Reflection: After viewing the piece again with audience, I believe that the work achieved everything that I intended it to. My opinion was apparently not distinguishable as sarcasm or seriousness, which I viewed as a positive. Black Friday is one of those very American events that may be disgusting to the rest of the world, but for Americans, is excepted as part of the culture. It is a confusing feeling one goes through when excepting such blatant materialism, so if the true motivation of my words was hard to understand, that was actually probably the truest representation of my feelings that I could convey. If I were to redo the piece, I would keep the overall tone and purpose that I strived for during this project, but I would strive for more personal and precise B-Roll footage. I felt that much of the footage was fit perfectly to the voiceover, but at times, the footage shown could have been more exact to what was being said. Other than this though, I am very pleased with the overall tone of the project, the comments that were made about it, and the message that I believe the piece conveys. America may consume like pigs, but that's America, and in the short term, it seems that one must take it or leave it.
Audience Response: As stated above, the audience expressed some confusion when trying to distinguish my true feelings behind the opinions I gave which is something that I viewed as a positive. My feelings behind Black Friday are confusing to even me, and I believe that the piece reflected the confusion one feels when trying to make judgements about the country that I love, but sometimes displays deplorable behavior. The audience seemed to enjoy the pace that the video maintained throughout which was definitely a focus of my production stage. The fact that the audience noticed this made this a very successful piece for me personally because I believe that improving pace and sustained entertainment value was an opportunity that I had going into this final project.
Distribution: I have posted this video on youtube and will definitely keep an eye on the page to see if it gets any views, or if anyone leaves a comment about the video.
Monday, December 8, 2008
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Post-Production Reflection
After assembling my video, I am extremely pleased with the finished product. The style of this this video is definitely nothing like I have produced in pervious modules, but for the first time, the finished product send the message that I wanted to convey. Black Friday is a strange occurrence that takes place every year and it seems that those that participate love it, and those that don't think that people who wait in lines at four in the morning are insane. My goal was to show that while Black Friday definitely has its down sides and its opponents, at its core, it is another time that families enjoy spending together during the holidays.
Throughout the assembly of the video, my ideas were constantly evolving. Viewing footage would spark ideas on what I could say about the "holiday" and then those ideas would lead to several minutes of video. More than any previous film, this project was exciting to construct from the beginning to the end.
I was fearful that the video would appear to be negatively stated, or that it would be perceived as being critical of all of the madness that takes place. However, after reviewing it, I believe that some of the movie is comedic, some is informative, and visually, both sides are presented. I am pleased with the entertainment value that I believe the movie gives, and I am excited to show it to the class.
Throughout the assembly of the video, my ideas were constantly evolving. Viewing footage would spark ideas on what I could say about the "holiday" and then those ideas would lead to several minutes of video. More than any previous film, this project was exciting to construct from the beginning to the end.
I was fearful that the video would appear to be negatively stated, or that it would be perceived as being critical of all of the madness that takes place. However, after reviewing it, I believe that some of the movie is comedic, some is informative, and visually, both sides are presented. I am pleased with the entertainment value that I believe the movie gives, and I am excited to show it to the class.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Production Journal
The process that went into the production of this video was significantly different than the one that took place for the previous three projects. My shooting process, though it went well, failed to produce any of the shots that I was hoping for, and I was forced to adapt to pull together a product that conveyed some of my views. I settled on a video about the happenings of Black Friday 2008, and though I had to be creative with the visual content of my project, I believe that the final product turned out to be my best project of the year.
Style and Elements: Very little of the video that I used retained its natural audio in the final product. Instead, I opted to pace the video with my own voice overs and music at the very beginning. I believe that after viewing the video thus far, this has turned out to be the correct choice.
Storyboard: In the end, the "story" that my movie would tell was my greatest challenge. I decided to provide an unbiased view of Black Friday and the participants for the majority of the movie, and in the end, I responded to criticism of Black Friday shoppers. My goal was to allow the viewer to make his/her own decision about Black Friday and I believe that the movie will accomplish that objective.
In the Field, Reflection, Improvisation: As we heard from the interview with Ira, sometimes footage is simply disappointing. When this happens, one is forced to adapt and that is exactly what I attempted to do in this video. Ironically, this video is the product that I am most proud of out of all of my videos. I am excited to see whether or not the final product will have the impact that I imagine it to have as I assemble it. I believe that I have out together a project that is entertaining, informative, and comedic, and these are all qualities that I look for in the movies that I watch.
Style and Elements: Very little of the video that I used retained its natural audio in the final product. Instead, I opted to pace the video with my own voice overs and music at the very beginning. I believe that after viewing the video thus far, this has turned out to be the correct choice.
Storyboard: In the end, the "story" that my movie would tell was my greatest challenge. I decided to provide an unbiased view of Black Friday and the participants for the majority of the movie, and in the end, I responded to criticism of Black Friday shoppers. My goal was to allow the viewer to make his/her own decision about Black Friday and I believe that the movie will accomplish that objective.
In the Field, Reflection, Improvisation: As we heard from the interview with Ira, sometimes footage is simply disappointing. When this happens, one is forced to adapt and that is exactly what I attempted to do in this video. Ironically, this video is the product that I am most proud of out of all of my videos. I am excited to see whether or not the final product will have the impact that I imagine it to have as I assemble it. I believe that I have out together a project that is entertaining, informative, and comedic, and these are all qualities that I look for in the movies that I watch.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Pre-Production
Personal: I have a firm belief that it is of critical importance to remain healthy at all times, both through a balanced diet and plenty of exercise. The United States mass culture seems to support the exact opposite in its citizens, and because of that, illnesses such as heart disease have become the leading killers of Americans.
Hypothesis: I believe that it is vital to the health and sustainability of the United States that its citizens take a much more active interest in remaining physically fit and healthy. I intend to show the disturbing trends that should persuade people to stay healthy, and the benefits of just a few hours of exercise a week.
Research: I have done much research about the different theories on diet and exercise and feel qualified to give a comprehensive overview of what it means to be physically fit and what one needs to do to attain that goal.
Anxieties: As always, the the fear that people will be unwilling to participate in the interviewing process. The fear that the piece will not have the intended impact that I am seeking.
Background: The amount of people that die from CVD every year will be a powerful statistic to have. The pain that being obese can cause many people and why they don't choose to get fit.
Conflict: Being myself vs. taking control of your life. Many people use the excuse that they are happy with who they are but how do you establish the difference between being genuinely happy and lacking the motivation to take control?
Hypothesis: I believe that it is vital to the health and sustainability of the United States that its citizens take a much more active interest in remaining physically fit and healthy. I intend to show the disturbing trends that should persuade people to stay healthy, and the benefits of just a few hours of exercise a week.
Research: I have done much research about the different theories on diet and exercise and feel qualified to give a comprehensive overview of what it means to be physically fit and what one needs to do to attain that goal.
Anxieties: As always, the the fear that people will be unwilling to participate in the interviewing process. The fear that the piece will not have the intended impact that I am seeking.
Background: The amount of people that die from CVD every year will be a powerful statistic to have. The pain that being obese can cause many people and why they don't choose to get fit.
Conflict: Being myself vs. taking control of your life. Many people use the excuse that they are happy with who they are but how do you establish the difference between being genuinely happy and lacking the motivation to take control?
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Video Project Goals
My goal is to highlight the disconnect between what education does, and what students and professors think it should do.
It is my opinion that the majority of students are not inspired to learn, but are instead trained to do a job, and I believe that this is a problem in American Higher education. The goal of my film will to be highlight both viewpoints on this dilemna......Is American higher education broken or not?
It is my opinion that the majority of students are not inspired to learn, but are instead trained to do a job, and I believe that this is a problem in American Higher education. The goal of my film will to be highlight both viewpoints on this dilemna......Is American higher education broken or not?
Responses
Although I did not get a chance to interview anybody on film, I did talk to several of my classmates and it seems to be a universal concern that education fails to inspire students, and concentrates more on training in classes that will never be remembered. I want to explore this issue with a variety of faculty and staff and see what they have to say about the issue. I believe that this piece has the potential to be very enlightening for all.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Dreaming Phase
I imagine a project that incapsulates all of my views on the education system in America. I don't believe that the current system inspires students that we encourage to much vocational training when we should be training people's minds to think. That would include interviews with faculty and students form both sides of the issue. (Assuming the issue is how successful and relevant the current system is)
Being a college student I feel very strongly about this issue and would love the opportunity to further explore my own ideas and beliefs in regards to it.
I could also continue my own route of exploring the american political process and how it fails to put the best people in office. That idea would require a great deal more planning because I would want interviews with elected officials of different kinds and people with opinions on them.
Being a college student I feel very strongly about this issue and would love the opportunity to further explore my own ideas and beliefs in regards to it.
I could also continue my own route of exploring the american political process and how it fails to put the best people in office. That idea would require a great deal more planning because I would want interviews with elected officials of different kinds and people with opinions on them.
This I believe
I believe that honesty, integrity, and competency should be the values that we cherish in our elected officials, and that the most powerful men in our country should be winners of their offices, not buyers.
I have been in the middle of political battles for my entire life. I have become the person I am today because I had to endure things as a young kid that most people never have to deal with their entire life. Until you have someone you love get unjustly smeared in every newspaper that gets out at your front door, you do not know anger.
Several years ago, my father was pitted against a woman with the power to outspend him 15:1. My father had dedicated the previous 12 years of his life to serve his constituency, and I often had to experience the negative effects of that. Many athletic events were not attended, and many more engagements were broken at the last second in the interest "of the people," and that was good, because that was what he did and the world around him was grateful for it.
That woman?...she beat my dad with that spending power, and the people whom he represented lost their voice. There isn't a day that goes by that my father doesn't think about that experience, and although he doesn't talk about it often, he lost his faith in the democratic process that day.
I don't want to lose my faith, but time and time again, people prove that it is money and showmanship that impresses, not credentials integrity.
I believe that the times of office for sale must end. Our future should be left up to someone who cares, not the highest bidder. Until we hold candidates responsible for their claims, nothing will change. But I believe in the people, I believe in their knowledge, and I believe in the future. I believe that with a little more time and care, tomorrow will be a better day than today, and that leaders like my father will once again be the victors in a part of our world that had lost its way.
I have been in the middle of political battles for my entire life. I have become the person I am today because I had to endure things as a young kid that most people never have to deal with their entire life. Until you have someone you love get unjustly smeared in every newspaper that gets out at your front door, you do not know anger.
Several years ago, my father was pitted against a woman with the power to outspend him 15:1. My father had dedicated the previous 12 years of his life to serve his constituency, and I often had to experience the negative effects of that. Many athletic events were not attended, and many more engagements were broken at the last second in the interest "of the people," and that was good, because that was what he did and the world around him was grateful for it.
That woman?...she beat my dad with that spending power, and the people whom he represented lost their voice. There isn't a day that goes by that my father doesn't think about that experience, and although he doesn't talk about it often, he lost his faith in the democratic process that day.
I don't want to lose my faith, but time and time again, people prove that it is money and showmanship that impresses, not credentials integrity.
I believe that the times of office for sale must end. Our future should be left up to someone who cares, not the highest bidder. Until we hold candidates responsible for their claims, nothing will change. But I believe in the people, I believe in their knowledge, and I believe in the future. I believe that with a little more time and care, tomorrow will be a better day than today, and that leaders like my father will once again be the victors in a part of our world that had lost its way.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
My Beliefs
- Dogs are better than cats
- You should always do your best
- Busy work sucks
- School should inspire students to think independently
- Being true to yourself is the most important thing that one can do
- Family forms the foundation of every person
"Dogs are better than cats"- Dogs seldom make you earn their love and affection. They give it unconditionally and that's exactly what I want in my pet. I have to deal with HUMANS that have human emotions all day, the last thing I need is a pet that behaves in the same way (cats for instance). One of the only things that could make me change my belief is a traumatic experience with a dog. If I was injured by an animal, I may feel differently about them.
"Schools should inspire students to think independently"- This should be the main function of schools and very few embrace it. Lessons learned in the classroom will seldom be remembered, but an institution that can teach a person to think, reason critically, and form their own opinions, leaves a skill with the student that will last a lifetime. This idea formed because I feel that our University doesn't always do the best job of this. Going through a year and a half of education here has made me realize that if you want to be inspired, you have to find the source on your own. A dramatic change in the way business classes are taught would help me to lessen this belief, but until then, I feel very strongly about this issue.
- You should always do your best
- Busy work sucks
- School should inspire students to think independently
- Being true to yourself is the most important thing that one can do
- Family forms the foundation of every person
"Dogs are better than cats"- Dogs seldom make you earn their love and affection. They give it unconditionally and that's exactly what I want in my pet. I have to deal with HUMANS that have human emotions all day, the last thing I need is a pet that behaves in the same way (cats for instance). One of the only things that could make me change my belief is a traumatic experience with a dog. If I was injured by an animal, I may feel differently about them.
"Schools should inspire students to think independently"- This should be the main function of schools and very few embrace it. Lessons learned in the classroom will seldom be remembered, but an institution that can teach a person to think, reason critically, and form their own opinions, leaves a skill with the student that will last a lifetime. This idea formed because I feel that our University doesn't always do the best job of this. Going through a year and a half of education here has made me realize that if you want to be inspired, you have to find the source on your own. A dramatic change in the way business classes are taught would help me to lessen this belief, but until then, I feel very strongly about this issue.
Responses to Reading Questions
1. Arguments can definitely be any text that one sees day to day because every piece of text that is written has a bias. Even with the most disciplined individual attempting to write an unbiased opinion on something, their subconscious opinions about the subject slip in. It can be argued than any form of communication is an argument because everything from the words one uses to tone in which they speak the words reflects a certain opinion that source harbors. Even when answering simple yes or no questions, things such as facial expressions show a deeper feeling about the subject than the answer can ever signify.
2. I use language to make decisions everyday. When meeting people as a college student, everyone subjects a counterpart to a kind of verbal interrogation that establishes a "feel" for whether or not the two personalities are compatible. In my most recent experiences, I have used language to communicate how I feel about certain subjects. Putting your personal opinions out into the open only helps an individual to discover more about himself and the world around him.
3. Editorials are the most obviously biased pieces of writing that exist in mainstream media. I believe that editorials are a horrible way to voice one's feelings because feedback on those thoughts are limited to when the next paper is published.
4. USDA label- Safety and a reassurance of quality; this idea is very easily refutable with any research
Nike swoosh- Performance; sweat shop labor
Golden arches- Greatest supplier of unhealthy but delicious food in the world
Sean John Label- Class and elegance
2. I use language to make decisions everyday. When meeting people as a college student, everyone subjects a counterpart to a kind of verbal interrogation that establishes a "feel" for whether or not the two personalities are compatible. In my most recent experiences, I have used language to communicate how I feel about certain subjects. Putting your personal opinions out into the open only helps an individual to discover more about himself and the world around him.
3. Editorials are the most obviously biased pieces of writing that exist in mainstream media. I believe that editorials are a horrible way to voice one's feelings because feedback on those thoughts are limited to when the next paper is published.
4. USDA label- Safety and a reassurance of quality; this idea is very easily refutable with any research
Nike swoosh- Performance; sweat shop labor
Golden arches- Greatest supplier of unhealthy but delicious food in the world
Sean John Label- Class and elegance
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Presentation and Distribution
THe biggest flaw that I observed in my piece were the lack of quality on much of the action footage, and the poor rendering that obviously occurred, causing the audio to not match the movements of Scott's voice. Strength wise, I believe that I made several critical style decisions that help me relay the message that I was attempting to create. Having said that, the choice of message is always an element of the work that can be a point of contention. However, for the footage that I had obtained, I believe that the choices I made were critical to the movie coming out as it did. It is definitely a challenge to communicate only through the actions and words of another. The situation created by this dliemna lends itself to situation where authors misconstrue the words of their subjects to push a personal agenda.
I got a very positive response from the audience, especially after I was able to explain all of my style choices to them. A few peers would have made different style choices, but after explaining why I did the things I did, I am still confident that I did all I could to effectively relay my message.
Other than planning to show the piece to the subject of the interview, I have no plans to distribute the work on a larger scale.
I got a very positive response from the audience, especially after I was able to explain all of my style choices to them. A few peers would have made different style choices, but after explaining why I did the things I did, I am still confident that I did all I could to effectively relay my message.
Other than planning to show the piece to the subject of the interview, I have no plans to distribute the work on a larger scale.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Post-Production
Throughout the process of creating the actual film, my ideas were constantly changing. THe real dilemna that I seemed to be constantly confronted with was what message I wanted to portray given the large amount of footage that I had. I could have made into a piece about golf with a great golfer speaking, or I could have made it into a piece about all of his accomplishments, but I settled for something that was right down the middle. I allowed him to express what he felt about the game, and how that effects the way that he plays it at such a high level. My hope was that the film would leave individuals with a better understanding about how dynamic of a game golf is, and the thoughts that go into competing at the very highest level. I felt privelaged to be about to talk about a game that I love and with an individual who is one of the best in the country at playing it.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Moving into Editing
I have captured some action footage on my subject and have begun to examine how that footage will fit into my interview presentation. After reviewing the film material, I have found several angles I can take on the subject in order to make it interesting and entertaining. Editing varies greatly from the filming aspect of of the project because once I am able to review footage that I have actually captured, it is much easier to come up with what my specific direction will me during the formative portion of the project. I am excited to see how the footage that I capture through the interview will fit with the action footage that I have collected.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Form and Content
Content is dependent on the form that that it is presented in. In many ways, it is the form that makes a well documented story into a great piece of visual art. Form incorporates all of the nuances that give a piece of work its character.
In my work, I plan on accentuating the content that is captured with action shots to give the words more depth and character. By highlighting Scott's account of being a golfer with shots of him actually playing, I believe that I can create something that will truly present the aspects of the game that I wish to capture.
In my work, I plan on accentuating the content that is captured with action shots to give the words more depth and character. By highlighting Scott's account of being a golfer with shots of him actually playing, I believe that I can create something that will truly present the aspects of the game that I wish to capture.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Pre-Production Journal
1. I am going to be interviewing a golfer which is inspired by my love for the sport. He has played many of the courses that I dream of playing and is very accomplished as a player.
2. My video will capture the competitive nature of golf and the superior degree of concentration that is required to be a great performer.
3. I know anything and everything about golf and a large amount about the college game. I am sure that there is much that I will learn from talking to an individual who has competed at a high level for many years.
4. I worry that I wont be able to capture enough footage of Scott actually playing golf. This involves getting out to the site and filming in an environment that is not conducive to third parties.
5. A video about an individual's quest to become the best collegiate golfer in the nation, and fulfill his dreams of playing on the PGA Tour
6. The difficulty of becoming a collegiate player...statistics behind it (voice over)
7. Main and only character for the time being is Scott the golfer
8. MAN VS. HIMSELF; Golf is a largely internal game that is won and lost within one's own self.
2. My video will capture the competitive nature of golf and the superior degree of concentration that is required to be a great performer.
3. I know anything and everything about golf and a large amount about the college game. I am sure that there is much that I will learn from talking to an individual who has competed at a high level for many years.
4. I worry that I wont be able to capture enough footage of Scott actually playing golf. This involves getting out to the site and filming in an environment that is not conducive to third parties.
5. A video about an individual's quest to become the best collegiate golfer in the nation, and fulfill his dreams of playing on the PGA Tour
6. The difficulty of becoming a collegiate player...statistics behind it (voice over)
7. Main and only character for the time being is Scott the golfer
8. MAN VS. HIMSELF; Golf is a largely internal game that is won and lost within one's own self.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Journaling Template
1. I have a long and storied interest in golf and am contemplating interviewing an individual who I know that is on the golf team. If I decide to interview my other potential subject (the security guard at the undergrad on the over night shift), I will have little more than curiosity driving me.
2. The main theme of the security guard interview would be something related to the saying "men lead lives of quiet desperation." Why does that guy walk around the undergrad every night, pretending that something horrible is about to happen?
4. Interviewing a random person makes me nervous because I might get turned down. I have very few nerves about interviewing the golf guy.
8. I imagine the central conflict of the guard interview would be MAN VS. WORLD(NATURE); possible about the bad cards that he had been dealt that lead him to work in a basement library.
9-14. I need to focus my effort much more before I can answer these confidently.
2. The main theme of the security guard interview would be something related to the saying "men lead lives of quiet desperation." Why does that guy walk around the undergrad every night, pretending that something horrible is about to happen?
4. Interviewing a random person makes me nervous because I might get turned down. I have very few nerves about interviewing the golf guy.
8. I imagine the central conflict of the guard interview would be MAN VS. WORLD(NATURE); possible about the bad cards that he had been dealt that lead him to work in a basement library.
9-14. I need to focus my effort much more before I can answer these confidently.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Reflection on Shiva's Dance Floor
America's priorities have been aligned in a way that is so disconnected from when our nation was founded, that many of the things that used to symbolize nobility in our nation can no longer be said to do so. New York City can be used as a metaphor for what our nation values, and the lack of soul that our United States boasts. In the place of something that epitomized this lack of soul, build something that transcends the superficial needs of our country, and embraces what the heart of a nation should be, its people.
10 Question Interview
College's affect on future:
How did you decide on your major?
Are you still committed to that field of study?
What value will that degree truly have for you?
Will a career in that field bring you the happiness that you want out of life?
How do you imagine your final year of life?
Would you send you children to the U of I?
What's the most valuable experience that you've had here at school?
What do you believe is the most important part of being a college student?
Does being at school make you happy?
Do you believe any of your current friends will be friends for the rest of your life?
How did you decide on your major?
Are you still committed to that field of study?
What value will that degree truly have for you?
Will a career in that field bring you the happiness that you want out of life?
How do you imagine your final year of life?
Would you send you children to the U of I?
What's the most valuable experience that you've had here at school?
What do you believe is the most important part of being a college student?
Does being at school make you happy?
Do you believe any of your current friends will be friends for the rest of your life?
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Convo provoking questions
Why are we doing interviews?...Are interviews really the best way to capture our subject?
How can one best "encourage" the interviewee to tell them your story?
How can one best "encourage" the interviewee to tell them your story?
Monday, September 29, 2008
The Art of the Real
Brainstorming for the project:
campus athletes
admissions officer in engineering or business
the nighttime clean-up guy at the undergrad*
I want to aim for something that will be unique to the experiences that I have week to week. I want to learn more about one of the people who is part of my everyday life, yet I know nothing about.
voice over narration
campus athletes
admissions officer in engineering or business
the nighttime clean-up guy at the undergrad*
I want to aim for something that will be unique to the experiences that I have week to week. I want to learn more about one of the people who is part of my everyday life, yet I know nothing about.
voice over narration
Objectivity in Media
All media is created by humans and is therefore all subjective. The important part is realizing this as a viewer and seeking to understand how the authors point of view affects the message that is trying to be relayed. The lack of objectivity in media is what makes it art.
My Case Competition Experience
This past Friday I participated in a case competition that was sponsored by Philip Morris. Our team failed miserably in presenting a product that was close to what the company expected from a winning team, but this afforded us a great opportunity to learn about what Sales is like in the corporate world. I learned that selling anything is less about the information and more about the art of conversation. People will give their business to someone they trust and who is able to present some element of understanding when it comes to the other persons needs.
Learning from an individual is always more effective than learning from a book. There is something about being able to see the sincerity in an individual's face that gives more credence to the advice that is being given.
Learning from an individual is always more effective than learning from a book. There is something about being able to see the sincerity in an individual's face that gives more credence to the advice that is being given.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Questions for the audience
Did the two symbolic decisions seem too stereotypical of a college student?
Did the fork in the road decisions make sense as general symbols of decision making?
What images would you have liked to see instead of the ones chosen?
What kind of decisions are you forced to make on a day to day basis at school?
Did the fork in the road decisions make sense as general symbols of decision making?
What images would you have liked to see instead of the ones chosen?
What kind of decisions are you forced to make on a day to day basis at school?
My Process During Creation
For this video, I put a significantly longer period of time into the planning stage. Before I filmed anything, I already had in mind the images that I wanted to capture, and what I believed those images would convey in my work. Once I had gathered the necessary footage, completion of the project came down to trimming the clips, and tying everything together with music and words. I feel that I put a much more concentrated effort into this project, and because of that, produced a much higher quality product. I will be much less nervous when I display this video to the class.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Inspiration Box
Things that inspire me:
success
friends
parents
money
possessions
other successful people
love
Quotes:
'So do all who see such times. But that is not for us to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that we are given.'
-Gandalf
"Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string."
-Emerson
"A question that sometimes drives me hazy: am I or are the others crazy?"
-Einstein
"Tis a far greater thing to dare great deeds and to win great triumphs, although checkered with defeat, than to live amongst those poor souls who neither suffer nor enjoy much because they live in a gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat."
-Theodore Roosevelt
Video
espn
pgatour
JIBJAB
Websites:
gmail
facebook
styleforum
inc.
success
friends
parents
money
possessions
other successful people
love
Quotes:
'So do all who see such times. But that is not for us to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that we are given.'
-Gandalf
"Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string."
-Emerson
"A question that sometimes drives me hazy: am I or are the others crazy?"
-Einstein
"Tis a far greater thing to dare great deeds and to win great triumphs, although checkered with defeat, than to live amongst those poor souls who neither suffer nor enjoy much because they live in a gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat."
-Theodore Roosevelt
Video
espn
pgatour
JIBJAB
Websites:
gmail
styleforum
inc.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Reflection on the Film
I believe that the film perfectly reflects the goals that Vertov states in his manifesto. The film brings together thousands of random images to bring some idea of a story to the screen through the use of countless symbols. The film is truly unique and different from anything that I have ever seen. It gives me an entirely new appreciation for the way a story is created through film. The expertise shown in this piece puts most of today's films to shame.
My Creative Video Making Process
After analyzing my footage from the first day of shooting, I noticed that the work I had done was very chaotic, random, and difficult to understand. I had failed to complete the planning part of the process, and therefore, I produced a sloppy product. On the second day, I started out with an idea of the words that I wanted to represent with video, and then set out to find ways to create those words. Even with that small amount of planning, I developed an entirely new shooting mindset, and the quality of my product increased substantially. For the next video project, my goal is to lay out a pla of attack for shooting my footage, and then find any and every way to represent the images that I want to capture.
My Decision Making Manifesto
The decisions we make define the way we are perceived by others. At this point in our lives, we are constantly faced with decisions that could be considered "forks" in the road, and those decisions do not have identifiable right answers. The choices we are faced with everyday are based on assumptions, guesses, and our best estimations of the future. Therefore, I will make these decisions with these principles constantly in mind.
I will be true to myself and trust my instincts even when those around me are in doubt. I will make decisions that reflect the person that I try to be each and every day. I will understand that when decisions are based on unknown information, my most important resource is myself. I will understand that making the right decision is not always the goal, sometimes the lesson learned from making the decision is supreme. I will stick by my decisions once made because I believe this is an important attribute to consider when judging the character of a human being.
I will be true to myself and trust my instincts even when those around me are in doubt. I will make decisions that reflect the person that I try to be each and every day. I will understand that when decisions are based on unknown information, my most important resource is myself. I will understand that making the right decision is not always the goal, sometimes the lesson learned from making the decision is supreme. I will stick by my decisions once made because I believe this is an important attribute to consider when judging the character of a human being.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Sharing my Work
I never mind sharing my work when I know that I have put forth my best effort. In those cases, I know that no matter what I hear, or no matter the criticisms put toward my work, I have done my best and I only have room to improve and no need to have regrets. However, when I have not put forth my best effort, fear starts to set in. When you become self-conscious of your own work, every fault in the project seems to stick out like a sore thumb, regardless of how big or small the mistake may be. The lesson learned from this? Always do your best, and no matter the perceived quality of the work, you will never have anything to regret.
10 Things I Saw Today Friday-Sunday
Friday:
1. A desolate computer lab at 3 AM
2. A stumped TA
3. MY SISTER
4. An impromptu interview
5. EMOness
6. A busted party
7. A late arrival
8. Man vs. Wild marathon at 2 AM
9. Jimmy John delivery lady at 3 AM
10. My pillow at 3:30 AM
Saturday:
1. My debut as a grillmaster
2. A FLYOVER
3. A close call
4. Saturday homework
5. Too many movies
6. A wild sibling
7. The nightlife of Champaign from my balcony
8. Early bed
9. Sister at 3 AM
10. Safe and sound guests by 4 AM
Sunday:
1. RAIN
2. FLOODS
3. Sun
4. A very disappointing loss
5. A lost QB
6. An unbelievable defense
7. Online quiz upon online quiz
8. Video homework
9. Pancakes for lunch
10. My bed for once...as opposed to the couch
1. A desolate computer lab at 3 AM
2. A stumped TA
3. MY SISTER
4. An impromptu interview
5. EMOness
6. A busted party
7. A late arrival
8. Man vs. Wild marathon at 2 AM
9. Jimmy John delivery lady at 3 AM
10. My pillow at 3:30 AM
Saturday:
1. My debut as a grillmaster
2. A FLYOVER
3. A close call
4. Saturday homework
5. Too many movies
6. A wild sibling
7. The nightlife of Champaign from my balcony
8. Early bed
9. Sister at 3 AM
10. Safe and sound guests by 4 AM
Sunday:
1. RAIN
2. FLOODS
3. Sun
4. A very disappointing loss
5. A lost QB
6. An unbelievable defense
7. Online quiz upon online quiz
8. Video homework
9. Pancakes for lunch
10. My bed for once...as opposed to the couch
Friday, September 12, 2008
Response to "Rituals of Preperation
Twyla Tharp's comments in this selection could not be more true. For some reason, it always seems that the human tendency is to want to be lazy and never get started on the task at hand. Regardless of the magnitude of the task, human nature seems to prohibit us from getting going, and the more important the task, the harder the start becomes. Rituals are the conscious solution to the laziness of the sun conscious mind. For example, although Tharp's subconscious may prohibit her from truly desiring to get up, get dressed, go to the gym, and then perform a worthwhile workout, her conscious mind can tell her to get up and get in a cab, at which point, desire is no longer a factor in the decision since logic would prevent her from turning back when she has already made such progress.
Traditional fear of failure prevents me from getting started on the video project. With little experience making video, and the apparent expertise of many members of the class, there are no guarantees that my project will bring me the sense of satisfaction and accomplishment that I always strive to achieve in my work. However, I believe that I have discovered the trigger that will help me not only get started, but finish a with a quality product.
If I could give up one thing for a week to clear distractions from my creative process, it would be movies. I am a movie junkie. Anytime a movie that I may even remotely like comes on to one of the movie channels, it becomes a necessity that I sit and watch it in its entirety. Without movies, I would watch 25% of the television that I currently watch, and would clear countless hours that could be reallocated to more productive activities. Not to say that I don't believe movies have positively affected me. I believe that quality of my creative process, and my openness and inquisitiveness about the world have stemmed from viewing hundreds of movies on both the big screen and at home. However, sometimes one needs to clear a path through the creative genius of others to allow personal creation and genius to freely flow.
Traditional fear of failure prevents me from getting started on the video project. With little experience making video, and the apparent expertise of many members of the class, there are no guarantees that my project will bring me the sense of satisfaction and accomplishment that I always strive to achieve in my work. However, I believe that I have discovered the trigger that will help me not only get started, but finish a with a quality product.
If I could give up one thing for a week to clear distractions from my creative process, it would be movies. I am a movie junkie. Anytime a movie that I may even remotely like comes on to one of the movie channels, it becomes a necessity that I sit and watch it in its entirety. Without movies, I would watch 25% of the television that I currently watch, and would clear countless hours that could be reallocated to more productive activities. Not to say that I don't believe movies have positively affected me. I believe that quality of my creative process, and my openness and inquisitiveness about the world have stemmed from viewing hundreds of movies on both the big screen and at home. However, sometimes one needs to clear a path through the creative genius of others to allow personal creation and genius to freely flow.
10 Things I saw today Monday-Thursday
Monday:
1. Fresh set of work on my desl
2. Champaign-Urbana through a camera
3. My bike!
4. Someone trying to be someone else
5. New and interesting buildings on campus
6. The entire class catalog for Fall '08
7. A winner
8. A meeting of 200
9. Collaboration
10. My new team
Tuesday:
1. Champaign-Urbana through different eyes
2. Another Econ class from the inside of my apartment
3. A packed house
4. The other side of town
5. The beginning of another apartment search
6. A disappointed face
7. Fury
8. A BEAUtiful night
9. A Friday on a Tuesday
10. My first D.P. Dough
Wednesday:
1. TOO MUCH disappointment
2. A failure
3. Bad teammates
4. Frustration and sadness
5. The weak side of a strong friend
6. Total vulnerability
7. Nighttime bike riding
8. Drunken debauchery
9. A shocking string
10. My new wife
Thursday:
1. First shift
2. A brother and co-worker
3. Econ class FROM the econ classroom
4. Office of admissions and records
5. Wild girl
6. Delicious chicken fingers
7. BUFFS
8. Custard Cup
9. Halloween candy
10. Denial
1. Fresh set of work on my desl
2. Champaign-Urbana through a camera
3. My bike!
4. Someone trying to be someone else
5. New and interesting buildings on campus
6. The entire class catalog for Fall '08
7. A winner
8. A meeting of 200
9. Collaboration
10. My new team
Tuesday:
1. Champaign-Urbana through different eyes
2. Another Econ class from the inside of my apartment
3. A packed house
4. The other side of town
5. The beginning of another apartment search
6. A disappointed face
7. Fury
8. A BEAUtiful night
9. A Friday on a Tuesday
10. My first D.P. Dough
Wednesday:
1. TOO MUCH disappointment
2. A failure
3. Bad teammates
4. Frustration and sadness
5. The weak side of a strong friend
6. Total vulnerability
7. Nighttime bike riding
8. Drunken debauchery
9. A shocking string
10. My new wife
Thursday:
1. First shift
2. A brother and co-worker
3. Econ class FROM the econ classroom
4. Office of admissions and records
5. Wild girl
6. Delicious chicken fingers
7. BUFFS
8. Custard Cup
9. Halloween candy
10. Denial
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
My Rituals
I guess I have one very reliable daily ritual. First off I always wake up early and eat something and then watch TV. For some reason I always feel as though I have missed some big event in the world in the past 8 hours and that I need to catch up. Other that, and the fact that I eat throughout the day and sleep every day, I can't really say that I ever do the same thing twice. I wander a lot, eat different places, take different routes too and from class and subconsciously keep myself guessing.
McCloud Reading
This is one of the deepest thing I have ever read. To be honest I have not had time to develop and worthy thoughts on the subject. When I have contemplated it, I will post again.
Monday, September 8, 2008
What makes a great website?
GMAIL: Relevant buttons are easily accessible and the homepage is colorful and intriguing. I visit gmail at least 150 times a day.
WEATHER: It's easy to find your state and the radar. Streaming video of the current radar made it critical for my job at the golf course this summer.
ILLINOIS.EDU: It's necessity puts it into my top 5 but with the new homepage, it's very easy to use and much more visually appealing. The relevant links jump out at you now and I don't mind having to log into it every day.
FACEBOOK.COM: I use the new facebook and I really like it. All the posts and everything are consolidated on one wall and the bumper stickers and apps and everything are only accessed if you want to see them. It had reduced the clutter on people's homepages and you still have access to every bit of news about your friends activity
How I see the world
I would have to say that overall, I have a very optimistic view of the world. I believe that making mistakes is ok and that that is how we best learn about ourselves and our surroundings. I believe that in the end, things tend to work out , even if the end result is one that I had not previously imagined. Because of these views, I don't mind taking risks when making decision. The way I have always seen it, even if the worst case scenario should come to be, it could only lead to a valuable lesson being learned. However, this kind of thinking requires some kind of fail-safe, and for me, that's the knowledge that I believe I am a rational decision maker. I would never make a decision that could be a detriment to myself or others with the simple rationalization that "I'll learn from it."
10 Things I Saw Today Wed-Sun
Wednesday:
1. My brother sleeping on a couch
2. paintings much older than I
3. a whole new world through my computer
4. 100 anxious PM's
5. discerning fellow brothers
6. the best workout facility in the nation
7. extreme disappointment in friend
8. late night at potbelly's
9. the inside of my old dorm
10. nighttime on the balcony
Thursday:
1. big rain drops all day
2. 1200 girls wander the quad
3. 95 people shake with fear in front of me
4. 100 brothers arguing for their favorites
5. Diddy Blog 16; There ain't even no crack heads in Alaska
6. 20,000 worth of cookies
7. A hall of flags
8. The perfect business process
9. Lighting over the union
10. an old friend
Friday:
1. 4:30 AM
2. Sleepy pledges at 6:30 AM
3. 100 very crabby brothers
4. BIF
5. 10 very festive friends
6. my first apt. party
7. 1200 differently dressed girls...wandering the quad
8. 20 extremely happy new pledges
9. my favorite movie
10. my best friends
Saturday:
1. a shalacking
2. thousands of faithful fans
3. my favorite pastime on campus
4. a very "excited" "brother"
5. my sister
6. a meltdown
7. a great recovery
8. a very late entry
9. happiness in my sister
10. a late night feast
Sunday:
1. A lot of nothing
2. hundreds of used kleenex
3. first home cooked meal
4. many hungry friends
5. a retail palace
6. another shalacking
7. a long awaited purchase
8. frustrating news on my computer screen
9. my new roomates?
10. potential cribs
My Creative DNA
1.-2. What is the first creative moment that you remember?
- My first creative moment was when I colored a complete picture inside the lines for the first time (yes I actually remember). I remember that moment because everyone who helped at my kindergarten, from the principal on down to the student helpers, made a point to praise my perfectly colored picture (not because it was good but because I was the last kid to figure out that slopping color all over the page defeated the purpose). Who knows, maybe they killed a potential abstract art genius that day because I haven't colored outside the lines since.
16. Money: I'm driven to make lots of it so I can make the lives of my family members as easy as possible. I think that money corrupts most people, but if used correctly, is an incredible gift.
Power: Again, extremely valuable if used correctly. The most efficient and functional form of government would be a single person with absolute power who was able to weight every opinion equally and make a decision for the good of all. However, the world has not yet had an absolute leader of this magnitude.
Praise: Nice when you get, but I never hold mr breath for it. If you do anything for the praise, you've done it for the wrong reasons.
Rivals: Are a necessary part of any equation that leads to success. Without a rival pushing you to do your best, your greatest feats will never be achieved.
Work: Gotta do it, but don't do too much. All great achievements come as a result of hard work but it's easy to get caught up in work and allow life to pass you by. Ideally you play somewhere in the middle.
Play: An equally important part of the success equation. Play unlocks creativity and frees the mind from the stresses of work. Work and play in equal parts is always essential.
17. I most admire performing artists because they have talents that I wish I would have pursued as a young kid. They visual and audio performances that they are able to create never cease to amaze me, and I love being an observer of the.
33. My greatest dream is too one day be able to be proud of the things that I have accomplished and creates during my time on the earth. I hope one day that the elusive sense of true self-satisfaction will not be able to elude me anymore.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
What is literacy?
Literacy is being able to comprehend and truly understand the meaning behind some kind of visual stimulus.
Monday, September 1, 2008
Reflections on "I Walk into a White Room"
- I am notorious for exhibiting complete unrest when I have to complete a project or paper. My process of completing any project usually involves doing a little, walk around, do some more, eat, a little more, watch tv, do some more...etc. until the project is done. However, I don't think those behaviors are as much about procrastinating as they are my creative process. Being able to step away from the task and concentrate on anything else for a period of time has always helped me clear my head of any clutter, and ultimately, produce my very best work.
- Every morning I wake up between 6:30-7, usually work out (though I slacked on that all summer), eat breakfast, and then get going on whatever I have to do that day. I have always been an early riser, which I undoubtedly get from my dad, and I have come to appreciate being able to get up and out in the morning, even on a campus that doesn't even begin to stir until about 9 am.
-I believe everyone has their own "touch of gold" talent. Although I agree that natural talents must be unlocked with hard work and dedication, it is undeniable that individuals can have strong natural inclinations to certain tasks. For instance, great writers tend to have an ability to formulate words into strings that captivate audiences though the readers can rarely explain why. While it may be true that, with hard work, anyone can write an informative expository essay, it isn't necessarily the case that anyone can write a best selling fictional novel. True talents are "touches of god." Hard work is what unlocks their greatest potential.
- Every morning I wake up between 6:30-7, usually work out (though I slacked on that all summer), eat breakfast, and then get going on whatever I have to do that day. I have always been an early riser, which I undoubtedly get from my dad, and I have come to appreciate being able to get up and out in the morning, even on a campus that doesn't even begin to stir until about 9 am.
-I believe everyone has their own "touch of gold" talent. Although I agree that natural talents must be unlocked with hard work and dedication, it is undeniable that individuals can have strong natural inclinations to certain tasks. For instance, great writers tend to have an ability to formulate words into strings that captivate audiences though the readers can rarely explain why. While it may be true that, with hard work, anyone can write an informative expository essay, it isn't necessarily the case that anyone can write a best selling fictional novel. True talents are "touches of god." Hard work is what unlocks their greatest potential.
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