Animators strut their stuff at Flash event

Flashbang is an interactive gathering in Atlanta, Georgia that combines the social elements of a party with a festival to display digital works.

ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- Every few months some top Internet animators get together in Atlanta, Georgia for a most unusual high-tech gathering called Flashbang.

It's not quite a film festival, and not exactly a party, but dominating the festivities are digital works created with Macromedia's Flash software -- a technology that literally animated the Web a few years ago.

Wander through Flashbang 4 before the show starts and you'd assume you're at a local nightclub. An eclectic mix of hundreds of people pack the venue, some casually sit among friends or colleagues, others choose to observe the social interaction from afar.

A master of ceremonies then steps on the stage, surrounding by numerous Macs -- still the computer choice for many graphical designers despite being used by only a tiny percentage of the tech world. (Flashbang 4 is co-sponsored by Apple.)

The crowd turns its attention to the huge screen, and the show begins.

VIDEO CNN's Daniel Sieberg has more on Flashbang, a party for Internet animators to show off their talent and creativity (March 14) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)   RESOURCES Find out what's happening on Next@CNN

Flashbang is the brainchild of some Atlanta-area animators who invite submissions from any digital illustrators interested in participating.

Although Flash is intended for online presentations, the animations at Flashbang were never created to be solely on the Web. Instead, Flashbang is a chance for computer animators to showcase their works in front of a public audience, rather than simply over a broadband Internet connection.

"Flashbang is a hybrid creature," says Daniel Crowder, president of animation firm Monumental Interactive. "It takes on a lot of elements of kind of an independent short film festival, but at the same time it's also the kind of place where people get together and network and talk shop. And it's a lot of fun ... it's a party."

Not only is Flashbang a showcase of digital productions, but it's also full of interactivity, like machines that allow people to try their hand at being a video jockey and computer kiosks with "Flash-y" demos.

'Immediate response'

Don Stevens, an illustrator and designer at Monumental Interactive, says while some productions have a light-hearted feel, others have a distinctly alternative approach with a message.

A Flash production created by Monumental Interactive pokes fun at the dot-com crash.

The formats range from abstract shapes combined with intense electronic music to humorous cartoons with creative storylines.

"I'm the cartoon geek of the office," says Stevens. "Right now we're working on a piece that kind of shows what went wrong with the dot-com industry and putting our little spin on it."

The entire story takes place in hell, with the devil there to give the dot-com fallouts their due, says Crowder.

Adam Boozer and his partner Tim Tewell have been creating animations for Flashbang since the first event more than a year ago. Attendance has more than tripled since then.

"The piece we did this time is called "No Exist" for the main reason (that) the piece as a whole never really exists until you watch it," says Boozer. "We wanted to do a piece that was sort of abstract and avant garde. The one would play at an event and people might say, 'oh,' and it might shake them a little bit."

Both Boozer and Tewell agree that Flashbang is a worthwhile opportunity for animators.

"It's really cool at a Flash festival to shake hands with people and get immediate response about what your work was like," says Boozer.

To watch more of the animations from Flashbang 4, tune into Next@CNN airing Saturday at 1 p.m. EST and Sunday at 4 p.m. EST.