Thursday, November 11, 2010

The Truman Show paper

“In case I don’t see you, good afternoon, good evening, and goodnight.”   Imagine living in a bubble your whole life. Everything seems so real, yet it’s all just a set.  The Truman Show depicts several interesting areas of the video production through camera shots, music, and opinions on the end of the movie.
            The Truman Show depicts several interesting areas of the video production through many different camera shots.  In the movie, the use of extremely unique camera shots helped to keep the viewers interested.  There were around 5,000 cameras on set, but Truman knew of none.  Although the use of basic camera shots occurred in the movie, there was also a selection different shots.  The greatest one, in my opinion, was the hidden cameras.  In order to capture Truman’s every move; Christof used cameras hidden in people’s shirts, the radio, in the mirror, and plenty of other places.  The framing around the camera helped to identify that the camera itself was hidden.  Also, the angle from which the scene was shot made it clear that it was a hidden camera.  These shots impacted the audience and me.  The hidden cameras made the shot more believable.  It made it seem like it had not been scripted and that the show was real. The cameras played a very important role in plenty of scenes.  Truman had been driving to work when his radio started switching channels and was broadcasting his every move.  Little did Truman know that there was a camera hidden in the radio.  Truman began to question what was going on.  He started to panic and started to wonder if Sylvia, or Lauren as she had been called on the set, was telling the truth about his life being a lie.  The camera caught this mood that Truman was in and had the audience feeling the same.  The Truman Show had a variety of camera shots that all helped make the movie more interesting.
            The Truman Show depicts several interesting areas of the video production through the music.  Within each scene, there had been different music for that particular moment.  For example, before Truman had any idea of his life being a nationwide television show, the music seemed to be calm.  Truman would come out in the morning, ready to leave for work, and the music was calm and happy.  Truman then starts to figure out what is going on after the radio incident in his car.  The music becomes more upbeat and loud.  Throughout the movie Truman goes crazy with trying to figure out what is happening.  The music is intense and dark, unlike the calm and happy music from the beginning.  At the very end of the movie, Truman makes it all the way across the water, even through a storm.  During the storm the music sounds horrifying, just like the other sound effects of thunder and lightning.   It helped to perceive the scene as a life threatening moment for Truman.  After struggling to stay on the boat after the storm, the mood lightens up due to the music.  The sun begins to shine and the music becomes the same way it was in the beginning, happy and calm.  Truman is excited to finally be free.  Suddenly, his boat hits the wall that he thought was just sky.  The music instantly stops.  This made the scene intense for the audience.  Truman was so shocked that he stood in silence and felt the wall.  It was a cliff hanger that left everyone contemplating what would happen next.  What was Truman’s next move?  What would Truman say?  After all the hard work of sneaking out and convincing himself that he would make it out of this set he lived on, he met a dead end.  The scene needed no music to keep everyone on their feet.  Each moment that music had been playing was carefully selected to accommodate the scene in a better way. 
            The Truman Show depicts several interesting areas of the video production through the end of the movie.  The ending of the movie was very entertaining.  It ended with the same words that it began with.  Truman says, “In case I don’t see you, good afternoon, good evening, and goodnight.”   When he began the movie with this line, it didn’t seem to mean much.  In the end, after Christof tries to convince Truman to stay in his world, his response is the quote.  This time it has more of a meaning.  It is Truman’s way of saying that he is leaving and done with this fake world he believed to be real.  If the movie continued, there would have been a classic happy ending.  Truman and Sylvia would find each other and finally be together.  Christof would have become upset and embarrassed.  His embarrassment would show on television where the whole world was watching.  He would have found another victim to his sick way of life.  He would not realize that keeping a person in a bubble and living a fake life just to produce a television show is wrong.  In a sequel, Truman would become psycho.  He would think he never really made it out of his fake life.  It would ruin his relationship with Sylvia because he would think she was still just an actor on the set.  To him, his life would still be a television show.  The end of the movie brought it around a full circle.  The beginning was connected to the end after all the confusion. 
            The Truman Show depicts several interesting areas of the video production through camera shots, music, and the ending.  It seems impossible to seclude a person inside a set for their whole life.  With 5,000 cameras and thousands of actors, The Truman Show made something that seems so unrealistic and impossible very possible.  The movie leaves us all wondering….are WE living our life in a set with actors as the people filling the community around us?

Monday, October 4, 2010

Notetaking on Camera Techniques

INTERVIEWING:
• What seven items should you bring with you when you are shooting an interview?
(Clocks Tick Tock Making Heads Pound Loudly)
CAMERA
TAPE
TRIPOD
MICROPHONE (hang loose symbol from persons mouth)
HEADPHONES
POWER SOURCE
LIGHT SOURCE
• Shooting into a light source = SILHOUETTE
• Button to adjust = BACKLIGHT OR ADD LIGHT TO FRONT

• Where do you want your light source?
BEHIND THE CAMERA
• On what object should you focus the camera?
NOSE/MIDDLE OF FACE
• No tripod= BAD

• Date and Time= PERMANENTLY RECORDED ON TAPE
• What's the difference between SP/EP?
SP- STANDARD PLAY
EP- EXTENDED PLAY
Going to EP will allow you to record more at a lower quality.


• Camera shoots in       SP    .

• Pre-Roll- 2-3 SECONDS BEFORE YOU START YOUR INTERVIEW

• Post-Roll- 2-3 SECONDS AFTER INTERVIEW, KEEP RECORDING. (ROOM TO EDIT)

CAMERA SHOTS:

***BACKGROUND: DYNAMIC= HAS SOME DEPTH, NOT PLAIN

• 1 Shot= MIDDLE OF CHEST TO ABOVE HEAD

• 1 Shot with graphic= MIDDLE OF CHEST TO ABOVE THE HEAD YET PANNED A LITTLE TO THE SIDE TO INCLUDE A GRAPHIC

• 2 Shot= ONLY FOR THE SHOW (ONLY FOR ANCHORS)

• CU- (CLOSE UP) ZOOMED IN TO SHOW DETAIL

• MS- (MEDIUM SHOT) NOT CLOSE UP, BUT NOT FAR AWAY

• LS- (LONG SHOT) SHOWING A PERSONS ENTIRE BODY

• ECU- (EXTREME CLOSE UP) ZOOMED IN A LOT ON SOMETHING

• Rule of thirds-
IMAGINARY LINES ARE DRAWN DIVIDING THE IMAGE INTO THIRDS BOTH HORIZONTALLY AND VERTICALLY

CAMERA MOVEMENTS:
• Tilt- UP AND DOWN MOVEMENT. USE WHEN SOMETHING IS GOING UP OR DOWN.


• Pan- MOVING THE CAMERA LEFT OR RIGHT. ONLY USE WHEN YOU'RE FOLLOWING ACTION.


• Zoom- CHANGING THE FOCAL LENGTH OF YOUR LENS WITHOUT MOVING THE CAMERA. USE WHEN SOMETHING IS MOVING CLOSER TO YOU OR FARTHER AWAY FROM YOU.


• Dolly- PHYSICALLY MOVING YOUR CAMERA, USUALLY ON WHEELS. (EX: ON A CAR DRIVING NEXT TO A CAR)

LIGHTS (3 PT LIGHTING SYSTEM)
• Key- MOST IMPORTANT LIGHT. STRONGEST LIGHT. DOES MOST OF THE LIGHTING FOR YOUR SHOT. 45 DEGREE ANGLE


• Fill- FILLS IN THE SHADOWS FROM THE OTHER DIRECTION. USUALLY AT THE OPPOSITE 45 DEGREE ANGLE FROM THE KEY LIGHT.


• Back- SEPARATES PERSON FROM THE BACKGROUND. OPPOSITE FROM THE KEY LIGHT


MICROPHONES:
• Unidirectional- MICROPHONE IS IN ONE DIRECTION.
• Omnidirectional- MICROPHONE IS IN ALL DIRECTIONS. (BUILT INTO CAMERA)
• Cardiod- HEART SHAPED, USUALLY USED IN THE STUDIO.
• Lav/Lapel Microphone- CLIPS ONTO SHIRT.
• Boom Microphone- MICROPHONE ON A STICK.

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Peer Edits

I peer edited Ali Peterson and Ashley Pearsons stories on their blogs.  I left comments on each of their blogs as well.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

news story

Through all the intense, nail biting games; Eastview Lightning's football team of 2010-2011 has had a great start to the season.  With two wins and two losses, they continue to work hard.  Frank Veldman, the starting free safety, speaks for his team as he states, "Our strongest quality is that we're getting better and better after each game."  With all the hard work being done, the team is now preparing for a exciting game this Friday, October 1st.  Apple Valley Highschool has chosen Eastview as they're team to play for their homecoming game.  To the team, and students, this is a big game.  Derek Schatz, starting fullback, thinks this is a big game for the team because..."They're our rivals and it's their homecoming game which really makes us want to beat them."  Eastivew has their expectations set.  Oshari Arnett, starting nickelback, states that, "We expect to win.  We go into every game expecting to win because that's the type of attitude you have to have if you want to be successful as a team." With the screams of excitement from the encouraging fans and the teams dedication, they works hard together to reach their expectations.

Friday, September 24, 2010

Interview's for story

Frank Veldman
1. How do you expect to beat Apple Valley on Friday?
We are a more physical team and we will out play them.

2. Do you think it was smart for Apple Valley to schefule Eastview as their Homecoming game?
If they want to go into the weekend with a loss, then yes it was a great idea.

3. What do you think is your teams strongest quality?
I think our strongest quality is that we're getting better and better after each game.


Oshari Arnett
1. How do you feel about Apple Valley scheduling Eastview for their homecoming game?
I don't think it was the best decision they made because they're in for a rude awakening on their homecoming night.

2. What do you expect the outcome of the game to be?
We expect to win. We go into every game expecting to win because that's the type of attitude you have to have if you want to be successful as a team.

3. How do you prepare yourself before a game?
I try and stay focused but listening to music and eating food.

Derek Schatz
1. Do you feel like this is a big game for the team and why?
Yes, because they're our rivals and it's their homecoming game which really makes us want to beat them.


2. How do you feel about Apple Valley scheduling Eastview for their homecoming game?
I think it's stupid because we're going to ruin it for them by us beating them.

3. How do you prepare yourself before a game?
I hydrate myself a lot and eat bananas.

Monday, September 20, 2010

"Writing a story" Notes

1. Find a topic.
What is your story about?
Who is your audience?
Why is this story important to your audience?

2. Find an angle.
More specifically, what is important about your topic?
What should the reader learn?

3. Collect information.
Who are three experts for this story?
Do you need opposing points of view?
What interview questions should I ask?
What other research must be done to complete the story?

4. Gather interviews.
Ask open-ended questions.
Get good sound bytes. (A piece of audio that can stand on its own.)
Have person restate the question in the interview.

5. Organize your sound bytes.
Which quotes should be used?
How can I organize the quotes to tell a story?

6. Write segue's/transitions in your story.
Use words to tie the interviews together.
What other information can I add to the story?
Can the story stand on its own?

7. Write ins and outs.
What should the anchors say to introduce my story or bring it to a close? No Scoop, Went to find out,
How should the story begin and end?
What should I say in my stand-up? No 1st Person: I went…
Use attention getter at the introduction but avoid rhetorical questions.

8. Collect b-roll (video footage) to add to your story.
How can video enhance my story?
Make a list of items you would like photographed.
How should I edit the audio and video together to enhance my story?
Should other enhancements like music, graphics, effects be used?

Thursday, September 16, 2010

FOX 9 news at 9

I watched the news on FOX from 9 to 9:30 p.m.

From 9 to 9:15, there were many different stories.  A few of the stories included:
- A man was killed in Lake Elmo.  His body had been found on the side of the road.  His death was very tragic to his family he had left behind.  The man left behind a wife and four children.  About 50 of his family members joined together at the place his body had been found and had a day of rememberance for him.
- Two boys who had been missing were found in Stillwater.  The man who kidnapped them assalted his wife and then took the boys to a hotel in Stillwater.
- A man threw battery acid at his girlfriend when she refused to talk to him.  He is being charged with 2nd degree assault.
- A man working two jobs in his city is adding on overtime to his work hours.  He works as a maitinence man as well as a fire fighter.  He is getting no benefits.
- The unemployment in Minnesota is growing.  It went up to 7% in August.  Horner has a 5 point plan that will cost 3 million dollars but is not sure how many jobs will open up after following through with this plan

Then, from about 9:15 to 9:30, a couple more stories were told.  A few of those were:
- A man killed someone at the John Hopkins Hospital.  He was 50 years old and his name was Waren Davis.  He shot the doctor in the lower chest.
- A Duluth police says he was forced to shoot a kid.  Joeseph Keith was the cop who opened fire on Carl.  He had caught the kid drinking.  There is a video of Carl continuously hitting the cop car with a bat as Keith tried to drive away.  The cop then shot the Carl on the spot and he died.
- A woman with kidney disease could find no matches until a woman donated her kidney to her.  Their families became very close.
- Cardiac arrest causes the most deaths to men and women.  Three people met with their heroes who saved them when they went through cardiac arrest.  One women had it happen to her on her 58th birthday.  All three of the people were from Buffalo.  Usually, very few people survive. People then got together to create a heart sake communit program.
- For the fourth time this year in an appartment building there was another deadly fire.  Four people died.  One was a 20 year old woman, her son, and one firefighter.
- A woman left her toddler sleeping underneath the bushes and hadn't noticed the child wander to the busy street in Turkey.  Many cars passed before a truck driver pulled over and helped the kid get to safety.
- A couple from Washington State were married in quite a unique way.  They had said their vows while on a roller coaster.

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Notes on Broadcast Journalism Law/Ethics

1. What are the 5 freedoms of the 1st amendment?
Freedom of religion, speech, petition, press, assembly.

2. What is the Tinker Standard?
Tinker vs. Des Moines School District (1969)
-Students wear black armbands in 1965 to protest the war
- Student speech cannot be censored as long as it does not "materially disrupt class work or involve substantial disorder or invasion of the rights of others."
- You don't shed your first amendment rights when you come to school.

3. What is the Frasier Standard?
Bethel School District vs. Fraser (1986)
- Innapropriate speech for class president
- Because school officials have an "interest in teaching the boundaries of socially appropriate behavior," they can censor student speech that is vulgar or indecent, even if it does not cause a "material or substantial disruption."

4. What is the Hazelwood Standard?
Hazelwood School District vs. Kuhlmeier (1988)
- Censor stories in student newspaper about teen pregnacy and divorce
- Censorship of school-sponsored student expression is permissible when school officials can show that it is "reasonably related to legitimate pedagogical (teaching) conderns."

5. What is the Frederick Standard?
Morse vs. Frederick (June 25, 2007)
- January 2002, Olympic torch travels through town
- Principal Morse cancels school
- Senior Frederick unveils banner on the sidewalk across street which reads "Bongs Hits 4 Jesus"
- Suspended for 10 days

6. What is the definition of libel?
New York Times Co. vs Sullivan (1964)
- Libel and slander are legal terms for false statements about a person that are printed, broadcasted, spoken or otherwise communicated to others.  Libel is an untrue statement about another person that hurts another person's reputation. Libel is written or visual, whereas slander is spoken.

Monday, September 13, 2010

News Notes

Define “Broadcast Journalism” in 1-3 sentences.
Delivering current events that are news worthy through technology such as the television, radio, or computers.


List and describe the six criteria of newsworthiness.

TITLE DESCRIPTION EXAMPLE

1. Significance- The amount of impact it has on people. (ex: 9/11)

2.  Unusualness- Things you don't tend to see or hear about on a daily basis

3. Timeliness- Sports, traffic, weather. The news of today.

4. Prominence- Celebrities (prominence-people)

5. Proximity- We care about the news that is close to us. Local news.

6. Human interest- Could be a little bit unusual, but it tends to be a "feel good" story. (ex: baby panda born, someone saved a cat)


What are the differences between print journalism and broadcast journalism?


1. Broadcast journalism has the ability to be live.



2. With print journalism, we have the ability to chose what we would like to read about. While watching the news, we have to listen to what they give us. You can't just skip through a story you don't want to hear about.



3. In print journalism, they can go into way more detail.  Broadcast journalism only has a limited amount of time for each story, meaning they can't fit in every detail about the story.


4. Broadcast journalism can have much more effect on people because of the use of video and audio.


How is the Internet impacting broadcast journalism?
The internet is impacting broadcast journalism because all the news is online and much easier to access then print journalism.  There is also live videos. Many newspaper businesses are closing down because more people are using the internet and television to recieve the news other than getting newspapers.