Diversity...

I made this video for a project at school. It's about Diversity and the posters hanging up around the school. Enjoy!



I created my video using Flash. I first studied the Edison posters and picked out a handful of them to use in my video. Then I went through all of my pictures and selected the ones that I thought would portray a good sense of diversity and the different words on the posters. After that I made a layout of an idea that I had in my head of how I wanted the video to look. I thought of what each of the words meant to me and what I could say about them. I wanted it to be something that I thought up and not something someone else had said. I also wanted the pictures to come up with different effects so I tried to use a pattern with the fade ins and fade outs. I wanted some of the main words to pop up with the sayings I thought of through-out the video and all of the pictures I wanted to pop up in a random order. I didn't want the word "weight" to pop up and every picture dealing with weight to follow it. I wanted it to be all mixed up and not such a set static pattern.
I wanted a video that would portray some of the diversity posters hanging up around the Edison campus and also to show how diversity plays a part in my life. As well as open up the viewers eyes to diversity and realize that it's a part of your every day life.
All of the images (besides the Edison posters) were photos of mine with the people in my life. I have a very diverse set of friends and since I know them first hand it's not just Googling images of random people and posting them on a video. I chose the images that I did because they were ones that stuck out in my eyes. I also think they show real emotions, instead of posed pictures by a photographer they're real life, real action photos. Most people that know me well know my love for Michael Jackson. I knew I didn't want a video with no sound so I was trying to think of a good song to have as background music. I thought the "Black or White" song would be perfect for the diversity theme. Mostly self explanatory there, I'd say.
The video I made would be good for anyone to watch, probably more so anyone from the age level of junior high and up. It's a good eye-opener for people and hopefully it makes them think about how they act towards other people a little bit more.
When you watch a video like that you wouldn't expect so much work and time to go into it but it's actually very time consuming. Not to mention the plan you have in your head never goes that way when you try to do it. There's a lot of changing and a lot of rethinking. When I viewed the video on my computer all of the timing seemed to be pretty good but after I published it and uploaded it online and watched it with my Dad on his computer it seemed a bit faster than I would have liked on some parts. Next time I make a video I'll remember to take that in consideration. Most of the other challenges I faced were just in my head. I thought I had a plan for the video, then I'd think something else or it didn't go well together. So there were lots of different thoughts going through my head beating up each other. Another thing I didn't quite like was most of the posters had the "stock photo" label across them so I just had to go with that.
Overall I think the video turned out mostly as I had wanted it to, definitely turned out for the better. If I was ever going to post it on a more serious note there would be a few things I'd definitely go back and tweak up. I'm also open to any suggestions!

Woolworth's Lunch-Counter Waitress

I enjoyed hearing Geneva's voice tell her own story rather than reading the story. You get a great concept from both types of the story but I think her voice and hearing her reactions sets in more than just reading it. I think David Isay did a good job at leading Geneva into a story vs. just questions and answers. This is going to be one thing that is a challenge in doing the sound portraits, the questions will have to be well thought and worded. Another challenge he faced was wording the transcript in way that you would get the same impact as hearing her voice. He used punctuation as well as emotions, noises going on, etc to get the feel of the real story.

The story of Geneva Tisdale.

Let Your VOICE Be Heard.

Upon reading The Stadium Pal by David Sedaris I pictured a bigger, more masculine looking, man. When I read an article of any sort it lets my imagination wonder, you picture the things that are going on and being said. You put emphasis and tone (if reading out loud especially) on certain parts or words that the author might not have. When reading an article someone else has written you can't know what they were thinking as they wrote it, or where they intended to be funny or serious.

Then when I watched the actual clip of David Sedaris on David Letterman I was kind of let down at first. Well, maybe not "let down", but as I had pictured someone bigger and a more masculine deep toned voice this man was tiny and had a high pitched voice. I think in the end it made the story funnier, because you could actually picture a certain person going through the story. I just don't picture a story like this happening to a guy like that. By reading his own story you could tell where he wanted you to laugh, and where he put the emphasis into certain words. I noticed he added a little line in when he was speaking, which wasn't in the writing. In the moment when reading out loud people tend to add little bits, which I think add to the story.

I like both reading and hearing stories, both have their advantages and disadvantages. When you read an article I think it gives more lead way for your imagination to kick in, and when hearing an article it lets you get the full effect of the story from the tone of a persons voice throughout. Personally I think it just depends on the type of story you're reading. Comedy type of stuff is usually funnier in person, you get the full effect, the full laugh. More serious types of issues are better just reading to yourself .

Forgetful Minds

I wish I'd remember when we didn't have class. I had thought about it all week, until today. I rushed from work to get to class on time, about halfway down the hall and it hits me, NO CLASS! Shoot, at a time like this what a waste of gas. I ran into Jay on my way out, seems as if he was in the same mind state as me, and obviously after reading his blog - Paul as well. Now, time to relax. =]

Cincinnati, OH

It seems as if the whole state of Ohio, among other states have been trying to bounce back from this whole "blackout" experience, what's the world coming to, we can't survive without technology? Most of the whole front page of "The Cincinnati Enquirer" involved information about the blackout and dealing with the lack of gas, food, and ice. A little section had the information on the stock market. It seems as if within the past week all newspapers are dealing with the same stories, lets hope we can all survive this technology surge and these outrageous gas prices - that is if we don't run out of it!

Tallahassee, FL

Oh no... another gas price article?! People in Tallahassee are experiencing the same thing everyone else is, high gas prices and lower inventory. Gas stations are not getting any gas in but the prices only go up. Other than that just some local news. A 23-mile chase of a 17-year-old boy who was apparently shooting at the officers involved in the chase. That's some pretty crazy news!! I guess this stuff only happens in Florida. HAHA Thank you "Tallahassee Democrat".

Salinas, CA

High gas prices, unemployment, and this economy are hard for everyone. The "Salinas Californian" highlights on the aspect of fewer local donations which is something that a lot of people need right now. Also mentioned is the falling stock market.