Social Film Studio
Murmur is a hybrid studio/technology company that creates and distributes
Social Films. The company is a pioneer in this new genre of entertainment.
A Social Film blends, into one experience, narrative and interactivity and presents it through the lens of
social media.
Murmur was formed in 2010 by partners Mike Knowlton and Hal Siegel.
A digital veteran of 20 years, Mike Knowlton has always pushed the boundaries of storytelling and technology. As an independent entrepreneur he founded and led numerous technology companies including user-interface design firm Nascent State, interactive agency BASIK, and open-source Flash technology Frontal. Mike has led large multi-disciplinary teams in developing complex software applications for major brands including Gateway, Gucci, Netscape, MoMA, Philosophy, Theory, and Tiffany & Co. He a leader in the Transmedia community in New York City and co-organizes the Transmedia NYC Meetup. At Murmur he produces social films and consults with leading brands, studios, and networks on using social films to extend existing properties. Mike Knowlton's background spans design, programming, advertising, and filmmaking. His work has received numerous awards and he is widely published. He speaks regularly at leading conferences including Storytelling 1.X, AD:Tech, and Storyworld. Mike is a lifelong musician and has played in a variety of indie rock bands. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Miami University.
Hal Siegel is an interactive filmmaker and designer. As a co-founder of Murmur, he wrote, designed and directed Him, Her and Them, the first ever social film. It was released on Facebook in 2011 and has received extensive coverage in Fast Company, Springwise, Social Times, The Creators Project and many other publications. Hal's body of work represents a unique blend of storytelling, visual design, interaction design and usability. He began his career in digital media in 1993—the same year as the release of the first web browser—and went on to lead the creative development of internet initiatives for major brands and organizations, including Victoria’s Secret, Gucci Group, Sotheby's, Garnet Hill, Bath & Body Works, Amana, IBM and Mobil, as well as many startups. In addition, Hal has extensive experience in the user-centered design of software application interfaces. He has won many accolades for his work over the years, including a People's Voice Webby, and awards from Graphis, STEP, The One Club, W3C, and the New Voices, New Visions award for his experimental interactive project The Image of Information. Hal has written a number of articles on the convergence of film and software for the Hope for Film blog on Indiewire. Hal graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Cooper Union.
