Final refelection essay

This semester working on this project, the biggest struggle has been trying to get all of the group members in the same place and when we are all together, staying on topic enough to get everything that we need to get done, done. The truth is, it was a fun project but something I think could have been done in a smaller group. The biggest thing in my project that I am proud of is all of the things that I edited by myself. I am not the best person when it comes to anything to do with technology so for me to do the last half of the video almost entirely by myself that was a great moment for me. But the part of the documentary that I would change, if I could, would be getting more film on Gaby and Logan as they worked out. Also if I had more time I would follow them around as they grew and learned throughout the year. The parts of the projects that I was responsible for was the last half of the editing, I was the one to interview both Logan and Gaby, and also did some of the shooting for the different shots in the documentary. The group atmosphere I felt was very good, I personally tried to keep the group on task at times it worked and others not as much as I would like it to have. I think to help my group I would have tried to get the group together more. I do believe that I contributed a fair amount to the overall project.

 The readings and films that I watched over the course of the semester did make me think a little differently, like in the Naked Celebrity Leaks and Born into Coal made me see other people's view points that I did not see before. My project in particular did not make me think any differently about the campus, because bodybuilding can be talked about on any level throughout the country, also I have been around bodybuilders for a long time so I don't see them differently especially on campus.

My public speaking this year, I think got better. I had to do many different interviews and talk in front of people a few times and this class helped. I did enjoy learning about the different ways  of communication but by the end of the year it did take up a lot more of my time and an essay would have been quicker and less stressful. Plus it wouldn't involve a group. I think if the documentary was shorter than it would have been more enjoyable as a whole, but I did love doing the project. I think the way you taught the class was easy to learn from, the discussion were my favorite and it was a disappointment not to be able to do those by the end of the semester. I think by adding more discussions that would improve the class, but adding controversial issues. The discussions were better when there was someone on each side of the topic and there was something that could be really discussed and not giving straight forward opinions. Also I think if you do two different articles on the same subject it would be a great way to compare the writing styles. The class in general was enjoyable but if I were to change something I would change the length of the documentary and do a partner or 3 person group and no more than that, because its easy to get 3 people together but it is very hard to get more than that together at the same time and stay focus.

Final Cut

 http://youtu.be/LFsYHoQLrsA

Bodybuilders part 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3LL1ffuY8g&feature=youtu.be

Bodybuilders group

We went to the Media Depo

Bodybuilder Storyboard

Shot One: The first shot we want the viewers to see is of a black screen, and hearing the grunts, thumps, clangs, and all the other sounds that the bodybuilders are making.

Shot Two: The next thing that will be seen is of someone walking in to the pit and trying to start a work out. (This will be a staged part of the video)

Shot Three: Then we will jump into two interviews with one typical looking male body builder- what he is doing, and a guy who is trying to get to a bodybuilder- how he is going to get there

Shot Four: Then we will have a mirror shot of both the man and the women working out, trying to have a focus on the face.

Shot Five: Then go into the two different interviews with the women body builders- answering the same questions as the men are answer,

Shot Six: The next shot will have a picture of the bodybuilders working out.

Shot Seven: Then for the next scene we will be asking the bodybuilders- Do you see people being intimidated of the pit? Were you intimidated when you first were in the pit? Why do you think this intimidation is here?

Shot Eight: Having the end of a work out, the bodybuilders giving one another a high-five. Focusing on that noise and zooming in on the hands to have and extreme close up to see the hand.

Shot Nine: End Credits, blooper.

Music Video

The music video I choose was Christina Perri, Jar of Hearts. The video was very interesting and had very few long shots. The longest shot was 11 seconds long it started at second 40 and went to second 51.

Born into Coal

The short documentary “Born into Coal,” was an interesting piece, the title made me thinking that I would be watching a documentary on the families of coal miners. I was pleasantly surprised when it had to do with a beauty pageant and what it meant to the young girl and her community. It also surprised me when they spoke with the retired coal worker.

The documentary was a mix between human interest and standard narrative. It is both because it was following an event, Coal Queen Pageant, but it was also following around and just telling a story about the coal miners and their family. I think that they did it right by not just making it one or the other but making it both because a lot of information would have been left out.

There are a few amazing shots in this documentary but the one I think is the most powerful is the close up of Mr. Bailey’s hand holding the newspaper. I think it shows something about these men. It has the close up of the nails and how the coal gets under his finger nails. It is a powerful shot I think because it is showing how the coal is never going away. Also I think it can be something that sticks with the audience as a representation of a coal miner.

The other shots I thought were amazing were the last three at the end. The first of close up shot of half her face. In this shot you can see the determination in her face. You see that she wanted this crown and she wants to represent her family. The next one is a full body shot of her in front of a train track, and for me I took that as she wants to leave as she said in the beginning but she can’t because she isn’t finished where she was at now. The last shot they showed was of a close up from the front view. I thought that last shot showed her determination again but you could see it so much better.