Career Fair Prep Workshop

At the Career Fair Prep Workshop, Carrie Brooks gives a brief layout on how the Career Fair functions and gives tips on how we, students attending the Career Fair, should behave.

Well, by behave, I mean behaving professionally instead of casually. Instead of the student going to each booth to talk to the companies, the companies comes to the students. This forces the student to show up and be active instead of lurking in the corner.

So in our little space, we should treat them as our "offices." We should be mindful of their time, indications of looking at a watch or glancing at another table, because they may have a limited time to actually be at the Career Fair. It would also be smart to give away items like a business card. Well, exchange business cards, so they have your information as well as you having theirs.

But as we're practicing our professionalism, we also need to research, not only the companies, but ourselves since we're pitching ourselves to these companies. Then we also have to consider the following: Do we fit in with what they're doing? Do we fit in with who they are?

Some tips Carrie Brooks had to give while giving an interview are:

• introducing yourself confidently
• place your name tag on your shoulder
• make eye contact (it's a sign of respect in our culture)
• listen and answer concisely
• learning attitude
• do not complain, don't include personal problems
• talk about projects/internships
• talk about how they relate to a job
• Talk about homework 
• how do they relate to the goal?

After the interview, thank them for their time and for the opportunity. If you're interested, reiterate that interest. Send a thank you email or a written note. Then after a week or two, follow up with another email.

Demo Reel Review

Smooth transitions. It didn't feel long. Had a variety of shots. Love the way he presented himself, but wish that he had contact info. However, the logo was really appealing. Even though they're different material, they all feel connected. I'm sure it's because of the transitions that he used.



Relied heavily on the music. Beautiful shots, but some of them felt too rushed. I liked the idea of having one of the shots play as the brand is the main focus. It highlights you and your work.



Put down their strongest pieces. Never a dull moment, continues to flow. The moment one part seems to lose interest, it shifts to a different scene. Eva López really wanted the viewer to focus on the animation style before revealing her name at the end of the video. Variety of shots and moods from super dynamic action scenes to everyday life.



I was really baffled by the preview pictures, and, I'm not going to lie, it caught my interest. Bold name and title to really push that UMPF. Contrast in dynamic with each scene. Focuses on the pacing and the transition. Also, nice touch of humor at the end of the video (it's not his fault, it's the media's fault for repeating that scene a billion times).




I felt like some of the shots they included weren't as strong as some other shots. The name is too small and it's not even long enough to read in the beginning. Then you can notice how much the camera shakes/moves without it being smooth. There are some shots where you're just admiring it (i.e. the arrow towards the screen), but other times it feels completely unnecessary to show (all the frontal facial shots). I also didn't understand the text. Were they trying to say that it was from a certain film they made? Because one of the words included "festival" and I was confused as it was for an advertisement or a demo reel. Towards the end, it was great! Those shots were great! But I feel like they relied on the audio too much. Also, their name is waaay too small. Compared to the "Identity" fonts, "The Big Bad" seems to be swept under the rug.



It felt really disconnected. Suddenly it was actual footage??? beginning showed the information, but it was so fast that it was like "I didn't get a chance to read your name"'



Text is bland. Everything is centered in the middle when she introduces herself. The text of her role becomes hard to read on the left corner. Goes on for too long for someone who seems to be new at the game??? Other that or the material she presents isn't as strong as other parts. Not sure about the bits with animation? I don't see how that fits the overall theme?

Skype Talk: J.A.W. Cooper

Visiting Artist: Gregory Euclide

I wasn't sure what to expect from Gregory Euclide's artist talk. I'm glad to say that I was delightfully pleased, even though the talk was delayed for about 10 minutes. His presentation was very lively, and he was very keen on showing and explaining his process on his art-making. 

Euclide was born and raised in Wisconsin. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Wisconsin, and later received his BFA from Minneapolis College of Art and Design.

Artist Lecture: Carey Gibbons

Carey Gibbons is the future Illustration Art History teacher at MCA. Instead of discussing about her work, she discussed the work that was exhibited in the main galleries.

Jim Lamarche's illustation in Winter Is Coming

In Lamarche's illustratinos, we're observing nature with the girl. The viewer is usually above the girl, giving the idea that we're also observing her too. It's like inception... with observation. There's a quiet contemplation in his work juxtaposed by the wind blowing and giving motion to the leaves. The color connects with the landscape and the words "Winter is Coming" is repeated throughout this children's book.

Script Review: Total Recall (1990)

A review of a beautiful movie called "Total Recall". For those of you who have not seen this movie, I highly recommend it because it's a fantastic story. However, this does contain spoilers.

Outline for Pitch Idea

TITLE: I Hate Group Projects (WIP)
GENRE: Slice of Life
THEME: Treat others how you want to be treated.
MAIN CHARACTERS:
Clementine Judd: 

Not the coolest kid in town. However, what she lacks in class, she makes up with determination. She's usually self conscious because she knows people don't like her. She's very awkward and is not exactly the "epitome of beauty."

Austin "Samuel" Staggs:

Just like his initials, he can be somewhat of an A.S.S. He can be suave, but he does not want to be associated with the odd-balls of the school. He also seems to get annoyed easily. He is currently in the track team and loves how he can run to clear his thoughts.

SECONDARY CHARACTERS:
Mr. A. D. Hope: 

The chemistry teacher who wants to push students to do their best. 

BASIC PLOT: Clementine and Austin have to work on a school project together, but it's obvious that Austin does NOT like the idea. Clementine struggles to work on the project with Austin and are almost done when Clementine's pet destroys their project. Austin leaves Clementine to work by themselves before coming back hours later. Austin and Clementine end up receiving a good grade, but Clementine wants nothing to do with Austin.
UNIQUE ANGLES/ASPECTS: From the perspective of the person who is being disliked
TARGET AUDIENCE: Young Adult

STORY STRUCTURE
ACT 1
Setting of film: High School - Present Day
Film begins: In a classroom. Austin walks into class and looks at Clementine disgustingly and tries to sit as far away from Clementine as possible.
Inciting Incident: Clementine looks at Austin and asks if they have a pencil, but Austin won't acknowledge them.
Plot Point 1: The teacher pairs Austin and Clementine together to work on an outside class project.

ACT 2
Setbacks/How does the protagonist deal with them?

• Austin speaks to the teacher, saying that he cannot work with Clementine
• Mr. A. D. Hopes says it'll be a way to bond with each other and, who knows, may become friends (good opportunity to work with someone you're not familiar with)
• They meet at Clementine's home (not a setback)
• Clementine has a cat/dog [either or]
• Austin is not a pet person, but won't say anything about it, but is uncomfortable
• Clementine has annoying quirks
• snorting loudly
• chortled laughter
• loud breathing
• Austin gets sour towards Clementine, Clementine notices and is uncomfortable 
• Almost done with project, let's take a break
• Clementine ends up getting a snack
• Austin can't stand the way Clementine's eating, so he goes back to work on the project

Second plot point that jumps to Act 3: Clementine's pet destroys the project

ACT 3
Climax: Austin explodes at Clementine [because they took forever working on the project]. He declares that they cannot be in the same place, Clementine tries to calm Austin down, but Austin leaves. 

Denouncement: Clementine is left alone working on the project. Austin goes back to Clementine's place hours later and offers assistance. The project ends up doing well, and Austin thinks they may have misjudged the person.

Ending: Austin goes to Clementine and tries to make amends "You know, you're sort of a cool person." Clementine look at him and says "You... have to be the biggest asshole I've ever met" and leaves. Austin is in shock as Clementine leaves with a smile on her face.

Some Inspiration Sources

• Buffy the Vampire Slayer's "Living Conditions"
• Where Buffy gets annoyed with her roommate and each little thing they do intensifies

• Pay It Forward (Nothing too vibrant, muted palette)

• Family Matters's Steve Urkel similarity where everyone is annoyed by Steve, but he grows on you

Career Services: Interview Workshop

When the students entered the workshop, we were greeted and asked to tell Carrie Brooks a bit about ourselves. She put each of us on the spotlight, so we needed to say what first came to our mind as well as prioritizing how we want to present ourselves.

But after the never-ending handshake from my mock-interview, she told me that she was slightly nervous, which brings me to my first point: nervousness happens on both ends. Not only was I nervous, but she was as well. Sometimes we forget that our interviewers are NOT machines. They're human beings; they feel emotions too.

There were a couple of prompts/questions that dove into knowing more about ourselves.

1. "Tell me a bit about you"
1.  How do you see yourself?
2. "What are some of your accomplishments?"
1. What can you do?
2. How do you fit in to [insert institution name]
3. "How do others see you (i.e. teachers, former employers, etc.)"

Some other things to consider when being in an interview: your goals, skill set, strengths and weaknesses (but emphasize or go back to your strengths).

The main thing though is "WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO OFFER"
                 Why do they want you? Why should they hire you instead of someone else?

There were also handouts on "Personal Branding" (how you can stand out) and "Preparing for a Job Interview" (proper interview etiquette).

Kismet Diner

Kismet Diner from Nunneley on Vimeo.

Unfinished Business

Make Each Day Sweeter

Self Critique: Unfinished Business

Project name: UNFINISHED BUSINESS
 
Initial idea: Horror film. Idea of a man in the woods thinking he's being chased by some entity that wants to cause him harm. However, the twist is that the entity was himself.

Source of idea and importance: Desire to branch out on our genres

Desired experience/emotion evoked in audience: Humor?

Synopsis of story: The protagonist is at his most vulnerable in the bathroom. Little does he know that an entity is stalking him.

Theme/Premise of piece discovered after finishing it: Bathrooms are creepy.

Strengths in film: Experimentation. Really trying to focus in on our technical skills. We tried something new. Transitions were decent too.

Problem areas: Pacing. Acting.

Suggestions: We needed to get the actor to play his role better. He had a tendency to smile, which also influenced how the story was read. There are moments in the film where the anticipation could have been pushed further.

Notes on learning process, discoveries, and frustrations: Have someone's role to sort out the videos. There are so many takes that it would be easier if someone sorted it out ahead of time before editing. Writing a script really helps the group out too, so everyone can be on the same page. Also, the more ideas, the better! Don't censor yourself! And share your ideas with your group members! Especially if they seemed focused on the initial idea.

Self Critique: Make Each Day Sweeter

Project name: MAKE EACH DAY SWEETER

Initial idea: The desire to make a more serious film.

Source of idea and importance: How do we cheer people up? Sometimes, it's from a smile. For me, I like to keep chocolates with me. When I see someone is down, I give them a piece in hope it may make their day a bit better.

Desired experience/emotion evoked in audience: Joy and distraught.

Synopsis of story: Character "A" is alone. She doesn't deal with anyone at all. Then Character "B" comes into the picture. "B" is the source of the light that brightens "A"s day. It continues on for weeks and one day "B" doesn't show up....

Theme/Premise of piece discovered after finishing it: When someone else brightens up your life, there's a chance that you're brightening up theirs, thus creating a bigger, more vibrant light.

Strengths in film: Strong concept.

Problem areas: Some of the cuts are awkward. There could be better transitions. There are some continuity errors with the lighting. There could have been more cut ins and inserts in the film.

Suggestions: Zoom in on the important motions. This will also help with the pacing of the video if it feels slow at times.

Notes on learning process, discoveries, and frustrations:  A lot of frustration with this film. Everyone wasn't on the same page; there was a lot of communication issues. Too many ideas thrown without it being processed, er, clarified. A lot of spontaneity and experimentation.  Also, we were filming when Study Club was happening on Sunday. It was interesting to go and film when other people were in the room and making it so it seems like no one else was in the room.

Self Critique: Penny For Your Foughts

Project name: PENNY FOR YOUR FOUGHTS

Initial idea: It was all over the place from dancing to fights.

Source of idea and importance: The idea of fighting for luck. (Throwing a penny into a well, but that idea didn't work out)

Desired experience/emotion evoked in audience: Amusement/Humor

Synopsis of story: Two friends are walking together when person A finds a lucky penny. Person B yanks the penny from person A, and the fight begins.

Theme/Premise of piece discovered after finishing it: Don't snatch things out of people's hands. Don't just go and fight. It's a lose-lose situation, and, who knows?, both parties lose what they wanted in the first place.

Strengths in film: Some match on actions are really nice (like when Amber snatches the penny away)

Problem areas: Continuity errors when Mercedes is picking up the coin. Sometimes, the actor isn't on the rule of thirds line, but smack in the middle. Lighting needs work, it's too dark at times. The part where Mercedes knocks the penny out of Amber's hand is way too fast. It needs to be slowed down. The transition from the two girls on the roof to the penny falling on the ground needs to be fixed.

Suggestions: Take notes on what they do, what hand they pick things up, what motions they do before they redo the motion in a cut in.

Notes on learning process, discoveries, and frustrations: Everyone had different ideas how the shots should be. But the process began to get easier as the group had a better idea what to do.

Penny For Your Foughts

Self Critique: Quench the Thirst

Project name: QUENCH THE THIRST

Initial idea: A person pranks two friends which they blame on each other. It escalates. One of them dies.

Source of idea and importance: High school event where my friends and I were talking, but instead found celery thrown at our table. I went up with the celery in hand and went upstairs (because the lunch tables were on the lower floor) and threw it at the culprit's table before getting out of the area. My friends said that their reactions were great.

Desired experience/emotion evoked in audience: Amusement


Synopsis of story: Painter cleans out brush and grabs a cup of coffee. The painter's friend goes and drinks the painter's coffee, spits it out, and is unconscious. Now the painter and the painter's other friend have to go and find out what to do with the "dead" body.

Theme/Premise of piece discovered after finishing it: Don't take someone else's stuff or else you may be dragged all across school. Don't assume someone's dead by checking their pulse by placing their wrist to your ear.

Strengths in film: Angel's acting. Like holy cow, he was dragged all over school and still remained as a "dead" body. Some cut-ins like pouring the coffee cup or Angel spitting out his drink all over the table. Nice focus.

Problem areas: Awkward cut from around 1:00. Overacting was an issue. 1:39's composition where everything seems to be smack in the middle. Cut at 1:50, not even getting fully into the elevator. Plus the angle changes at that scene too. 2:47 camera shift? 2:53, people are on the left side, instead of the right side. Character placement at 3:50. 4:08, odd angle? Also overexposed in the background. Odd cut-in at 4:26

Suggestions: 1:39's awkwardness, shift the camera angle more left so we can see the door. Keep the angle consistent in 2;47. Maybe full front on the elevator so then there's a natural cut when the elevator door closes and opens? 2:53, allow the people to go to the left side if you want to keep the people on the left side.

Notes on learning process, discoveries, and frustrations: We wrote down what was going to be done, but didn't keep in mind about the types of shots we wanted.  Also, note to future self, bring some artist tape so we know exactly where to place the camera the next time. Photograph where everything was.

Career Services: Internship Orientation

It was a nice overview for academic internships. It focused more on the paperwork side of getting an internship. I mean, of course the cover letter and the resume, but more so about the paperwork associated with getting credit at school. It was a whole different process that I didn't realize was involved with getting an internship for credit.

Even though this orientation was explaining more of the "dull" side of getting an academic internship, it also was stating important questions such as "what do I want to learn from the experience" or "what kind of place do I want to work at". My answers were broad because I wasn't sure. But the more she discussed the different areas we could improve on, the more specific my answers became.

It was a bit dull, but I feel that I have a tad bit more direction with what I want to learn from the internship experience.

Staring Contest: Testing Match on Action and 30 Degree Rule

Anna Olswanger: Literary Agent

This was a great opportunity for students to bring in their story ideas and discuss them with the literary agent, Anna Olswanger. Like the name implies, she looks for written work, BUT she is also intrigued in writers who can illustrate their own work. She did disclaimed that what she says is her opinion alone and not what others will/might say.

It was different (and I was completely unprepared for this event), but it was interesting. She is a children's literary agent, no longer accepting adult fiction. The need for graphic novels has been increasing, she said during her visit. The more vibrant colors would attract a younger audience while black and white would lean more towards the older generations. But what is really important is the story underneath.

Focus on the story.
Develop on your own manuscript.

There is also a distaste for "packages," two people who are partners (one is the writer, the other is the illustrator). This is because the illustrator may not be the best one to illustrate the writer's stories.

Each place will require different criteria, but for Olswanger, she requires the first four pages (of a graphic novel or illustrations) to understand the pacing of the story.

(Also, there is the young adult section and the adult section. Now there's a third category which is called the "new adult" which is the in between of young adult and adult. Isn't that strange?)

Quench the Thirst

By Any Means: Revised

Contemplating About "Place"

Response to Films: Kenneth Anger

TV String Guides for Star Trek: The Next Generation

Episode 20: The Arsenal of Freedom (1988)

3 Factors Affecting DOF

1. APERTURE SIZE/ F-STOP

Shallow Depth of Field

Deep Depth of Field

_____________________________________________________

2. FOCAL LENGTH

Wide Angle Lens

Standard Lens

Telephoto Lens

_____________________________________________________

3. CAMERA TO SUBJECT DISTANCE

(No photographs for this)

By Any Means Necessary Project

Response to Films: Maya Deren

Maya Deren's films are interesting to say at the least. They are really surreal, not always following a linear pattern of thought like the films/movies I'm used to watching.

I had first watched  "At Land (1944)", a silent black and white film. I really enjoyed how different scenes had connected together to make one fantastical environment. For instance, when the woman climbs up the roots of the log (tree?), she's not on the tree in the end, she's at the dining table. Deren's transitions connect the story together, but it also puzzles me. The film's surroundings are very adaptive (i.e. the people pay no attention to the woman crawling on the table and the man who randomly walks next to the woman and starts to talk to her). I didn't completely understand it, and I don't think anyone does the first time around. I feel like this is a piece that you have to sit down and actually fully watch (and watch again). And even then it's still confusing.

In her film, "Meshes of the Afternoon",  it starts out with focusing on a flower. The focus shifts from the flower to the faceless woman holding the flower. The camera follows motions and important actions (such as the key falling or the woman's shadow). It has a lot of suspense as the figure's face is a reflective surface (a mirror perhaps?). Again, in this film, nothing is truly linear. It's not a story that flat out tells you what has occurred that one can follow easily. I was perplexed by the film as the woman saw herself in the past (sort of like in "At Land" where she runs back to the beginning with the chess piece in hand and sees her former selves running through the motions she had been through). There was a cool effect from the film that caught my attention though, and that would be when she throws the knife at the man and the whole screen "breaks". It's shattered like a mirror on the screen. Yet, despite the cool transitions and the experimental aspects of the film, I wish I had a better grasp at what it was about. Deren had the audience witness the motions, but what does it all mean?