Getting a Foot in the Digital Door
It’s easy to see that the multimedia industry is booming in Southern California; what’s less obvious is how to get a piece of the action.
UCLA Extension will provide some clues in an all-day workshop this Saturday at Universal CityWalk in Universal City. The program, “New Media on the Leading Edge,” is designed for newcomers and experienced professionals alike.
Participants can attend lectures about career opportunities in new media, multimedia production and the virtual studio of the future. A round-table discussion about digital technology’s impact on media and entertainment will round out the event.
The 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. workshop will be accompanied by a job fair, where employers will scout out multimedia developers and producers, computer animators, digital artists and technical staff. Admission to both events is $45. For more information, call (310) 825-9064 or send e-mail to espa@unex.ucla.edu.
More digital careers: SiliconStudio/LA will host a panel discussion about career opportunities in the digital entertainment industry on Thursday. Learn about available jobs, salaries and what kind of training is required to be a competitive candidate.
A reception begins at 6:30 p.m., with the discussion following at 7 p.m. at SiliconStudio/LA’s training center at 1417 Second St. in Santa Monica. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. For reservations, call (310) 917-5020.
THIS WEEK
* Today, 5 p.m.: Former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo talks about life after politics and the presidential election. America Online. Keyword: @times
* Tuesday, 8 p.m.: Joan Rivers takes her chatting act to cyberspace. Prodigy. Jump: Chat
* Wednesday, 6 p.m.: Writer-director Ed Burns discusses his movies, “The Brothers McMullen” and “She’s the One.” Internet. https://pathfinder.com/people/interactive/chat.html
* Thursday, 6 p.m.: Documentary filmmaker Ken Burns takes questions about his latest project, “The West,” which is now airing on PBS. Internet. https://pathfinder.com/people/interactive/chat.html
* Friday, 5 p.m.: Singer Natalie Cole goes online to chat about her life in the music business. Internet. https://www.audionet.com/pub/malone/malone.htm
ON THE NET
* The school year has begun, and if you want to keep up with the college scene, try the Cybercampus site. It offers information about college sports, campus newspapers and much more. It is at https://www.cybercampus.com.
* For an intelligent look at the presidential race, visit the Atlantic Monthly’s Election Connection ’96 (https://www.theatlantic.com/atlantic/election/connection). There’s plenty of meaty background--from multiple perspectives--on major issues like the budget, education, immigration and crime. Visitors can also catch up on candidate and party profiles and participate in an interactive forum.
* Looking for a good book to read? Visit the Independent Reader (https://www.independentreader.com) for recommendations from the country’s leading independent bookstores. Each store--including Cody’s Books in Berkeley; Harvard Book Store in Cambridge, Mass., and Elliott Bay Book Co. in Seattle--suggests a pair of fiction and nonfiction selections, plus a wild card. Summaries and reviews of the books are also available.
* If you can’t think of a place to eat, try CyberDine (https://www.cyber-view.com/cyberdine.shtml). Just type in the city, cuisine and price range you desire to get a list of options. You can also type in a specific restaurant to check its address and phone number.
Site suggestions can be sent to cutting.edge@latimes.com