What about the light?

The two biggest problems I have in my student productions are audio and lighting.  I am sure Bradley has many experiences with poor design or technical problems in production.  The only advantage I see theater has over video is that theater provides quicker feedback when something goes wrong (maybe).  All year I fight with students over the phrase "I can fix it in post".  Theater has no "post-production" to mask mistakes.  Video students fall back on this phrase like an old crutch.  When students put their work on display at the Utah High School Film Festival it can be very obvious who planned the production and who tried to "fix it in post".  I found this article about planning and lighting in the magazine called LIVE DESIGN.  I like this magazine because it is all about technology, real problems in production, and solutions to those problems.  This article at the end of January 2008 talks about the challenge of lighting the castle in Disneyland for the holidays.  The location prevented any experimenting, they needed to know what they were going to do and then do it.  The results are amazing, I wish I could have seen it.  The colors changed with the natural light and mood of the park.  The planning resulted in a finished product.  I want my students to think this way.  

Click Here To Read Article

Who needs a TIVO? (I do)

I would love a TiVo.  The only program I really watch and look forward to is LOST.  I usually record the program (on VHS) and then watch it late Thursday night.  The problem comes when I forget to record the show, like last Thursday.  I was not too disappointed in myself because I know that it is online and so I went downstairs and watched it on the computer.  This was not as genuine an experience.  The screen is smaller and cluttered with advertisements.  I have to watch what few commercials there were because they built into the timeline.  But looking back on the experience I was really excited.  All the big networks are posting full content online and this has opened up a lot of viewing opportunities.

In my class we discussed some of the issues that positing full online content of popular TV shows.  We talked about advertising issues with people skipping commercials/embedding commercials into the content.  We discussed how TV writers produced content that was seen once a week but now with Internet and DVDs we can watch episodes back-to-back.  The Internet can be more interactive with the audience and that the potential audience is massive. Watching online I noticed how many people have built communities around this show.  I thought I was a big fan but I never have posted like these people.  There are theories about everything in this show.  I could spend hours online.  But the Internet also provides more competition and right now the most popular videos online are user created content not ABC's LOST.  I personal opinion of online content is that soon the novelty will wear down.  We will become more and more Hungary for  strong content.  Content that makes no distinction between computer, Ipod, cell phone, or TV.

Finally there is video recap.

I love CBS Sunday morning. I know their average audiance age is not 28 year old males but there is something I love about this program. I like to study the content of the show. In my classroom I try and focus on techinique and content. Students think immediatly that because it is a news program that it will be boring. This show helps me prove to my students that news can be used as a format but content can vary. Until recently CBS didn't offer video recaps online. The only source of information about the segments was the traditional print jouranlism body of text. CBS was also experimenting with their own version of an online video player that required special downloads. But things have changed, they have now finally offered video recaps of the featured stories with an online video player similar to that of YouTube. I use this in my class every so often to discuss content and taking an audience though an issue while recognizing what is good about people and tallents. The traditional news has a bad rap for being so negative. This program touches the news and confronts issues but also explores the creative passions of people. As a production teacher in a high school I want my students to focus on that is good in the high school. Focus on what student tallents there are. I like to focus on the positive because it can be harder sometimes. Students can find things they don't like about school so easily that it sometimes scares me. I like this model as positive content in a traditional format.

http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/sunday/main3445.shtml

Dismantling Geneva Steel

I attended the artist lecture by Chris Dunker for "Dismantling Geneva Steel" now on display in the Museum of Art here on campus. In class one night I described the image or symbol that might describe me as a smokestack. I was thinking of Geneva and where I grew up in Geneva Steels backyard. The plant was the geographic landmark in the valley for me. I knew where I lived no matter where I was in this valley because I could see the smokestacks. My dad's uncles worked there for 30 years and my best friend's dad worked there until he was disabled. I jumped trains coming in and out of the plant. Watched late at night when the sky would turn orange and know they were pouring a new batch of liquid steel into pressure molds. In some ways I was sad to see it close.

I was hoping that this exhibit would help reflect that sense of community that Geneva meant to me, it didn't. Don't get me wrong, this exhibit is amazing and I recommend it. The attention to photographic detail is amazing. I will continue to visit the museum to view again the quality of work. I just feel the exhibit was missing something. In the artist's lecture he was asked if he ever felt the presence of the people who had worked an died there. He said "yes, in the changing rooms, control rooms, and break rooms." The photo of the changing room was amazing and it was the only photo I really connected with. I looked at the audience when that photo was shown and think it was really the image with the most impact.

As a result of the show I have decided to have my Orem High students create a podcast/video about what Orem High means to them individually. The school will begin a reconstruction this spring. I want to start on the individual level and then have them go into the community and find other perspectives. I hope that this will result in documents that people in the community can relate to.

Looking closer

"Dance Dance" by FALLOUT BOY. I really think fallout boy "Dance Dance" is really fun. As a class we can analyze the stereotypes in the video with nerds, jocks, punks, teachers and administration being clueless. My favorite line is in the bathroom when the coach breaks up the discussion with, "allright ladies! break it up. What are you looking at Powder Puff?! Ask students, why? Why did they make this video this way? Why do most videos that look back on high school focus on stereotypes? Is this anything like your experience? Do you think you will look back on high school like this? I don't know that I look back on my high school experience and think of images like the video. If you were do make a video using the same song, what do you do differently? Is there something missing in the video you think would be important to include? Who made this video? Who is the target audience? How are the boys/girls represented? Why do people who are in their late 20's and early 30's look like they are in high school? Who do you relate with? If you were at this dance where are you standing? If this dance happened in our high school, what would be different? I watch this video and think more of scenes from movies. I wonder if images from movies over time replace actual memories that have long since been forgotten?

http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?id=1571033&vid=63257

Stupid Kids and SPYGATE.

The first major lecture my students have that first day or two of class is what I call "stupid kids". It comes at the end of the disclosure document when we discuss camera checkout. I try and cover all the possible ideas students might have when I put a camera in their hands. Burning couches, exploding fruit, your own version of cops, imitating an officer, water skiing behind a car in a canal, donkey punches to the face, horror movies with regular people who don't know what is real, hidden camera, anything with nudity, more explosions, riding-flying-driving off any jump, water ballooning, and anything that will get them arrested. I also remind them that if they think they won't get caught they will, because they will forget to take the tape out when they return my camera. That tape will be turned in to the police and used against them in court.

This discussion is filled with the phrase, "stupid kids". It gets a lot of laughs and I can identify what students need the lecture a second time. So far I have one broken ankle, one water ballooning, three stitches, and imitating a park ranger.

The NFL is now investigating what exactly the New England Patriots did to cheat. There is speculation that they have altered the outcomes of regular season games, playoff games, and Superbowls. This is huge and the key piece of evidence is the video camera and the videographer. If this proves true that the Patriots video taped opponents practices and used that to win, the NFL has a huge image problem. There will be lawsuits from advertisers, players, and Las Vegas gamblers. I have followed this story as a fan but also as a videographer. What ethical questions can we discuss in class. The power of the camera can make kids and adults do stupid things.

Save the________. (Fill in the blank.)

Mormon Scene-IT

This month I was responsible for the Young Men / Young Women activity in my ward. Knowing that I would be sitting in Amy's class the night of the activity I had to plan something someone else could take care of. I decided to do "Mormon Scene-IT" I watched quite a few Mormon movies and riped parts of others. My quorum of young men came up with 30 movie clips and 60 questions. I authored a DVD and will find out how it went on Wednesday.

Watching all these old movies I kept thinking of post-war Europe and all the French movie fans watching the flood of American films. Looking at all the films at once thy were able to see patterns in the films and developed Auteur theory. I watched many Mormon films in a short period of time and developed the Death-ure theory. There is a time period in Mormon cinema when death was the motivator / threat / moment to teach in all films.
"The Mailbox" - old lady dies
"Build you a Rainbow" - Mom Dies
"Gold-fish for show-n-tell" - little boy dies
"The bridge" - Dad watched son die.
"Uncle Ben" - Ben's sister dies.
"The well" - man drinks bottle of water and dies.
"Sypher in the snow" - Boy dies because no one loves him.
"That which was lost" - Hippie girl wigs out on drugs and almost dies.

There are more but I don't have my list with me right now. The church has certainly changed the tone and feeling of their productions. I actually fear that the church might try and remove some of these movies because it is not in line with their current image. I hope I can track some of these films for my personal collection. Despite these films focusing on death they did teach some gospel principles very effectively, and some of today's productions are just plain terrible.

Application: I guess this would be more for my practice and skill development. There are opportunities to discuss Mormon cinema in class but watching these films in class could cause some disruption. I like Bradley's suggestion of looking at some films and using the written film analysis to add to the students' experiences.

http://people-press.org/reports/display.php3?ReportID=392

I know, more politics. I find them interesting and somewhat exciting. I grew up watching politics on TV because my dad is a total political junkie. I am not as crazy about politics as he is. I still choose to watch MOTAB Sunday morning rather than "Meet the Press". What I linked here is a survey that looks at Democrat and Republican parties. I find the stats interesting when they look at what Obama Supporters think of Clinton and visa versa. They ask if people are excited to have Bill Clinton back in the White House. They look at what separates the Republicans and what that does for the nomination. I really found some of this interesting. There are other types of information on the site, one about "Generation Nexters" and what their values are. If you have some time take a look.

I like to discuss with my class the role of media in politics. Looking at some of this information and public opinions we talk about how they might differ from Utah opinions and how is that reflected in local media. We can talk about voter turnout and why some people vote and others don't. There was and article in ESPN The Magazine asking Black athleats if they vote or not. Most don't, and don't feel it is important because they don't see how it changes anything. The article pointed out that taxes on large salaries changes depending on who is in the White House and that alone should get more athletes to the polls, but it doesn't. I feel that students are not talking about politics at home and don't understand how tightly media and politics are interwoven.

Bottom Up politics.

Getting Young People Involved with Politics

Two different videos, both support Democrates. One paid for by Hillary Clinton and the other paid for by Will-i-am of the Black Eyed peas. I find them both very good. I know my students would love them despite their personal feelings toward politics.

In my class I use this type of media as a current event lecture or discussion. Students today are more involved and interested in politics. I know that I will not be able to go to school tomorrow without talking about Mit Romney and his leaving the race. I am excited to go to school tomorrow because of politics and what candidates are doing to get young people involved.

Flashlights are like onions.

After class last Tuesday I was walking across the white bridge covered in new white snow when I thought back on the discussion we has about the flashlight. I was thinking about my experience reading the assignment. I pictured myself walking down the isle of the supermarket pushing my basket with one wheel shivering and fighting my every move. The store is full of colors and shapes. Logos and product placement are all fighting for my attention. My hands squeeze tighter as my cart shivers again, two of the wheels decided to guide me into a spice rack. The water isle is next to the bakery and I smell the fresh bread and wonder if they have any fresh Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Spice Cookies. Suddenly I become aware of music playing, could it be? Yes, its Neil Diamond, "Cherry Cherry" man life is good. Looking at the water I size up my need for bottled water, price, shape, color, "Fuji" is just too good for me. What does that man need with so many cans of olives? It dawned on me that I as I walked down the isle I was able to read and function at the same time. My reading of the water bottles was deepend becasue of my awarness of the surrounding elements. I wasnt just reading the bottles, but all five senses were reading my expereince. This was what I was doing every second of the day. Even while walking on the new snow I realized it was soft and smooth, I wish I had my snowboard. I miss that floating feeling as I coast down some untouched hillside.
Here I was doing what I was asked to do in class, but in class, I was frozen waiting for someone else to take the lead. Amy had read the same reading but had a different experience. She thought for sure we could take what we had read and act. None of us did. Once we did act, we did it all differently. Glori put things in to her classroom. I was caught in design and color. Brett churned out one response. Watching Amy try and get us going I felt like I was back in math class. I had just watched the teacher take me step by step through a problem, but I still didn't understand. I just needed repeditive practice one step at a time, taking me back to that water isle or across the white walkway to my car. One step then another, uncovering one layer leads to the next layer.

Everything I need to know in 8 min and 15 sec.  I love "Lost" and am really looking forward to when it comes back.  I looked it up online and watched this really simplified plot line.  I noticed that ABC is really forward thinking with posting their content online for view.  They were the first of the major networks to do this.  I know this is not the best viewing experience but it has fewer commercials.  What will happen in the future with TV and the Internet is yet to be seen.  I personally think TV and the Internet will become one.  This will happen when we get tired of having a computer and a TV and a phone and an Ipod.  I am sitting at a computer right now and there is a TV on my right side and a laptop on the left and in the corner of the room another TV with ESPN constantly running.  Until they find the way to combine all these devices I will just have to watch "Lost" on Thursday.

Larry Lessig Podcast from TED.com

The Link To The Viewing Requirement

http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/187

This is required viewing in my opinion. I have watched this presentation eight times this week. I have shown it to my students and it started a really good conversation about copyright laws. I find that I agree with Larry Lessig when it comes to copyright law and our culture. He tells the history of our culture moving from a Read-Write culture to a passive Read-Only culture as certain technologies were introduced. Now technology has opened doors for the average person to become a creator and we are shifting back to the Read-Write culture, but our laws are making criminals out of all of us, especially young people. My class discussed his last point at length this week, what is the effect on us if we live everyday knowing that we are breaking the law by posting copyrighted material on Youtube or using pictures from the internet on Powerpoint presentations. EVERYONE in all six of my classes said they have downloaded copyrighted music from a file sharing website or taken music from friends’ CDs. We need to find middle ground between paying creators and sharing ideas.

The Joy of Podcasting

TED. I love it. I discovered it by accident a long time ago when podcasting was new to me. I quickly fell in love with podcasting and this TED Talks video Podcast. Go to Apple ITunes podcast directory and search TED Talks (or go to TED.com). Subscribe to this free podcast and download all podcasts. There are many different kind of them, some that are more boring than sitting in traffic. Because they are podcasts, you can skip and delete them if you get bored. Some of my favorite deal with people who invent things like the Segway or who have a plan to colonize Mars. Other people are there to inspire or entertain and one guy talks about “Inconvenient Truth”. I really love the idea that media and this culture of media consumption and creation helps spread ideas for free.

Ahh H#@#

There is one thing that keeps coming back to my mind when I think about this movie. I hate when filmmakers rely too much on computer generated material. There is one scene in the movie where our “heroes” are sitting on top of the Pyramids in Egypt. It is obvious that they are sitting on some props no more than two feet off the ground in a really big green room. The background is placed in later and it just doesn’t quite match. This is not new technology and we are used to it, it is becoming part of “the code”. Where they make the mistake is having long sets of dialog while sitting there. The dialog is important to the story and it reveals some issues that our “heroes” will have to confront later in the movie. I just was getting mad that they did it in front of a computer generated background. It felt amateurish. But overall it was fun watching the two old men swear. I don’t know if it is fun for everyone but having grown up around a bunch of old farmers who loved profanity, I like hearing seasoned people drop bombs like they have earned the right to do so.

Selling Cool, Sells.

Steve Jobs and Mac World. It was just like all of his Mac World Keynotes, cool. Steve Jobs is polar opposite of Bill Gates. They share talent and vision, not personalities. Steve Jobs is getting old, he has a rough history in the computer world, he runs a company that has about a 5-7% market share in the world of computers, but Steve Jobs stands in front of a crowd like a superstar. He knows he can’t pull off a snowboard demonstration so instead he exposes his inner flower child and listens to Beatles music. His style can be mesmerizing. He takes the opportunity to poke fun at competitors while recognizing his success depends on others succeeding too (kind of like the “I’m a Mac” commercial). Steve Jobs sets up his video clips with just the right amount of tease. He outlines his presentation to celebrate success and then introduce the new products that people are waiting to see. One drawback to the Steve Jobs presentation vs. the Bill Gates presentation is that Jobs is at times quick to seek praise about their products when they might be unnecessary. The new product “Mac Book Air” is not really a practical laptop for most users. Jobs treats this like it is the best thing in the world. This is his job and he looks good doing it.

Bill puts down the pocket protector.

Bill Gates last official Keynote address as chair of Microsoft. The Guy is a nerd. I understand that his vision of software has changed the world in a way that few people ever have, but he still can’t look cool. He has more money than anyone and yet he still manages to look like a geek. In one example he introduces a multi-touch interface and demonstrates how this could be used to customize a snowboard. Bill Gates knows nothing about snowboard culture. It was evident that he had been coached on what words to use. It was like listening to someone who has never used profanity swear to look cool. He just didn’t have what it takes to talk about or design a custom snowboard. This might not matter because he was in front of people just like him at the CES show in Vegas. At the beginning of the keynote Bill sets up a video clip about what his last day at the office might be like. The movie was actually about what Bill might do after he retires. The movie was kind of random and Bill looked foolish not funny. Bill made the mistake of telling too much about the joke before he told it, just like the clown fish makes in “Finding Nemo” with the joke about a sea cucumber. The technology at the conference was really interesting because it seemed to focus on how we will interact with computers in the future. I can’t wait to get rid of my mouse and just grab what I want off the screen, who know maybe I will design my own custom snowboard and send a picture of it to Bill, (If he is not to busy, Good Luck Bill with putting that money to good use.)

Mr. Mom

Our household is in the middle of a transition. I now work full time and my wife is now working only part-time. For three years I have been at home with my kids being Mr. Mom. It has been an amazing experience and I miss it more than I thought I would. I started taking pictures of things I don't miss like laundry and dirty faces but chose the pictures that remind me of what I loved about the time I had being a part-time teacher and a full time dad. I realized while taking these photos that having a family not only takes up my time and energy but dominates my table, floor, and tub. I rotated and desaturated the photos. I wanted them in black and white to focus on the items and not all the color in kids toys.

Welcome to SilkyTown. I almost called this blog 'Diamondville', (I love Neil Diamond) but because of Brett I went with the Silky theme. (Neil Diamond will always be welcome in SilkyTown)