1. REFLECTION + CRITICAL THINKING: I am really proud of this piece. I felt like the video was based off of showing and putting forth emotion. It was much more personal than I thought initially I would let myself show, but it is what it is, and that I think added a lot to the feel of the video. I do not think I could have portrayed the amount of emotion and feeling that I wanted to acheive and had envisioned without allowing the video to get that personal. I am really proud of the way it turned out. I was much more relaxed when making this video and I think the flow of the video was much more relaxed in turn! It is really amazing how the emotion I had while editing the film was portrayed through the film.
2. AUDIENCE RESPONSE: I was VERY happy when one of the students (Erin) raised her hand when the video was over and stated what she thought. She said along the lines of getting a lot of emotion behind the video, in the first person, she was really able to get in my mind and understand the feeling. Others really liked the use of the calm flow as well as how I always went back to me walking and thinkng. We discussed how this seemed like a progression of my thoughts as well as a progression and maturity of my ideas. I am so happy what I envisioned was portrayed!
3. DISTRIBUTION: I think, as usual, I am just going to keep it flowing through my friends and family. I think they will be able to watch this video and understand my artistic ability and thoughts more as well as really understand some of the emotions I ahve deep inside of me. I would be honored to pass it through email so my friends and family can see me and what I think in a whole new medium...videoooOO!!!!!!
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Post-Production
1. LOGGING SHOTS:
*I have some realllllly promising footage of me walking, shots of my face, shots of me walking. this is great cuz i think a lot of the effect of me thinking and contemplating about my topic of judging can really be reflected in this. I also have amazing footage of nature and trees and
also great shots of my friends passing a little tree from one to another. i also have shots of my 3 best freinds and seeing how they judge people and why they do.
* I want to communicate that I want to get to the real reason of why people judge and what people's processes on judging are. I wanted to bring the topic in a general view and then show how it connects to me. I want to communicate that we are all the same and in essence we have the same begining and end despite our differences.
2. PAPER EDIT
I showed my paper edit in class the first day we worked together in groups. I worked with Peter and we made an entire sketch on what the process is! I can bring it in again if you want.
3. RESHOOTS:
I may need to get some more shots of me walking and thinking. I think the first time i got that shot, i was holdign the camera and shaking the camera a little.
4. REFLECTION:
I mean i fel pretty good about the footage i got. I love it in fact. i think i was really in the mindset of getting thoughful and getting shots in that aura. Now i have a challenge of correctly and efectively putting and peicing the footage together so that i can convey that message to the audeince. I am going to cut and choose my footage to make sure i can convey the message very precisely.
5. IMPROVISATION:
My ideas are TOTALLY evolving. I LOVE that feeling. At first i wanted to just make a video of the situation of the boy in the wheelchair. Then i realized it was too narrow. Then i decided to do the whole thing as a narraration and my thoughts. Then i thought to add the viewpoints of my friends. This was a huge improv because initially i just wanted to focus on my ideas but then i thought something was lacking...
6. REHEARSAL:
Well, i reviewed my final draft (S) and i thought that i would be ready to show. I made a bunch of little differences in regards to lesseoning the music. I wanted to make sure, that after i saw it, I knew the music over the whole video. I deleted that part and just included songs that played when I had pretty much no talking.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Production Journal
1. INTERVIEW QUESTIONS:
The only interview questions i plan on doing is asking people
how they feel about being judged
have they ever judged anyone
have they ever had a life-changing moment by either judging or being judgedd
2. SHOT LIST:
I envision a lot of shots surrounding nature. I belive this will get the connection between what I had in my manifesto about seeing and feeling God in Nature and also combining that with how I feel like we are all the same.
Here are some shots that I want to get to encompass this vision:
Main Roll:
A shot of a tree from roots to the sky, through its trunk and branches and leaves
A shot of me walking on grass or soil full of flower petals that were shed from a tree (next to the art building)
A shot of the sun through the leaves of a tree
A shot of me walking and thinking
A shot of people walking and talking
A shot of interviewing people on how they were judged or judged
A shot of people of all kinds and genders passing a tree from person to person
3. STYLE + ELEMENTS:
My style and elements are really important in this video. I want to encourporate nature and people in each shot. I want to make sure I get the point across of how people all around us are actually all alike. The serentiy and peace I can get from nature is really great to have around the aspect of people judging. I want audio but i want it to be natural. I want a lot of nature sounds, the wind, walking footsteps. I also do not want any songs with words. I want to keep the audio to a minimun in terms of taking away or trying to take the place of a point i am trying to visually make.
4. STORYBOARD:
I want to have a shot of the tree from trunk to the sky with a audio commentary on what i belive, how we connect. Then i want to show the passing of the little tree from person to person. they I want to show me contemplating for a little while. then I want to cut into a video of susan boyle and how we probably all judged her at one point or another. Then I want to go back to me thinking and trying to tie it closer to home. Then I will show a shot of vera and andrea and their expreinces with judging. then i will go back to a shot of me trying to tie it to my life. Then i want to close it off with a shot of me holding the little tree, with the birds chirping in the background. finally I will show the closing clip tying it to the begigining of the sun through the trees.
5. COMPOSITION + FORM:
I am trying to have very subtle transitions that always come back to me showing how i contemplate the subject of judging. I want to show this becuase I want to bring the whole video back to this is what I personally belive, and how I gather my sources to make my convictions and ideas. I really tried to do something different with the form here so I hope, and i think it will, work out well!!!
6. IN THE FIELD:
I actually had a ton of fun recording my friends pass the little tree from side to side. Everyone really got the point i was trying to make. Even though it was so planned, down to the time and date, when I stepped back and watched how my friends were helping me, I was actually amazed. I felt even more connected to these people just because they were helping me. The shots I got was soo what I was wanting that I just needed to step back and enjoy it. Trying to walk and shoot myself was funny. It was awkward becasue i was self-conscience, but after a well, it was fun because i let go and just worked on getting the shots.
7. REFLECTION:
So far, capturing my thoughts and feelings has been pretty challanging. However, the less I really work at it an knit-pick, the more I really can capture what I am feeling and intially trying to show in my gut feeling. I have learned sometimes more is NOT better. Funny, but in this case its true!
8. IMPROVISATION:
Plans have changed many times. I wanted to originally make the entire video of the story i wrote and sent to the This I believe, Inc. However, I realized that this story is so personal and so unique that i potentially could not get to as many people as I want to. So during the very useful time during class, I spoke with some classmates and they helped me go to a more broad level. I am going to use a more etheral natural and nature background for my video. A lot of light music and a lot of thoughtful commentary instead of a very structured story.
your pre-production notes and write about how your original plan has, or should be
altered. Are there any particular ideas or plans that have shifted? Has the process of
actually making something made you wiser or more realistic about the project? Has your
focus shifted? Did you stumble upon something that changed your perspective? How can
you let your project evolve and incorporate new knowledge on the fly?
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Editing
It feels really weird editing my footage this time around. I think i feel this way becuase i have full disclosure and use of the footage i have thus far, it doesnt include any other people, just me. So I have to really edit it well because I DO know how i feel (versus making sure not to manipulate it with my last video because it was NOT about me). I feel a lot more pressure from myself in particular, because I have a vision of this video that only i know how to put together and edit because it is driven by MY emotions.
It is different than shooting because this time around shooting seemed a little more detailed while editing seems a little more personal. I can really take my time to get the shots i want, without making appointments with other people to shoot. I can have as may takes as I want and take as long as I want. In editing, I am playing around a lot more with cutting and pasting and shifting and moving. It is more personal because I am taking all the shots i got with my extensive time and fitting them together to create a piece that really works. This is more nerve racking because I do have to impress myself and get it right, where as shooting, i can try over and over again to get the good shots.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Holding Myself Accountable
I believe the first step to change is to hold yourself accountible.
Here are some more experiences within the last couple weeks in which I have judged people and have had a very different outcome than expected:
1. A man who i lived in the same Christian House as I did. He seemed very odd and being human i judged him. Then the next day, I saw some beautiful objects sitting on the table, they were Liturgy Hymns and Icons and prayer books. I donated money and put the beautiful Icon, my first!, in my room over my bed. I want to apologize for judging you.
2. I used to judge people in my classes that would ask questions and have intelligent conversations with the professors because i thought they were just showing off or stuck up, but most of all a kiss ass. This semester I have become one of those students. However, now I realize, I just like the others, were just truly interested and excited about the information and wanted to discuss. I apologize to those who I have judged in this way.
Here are some more experiences within the last couple weeks in which I have judged people and have had a very different outcome than expected:
1. A man who i lived in the same Christian House as I did. He seemed very odd and being human i judged him. Then the next day, I saw some beautiful objects sitting on the table, they were Liturgy Hymns and Icons and prayer books. I donated money and put the beautiful Icon, my first!, in my room over my bed. I want to apologize for judging you.
2. I used to judge people in my classes that would ask questions and have intelligent conversations with the professors because i thought they were just showing off or stuck up, but most of all a kiss ass. This semester I have become one of those students. However, now I realize, I just like the others, were just truly interested and excited about the information and wanted to discuss. I apologize to those who I have judged in this way.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Questions.... Please Comment!!
Questions.... Please Comment!!
1. Do you think i should go very literal and reconstruct the entire writing or should I go more abstract?
(I was thinking to have the bones of the video stay close to the story, but I wanted to add a more encompasing view pertaining to a larger audience)
2. Last time i made my video, i used a lot of effects. The audience said that it took away from the relevance of the video. In getting creative, i decided to have moving cartoon drawings to represent my thoughts *see video*. I think this can distinguish between my narriration and my inner thoughts. Do you think this will be a repeat of my last performance and showing?
*Disclosure: I am going to use this effect atleast twice so it will definately have a presence instead of a random feeling
1. Do you think i should go very literal and reconstruct the entire writing or should I go more abstract?
(I was thinking to have the bones of the video stay close to the story, but I wanted to add a more encompasing view pertaining to a larger audience)
2. Last time i made my video, i used a lot of effects. The audience said that it took away from the relevance of the video. In getting creative, i decided to have moving cartoon drawings to represent my thoughts *see video*. I think this can distinguish between my narriration and my inner thoughts. Do you think this will be a repeat of my last performance and showing?
*Disclosure: I am going to use this effect atleast twice so it will definately have a presence instead of a random feeling
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Pre-Production Template
1. PERSONAL:
I was inspired two years ago when I walked off a bus and saw my housemate, that I really really did not like, working at the dorm for the physically disabled. It kind of sparked something within me and made me realize what I kind of though before, that we are all, somehow, deep inside, alike in a way. I knew that I could connect with her at that moment, not verbally but internally.
2. WORKING STATEMENT/HYPOTHESIS:
My statement I am trying to make with this video is "This I believe: it is the deepest most profound essence of a humans, a soul, that is so alike that it is impossible to separate. It overlooks the music they listen to or the judgements made. It overlooks the blindness of the heart and barriers I put up in my mind. I believe if you reach into the depths of your heart, you will find how you connect."
3. RESEARCH:
What do I know about this subject? That there is a lot of emotion.I know that this emotion is something i want to really get across in the video and show and move the audience to feel the way i did. To be honest, because this is something I personally believe, I do not feel the need to research it or find primary or secondary sources to support my belief, because I am the primary and the secondary and the tertiary source. I felt the emotion and came to an epiphany on my own.
4. ANXIETIES:
I am really anxious about really capturing the emotion that I feel is vital to the video. I am anxious becuase the silent video with the voice over and first-person point of view is somethign I have never done or contemplated before. I am not quite sure how to go about capturing this footage. That is the real challenge. The obstacles I face is figuring out in a video how to portray emotion effectively through the use of my MAC materials. I hope at this point i am comfortable enough with the equipment that I can use it properly. I think my idea is definately realistic. I want to show emotion in a first-person point of view. It may be hard, but its doable.
5. TOPIC:
This is a video about my epiphany of how I connected on a deeper level to a housemate I could not stand being around. It made me realize this connection can be applied to everyone if I tried.
6. BACKGROUND:
The main background that I will provide is my commentary/reading of the statement. It explains why I was there and why I didnt like my roomate. It sets up the video to be ready for the epiphany I am making. I am going to shoot first-person footage and have the commentary flow through the video so the background will come in the form of my voice-over at the appropraite times.
7. CHARACTERS:
1. Me: stressed, self-absorbed in mind
2. My housemate: pot-head, loud, different than me, then compassionate and connected
3. The boy in the wheelchair: connector of the video, the catalyst
8. CONFLICT:
The central issue is my epiphany that we are alot more alike that I thought. I want to show the other two characters as so different from me, but yet the same on a deeper level. The video will culminate when I realize this applies to more than just the people in the video.
9. STRUCTURE:
1. Me walking off the bus (first-person)
2. Me walking down the side walk, focused on my feet
3. Me walking up the stairs to my house
4. Me turning around to see my housemate across the street
5. Quick increasingl fast changing pictures of why i dont like my roomate
5. Panning to my housemate and what she is doing
6. Her and the boy sitting in teh grass laughing
7. Pan to the grass and nature and the culminating I can apply this to everyone
10. CONTENT:
I want to use a lot of fading in white and fading out white to capture the essense of being inside of my thoughts. I want to capture the image of ephiphany by fast moving images. I want to audience to undestand the story behind the video which will be voiced over along the way at appropriate breaks in the scenes. This will help them get the effect of the ephiphany and give them the emotion by understanding my thoughts as I think them.
11. STYLE:
A lot of interesting angles. First person shots. Fast images contrasted with slow flowing imagery of the other characters sitting in the grass. I want it to be in day light and outside. I want it to show it in the natural form of the situation so people can have the added feeling of experiencing as I did.
12. AUDIENCE:
My audience is my Art 250 class, who have read my writing, listening to my recording and heard me discuss my thought process on making the video. I think they are all open minded on the topic as wel all are, and are looking forward to eachothers' video showings and progressions. I think this may go along with some of their views, atleast that is what I hope to convey to them.
13. RESOLUTION:
The end will fade out into the sky, kind of showing this one thing that connects us all is here on earth, under the sky. I want to show my audience that if we look on a deeper level inside of ourselves, that even the people we never thought we would be like, we can connect with. I think with the organized scenes I mentioned before as well as the camera techniques, first-person camera shots, and fading in and out as well as the voice-over, I can get my point across to potentially sway their views if they thought otherwise.
14. LOGISTICS:
::I want to get the camera this weekend. I want to get shots of me coming of the bus when I come home with the camera, it will be the easiest and least awkward for the bus driver!
::THen I want to get my housemates now to kind of act the scene out as I record it from my view. This will probably take place in the next week.
::I think I am going to get the props from a friend of mine, who has them.
::I hope to be edditing and doing the voice over at the end of next week or the begining of the next.
I was inspired two years ago when I walked off a bus and saw my housemate, that I really really did not like, working at the dorm for the physically disabled. It kind of sparked something within me and made me realize what I kind of though before, that we are all, somehow, deep inside, alike in a way. I knew that I could connect with her at that moment, not verbally but internally.
2. WORKING STATEMENT/HYPOTHESIS:
My statement I am trying to make with this video is "This I believe: it is the deepest most profound essence of a humans, a soul, that is so alike that it is impossible to separate. It overlooks the music they listen to or the judgements made. It overlooks the blindness of the heart and barriers I put up in my mind. I believe if you reach into the depths of your heart, you will find how you connect."
3. RESEARCH:
What do I know about this subject? That there is a lot of emotion.I know that this emotion is something i want to really get across in the video and show and move the audience to feel the way i did. To be honest, because this is something I personally believe, I do not feel the need to research it or find primary or secondary sources to support my belief, because I am the primary and the secondary and the tertiary source. I felt the emotion and came to an epiphany on my own.
4. ANXIETIES:
I am really anxious about really capturing the emotion that I feel is vital to the video. I am anxious becuase the silent video with the voice over and first-person point of view is somethign I have never done or contemplated before. I am not quite sure how to go about capturing this footage. That is the real challenge. The obstacles I face is figuring out in a video how to portray emotion effectively through the use of my MAC materials. I hope at this point i am comfortable enough with the equipment that I can use it properly. I think my idea is definately realistic. I want to show emotion in a first-person point of view. It may be hard, but its doable.
5. TOPIC:
This is a video about my epiphany of how I connected on a deeper level to a housemate I could not stand being around. It made me realize this connection can be applied to everyone if I tried.
6. BACKGROUND:
The main background that I will provide is my commentary/reading of the statement. It explains why I was there and why I didnt like my roomate. It sets up the video to be ready for the epiphany I am making. I am going to shoot first-person footage and have the commentary flow through the video so the background will come in the form of my voice-over at the appropraite times.
7. CHARACTERS:
1. Me: stressed, self-absorbed in mind
2. My housemate: pot-head, loud, different than me, then compassionate and connected
3. The boy in the wheelchair: connector of the video, the catalyst
8. CONFLICT:
The central issue is my epiphany that we are alot more alike that I thought. I want to show the other two characters as so different from me, but yet the same on a deeper level. The video will culminate when I realize this applies to more than just the people in the video.
9. STRUCTURE:
1. Me walking off the bus (first-person)
2. Me walking down the side walk, focused on my feet
3. Me walking up the stairs to my house
4. Me turning around to see my housemate across the street
5. Quick increasingl fast changing pictures of why i dont like my roomate
5. Panning to my housemate and what she is doing
6. Her and the boy sitting in teh grass laughing
7. Pan to the grass and nature and the culminating I can apply this to everyone
10. CONTENT:
I want to use a lot of fading in white and fading out white to capture the essense of being inside of my thoughts. I want to capture the image of ephiphany by fast moving images. I want to audience to undestand the story behind the video which will be voiced over along the way at appropriate breaks in the scenes. This will help them get the effect of the ephiphany and give them the emotion by understanding my thoughts as I think them.
11. STYLE:
A lot of interesting angles. First person shots. Fast images contrasted with slow flowing imagery of the other characters sitting in the grass. I want it to be in day light and outside. I want it to show it in the natural form of the situation so people can have the added feeling of experiencing as I did.
12. AUDIENCE:
My audience is my Art 250 class, who have read my writing, listening to my recording and heard me discuss my thought process on making the video. I think they are all open minded on the topic as wel all are, and are looking forward to eachothers' video showings and progressions. I think this may go along with some of their views, atleast that is what I hope to convey to them.
13. RESOLUTION:
The end will fade out into the sky, kind of showing this one thing that connects us all is here on earth, under the sky. I want to show my audience that if we look on a deeper level inside of ourselves, that even the people we never thought we would be like, we can connect with. I think with the organized scenes I mentioned before as well as the camera techniques, first-person camera shots, and fading in and out as well as the voice-over, I can get my point across to potentially sway their views if they thought otherwise.
14. LOGISTICS:
::I want to get the camera this weekend. I want to get shots of me coming of the bus when I come home with the camera, it will be the easiest and least awkward for the bus driver!
::THen I want to get my housemates now to kind of act the scene out as I record it from my view. This will probably take place in the next week.
::I think I am going to get the props from a friend of mine, who has them.
::I hope to be edditing and doing the voice over at the end of next week or the begining of the next.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Clarifying My Goals
This I Believe GOALS:
:: I want to move people and make them feel the emotion i felt.
:: I want people to feel my sadness and shame because i truly believe, like the soul, those specific
emotions are alike in every single person.
:: I want people to put themselves in my mind-set, not necessarily in the specific situation, but a
parallel one and get the same thing i did out of my experience.
:: I want to draw emotion so people will leave and try to think how they can connect with
someone they never thought they would
:: I want to move people and make them feel the emotion i felt.
:: I want people to feel my sadness and shame because i truly believe, like the soul, those specific
emotions are alike in every single person.
:: I want people to put themselves in my mind-set, not necessarily in the specific situation, but a
parallel one and get the same thing i did out of my experience.
:: I want to draw emotion so people will leave and try to think how they can connect with
someone they never thought they would
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Me, My Housemate and The Boy in the Wheelchair, Part 2
I jumped off the bus and sped walked from the stop to my house. I had so much shit to do that day. I had a midterm that I procrastinated studying for on top of a huge paper that was only half done. I would be lucky to get 4 hours of sleep before my 8AM the next day. I doubted it though, what my luck actually got me was a pot-headed housemate that enjoyed listening to rock ballads in the middle of the night…
And then I saw her. She was at Beckwith Hall, the dormitory for the physically disabled. She was walking alongside a student that by the looks of it was forever bound in a electric wheelchair, his legs mangled. It took me a second to understand what she was doing.
My housemate, the one I wish just moved out already, who never came out of her room, the one who watched indie horror movies with the cat and rabbit that shared her room. My face got hot and I wanted to cry. Today, I finally found out what she did in her free time. She volunteered her time to be a friend to those who didn’t have many.
I watched them situate themselves to rest, she sat on the bench near the sidewalk and he maneuvered his wheelchair next to her on the grass. I couldn’t help but think how the boy in the wheelchair felt. Companionship, liked, not alone. Though, the deeper question was remembering the last time I felt alone and needed another soul to listen to me. It was a laugh that took me out of my thoughts, and I looked up. There they sat, together, two human beings, laughing at presumably a simple joke.
But was it really that simple? What was the real reason I judged her? Was it because of her pixie cut? Was it because she smoked pot? Perhaps it was the weird music she listened to and because she never came out of her room. Or did I judge her because I was afraid to see any similarity between us?
That day, as I watched what I deemed an outcast laugh with someone that society deemed an outcast, something sparked within me. I believe I realized it was something stronger that goes unnoticed that brings me, my housemate, and the boy in the wheelchair together: the contents of our the deepest place in our body, our souls. At that moment, I wished I could have joined them as they laughed at that joke. If wanted to be sitting with them, sharing a piece of me that did after all have connect with those I was afraid to be like.
This I believe: it is the deepest most profound essence of a humans, a soul, that is so alike that it is impossible to separate. It overlooks the music they listen to or the judgements made. It overlooks the blindness of the heart and barriers I put up in my mind. I believe if you reach into the depths of your heart, you will find how you connect.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Thank You Blog, For Letting Me Dream Big
Dream Big
IDEA 1
i want to show how we are alike. I TRULY TRULY believe we, at our essence, are the same. I want to show students, people, from different parts of life. I want to ask them a time they were sad, i believe, saddness is an emotion that does not come out as easily as the rest. People can have ranges of happiness and ranges of anger. But i think sadness is a beautiful emotion that humbles people to their core.
Idealy i want to show how each person (old man, frat guy, nerdy girl, punker, disabled, abled) i want them all to tell a story of something that really made them sad. I want to entertwine their stories so that it makes either one long story or a simple few stories that are easy to understand. In the end, i want the culminating effect to be their reaction at the same time. Sad, Sad, Sad, same same same......
IDEA 2
i kind of want to be literal in the video. i want to take my story and tell it visually. i want to recreate it, but more than just showing images, i want to get the audience into my mind. i want the audience to feel my dislike, my frustrations with this girl. i want them to feel my shock when i see her with the boy in the wheelchair. i want them to feel my sorrow and shame. i want to show them flashbacks of why i initally didnt like the girl. i want to use so many angles. and i know that i do not want to show the girl and the boy's entire faces. i want this to be communal and i know if faces are seen, it may take away from the relevance to all the audience's lives. i want to show my reaction to her walking with the boy. i actually dont know if i even want to use much talking. i want emotions to speak for themselves instead of me doing it. i think i can pull this off. its going to be a big risk but i think i can do it. its something i really want to see if i can do.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
In This Way, We Are Inseparable
I jumped off the bus and sped walked from the stop to my house. I had so much shit to do that day. I had a midterm that I procrastinated studying for on top of a huge paper that was only half done. I would be lucky to get 4 hours of sleep before my 8AM the next day. I doubted it though, what my luck actually got me was a pot-headed housemate that enjoyed listening to rock ballads in the middle of the night…
And then I saw her. She was at Beckwith Hall, the dormitory for the physically disabled. She was walking alongside a student that by the looks of it was forever bound in a electric wheelchair. It took me a second to understand what she was doing.
My housemate, the one I wish just moved out already, who never came out of her room, the one who watched indie horror movies with the cat and rabbit that shared her room. My face got hot and I wanted to cry. Today, I finally found out what she did in her free time. She volunteered her time to be a friend to those who didn’t have many.
I watched them situate themselves to rest, she sat on the bench near the sidewalk and he maneuvered his wheelchair next to her on the grass. I couldn’t help but think how the boy in the wheelchair felt. Companionship, liked, not alone. Though, the deeper question was remembering the last time I felt alone and needed another soul to listen to. It was a laugh that took me out of my thoughts, and I looked up. There they sat, together, two human beings, laughing at presumably a simple joke.
But was it really that simple? What was the real reason I judged her? Was it because of her pixie cut? Was it because she smoked pot? Perhaps it was the weird music she listened to and because she never came out of her room. Or did I judge her because I was afraid to see any similarity between us?
That day, as I watched what I deemed an outcast laugh with someone that society deemed an outcast, something sparked within me. I believe I realized it was something stronger that goes unnoticed that brings me, my housemate, and the boy in the wheelchair together: it is our souls. At that moment, I wished I could have joined them as they laughed at that joke. If I could share something with them, share our similarity I would. It just takes something found deeper, something more profound than how we walk or what we do in our free time. It takes a connection of our souls.
This I believe: a human soul is what brings two people together. It is not the music they listen to or how they choose to spend their free time. It is not the way they dress or the people they hang out with. I believe what makes us the same, and I mean strips us to our core togetherness, is the contents of our soul.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Tranquil Infusion
i think i am going to go make some tea after my presentation tonight...this always makes me feel so calm and relaxed
Crude Impact
i have a ton of questions about this video:
1. i wonder if all the images are copywritten. it is obvious the author did not personally shoot images from the Gulf War and such, so i ask what the process is of obtaining the writes of these images.
2. also i wonder if she or he did shoot any of the images, how much was budgeted to do so.
3. i would love to discuss the notion of survival of the fittest, but not in a genetic sense of evolution, but rather in a power sense. the least powerful die (Ecuadorean example)
4. what is the image or storytelling that will actually move people to action. we spoke about the differet critera today in class that make up a good compelling argument/writting. i wonder if we have or will ever see a type of work that answers these questions. was Al Gore's Inconvienient Truth the answer to this?
Beliefs I Hold True
1. people are alike
i truly believe this. I think we are so much alike. In the first sense, genetically, we are something like 99.9% the same genetically, the .01% difference is what makes us different. I think humans are much more alike in a philosophical way as well. we all bleed when we are cut, cry when we are hurt, laugh when we are happy, and die in the end.
2. love can conquer
i believe if someone who is angry who finds love can begin to melt their stone heart. I think love is something tat we have to look for and when we find it, nothing can harden our hearts again. love is universal and is a language that everyone speaks and can feel.
3. family decides your future
i think the way you are raised deciceds what type of person you are going to be in the future. the way your parents raise you, with morals at an early age, or with values or without values, is ingrained in your head and your "code" that will stay with you for a long time.
4. education dictates your future
i believe if you get an education, you can accomplish a lot more than if you dont. I am not speaking of the outlyiers like Bill Gates, but in general, if you are exposed to others thoughts and beliefs, history and philosophy, science and math, you will be able to see the world in a whole new light, helping you get though life in a way never before imagined.
5. tea calms
i drink tea all the time. i am drinking tea as we speak even. i think the warm water infused with light taste can really go through your body and wash out stress. it is an amazing drink that brings me towards peace.
6. nature brings you closer to God
there have been many times when i am walking down John street, no matter what season, and I only can hear the rustling of the trees, or i can feel the light wind, i can smell the flowers, i can touch the leaves, and I can taste happiness and knowledge.
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number 6.
this idea came about when i was, as i said, walking down John street during my freshman year. everything was so incredibly new to me, that i would revel in every small thing possible. when i walked down the street i paid attention to all the things around me that were new. i felt things and saw things, smelled things, and heard things that were so strong, but so overlooked. I thought immediately that it was God speaking about how beautiful life is. i believe in this pretty firmly. when i am having a bad day and i have a bad outlook on things, i cannot hear or feel things that i do when i am having a good day. when my heart is light and open, i can hear God more clearly, and I am sure he speaks through things when we least expect it. i do not think my belief would change on this no matter what. I think i can firmly say this becuase i have gone through bad days that i thought i would change my mind, but then as soon as i felt happy and open again, i felt it. i have gone through both extremes and still believe in this.
number 1.
i think when i went to college, i saw how many different people there are in the world (and this is still in some ways a bubble!). i saw nerds and populars, freaks and geeks, everyone, old and young, and you know i thought i saw each person exhibiting the same traits. we are out of a world were we stereotype by how well you do in school. i saw this and began to think and observe all the ways we are all alike. i believe in this pretty firmly. i think there are definately some outliers. i think sometimes i am shaken in my belief when i see people so drastically different then me. however, when i do see people like that, i think to myself, why is it that they are acting like that? i really try to find a reason that i can understand and relate to, which brings me closer. as i said, i have seen both ends of the spectrum. however, if there is ever a time where someone does something so henious that i cannot wrap my head around or fathom or every begin to understand, i think my faith my faulter. but i hope this day never comes, becasue that would show a weakness in me, not my theory.
number 3.
i think family dictates your future. i believe nurture is very important, maybe even more so than nature. i feel the way you are brought up, the way i was brought up is so incredibly different than how others were others, that i cant help but to believe that my family shaped the way i grew up. i believe the first 10-20 years of your life is so crucual to the way you live the rest of your life, its acted as my foundation, and i have taken and refered to so much from my childhood that i believe my family shaped the way i see things today. i firmly believe in this. it goes both ways, i feel those who dont have a strong family are hindered and see life in a different way. i feel my family's upbringing so much here that i can always believe in this. i do not think i will change this. i see it both ways, a person can grow well without a family when they grow up strong or sad or odd becasue they didnt have a good family upbringing. it goes both ways.
Purchases
Chevy's Dinner:
::i chose this restaurant because my boyfriend and I have eaten there before and liked it. we had a good experience and the food was good too.
::i like the atompshere of the restaurant. its colorful and fun, and as we all know, i like color and I am a huge chatterbox and am fun. the ads are always so funny and eye-catching, they really stick with me.
:: the product should be advertised in a way that is not confusing or rude to other competition. i never found these ads to do that. they never show comparisons to other Mexican restaurants and bash them.
Expensive Dress for Easter:
::I chose this dress because after a day's worth of shopping, i found a dress that was nice, not too too expensive, and that fit the occasion. I do not let employees or sales people affect my decisiosn, despite their efforts.
:: I thought the dress really fit my persona. I have a very specific type of clothing I wear, quality, trendy, but not provacative. Especially for Church, the dress really fit with the way I tend to dress, conservative.
::
Advertisers use short quick slogans, brand names, images, and expereinces that help remind consumers of their product. it should resonate in the mind of the consumer (called product positioning) and communicate the benfits of the product and why the customer should buy it in particular.
::I think advertising in a pure sense should not be manipulative. It should be convincing, but it should not forcefully and unethically show images of competition and bash on others. I believe advertising should speak for the product itself (its definition) instead of focusing on why others are so bad, which manipulates consumers into overlooking flaws in the product just to say bigger flaws in its competitors.
::i think there should be a standard where competitors brands should not be explicitly shown in comercials. i think if they do, consent of the other brand should be received. i think there should be no collusion between competition to manipulate the market or divide the market using co-branding and advertising. I think advertisiments should never bash others explicity. if one brand really feels superior to the other, the product should speak for itself!
::i chose this restaurant because my boyfriend and I have eaten there before and liked it. we had a good experience and the food was good too.
::i like the atompshere of the restaurant. its colorful and fun, and as we all know, i like color and I am a huge chatterbox and am fun. the ads are always so funny and eye-catching, they really stick with me.
:: the product should be advertised in a way that is not confusing or rude to other competition. i never found these ads to do that. they never show comparisons to other Mexican restaurants and bash them.
Expensive Dress for Easter:
::I chose this dress because after a day's worth of shopping, i found a dress that was nice, not too too expensive, and that fit the occasion. I do not let employees or sales people affect my decisiosn, despite their efforts.
:: I thought the dress really fit my persona. I have a very specific type of clothing I wear, quality, trendy, but not provacative. Especially for Church, the dress really fit with the way I tend to dress, conservative.
::
Advertisers use short quick slogans, brand names, images, and expereinces that help remind consumers of their product. it should resonate in the mind of the consumer (called product positioning) and communicate the benfits of the product and why the customer should buy it in particular.
::I think advertising in a pure sense should not be manipulative. It should be convincing, but it should not forcefully and unethically show images of competition and bash on others. I believe advertising should speak for the product itself (its definition) instead of focusing on why others are so bad, which manipulates consumers into overlooking flaws in the product just to say bigger flaws in its competitors.
::i think there should be a standard where competitors brands should not be explicitly shown in comercials. i think if they do, consent of the other brand should be received. i think there should be no collusion between competition to manipulate the market or divide the market using co-branding and advertising. I think advertisiments should never bash others explicity. if one brand really feels superior to the other, the product should speak for itself!
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Everything is an Argument
1. the embossed leather cover of a prayer book:
i think this strong and durible cover is a parallel to the strength and duribility of the owner's take on faith. I can see myself owning one becuase everytime i look at it, it would remind me of strength.
a Boston Red Sox cap:
this can show the support for the team or just the support and like of boston itself. I think its an easy and practicle way to show one is a fan of something.
a Livestrong bracelet:
this can show one's support for cancer research. perhaps the wearer may know someone with cancer, someone who is fighting it, or someone who has survived it. the bracelet may remind them to live strong and remind them that others who wear the bracelet may know what they are going through.
the label on a best-selling rap CD:
the label can be an advertisment of brand, as if to say, "hey if you like this cd, then check out the label, you will like the other bands under our label." i think its a good way to show ownership and accountability of the music on the cd.
the health warning on a package of cigarettes:
this is clearly a disclaimer, alieviating all accountability for future lawsuits or any deaths.
a belated birthday card:
i think the argument for this as i have done this before is not wanting the birthday person to think they forgot about them. perhaps the sender wants to apeise the person for forgetting about their birthday. or perhaps they could not send it on time, and wanted them to still get a card.
the nutrition label on a can of soup:
this is a great idea. its first and foremost required by the FDA. i think that arguement is to provide all health data for consumers so they understand what is going in their body.
the cover of a science fiction novel:
i think this is to entice and help describe what the novel is about. the picture and title could really transfer the contents of book to the mind of the reader, enticing them to buy the novel if they havent already.
a colored ribbon pinned to a shirt lapel:
this shows support, like the livestrong bracelet, of a certain cause. it could show people that, yes, the wearer is in support and knows and is informed about the cause and would like to spread awareness potentially about the cause (becuase it is on such a visible place on a person).
a Rolex watch:
this could be priced so high as to signal a status symbol. it says "i am affluent and i can afford a watch, that could be priced very reasonably, which is priced at so high."
2. Inform: i had to inform business council at our general assembly, that I set up a panel with PwC, a very prominant accounting firm, to come to BIF and answer questions regarding professionalism, resumes, interviews, ect. I had to convey to the memebers (100 people) that this event was going to be worth while and really effective. Persuasion: i really had to show the members why this was a good event and why the should come.
Convince: I had to convince my girlfriend to go out with the rest of us last week. I told her that she worked so hard during the week that she really deserved a small break. I told her we werent even going to stay out very late and that if she wanted to leave early, i would leave too! Persuasion: i had to use words that convinced her to want to come out with us. I made her see it my way and she agreed in the end!
Explore: I had a large accounting presentation to work on with a group. Of course I picked the hardest question to work on. After hours of research at the Union, i called my boyfriend and relayed the question to him. Together we explored many possibilites that the question brought up. He asked me many questions and I to he, and together we found an answer by exploring all facets of the situation. Argumentation: I think we really tried to highlight certain aspects of the situation and really try to get eacheother to understand what we were saying without persuading them to fall ONLY into our thought process. It was a very healthy and easy conversation that helped me find the answer through a combined process.
Make Decisions: I had to decide when I wanted to go home for Easter this weekend. I had to call my friend who also wanted to leave with me. I had to see when she wanted to go home and if she wanted to get the same bus ticket to ride the same bus with me. I also had to call my family and let them know what time was best for me to come home and see if it was cool with them too. Persausion: I had to persuade my friend to go home with me on the same bus. she really wanted to take her car home but I told her I already bought the tickets.
Pray: I use internal lanuage when I pray. I talk to Jesus and tell him what I am feeling. I like doing this becuase its as if He understands what I am saying without me having to actually say it. It is very relaxing. I kind of just think of what i want to relay to Him instead of actually formulating sentences. I dont think this is either arguement of persuasion, I am just telling Jesus how I feel and am listening to Him. Its really relaxing and I feel understanding rather than need for argumentation or persuasion.
4. USDA organic label: healthy, expensive, good, well taken care of: health nuts!
the Nike swoosh: athleticism, quality, speed, endurance, working out: atheletes
the golden arches: mmmm, tastey, food, deliscous, fries, burgers: people who need food fast, children, college kids
the Sean John label as seen on its Web site: style, fashion, acceptance, cool, trendy: Young urbans
a can of Coca-Cola: traditional, classic, refreshing: everyone, kids, adults, thirsty,
Sleeping Beauty's castle on the Disney logo: fantasy, happily ever-after, princess, princes: children, romantics
Oprah Winfrey: energy, enthusiasm, hope, help, knowledge: Mothers
the Vietnam Veterans Memorial: saddness, death, common war expereinces, comraderae: war vets, family of vets, Americans as a whole
Ground Zero: twin tower scene, New York, saddness, togetherness, love, heros, tradegy: Americans
a dollar bill: money, green, work hard: Those who work hard
super unpatriotic vehichle: making the argument that SUVs are unpatriotic, waste too much gas and wastes US gas reserves, it doesnt help the environment and is wasteful: those who do not drive SUV's, and to get a rise and spread knowledge to people who drive SUV's.
i think this strong and durible cover is a parallel to the strength and duribility of the owner's take on faith. I can see myself owning one becuase everytime i look at it, it would remind me of strength.
a Boston Red Sox cap:
this can show the support for the team or just the support and like of boston itself. I think its an easy and practicle way to show one is a fan of something.
a Livestrong bracelet:
this can show one's support for cancer research. perhaps the wearer may know someone with cancer, someone who is fighting it, or someone who has survived it. the bracelet may remind them to live strong and remind them that others who wear the bracelet may know what they are going through.
the label on a best-selling rap CD:
the label can be an advertisment of brand, as if to say, "hey if you like this cd, then check out the label, you will like the other bands under our label." i think its a good way to show ownership and accountability of the music on the cd.
the health warning on a package of cigarettes:
this is clearly a disclaimer, alieviating all accountability for future lawsuits or any deaths.
a belated birthday card:
i think the argument for this as i have done this before is not wanting the birthday person to think they forgot about them. perhaps the sender wants to apeise the person for forgetting about their birthday. or perhaps they could not send it on time, and wanted them to still get a card.
the nutrition label on a can of soup:
this is a great idea. its first and foremost required by the FDA. i think that arguement is to provide all health data for consumers so they understand what is going in their body.
the cover of a science fiction novel:
i think this is to entice and help describe what the novel is about. the picture and title could really transfer the contents of book to the mind of the reader, enticing them to buy the novel if they havent already.
a colored ribbon pinned to a shirt lapel:
this shows support, like the livestrong bracelet, of a certain cause. it could show people that, yes, the wearer is in support and knows and is informed about the cause and would like to spread awareness potentially about the cause (becuase it is on such a visible place on a person).
a Rolex watch:
this could be priced so high as to signal a status symbol. it says "i am affluent and i can afford a watch, that could be priced very reasonably, which is priced at so high."
2. Inform: i had to inform business council at our general assembly, that I set up a panel with PwC, a very prominant accounting firm, to come to BIF and answer questions regarding professionalism, resumes, interviews, ect. I had to convey to the memebers (100 people) that this event was going to be worth while and really effective. Persuasion: i really had to show the members why this was a good event and why the should come.
Convince: I had to convince my girlfriend to go out with the rest of us last week. I told her that she worked so hard during the week that she really deserved a small break. I told her we werent even going to stay out very late and that if she wanted to leave early, i would leave too! Persuasion: i had to use words that convinced her to want to come out with us. I made her see it my way and she agreed in the end!
Explore: I had a large accounting presentation to work on with a group. Of course I picked the hardest question to work on. After hours of research at the Union, i called my boyfriend and relayed the question to him. Together we explored many possibilites that the question brought up. He asked me many questions and I to he, and together we found an answer by exploring all facets of the situation. Argumentation: I think we really tried to highlight certain aspects of the situation and really try to get eacheother to understand what we were saying without persuading them to fall ONLY into our thought process. It was a very healthy and easy conversation that helped me find the answer through a combined process.
Make Decisions: I had to decide when I wanted to go home for Easter this weekend. I had to call my friend who also wanted to leave with me. I had to see when she wanted to go home and if she wanted to get the same bus ticket to ride the same bus with me. I also had to call my family and let them know what time was best for me to come home and see if it was cool with them too. Persausion: I had to persuade my friend to go home with me on the same bus. she really wanted to take her car home but I told her I already bought the tickets.
Pray: I use internal lanuage when I pray. I talk to Jesus and tell him what I am feeling. I like doing this becuase its as if He understands what I am saying without me having to actually say it. It is very relaxing. I kind of just think of what i want to relay to Him instead of actually formulating sentences. I dont think this is either arguement of persuasion, I am just telling Jesus how I feel and am listening to Him. Its really relaxing and I feel understanding rather than need for argumentation or persuasion.
4. USDA organic label: healthy, expensive, good, well taken care of: health nuts!
the Nike swoosh: athleticism, quality, speed, endurance, working out: atheletes
the golden arches: mmmm, tastey, food, deliscous, fries, burgers: people who need food fast, children, college kids
the Sean John label as seen on its Web site: style, fashion, acceptance, cool, trendy: Young urbans
a can of Coca-Cola: traditional, classic, refreshing: everyone, kids, adults, thirsty,
Sleeping Beauty's castle on the Disney logo: fantasy, happily ever-after, princess, princes: children, romantics
Oprah Winfrey: energy, enthusiasm, hope, help, knowledge: Mothers
the Vietnam Veterans Memorial: saddness, death, common war expereinces, comraderae: war vets, family of vets, Americans as a whole
Ground Zero: twin tower scene, New York, saddness, togetherness, love, heros, tradegy: Americans
a dollar bill: money, green, work hard: Those who work hard
super unpatriotic vehichle: making the argument that SUVs are unpatriotic, waste too much gas and wastes US gas reserves, it doesnt help the environment and is wasteful: those who do not drive SUV's, and to get a rise and spread knowledge to people who drive SUV's.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Presentation and Distribution
REFLECTION + CRITICAL THINKING:
WoW I cannot believe this project is really over! I think the way my video progressed, from the first draft to the last was its biggest strenght. I put so much time and effort adding small details to the completed draft. These included: adding music that was actually played on the radio station, adding transitions that acted as a guide to the "story", and adding credits and thanking Brent for his time. It took me probably over 10 hours to complete this entire final draft. I worked hard on getting the transitions to fit smoothly and especially hard on extracting audio from the main clips so I can put some interesting B-roll footage in the video. I think that part took the longest. But honestly, I learned so much about flow and smoothing from that. I think the weakness in the piece is perhaps (after I looked at others finished pieces) is perhaps the way it seems like an interview. I mean in my mind, I think that is okay, but I would have loved to get "into his mind" the way others did. I dont know how to accomplish this, especially since being a radio host is so "loud and noisy!". I think overall, the weakness was not too much of a weakness.
Gosh,I cannot wait to do the next piece. Like I said, I learned soooo much about technique and flow. I really wanted to refine the story to what pertained to the story, not just what I remember he said, and made sense to me. I want to put myself in the audience's head and really tailor the movie next time to what they want to see. I think I did that with this video. I really took people's suggestions and incorperated them into the video (smoother transitions, better flow, less graphics). I think this is a little different from authoring a text. This involves using images and timing of clips, visually, adding sounds, using effects like black and white and transitions. But overall, I think it is very similar. I think a very talented author of text could create vivid images in the mind of the reader. I think he or she could create timing of transitions from images to images, almost creating sound in the mind of the reader as well. I know, for exam Harry Potter, I saw the flashbacks in black and white, I heard sounds of the students like wands swishes and bursts, and I saw a great flow and transition from scene to scene.
AUDIENCE RESPONSE:
You know, in the end, I really think I communicated what I wanted out of the video: I wanted to show the background and progression of how and why this radio host, which a lot of us have heard of and listened to, got to being a radio host. I really wanted to incorporate smooth transitions, but most of all i wanted to do a lot of extracted audio over B-roll. I really wanted to do this beacause I saw in the other films we saw first before we made the films, and it was very effective for me to see what they were actually talking about as they were talking. I nearly couldnt watch the thing on the big screen, but when I did it wasnt even that bad! I mean I dont think anything was "disapointing" I really felt proud of my work, because I know I am not a professional and that this is my first time doing something like this. I was honestly very happy with my entire project because of that reason. This was such a good expeince to see something i worked so hard on meet my expectations!
DISTRIBUTION:
YOu know, I never thought to make this avaialbe to a wider audience. I mean again, I kind of did this for me, to see if I can actually do something. I mean I wanted tosee if I could visually put together a video that I saw first in my mind. I think I want to show it to my family and friends, but honestly, I really just want to show it to those who would knew and understood and saw me working on it, so they could also enjoy the fruit of it! I really feel strongly about this audience, they would probably really enjoy it. The ones i have already shown it to do!
WoW I cannot believe this project is really over! I think the way my video progressed, from the first draft to the last was its biggest strenght. I put so much time and effort adding small details to the completed draft. These included: adding music that was actually played on the radio station, adding transitions that acted as a guide to the "story", and adding credits and thanking Brent for his time. It took me probably over 10 hours to complete this entire final draft. I worked hard on getting the transitions to fit smoothly and especially hard on extracting audio from the main clips so I can put some interesting B-roll footage in the video. I think that part took the longest. But honestly, I learned so much about flow and smoothing from that. I think the weakness in the piece is perhaps (after I looked at others finished pieces) is perhaps the way it seems like an interview. I mean in my mind, I think that is okay, but I would have loved to get "into his mind" the way others did. I dont know how to accomplish this, especially since being a radio host is so "loud and noisy!". I think overall, the weakness was not too much of a weakness.
Gosh,I cannot wait to do the next piece. Like I said, I learned soooo much about technique and flow. I really wanted to refine the story to what pertained to the story, not just what I remember he said, and made sense to me. I want to put myself in the audience's head and really tailor the movie next time to what they want to see. I think I did that with this video. I really took people's suggestions and incorperated them into the video (smoother transitions, better flow, less graphics). I think this is a little different from authoring a text. This involves using images and timing of clips, visually, adding sounds, using effects like black and white and transitions. But overall, I think it is very similar. I think a very talented author of text could create vivid images in the mind of the reader. I think he or she could create timing of transitions from images to images, almost creating sound in the mind of the reader as well. I know, for exam Harry Potter, I saw the flashbacks in black and white, I heard sounds of the students like wands swishes and bursts, and I saw a great flow and transition from scene to scene.
AUDIENCE RESPONSE:
You know, in the end, I really think I communicated what I wanted out of the video: I wanted to show the background and progression of how and why this radio host, which a lot of us have heard of and listened to, got to being a radio host. I really wanted to incorporate smooth transitions, but most of all i wanted to do a lot of extracted audio over B-roll. I really wanted to do this beacause I saw in the other films we saw first before we made the films, and it was very effective for me to see what they were actually talking about as they were talking. I nearly couldnt watch the thing on the big screen, but when I did it wasnt even that bad! I mean I dont think anything was "disapointing" I really felt proud of my work, because I know I am not a professional and that this is my first time doing something like this. I was honestly very happy with my entire project because of that reason. This was such a good expeince to see something i worked so hard on meet my expectations!
DISTRIBUTION:
YOu know, I never thought to make this avaialbe to a wider audience. I mean again, I kind of did this for me, to see if I can actually do something. I mean I wanted tosee if I could visually put together a video that I saw first in my mind. I think I want to show it to my family and friends, but honestly, I really just want to show it to those who would knew and understood and saw me working on it, so they could also enjoy the fruit of it! I really feel strongly about this audience, they would probably really enjoy it. The ones i have already shown it to do!
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Art of the Real
Here is my very near final draft! Yippie!
I added a ton of music, transitions with sweet title scenes, and some great credits. I especially love near the end, the montage of album covers that the show likes to play. I feel the new title scenes definately help direct the video and make it more coherent and flowing.
I really did my research this time around and ALL songs and albums encorporated in the video are all played on the station. I really thought this would give the video an authentic feel that it deserved. Brent was a great interviewee and I wanted to get the essence of the interview.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Post-Production
POST-PRODUCTION JOURNAL:
Logging Shots:
* i have some really great B roll footage. I really like the shots of the equipment I have especially the ones of the cartoons on the walls and the slow moving shots of the equipment. I thin k i am going to use these shots, especially the mike and sound board shots of him playing and speaking, during the time when he is saying something thougthful or reflecting on his time as a host. I think this will communicate in pictures what he is actually doing and the medium he is doing it on.
Scripting + Paper Editing:
*
Reshoots
* i think since i took my video in a whole different direction (a much more serious and focused on his thoughts about his future and goals) I have some really great footage. I also think I am going to add in some word transitions to help communicate what he is really talking about. I want to keep it pretty focused in on his WORDS and want the B roll, which i have, to effectively shown that (as i described above)
I want to get some really good footage of the station from the outside on Green street. i think the class really hinted towards it and I love the idea.
Reflection (1st time around):
*i hated this run. i guess it really dos something when i see my work up on a larger screen. i think this entire first run is way to choppy. the whole thing is random and it seems like i put a lot less effort into it than i actually did. things i dont like:
1. transitions are random and cover up errors
2. sound is loud at points and soft at others
3. there is no story line
4. there are too many visual effects
Improvisation (1st time around):
*looking at the footage for the first time, i think i improvised a little too much. i didnt take the proper time to review the footage in its entirety to extract the good parts. i just picked what i rememberd i thought was "cool" and imported it into HD. this was a big mistake. i should have not been so concieded about how good i am in improvising and just looked at the footage before i began to shove things together.
Reflection AND Rehearsal (2nd time around):
When i had my video from last class, i really did not feel good about it. I was feeling really amature and I actually felt like i digressed in my work and outcome of my video. I thought it was too choppy and I had aweful transitions and sound consistancy. The entire movie was just NOT going smoothly and I knew I needed to scrap it.
Now that I had my new video complete, i feel so much better about it. My video is much more flowing and I really got what I want to convey out of it: I wanted to show that this guy we always here on the radio is pretty much just like us, he goes here, he is in a student run organization, and he has serious aspirations.
Improvisation (2nd time around):
* I learned a lot from my paper edit: I realized that it is OKAY to scrap an entire project and just rework the whole thing. I realized from my extensive paper edit really needs me to think on my feet and just go ahead, be brave and just start the project over again really sticking to what I wanted to initially envision. I had to play around with iMovieHD a lot before i realized how to really get the transitions and fluidity working. I really enjoyed this learning experience because I am so much more confident iMovieHD for the future projects.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Art of the Real.::. Rough Draft of Video
Here is my first attempt at making the Art of the Real! It is definately a work in progress. I think I am going to make a lot of changes to it including:
1. less visual effects
2. better sound consistancy
3. better transitions
4. a more coherent plot line
Monday, March 9, 2009
Production Journal
PRODUCTION JOURNAL
INTERVIEW QUESTIONS:
i created a list of questions to direct the interview. i made this list a couple of times on my blog last week. i want to elicit the radio host's point of view on public communication. i want to ask him how and why he got into this medium. i want to know a little about his background so the listener can understand where he has come from and allow some inherent knowledge of what is going on.
SHOT LIST:
i want shots of him:
speaking from atleast 3 different angles
taking calls
using the equipment
the equipment on its own
microphones
the room
any notes or posts to himself on the equipment or in the room
STYLE + ELEMENTS:
the lighting in the room is pretty blah. i was thinking...i am really excited about this, maybe turning the shots into a purplish hue. kind of getting this magical feel. if this could work i want to get drawings of stars and microphones, like scribbles and things to come on the empty space in the shots. i want this to be as 'artisitc' as possible in order to get a funky feel, to go with the personality of the radio host and communication medium.
STORYBOARD:
i am going to make a story board on regular paper
COMPOSITION + FORM:
i wrote about this in my previous entry. i want to get shots of the equipment and of him using the equipment as he is talking about what public communication is to him. i think this will get the content of the subject and the form of overlapping communication with its medium a really interesting angle.
IN THE FIELD:
what worked well: going in with an open mind, not being to strict with the questions, let the person talk as much as he or she wants (never know what kind of interesting tidbits are going to pop out).
what worked not as well: coming in with specific knowledge and trying to get the person to move in a specific direction, i almost never got good footage when i forced the interview. happy accidents happened when i interviewed him and he had to cut out becuase he needed to take a call or go back on the radio. I also am excited about a wall shot B-roll footage of notes and pictures on the wall of the studio. i am nervouse about putting this all together!
REFLECTION:
i am nervouse about the lighting in the studio. i had a vision of a darker studio and i came in and it was lights on and really bright. the mad did not look as eclectic as i thought he was going to look. I have learned not to be so specific.
IMPROVISATION:
my entire process of shooting was improved. I was so nervous going into the interview and so i just left my questions on the side and went with it!
Form and Content
How do I see form and content interacting in my piece thus far?
Well, as of now I finished getting all my footage during my interview with the Mad Hatter. I am still going to review the tape and see what the gist of everything leans towards.
I think the content of my footage is mainly getting the views of who the person is behind the voice. I shot a lot of the Mad Hatter (Brent) talking about his view on public communication and what it means to be on the radio. i have some footage of him explaining the workings of his equipment, as if to say "and this is how I get the medium of public communication."
As for the form, I think i am going to get a lot of shots of the equipment moving through the piece as Brent is describing what public communication is to him. I want to show the medium as he is explaining. I will have a lot of angles of him speaking (from behind the equipment, next to it, speaking into it) to show that medium of how he is communication.
Big Mistake...Just for the record everyone...
Insight TidBit #372:
Before you return the camera...make sure you take the video out of the camera.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Video Production Template : Pre-Production
"THE MAD HATTER".::.WPGU RADIO HOST.::.
.::.PERSONAL INSPIRATION.::.A: Well, i wanted to document something that had a large moving living being object. When i saw the documentary of the piano tuner, i saw more than just the man being interviewed: I saw the piano and what it stood for. i understood why he did what he did and what he affected by doin ghis job.
I wanted to capture this. The radio host idea came from me walking up and down Green Street all the time. I usually look into the WPGU station window and wonder what the heck is going on: are they on air, are they off? How do they do what they do? Do they know how to use every single button on that huge sound board??? This was my large, moving, being object.
.::.WORKING STATEMENT/HYPOTHESIS.::.
What i wish to get across in this video goes along with my motiff video and my manifesto: I want to show what people do everyday, in their own context, in their own life. The best part of every day life is the smallest things can be so interesting. We listen to the radio. But have we given much thought to the person ON the radio? What is that person's every day like?
"A glimpse into the life..." That is probably going to be my main motive. I love that.
.::. RESEARCH.::.
I know that this is a student run organization. That is it.
I dont know who these students are, why they are doing it, how they got the job, their motives, their show schedules and routines....
I have been invited into the station to interview the Mad Hatter, a radio host with a popular time slot and show. The location will be the station, during his time on the air. I will catch him in between calls and speaking. Also, I will stay after to get some less hectice shots. Secondary sources are the other radio hosts and students who listen to the station and show in specific.
.::. ANXIETIES.::.
I am anxious to get my first interview done. I have NO CLUE how to work the cameras, let alone interview people and work a camera at the same time! I am afraid i will waste time getting some things set up, or that the camera will not work. My idea is very realisitc. I have been told about the "Mad Hatter" that he is an outgoing, character, cheesy guy, so I am not too worried about feeling too awkward.
.::.TOPIC.::.
The Mad Hatter is a popular radio host on the local student run radio station. I am sure we have all turned on WPGU at night at some point or another to listen to the music, but haveyou ever wondered about who is behind the music?
.::.STRUCTURE.::.
Culminating moment....hmmm i want to get across that this is just another form of communication, much the same way that we use talking, facebook, twitter, and blogs to communicate. This is just another every day activity, listening to the radio on our side, and getting the songs to you, on the host's side.
.::. STYLE.::.
I want the room to be dark, colors to be bright, personality to be bright, and have some wacky calls. I want to shoot the radio host in action, on the phone, playing music, working on the sound board. I want to observe his activities. Every so once in a while I will interject these clips into his footage of the interview. I would love to get a clip of the itnerview getting interupted by a call or something to do with his job...just to show that communication is happening all the time. I want to get some interesting camera shots. I do not want to many of them to be straight on the radio host, but instead I want some of the equipment to show in the background so that I am not focused on the interviewing but on the message of communication.
.::. RESOLUTION.::.
I would love to end the video with footage of him taking a call or doing his radio host "thing" fading out, as if to say "and it continues on even after this interview is done with."
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