CFPTA Conference - Observations

Ottawa was cold but the Westin hotel, where the Prime Time conference was held, had a nice artsy fire thingy in their freezing lobby.

However, some architectural genius felt that the fire should not actually warm said lobby and had the flames surrounded by thick glass least some hotel patron fall headlong into the flames and set their bouffant alight. The only way one could feel any actual heat was if you pressed your hands against the glass for a minute or two. I know, I tried. Pathetic.

Overall the conference was 'interesting'. The TV folks talked policy mostly which was interesting, there were a few heated debates, the lunch time speakers fought to be heard over the din of people talking with their mouths full, and anything to do with 'new media' (I love that they still call it that) was pushed to the last day (Friday). I mean if they really wanted to discuss the integrated media industry it would have been on the first day so everyone could have a good wag about it over next three days.

People for the most part, including yours truly, just looked old. There were no laptops open on tables with groups of people gathered around with hands flailing discussing in conversation like at the Next Media or ICE conferences, no stand up coffee tables to put a laptop or PDA on, no free wifi, no daily blog with notes and updates, and no cool Canadian technology or start ups (which there are many). I guess all the young film and TV producers were at home uploading their content to Youtube Canada and starting a new association called CIMPA (Canadian Integrated Media Producers Association).