iCan! (Blog - Week #8)

This is not just a pun, but an actual student Film festival held every year in California. Click on the link to the student-produced movies here: http://www.sfett.com/html_movie/Ican/4.html
Notice that you can click on the numbers across the top to view additional years of entries. Watch as many as you like... then review at least one of them. What did you like, not like, wonder, etc... Pretend you are Siskel and Ebert and give your candid review. Make sure you leave us the URL so that we can go watch it as well!

"And the winner is..." Blog Week #7

With the Academy Awards shared last night on television, it is time to do Digital Media Current Events. Choose the one Oscar category in which you think you will have the best shot someday. In which category do you think you excel the most? (You can visit www.oscar.com if you would like.)Do a little additional research and teach us something about this year's winner in that category... or about past history in that category. It is up to you... but enlighten us a little with your knowledge of the famous Red Carpet ceremony and what it means to you.

"I want my MTV!"

The blog for Week #6 involves your ideas on music videos. Whether CMT, MTV, or YouTube, you have all watched your share of music videos. Tell about techniques you like, don't like, or are indifferent about. What captures your interest and makes you want to listen to the song even after you are away from your TV or computer? Let's share some ideas about video in the production of music videos.

Videographer's Perspective

It's Week #5 and everyone is learning a lot of new information. How is your view of moviemaking changing and evolving? Do you see certain things differently, have a different appreciation for digital media, or have new insight into movie production at this point? Just take a few minutes and compose a paragraph or so with your comments on how you are seeing things through your eyes right now.

From SuperBowl commercials to Shot Selection

Your blog post this week may take a little more work. Find a commercial that you can access online. Here are two links you may try: (I hope they aren't blocked by the filter... if they are, search for your own).

1. SuperBowl Commercials: http://www.superbowl-ads.com/

2. Classic Commercials: http://www.retrojunk.com/list_commercials.php

Now, post the link to the commercial and then write your "play-by-play" analysis of the shot selection that it uses. Obviously, if the commercial only has 1 or 2 different shots, it would not be a good choice for this assignment. Check on your fellow classmates... how well did they recognize the different shots we have been learning about in class?

GOOD LUCK!

Week #3: 24-7 Learning is Underway!

Ok... honest thoughts. You've finished one whole week with a MacBook by your side 24/7. What are your initial reactions to this whole initiative? Is it going to mean more work? more learning? more distractions? more opportunities? What does it feel like to be "cutting edge?" Were there more or less problems during the first week than you thought? What do you think will be the best thing about the rest of the school year with a MacBook? What do you think will be the worst thing about it? Any constructive criticism towards the teaching/administration end can be offered as long as we all understand that everything is a "work in progress" and we're all learning together! Anything else you wish to add on the topic of 24-7 Learning at O'Neill Public Schools would be great for this week's blog. For the SMH students, you can give your honest opinions looking in from the outside.

BONUS points this week for anyone who submits a MacBook picture to the KBRX website at: http://www.kbrx.com/macbook.htm SMH kids can substitute any photo with technology and submit it to me at mrsmorrow@mac.com

Week #2 Blog Post: Childhood Classics

Before we put you behind the lens, put yourself back in the audience. What was your favorite movie growing up? You know, the movie that you went to see 10 times in the theater and then purchased the VHS tape that you watched so much that you wore out. I can't name one, but I can name several: E.T., Ghostbusters, Footloose, Flashdance, and my all time favorite "The Sound of Music" all come to mind right away! Even though we grew up in different times, I think it safe to say that a movie classic is a classic forever. Do we hear any common Hollywood hits? Remember that a big part of your job as a moviemaker this semester is to be a movie-"watcher." Analyze, critique, and enjoy watching what you are learning about in life come to life on the big screen. And don't forget to leave your comments to this post to share some of your "Childhood Classics."