The Suzhou Lab was such a great experience! There really is something special about doing these cross-cultural events that are based on personal exchanges – they have a real magic about them, and leave permanently positive impressions and relationships.
What more can I say than quote Zareh Nalbandian, the co-Founder and CEO of Animal Logic who said it “was the best networking event I’ve ever attended”, and the Director of Kung Fu Panda, the amazing John Stevenson, who said he would attend “any XML, anytime, anywhere”. We’ll put him to the test on that very shortly!
[Pic: BH, Zareh, John S., and ME]
The Lab as a great success for ourselves as well. So many real opportunities are now emerging in China: we have 2 more Lab proposals under review; Creative Industries Roadmap consulting proposals; an online interactive consultation platform; a series of Masterclasses; an Outsourcing Roadshow; and on it goes.
XML now has 8 full-time people in China, in three cities – and that number will keep going up, imminently!
We also just had the pleasure of attending the Malaysian Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC) 2-day think-tank to develop Industry – Academia liaison strategies. It was a fascinating insight into the state of the Malaysian animation and games industries, and the situations that need to be addressed which are principally, like everywhere else, 1) skills development and 2) market opportunities.
After a few years re-grouping and re-thinking after the Currency Crisis of the late 90's, it seems to me that the people at MDeC are engineering something a renaissance of the days when they really were forging ahead of just about everyone.
Stand-by for a significant announcement from MDeC and XML! And maybe more than one.
[Pic: The MDeC Industry-Academia Advisory Board]
And just arrived in Auckland for the Lab here next week – the line-up of people is about as exemplary of what we are trying to achieve with XML as we have ever done. We have the full 16 Projects already accepted, and less than dozen tickets left before it's Sold Out.
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