Writing Center Shoot Comm 360 Blog 3

     My studio production class was asked to design an advertisement for our school's writing center.  The writing center is a place for students to meet with a tutor about a paper or essay.  We were given a script and asked to come up with an idea for shooting the advertisement and then to carry that idea out.  Because we were given a script but no real direction, we are able to use our creativity to make an excellent advertisement.  In addition, we are able to edit the script to fit the shoot if needed.  The script that was given to the class is set up so several different people will be speaking.  Basically, one person will began saying one line and another person will come in saying the second line and so on.  For example, the first person says, "Hello." and the second person says, "Do you struggle with writing?" and the third person says, "Well, you're not alone.".  From there, the conversation continues and more and more information about the writing center is revealed.  Also, the script has a lot of repetitiveness to stress the most important aspects of the writing center.  For instance, the fact that it is free for students is highlighted several times in the script.  Overall, I think the script has a great direction but needs to be slightly tweaked.  Some of the repetitiveness is too much and actually distracts from the intent.  Saying it is free twice is enough to get the message across to the audience.  Additionally, the location of the writing center is said too many times and will distract viewers.  It should also only be said twice.  With the script being edited and the talent being actual tutors from the center, next, the shoot needs to be decided upon.
     My class came up with several different ideas for the actual shoot.  One was to shoot in front of a black background and use dramatic light to catch the viewers eye.  I found this idea to be acceptable, but someone mentioned that it might not be as upbeat as the script is and I completely agree.  Another idea was to shoot in front of a green screen and put a copy of an edited essay behind the speaker.  This was also an excellent idea.  However, the tutoring center focuses more on developing thought out ideas rather then marking up an essay and it may take away from the person speaking.  So, we were left with ideas but not a completely thought out plan.  Personally, I like the idea of using a white background.  It is like the black background in the sense that it is still plain and will not take away from the person speaking, but it is also bright and upbeat and flows with the script.  An excellent example of a successful commercial using a white background is the Mac vs. PC campaign.  Here is an example.

 

There entire campaign used commercials with two individuals having a conversation.  The commercials were successful and happen to be one of my favorite campaigns.  I genuinely enjoy the way the commercials look.  It is simple and the most important aspect that the viewers will focus on is the conversation between the individuals.  It has been said that sometimes less is more and in this case I would have to concur.

Learning Studio Jobs Comm 360 Blog 2

     Before going into the studio in my Studio Production class, I had a little amount of experience there.  Basically, I had done on-camera work, post-production editing, writing a script, and operating a teleprompter.  I had worked in these positions because I had made the decision to.  However, for this class, all students were given the opportunity to try any and every job in the studio.  To be honest, I was somewhat apprehensive about being thrown into situations that I had no experience doing.  I did not want to make mistakes or be embarrassed by my lack of experience.  Jobs were systematically assigned based on a number system and my first job was a camera operator.  I had very minimal experience operating a camera, but others in the class who had more experience were able to assist and teach me.  Now, I feel much more comfortable and confident while camera operating, but it was by no means my favorite position.  In addition to camera operator, I also was able to work with the audio, be on camera, and be a technical director.  In every situation I learned a lot and gained vital experience.  My very favorite job, though, was directing.

A Director's Chair

     The director is in charge of communicating with the rest of the team via headset and calling the camera shots.  Essentially, the director is in charge of holding the team together, telling the camera operators their shots, and telling the technical director when to switch cameras.  Before I had a chance to direct, I decided that directing would not be something that I would enjoy doing or even be very good at doing.  I generally shy away from being in charge and telling others what to do.  However, once I put the headset on, I liked the fact that I could use my own style to direct the show.  I was able to look at the monitors and decide what shots looked best and which shots to use.  Personally, I like shots that have very little headroom.  Also, I was able to try new things too.  At one time, I used a close-up shot on an individual who talked for a longer amount of time.  Overall, I realized my personal style for directing.
     Because this was my first experience in directing, I was far from perfect.  In particular, I need to become better at watching the conversation and determining who is going to speak next so the transitions between shots are smoother and more appropriate.  I also feel that I can improve by being more vocal about the exact shots I want.  I am very pleased that I was able to experience so many different roles in the studio.  I found that some jobs are much more exciting and enjoyable and other jobs are not for me.  I look forward for more opportunities to direct to become better and try other jobs as well.

Multi-Camera Production Comm 360 Blog 1

     Before starting my journey at Shepherd University I was able to experience some multi-camera shooting in high school.  Each day I would play a part in producing the morning announcements and I was also able to gain crucial experience in producing a news show and a talk show.  From the time I started doing this in ninth grade, I knew it was something I wanted to keep doing for a long time.  As my high school journey ended, I was sad to see such a wonderful part of my life ending too.  However, I knew that at some point during my college career I would be able to do this again and maybe even make a career out of it one day!  In the past several weeks of the semester I have realized that although I gained excellent experience in high school, I have so much I want to learn because I generally enjoy being a part of mutli-camera production and even more I need to learn if I ever decide to pursue a career in the field.
      Before my class was able to actually jump into producing any type of show, we were able to watch some of the work of Hamish Hamilton and see the different types of things that really go on behind the scenes of a multi-camera production.  Hamilton has directed many big events that have either been broadcasted live, like award shows, or shows that were turned into DVDs, like the U2 concert.    Here is the video of a Kanye West performance Hamilton directed for an awards show. 

 

     Obviously the work that Hamilton does and the work that I will be involved in this semester lie on two completely different ends of the spectrum.  It is important to keep in mind, though, that the basics of multi-camera production stay the same.  Audio and lighting are two very important things whether you are directing Kanye West or a small talk show.  The audio needs to be checked before hand to ensure that the audience will be able to leisurely listen and a lot of thought needs to go into the lighting to ensure the best quality and look.  Also, many people are involved in a multi-camera shoot and it is vital that everyone is on board and is cognizant of their jobs.  Everyone must function as a team and corporate with one another. 

   There are a lot of differences between a shoot like Hamilton's and a shoot my class will be producing, though.  While Hamilton's work is broadcasted to millions of people live, the work I will be doing in the studio will be prerecorded and may reach hundreds of people.  In addition, Hamilton's work is incredibly fast-paced and really exciting.  Although the work I will be doing is exciting, Hamilton's work is on a whole different level.  Also, in my setting, there is room for mistakes and error.  After all, it is a college class where learning will be taking place and editing can be done.  If something does not work, the class can work together to fix it for the next show.  However, Hamilton has one chance to get it right and one chance only.  His career literally depends upon it. 

     Overall, the experience I will get out of my class is not anywhere near the experience I would receive if I worked with Hamilton.  But, I am in no way, shape, or form prepared to work with someone like Hamilton until I have much more knowledge and experience under my belt.  I sincerely look forward to learning all the ins and outs of multi-camera production during the course of the semester and maybe one day I can become involved with award shows, sports games, and concerts.

A Multi-Camera Production

 

Topic Introduction

A Diamond Made Through CVD
Photo by: jurvetson 

When determining a topic for a twenty-five page website, I knew it had to be something I enjoy and am passionate about.  After thinking about different hobbies and interests of mine, I determined the perfect subject: diamonds!  After all, I enjoy everything about them, especially wearing them.  Besides the fact that diamonds shine beautifully in the sun, I realized I do not actually know much about them.  They come in different colors, shapes, and sizes, and I do have my own preferences, but I strive to learn more about diamonds than just their appearances.  Thus, my website will be filled with information about all different aspects of diamonds, and of course, many beautiful pictures.  My major theme will be the four "c"s of diamonds: color, cut, clarity, and carat.  Other topics that will be discussed are special, famous diamonds, the mining of diamonds, and the manufacturing of diamonds.  The saying "diamonds are a girl's best friend" is most definitely true in my case and I look forward to finding and sharing much information about diamonds.    

Comm 403 Blog 7-Psychoanalysis

Sigmund Freud

     Although the term psychoanalysis may lead some to think about the field of psychology, it is important to understand that psychoanalysis deals with the field of communication as well, specifically media studies.  Psychoanalysis began with Sigmund Freud in the late 1800s and spawned similar theories from other psychologists like Carl Jung.  In its most basic sense, psychoanalysis is a way to study mental and psychic properties that cannot be studied in other ways.  According to this theory, the psyche influences a person's ideas, actions, and personality and it made up of three things, the id, the ego, and the superego.  The id is a person's basic desires and drives and the superego is a person's high morals standards and values.  The ego balances the id and superego.  This is relevant to media studies because it is important to be able to read different texts, or acts of communications, through a psychoanalytical standpoint.  One article, Not Enough Graduates Know About Freudian Subtext in 'Alien 3', Say Employers, satirizes the idea of applying psychoanalysis to media studies.

     This article jokingly discusses the importance, or lack there of, of psychoanalysis in media studies.  The article begins by stating that not enough students are studying media studies and that the United Kingdom is falling between in the number of students choosing to study media studies.  However, the article satirizes the importance of psychoanalysis and being able to apply it to different forms of media, such as movies.  Basically, it tries to expose the ridiculousness and uselessness of being able to apply this theory to media.  The article even interviewed a media studies student who agreed that understanding psychoanalysis in this way will in no way assist in him becoming employed anywhere but Starbucks after college.
     Although this article is completely over the top and does a good job at making it's point, I believe that psychoanalysis does have a place in media studies and is important.  Like the article states, it is unlikely that someone will want to know about the sexism in Pacman simply "because it's really interesting".  However, I believe it is important to understand psychoanalysis to better understand society and its values and ideals.  One may not be able to make a complete career out of it, but with an understanding of psychoanalysis, one can do the best at his or her job.  For example, a job in advertising could benefit from the understanding of psychoanalysis by better targeting its audience.  Overall, the article does make a good point that psychoanalysis can seem silly and obsolete, but it does have a place in media studies. 
   

Comm 403 Blog 6-Social Subjectivity

     After living in a society for many years, have  you ever stopped to really consider the kind and amount of effect the society has had on you?  For example, what aspects of your life are dictated by society's ideals and values.  On the other hand, do you live your life without society having any influence on you at all?  Furthermore, is living a life totally unaffected by society even a remote possibility?  One aspect of the effect of society on individuals is called social subjectivity.  Specifically, social subjectivity refers to an individual's personal thoughts and mental processes and the effect that a society has had on those thoughts.  One of the most common examples of social subjectivity deals with gender.  For instance, in today's United States society, so many electronic voices are female, including GPS systems and a new application released by the iPhone 4S called Siri.  Siri is an application that allows users to speak directly into the phone to add appointments, search the internet, and other operations that would generally have to be typed in using a keyboard.  One article entitled

"Why Computer Voices Are Mostly Female" seeks to understand the social subjectivity in the gender selection of computer voices.  To begin, this article discusses the issue of biology.  It has been theorized that individuals are biology predetermined to find female voices more soothing and attracting, which may even be evident before birth.  Thus, because it is easier to find a female voice that most people will respond positively to, it makes sense to use a female voice in a computerized voice-interaction.  Another theory deals with history.  Since many telephone operators and flight attendants have been female throughout history, most people are used to receiving instructions from a female voice.  Also, research suggests that individuals prefer female voices over male voices and so GPS makers generally set a female voice as the default.  However, this does not run true in all countries.  For example, in Germany man prefer a male voice to give them directions and refuse to take directions from a female voice.
     So, are Siri and other electronic voice devices justified in using a female voice or are they just simply sexist?  The company that produced Siri and many other companies do extensive research before releasing a final product.  Also, although Siri does not give other voice options, many other computerized voice devices do give users many voice options, but the female voice is generally the default.  It is difficult to call these companies sexist because they are simply perpetuating the social subjectivity of gender.  Basically, they are giving the customers what they want, which is an attractive female voice to listen to.  The social subjectivity and stereotypes that already exist in society prompt companies to follow them to give the best product to the customers and make the most money.  Although companies may be perpetuating stereotypes, they are doing the best job of releasing the best products.     

Comm 403 Blog 5-Three Act Structure

   Aristotle's three act structure of narrative is still popular today.  To fully understand this three act structure, it is important to understand the meaning of a narrative.  A narrative is any story that follows events with some sort of frame of time.  Time is the most important part of a narrative because without a sense of time, it simply does not fit into the narrative format.  Almost all movies, books, television shows, and many other forms of media are considered to be narratives.  Thus, they generally follow Aristotle's three act structure.  According to Aristotle, the first act includes the character or characters getting into some sort of trouble.  Then, the second act involves the same character or characters getting into even more trouble, that it is difficult to see a resolution or way they will get out of trouble.  The final act involves the character or characters finding a way to resolve their conflicts.  Because most movies follow this three act structure, it can be demonstrated by breaking down most movies.  So, lets break down the three act structure of the movie, Confessions of a Shopaholic.

     In the first act of the movie, the main character, Rebecca Bloomwood, is hired to be a writer of a magazine entitled Successful Savings.  Although her columns are incredibly popular, she cannot seem to follow her own advice about saving money.  She is a complete shopaholic and continues to get in more and more debt.  After several failed attempts of her debt collector contacting her, she finally decides to attend shopaholic meetings to try to remedy her problem.

     In the second act of the movie, it appears as if she may be able to save herself from her problem by going to the shopaholic meetings, but things turn even worse than being in mounds and mounds of debt.  After a few shopaholic meetings, Rebecca is forced to start selling the items that she just purchased, including her bridesmaid dress for her best friend's wedding and an expensive dress she wanted to wear during a television interview.  She immediately tries to buy her dresses back, but can only afford to purchase one.  So, since the interview is first, she decides to buy that dress back and count on the fact that no one else will purchase her bridesmaid's dress until she obtains enough money for it.  However, she is wrong.  Not only is her bridesmaid dress purchased by an old homeless woman, she is also exposed on national television by her debt collector and loses her job.  Next, her friend realizes that a homeless woman is walking around in Rebecca's bridesmaid dress and does not want anything to do with her anymore.

     Although Rebecca seems like she is in too much trouble to ever recover, act three gives her an option to get out of trouble.  First, Rebecca is offered a job at a new magazine, but she decides to decline.  Next, Rebecca auctions off many of her clothes so she can afford to pay off her debts.  Also, she is able to recover the bridesmaid dress and attend her best friend's wedding, who forgives her.  Finally, her old boss starts a new company, and she starts dating him and working at his new company.  

     Overall, Aristotle's three act structure can be applied to almost any narrative.  The structure is simple; the narrative starts with a character in trouble, it gets worse, and then the conflict is resolved by the end.  This is the structure that is expected and is continued to be told.