Portrait of a Writer

Laura Kinney's Video Portrait

I'm reviewing Laura Kinney's video, which can be found here:
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qftTMEtV0o0

Laura, one of the main things that struck me about your video portrait was the camera work.  There were a couple of spots that the camera was a little shaky, but it took me watching it several times to really notice for the most part.  I thought the clips looked great with some really nice shots that told a story.  She also had some nice effects in there that make me want to revisit my video and maybe do something similar.  All in all, I thought it looked pretty professional.

I wasn't sure what you were trying to highlight or get across with the shot of the birds on the wire.  It is a nice shot, although you might want to use the warp stabilizer on it, but it just didn't seem to fit with your story.  You might consider taking that out and replacing it with something a little more on point with your message.   

My biggest issue with the video is the music.  The music itself is great and I think it fits perfectly, but it's way too loud.  I had a hard time hearing what you had to say, which is a real shame, because I liked what you had to say.  I would suggest taking that music down to below your speaking.  I'm not sure which program you used, but if you used Adobe Premiere, watch Chapter 7 again on the Shapiro tutorial to find out how to bring the music up during the non-speaking parts and to bring it down during the speaking parts.  The credit panel is far too short, too.  If you blink you miss it.  Believe me, I understand having to try to edit something down to fit the allotted time frame, but there are some places you could either cut completely--like the birds--or just cut down a second or two that will give you some extra time to let us read your credits. As is, I'd have to pause it to be able to see who did the piece.  Actually, I'm not sure I could pause it fast enough.  It's a nice piece; you should be proud of it.  Let people know YOU did it!

I wonder if there is a way you could re-purpose this video as a video resume.  You would need to change it up a bit, take out the shots of the tattoos because many companies don't mind tattoos, but I don't think you would want to highlight them.  Take out the birds. I think it could make you stand out in a sea of other job hunters.  I like the idea so much, I may just try that myself. 

Oh, and if I haven't mentioned it, consider taking out the birds.  I really hate those birds because they pull me out of your story and that is not something you want to do.  Otherwise, Laura, I thought you did a really good job on your video portrait.

Wk 4 RISE Self-Evaluation

Portfolio Subject Selection - Revised

The name of the company I am using for my project is No Key Studios. This is a startup game design company. The company founder is Curtis Howard, a game design student at Full Sail University. Curtis became interested in designing his own games at the age of 2, a dream that has never waned. Through networking via video games, Curtis has assembled a team that includes two Silicone Valley programmers, a Nickelodeon animator, a published writer, and himself as writer, creative director, and artist. As leader of guilds and strategist for multiplayer and tournament teams, Curtis feels more than up to the task of leading this team. "It's pretty much like leading a raid. It's knowing how to best use the strengths and weaknesses of everyone to the best advantage for the team."


Their present project is an RPG, or role playing, strategy game that will be adapted for both PC and mobile players. Their main focus for future games will also be RPG and/or strategy games. Since the average gamer is a male around 30 of modest means, their target audience will be males, 20-40 of low to middle income level.

The company does not have a logo at the moment. After discussing logo ideas with Curtis, he decided he wanted a logo with no words involved.  We both feel an orange key on a blue background with a red circle and line through it would get the point of "no key" across well.  No Key Studios uses a split complimentary scheme of blues, reds, and oranges for their color branding.

Since the game will have a mobile application as well as a PC version, a campaign using social media such as Twitter, Facebook, and Snapchat, online sites such as YouTube, and exposure on such game news sites as Kotaku will be their greatest media needs and tools and the best ways to create buzz and excitement about the company and the their games from the beginning of a project to endgame.

At this time, No Key is still in the planning stages and doesn't have an internet presence.  After reading one of the critique comments about wishing she could find out more information about the company on the internet, I will be creating a Facebook page that will include bios of the leaders and talent already on-board, a synopsis of the game being developed, and regular updates on the game.  Curtis is considering putting in small puzzle games that will give clues to a secret website where those able to solve it will learn bonus information. 

AET Practice: Adding and Removing Elements

AET Practice: Working with Color

Portfolio Project Mission Statement

My mission is to always be true to myself; to be able to express my opinions, thoughts and feelings in a creative and imaginative way.  I will live honestly and ethically and stand up for myself and for those who are unable to stand up for themselves. My goal is to express myself through the written word daily and to find an employment role that will give me an outlet for my creativity and allow me to have fun for a living.

AET Practice 2: Working With Fonts

Image Fonts:

Horsepower: Smoke In The Woods
Sunblock: Scream Again
Naked City: Magnolia


Downloaded Fonts:

Cheery, positive, upbeat: Cheeky Rabbit, Happy Time, Magnolia

Serious, businesslike: Bank Printer, XLmonoalt, Instruction

Dark, Sad, or Frightening: Scream Again, Black Asylum, Smoke In The Woods

"No Prize" Prize

Team Wild Horses' project won the "No Prize" prize. Yay, us!

Week 4 Reflection: Project Revision

The first thing I changed on this video was the volume of the music.  I felt it was too loud and distracted from the narrative.  Ms. Faria suggested I not repeat pictures and I took most of those out and replaced them with different images that gave the same meaning.  There is one place I left the repeat because I had done that for a reason:  When I speak of my two passions, I go between the two of them and then settle on the picture that represented the choice I made.  Jennifer had suggested I show something that I'd written during the time I put writing on the back burner, so I put in an image of a couple of my published works.

Week 4 Reflection: RISE Self-Evaluation

Week 4 Reflection: RISE Peer Feedback

Peer review for Sebastian Jaramillo




Reflect:Sebastian, I relate to your story because I, too, have often been different. Like you, I had to learn to like who I am and to be true to myself. I, too, had problems trying to figure out what I wanted to do in my life after high school. My own digital story is about how I had to settle for jobs I didn't really want to do, so I can definitely relate to you having to do the same thing. It made me want to revisit my own digital story and possibly add a little more specifics on what kind of dead-end jobs I had.

Inquire: Did you consider actually saying what fashion program you'd originally done? I think that would make it a little more personal and draw your audience in more. As it was, when you said you, "did a program," it made me think you did computer programing. Ok, so that might be what comes from being surrounded by geeks, but the word, "program" doesn't really give a mental picture and it's human nature to try to visualize something. You might think about giving us something more to grab onto there.

Suggest: You might want to add some music to your voice-over. You have some pretty good inflection and animation in your voice, but without music it makes it seem kind of monotone even though it isn't. Music helps set a mood and to provoke certain emotions. You have an interesting story; adding some music would help to grab your audience and keep them watching. Also, you might consider changing the first picture. I understand you wanted to have the words, "Medical Billing Specialist," but just seeing the top of the woman's head is distracting. I would suggest you at least crop the picture to where you only have the words on the background.

Elevate: You might want to expand your stint in the fashion industry. Many people would consider the fashion industry an exciting career and would have a hard time understanding what you didn't like about it. I think that could take away from your story. Perhaps if you told us what you did and why you disliked it, you could take the shine off people's idea that the fashion industry is all "Project Runway" and give them a better idea of why you wanted to get away from it.

You have an interesting story. Just from the little bit I've heard, I think you could have a powerful story that many people could relate to if you would just give us a little more insight into your life. All in all, I thought it was a good effort.

Week 3 Project: Digital Storytelling with Mobile Devices Challenge

Devices and Apps used by the team:

John (Lead Writer): iPhone 5s, Dropbox, Facebook, Google Drive, Fade In, Skype

Paula (Audio Engineer): iPad, Google Drive, Galaxy S3, Dropbox, Garageband, Skype

Jennifer (Video Editor): Samsung Galaxy S5, Photostory, Google Drive, Skype

My main roles on the team were copy editor and audio engineer. I went through John's script and tweaked it to make the narration flow a little better. Then I used the Garageband app on my IPad to record the narration, add sound effects and music, and compile it all into an audio file. I uploaded the file into our team Google Drive. I also contributed ideas and feedback during our brainstorming sessions. What surprised me most about this project was how easy it was to record and edit the audio files on my IPad. I've never really used my mobile devices for anything like this because I always thought it would be too difficult. Although using was slightly limiting, it really didn't cause any real issues for me. I'm proud of the fact all three of us were able to work together so well and that we all did a good job on our respective roles. I feel good about the finished product that we came up with. There are a couple of minor issues, but, all in all, I think we did well. This project was challenging for me because I've never had to do something like this on a mobile device. Finding an app and learning how to use it in the confines of mobile technology turned out to be not as difficult as I'd feared, but it still represented a hurdle I had to get over. I feel much better about working on my mobile devices now.

Week 3 Practice: Shot List

Script	Shot List
You weren’t expecting this	Title screen
The gurgles and coos.	Happy, smiling baby Happy, smiling child
The wet kisses	Slobbery baby kissing
The beard pulls	Baby pulling beard
The cute snuggling	Baby snuggling on Dad’s chest Child cuddling?
The tiny feet	Tiny baby feet Baby shoes?
The “I Love You’s”	Baby hugging Child making a heart sign
The smiles that light up your life	Baby smile Child smile
And you definitely weren’t expecting this	Title screen
The screaming	Child screaming
The crying	Baby crying
The writing on the walls…literally	Child writing on walls
The dirty diapers	Person holding “dirty” diaper
How much food is really in those little jars	Messy baby with food everywhere
The bumped heads and bruised knees	Child/baby looking hurt
How you’ll never get a good night’s sleep again	Person looking exhausted with coffee cup
All you wanted was this, but you got too excited	Girl looking seductive
Is this worth this?	Shots of children doing various things back to a shot of the girl
Trojan: Pleasure you want. Protection you trust.	Title screen with logo and slogan

Week 3 Analysis: Businesses & Audiovisual Media

The Full Sail video is used to attract new students for the school by telling the story of the special technology and equipment students have access to at Full Sail.  The main basis of the story puts forth the idea of, "teaching science by promoting art."  It starts by talking about the implementation of the Launchbox program, providing a Macbook loaded with industry-standard applications to every student.  The story then progresses to all the media projects that go on 24/7 at Full Sail and climaxes with the high definition editing lab that allows multiple students to work at the same time. 

The potential Full Sail student is not the average, run-of-the-mill student.  By showcasing the technology combined with art, it speaks to people with specific interests; interests that are often glossed over or put into the background in traditional universities.  It's done like a documentary, a medium which has a form of storytelling all its own.

Dollar Shave Club uses bathroom humor--literally--to introduce its new "butt wipes for men."  I'm not sure if I'd call this video ad a story.  It's amusing, if a bit gross, but is it a story?  It has no real story spine.  Yes, once upon a time a man pooped and because of that, he wiped his butt with One Wipe Charlies, but any kind of story arc stops there.  There is no other, "Because of that," or, "Until finally." It's really just a series of random poop jokes which, while it will make a lot of people snicker, including me, it doesn't hold together as a complete story.  At the risk of sounding crass, Dollar Shave Club's One Wipe Charlies may wipe rumps, but they can't bring a story to climax.  Their butt wipe video does not have a pot to poop in story-wise. 

Science World basically uses a music video to get their information across.  I do think it has a story, even if it is a bit of a loose one.  Once upon a time, a boy strutted, singing, through a science museum.  Because of that, he gained the attention of others in the building who joined him in his singing.  Because of that, everyone had a lot of fun until, finally, a girl realized she could have fun with the exhibits while she was singing.  This made everyone happy and they all danced through the museum.  The camera is operated in such a way as to make it look like someone happened to catch all this on their phone and videoed it, which makes the camera and the operator a part of the story, as well.

 

Week 3 Practice: Team Organization

CHILDREN

This video is going to be an amalgamation of shots of children/babies. The basic

premise is to get shots of them being sweet and lovable, as well as being the tiny

terrors they can be. We want to show the duplicity of children.

"You weren't expecting this. The gurgles and coos. The wet kisses. The

beard pulls. The cute snuggling. The tiny feet. The 'I Love you(s)'. The smiles

that light up your life."


During that narration, there will be images of children being sweet, and hopefully

doing those actions. The dialogue can be changed to fit the shots obtained.

"And you definitely weren't expecting this: The screaming. The crying.

The writing on the walls...literally. The dirty diapers. How much food is

really in those little jars. The bumped heads and bruised knees. How you'll

never get a good night's sleep again."


During this narration we show the other side of children. Anything extra, once again,

can be added in or changed. The messy baby with the food jar is a definite because,

seriously, how much can they fit in those damn jars? At the end a shot of a parent (or

one of us looking disheveled and falling asleep with a coffee or something?

"All you wanted was this, but you got too excited. Is this worth this?

Trojan: Pleasure you want. Protection you trust."


At the beginning of this narration show a picture of an inviting looking girl. During

the "worth this" flash quickly to some terror pictures. At the end of narration put up

the Trojan logo with their official tag line. I think their tag fits here.


Team Name: Wild Horses


Roles:

John Brim:

Lead Writer

Photography


Paula Howard

Audio Engineering

Narration/Voice Over


Jennifer Camper

Video Editing/Mixing

Photography

Week 3 Exploration: Mobile App Review

Week 2 Exploration: Storyboard

Week 2 Project: My Digital Story

Week 2 Analysis: Businesses & Visual Web

A friend told me about Pinterest when it was new. I cruised the site and sort of went, "Eh." I didn't really see the appeal. The Full Sail University Pinterest site helped me understand Pinterest in a way I never have before. Categories that are of interest to the Full Sail students fill the page, from food to video games to dorm decor. Click on any category and it takes you to a plethora of related companies, products, and ideas.

Everything on the page pertains to the school in some way. Some sections reflect the entertainment industry focus of Full Sail with categories of video games, music, and movies. Even the decor area has ideas to decorate a student apartment with entertainment themes. Other segments showcase local points of interest that might appeal to campus students.

Full Sail engages the audience with images with vibrant colors and that makes you stop with a, "Hey! What's this about?" The entire page screams, "Full Sail is fun!" and the images generate excitement not only in present students, but is inviting to prospective ones.

 In the meantime, on Instagram, Dollar Shave Club is revamping the Burmashave model. The page is peppered with packages of razor blades and shaving packs with amusing shaving tips. It's a whimsical way to display their products. Every image has something to do with their area of expertise. What better way to support their brand? Highlighting their products with what cold arguably be considered their trademark humor helps to promote their brand, as well.

Dollar Shave Club engages their audiences through images with text that is a part of the picture rather than just pasted on. Guest comments are allowed, as are member contributions. One DSC follower took a picture of a pumpkin with shaving cream and a razor. In these ways they make the audience a part of the page rather than just visiting voyeurs.

Science World goes a slightly different route on their Facebook page. It combines media, video, images, cartoons and text to appeal to any preference. Images range from bright and colorful to strange and unusual. Each one is designed to create a question in guests' minds and make them want to explore further to find out what it's all about.

As the name indicates, Science World is about science and the Facebook page supports that. Videos are short and filled with interesting scientific facts and experiments. Even the video about the moose in snow has a scientific bent by asking, "How much snow does it take to stop a moose?" A picture slideshow displays images of an event featuring the rainforest that Science World sponsored. The page does a good job of promoting the Science World brand by inviting us in to explore the world of science.

The page is not terribly interactive, but I do give points for their invitation for visitors to tell them what they think. There are a number of negative responses to a partnership Science World has entered into. I respect the fact that they leave those unflattering comments on the site. It lends them credibility because it suggests the truth is important to them.

 These mediums are constantly reinventing themselves. Even when they've been around awhile, individuals and companies find new ways to use them. Now when I look at these mediums I'm more likely to think, "Wow!" instead of shrugging, "Eh."

Week 2 Practice: Visual Communication

I had a hard time deciding between Social and Strategy. I liked the images for both. This one, though, was a little more whimsical. I used images of various ways people engage in social situations. The top left is a shot from World of Warcraft. There's a real person behind most of those characters. They interact, role-play, and, often, become friends. It's a completely different way of having a party. The top right shows that even those that should be enemies can become friends just by socializing. The bottom left is an image of one of the most successful social networks ever created. And the bottom right is the iconic symbol of social communication: a teenaged girl on a phone. I like how this mind map shows the way I see the abstract idea of "Social."

Week 2 Exploration: Storyboard

Week 1 Project: My MCBS Story

 It was a dark and stormy day at the site of my present unsatisfying job

For the first 30+ years of my working life, I worked jobs that left me unsatisfied at best and depressed at worst.   The majority of the various positions I suffered through not only didn't let me realize my full potential, they never made use of it at all.  In short, I've seldom worked a job that I really enjoyed.  Some positions were more interesting than others, but none truly gave me that sense of accomplishment that I crave.

When I was younger, I didn't know what I wanted to be when I grew up.  Finally, I realized I was passionate about writing.  Nothing is quite so satisfying as finishing an article or a scene and thinking, "Yeah.  That's good."    

Yay!  I finally figured out what I wanted to do with my life!  I wanted to write!  About the time I realized this, I turned to my new husband and said, "I'm pregnant."

 Anyone that writes regularly may understand why, at the moment the real world insinuated itself upon my life, I stopped doing one of the most important things that made that life worth living. 
It's difficult to concentrate on two passions at once.  The precious new human life I'd help create took precedence over creating new fictional lives.  An additional little human ten years later prolonged that rift.  Oh, I still wrote; I even published some articles on parenting.  Unfortunately, the landlord, utility companies, and grocery stores dictated the necessity for me to work full-time.  Between 40 hours of doing yet another job I didn't like and caring for a growing family, writing just fell by the wayside.  

After my husband and I both got caught in the Great Downsizing of '09, I still need to work for a guaranteed paycheck.  That doesn't mean I have to stay on the same, boring path of jobs I hate to go to.  When I toured the Full Sail campus with my son, I said, "I wish I was younger because this is the school I would attend."

To which my son replied, "What's younger got to do with it?  There's no reason you can do it now."

I raised some wise children.  

He was right.  Now that my kids were no longer kids and well able to fend for themselves, it was time to finally stop pushing aside my dreams of having a fulfilling job.  I enrolled in Full Sail University in the online Media Communications Bachelor's of Science program in August.  It's a degree that combines writing with aspects I liked about some of my past jobs, something that I strongly feel will lead me to a great deal of job satisfaction.

I may be older, but I'm not past my working prime, yet.  I still have a good 20 years of work left in me, I think.  I plan to spend it as a Media Communications professional.  This time, I want to have fun for a living.    

One of the reasons I followed Sebastian's blog is because he wants the same thing.  His story is similar to mine, so I connect with him.  For that matter, Samantha's story has similar elements.  She, too, wants to do something more; to be a part of something exciting that speaks to her passion.  From reading the other students' blogs, I realize that most of us here at Full Sail want the same thing.  That's the reason we're here instead of Local State University.  

Week 1 Analysis: Businesses & Blogs

According to experts, good blogs have some things in common that make them successful.  How do the blogs for Science World, Dollar Shave Club, and Full Sail fit into this criteria?  

All three blogs build a strong online presence.  Although none of them look the same in design, their layouts are similar.  All have blog posts in neat, easy to read order with pertinent graphics.  The blog writers are knowledgeable, showing each blog's expertise in their fields, thus establishing credibility.  All three have entries interesting enough to encourage conversation with their audience.
Of course, they're not exactly alike, although they share similarities between them.  Science World and Dollar Shave Club both have a similar design with the menu bars that drop down when scrolled over.  Full Sail's menu bar also drops down, but it doesn't cover some of the blog entries, thus giving their stories better visibility.  Dollar Shave Club and Science World both have blogs using science as a base, although Science World has more.

Full Sail and Dollar Shave Club both have eye-catching graphics.  They do it differently, but the concept is the same:  to create visual interest.  Dollar Shave Club creates uses a lot of cartoon-like art and amusing animation.  Full Sail does it with colorful and active pictures, not to mention the fantastic showcasing of student art. 

The Full Sail and Science World blogs are a little more alike.  They both have numerous entries spotlighting their respective fields.  They both have industry news and information about industry events.  There is no doubt they are credible sources for news and information.  Dollar Shave Club has interesting information that ties into shaving, but it isn't really breaking news per se.

Although all three sites share similarities, they have their unique points, as well.  Science World is all science all the time.  Every blog gives information on the science behind the subject matter, from what scientists have learned from space dust to what makes a candle burn.  The site itself is clean, sharp, and uncluttered.  It is a bit of a shame that the same blog is listed twice, because it hurts its credibility.  We expect a science site to be as precise as a scientific experiment.  A double entry shows a lack of precision that might then make consumers question the validity of the science within.
 Dollar Shave Club is more diverse in their subject matter than the other two.  Thank goodness.  They obviously recognize there is only so much that can be written about shaving and facial hair and remain interesting.  Even so, the posts all tie into their industry such as the entry about vitamins, something which can effect hair growth and health.  From the random blogs I looked at, more people commented on this site than on the other two.     

Full Sail has the most news and events stories that cover the important people and companies that visited the campus over the year as well as posts outlining the awards and successes of school alumni.  Full Sail is far more about  "what's happening" than the other two blog sites.  This helps to put the sense of Full Sail's industry expertise and credibility in the minds of the readers.

These three sites show that, although all good blog sites share certain criteria such as expertise and visual presence, they also have to be uniquely interesting in order to catch--and keep--readers' attention. 

Week 1 Practice: RSS & Industry Blogs

I enjoy figuring out what sparks interest in people.  I love the hunt for that nugget, that one little thing about something that I know will set off little lightning bolts of excitement in people.  There's very little more satisfying than creating something that causes people to react strongly; to cause people to feel in the way I want them to feel.

I get that satisfaction from writing magazine articles and fiction stories.  Oddly enough, I also get that feeling from creating an ad campaign or writing marketing content.  This is why I chose to follow several marketing and copywriting blogs.

Copyblogger offers advice to marketers, copywriters, and entrepreneurs.  This week, it has several articles about content and content writing.  AdWeek:  AdFreak highlights the best and the worst in advertising.  The articles tell what's right and wrong about ad campaigns whether through design or mistake.  Marketing Pilgrim keeps up with interactive marketing strategies, an important part of modern marketing.

I also chose two of my classmates' blogs.  Sebastian strikes me as someone I would get along well with.  He appears to have a definite creative streak and is someone who not only thinks outside of the box, he lives outside of it.  That's my kind of person.

Samantha has a passion for her craft that I like.  She also has the same desire as I do to chase after the dream of doing something she enjoys for a living rather than continuing to settle for something that she doesn't mind doing, but doesn't put the fire in her blood. 

Week 1 Practice: Start a Blog & Tell a Story

Before I started the MCBS Program I worked a lot of different jobs I didn't enjoy.
I had always thought I wanted to be a full-time writer.
But then I got married, had kids, and the real world insinuated upon my life.
Because of that I didn't have much time to take care of a family, work a regular job, and write.
Because of that I my husband didn't make enough money to support us all and I had to work to help pay the bills.
Because of that I put aside my dreams of writing.
Until finally my kids were old enough to take care of themselves.
And ever since I decided to pursue my passion for media because it allows me to combine what I've liked about my past work experiences, my love for writing, and my interest in the entertainment industry.