Student film contest, Tech Tonic Expo part of digital media event April 11

A student film contest, the annual Tech Tonic Technology Expo, and a presentation from digital media guru Matthew Dunn, co-founder of Say It Visually, highlight Western Washington University’s forthcoming event, “Digital Media: The Future is N.O.W.” on April 11 on the Western campus.

Dunn’s presentation will be at 4 p.m. on the PAC Mainstage, and is free and open to the public.

Dunn’s company, Say It Visually!, explains complex topics with compelling visual stories. Launched in 2008, the company is already the world’s largest creator of private-label explanatory media. Dunn will lead a presentation and discussion on visual literacy for the new millennium.

Tech Tonic, Western’s annual technology expo featuring booths and presentations concerning the implications of the advancement of technology, will be held at the PAC lobby from 1- 4 p.m., and is also free and open to the public. Vendors and groups scheduled to attend include Apple (which will be discussing its new iBook authoring tool), the BAIRS student robotic club, the formula SAE group from Western’s Vehicle Research Institute, and the Bellingham Linux User’s Group.

Also included in the presentation will be viewings and announcements of the winners in the two categories of Western’s N.O.W. Films 2012 (“N.O.W.” stands for New. Original. Western.) student film contest.

The two categories in the contest are an Open category for a short film (three minutes or less) on any subject; and the second category, titled “My University, My Western,” will challenge filmmakers to complete a project of three minutes or less in 101 hours detailing why Western is special to them. Cash prizes for the Open category are $250 for the People’s Choice (to be chosen at the Matthew Dunn presentation on April 11) and $250 for the Judge’s Choice; cash prizes for the My University, My Western category are $750 for first place, $500 for second place, and $250 for third place.

The N.O.W. Films 2012 contest is only open to current Western students, and all teams must enter by Friday, March 23 by signing up in person at the Student Technology Center or by completing an online form.

For more information on “Digital Media: The Future is N.O.W,” contact Western’s Office of University Communications at (360) 650-3350.