10. In "The Persuaders", I remember that in the world of marketing and advertising, there is a lot of group work. I never understood why Champlain was all about group work until now. Once your in the field, you must know how to work well together with your group in order to come up with a good idea. Working efficiently with a partner and a group is key in attaining success. For example, Song used a group to come up with a new logo, design, etc. It proved that working in groups is sometimes better than working by yourself.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
My top TeN MediA WOW"S!!!!
10. In "The Persuaders", I remember that in the world of marketing and advertising, there is a lot of group work. I never understood why Champlain was all about group work until now. Once your in the field, you must know how to work well together with your group in order to come up with a good idea. Working efficiently with a partner and a group is key in attaining success. For example, Song used a group to come up with a new logo, design, etc. It proved that working in groups is sometimes better than working by yourself.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Media Meditation # 6: The Losers?
Recently, I've been seeing many commericals for this new movie comming out called The Losers. At first I thought it looked really stupid but now that I've seen the commericals repeatidly, I'm persuaded to go and see it! When first watching the trailer, I immediately noticed the epistemological shift because of the words C.I.A., N.S.A. and Special Forces. This is where my neo-cortex plays a role too. My limbic brian is also in use because of the music in the background. The fact that I can access this trailer on my phone shows the aesthetic shift as well. One specific principle that stood out was production techniques. There were many close-up shots, different sound effects and font styles, etc. Another principle that I noticed was emotional transfer. I feel that this movie is directed towards "geeks" or "nerds" to make them realize that they can be just as cool as anyone else! When the narrator says the "C.I.A, N.S.A. and Special Forces....we're not them, we're the losers" definitely shows some humor involved in the movie as well as group dynamics. It also shows the technique symbols. Another technique I saw was beautiful people. Once again, there are many good looking actors and actresses in this film. Throughout the preview, there are words such as "Max" and "Kill them" so my neo-cortex is in use again. By the end of the preview, my reptilian is racing because I am anxious to see this film. I love action movies so I am excited to see this when it comes out! I'm a little confused as to what this movie is about though so I found a synopsis of it online.
"A tale of double cross and revenge, centered upon the members of an elite U.S. Special Forces unit sent into the Bolivian jungle on a search and destroy mission. The team-Clay, Jensen, Roque, Pooch and Cougar -find themselves the target of a lethal betrayal instigated from inside by a powerful enemy known only as Max. Presumed dead, the group makes plans to even the score when they're joined by the mysterious Aisha, a beautiful operative with her own agenda. Working together, they must remain deep undercover while tracking the heavily-guarded Max, a ruthless man bent on embroiling the world in a new high-tech global war".
Hopefully this let's you understand a little more what the movie is about!
Media Meditation #5: Brothers
Here's the trailer!
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Media Meditation #4: Miami for the 2nd time within 3 months??!!
Here's a video I found on youtube that shows you the true experience!
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Spring 2010/Midterm Examination
I learned that a medium is a very powerful tool these days. Between commercials to films to new technology devices, we are all distracted and persuaded by them! What we do and what we decide and what we think are all affected by the media!
2. What is the most important thing you have learned about yourself as a 1. A critical reader; 2. a writer, and 3. a critical thinker in this class so far?
As a reader, I have definitely grown! I have learned how to read scripts which I never thought I would. I have also improved as a writer because I am now capable of writing scripts as well as reading. This class has definitely made me think more about this crazy technological universe we are surviving in today.
3. What's one thing YOU would do differently this first half of the semester if you were to take this class again?
One thing I would do differently is to not always do the homework at the last minute! Even though I get it done, I feel that my work would be worth more if I actually took more time to do it and not procrastinate constantly.
4. What's one thing you would like ME to do differently this first half of the semester if you were to take this class again?
This is a tough one because I really don't have a problem with anything in this class. I guess I would like to see more films...such as documentaries so I can get a better feel for the chapters that I'm reading about.
5. Please comment on the usefulness of the course blog, your personal blog, our films, and our book(s) as learning tools.
I never thought I would blog this much but I honestly like it. It helps me review what I learned, helps collect my thoughts and keeps me updated. I like reading this book because it's not just word after word, it actually shows you what a script is like. I've definitely learned a lot this semester so far.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Avatars Strike Back- Media Meditation #3
Wear Sunscreen-Media Meditation #2
A few days ago when I was hanging out, one of my friends showed me this song. He asked me if I had ever heard of "The Sunscreen Song" and I said no. Once he showed this to me, I thought, "Wow! I am always going to wear sunscreen from now on". The words in it are turly powerful and stick in your head like glue. When first listening to it, my limbic brain was taking in all of the words and then the music. "The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists". Scientific evidence is just one of the persuasive techniques used in this song. He then talks about how the rest of his advice comes from personal experience. "You are not as fat as you imagine". When considering the seven principles of media education, this can relate to value messages and individual meaning. Many people think about their weight too much and would consider this meaningful to them. "The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind". This can be warm fuzzies just because it comforts me that the real troubles in my life won't ever cross my mind. There is also a lot of humor in this song...like when he says we will look back in 20 years at ourselves and we won't believe how good we looked! "Do one thing everyday that scares you...sing!" This is basically a simple solution to how to overcome our everyday fears. "Remember compliments you receive" Flattery is always good for the soul! "Maybe you'll marry, maybe you won't..." This makes me feel that it's ok if I or anyone else never wanted to get married! These are just some of the persuasive techniques he uses to make people want to wear sunscreen. When watching this on youtube, there was an Epistemological shift because of the words that change to an image. Overall, the words and images of this song made me want to wear sunscreen because I want to live to be old and enjoy my life regardless of if I ever get married or have children or never find out what I want to do. I want to be able to enjoy my long life happily and healthy. So....everyone should wear sunscreen!
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Better hope it's not a full moon tonight! Media Meditation #1
Yikes! Hope no whale eats me!
Looks like MSNBC embedded the wrong video...
SCENE #1: ESTABLISHING SHOT- 4 NEWS REPORTERS IN CHAIRS
Narrator #1 Matt: First, we want to begin with...
SCENE #2: CLOSE-UP NARRATOR #1
Narrator #1: Wednesday's tragedy at Orlando's Sea World, a veteran trainer pulled from a pool side plat form and killed by a killer whale as part guests watched on, were gonna talk to one of those guests in a moment...
SCENE #3: CLOSE-UP OF GUEST
NARRATOR # 1: But first...
SCENE #4: ESTABLISHING SHOT NARRATOR #1 AND NARRATOR #2 KERRY SANDERS
NARRATOR #1: ...NBC'S Kerry Sanders is at Sea World with the latest. Kerry, good morning to you
SCENE #5: CLOSE-UP NARRATOR #2 KERRY SANDERS
NARRATOR #2: Well good morning Matt, it's unclear what went wrong here and anmial experts say they may never clearly understand why this killer whale named Tilicam attacked his trainer
SCENE #6: CLOSE-UP TILICAM
NARRATOR #2: Tilicam, known as Tilly...
SCENE #7: ESTABLISHING SHOT SEA WORLD
Narrator #2: ...Is the largest killer whale in captivity...
SCENE #8: CLOSE-UP TILICAM
Narrator #2: ...More than 12,000 pounds!
SCENE #9: CLOSE-UP OF TILICAM AND TRAINER
Narrator #2: The Orca that killed fourty year old trainer, Dawn Brancho...
SCENE #10: CLOSE-UP DAWN BRANCHO
Dawn Brancho: I'm very high energy behaviors with animals
Narrator #2: ...That's dawn from an interview 2 years ago, with an NBC station in Orlando...
SCENE #11: ESTABLISHING SHOT OF DAWN AND TILICAM
Narrator #2: ...Described as highly experienced, dedicated...
SCENE #12: CLOSE-UP DAWN UNDER WATER
Narrator #2: ...At the top of her profession
SCENE #13: CLOSE-UP TILICAM UNDER WATER
Narrator #2: The head of animal training at all Sea World Park says the whale...End one minute.
One observation that I noticed when watching this news story is that the Narrator in the beginning talks a little fast. I remember reading that it is hard to write for news stories because there is so much to say in such a short amount of time. However, he didn't speak too fast where I couldn't understand him.
Another observation that I made when watching this video is that there are a lot of scenes. I feel that news stories must do this because they have to tell the whole story as well as give background information. For example, they show who Dawn is and then provide a previous interview with her to let the viewers know a little bit about her personality.
One last observation that I made about this news story is that they answer the 5 W's which Hillard talks about. Within ten seconds of viewing this video, I already knew the entire story. I feel that it is very important to reveal the 5 W's within the first ten or fifteen seconds so that the viewer isn't confused and stays interested.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Me hungry!
SCENE #1: ESTABLISHING SHOT-TWO GUYS ON COUCH-WATCHING FOOTBALL
Game in background
Narrator #1: Man, I'm hungry
SCENE #2: CLOSE-UP SHOT OF SNICKERS
Game continues
Narrator #2: Here...
SCENE #3: CLOSE-UP SHOT NARRATOR #2
Game continues
Narrator #2: Have a snickers, it's packed with peanuts.
SCENE #4: CLOSE-UP NARRATOR #1 WITH SNICKERS, TAKES A BITE
Game continues
Narrator #1: Mmmm
SCENE #5: ZOOMS OUT, TWO GUYS ON COUCH
Game continues
Narrator#1: Wow! My hunger's just gone
SCENE #6: CLOSE-UP SHOT NARRATOR #1
Game continues
Narrator #1: I wonder where it goes...
SCENE #7: ESTABLISHING SHOT GERMAN GUY AT DINNER
Violin music playing
German Narrator: Why am I always hungry?!
SCENE #8: CLOSE-UP SHOT GERMAN NARRATOR, EATS CHICKEN
Violin music continues
German Narrator: Why???!!!
SCENE #9: ORIGINAL TWO GUYS ON COUCH
Game continues
Narrator #2: I don't know...maybe germany?
SCENE #10: CLOSE-UP SHOT ON SNICKERS
Violin music plays again
German Narrator: Dehungerize...with Snickers!!
Thursday, February 11, 2010
DrEaM BiG
SCENE #1: ESTABLISHING SHOT - OUTSIDE LOLA'S MANSION - DANICA, LOLA, FANCY CAR.
Cheesy keyboard music.
Danica: Meet Lola.
Lola: Mmmm. Hmmm.
SCENE #2: CLOSEUP SHOT - ON LOLA'S FOOTBALL PORTRAIT.
Cheesy keyboard music continues.
Danica: The day he retired from football...
SCENE #3: CLOSEUP SHOT DANICA
Cheesy keyboard music continues
Danica: Lola started chasing his biggest dream
SCENE #4: CLOSE-UP LOLA AND DANCER IN LAUNDARAY
Cheesy keyboard music continues.
Danica: A business of his own...Lola's first step...
Lola: Mmmm
SCENE #5: LOLA POSES
Cheesy keyboard music continues
Danica: He built his website with GODADDY.COM
SCENE #6: LOLA AT HIS COMPUTER
Cheesy keyboard music continues
Danica: And with GODADDY'S easy to use e-commerce tools...
SCENE #7: CLOSE-UP LOLA'S COMPUTER
Cheesy keyboard music coninues
Danica: Lola will soon sell his own line to the world
SCENE #8: CLOSE-UP LOLA
Cheesy keyboard music coninues
Lola: Oooey
SCENE #9: LOLA AT POOL FLOATING AWAY
Cheesykeyboard music continues
Dania: Lola dreams big...and who's to aruge?
Lola: Uhhhuh
SCENE #10: GODADDY.COM
Danica: See more now at GODADDY.COM
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Busy Ball Busting Barack #1
1) During Obama's speech, my limbic brain starts to feel a level of comfort. By Obama giving me hope, along with the rest of America, it also makes my Neo Cortex think that maybe our country will survive.
2) When considering the eight trends, the most obvious one to me is the Technological Shift. I was recently informed that the White House has its own YouTube channel. Hundreds of years ago, who would have ever thought?! The fact that I can access it through my computer and even my phone shows the Aesthetic Shift.
3) One basic principle that I noticed was Production Techniques. There were different camera angles, for example, the camera zoomed in on his face at times. I think this is called a close-up shot. Another production technique that I noticed was Emotional Transfer. What emotions does this media tap? Some one who watches this might feel a level of comfort just like me. President Obama wants to give Americans a sense of hope.
4) The first persuasive technique that I observed was group dynamics. Being President of the United States, you must address your country. Obama does this by saying, "My fellow Americans". The second persuasive technique that I noticed was Humor when he mentioned how he hates root canals. The third would be Strength. Just by Obama being up there, he is proving that he is a strong leader and an amazing speaker. The fourth technique I noticed is Repetition. I found that he usually repeats himself after the people applaud because some one might not have heard him if the applauding was too loud. He repeats, "I hated it" about three times when referencing the bank bail out to a root canal. The fifth would be Warm Fuzzies. He claims that "All Americans are destined to succeed". This might give a lot of people a good feeling inside. The last technique that I noticed was Scientific Evidence. "One in ten Americans still cannot find work".
5) Because America is strong, we are perfectly capable of getting out of this recession.
6) "For 220 years, our leaders have fulfilled this duty". "They've done so during periods of prosperity and tranquility and they've done so in the midst of depression". "America is always destined to succeed".
Sunday, January 17, 2010
I get by with a little help from my friends
Here's a picture of one of the festivals I went to this summer, Rothbury. It was such a great experience, words cannot even describe. I drove about 16 hours from NY to Michigan. Long trip, but definitely worth it.