(Chicago, IL, December 1, 2008) – From the Rolling Stone playing at Soldier Field to the Beijing Olympics Opening Ceremonies, video projection has become a touchstone for live performances. Chicago has long been a live music capital in the nation, and as the cost of video projectors fall, the business of music is changing.

“Video can now be ‘played’ just like a musical instrument can be played,” explains Mason Dixon, founder of the Chicago Motion Graphics Festival, “the lights made for live concerts now project full-motion video, and live music performance software like Ableton Live now sports video capabilities.”

The 2009 Motion Graphics Festival’s will showcase the “Video Band” at it’s Audio Visual Performance Showcase at the Chicago Cultural Center on January 25th from 6:30pm to 9pm. The showcase features some of the worlds best talent in this new mode of performance, such as Stoptime 341 (http://Stoptime341.com), the Chicago-based, touring video artist for the internationally acclaimed DJ Tiesto, and MFChicago the video artists behind Lollapalooza’s video accompaniment.

“What’s really interesting to see now, is how new visual genres will form. How will the video that plays with a rock band be different than what is played with a country band?” Mason theorizes.

The technology behind video for bands has launched a number of online communities such as Create Digital Motion (http://CreateDigitalMotion.com) and VJ Forums (http://VJForums.com), new software companies like VidVox (http://VidVox.net) and Ableton (http://www.ableton.com), and even special stock footage sites such as VJ Loops (http://www.vjloops.tv).

The Motion Graphics Festival runs from Monday, January 19th to Sunday January 25th in various locations across downtown Chicago. Up to the minute information can be found at www.MGFest.com.

About the Motion Graphics Festival

In its 6th year, MGFest stands as the premier US event showcasing creative motion picture design. The festival presents a year-long, regionally focused program of events. The 5-city tour
focuses on motion design, sound design, and film & video technology by hosting: art showcases, exhibits, workshops, classes, panel discussions, studio tours, theater screenings and industry mixers. The entire week of events costs only $7 to attend. Online RSVP required at www.MGFest.com.

Festival Sponsors include : The Chicago Convergence, Columbia College, Stash DVD Magazine, Maxon, Toolfarm, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Bridges Media Group, Lift Motion Design, Future Media Concepts, Create Digital Motion, DigiEffects, Livid Instruments, Resolume, Boris FX, All City Technology, Lumen Eclipse, Sterling Ledet, VidVox, SXSW Interactive, Mac Specialist, Ableton, Harold Washington College, UnScene, and Clif Bar.