For my final project in the Ladue View program I captured the Adaptive PE class at our high school. The coach for the class, Stephanie O'Neal, has been my coach at the middle school and high school. She approached me about recording a class she had and I didn't hesitate. At first I didn't know really what she was looking for, but figured I was pretty creative and could come up with an idea. It was one of the more tricky projects I have done because during a lot of interviews we're supposed to 'show' what the speaker 'says.' A lot of what was said they didn't do during the class period I filmed, but overall it gave the viewer an idea of what the class is about. There was another point where she said the class welcomed student helpers, and the day I happened to be filming there was a student there, however, that was her first time showing up, and Coach O'Neal didn't know if she'd come back, so that interview wasn't an option. The kids were all so cooperative, they love the coach, the sports they play, and skills they learn. Overall it was a fun package to film, and learn about the less talked about departments at the high school. I think that what Coach O'Neal is doing is phenomenal and giving every student a chance to get the feel of a PE class.
For my March project, I did a package on my sister, who is a gymnast at All American. We teamed up with HEC-TV again to do a show on speed and brain power. I visualized the project a little bit differently than it had turned out, but everything worked out well in the end. I filmed shots of her on the beam, the vault, and the floor. It was sometimes difficult to get the shots I wanted, or needed, because I was confined to a small space, to keep out of the way of the practice. The interview was difficult because I couldn't always get her to restate the questions, or they'd be very simple answers, and I'd ask her to explain, or tell me more, but that didn't help. Than I thought I'd find facts on how a gymnast's brain works. It isn't that easy. There's no specific answer because every gymnast is different. A common pattern I kept reading about was repetition, concentration, and visualization, and how they are all very helpful in the sport. I voiced over some facts on those categories, and it the end it came together. If I could go back and get better shots I defiantly would, but there's not always time, or the opportunity to do so. From this I learned that I need to get as many variety shots as possible while the camera is in the same spot, and try to relate more to the interviewee, or get an understanding of how they can and cannot answer questions.
So at the beginning of second semester I had an interview set up with a holocaust survivor, who survived six camps. I called him a couple days before the interview and unfortunately he said I could no longer interview him. I was stuck, I was so excited for this interview and hadn't really come up with a Plan B. From this I learned to ALWAYS have a back up plan, or two, or three. I sat at my computer frustrated and far from creatively thinking. I honestly thought I wasn't going to have a project. I am the type of person who constantly has to be doing something. After a few deep breaths and thinking through possible topic ideas it hit me. My favorite musical artist, Drew Chadwick, had come out with a new song two days earlier. The thought of a music video came right to mind. Going into it, I'd never made a music video before, but I always thought it'd be cool to do, and why not? I've got the opportunity, I'll take it! I went to Castlewood State Park right after school that day and started getting footage; still shots, pans, and lots of me running. I got a good workout that day! I tweeted Drew and he gave me the okay to use the song, so I was thrilled! I am still currently working on it, and learning how to edit a music video! I am really happy with how it is coming along, and can't wait for the final product, and for Drew to hopefully see it too!
For the final we were given two options, a 19 shot short film, or a multimedia package. When I first heard that I had the opportunity to do a short film I was open to the idea. I thought about story prompts but there was nothing interesting coming to mind and time was running out. My neighbor own Pointer's Pizza in Richmond Heights. This restaurant is not an ordinary pizza place. They have a challenge, if you and someone else can finish a 28" pizza, you win $500, sounds easy until you see it. I thought, what a cool project to end with? It was perfect too. I had one main interview and pieces of interviews from the two contestants and friend I could include in the article. I liked how we made a separate page just for multimedia and had to write and article and include a picture. Everything worked out really well for this project and I was really happy with how it ended up!
This past Sunday, April 27th, junior at Ladue High School, Joe Schleinhger preformed a concert in the Duck Room at Blueberry Hill. Going into this project I was really nervous because the deadline was coming up. I had chosen this project at the beginning of the month as a fallback just incase something went wrong this month, which it did. When I got to Blueberry Hill I headed downstairs to the Duck Room. Another band with Ron Busch's program was finishing up. I began to look around for different angles of shots that I could get, it seemed a little bit limited. The room itself was also dark so I had to remember to open the iris, which made a big difference. After the concert I interviewed Joe at Blueberry Hill. The background noise was too loud and he was too quiet so I ended up re-interiewing him. Both interviews were not giving as much information as I would've liked so I also had a few voice overs to help the video flow. In the end I learned a lot form this project and and am looking forward to the final.
For me personally, the month of April has been crazy busy. Soccer has been in full swing, we had Prom, and the ACT. At the beginning of the month I was going to do the Grand Opening at Ball Park Village, I could not contact anyone, or make it down to ask about filming and getting interviews. I was really disappointed because everyone in the Saint Louis area was so excited about the opening, and it's a project they've been working on for a couple of years now. When that was not an option, I turned to people I knew. My neighbor owns a restaurant, Pointer's Pizza. At the restaurant they hold a challenge where up to two people have an hour to try and finish a 28", 12 pound, $50, pizza. If the can complete the challenge they are rewarded with $500 and the original $50. I had talked with him about coming down to film the challenge and then get interviews. It was planned out and ready to be filmed however, the day before the contestants backed out, so that project was no more. Finally I talked with a peer who is in a band. Sunday, April 27th, he and his band will be holding a concert at Blueberry Hill. I am excited to see it, and hope an even better project comes form it!!
For this past months project we teamed up with HEC-TV to do small factoids on going green and the city underground. Outside of school I have been really busy so this month has been crazy. I took on one factoid and it seemed like a pretty simple idea but getting the information was really difficult. I was going to focus on Ameren may start putting electrical pole underground. I called to get information as to why they'd want to start doing this and got someone who couldn't tell me. They then told me no one could do interviews because they work 24/7. Eventually I got a hold of someone who gave me some information that you will find in the factoid. Once I had the correct info I chose a date to go outside and film. Thanks to one of my peers, Marissa Glantz, I got it done. Lillian Donahue also went with Tim Gore, from HEC-TV, to get footage of the sewers underground which I used for broll.
On Wednesday February 19, 2014 a few of Ladue High School's senior athletes signed to play sports at different colleges. When I first heard about the opportunity to film this, I didn't hesitate to take control. I could not make it to the signing last year and was kind of upset. This year, not only was it cool to see some of the seniors and where they were going, but whom as well. I am currently a junior in high school, so I've been here for three years. I know a lot of people, but not as well as I thought. One girl who was in my photography class freshman year signed to participate in Fencing. I had no clue that she even played a sport so that was cool to see. We had two Rowers that signed, and I feel like that sport is becoming a lot more popular in high school and college. One of my soccer teammates signed to play soccer at Washington University. We always joked about how she should play soccer and we never got a definite answer, so we are really proud and happy for her.The coaches also spoke, and in their one to two minute speeches you could defiantly hear how proud they were of each athlete and only wanted the best for them. I am hoping to play soccer in college one day, I don't know if I'll sign, play as a walk on, or do it as inter mural, but it will defiantly be interesting to see where different sports take myself and my peers.
This is an American Indian Proverb defining Empathy. Empathy is essentially putting yourself in someone else's shoes and seeing the world from their point of view. For my January project I have been so lucky to get to work with Cyndi Willenbrock and Marshall again! I am doing this because Cyndi and Marshall go to a lot of schools throughout the week and they can not get to everyone of them. By creating a video we can send over a link or C.D. with a mentor who will lead a discussion about empathy and then show the video.
Over winter break, December of 2013, I met with Cyndi and two other women about how we were going to come up with a video to get the subject of empathy across to students. I had an idea of keeping the same shoes throughout the whole video and having different characters being in the same shoes telling their stories. That was what sort of what jump started the project. After about an hour and a half to two hours brainstorming and many emails we finally had a storyline! At the beginning Cyndi tells her story about how she got Marshall, and what he's been through using n. She then leaves her moccasins by his bed. After this students hold up different quotes about empathy and leave their shoes by Marshall. By the end there are a ton of shoes by Marshall, pretty much to show we can "empathize" with him and he's not alone. This is one of my favorite projects because I got to make it my own. I had three cameras during each recording so we could have medium and tight shots of different activities going on. Because this is not an interview, and no one was talking, we had notecards being held up, I got to get creative and add different music and effects to the shots! I am really happy with how well this turned out. At the beginning I didn't think we'd have this good of an idea, and that I would be able to edit it this well! I am so excited to show it to Cyndi and for anyone who gets to see it!! Hopefully they will have a better idea of what empathy is. On Wednesday January 22 we were back at it in the studio. We were again very fortunate to get to help with the taping of HEC-TV's Explore segment. Everything started early Wednesday morning. When I arrived I got the digital camera. My job for the first show was to get still shots of everything going on in the control room and on the set. It was a very exciting morning, the first show we did was "Life as a Dog." There were different clips about the part of a dog's life. A vet was also brought in to explain different information about dogs.
During the second show I was the stage manager, so I helped move props and get guests where they needed to be. It was cool because I knew the second show was about the human eyes and ears. One of my friends is blind and she was a part of the show, so it was fun seeing her talk about her life and being blind! HEC-TV also brought in someone who was deaf. His assistant for the day signed everything, even if the comments were not directed to this man, she was amazing! When it was the man's turn to tell us about his experience with being deaf he signed to his assistant. We had one camera on the man and one on his assistant so you could see how they comminicated. It was really interesting! All in all I thought it was another successful experience working with HEC-TV. I love how real life it is. We get into the studio, set up, make sure everything is ready and in place, and than it is shown live. I also like how they have schools from all over North America tuning in, some even ask questions and they have a camera up in that room too. I really hope we can do another project with HEC-TV because it's always so fun and cool to see how everything comes together! |
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April 2015
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