DIY Days

Sat., Aug. 1, 8:30 a.m.-8 p.m., free, University of the Arts, 211 S. Broad St., 800-616-ARTS, diydays.com.

by Adam Scavette

[ think tank ]

Nowadays, thanks to the almighty Internet, you can release a film, album or game without much help. Skeptical? Just ask the speakers at Philly's installment of DIY Days, an event that's already toured in Boston, San Francisco, New York City and London.

Everyone from Michael Monello, co-producer of The Blair Witch Project, to Douglas Rushkoff, writer and filmmaker of Life, Inc., did it on their own, and will talk about how they survived doing so at DIY Days. There'll also be lectures on such topics as the future of comics, the evolution of storytelling, new funding models for artists, and mobile apps.

As with most geeky events, though, the main objective is networking (read: getting more people to follow you on Twitter). "There are so many talented people in the city," says DIY Days founder Lance Weiler. "We're hoping that DIY Days can help bring some of them together — to introduce different creative disciplines and stimulate new types of collaborations."

Sat., Aug. 1, 8:30 a.m.-8 p.m., free, University of the Arts, 211 S. Broad St., 800-616-ARTS, diydays.com.