April 27 Class Overview

A couple of important stuff was said today

Reminders:

1. Next Tuesday (May 4^th) we have an RA due in class.

a. Subject: Analyze the Rhetoric of our Video Essay

b. There is no page limit, BUT BEWARE THE FLUFF

2. Next Thursday (May 6^th) we our Learning Record Final due by midnight that day

3. Since we have so much to work on, Master Kryzs has declared no official class on Thursday. THAT DOES NOT MEAN YOU WILL NOT BE MEETING WITH ANYONE. Check with Annum/Jason or your team members before you sleep in

ALSO: Annum, Alan, and Sarah are all meeting Team Edit today at various times. If you need to tell us anything or ask us anything, please do come buy. One of our operatives will be standing by.

Other than that, stay on top of your jobs and stay cool.

April 20 Class Overview

Class Overview:

Today was more of a get work done day. Not a lot planned, etc… BUT Jason posted/sent a list of stuff we want to get done on Thursday! (check it out, yo!)

Other Stuff:

Team Edit went to Edna’s place to edit

ALSO!! Team Edit is looking for a new computer

Some of us also went to Jester to get some of the commentary footage (can’t wait to see it/edit it you guys J)

This is move it or lose time!!

Thursday's Agenda

Thursday’s class must be a productive one. We are going to shoot the initial dialogue/debate/what-have-you between Matt and Ron, the interview with Cristina, and the ending editorial. This may require us to shoot in multiple rooms, which will be okay, I just need another Mac or some other laptop (I assume another laptop will work, it is merely for a teleprompter so people don’t have to memorize lines—actually, I will need more than one more, maybe two or three—just bring your laptop please!) Those who will be involved in the shooting (Matt, Ron, Alan, Cristina, Sara, Cullen, Annum) please be ready as quickly as possible as we are limited on time. Those not shooting, on Thursday in the main room (where we typically meet) I need you all to look through the interviews and try to piece them together—note the times in the interviews that we could use. Also, and I know the researchers have done this as well, —thank you! —could you look through the Youtube videos to find footage to use? The script will hopefully be finished by Thursday so you all will have a clear idea of what exact footage we need. I am handing the reins off to you all; you are in charge of what video appears in the video in this regard.

Main Room (Benedict):

-Watch interviews and note times in the videos that we can use.

-Watch Youtube and all supplemental video and note the times we can use.

-During class time, edit, if possible, these clips to the appropriate times.

JES 205A

-Film the interview with Cristina and Alan.

-Film Alan’s interjections for the dialogue between Matt and Ron (this can be done in either room)

-Film the Editorial the word (Alan will need to be on the other side of the screen from Tuesday’s shoot as the graphic takes up the right half, if you are looking at Alan (or Alan’s left side), of the screen).

JES Some room

-Film Matt and Ron’s Debate (Split Screen)

Thank you all for your continuously hard work and effort. We are in the home stretch now.

Jason

The Word

The word: Education

America, our educational system is a joke. For a country that claims managers and entrepreneurs as its top exports, finishing 21st out of 30 in an international reading and science assessment just won’t cut it. Long time rivals France, Canada, and the UK all finished higher than the US in the 2006 Program for International Student Assesment (the good news: we’re still higher than Mexico). The problem, seemingly like so many before it, stems from the top academic board in Texas (-pic of Beverly hillbillies-). This school board’s education review threatens to drop America even lower in the standings.
As the old adage goes, history is written by the victors (The losers are all dead), and by proxy those in charge. But when we aren’t the winners, we just refuse to teach what happened. Knowledge is power, and those in charge want to control what is passed down to future generations. That begs the question: why is knowledge power (webmd.com search: herpes symptoms)? Those in power want to control what future generations learn so they can stay in power.
The stuff kids learn in school is a set of information generated by past. This isn't just the case in social studies. Scientific advances are based on the findings of those who came before them (-pic of Wile E Coyote Acme Rocket-). Without the basic Arabic numeral system, advanced calculus would be impossible (also April 15th would be a lot nicer). A skilled speaker figures out what he wants to say by looking at what others have said. Previous wars show a military historian what doesn’t work (and what does –Rambo pic-).
However, this process only works when A) the passed down information is true or B) the old information is allowed to be tossed out the window when new contradicting proof arises. If history is being rewritten, the information being used to continue this exploration will be wrong. Premise after premise will be set upon false ideas (-pic from Team America- You mean this isn’t real?) with even more built on top of those, until eventually everything comes crashing down due to the flaw in the foundation. In a free and open society like ours (-pic of 1984 cover-), this crash will represent a minor setback. People would figure out what was wrong and move on. In an authoritative rule, those in charge might not want the truth revealed (“I did not have sexual relations with that woman”). The lie would never be changed, and the process would be stalled. No new learning would occur (-pic of Sarah Palin 1 or 2-). Man would stagnate at whatever level he was at, trapped by an invisible scholastic ceiling.
So how does this apply to the TX textbook controversy (they can read in Texas!?)? IF the board makes its proposed changes, our kids won’t have all the information they’ll need to keep building on society (at least it will be cheerful). A new nation, a few generations from now, might favor a more authoritarian regime because their forefathers lacked an education containing many civil rights leaders and the Enlightenment. Elected officials might feel free to take more liberties (like a field trip to the strip club) with the populace’s civil liberties (the Patriot Act).
This has to stop now. More states need to follow California’s example and use their own standards for books, even if it comes at a higher cost (-pic of Arnold in Predator- “Get on ze bandvagon!”). America cannot afford to sit back and let a state that doesn’t teach its kids the proper use of condoms (Balloon animals!), scoffs at paleontology (-dino Jesus pic-), and wants to be its own country (Chuck -Norris for pres pic-) control the nation’s future. We need to stand up, America, and demand, for our children and the future of our nation, a better education. (-billboard pic-) And that’s tonight’s word.

April 15 Class Overview

In Class:

• • We read Looking in the mirror to help us become writers that reflect on our thoughts, and to generally try to break out of the writing template we’ve learned so well
• • We also took a vote on which of the editorial articles would serve best as the back bone for the ideas in the editorial segment of the VE. >>>>> Knowledge & Power won; we’ll be using SC’s article and the one that starts “The TX association of school boards…”” to add too/modify it as well as the quotes we collected before class today

Reminders:

• • EDITORS: I really REALLY think we need to allocate time out of class to edit; I’m thinking i1 to 1 and a half hours every week. That’s the only way we’re going to get this done realistically. We have BUNCH of footage coming our way!!
• • Everyone involved with actual filming: Git ‘er done…
• o Did we ever figure out who was going to be correspondents 1&2?

*******Please remember that these aren’t necessarily an over view of EVERYTHING that happened in class… they’re suppose to serve as official reminders for everyone on what they need to do by next class. I’m doing the blog so everyone can find it all in one place!

April 13 Class Overview

(Sorry for the late post)
Stuff went DOWN today you guys... oh snap.

First, and most importantly, WE HAVE SCRIPT (5 second dance party!!!)

Assignments:
Put quotes from editorials up on GD*.
Why > We need to include editorial bits in the VE**

Reminders:
>Jason to give Paulomi external Hard Drive (see you in Advertising!!)

>EDITORS: Get together before next Tuesday and finish splicing these clips:

LBJ (follow edit supplement Matt sent us) [Shejal doing minutes]

OBAMA (Edit supplement) [Paulomi doing minutes]

Disney Remix (10 seconds) [Edna doing minutes]

WE ARE ALSO MEETING 5TH FLOOR PCL AT 5PM ON WEDNESDAY 4/14

>ACTORS/DIRECTORS/SOCIOLOGISTS

>Start a Filmin’

>Gimme editors some of that footage

>EVERYONE ELSE:

>Fear not, you will be informed if your needed for help J



*GD = Google Doc

**VE = Video Essay

Please Read:

I forgot to mention this today in class:
You are all very important to the success of this essay. Please take initiative on this project. For example, if you were splicing video together, without direction, just splice some together and show the class. Please stop waiting for direction. If you have an idea, act on it--when you have something to show it is more powerful; it can also spur new ideas.

With the script being on its way to being done, we are in the home stretch of the project. We will being mock filming (unless we can get a good run through once on Thursday. If that is the case we can go ahead and try to shoot) next class. The camera Matt will be getting will be here tomorrow. I, after viewing the mock interview shot today, do not think it is in our best interest to shoot with the camera used. The audio is barely audible and annoying most of the time (maybe it was the weather conditions outside). That is just my opinion as I think audio might be the most significant aspect of this project.

If you have any questions/comments/concerns feel free to call/text me or email me:

214-507-9896

gladu_jason@yahoo.com

Thing to do

I pretty much need to come up with some funny stuff to put in the video. It's harder to be funny when it's on purpose.

Shit to do:

1.) Continue setting up equipment rentals and such
2.) write last third of script when interviews are somewhat complete
3.) rewrite existing 2/3 of script as needed w/Ron
4.) heckle Krzys
5.) talk w/editing peeps about what can be done now
6.) talk w/storyboard peeps about existing script
7.) heckle Krzys more
8.) general planning with Jason, Annum, et al
9.) heckle Krzys one last time for good measure (time permitting)
10.) figure out a #10 for this list so my OCD can be at peace with a 10 item list

Things to get accomplished

As for music, I've met with Annum and Paulomi and presented to them the ideas that Lindsey and I have come up with and how the music will be used. All the music isn't final yet, there can definitely be changes once we see the script. Also, if anyone is dying to have a certain song at a certain part, please let Lindsey and I know. We're open for any suggestions. The librarian also emailed back about the copyright issues and Lindsey and I both have a copy of it, so if that's an issue for anyone, you can ask us. Right now, Lindsey and I just need to finalize the music and find the music clips on the net.

As for costumes, Annum, Paulomi and I have talked about each individual character's outfit and it's available for everyone to see on the Google doc.

Let's get down to Business

So, what needs to be done research wise is to find more facts and meet with the script writers to see what else needs to be done with the script that researchers can help with. I am really sorry for falling behind in my duties as I have been swamped with tests this week. After Wednesday I can avert my full attention to our video project, (which would be a great diversion from my week full of physics and cell biology) and help out those that need more assistance. Back to research, I am going to try to dig in deeper since what we have now is somewhat more shallow information that anyone can find. I'm really sorry for not being as involved but I will help with the clips and audio and research more so we can make this worthwhile.

What to Do, What to Do

Jan and I are having to work together with the story board creators, directors, and the script writers and it is going so well. We can't have much input until the director's see the script. They told us to wait on that, but Jan and I came up with some ideas from what we saw from the storyboard. This week we hope to really know what clips we need and have those downloaded and saved. Seeing the script this week will get us closer to the final product. We have to check more on the copyright, but I got information from the librarian to help us out.

what to do what to do

Tuesday morning, during our video discussion time, I hope to go to Jester and see which classrooms are open during class time to shoot the video next week, because I found out that we can not reserve rooms unless we are part of an organization which is not the case. The script needs to be read and distributed to all who needs it so I have to make sure that happens. After getting the interviews in, editing has to start immediately. I have put up the costume list on google doc so I have to make sure the necessary people have the necessary costumes. I have to meet up with Lindsey and Jan, and look over the script to finalize where music needs to be inserted. I have to make sure Allie and Erica detail the storyboard just a bit more after seeing the full script. One last thing I have to do is meet up with the directors and see what last details or input they have to make sure the video is made under their vision.

Storyboard to do...

For this week I believe perfecting what Allie and I already have for the storyboard is what we need to get done. Allie and I will hopefully be meeting once we get a copy of the script to perfect our storyboard by Thursday so that the rest of the process can run smoothly. Also, to get done this week Allie and I will need to be prepared to make changes as they come. This week we will pre make more storyboard clips so we can add as ideas come up. A lot of the storyboard depends on the rest of the script and the directors vision so once all the wrinkles are smoothed out we will hopefully get all this done by end of the week. Other than that with the storyboard I think our process as a whole will run smoothly once everything comes together this week.

To do this week

            We are well on our way with the storyboard and are pretty much finished with the basics. This week I hope to get together with Erica again and correct any changes we have to the scenes. Once we have a script we will be able to finish up everything we were missing and begin helping out with other parts of the process. I think once we are done with the story board we will be focusing on making sure that the footage we shoot accurately matches up to the sequence we have on the storyboard. The only missing shots that we cannot draw until filmed are in the interview with the intern scene because we do not know what approach the directors will take in filming the interview. 

Question for Teachers

These are the questions that will be asked to my high school AP US history teacher. Please add any other questions you think would be good to ask to the google doc. Thanks and hook 'em.

Can your state your name and occupation for the camera please?

How long have you been teaching US history?

Have you always taught in Texas?

How long have you been teaching here at Sherman High?

What is the easiest thing about teaching US history?

What is the hardest thing about teaching US history?

Do you feel like your current textbook is covering the material well? What is the name of the textbook?

What could improve the textbook you currently use?

Is there any particular event or time period in US history that you find difficult to teach or lecture on?

How well do you feel you have covered sensitive subjects like the Vietnam War?

How much of the Vietnam War do you cover with your students?

What are some of the key points you tell students about the Vietnam War?

Is there anything in particular you want your students to take away from what they learn about the Vietnam War?

Is talking about Vietnam difficult?

Have you heard about the textbook controversy?

If yes, then…what do you think about the proposed changes?

Will the changes affect the way you teach?

Will the changes affect what the students are learning about US history?

Is the War in Iraq in your current curriculum?

Do you think it will be another tough subject to lecture on?

Thank you. Once again can you state your name, occupation, and where you are currently teaching?

This Weeks Work to be Done

The work that needs to be done on the research side of things is find some more clips involving bombing runs in Vietnam and find a hobo fight clip too. Also with the narrowing down of what we are trying to do as helped the research become easier because it is not a broad search anymore. Other clips that need to be acquired is to narrow down possible parts of the Obama speech to clips that can be used. All and all research is coming along and hopefully what else is needed will be found and I will post it on diigo.

This week stuff HAS to start happening. Like seriously. Tonight I am writing questions to ask my teacher during the interview and then having Momma send me the memory card with the footage on it. I also need to really go explore for shots that will make the whole Texas flag thing work.

We HAVE to start filming this week. We just have to. I also need to start covering my own butt too with work samples and observations…I’ve been slacking. We also have to get a room to have the News Cast in. Gosh, too much to do. Oh but hey a big thank you to the researchers on the work about Obama speech! One thing that was on my task list.

Things to do this week

For this week we plan to get Final Cut installed on my laptop so we can begin editing the interviews that start rolling in and getting clips from the Obama speech that would be relevant to the video essay. I hope that once it is installed then the editing team and I can get together and get familiar with the program so that we can know what we are doing when the interviews come in. We are already short on time and so it would be smart to use this time to get familiar with Final Cut so that we can have things running efficiently.
Second, is to start getting familiar with some of the music that we will putting into the script. This is why we planned to get together with the music team so that we get a feel for some of their choices and see how we can work that into the video so that we can have use some rhetorical strategies.

Tasks:
Download Final Cut
Get familiar with Final Cut (editing team)

To do..

Some of the things that I need to get done this week are: 1) Install Final Cut editing software on Edna's Macbook. 2) Hopefully start to edit footage. 3) Meet with editors on Tuesdays & Thursdays @ PCL to learn how to use the software and begin editing incoming interviews. 4)Help Paulomi gather the costumes for the video essay. 5)Contact my high school teacher once again to reply to my email I sent her approximately over a week ago.

This week's list

Thankfully, we finally clarified exactly what research is needed for the video during the last class. Based on that, I've been trying to post stuff that the majority of you guys needed. I think one of the things still needed is pictures or videos from the Iraq war that we could tie into Vietnam. Also, I think if we could try to locate clips of the actual deliberating process the board did, that would probably be interesting. A few of you mentioned that those clips would be nice, so I think trying to find them would probably be on the top of my agenda. Also, finding clips from the Obama speech itself also seems necessary. So the focus of this week as far as the research is concerned is finding clips and footage the editors or script writers might need for the project.

This Weeks To Do List

I have contacted 3 professors on setting up a time to interview them this week. We also need to coordinate a day and time to interview students. I will feel much better after we get the interviews done. I know we need as much time as possible for editing so getting interviews done is my main priority. 

This Week

As far as the video essay is concerned, we need to start filming this week. Everyone knows time is quickly wearing thin. I would like to get a substantial amount of interviews completed tomorrow, which Sara and I will attend as the two directors. When we have a few interviews from which to choose, Sara, Ron, Matt, and I can read over the script and insert the interviews at the most relevant times.

If all of this is completed by the end of this week, next week should be entirely focused on the real thing. As unprofessional movie crew members, I must assume the video will require quite a few takes, not to mention editing. As I stated in my blog post last week, we all need to try to be on the same page. I will talk to the researchers tomorrow to see what additional information they have gathered and how it can benefit the project.

-Get interviews done ASAP

-Fit interviews in with the script

-Speak with the researchers

Stuff for Next Week

Alright, so I've got a couple of things I (hopefully) should get done by this week

FIRST and for most I'm hoping to get Final Cut installed on Edna's computer so we can get started editing (EDNA DO NOT FORGET YOU LAPTOP TOMORROW PLEASE!!). Once we get that done, I hope to get started on editing footage, starting with the Obama Speech and some interview stuff. Also, from the Google doc. it looks like the editors should be expecting the footage from the beginnings of the VE.
I also want to go over what music to put where in the script so we have that ready when we're adding final touches to the Video Essay.

Second, I need to make sure that the actors are able to get together their costumes. Also, I need to make sure that the class overview is updated. Over the weekend I finished writing the editorial and I also have to turn that in. The next couple of weeks are going to be go time for editors.

Final List:
>Get FinalCut installed PRONTO
>Start editing Obama clips and interview clips that start rolling in
>Keep writing class reviews
>Make sure everyone's got their costumes lined up

Weeks Review

This week is crucial. If things do not get done this week we will be severely behind. I need to make sure that everyone is on task at all times and somehow create a classroom environment that is conducive for this to happen. Im really trying to let people complete their tasks without too much input because there are 20+ intelligent people on this team that make good decisions regarding their position.

I might take a look at Obama's speech and try to splice some parts together, but I do not want to take over the editors job.

Overall, I just need to make sure people meet deadlines and try to help people who want assistance.

P.s. The camera will be here either Tuesday or Wednesday, but if you all want to take Alan's camera out Tuesday and get interveiws, go for it.

GOALS FOR THIS WEEK

I’m bringing my camera this week so we can get started on filming in class. My goal for this week is to help with the interviewers get their part done with interviewing by helping to film the actual question/answer section of the video essay. Also, since I am the host, I will be dressed up in a buttoned down shirt and a tie with sleeves folded up as stated in Google doc. when necessary, as of now I’m not notified of when we’re shooting the actual news scene, don’t know the room in Jester has been reserved yet or not but until I’m notified of otherwise, I’ll just show up tomorrow ready in my costume to shoot/film.
I’m also helping Jan and Lindsey find songs to download so it could fit with what we have, I’m planning to bring this up in class this week so we can go ahead and finalize song choices so Jan and Lindsey could give helping hands to others as well. I don’t think choosing songs and downloading them are hard, I think the choosing songs part will have to get down to the directors/producers with a strong vision of the outcome of this video essay to help with picking and choosing what songs we will definitely use. Lindsey posted up 2 links to songs she found and asked Jan and myself for our opinions. Whether I like it or not, I’m not sure if it fits with what the directors/producers are wanting to have. So I’m bringing this up in class as well.
Tasks:
Bring Camera
Dress up as Host (when needed) and film some scenes.
Help with downloading of songs.
Film the Student Interviews.

Camera nonsense

Update on the camera: He already has it and is scheduled to turn it in Monday at 8 am. I'm gonna try to talk to him to extend it till next friday or so. I'll keep ya posted.

Ugh

Sorry for the late post and for not being in class today, but stomach viruses ain't something to share round the academic campfire, ya dig?

Anywho, there are a metric shit ton of difficulties (both foreseen and stumbled into) surrounding this "video essay," the most preeminent in my mind being time. We honestly did have enough time to make this sombitch, even starting as late as we did and using the bass-ackwards approach we were given (Here's lookin at you, Slothy ol' buddy). The problem was we wased too much time being democratic instead of having someone with a strong, clear vision (if you'll pardon the reference) to take command and lead us into the promised land. There's a tradeoff, though. By being democratic, I beleive we simultaneously made the video better (because of the different imputs) and damn near impossible to pull off (also because of the multiple imputs). We wasted a lot of time getting everyone on the same page and finalizing our direction (which admittedly needed to be done), but we're still don't have everything finalized and ready to go. In short, it's a pain.

For those of you wondering why you're not looking at a nice, pretty script right now, I'll let you know some of the difficulties specifically pertaining to the writing process.

1.) Even as late as this time last week, we were still finalizing the direction we wanted to go. This makes it immensely difficult to write when your bosses (aka producers/directors) are still trying to incorperate everyone's ideas (once again I see the reasoning behind this, it just makes things difficult).

2.) We have no interviews, which make up roughly one third of our final product. We're goin in blind here and praying like hell we'll be able to adapt ourselves to whatever answers we get from students, teachers, the interwebs, etc.

3.) Even in the non-interviewing sections, there is a ton of material to go through. Even though our researchers have done a wonderful job getting us all this data, Ron and I still have to sift through it all to see what particular morsel of info would work best for a specific punchline/scene/whathaveyou. It is a very time consuming process.

4.) This last one isn't specific to the writers, but it does effect us most right now because everyone is waiting on us. We have a life outside of this class. Some of us have been sick, we all have at least three other classes (assuming everyone is a full-time student), and I (along with others, I'd imagine) work 12+ hours during the week as well. As part of our generation, the iGeneration, the kings and queens of multitasking, we're used to juggling a lot of things at once. However, I'd posit that this is borderline too much, even for us to handle.

That's it for my rants and raves. Script should hopefully be done by this weekend and posted here, by Tuesday at the latest. I should be getting the camera for a week sometime tomorrow, so the interviewers can familiarize themselves with it over the weekend. I think that's it. If not, oh well.