Today we had a very short multimedia class. We met for approximately 45 minutes and reflected on the Federal Women's Council event we attended last Thursday evening. It was a rather unconventional class in comparison to others we have been having because we didn't focus on a lot on new material, but instead on what we learned last week about the importance of bringing learned concepts outside the classroom.
As a result of this off-campus class last week, today was a trial-heavy day, with students going on both good and bad trial. Certain students had their own individual trials, but the class as a whole went on good trial. Doc Chris is an excellent professor for verbally commending the class. It is important that we as students know that the work we are doing is being appreciated. A video of Doc Chris' praise is below. Thanks for your appreciation, Doc Chris!!!
If I am going to reflect on teamwork in this blog post, I would like to reflect not on the teamwork of Team Worldwide, but the teamwork of the entire class. We all worked together to make a good impression and make last week's event and its coverage a success as we continued to share our pictures, videos, and blog posts with one another all week long. They say that social media isolates people from one another because it dissuades face-to-face interaction, but I think that for me, in this class, it has definitely proved more of a connector than an isolator. Each week, as I read my classmates' blogs, I feel like I get to know each of them a little bit better. It has helped to make my peers, who I might not have otherwise ever talked to, way more approachable in face-to-face situations. Doc Chris is really just throwing us into everything - even friendships. He said that was part of his reasoning for last week's lack of provided transportation and information. He wanted to see how we worked together to get there and how we dealt with an unfamiliar situation. That's what the worlds of P.R. and production are all about - dealing with unexpected circumstances at every turn. We had to improvise with the situation we were given, but we all passed with flying colors!!!
The direction of the class is definitely proving to be more practical than theoretical, and that is a definite plus. No wasting time here - just learning applicable skills that we can use in our careers after we graduate. Besides learning to use some new online social media tools, I am also learning how to make myself appear accomplished and professional on them so that I can showcase myself and my work proudly to future employers.
Though it was a short class this week, a few of us from Team Worldwide stayed behind for a few minutes and talked to Doc Chris about concerns we have, whether class or career related, and just to get to know one another a little bit better. Doc Chris revealed that he loves to dance the salsa and merengue, so here is a little music for you Doc Chris! Put your dancing shoes on, and listen to the epitome of all sounds: MUSIC!
(NIKON10, 2008)
Though this may seem like a silly note to end on, I have to include a picture of the boost that gets me through every Thursday, my once-a-week 9:25 a.m. - 7 p.m. day of classes: a nice cold fountain soda!
Not only does it give me the energy I need to get through my Thursdays as senioritis begins to infect me, but it tastes great too. Thank goodness Loyola is a Pepsi school!!!
Critical Analysis (answers to these questions are in the overview above):
Last night, my multimedia class had a trip to the Staybridge Suites in Columbia, Maryland for the Federal Women's Council press day for the new inductees. It was an all day event, but due to other class obligations, most students, including myself, were not able to get there until after 5 o'clock. Sudesna was nice enough to drive Lauren and I to the event.
Upon my arrival, I was a little surprised. I guess I had this picture of a big press conference in a hotel ballroom in mind. Instead, it was a small set in one hotel suite. The main room was the set, one back room was a makeup room, and another back bedroom was for eating. Yes, Doc Chris was nice enough to provide dinner - chicken, meatballs, rice, macaroni and cheese, salad, and bread, as well as dessert.
Tour of the suite:
The food:
Doc Chris was excellent; he made sure to prep us about everything that would happen before it did, and he even gave us a real-life, three-point lighting lesson on the set. He explained how the classification of each light as the ket light, fill light, or backlight can change based on the interviewer-interviewee relationship and the positions they are sitting in. He is right, it is definitely more valuable to see what we learn actually happening rather than just having to conceptualize it in our heads. Extra points for real life!
Since there were professional hair and makeup artists at the event, Doc Chris encouraged the girls in the class to take advantage of this pampering. One of my teammates, Lauren, was lucky enough to do so and "look fly for the weekend," as Doc Chris said. My classmate Yvette got her hair trimmed and everything!
So in the video above, we see Yvette getting her makeover, Issie Jenkins sitting on the bed, and Lauren standing by, getting ready for her turn in the beauty-seat, as Doc Chris watches over it all. The sounds in the video also encompass the multitasking that was occurring last night - the razor is buzzing, greetings are given to Ms. Jenkins, Doc Chris explains the beauty project to Lauren and the interview process to Natalie and Ms. Jenkins all at the same time. And because Natalie was the one chosen to interview the newest inductee of the FWC, she got the real star treatment in the beauty chair!
Then, of course, we had the interview with Issie Jenkins. Though Natalie seemed nervous and Doc Chris had to call a "Take 2," she did wonderfully and went straight through on the second try. The view of the videos below is from behind both cameras and the key light (that is why there is a pole going through the center of the view). The video is actually pretty cool because it gives a more "behind the scenes" look into the set. Two cameras were set up; I only saw that one was a two-shot of both the interviewer and the interviewee, but I am assuming the one that Doc Chris was operating was one of just Ms. Jenkins. Natalie asked Ms. Jenkins about her career, how she got involved with the Federal Women's Council, and even about her family and future. She really did an awesome job of covering all the bases.
Part ONE
Part TWO
The sounds heard in the first minute of the first interview video are indicative of what happens on any set before rolling. Doc Chris began to count down to speed, but commented that he heard a buzz that needed correction to get the best quality audio. He asked everyone to put their cellphones on silent, and then counted down once again to rolling. When Natalie stumbled, he called "standby" and "take 2" before counting down again "3...2...1." It was really exciting to see my teacher and peer in action, and I even got to meet the newest inductee of the FWC!
After this interview, Doc Chris got us to take a class picture (which I hope he makes available to all of us) and then we went home. Lauren, Sudesna, and I reflected on our experience on our car ride home. It is hard to see anything since the flash doesn't work with video recording on my camera, so instead I will comment on the sounds. The hum of the car engine is in the background as we all commented on our experience - Lauren on her hair, Sudesna on the food, and I contributing the general narration. Unlike the interview videos above of Ms. Jenkins, this one focuses solely on the audio and what each person has to say without the visually-pleasing part. Scott traveled separately, so we will have to find out his reaction next week in class.
Overall, the trip was a success. We saw three-point lighting in action, got to take pictures and videos, and have an interactive class outside the classroom. Doc Chris was great while we were there in explaining everything he expected from us and everything that was happening at the event. I really enjoyed seeing three-point lighting and video recording on a real set. I learned how my conceptual knowledge learned in class can and is applied in the real world. Team Worldwide worked well together, although the rest of us never really heard from Scott or Jimmy about how they were getting to/from the event. However, Sudesna drove, Lauren provided points with her willingness to get her hair done, and I took plenty of video footage. I really like the direction this class is moving in. Doc Chris is right - there is only so much we can learn within the walls of the classroom, and what we do learn we probably won't remember because nothing will make an especially significant impression or stand out. That is why this trip was beneficial.
I will leave off with a video of Doc Chris' thoughts on kids my age and finding a job...
Critical Analysis (answers to these questions are in the overview above):
This video I took with my computer is a closeup of me, pans to a far away shot of my roommate, and then back to a closeup of me. It was taken in our common room in McAuley Hall (see the movie posters on the wall behind me!) during the first hour of watching the awards ceremony.
Last night, February 12, 2012, the 54th Grammy Awards were held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. As was to be expected, Whitney Houston was honored by various artists and the host, LL Cool J, throughout the night. Her death was tragic and those feelings were raw at the awards ceremony. Here is a picture I took while watching the awards in my room of LL's opening monologue as he speaks about Houston. Dressed in his tuxedo and topped with a fashion-statement hat, LL's face is clearly somber and he spoke for everyone in the room and declared a night to celebrate music and remember the life of a hero in the industry.
Later in the night, American Idol star Jennifer Hudson performed Houston's hit "I Will Always Love You" in dedication of the late singer. The lighting was dark and the spotlight was on Hudson. The image starts far away and slowly moves to a closeup of her. The camera shot used is a master shot, rhythmically changing between closeups and far shots of Hudson, using a slow pan to switch. This slowness added to the sorrowful mood. It ended in a really creative way, the camera circling around Hudson in a far shot, as we see her back, the audience and the lights streaming down from the ceiling, giving it an almost heavenly effect. Whitney Houston was indeed looking down on everyone last night, and they up at her, on the night that celebrates accomplishments in music. This is the feeling that was portrayed to me in the ending shot of this beautiful performance. I would really also like to comment on the sounds in this video, not only of Jennifer Hudson's stunning voice, but on the reverence that is clearly present in the silence of the audience as they look on. They do cheer at one point in the middle of the performance, but it is not wild or out of control, simply a cheer to recognize and agree that Whitney, we will always love you. The same can be said of the cheers and standing ovation at the end of the performance.
(brandonmetoyer1, 2012)
On a happier note...
Countless artists were present in the audience, and as we all know, with awards shows, fashion is always a topic of interest. This is especially true when Lady Gaga is in the house. Though she didn't perform last night or arrive via egg like last year, her outfit was still outlandish. Her face was covered in a fishnet-like material, and her outfit made her look like she was from the future. I can't really tell, but it looks like her outfit is very stiff - made out of a hard material. To top it all off, she carried a gold staff in her hand. She is always unpredictable!
(JustJared, 2012)
And how about that Nicki Minaj! She gave GaGa a run for her money last night by bringing "the Pope" with her and performing an outlandish song called "Roman Holiday"in which an exorcism was acted out. Controversy over this is already arising, but I'm sure there will be even more to come.
(E!Online, 2012)
This "Pope" looks pretty authentic to me - hat, robe, all the garments included. Minaj is dressed in a big red dress with what I'm assuming is Satan's face on the front. A picture of her performance during the "exorcism" is below. Ironically, she sort of looks possessed in it. You can see the "choir boy" dancers and the elaborate red lighting used to set the tone of the performance. She really took a risk, but it was not a good one.
Another surprise came with the fact that, not only was Chris Brown present, but he performed TWICE and won best R&B album! I really always liked his music, so I was happy to see him there. I just wish he were a better person because he is so talented. His performance of "Turn Up the Music" and "Beautiful People" was another visually stunning performance. The use of a master shot cutting from closeups of him singing to far shots of the entire stage allowed for viewers at home to take in the psychedelic lighting on the stage (which was constantly changing colors) and the set itself. It also allowed for the viewing of each of his and his backups' dance moves as they moon-walked and moved across and up and down from different level platforms. Sometimes the shots would even cut to side or back views of the stage to show the many levels and intricacies of the set. Chris Brown really has no fear if he can jump all over those things! It was extremely impressive. Performing live is really hard, so to be able to add all those intricate dance moves really shows talent.
(JoseeePanessoo, 2012)
Another great performance and impressive set came with Bruno Mars. He sang "Runaway Baby," and the color scheme of his performance was gold and black and had an almost old Hollywood classic feel. The set included a marquis with yellow lights and his name on it. The unique setup of this performance and the wide camera shots that were used allowed the entire band to be seen throughout most of the performance. A few times, the camera even panned over the audience. Most of the shots would cut from closeups of Bruno to a faraway shot, but some side view pan shots were used, giving the viewer at home a more full experience.
(bellaofthewilted, 2012)
The ever-popular and sweet Taylor Swift performed her hit "Mean." Her outfit fit the barn set exactly. She wore a peasant dress, had her hair tied loose, and strummed on the banjo as she sang her heart out about a former love gone wrong.
To get a different take on the "sound" aspect of the night, I took a "video" of my roommates' reactions to her performance as it was happening. They are all Taylor Swift fans, but they weren't so impressed with this rendition of one of their favorite songs. They didn't think this song fit the tone of the night either. Have a listen below...
The big winner of the night, though, was Adele, who took away the Grammys for both Record of the Year (for "Rolling in the Deep") and Album of the Year (for "21"). I took a sound video of the final acceptance speech of the night, hers for winning Album of the Year. Adele was so overwhelmed that she could not control her emotion, and the crowd shows their appreciation for her and their agreement in her deserving the award. Her genuine nature is evident in this speech for sure, and that is the type of person who should win - someone who truly appreciates how far they have come and the recognition of that fact. Congratulations, Adele!
This night was about celebrating music in general, not just the hit artists of today. So I will end here with a video of Sir Paul McCartney's wonderful performance of "Golden Slumber" and "Carry That Weight." He never disappoints. The lighting started low as he sat at his piano, but as the music and energy picked up, and he and his backup singers gathered around the microphones, brighter lighting was used, with orange bars and screens of light on in the background. A series of closeup one-shots on both him and his band members, along with intermittent two-shots of him and his drummer together were used in the beginning of the performance, but as the energy picked up and they moved, the long-shots, which would cut to closeups, became more frequent. As the performance ended, the camera panned up and out away from the stage.
(nora92twilight, 2012)
All in all, the Grammys were a success. There was a great mix of all different types of performers, so the show could appeal to a variety of people. I just wish they would actually present more awards and not focus so so much on the performance aspect. I really enjoyed watching them, though, and it was by far the best homework assignment I have ever had!
This past Thursday's multimedia class was even more unconventional than usual, and it really showed the power of communicating via social media outlets such as Facebook.
Dr. Chris' father-in-law passed away, but he still made an effort to come to class and make sure we were clear about everything happening for our field trip to the Federal Women's Council event in Columbia, Maryland next week. I think that really shows that he is a great professor who is dedicated to his students. Dr. Chris came to class an hour late, but communicated this to us one hour before the normal class start time via the class Facebook page. Not only did this allow for students to respond and ask for clarification, but it allowed Dr. Chris to tell everyone with the click of one button when exactly he was on his way to us. So convenient!
Class was extremely brief since he had to get back to the funeral home, but in the 45 minutes we spent together, we were extremely constructive. We posted directions to the Statebridge Suites and discussed the most efficient way to get there; Team Worldwide discussed how each of us would get there and who would drive. Dr. Chris even told us about the food we would be served at the event (chicken and rice - yum!), what we should wear (come as close to a business suit as possible), and our duties in live tweeting and recording everything that will be happening around us. Our blog post for next week will encompass all that we saw and heard. We need to include five pictures, three sounds, and three videos in our post in order to get an A for the exam grade. I'm sure it will be, but I hope the event is organized so that getting all of these materials will be as easy as possible. If I am unable to, Team Worldwide will work together to get it done! Here is Dr. Chris explaining everything that should and will happen next Thursday evening:
Speaking of Team Worldwide, we also discussed a team image in class, chose one, and posted it on the Facebook page. It is pretty cool if you ask me, here it is:
(Team WorldWide, 2012)
And I found this song entitled "WorldWide" by Big Time Rush. Could this be our theme song? I'll have to ask the team to vote next week. I think it is a little too lovey-dovey, but you never know!
(BigTimeRushVevo, 2011)
On a different note, I'll be sure to tune into the Grammy awards this Sunday night! These are the types of events that make social media thrive and explode. Will you be tweeting your reactions? I will!
(WatchTvOnline, 2012)
Critical Analysis (answers to these questions are in the overview above):
- What did I learn?
- How did I grow?
- How did my group grow?
- What direction is the class moving in?
- How did Dr. Chris do?
The power of the ad is incredible. The sights, sounds, and motions chosen to represent a brand in what is usually as little as 30 or 60 seconds (the Super Bowl is a unique circumstance) can have a significant impact on the potential buyer and those that may already be loyal users of the brand. Tunes and slogans can stick with people for years if they are catchy enough.
Dr. Chris showed us three Winston Cigarette commercials starring The Flintstones from 1960. He then prompted us to contact three people who were 50 years of age or older to see if they could finish the slogan “Winston tastes good…” My dad responded to my text immediately with “like a cigarette should.” My aunt and uncle did as well, and when I talked to my mom on the phone an hour after class ended, she sang it to me and clapped her hands! Winston sure did a good job of making their brand stand out, even over 50 years ago with the limited technology that was available.
(VintageTvCommercials, 2009)
Last night was the Super Bowl, the biggest event for television ads of the year. According to Newsday, NBC charged an average of $3.5 million for each 30-second spot. That’s incredible, but the advertisers know it is worth it, as it is probably the only night of the year when people actually watch the commercials and don’t completely tune them out or change the channel to avoid them completely. Though countless of the Super Bowl commercials are always for cars and beer in order to reach the mostly male audience, some do appeal to women too through the sights, sounds, and motions used.
I am going to look at three here - three that differ from one another in the angle of their appeals. Two of these appeal to both men and women and one appeals solely to the male audience.
The first is a 60-second spot for Audi, entitled “Vampire Party.” Though the ad is for a car, just the use of vampires makes it appeal to women. The scene is set in a very “Twilight” and Edward Cullen way – it is dark out, the full moon is shining between the trees of the forest as indie music plays in the background, and we see vampires mingling around a campfire. Two even climb up a tree. Then it cuts to the hum of an engine as we see the Edward Cullen of the commercial speeding down the road with his O+ blood next to him on the floor. As he pulls up, we see from his perspective, all the other vampires bursting into flames and smoke as they scream and try to run away. Then, with a close up of the Audi headlights and some text to help, we realize the lights are so bright, they are like daylight, and thus burn the vampires to a crisp! This fate appeals to the male audience because the vampires do not survive and the focus is not on romance.
(AudiofAmerica, 2012)
The second is a rather long commercial (almost two and a half minutes), featuring actor Matthew Broderick and entitled “Matthew’s Day Off,” for the Honda CR-V. This is supposed to reference his 1986 movie “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” The commercial begins with a sideways view of Broderick in bed on the phone with what we can assume is his agent. He is coughing and has a raspy voice, clearly calling in sick. His agent, who is in the office, lets him off the hook, and that’s when things get wild. Broderick gets out of bed, pulls back the shades, and calls for his CR-V as we hear “Oh yeaaaahhh” in a man’s deep voice over and over in the background. As he drives down the perfectly paved street in his red CR-V, he is on his way “to live a little.” He goes to the amusement park where we see a roller coaster and hear the girl next to him screaming as it moves over the track. Later, when he is stopped at a traffic light and his agent pulls up next to him, the panda bear he won at the park blocks his agent from seeing him and the truth being found out. He goes to the Natural History Museum, where instrumental music plays and as he stares at a stuffed walrus; he does tai-chi on the beach; he goes to the race track and kisses a big African American woman sitting next to him as the crowd cheers; he goes to a Chinese street festival where the prominent color is red as the people march and dance through the streets. The message is then made perfectly clear with words: there are always things you have to do, but sometimes you just have to forget about them and “live a little.” Broderick even comes back after the viewer thinks the commercial is over and says, “Don’t you have something better to do? GO!” Again, the car aspect appeals to the male mostly, the celebrity appearance appeals mostly to the female, and the idea to “let go” sometimes can appeal to both sexes for sure.
(Honda, 2012)
The third is a commercial for GoDaddy.com. This definitely appeals solely to the male audience, especially college-aged guys. It begins with two college-aged kids on a couch, one with a computer in his lap. He tells his friend he had a dream last night, and then we see that dream come to life. We hear an angel’s voice say “ahhh” in the background, and the guys are transported to “heaven” where female models await them. They are sitting on the “G” of GoDaddy’s Internet cloud and rock music begins to play (“Go Daddy” is in the lyrics). The main model tells them what to do to purchase a domain name as the mist from the clouds and light camouflage some of the other girl’s exposed bodies. After the guys ask if this is heaven, the model says “No, this is,” and she “exposes” herself as the angel voice sounds again, but the clouds and light block her nudity from view.
(i4unews, 2012)
I don’t believe these advertisements will have as much longevity as the Winston commercials of the 1960s because no real tune or slogan is established for the brand within them. Scenarios are built, but there is no tune that is used in them that might be used in the future or has been used by these companies in the past. There is nothing that is particularly catchy and would allow the viewer to remember the commercial and connect it to the brand it is associated with. These advertisements are all for good fun during the Super Bowl and are a competition for the most outrageous or most comical commercial in order to become one of the most memorable of the night, not the decade or the brand’s history.
Wow! Today was a great success! Despite all the confusion that ensued over the impromptu field trip that was communicated by Dr. Chris via Facebook, everything worked out and most people showed up to our regular class.
We had two new members join our class - one even joined Team Worldwide: Jimmy Mulroy. Go Team Worldwide! (I am missing from the picture because I am behind the camera!)
We now have five members in our group; our strong group just got even stronger. At least Scott doesn't have to be the only guy now. Since I arrived at class a little early this evening, Dr. Chris elected me to help Jimmy create all of his accounts and get caught up on what we have done over the past two weeks. I felt bad because it is a lot to throw at one person in just a few minutes, but I'm sure he will pick it all up with just a little bit of practice. Even though I really didn't mind helping Jimmy out, Dr. Chris gave me some extra points for showing team spirit and helping a member of my group. I went on good trial for this, but Jared did not escape Dr. Chris' bad trial of the day. There was even Law and Order music requested to "set the mood" in the room.
(allthingslawandorder, 2008)
And here is the video of the trial...
These blog posts of mine are about to get more intense. As the weeks progress, Dr. Chris asked that on each person's blog posts (class reflections don't count) we include five pictures, three videos, and three sounds. It seems a bit daunting at the moment, but I think as long as I carry my camera and phone with me everywhere and take advantage of every unique moment in my life, things will come together pretty easily. I'm sure it will end up being a lot of fun, and at the end of the semester, it will be great to have a log of my last days as a college undergraduate to always be able to look back on.
Then the time came to test Google+ hangout with our groups. I had never done this before, so I was really excited. Dr. Chris was going to send us back home to our dorms to do it, but when he realized most of us had laptops and/or phones with us, we did it in class together. I benefited from this because my internet was acting up and my teammates helped me to fix it! We were successful in connecting together in this way and all took a picture to capture this special moment...
