www.zoom.us Individuals who are participating will receive a link to the meeting 48 hours prior to the session. Speakers include: Michael Andres Palmieri, Executive Director, Creative Lab Hawaii Want to find out more about our program, it’s partners, fellows and successes? Visit www.creativelab.hawaii.gov. Questions? Write us at: [email protected].

Mar. 14, 2018, at 6 p.m., registration link: www.eventbrite.com/e/creative-lab-hawaii-information-session-on-2018-programs-tickets-41098276050?aff=es2

Mar. 21, 2018, at 6 p.m., registration link: www.eventbrite.com/e/creative-lab-hawaii-information-session-on-2018-programs-tickets-42432099552?aff=erellivmlt

Mar. 28, 2018, at 6 p.m., registration link: www.eventbrite.com/e/creative-lab-hawaii-information-session-on-2018-programs-tickets-42432099552?aff=erellivmlt

About Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT)
DBEDT is Hawaii’s resource center for economic and statistical data, business development opportunities, energy and conservation information, and foreign trade advantages. DBEDT’s mission is to achieve a Hawaii economy that embraces innovation and is globally competitive, dynamic and productive, providing opportunities for all Hawaii’s citizens. Through its attached agencies, the department fosters planned community development, creates affordable workforce housing units in high-quality living environments, and promotes innovation sector job growth. Website: dbedt.hawaii.gov

About Creative Industries Division (CID)
CID, a division within DBEDT, is the state’s lead agency dedicated to advocating for and accelerating the growth of Hawaii’s Creative Economy. Through initiatives, program development, and strategic partnerships, the division and its branches implements activities to expand the business development, global export and investment capacity of Hawaii’s arts, culture, music, film, literary, publishing, digital and new media industries. Website: cid.hawaii.gov

About Creative Lab Hawaii (CLH)
CLH was founded in 2012 by the Hawaii State Department of Business, Economic, Development and Tourism (DBEDT)’s Creative Industries Division (CID) to accelerate the growth of Hawaii’s creative entrepreneurs through immersive, hands-on training in broadband/new media, producing, screenwriting, interactive media, music and design/fashion. CLH, a key facet of DBEDT’s HI Growth Initiative, is developing an ecosystem to increase export, attract investment and build the State’s creative entrepreneurial capacity. CLH features three program components: 1) Immersive Programs; 2) Ideation Workshops; and 3) Public Panels. Website: creativelab.hawaii.gov

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Video content and images available on request.

Media Contacts:
Christine Hirasa
Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism
Phone: (808) 587-9006
Mobile: (808) 286-9017
Email: [email protected]
Website: dbedt.hawaii.gov, creativelab.hawaii.gov, cid.hawaii.gov