inspired.

http://shootingpeople.org/watch/film.php?film_id=53970

http://reels.creativecow.net/film/dan-parsons-dp-reel

http://www.productionhub.com/video/view.aspx?item=1800

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=50595668

http://www.brentramsey.com/DemoReels/DirectorofPhotographyReel/tabid/374/Default.aspx

http://reels.creativecow.net/film/2009-demo-peltier-productions-director-of-photography-reel

http://www.veoh.com/browse/videos/category/entertainment/watch/v6998898P4mwg9dE

http://blog.instituteartistmanagement.com/posts/2009/10/shana-hagan-reel.html

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1087248/dp_reel_dan_hertzog/

http://onewaytv.blogspot.com/2009/02/jorge-arturo-arzacs-dp-reel.html

Sample Director Reel Links:

http://www.productionhub.com/video/view.aspx?item=2688

http://www.mefeedia.com/watch/22966653

http://video.aol.co.uk/video-detail/skip-clarks-dp-reel/3159963911

http://www.commonfilm.org/index.php?option=com_hwdvideoshare&task=viewvideo&Itemid=66&video_id=37

http://www.newimage.tv/newimage.tv/Films/39C966E2-4731-4FB9-8B8C-663FE4342643.html

ABOUT ARTIST STATEMENTS:

When faced with a blank page, the best thing to do is write down words that you would use to describe your work. Do the same for the process(es) you use to make your work- list out the processes you use. The next step is to start to link the words into sentences. After you write the sentences, see if you can put them together into paragraphs. If you have several bodies of work you might do this process for each body of work.

- from the Artist Foundation on how to write an artist statement

THINK ABOUT:

your vision

your visual style

your influences

the impact you desire to make with your work

When you want to apply for grant money for filmmakers, you will often be asked to submit an artists statement.

IFP Center for Media arts asks you to
Provide a written discussion of no more than one page describing your creative journey as an artist and your creative filmmaking process and vision.
IFP Center for Media arts asks you to See here.

Here is documentary filmmaker Chuck Olson's artist statement

Amazing filmmaker Yvonne Welbon's artist statement

Filmmaker Dominic Angerame's artist statement

Painter, poet and filmmaker Rajaa Gharbi's artist statement

Filmmaker Tara Krause artist statement

Filmmaker Ronit Bezalel artist statement

Filmmaker Valerie Soe calls her artist statement her manifesto

Keith W. Cunningham shows his influences in his artist statement

Feminist Filmmaker Alex Juhasz artist statement

Scott Snibbe's is here

Inspiration: Examples for "Portrait of a Place" Assignments

2011-09-11T12:05:00.001-05:00

Here are a few by former 312 students:

Here's one by Spike Lee:

Here is the short doc about the barber that I mentioned in class:

Visit this link (won't work in our sidebar)

2011-09-01T11:06:00.000-05:00

Blogger and tumblr don't seem to like each other.

So please visit: http://thephotographersdomain.tumblr.com/tagged/TCF312 to see Xavier's inspiring things.

Please and thank you.

These are a few of my inspiring things...

2011-09-01T10:23:00.000-05:00

My favorite photographers:

Brian B+ Coleman

View more of his portfolio here

Erin Patrice O'Brien

These portraits are from a collection on teenage Moms in New York. http://mamasadolescentes.com/

Lately I have been a little bit obsessed with capturing people and places in silhouette. Here are a couple that I found that inspire me (at least today, I like them).

It's a new semester!

2011-08-29T14:20:00.005-05:00

Ten Things About Me.

1. Already I am swamped this semester. But if I am not busy, please be worried about me. I am very excited for all the upcoming amphitheater shoots that we have on our schedule.

2. I LOVE my job. We are so much TCFeffin fun that I can hardly stand it.

3. I am TEAM DAMON.

4. I also am TEAM JACOB.

5. My favorite book is The Prisoner's Wife by asha bandele.

6. My favorite woman behind the camera is Ellen Kuras, ASC but I love anyone who works behind the camera.

7. If my high school self could date a movie character it would definitely be Lloyd Dobler.

8. If my 20 year old self was a movie character, I'd be Star from Lost Boys. (People used to mistake me for Jami Gertz when I was younger and thinner LOL)

9. I know a lot about hip-hop through 2005 I'd say, maybe too much. Some even consider me a hip-hop pioneer as the first woman to make a film about women in hip hop. Here's the Japanese version of the DVD:

10. I have two kids and if you spend any time around our offices, you'll certain see (or hear) them. They LOVE my students. Here's my daughter Tiana (left) when she first learned to paint at an event I co-founded:

... and now she LOVES country music and wants to be a country singer. (Guess kids naturally rebel against their parents. I love rap so of course she loves country, right?)... that's life. Makes for interesting car radio battles... Anyhow...

I'm really excited for this class... here we go!

TCF 312: REELS and ARTIST STATMENT (due Monday, May 2 at 11:30 am)

2011-04-26T11:38:00.000-05:00

For this week's blog post, I want you to consider what makes a good Director and DP reel. Watch lots of reels and determine which Director or DP you would hire? Why?

This Week's Blog Post Prompt:

POST BEFORE OUR FINAL CLASS MEETING: MONDAY, MAY 2nd from 11:30 to 2 pm!

Assignment: Edit all of your footage into a reel (short 1-2 minutes, 3 min MAX) representation of who you are as an artist (at this stage in your career - even if that means you are at the very beginning, or if you having been filming for some years)...

Additionally post a short artist statement (1 page max) with your embedded video clip, see below for some examples of reels and artist statements.

Some sample DP reel links:

http://shootingpeople.org/watch/film.php?film_id=53970

http://reels.creativecow.net/film/dan-parsons-dp-reel

http://www.productionhub.com/video/view.aspx?item=1800

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=50595668

http://www.brentramsey.com/DemoReels/DirectorofPhotographyReel/tabid/374/Default.aspx

http://reels.creativecow.net/film/2009-demo-peltier-productions-director-of-photography-reel

http://www.veoh.com/browse/videos/category/entertainment/watch/v6998898P4mwg9dE

http://blog.instituteartistmanagement.com/posts/2009/10/shana-hagan-reel.html

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1087248/dp_reel_dan_hertzog/

http://onewaytv.blogspot.com/2009/02/jorge-arturo-arzacs-dp-reel.html

Sample Director Reel Links:

http://www.productionhub.com/video/view.aspx?item=2688

http://www.mefeedia.com/watch/22966653

http://video.aol.co.uk/video-detail/skip-clarks-dp-reel/3159963911

http://www.commonfilm.org/index.php?option=com_hwdvideoshare&task=viewvideo&Itemid=66&video_id=37

http://www.newimage.tv/newimage.tv/Films/39C966E2-4731-4FB9-8B8C-663FE4342643.html

When faced with a blank page, the best thing to do is write down words that you would use to describe your work. Do the same for the process(es) you use to make your work- list out the processes you use. The next step is to start to link the words into sentences. After you write the sentences, see if you can put them together into paragraphs. If you have several bodies of work you might do this process for each body of work.

- from the Artist Foundation on how to write an artist statement

THINK ABOUT:

your vision

your visual style

your influences

the impact you desire to make with your work

When you want to apply for grant money for filmmakers, you will often be asked to submit an artists statement.

IFP Center for Media arts asks you to

Provide a written discussion of no more than one page describing your creative journey as an artist and your creative filmmaking process and vision.
IFP Center for Media arts asks you to See here.

Here is documentary filmmaker Chuck Olson's artist statement

Amazing filmmaker Yvonne Welbon's artist statement

Filmmaker Dominic Angerame's artist statement

Painter, poet and filmmaker Rajaa Gharbi's artist statement

Filmmaker Tara Krause artist statement

Filmmaker Ronit Bezalel artist statement

Filmmaker Valerie Soe calls her artist statement her manifesto

Keith W. Cunningham shows his influences in his artist statement

Feminist Filmmaker Alex Juhasz artist statement

Scott Snibbe's is here

and for your viewing enjoyment, here are some reels from TCF majors & former 312 students:

DP Reel | Fall 2010 from David Sikes on Vimeo.

Fall 2010 Reel from Carly Palmour on Vimeo.

DP Reel - Henry Busby from UA Creative Campus on Vimeo.

DP Reel Fall 2010 from Henry Busby on Vimeo.

Camak DP Director Reel 2010 from UA, Telecommunication and Film on Vimeo.

Brandon Baker's DP Reel 2009 from UA, Telecommunication and Film on Vimeo.

Kate Longfield Reel 2009 from UA, Telecommunication and Film on Vimeo.

Johnny Gibbons from UA, Telecommunication and Film on Vimeo.

Watch this video: Social Media Revolution

2011-02-09T10:46:00.002-06:00

TCF 155: EXTRA CREDIT EVENT

2011-02-02T08:36:00.000-06:00

If you attend this event and post a reflection on your blog,
you will earn up to 5 extra credit points!

Hot Topics: Social Media vs. Real Life (Ferguson Center)
The Ferguson Center at The University of Alabama will host the first Hot Topics event of the semester entitled “Social Media vs. Real Life” on Tuesday, Feb. 8 at 7:30 p.m. in the Ferguson Center Game Room.This popular discussion series allows students to talk about a controversial topic in a neutral setting. A moderator will facilitate the discussion. The Hot Topics discussion is free and open to all UA students. Free food and refreshments will be provided at the event.

@ Ferguson Center Game Room | February 08, 2011 - 07:30 pm

TCF 312: Portrait of A Place (Person or Event) - Due 2/10

2011-02-01T11:56:00.001-06:00

TCF 312 :: Assignment :: Portrait of a Place, Person or Event

Due
Thursday, February 10th

You will direct a 2-minute VISUAL portrait of a place, person or event and edit your piece for screening on Thursday, Feb. 10th in class. Rely on aesthetics, craft, vision, and technical skill to tell your story... no dialog, no interviews, absolutely no talking heads!

This piece can be any fiction or non-fiction, any genre, any style.

Rules:

You will DIRECT one, 2-minute visual portrait (3 min MAX!)
You will be DP/Camera Operator for one 2-minute piece for someone in your production group
NO dialog (talking heads) in your piece, but voice-over, production sound, sound effects, and music are permissible
Your final edit must include titles crediting the Director and the D.P.
Must be filmed on SONY HDV or JVC HMU100 Only!

Please post your piece as embedded video on your blog before class on Thurs. 2/10

TCF has vimeo account you may use to Vimeo... 5GB/week limit.
You must also submit authored DVD (no menu required) to Dr. R on 2/10!

RESERVE YOUR EQ at least 48 HOURS IN ADVANCE! Email your eq reserves.

Your email should include the following:

TCF 312

Your Name

Pickup Date:

Return Date:

EQ desired (BE SPECIFIC!)

Examples:

Please note: We will watch some of these examples in class, but I encourage you to watch as many as you're able. When you watch consider WHAT is the story or stories being told (what do you think is the filmmaker's message, or what do you take from his/her piece?), and HOW is the story told visually. What are the levels of filmmaking - technical skill, aesthetics/style, color, camera work, etc... being deployed to work in service of the media message?

The Professional (we watched this for visual storytelling example... just think minus the dialog)

Opening sequence of Dexter

Opening sequence of City of God (chasing the chicken opening sequence)

Uptopia #3

D-Nice's "Experiencing the Dream"

Brian B+ Cross "KEEPINTOKYO" and "TEEBS"

Noisemaker Media's "Spanish Harlem Hop Park Jam" and "True School Park Jam Series 2010 Trailer"

pouringdown.tv - "of all the things that can happen" and "the skies uptown"

and here's an example from student work last year:

Jemison Memories from UA, Telecommunication and Film on Vimeo.

Director: Cody Abbott, DP: Marcus Tortoricci

TCF 444: Video Treatment Case Study - "Beautiful People"

2011-01-18T11:26:00.003-06:00

Since we have the treatment for Manson's "Beautiful People" video, let's watch the video!

Video: "Beautiful People" (1996)
Artist: Marilyn Manson
Directed by Floria Sigismondi

Blog Entry #1: TCF 155 + TCF 312 + TCF 444

2011-01-16T16:27:00.005-06:00

So if you are a student in my class, you know that the first post is some sort of "who are you" assignment. This assignment does two things. #1 - It tells me that you know how to post, embed and image or video clip, and can accomplish an assigned task on time #2 - It tells me and your classmates a little about who you are, what you enjoy, what you are thinking about, and so on...

So for TCF 155 - "Personal Screens: Media and Identity in the Age of YOUtube, ME Media, and MYspace," my students have to post a "Ten Things About Me" kind of post with some sort of self-portrait (a long portrait, a photograph, a collage, artwork... anything!). Here goes mine:

I can't sit still. Music is always playing on my office computer. I can't help but nod my head to the beat, and crack a smile. My hair is wild. My eyes look exhausted because I can't stop, won't stop (but really need to take some time off.) I have a lot of freckles. My forehead is big. I am looking pale. I love my eyes - so deep and brown. I have my abuela's face. My favorite color is purple and I had my office chair custom made for me. I am not your average professor.

I have been thinking a lot about our ego surfing fun in class. When I google myself, I see 1900 results in 45 seconds. I wonder how many of those links are actually about me. Am I really that important, or is that just my work leaves deep digital footprints? When I click on Images, I see my face (and many ways that I wear my hair - big and curly, pressed out, in braids), and even when there is some "random" image, if I click on it, there is some link to one of my life as a college professor, one of my films, a book that I edited, or somebody writing about me on a blog... it's kind of weird, actually. To think my thoughts and actions are archived for possibly forever here, on the Internet.

My life is online.

I have a facebook page. It's set to "private," but what's really private online? I know everyone on my page (well, maybe like 5 or 10 people are people who requested my friendship and I accepted because they are friends with 30+ of my friends in my "real life," but there are strange interactions between my students and my prom date, my mentees, my peers, and my friends from high school. I've thought about creating groups to try to compartmentalize this profile, but really, why? I think crashes, cracks, leaks, and spaces can show you where you need to build connections and bridges, or accept the gaps.

I have a very old myspace profile that I go on a few times a year (to reach out to a friend who loves music and is actively there meeting 20 year old girls.)

I tweet but find my twittering kind of boring. I don't have too many deep thoughts in 150 words or less. I use it to spread news or retweet something clever someone else I know has said. I also got weirded out when some of my heros started following me. I didn't know they even knew I existed.

I have a website rachelraimist.com that is in desperate need of content. I just don't have time to get everything on there... maybe some point this semester. We'll see...

I am so online. Do I need to be? What does all of online material say about who am I, what I am about, what I do, and what I leave imprinted in the digital world? Maybe this semester will help me think it through... I'm looking forward to it!

For TCF 312 - "Advanced Videography," my students have to share another version of "10 Things" --- maybe favorite films, line from films, or just random fun facts. So here goes my list of favorite films to watch in reverse chronology of viewing:

10. Exit Through the Gift Shop

9. Central Station

8. Manny & Lo

7. Nobody's Business

6. The Piano

5. Say My Name

4. Dexter

3. The Vampire Diaries (Team Damon!)

2. Say Anything

1. The Professional

For TCF 444: "Producing & Directing the Music Video," my students have to share random facts and/or 10 (or more, in my case) favorite videos. I have to admit I love to watch videos but have so many different kinds of favorites for different reasons. I remember when MTV launched; I was watching TV with my Dad. When I was a teenager we used to keep VHS tapes ready to record music videos because there was no guarantee that you would ever get the chance to see it again. Now a quick YouTube search and you can find archives of old videos and every kind of video you could imagine (mainstreams, indie and all sorts of local groups)... it's an exciting time for music videos!

So for my random list, there are so many reasons why these videos made this listing... In some cases it's the technique like the use of silhouette, air pumping into black trash bags (because what else do you do with a "fat" artist but to accentuate her size, or the use of green screen, and in others, it is about what it is about (particularly when I saw it on Yo MTV Raps, and my life was forever changed... Ladies First!), and sometimes its how beautifully it illustrates the music (Maxwell is also Puerto Rican!!!). Here's a selection in totally random order... in class we will talk in more detail about why I love these videos so much. Can't to see your lists!

The Pharcyde "Drop" (1995), Directed by Spike Jonze

Fiona Apple "Criminal" (1997), Directed by Mark Romanek

Mos Def "History" (2010), Directed by Coodie-and-Chike

Queen Latifah "Ladies First" (1990), Directed by ?

Lauryn Hill "Everything is Everything" (1999), Directed by Sanji

Jay-z "99 Problems" (2004), Directed by Mark Romanek

Chris Brown "Deuces" (2010), Directed by Colin Tilley

Maxwell "This Women's Work" (1997), Director: Sanji

Dead Prez "Hell Yeah" (2003), Directed by ?

Blind Melon "No Rain"(1993), Directed by Samuel Bayer

The Red Hot Chili Peppers "

Missy Elliot "The Rain(Supa Dupa Fly)" (1997), Directed by Hype Williams

MISSY ELLIOTT'the rain'
Uploaded by banatchec. - Watch more music videos, in HD!

Common "Go"(2005), Directed by Kanye West, MK12, and Convert

I like the ending green screen shot... the rest of the video is ok, nothing amazing, but still I do love Common and the beat of this song is the score to my above long portrait.

TCF 155: Blog Entry #1 - Assignment

2011-01-12T10:29:00.001-06:00

TCF 155: Personal Screens: Media and Identity in the Age of YOUtube, ME Media, and MYspace

Assignment Due before class meeting next week:

#1. Consider what you learn about yourself ego surfing and how you want to represent yourself online. Do you want a public blog that displays your photo with private information about you? Do you want to use video, photography, audio, artwork or an avatar to “be you” in an online environment? Create a blog (using blogger or site of your choice) and email the URL (http:// web address) to rraimist@ua.edu.

#2. Blog post 1: Self Portraits Entry. Post a creative portrait (Long portrait, photograph, symbol, avatar) and share some “fun” facts (maybe your top 10 favorite film lines, your favorite things, quotes, whatever you desire to share about yourself) as an introduction to your classmate and as the start of your personal space in the blogosphere.

Here are examples of ways folks create and post self-portraits online:

Vimeo's "Long Portrait" - http://vimeo.com/search/videos/search:long%20portrait/bbadd953

Long Self-Portrait from Al Ibrahim on Vimeo.

Vimeo user Al Ibrahim believes:

A long portrait is exactly like it sounds, a portrait that is long. It's like a photo of someone, but stretched out in video form to show the person's small expressions, mannerisms and gestures.
You Tube also has lots of long portraits too. And there are sites of photographic self-portraits. Andrew spent 31 days photographing himself. He likes to draw portraits and clearly loves rock music. Vivian drew and filmed a multimedia self-portrait.

Be inspired!

You can post a photo, video, piece of artwork, or create an avatar of yourself... and post 10 Things About "You" (or at least the pieces of you, you are interested and willing to share online)... have fun!

#3. Read the following online articles:
a. Rebecca’s Weblog Ethics – http://www.rebeccablood.net/handbook/excerpts/weblog_ethics.html
b. “The Many Faces of You,” NY Times –
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/17/weekinreview/17miller.html?_r=1

A New Semester... and new courses!

2011-01-12T10:13:00.000-06:00

It is a new semester, full of new students, new courses, and lots of fun and interesting things to write about!

This blog will serve as space for post for:

TCF 155: Personal Screens: Media and Identity in the Age of YOUtube, ME Media, and MYspace

TCF 312: Advanced Videography

TCF 444: Producing and Directing the Music Video

Here goes...

Major $ shots

2010-11-25T12:34:00.004-06:00

TimeScapes: Rapture from Tom Lowe @ Timescapes on Vimeo.

Filmed with 5Dmkii and Red MX cameras. Read about it here

Time lapse shot with 5D (processed in after effects):

Landscapes: Volume One from dustin farrell on Vimeo.

Philip Bloom's time lapse:

Monument Valley from Philip Bloom on Vimeo.

Take a peep at all of his DSLR films: http://philipbloom.net/films/dslr-films/

(no, I'm not expecting these kind of money shots on your reel but I think it's very interesting to see what folks are filming with the 5D).

Final Assignment: Demo Reel (1-3 minutes)

2010-11-19T09:31:00.005-06:00

Blog entry #13 prompt:

What makes a good DP / Director of Photography / Cinematographer's reel? Search reels online (google, vimeo, youtube, etc) and visit the links below to see what work is out there. In your blog post, embed or link your favorite and your least favorite reels and explain what is compelling (and not so compelling) in the reels that you viewed.

Remember, your reel should be 1-2 minutes (3 minutes max!) - Due Nov. 30th!

Here's Ben Goertz's reel (he'll be teaching TCF 389 Final Cut Studio) next semester:

Ben Goertz - Demo Reel from Ben Goertz on Vimeo.

Sample DP reel links:

Noisemaker Media / Summer 2009 Production Reel from Noisemaker Media on Vimeo.

http://shootingpeople.org/watch/film.php?film_id=53970

http://reels.creativecow.net/film/dan-parsons-dp-reel

http://www.productionhub.com/video/view.aspx?item=1800

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=50595668

http://www.brentramsey.com/DemoReels/DirectorofPhotographyReel/tabid/374/Default.aspx

http://reels.creativecow.net/film/2009-demo-peltier-productions-director-of-photography-reel

http://www.veoh.com/browse/videos/category/entertainment/watch/v6998898P4mwg9dE

http://blog.instituteartistmanagement.com/posts/2009/10/shana-hagan-reel.html

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1087248/dp_reel_dan_hertzog/

http://onewaytv.blogspot.com/2009/02/jorge-arturo-arzacs-dp-reel.html

Sample Director Reel Links:

http://www.productionhub.com/video/view.aspx?item=2688

http://www.mefeedia.com/watch/22966653

http://video.aol.co.uk/video-detail/skip-clarks-dp-reel/3159963911

http://www.commonfilm.org/index.php?option=com_hwdvideoshare&task=viewvideo&Itemid=66&video_id=37

http://www.newimage.tv/newimage.tv/Films/39C966E2-4731-4FB9-8B8C-663FE4342643.html

http://www.poptent.net/media/15012

Editor's Reel Links:

Final 312 Assignment: Artist Statement

2010-11-19T09:29:00.000-06:00

When faced with a blank page, the best thing to do is write down words that you would use to describe your work. Do the same for the process(es) you use to make your work- list out the processes you use. The next step is to start to link the words into sentences. After you write the sentences, see if you can put them together into paragraphs. If you have several bodies of work you might do this process for each body of work.

- from the Artist Foundation on how to write an artist statement

THINK ABOUT:

your vision

your visual style

your influences

the impact you desire to make with your work

When you want to apply for grant money for filmmakers, you will often be asked to submit an artists statement.

IFP Center for Media arts asks you to
Provide a written discussion of no more than one page describing your creative journey as an artist and your creative filmmaking process and vision.
IFP Center for Media arts asks you to See here.

Here is documentary filmmaker Chuck Olson's artist statement

Amazing filmmaker Yvonne Welbon's artist statement

Filmmaker Dominic Angerame's artist statement

Painter, poet and filmmaker Rajaa Gharbi's artist statement

Filmmaker Tara Krause artist statement

Filmmaker Ronit Bezalel artist statement

Filmmaker Valerie Soe calls her artist statement her manifesto

Keith W. Cunningham shows his influences in his artist statement

Feminist Filmmaker Alex Juhasz artist statement

Scott Snibbe's is here

Films shot on DSLR cameras

2010-11-19T09:17:00.003-06:00

Reverie from Ed Moore on Vimeo.

Vicky and Sam from Nuno Rocha on Vimeo.

Shane Hurlbut's sample footage:

Philip Bloom talks about DSLR filmmaking:

GlideCam Demo Reel shot w/5D:

Glidecam Demo Reel-Shot on 5D from GEBBS on Vimeo.

GlideTrack demo footage shot w/5D:

Life in Haiti-Canon 5D MKII & Glidetrack from Leclerc Brothers Motion Pictures on Vimeo.

Comparison of Red One, 5D and Lumix GH1:

Red One, Canon 5D Mk II, and Panasonic Lumix GH1 Footage Comparison from Birns and Sawyer on Vimeo.

T2i slo mo tests:

One Day On Earth - 1st week of uploaded footage

2010-10-28T10:17:00.001-05:00

One Day on Earth - 1st week teaser from One Day On Earth on Vimeo.

Panasonic's Shoot It Share It Contest

2010-10-18T11:09:00.002-05:00

Although it's too late to enter, it's not to late to see what you "peers" in the world are out there filming. I love contests not just as opportunities/outlets for your work (and the possible rewards!) but also as a gauge of what folks beyond school are filming. I've seen a couple of awful things, and a few things that are quite visually interesting.

Here's a little blurb on the Panasonic SHOOT IT SHARE IT contest:

Everyone has a unique vision - and now, whether your passion is sports, comedy, nature, or almost anything else, yours is easier than ever to record thanks to Panasonic's wide selection of cutting edge professional videos cameras and camcorders.

Showcase your talent and the exceptional image quality and unrivaled flexibility of your Panasonic P2HD, AVCCAM or DVCPRO HD and you could win fantastic prizes, including exclusive opportunities from high-profile category sponsors who could help take YOU and YOUR VISION to the next level.

Take a peek at the gallery!

You can also vote to help contestants win the following prizes:

• Grand Prize winner
* AG-HPX370 P2 HD Camcorder package including battery, case and one P2 card (a value of over $12,000.00)

• 1st place category semifinalist winners
* Choice of an AG-HMC40 AVCCAM HD Camcorder or an AG-MSU10 Portable P2 Media Storage Device (value of $2,300 or greater)

• 2nd place category semifinalist winners
* AJ-PCD2 P2 Card Reader (a value of $350).

1st ANNUAL SLAMDANCE / ADOBE RE-CUT COMPETITION

2010-09-20T11:42:00.000-05:00

Showcase Your Film Editing Talent

Film production students in higher education worldwide are invited to enter the First Annual Slamdance/Adobe Re-cut Competition for emerging editing talent. Entrants will have the opportunity to re-edit a scene from the indie classic MALL COP by Palm d'Or winning filmmaker and GREY's ANATOMY editor David Greenspan.

Participants will re-cut a selected scene using Adobe Premiere® Pro CS5 trial software. All submissions will receive education copies of Adobe Premiere Pro CS5, so everybody wins! Three talented finalists will be rewarded with their own Adobe CS5 Production Premium education software and the Grand Prize winner will also earn round-trip transportation and four days of accommodations to attend the 2011 Slamdance to experience seeing their winning work screened at the Festival. Registrations to participate now open through Oct. 1, 2010. Final submissions must to be received by Slamdance by Oct. 31, 2010.

one day on earth 10.10.10

2010-09-18T15:35:00.002-05:00

one day on earth

One Day on Earth Participant Trailer from One Day On Earth on Vimeo.

Across the planet documentary filmmakers, students, and inspired citizens will record the human experience over a 24-hour period. By participating in this historic event you will help capture the diversity of experiences of life on this planet. Together we will create a document that is a gift to the world.

TCF Videographers? Should we participate?

http://www.onedayonearth.org/

(Oct 10th was my mother's birthday!)

Filters

2010-09-14T08:51:00.003-05:00

Just so you know, TCF has the following filters for the SONY HDV cameras:

1. color graduated filter

2. polarizer

3. soft

4. black pro mist

5. warm black diffusion

6. gold diffusion

7. enhancing

8. ultra contrast

Tiffen filters site explains a good deal of info on filters.

Currently, we have polarizer filters for the small JVC cameras. If you are only going to use one filter, make it a polarizer! Use polarizer filters for the following shooting conditions/locations/scenarios:

Skies
By eliminating the reflection of light on the tiny water droplets present in the atmosphere the polarizer brings more saturated and slightly darker skies.
Water and reflective surfaces
By eliminating reflections, the polarizing filter will tend to make water and other reflective surfaces more transparent. The effect will also vary depending on the angle to the reflective surface. If you place your camera very low above a river, the effect will be very limited. If you shoot from a bridge above it, the water will look totally transparent.
Color Enhancement
The polarizing filter also reduces reflection from other surfaces such as foliage and thus makes their colors look more intense. It also tends to make shadow areas darker.
Light absorption
The main side-effect of the polarizing filter is that it absorbs 1.5 stop of light. So, if you shoot at 1/180th of a second and then add the filter, you will find yourself at 1/60th of a second. This happens whatever the orientation for a polarizer. In low light situations, some type of camera support, such as a tripod, will be needed.
These articles explain and give great image examples.

I think we ordered a selection of more filters (soft con, star filters, etc) but I will have to check on that...

To use the filter, rotate the front of the filter. This video demos the effect of this rotation:

Another PORTRAIT EXAMPLE: Spike Jonze & Your Day (Nikon festival)

2010-09-14T08:40:00.000-05:00

Spike Jonze gives us a PORTRAIT OF EVENT!

I love Spike Jonze!

ALso Nikon hosted a competition called "Your Day in 140 seconds or less"

Check out these examples:
"New York State of Mind"

My Dreams, My Day; Lucidly Told Through The Photographic Eye And A Nikon D90

I Met A Girl

Hello World

Refresher: Aperture and Depth of Field

2010-09-14T08:20:00.002-05:00

Last week I showed folks how to crush the depth of field, filming with the SONY HDV camera.

We focused primarily on a WIDE ANGLE (W) lens giving us great depth of field while a TELEPHOTO lens (T) gives us a more shallow depth of field. The distance between the camera and the subject(s) and the distance between the foreground, subject in critical focus, and the background, also affects the degree of soft focus. The iris/aperture setting (which controls the amount of light that can pass through the iris - explained here), also has an impact on depth of field... read on!

Here are some great online tutorials which uses animals (I love animals!):

Depth of Field

Also see depth of field explained here abd also demonstrated in this article with great photos like these:

Assignment :: Visual Storytelling :: Portrait of a Place, Person or Event

2010-09-07T06:30:00.015-05:00

TCF 312 :: Assignment :: Portrait of a Place, Person or Event

Due ~~Thursday, September 16~~ TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21st (! yay ! Extended Deadline ! yay !)

You will direct a 2-minute VISUAL portrait of a place, person or event and edit your piece for screening on Thursday, Sept. 17 in class. Rely on aesthetics, craft, vision, and technical skill to tell your story... no dialog, no interviews, absolutely no talking heads!

This piece can be any fiction or non-fiction, any genre, any style.

Rules:

You will DIRECT one, 2-minute visual portrait
You will be DP/Camera Operator for one 2-minute piece for someone in your production group
NO dialog (talking heads) in your piece, but voice-over, production sound, sound effects, and music are permissible
Your final edit must include titles crediting the Director and the D.P.

Please post your piece as embedded video on your blog before class on ~~Thurs. 9/16~~ TUESDAY, SEPT 21 (!), TCF has vimeo account you may use to Vimeo... 5GB/week limit. You must also submit QUICKTIME file on DVD to Dr. R!

RESERVE YOUR EQ at least 48 HOURS IN ADVANCE! Email your eq reserves.

Your email should include the following:

TCF 312

Your Name

Pickup Date:

Return Date:

EQ desired (BE SPECIFIC!)

Examples:

The Professional (we watched this for visual storytelling example)

Opening sequence of Dexter

Opening sequence of City of God (chasing the chicken opening sequence)

Uptopia #3

D-Nice's "Experiencing the Dream"

Brian B+ Cross "KEEPINTOKYO" and "TEEBS"

Noisemaker Media's "Spanish Harlem Hop Park Jam" and "True School Park Jam Series 2010 Trailer"

pouringdown.tv - "of all the things that can happen" and "the skies uptown"

and here's an example from student work last year:

Jemison Memories from UA, Telecommunication and Film on Vimeo.

Director: Cody Abbott, DP: Marcus Tortoricci

The Importance of White Balance (light & color temperature)

2010-08-31T18:28:00.005-05:00

Advanced Videography students: yes, we are only at the beginning but it's important to understand light while we are just working with cameras. I don't want you to white balance the camera just because I tell you that you need to do it, but I want you to understand why!

See this tutorial, "Understanding White Balance" (aimed at primarily digital still photography but the principals still apply for videography). I think that their image examples are pretty clear:

Here's another (longer) article about white balance for video that includes photos, definitions, and pretty good explanations of the theory and practice of white balance and color temperature.

Make sure you can manually set the white balance on ALL the cameras the we are using for class!

This week: SONY HDV and JVC HM100

Also, in class I mentioned that the SONY PD150 and PD170s have 3CCD and that the HDV has a CMOS censor. Here's a great article from Videomaker magazine on CMOS vs. CCD (you just have to join - it's free). Also, here's another article on CMOS and CCD sensors, and one more (highly technical) from hdtv Read up!

Some of my photographic inspirations

2010-08-26T09:22:00.006-05:00

I get really obsessed with portraits of people - close-ups in particular. I love to learn more about people, places, and color through photography.

B+ is a photographer that I have known and respected for many years. Every once in a while I will go to his site and see the images he's made from so many places around the globe and I feel like I've traveled just a little bit more.

I really love how he creates this diptych images that juxtapose people together. In this set, I love the connection of color, the mood and tone he creates... you know they are both just chillin'. The shallow depth of field (which puts everything soft in the background), really allows you to look at each of these men. The shadows of trees on the window and the shades over his eyes keep up at a distance, but somehow, I still feel invited in to know, even just in part.

photography by B+ :: homepage

I did a google search on hip hop photography and this photographer popped up first. I'd never heard of him. His work is pretty commercial - slick, high contrast, saturated colors, etc... but there is something I dig about his framing and composition. I really like the way that he uses angles to create energy and attitude for the photographic subjects. Both images are in color but he uses a heavily black and white color palette and a hard, rim light that gives the subject a glow and separation from the background.

portraits by John Ricard :: homepage

Ten Things About Dr. R

2010-08-23T09:44:00.005-05:00

10. I am on facebook. I don't friend students, but accept friend requests when they friend me. (My mentor adopted this policy and I followed his policy.)

9. I LOVE my job. I love to make films and I love to teach people how to make films.

8. I watch TV shows on HGTV, TRU, BIO, APL (River Monsters!) and other doc-like types of programming. I did have a VH1 reality TV obsession but I believe that I have weened myself from that habit.

7. I love John Cusack! Lloyd Dobler, yeah.

6. I listen to music through I heart radio and Pandora mostly. I just can't do the Clear Channel, Radio One, Emmis of it all anymore. I have to be able to search or click next. I need control!

5. I love too many films to name just a few!

4. My favorite books are: The Autobiography of Assata Shakur and The Prisoner's Wife

3. I am going to *fingers crossed* teach a story abroad TCF course in Madrid next summer (if 10 students enroll). The course, "Documenting Madrid: Mujeres en Movimiento" will give students the opportunity to work with women artists, organizers, activists and cultural workers in Madrid to make short documentary videos and digital stories. I <3 Madrid!

2. I really focus on being an open and accepting person. I may not agree with you but I definitely respect that you are your own individual with a whole set of life experiences that have brought you to this point. Respect is critical.

1. I am a Mom. It is the hardest, most rewarding, and most challenging part of my life.

Free Music for Student Films

2010-05-17T15:32:00.002-05:00

So, in the ever tightening grip the music industry attempts to make at prohibiting and restricting our educational use of popular music... blah blah blah... SEE THE RIGHT SIDEBAR for lots of links to music you can use.

The point here is there is PLENTY of music that we can use FOR FREE and WITH PERMISSION!

I love to promote my favorite artist friends and on facebook I often put out calls for music for student films.

Here's the (hip-hop) links that I got today:

INSTRUMENTAL:

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=1058106

Dynamite Muzik - http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=1044313

Team Infamous - http://www.myspace.com/atlinfamous

Tedju - http://www.myrecordlabel.com/tedju

Sara Tavares - Ponto de Luz

2010-05-08T09:22:00.001-05:00

The videoclip Ponto de Luz, of Sara Tavares, was created using the Stop Motion technique, which means taking pictures to objects, persons or situations, frame by frame, putting then everything together in a video sequence which creates the illusion of movement. From here, comes also the Timelapse technique, which means taking pictures with a regular constant break, for example, minute by minute, during a long period of time which creates the illusion of time passing by (shadows, clouds, sea, cars, people, etc)

For this vídeo it were taken 4500 photos, and used in the final edition 3000.

This vídeo was made and directed by Mercês Gomes e Ricardo Oliveira Alves.

Interim 2010

2010-05-07T10:16:00.007-05:00

For my May term course, I will be teaching a three week intensive course about digital storytelling. We will be sharing our assignments here: We Media: Digital Stories of Race, Class & Gender

Here are some of the particular frameworks of and aims for this medium:

Digital Storytelling is the practice of using digital media (computer-based technology tools) to tell stories.

Digital Storytelling is the modern expression of the ancient art of storytelling. Digital stories derive their power by weaving images, music, narrative and voice together, thereby giving deep dimension and vivid color to characters, situations, experiences, and insights. Tell your story now digitally.

- Leslie Rule, Digital Storytelling Association

For our own practices, will be studying and creating digital stories inspired by Joe Lambert and his Berkeley based Center for Digital Storytelling (CDC).

Here are their "Values and Principles".

It is my hope that I can create some of my own digital stories this term.

For now, here's a video I made with Walt & Candance about the pedagogy of digital storytelling:

Spring term is officially over!

2010-05-03T09:45:00.007-05:00

I am feeling so inspired by all the work my students have done this semester.

Please visit the right sidebar of student blogs to view their work.

TCF 444 sampling, just a taste:

Video song by Kyle:

Like Spinning Plates from Kyle Mathews on Vimeo.

Stop motion by Kate and Jordan:

The Chaos of College from UA, Telecommunication and Film on Vimeo.

and lots of great reels:

Here's the "Reel Yo!" by Marcus:

Reel Yo! from Marcus Tortorici on Vimeo.

and Cody's:

DP Reel from JC Abbott on Vimeo.

GoPro HD camera

2010-04-23T08:33:00.004-05:00

Okay TCF fam. We have new GoPro Hero Cams! Marcus and Ramona are testing so I'm excited to see what they shoot...

So my friend, Noisemaker Media's Mark Carranceja, just shot and directed this video using SONY EX1 and GoPro. Peep it:

We have the same technology TCF! Let's do this!

and while you are at it, peep his reel:

Noisemaker Media / Summer 2009 Production Reel from Noisemaker Media on Vimeo.

Reel (work sample) & Artist Statement

2010-04-23T08:21:00.003-05:00

This week I want you to consider what makes a good Director and DP reel. Watch lots of reels and determine which Director or DP you would hire? Why?

This Week's Blog Post Prompt:

POST BEFORE CLASS ON TUESDAY!

For next week: Edit all of your footage into a reel (short 2-3 minutes, 5 min MAX) representation of who you are as an artist (at this stage in your career - even if that means you are at the very beginning, or if you having been filming for some years)...

Additionally post a short artist statement with your embedded video clip, see below for some examples of reels and artist statements.

Some sample DP reel links:

http://shootingpeople.org/watch/film.php?film_id=53970

http://reels.creativecow.net/film/dan-parsons-dp-reel

http://www.productionhub.com/video/view.aspx?item=1800

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=50595668

http://www.brentramsey.com/DemoReels/DirectorofPhotographyReel/tabid/374/Default.aspx

http://reels.creativecow.net/film/2009-demo-peltier-productions-director-of-photography-reel

http://www.veoh.com/browse/videos/category/entertainment/watch/v6998898P4mwg9dE

http://blog.instituteartistmanagement.com/posts/2009/10/shana-hagan-reel.html

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1087248/dp_reel_dan_hertzog/

http://onewaytv.blogspot.com/2009/02/jorge-arturo-arzacs-dp-reel.html

Sample Director Reel Links:

http://www.productionhub.com/video/view.aspx?item=2688

http://www.mefeedia.com/watch/22966653

http://video.aol.co.uk/video-detail/skip-clarks-dp-reel/3159963911

http://www.commonfilm.org/index.php?option=com_hwdvideoshare&task=viewvideo&Itemid=66&video_id=37

http://www.newimage.tv/newimage.tv/Films/39C966E2-4731-4FB9-8B8C-663FE4342643.html

http://www.poptent.net/media/15012

Editor's Reel Links:

When faced with a blank page, the best thing to do is write down words that you would use to describe your work. Do the same for the process(es) you use to make your work- list out the processes you use. The next step is to start to link the words into sentences. After you write the sentences, see if you can put them together into paragraphs. If you have several bodies of work you might do this process for each body of work.

- from the Artist Foundation on how to write an artist statement

THINK ABOUT:

your vision

your visual style

your influences

the impact you desire to make with your work

When you want to apply for grant money for filmmakers, you will often be asked to submit an artists statement.

IFP Center for Media arts asks you to
Provide a written discussion of no more than one page describing your creative journey as an artist and your creative filmmaking process and vision.
IFP Center for Media arts asks you to See here.

Here is documentary filmmaker Chuck Olson's artist statement

Amazing filmmaker Yvonne Welbon's artist statement

Filmmaker Dominic Angerame's artist statement

Painter, poet and filmmaker Rajaa Gharbi's artist statement

Filmmaker Tara Krause artist statement

Filmmaker Ronit Bezalel artist statement

Filmmaker Valerie Soe calls her artist statement her manifesto

Keith W. Cunningham shows his influences in his artist statement

Feminist Filmmaker Alex Juhasz artist statement

Scott Snibbe's is here

Online Films that I Like (My Inspiration)

2010-03-11T08:44:00.003-06:00

Filmmaker Liz Canner makes a documentary distributed on the web:

SYMPHONY OF A CITY

High School student records a live spoken word piece then made this short video:

I first saw "Slip of the Tongue" on the Media That Matters online festival site (another great place to see short films).

More coming soon...

TCF Senior Capstone Production Course: Now Accepting Applications

2010-03-02T09:52:00.003-06:00

[PLEASE NOTE: For the launch of this course, the course designator will be TCF 444!]

The TCF Capstone Production course sequence, a unique year-long intensive filmmaking class designed for TCF media production seniors, is now accepting applications for our Fall 2010/Spring 2011 class.

The TCF Capstone Production course sequence is a specialized course in filmmaking, that allows TCF seniors to pre-produce, direct, film, and edit an original short piece. Students may choose to make a narrative short film (15 minutes or less), a documentary (30 minutes or less), a music video, an experimental short, a live event video, a multimedia project, or a web-based media project. In the fall, students will work with Dr. Raimist to develop, write, revise, and pre-produce their project. In the spring, students will work with Professor Schwartz to film and edit their piece. May 2011, the sequence will culminate in a public screening at the Bama theater!

Eligibility

The TCF Capstone Production course sequence will consider any TCF media production senior, who applies by the deadline: 5pm, Friday, March 19th. Class size is limited to 12 students and requires permission of the instructors

If you submit a late application, there is no guarantee that you will be considered for the 12 spots in the course.

How to apply

The application consists of:

application form (download here)

additional sheet (answers application questions)

resume

pitch, treatment or script

optional materials: DVD, QT file, or link to work samples

Interested students should download an application HERE or pick up a hard copy of the application in the 430 pod in Phifer.

Deadline

The deadline for application is Friday, March 19, 2010, but early application is encouraged. As applications are received, students will be contacted to schedule an interview with instructors on Monday, March 22.

Submit your application to Dr. Raimist via email – rraimist@ua.edu (recommended), or you can submit a hard copy to Dr. Raimist in 430C or drop off the TCF main office – 484 Reese Phifer.

Questions

Dr. Rachel Raimist: 205-348-8656 or rraimist [at] ua [dot] edu

Professor Adam Schwartz: 205-348-7182 or adam.j.schwartz [at] ua [dot] edu

You're Invited: TCF Media Production Open House - Monday, March 8th

2010-03-02T09:01:00.004-06:00

The Department of Telecommunication and Film at the University of Alabama

would like to invite you to the

TCF MEDIA PRODUCTION OPEN HOUSE

Monday, March 8, 2010
2:30 – 4 pm
TV Studio A in the Center for Public Television
Phifer Hall, The University of Alabama

Come enjoy FREE PIZZA!

Check out our new TCF production courses, find out how to major in media production,meet the new production faculty, and demo our new equipment!

Our brand new, ever-growing line of high-end video production equipment includes:

SONY PMW-EX3 XDCAM EX HD
Redrock 35mm adaptor
Kit of Zeiss Prime Lenses
Director’s Viewfinder
Sekonic L-758DR Pro Light Meter
JVC HM700U HD camera
A fleet of JVC HM100U HD cameras
Arri light kit
Flex-track dolly
Grip gear and lots more!

For more information, please email rraimist [at] ua [dot] edu.

TCF 444: My Digital Story

2010-03-02T08:43:00.003-06:00

Okay, so I'll be honest... I haven't had time to edit a new digital story but here's the last one I produced 2 months ago. It's about the way I teach (and specifically one that I co-taught in Minnesota a few years ago), and my on-going study of the practices of teaching digital storytelling.

I know, I broke my own "rule" that digital stories shouldn't be more than 5 minutes, but this isn't your "typical" digital story.

Let me know what you think!

THIS WEEK IN TCF: HOLLYWOOD LECTURE SERIES

2010-02-22T16:28:00.002-06:00

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24: "Careers in the Industry"
4:00-5:30
ten Hoor Hall, room 30

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25: "Breaking & Entering: How to Survive in the Entertainment Industry"
4:00-5:30
ten Hoor Hall, room 125

Eve is the author of “The Complete Film Production Handbook” as well as “Hollywood Drive.” Her credits include “Titanic,” “Just Married,” and “Tropic Thunder” among many others. Her work can be found on imdb.com.

Daniel has worked for several major studios, and currently runs his own production company. His credits include “Schindler’s List,” “Jurassic Park,” “Field of Dreams,” “Do the Right Thing” and many more. His website is shoottothrillproductions.com.

TCF 444: Unit on Digital Storytelling

2010-02-09T09:00:00.003-06:00

Our next unit moves us into the process of "digital storytelling." Yes it's storytelling using digital media, but there are particular frameworks and aims for this medium.

Digital Storytelling is the practice of using digital media (computer-based technology tools) to tell stories.

Digital Storytelling is the modern expression of the ancient art of storytelling. Digital stories derive their power by weaving images, music, narrative and voice together, thereby giving deep dimension and vivid color to characters, situations, experiences, and insights. Tell your story now digitally. - Leslie Rule, Digital Storytelling Association

For our own practices, will be studying and creating digital stories inspired by Joe Lambert and his Berkeley based Center for Digital Storytelling (CDC).

Here are their "Values and Principles".

For this week's assignment, you will be watching digital stories from CDC and other digital storytelling initiatives. Consider what you think makes a story good. Think about kinds of stories folks tell (here's a launching point: iRoom Stories), browse the list of links (below), and you can even do your own online searches for sites / sources.

This week view digital stories, considering the CONTEXT, CONTENT and FORM of each story.

Post links to TWO of your favorite digital stories.

For each digital story, post an image (suggested: take image screensjpts), and LINK to the original piece.

For each write a short reflection (about 125-250 words) for each piece you've selected.

Consider:
1- the context [where the story was created, or anything you know about the maker, if there is text that tells you info posted with the video, where it was created (workshop)]

2- the content [what the story is about, theme, thesis, moral...]

3- the form of the piece [what forms of media used, how the piece is edited, etc]

4 - why this is a "good" story (read: why/how this piece engages you, draws you in, why you like it...)

Post your two favorites on your blog, by 9am on Tuesday, Feb 16th.

Digital Story Links:

http://www.storycenter.org/stories/

http://www.youthtrainingproject.org/article.php?list=type&type=4

http://www.digitalstories.org/

http://www.soros.org/resources/multimedia/digital

http://www.mecaforpeace.org/article.php?id=151

http://www.davarts.org/art_storiesB.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/audiovideo/sites/galleries/pages/capturewales.shtml

http://storiesforchange.net/organization/center_digital_storytelling?page=5

http://www.mcli.dist.maricopa.edu/learnshops/digital/examples.php

http://www.thecentersd.org/digital/digitalquilt.php

http://www.umass.edu/wmwp/DigitalStorytelling/Examples%20of%20Digital%20Storytelling.htm

http://www.engenderhealth.org/our-work/gender/digital-stories-south-africa.php

Other Links

I've got it... divShare!

2010-02-01T10:48:00.002-06:00

For the TCF 444 students:

Here's a great space to store your audio stories divShare.

FREE, Quick & Easy to join... works perfectly!

Hope the audio editing is going well!

-Dr. R

Sundance Shorts 2010 (posted on youtube)

2010-01-29T21:07:00.003-06:00

Written and directed by T.G. Herrington.

An intimate look at one of New Orleans' most colorful characters: the charismatic vegetable salesman 'Mr. Okra,' who provides a glimpse into the soul of an American city.

For director T.G. Herrington (http://www.nomdeguerre.tv/), who has heard Mr. Okra hawking his goods in and around New Orleans since he was a small child, this sharply rendered character piece is the beginning of a love song, the first chapter in what will soon become a six-part feature-length study in the city's local color. The completed documentary, Other Side of Rampart, will act as a way to archive and preserve a part of New Orleans that is disappearing before our very eyes. The most challenging aspect of completing this short involved simply trying to understand Mr. Okra himself. He speaks in a difficult vernacular known regionally as "5th Ward patois". Herrington remarks that a friend once proclaimed "I finally knew I was a local when I could understand what Okra was saying!" The filmmaker has kindly provided subtitles for your viewing pleasure.

http://www.youtube.com/ytscreeningroom

My Phone causes (over)Consumption

2010-01-27T08:27:00.001-06:00

I asked my students in TCF 444: Media Stories in the Digital Age, to log their "media diet" from Tuesday to Sunday. They were asked to share their intake (or an excerpt of it --- there is often shame associated with what we watch and listen to in private), and give a short reflection of what they learned about themselves, about media, and about ways we most often access mediatized stories.

I tried to log time, place, technology, what I did, and some bit of commentary.

Here's mine:

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

8:30 – 9 am in Phifer office: 2 computers. Laptop typing. Desktop: emails, cnn, facebook, elearning, youtube…

9:30am – 10:45am in130 Phifer: Computer projection: e-learning, my blog, student’s blog, youtube, vopod (444 class on web 2.0)

12:30 – 1:45 in 130 Phifer: Computer projection: e-learning, my blog, student’s blogs (312 assignments)

2 – 4:30pm in Phifer office: desktop computer. Gmail – student’s internships, book project, job search stuff, dropbox sharing files with Dr. Butler, facebook: birthday wishes to friends, message from student who need letter of rec, artist’s website:

http://www.quintanwikswo.com/

watching her short films: http://www.quintanwikswo.com/#mi=1&pt=0&pi=13&p=-1&a=0&at=0

6pm – living room standard def TV: Dinner with the kids in front of the TV. TT and I watch Drake and Josh on Nick and then Daddy’s Girl’s on Centric.

7pm –8 pm In my bedroom. TV as background noise, showing BIO of Steve Martin, not watching. On laptop: email: student re: media diet (this) assignment), facebook: reading status updates of rap lyrics, personal thoughts, Haiti, gossip blogs, cnn, feministing (daily news round-up links led me to:

http://jezebel.com/5051901 /

checking for new video on my favorite vlog:

http://pouringdown.tv/

no new video… why don’t I sign up to be notified… dunno

was thinking about gun violence because of Dwight’s documentary. Decided to google gun laws in Alabama: http://crime.about.com/od/gunlawsbystate/p/gunlaws_al.htm

Permit to purchase handgun? No
Registration of handguns? No
Licensing of owners of handguns? No
Permit to carry handguns? Yes

Scary! The crazy guy in the car next to me might (and probably does) have a gun in his truck…

How did people know what laws were before google? I didn’t. I rely o the internet for human connection, work, teaching, learning, research, directions, movie times, watching films (Netflix streaming)… Is there a day where I don’t use the Internet?

Working on book project --- emails, downloading pdf of drafts, gchat. Collab work online.

Chatting with old friend from hs on fb. Link to recall from Asia:

http://www.mcneilproductrecall.com/page.jhtml?id=/include/prd_all.inc

Tylenol. Funny they paid her a lot for sponsorship.

More gmail. Gmail on my laptop. Gmail on my desktop. Gmail on my G1 phone. Google is the foundation of my everyday media encounters.

8 – 9pm watching A&E – various paranormal shows about kid psychics and haunted homes.

9 – 10pm. In bed. Reading for class prep for Thursday. Pavlik. Rhettberg. Grammar of the Shot.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

2am - gchat bling on my phone (which always stays connected. Message: Are you up? (No! I just rolled over)

6:15 – 6:40 – in bedroom. Laptop. Checking email. Mostly students wanting cameras for Friday..

7:30 – 45 in living room. Bubba watching Backyardigans, recorded on DVR. “I want cowboy boots and a cowboy hat too!” I am on facebook, reading morning statuses, cnn, and gmail on laptop… emailing Dean asking for support and to set up production funds for student films.

7:30 – 8:15 – in the car. Radio. Flipping. Always flipping. Stupid and boring talk radio (racist, sexist, offensive) and NO MUSIC. Ugggh.

8:30 – in office. Turn on internet radio. Last fm. Search by “r&b” plays lots of good songs, songs I haven’t heard of and LOVE the ability to immediately switch to the next song if there is something that I don’t like. INTERACTIVE, active user radio… FINALLY!!!!

8:30 – 11:50am. In office. Desktop and laptop. Both are online. Writing on laptop. Radio and Internet going on the desktop. Facebook activity. Gmail. Perez and Feministing. Chat with friend.

2pm – 4pm. Back in the office. Desktop. Watching youtube videos… thinking about Wesch’s ideas. Juhasz’s class on Youtube. Youtube as archive. Instant access to old videos. Back in the day, had to have a vhs copy from Yo MTV Raps! To see an old video again.

7pm – 9pm. Living room. DVR. Watching Copyright Criminals on DVR. Watched it twice. 2^ndtime recorded on DVD burner. Will show in 444 this term.

9:30 pm – in bed. On laptop. Student emails. Facebook – liking things… let’s my friends know that I am around and thinking about them.

Thursday, January 21, 2010

6am – in bed. Phone tells me I’ve got FB messages, text messages, gchat.

7am – Kitchen. TV. Bubba watches Kai-Lan, recorded on the DVR.

7:30 am – car. Radio. Flipping stations. Morning talks shows are offensive and annoying. Flipping… will anyone just play a song? Why don’t I have a CD?

8am – Walking from parking lot to Phifer. Cell phone. FB message about meeting for next week.

8:45am – Office. Computer – e-learning site. Putting more links to radio/audio stories for 444 class. Examples of audio storytelling. Just learnd that Thembi, from radiodiaries passed away in June. Listened to NPR story about her passing.

10:00 – 10:30. In 130. Discussing ways audio is used to tell stories. We watched trailer for RadioDiaries.org. (I didn’t tell the student I had been crying upon learning about Thembi’s death. First tears shed in my TCF office --- her story was so intimate. I could hear all of the details of her life, the texture of the sounds of her place, the tone of her voice, the depth of her commitment to living… now she’s gone but her story lives on through her story.)

2pm – 4pm. Office in Phifer. Gmail. Facebook. Cnn – what’s happening in the world? Haiti.

6pm – Bubba’s room. DVDs borrowed from public library. Power Rangers. I would never buy it on DVD. Library DVDs are good (when they aren’t too scratched to work).

8 – 9pm. In bed. Watching I.D. and bio. Investigation shows. Paula Zahn.

Friday, January 22, 2010

7:15- 7:45 am. Living room. DVR. Kai Lan for Bubba.

8am – 8:30. Stupid commercial radio. I really need to make a CD or charge my ipod and bring connectors to play music in the car.

8:45am 2pm – office in Phifer. Last fm radio. Again R&B. blasting. No one is here! LOVE the control. This is the ONLY way I’ll listen to radio. Commercial radio is so antiquated and ridiculous. Gchat. Gmail. Facebook. Netflix cue. Web searches for EX3 matte box --- $1800 ouch. Not right now. Email all production faculty about eq use and edit room. Email about book. Email, email, email.

Throughout the evening, fb messages and emails through my G1 phone.

9:40 – 11pm. In bed. Reading. Novel from the library. Good book but book physically stinks. Ugh. I also hate when the pages get rumpled. I like clean, fresh, new books but books are so expensive. I read once or twice then put on the shelf. Before moving here I sold 75 books at Half Price Books that cost a ton of $ but made enough (after using my credit to get one used book) to buy at Java Chip at Starbucks. Sigh.

Saturday, January 23, 2010

8am. Living room. Laptop. Watching trailers of films at Sundance. Reading feministing, perezhilton, cnn (do this every day --- why did I not note this? Was I embarrassed that I read gossip blogs. At least I don’t read bossip and some of the other really horrible ones). Writing blog posts. Reading student blogs. Just read on FB that TCF student’s mom called Haiti telethon and Steven Spielberg answered. Ha!

9am. Living room. TV. Was trying to clean up the DVR (Bubba no longer wants Blue’s Clues, Bakugan and some other shows. ACCIDENTALLY, I delete ALL PROGRAMS… doing too much, multi-tasking. Tiana is gonna be really upset at me when she gets up. So much of what we watch is all recorded. We rarely watch things when they are broadcast. All of Bubba’s shows. All of her TV shows. My PBS documentaries. OUCH. SORRY! I suck.

9:41 am. Man…. I think it’s time to unplug. Well, sort of. I’m going to steam clean the carpets and figure how to tell TT all her shows are gone. = ( but first a quick cnn and facebook checkin.

Email on my phone throughout the day (about 20 times)

9pm – 10:30pm in bed. TV. 48 Hours hard Evidence on i.D. on flipping through channels.

Sunday, January 24, 2010

6am – in bed. Gmail on phone. Got fb message. Laptop. Facebook – return messages. Birthday wishes (so many bdays today).

7- 8am. In bed. TV. Flipping channels, nothing too interesting on. Watch cnn, i.d., bio, and others. Nothing caught my interest.

8:45 am. At desk. Listening to music. Wanted to listen to online radio but internet isn’t working… oh AT&T. = (

so, I’m on itunes with random music. And writing. Phone is letting me know that I have FB messages. Too slow of a connection (“3G sucks inside my house… only works down the street). Makes me frustrated that I can’t do things quickly, easily (and instantly) when I have a message.

So, my reflections.... the "big thoughts" on my overconsumption:

Teaching with technology. I do it. ALOT. I stand behind the pedagogical reasons... I think that using websites and web-based media allows students to see what other folks are doing right now. They can see things that inspire them, model form or aesthetics, and means of distribution. I use blogs so that reflections, assignments (such as this one), and conversations are not one or two-way channels, just between the student and me, but become multi-directional and multi-dimensional when the students read each other's posts and comment. When students post their own creative projects online they can view and comment, share with their subjects, family, friends... and easily link and re-post to places like facebook. Still, I am conscientious that I have to change up the types of assignments - blog post one week, reading (from books) next, then media making, then reflective writing online... this, I find, is the best way to build media praxis where folks are thinking, doing, and reflecting in a way that is productive and informing; what you think, what you do, and what you come to know are all interconnected.

In terms of my own media consumption, I've realized how much I love to read and have to balance “work reads” for pleasure reading. I read mostly online --- news and blogs. I watch TV only for an hour (at most) before bed. I’m addicted to Gmail and FB. I only watch movies on DVR, online through Netflix, Netflix by mail or Redbox $1 rentals. I need more times to watch movies.

I love music but I HATE radio. I only listen to radio in the car. I like online radio that allows you CONTROL! I do so much in a day but I want to do more!!! I think they should just rebuild the entire commercial radio model... I need something new there. Plus, now that I'm a Mom and older, I don't buy CDs (plus there are very few artists who make entire disks of good music)... I will only buy tracks that I like online and listen from my computer, phone or ipod.

So, my phone. How smart is it? Or rather, how smart am I that I am tethered to the rest of the world. You can call me, text me, bling me 24/7 on gchat, message me on myspace, facebook, twitter.... do you really need that much access to me? Should I, could I , would I ever just turn it all off?

I'm still digesting... thinking about when I wrote specifics and when I just said things in general here. Why is there so much stigma around "stupid" TV shows or other "dumb" things that I actually enjoy consuming... like reality TV. I didn't watch much this week (although I usually watch shows all the time)... I didn't want to put it in my media log. Hmmmmm.....

Some of my (audio) favorites...

2010-01-26T09:12:00.003-06:00

I asked my students to listen to audio stories online, and to link us to two of their favorites.

My favorite audio stories are distributed online and through independent CD distribution.

Live from Detroit City, the L.A.M.P. Project's "rising up from the ashes: chronicles of a dropout" is sold primarily as a CD. You can listen to previews of the tracks online HERE.

For this project, youth from Detroit (led by MC INVINCIBLE) interviewed people on issues important to their community, such as high school drop-out rates, gentrification, and youth activism. They taught the students creative writing, brainstorming techniques, and technical skills like recording interviews, producing beats, and mixing in the studio. What results, is a CD that mixes interviews with beats, raps, and sounds of the streets; this is a powerful portrait of people and place.

My second choice is Thembi's diary on radiodiaries.org. I listened to her story when I first encountered the site over a year ago. When I went back to link student's to the site, I discovered that she has passed away. I cried. I closed my office door and cried. For this project, she was given an audio recorder to record a year in her life - interviews, stream-of-consciousness, and sounds from her everyday life. Her story was edited by a producer a NPR --- I would have loved to see how she would have edited the (audio) story of her own life.

More favorite stories to be posted... time to teach class.

Reading Blogs

2010-01-23T08:01:00.003-06:00

I am requiring my students to keep a log of the media they consume, their "media diet." I am trying to do all of the assigned tasks I give to my students, so I've been logging my media intake, and noticed something I do consistently every single day (about twice a day really), I "read" (more like browse) both feministing and perez hilton. Yes, feminism and celebrity gossip. One somehow helps me balance out what I "learn" from the other.

On perezhilton I see how folks like to put themselves out there, expose their body and their selves to intense media and societal scrutiny. Maybe the money is good but you couldn't pay me to show my worst days archived online for the world to see. I don't want my life so exposed.

Today on feministing I read this post, which also got me thinking about exposure. The author, an academic, a graduate student at the end of her studies, but also was a sex worker on the mean streets of New York. She talks about rage and her body. I have never been a sex worker but there are a lot of ways that I connected and and am affected by what she writes.

"Sexual assault causes the body to be an unfriendly environment leading the survivor to at times feel dirty and ashamed. These feelings cause the individual to disconnect from their body entirely ... The words "the scene of the crime" speak volumes in criminal investigations and movies. In the case of sexual assault, despite where the event occurred, the scene of the crime is the body itself. The body then becomes less of a vessel for the spirit, and more of an enemy always reminding them of what they long to forget. Resolution of the sexual assault requires the body to be empowered. Forming a loving relationship between survivors and their bodies will enhance their ability to care for themselves as well as live with less anger and fear ... However, rarely are survivors able to articulate that they feel their body is an enemy."

It takes a tremendous amount of courage to tell such painful, personal and private stories. I want to write a memoir but have not yet granted myself the permission, the patience and the power to share my own pain. She interweaves shame and strength across sentences, and her words are weighing heavy on my emotions. She is very courageous.

She speaks of the disease that has penetrated in her body, causing a "large mass" to attach to her ovary, "white with tangles running through it." How many of us carry heavy, cancerous masses (still unformed) inside of us? How many of us hold our pain and carry for so many years that it materializes into the very real thing that just might kill you. I believe that my Mom lived and died like this.

This piece of her story makes me think of my Mom and the pain she carried throughout her life. I want to tell her story, but I don't want to stir up the mess of old memories. I want to lighten the burden that I carry because so many of my own mistakes and struggles connect to the past and her pain.

I think about this woman's mass, and its tangles attaching and embedding themselves in her body. Is that what happened to my Mom? Her battle with cancer was fought hard and lost over a decade ago, but the pain still resonates. There are some things that never dull or go away.

I carried a manila envelope with the slides of her cancerous cells, for years. I made a short video about it a few years ago, inspired by my friend (and mentor's) memoir, ghostbox. I want to write my own memoir, but I don't (yet) have the courage to confront all of my ghosts.

Compelling (Documentary) Portraits of People and Places

2010-01-18T08:49:00.003-06:00

For videography, I've asked students to post images that they find visually compelling. In my other course, I've asked them to post a self-portrait. So, in an effort to post things that might be interesting to students in both classes, I've decided to do my "compelling images" entry on portraits.

My favorite photographer is D-Nice. Yes, he is the rapper:

But now he makes beautiful videos and takes photographs like these:

What I really like about these images is the way that you can connect with the subject's eyes. I really believe that if you want the audience to connect with a person or character, you really need to allow them the opportunity to look the person in the eyes.

D-Nice has a strong sense of composition and angles. He always knows where to frame the subject in relationship to the background. He often uses long lenses and sets the subject apart from the background using shallow depth of field, where only the subject is in focus, as in the image of the left (from Obama's inauguration).

I also love the work of Martha Cooper:

This photo is a portrait of NY in the 80s. 2 cops ride the train, circa 1981 from the book Subway Art.

Martha's work provides critical visible evidence of people, places, and events. She was there, with camera in hand, to capture some of New York's early graf writers. She has documented the work of legendary artist Lady Pink for decades.

My favorite book, and not just because the photo of me (from this blog's bottom banner - me with a camera at B-Girl Be, an event I co-founded in Minneapolis in 2005) is featured in the book, but because she shows the strength of women. To be a b-girl, a woman who dances to the breakbeat of a record, you must be physically strong; a b-girl has to be able to lift her entire body weight and hold it in a freeze, gracefully, such as these ladies:

I also love beautiful portraits of women:

Sha Cage is a poet, writer, actor and performer in Minneapolis. She shows off the beauty of her pregnant belly in this photo by BFresh photography.

I am also one who loves a classic: LL Cool J, by Janette Beckman

My other favorite photographers are Bplus for portraits, events and capturing a moment or a movment and Mathew Rolston, for more commercial and celebrity images.

Yes, I love images and stories of people that exist in the real world. I haven't directed a narrative in some years, although I write narrative stories. This summer I'll be writing a feature script based on a friend's memoir and he wants me to direct... we'll see.

It's a new term.

2010-01-16T06:51:00.000-06:00

(It's a new term, only my second as Assistant Professor. I have decided to dedicate more time and energy to blogging, like I once did to my personal blog at my last institution. I use blogs as a space for personal reflection, class discussion, distribution for media that I make, and as a repository for links, videos, news items, or things that I want to revisit or show others.

This term I am teaching two courses: Advanced Videography and Media Stories in the Digital Age. I am asking my students to keep their own blogs as part of those courses. For teaching and learning, I use blogs, either one large blog with all the students posting to one site, or as individual blogs that are linked as a community through the "follow" option on this site. This term I am having students keep their own blogs. They have some assigned posts where they share reading reflections, responses to videos they watch, a space to post links to media that they like, and as a space to share the projects that they make for class.

For "Videography," students use their blogs as visual journals, as discussed in their first reading (chapter 4) in on of their text book's Cinematography for Directors. For their first assignment, I have them gather images that are visually compelling - things that speak to them. In class we talked a little bit about aesthetics, style and film form. They are looking for light, framing, composition, color, etc... that's coming in their next reading in their other text, Grammar of the Shot.

For "Media Stories," students have to do a self-portrait or some visual or auditory representation of themselves. I've linked them (on our private course e-learning site), to lots of examples of self-portraits by artists like Vivian Wen Li, long portraits on YouTube and Vimeo, self portraits on Vimeo, and a few other examples. This assignment is due Tuesday but one student posted his already!

I hope that I can (once again) be an active blogger because using my old blog became a way for me to really connect with folks with similar interests. I think that I stopped blogging because of the dissertation writing process (it's extremely stressful and isolating), and when I returned to "the world" I was "connected" to so many people through facebook. But, there is only so much that I really want to know about people I went to high school with (and what they've cooked for dinner). So, I'm less on FB and back on the blog tip --- fingers crossed!

My goal is to post (most) assignments, along with my students... so here's my (first) long portrait:

Dr. R's long portrait, January 18, 2010, 7:12 am

According to this vimeo member, a long portrait is,

"A long portrait is exactly like it sounds, a portrait that is long. It's like a photo of someone, but stretched out in video form to show the person's small expressions, mannerisms and gestures."

I woke up this morning, took a shower, got dressed, sat down at my home office desk, turned on a single lamp that was slightly pointed toward my laptop and opened photo booth. I decided to try a "long portrait" because it's something I'd never done. I'd never tried to just sit and stare while the computer's camera recorded me. I've used the webcam before but always with a purpose - chatting with a friend, recording a clip for a video, taking snapshots of my kids and I being silly for facebook. It was a strange experience, I had trouble sitting still (even for just a thirty second clip). I also wanted to keep my eyes fixed but I didn't. Before I clicked record I told myself to just look down. But I didn't. My eyes sort of dart around. I also felt like I had to do something, so I put on my glasses. Most people never see me without them. I guess overall, even just for the half a minute recording this clip, I felt exposed. And now, I decide to post it on this blog to share this discomfort over and over again. Identity is strange in (web)space.

2009-11-25T08:13:00.001-06:00

I am fascinated my the short film festivals popping up online. I like the concept of online film festivals. Recently was the twitter film fest.

My favorite online film festival is The Media That Matters Film Festival, because I'm all about youth and folks making social justice films.

I am very impressed with Nikon's "A Day Through My Lens" 140 second film festival.

Here is a beautiful portrait of a place!

maybe next term's assignment will have a 140 second parameter on it.

How to write an Artist Statement

2009-11-24T11:20:00.000-06:00

When faced with a blank page, the best thing to do is write down words that you would use to describe your work. Do the same for the process(es) you use to make your work- list out the processes you use. The next step is to start to link the words into sentences. After you write the sentences, see if you can put them together into paragraphs. If you have several bodies of work you might do this process for each body of work.

- from the Artist Foundation on how to write an artist statement

THINK ABOUT:

your vision

your visual style

your influences

the impact you desire to make with your work

When you want to apply for grant money for filmmakers, you will often be asked to submit an artists statement.

IFP Center for Media arts asks you to
Provide a written discussion of no more than one page describing your creative journey as an artist and your creative filmmaking process and vision.
IFP Center for Media arts asks you to See here.

Here is documentary filmmaker Chuck Olson's artist statement

Amazing filmmaker Yvonne Welbon's artist statement

Filmmaker Dominic Angerame's artist statement

Painter, poet and filmmaker Rajaa Gharbi's artist statement

Filmmaker Tara Krause artist statement

Filmmaker Ronit Bezalel artist statement

Filmmaker Valerie Soe calls her artist statement her manifesto

Keith W. Cunningham shows his influences in his artist statement

Feminist Filmmaker Alex Juhasz artist statement

Scott Snibbe's is here

Using a light meter with DV

2009-11-24T09:56:00.001-06:00

Inspired by Adam's desire to use a light meter for our green screen exercise (which we did just fine w/o one) but thinking about our recent purchase of a SONY EX3 with upcoming purchase of either Letus or Redrock 35mm adapter, we will need a light meter.

Here's a good tutorial on calibrating a light meter for DV that I found on FreshDV.

I'm thinking we'll purchase the Sekonic L-758 for TCF.

Demo Reels: What Makes a Good Reel?

2009-11-04T13:20:00.000-06:00

Blog Post Prompt:

POST BEFORE CLASS ON TUESDAY!

Sample DP reel links:

http://shootingpeople.org/watch/film.php?film_id=53970

http://reels.creativecow.net/film/dan-parsons-dp-reel

http://www.productionhub.com/video/view.aspx?item=1800

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=50595668

http://www.brentramsey.com/DemoReels/DirectorofPhotographyReel/tabid/374/Default.aspx

http://reels.creativecow.net/film/2009-demo-peltier-productions-director-of-photography-reel

http://www.veoh.com/browse/videos/category/entertainment/watch/v6998898P4mwg9dE

http://blog.instituteartistmanagement.com/posts/2009/10/shana-hagan-reel.html

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1087248/dp_reel_dan_hertzog/

http://onewaytv.blogspot.com/2009/02/jorge-arturo-arzacs-dp-reel.html

Sample Director Reel Links:

http://www.productionhub.com/video/view.aspx?item=2688

http://www.mefeedia.com/watch/22966653

http://video.aol.co.uk/video-detail/skip-clarks-dp-reel/3159963911

http://www.commonfilm.org/index.php?option=com_hwdvideoshare&task=viewvideo&Itemid=66&video_id=37

http://www.newimage.tv/newimage.tv/Films/39C966E2-4731-4FB9-8B8C-663FE4342643.html