Xavi Macias, Zane Scheuerlein and Mindy Faber of Open Youth Networks are off this week to present two workshops at the Allied Media Conference.

Using Google Maps to Visualize the Network of Youth Organizations at the AMC

will help youth build a national Google map of youth media activists.

The Culture of Video Remix: Tools and Approaches for the Media Educator

participants will learn the various tools, apps and methods for creating video remixes that critically examine mass media messages. Using bit torrent, audio hijack, and video download, conversion and compression tools - they will grab several video files off the web and learn about fair use provisions of copyright law as they apply to the work of educators and student remixers.

OYN Director, Mindy Faber and Youth Leader, Xavi Macias, Jr. participated on three panels at “Remix/ Mashup 2009: The Future of Creative Production and Ownership” held March 12-13th in Columbus, Ohio. Presented by the Moritz College of Law and the Wexner Center for the Arts at The Ohio State University, the symposium explored the implications of mashup and remix in the world of Web 2.0.

Recent technological developments have created a wave of user-generated content in which pre-existing sounds and images are appropriated, reshaped, and shared with unprecedented ease. This series of panel discussions and interviews with artists, filmmakers, technology experts, and legal scholars  considered intellectual property questions that emerge when attempting to navigate and shape this thorny landscape.

DJ Spooky, Wexner Center Present Danger Mouse Mashup of Jay Z’s Grey Album with The Beatles

Along with Xavi Macias and Mindy Faber of OYN, speakers included (abbreviated): mash-up artist Paul Miller (aka DJ Spooky), social media expert JD Lasica, video remix artist Jonathan McIntosh, singer-songwriter Terra Naomi, documentary filmmaker Gordon Quinn, and Ben Relles, creator of “Obama Girl.”

Legal experts included: Professor Pamela Samuelson (Boalt Hall), Professor Rebecca Tushnet (Georgetown Law Center), Professor Peter Shane (Moritz College of Law), Professor Ed Lee (Moritz College of Law), Gillian Lusins (NBC Universal), Dan Cooper (Fox Interactive), and Darrell Miller (Mason Miller LLP).

Mindy and Xavi also led a three hour hands on inter-generational workshop for high school students and teachers in Remix tools at the Wexner Center. Participants learned tools such as Download Helper, Vixy, Tube Tv, Audio Hijack, Mpeg Streamclip, Kaltura, United Streaming and Remix America. Using an exquisite corpse production process, the teens and teachers created this remix.

Our own youth member, Martin Macias, Jr. just published an article called Political Remix Video - The New Activism inspired by his participation in our Fair Use Remix Institute. Read the article here.

Here is an excerpt from his piece:

Remix has always been part of history. Poets, artists, and writers have “recycled” bits and pieces from past history to create new culture.  Remix, when used creatively, can be a very powerful weapon. It can challenge corporate media and break the stereotypical molds that advertisements create for youth. But most importantly, remix is one way to take part, fully, in this democracy. This country can’t function as it was meant to if there are no voices that can speak out against injustices.

Xavi - as we like to call him - also just interviewed William Ayers on video. Look for this video on our blog soon.

This short remix by Keith Gordon, member of our 2008 Fair Use Remix Institute combines source footage from corporate branding with the movie trailer of the Transformers to make a critical commentary on corporate invasion.