CONCLUSION

What I've seen in the last couple of months has been frankly amazing, and what is yet to come will be even more amazing, exciting and challenging. I know that sounds just like the media hype you've all seen on the front pages of newspapers and magazines over the last year. I can't help that. If you're a computer Luddite, you're going to hate it. But if you're a storyteller who wants to reach an audience, there's going to be one out there. "Out where?" you ask. "How?" you ask. Those are the million dollar questions. They're on the Net now, and they'll be on the InfoBahn before the pavement hardens.

Producers who want to be there when that happens have to start now. Getting "wired" is only the first step. Keeping up with the advances that are being made daily is hard. There are magazines like Wired, Mondo 2000, Internet World, and Canada's Information Highways. Of course the best source of information about InfoBahn issues and developments is online. For Canadian information, you can subscribe to can.infohighway or check out the Information Highway Advisory Council's site (http://info.ic.gc.ca/info-highway/ih.html). Or just surf the Web for the latest hot bits.

The issues facing documentary producers in this new environment are daunting to say the least. If you're like me you've already had your share of re-tooling, from film to tape, from Selectrics to PCs. Through all that, the nature of the documentary has not changed radically. The next re-tooling will be different. Our notions of objectivity and subjectivity will be challenged. Our artistic viewpoints will be questioned. Our audiences, who for years have sat passively watching our programming, are now going to step forward and take control, twisting and turning our material to suit their needs -- as opposed to our perception of their needs. Whether that's good or bad, is for you to decide.

The InfoBahn is right outside your door. Bring your firewood. Bring your matches. Bring your stories.


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