MDIA 1020: Joke Video (75pts)

Joke Video

Together we recreated Tyler LaCount’s storyboard as a joke video. We did this by gathering in the lobby of James Hall on campus and followed the storyboard to the best of our abilities. It was tough for a lot of the jokes because a lot of them included props such as cars, dishwashers, animals, etc. For our joke in particular we needed a dog, a talking bird, and a dishwasher, all items in which we did not have available to us. However we improvised to the best of our abilities. We used ourselves for the animals by acting as such. We also used a vending machine in place of a dishwasher. We shot the video on basic HD camera and uploaded it on Final Cut Pro to edit it. The hard part was to make the video 2-3 minutes as assigned, but it was tough because this joke was too short and the storyboard we had did not add any action to make the video longer. For example the storyboard creator could have included a scene in which the repairman got the keys to the house under the doormat. Regardless, we followed the storyboard exactly as specified in order to complete the project.

MDIA 1020: Review a Media Doc (25pts)

My first impression of the documentary “John Lasseter: A Day in a Life”, had been a positive one. I am looking to go into Animation and while I don’t expect to be running a corporation like Pixar, getting a first-hand look at what the lifestyle demands and offers me was really fun to see. John Lasseter is a work-centered person but the lifestyle is oddly fitting for him since he seems to enjoy his life to the fullest. What caught me off-guard was how much of a child-like wonder he emits. Although if I think about it, anyone who runs Pixar and produces movies like Toy Story and Nemo would have to have the imagination and heart of a child. He has so many responsibilities that it really was eye opening to see all that he has to deal with in just one day.

            I have found a deeper respect for the man because while I knew of his position, I never really considered the roles that he has to play. That being said, from what I understood from the article “Doc Storytelling”, I have to conclude that this documentary was struggling for a story that wasn’t really there. As the title promises, the film takes the audience on a tour of Lasseter’s day, starting from his early workout to a rigorous work schedule. We are introduced to the perks of what his title allows him and the obstacles he has to conquer. Yet the fundamental aspect of a documentary should be its story. In other words; a change has to happen in the protagonist’s situation or condition. The question needing to be asked is “what does the main character want?” and then the rest of the documentary is supposed to explore this desire and eventually come to a sort of resolution or conclusion.

            While there were a few challenges in Lasseter’s workplace that needed attention, I felt they were too shallow for the scale of a documentary. From what I saw, the film took on the sense of a profile rather than fulfilling the expectations of a story. The footage was captivating and did catch my attention yet there is no real conflict. While it tried to augment the importance of production problems with the project that was being handled at the time (Cars 2), these challenges held no weight in my opinion for the simple reason that there was no fundamental change in Lasseter through out the course of the film. One could argue that the “desire” that he is attempting to resolve is his wish for the production of the movie Cars 2 to progress smoothly, however this “desire” is too weak to flush out a narrative spine and fails to leave a lasting impact on the audience. I would recommend this documentary to people who are curious for a look into what working at Pixar is like, yet I warn that this film does not hold much more than that.

John Lasseter: A Day in a Life

MDIA 1020: Truth in the Image (10pts)

Truth and Cannonballs

MDIA 1020: Inspired Fiction (50pts)

My Junior Prom...

            I arrived in what I hoped was a grand entrance but failed to only catch the glances of a few bored faces waiting for friends walk in. My eyes scanned the room and despite the low budget Jamie had claimed to be on, the place looked amazing. The theme wasn’t quite so apparent except for the one wall draped with construction paper and company logos plastered on with Elmer’s Glue. Yet the snack table drew the eyes away from the hastily put together paparazzi stage and towards the colorful and fantastically decorated pastries. Lights danced around the room like multicolored fireflies and thanks to the hotel, we had access to the Greek themed garden. The same garden, which I now noticed, had a photo booth station set up by the doors.

            My name rang out and I turned my attention to a section close to the snack bar where two tables had been pushed together to hold all of my friends. I walked over and the next thing I knew we were all running outside to take pictures under the pillared dome. As we reached the first steps I realized we weren’t the only ones with this idea. Brian had thought of it too and whom else would he have brought to prom but Jessica. My heart gave a tight squeeze but maintained a neutral expression. I did; however, relish the fact that his eyes trailing over the satin purple number I was modeling.  I had gone through all the stops. Curling my hair, painting my nails; I had even pulled out the silver crystal necklace and studded silver heals of my quincenera.

            Yet I knew all I would get from him was a meager “Hey” and a “you look nice”. Jessica eyed me and despite my hopes that her fashion sense would be misdirected, she looked stunning. After what seemed like forever taking group photos. We went inside. Time passed and though Brian left to sit with Jessica and her friends, I was beginning to enjoy the company of my own friends. The music turned up and everyone rushed to the dance floor. One after the other, the songs came and went. Partners came and went, one dance after another. My gaze kept trailing them. And while I made several attempts to steal one dance, he was either found dancing with a friend or in the arms of Jessica. “Just one dance,” I thought. One is all I need to be content. Yet the night was coming to a close and the last few songs were pulling out.

            I looked up in time to catch his glance and as he made his way across the dance floor, she was suddenly there. You have to give her props for holding on to her man so tightly. But there it was. My last chance at a perfect night swept away as if it was never really there. A light tap on my shoulder. Luis. My dear friend who had professed his love for me but whom I could not accept for the simple fact that I was in love with someone else. “Do you want to dance?” he asked. I quickly realized that I had been standing there alone and quite pathetically. Luis was there to rescue me. And I took his outstretched hand. “I’d love to” I said. I guess the night wasn’t a total loss…

MDIA 1020: Mini Sagas (25pts)

MINI SAGAS

Write two fifty-word mini-sagas. The origins of the saga comes from Icelandic prose dating back to the 12th century when locals would recount their warrior battles. Today, a saga is referred to as a modern heroic narrative.
Your mini-saga should have 50 words. No more, no less. The stories must have a beginning, middle and end. They must be interesting, and they may not be autobiographical. Engage the reader.  

1. Natalie Colman checks her phone again. 8 minutes until January 6^th. 8 minutes until the moment her life began. Hands clutching dried flowers and trudging through snow, she comes to a makeshift grave.  Natalie Coleman (1997-2008). “Hey Sis, Don’t worry, I’ll make the most of your life this year too”
2. He sits and watches a baby bird struggle at the base of a tree. A 6-foot drop. A miracle it survived. He gets up and places the chick in its nest. It twitters. It quiets. “It died of a broken rib,” the vet says. “How fickle life is” He concludes.
3. Foose hockey is her game. She strikes the puck, she makes a goal. She laughs, she taunts. “Good Game! Good Game!” She hits. She wins the game. “I won!” she exclaims. And with a smile, her friends leave. “Good Game” they say. “I won,” she repeats. But no one’s there.

MDIA 1020: Interactive Storytelling (10pts)

People have come up with countless stories over the years to keep themselves entertained, teach lessons, and preserve history and/or values from fading away. For sometime the spoken word was the only way to convey such stories. Then came the age of the written word which was much more tangible and concrete. With today’s technology there are many more ways of not only communicating your story but also involving your audience. And while a story in itself can take your imagination to different places, if the same story can make you feel as if you are an active participant, it becomes so much more valuable and exciting.

            Take Peter Pan for instance. Peter Pan is a story that has been around for generations and has entertained thousands if not millions of people. There is adventure, danger and a child’s sense of wonder that entrances anyone who steps into the lives of the characters. Yet if this story were to become interactive, the world of Neverland and the Lost Boys would expand monumentally and instead of following the paths of Wendy Darling and her brothers, one could map their own adventure in Neverland. I have only ever watched Disney’s rendition of the story however from this one version of the book I would make a model of London, England, the home of the Darling Family. Allow for the audience to explore the house and their possessions. In this manner the audience can learn more about the family than what is offered by the author. One can learn the dynamics of the family and become more invested what happens to them. As Peter takes the children to Neverland audiences can have the choice to interact with the island in the avatar of a pirate, fairy, lost child, mermaid or native islander.

The varying aliases then have their own set of customs, adventures and hideouts or homes. Fairies can find out what it is fairies do and where they live; maybe follow Tinker Bell on her adventure and find out how she met Peter. The Natives can go hunting and earn their occupations within the tribes and explore the island while fighting off pirates of wild animals. Mermaids can explore the waters surrounding the island and see what creatures inhabit the ocean. There are countless possibilities that would make this timeless story new again.

MDIA 1020: Photo Doc (25pts)