**Please post/distribute as is appropriate.** New online resources have just been developed at the University of Alabama for students and educators studying film, television and related media: ScreenChat -- live, interactive, text-based discussions ScreenBoard -- a system for posting messages and information What is ScreenChat? ScreenChat is an environment in which students/educators may exchange views instantaneously. With either a Web browser or Internet Relay Chat (IRC) software, users may gather at this virtual location in order to communicate and network with others. Potential Uses of ScreenChat? 1. Instantaneous exchange of information. One ScreenChat has already been held in which a representative from USC explained how to get into film/TV school and outlined the resources for study at USC. 2. Group projects. Students/educators from all over the world can meet here at low or no cost--sort of like a conference phone call, but without the long distance charges. For example, the members of a journal's editorial board might gather once a month to discuss manuscripts. The manuscripts themselves could even be distributed through ScreenChat. 3. Human "networking." Discussions on various film/TV topics allow individuals to "meet" others who have related interests. Students/educators in isolated areas may jack into the international film/TV community through these discussions. 4. Presentations of works in progress. Say you're working on a paper or a script, but you're afflicted with serious writer's block. You could distribute portions of your paper through ScreenChat and then invite others to discuss it online. 5. Online academic conferences/caucuses. No matter how arcane the topic, you could present findings here and get instantaneous feedback. What is ScreenBoard? ScreenBoard is a virtual bulletin board. Like a cork board in a hallway, users may post messages on this "board" in a variety of subject areas: jobs, pedagogy, history, theory, festivals, production. There's even an area set aside for ScreenChat in which you may post messages about upcoming online discussions. With either a Web browser or special "news reader" software, users may communicate and network with others by leaving messages or responding to previously posted messages. The messages that you post on Screen Board can even contain word processing or graphics files. Potential Uses of ScreenBoard? 1. Conferences. Days or even just hours before a conference, presenters could place their papers on ScreenBoard so that participants could read them before the presentations themselves--or could print them out and bring them to the conference. Or, conference papers could be distributed after the fact. 2. Group projects, human networking, presentations of works in progress, etc. ScreenBoard offers possibilities for group projects and networking that are similar to ScreenChat's, but it is not instantaneous. One posts a message and then hours or days later someone might respond to it. Still, ScreenBoard has the advantage over ScreenChat in that the posted messages are stored for months and may be accessed later. Once a ScreenChat is over, the information disappears (unless someone takes the time to archive a transcript of the chat). The Screen Empire? ScreenChat and ScreenBoard join two other online resources for film and TV study: Screen-L -- an e-mail-based discussion group founded in 1991 ScreenSite -- a Web site founded in 1994 What's the Cost? Nothing. There is no charge to use any of these services. They are sponsored by the Department of Telecommunication and Film, the College of Communication, and the Division of Student Affairs at the University of Alabama. However, the views expressed through these services do not necessarily reflect those of the University of Alabama. Further information is available on ScreenSite: http://www.sa.ua.edu/ScreenSite or contact: Jeremy Butler [log in to unmask] P.O. Box 870152 Telecommunication and Film Department University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0152 On the Technological Cutting Edge? If you already know how to handle IRC clients and Usenet-style news readers, then drop on by: irc.tcf.ua.edu:6667 news.tcf.ua.edu -- Jeremy Butler [log in to unmask] SCREENsite http://www.sa.ua.edu/SCREENsite/ Telecommunication & Film/University of Alabama/Tuscaloosa ---- To signoff SCREEN-L, e-mail [log in to unmask] and put SIGNOFF SCREEN-L in the message. Problems? Contact [log in to unmask]