Zach Jamieson-PMB/NPACE-Not Enough Hours in the Day

Top of the morning friends! It has been an extremely busy week. Up at 8am, in bed by 4am, and all over again. This week NPACE went live through PMB with our pilot program, Friday Night Football Focus. It went well and we were all ecstatic about our first shot. We’ve had a good
number of followers, and even some folks calling in, hopefully adding to these numbers in the following weeks. This week for NPACE I will visit five of Columbus’ high school coaches for interviews to bolster this weeks broadcast. I am having a great time building relationships with these molders of men and pillars of our community, all the while I’m supporting not only local high school football but the kids and coaches who make it happen.

Also, In the next few days I will work on the Intro, outro, into spot, and out of spots that PMB so graciously allowed us to use their voice talent for. A few zips and bangs, toss in a few rockin’ riffs and SHAZAM, audition spits out gold (with the help and guidance of Dave Arwood and his helpful staff). If you didn’t get the Adobe Audition reference, it’s the software we’ve been using to produce the spots we’ve been making. What’s even more satisfying is the first usable spot you create.

Wedged between (and not necessarily evenly) these few assignments, I finished a military focused brochure to be used by Dr.Gibson at a military function this week, featuring our very own Communications department. I was flattered and honored to be asked to help with such a project, even if it was a last-minute situation, as most important situations usually are. I worked through the night, and come 9am, BLAM! We had a nearly finished copy. With a few tweaks and edits, it was on the CSU press by that evening.

Today I finished a small preview of NPACE’s new commercial for Dr. Park. After a few more weeks of B-roll and several long nights in the NPACE lab editing, I’m confident that we will have a very persuasive end result. Yet another piece of software I am learning this semester that is a lot of fun to play with, Final Cut Pro X. There are so many things that can be done with this software it’s crazy.

Well kids, it’s nearly 2am and I have to be up at 8am to work at PMB before my interviews and classes! So… Until next time…

Word of the week: vote 1.a choice that is made by counting the number of people in favor of each alternative 2.The opinion of a group as determined by voting 3.a legal right guaranteed by the 15th amendment to the US constitution; guaranteed to women by the 19th amendment.

Video of the week: I love this stream. Philly D

 

Throughout the week I have continued to update Hope Harbour’s website. As I stated before, Hope Harbour operates on the GoDaddy server which is very difficult, but the more I work with it the easier it gets. The organization was having problems with their calendar, which kept duplicating so viewers were seeing two calendars. I fixed the calendar situation and began work on their November events. I updated the websites special events page, in which I removed the “Silence Hides Violence” PDF and since there are no upcoming events (open to the public) at this moment I replaced the PDF with Hope Harbours signature purple ribbon and a small statement reminding viewers it is still Domestic Violence Awareness month. I am still waiting to receive an electronic copy of the volunteer application but once received I will add it to the website, which in return will make it easier for the community to volunteer. I am also waiting on information which the organization would like to add to the special events throughout the holidays.

I must reiterate how important it is to keep information confidential, such as the location of the shelter and the identities of the victims, so the images I am able to post are limited. I have finished shooting all my clips for my video, which includes some great clips of donors, volunteers, and staff… all of which have given permission to be published. I am still editing the video, having the most trouble with the background noise. I interviewed one volunteer on main campus which the video had much background noise. Also, when I captured video of the actual donors in action, there was much background noise being that we were on Hamilton Road at 8:00am. Just some little kinks to work out but it will be completed by next post.

I am excited to begin preparing for the holiday festivities at the shelter. So far we have collected everything from decorations to food to gifts for the residents of the shelter this holiday season, though there is plenty more to come. Hope Harbour puts food baskets together not only residents of the shelter, but for families in need throughout the community  to assure they have a wonderful holiday as well.

I am beginning to work on a quarterly (electronic) newsletter for the organization. I have an awesome template for the newsletter and soon it will be filled with events from the past month, as well as events throughout the upcoming holiday season. As of now, my supervisor is gathering relevant information she would like for me to include. My deadline is the first week of December, in which I plan to disperse before the Christmas holiday.

The picture above show a small part of the “Silence Hides Violence” walk which took place earlier this month. As I stated before, it was a great success. Before the end of the semester I hope to be able to create a scrapbook for Hope Harbour as well, being that the Executive Director had included that on her wish list.

Next week be on the look out for the video!!!

Natalie-WTVM News Leader Channel 9

I have nothing but GREAT things to report about WTVM channel 9. 1st lesson I learned this past Friday is always come compared for anything! I arrived dressed in business casual clothing, but Video Journalist Brittany Dionne’s story by the Chattahoochee River called for rubber boots. Needless to say the lesson learned is always bring a change of clothes and shoes. 
Brittany was also dressed in business casual but she like a true professional was prepared with rubber boots in her trunk.

 Area students and local volunteers were preparing the Chattahoochee River for the up and coming white water course. They found some interesting treasures while cleaning, and reported they were proud to be assisting in something great. After recording interviews and shooting B-roll it was time to return to the station to produce the package for the evening news.

 Brittany gave me the opportunity to write several introductions for the News anchors that would be introducing her segment. I typed them up; it was harder than I thought it would be. News Anchors and Reporter always aim to speak simple language that is easily understandable yet compelling. The compelling part was the hardest part. Brittany reviewed and actually used some of what typed. Which was awesome. She is definitely an expert and expressed that practice makes perfect.After writing introductions and voice overs. I observed Brittany editing her video-preparing the final package for the 6:00pm segment. Its a lot of work,  and time consuming. If you can see the photo well enough, you can see the two screens. One holds the video and the other is the  editing system used by WTVM. This system creates beautiful well put together news segment. 

Finally we go the sound room, where Brittany records her voice overs. She states “track 123,” before and in between each new statement. The producer gives her approximately 1 minute and 30 seconds to present her package. Brittany assured me its fine if the time is below 1 minute and 30 seconds, and that it is necessary to ask for permission if it goes over. Until next time think about this…. 

The mind is like a clock that is constantly running down. It has to be wound up daily with good thoughts.” ~ 
Fulton J. Sheen

Christina – NPACE – Key Interviews Completed

Last Thursday, I collaborated with another group from NPACE to interview Dr. Baxter about Artbeat.  We had a lot of fun rearranging the Dean’s office to get the background and lighting set-up just right for the shot.

This morning, Maggie and I went to the CSU Rankin Art Store to film an interview with Marleen De Bode, the head of Artbeat of Columbus.  I was very pleased with how the interview turned out!  The lighting was great, and she is a very articulate, graceful person to talk to.  We only encountered a few minor issues.  The first was that we were filming the interview during the time when the city workers were vacuuming the streets and blowing the leaves around, so I had to run outside to ask them if they could do another part of the street for a few more minutes so we can finish.  They were really nice about it, and went further down the street.  The second thing is that we filled-up our memory card on the audio recorder, and did not bring a back-up with us, nor figure out how to delete files on the device.  Maggie had to run down the street to the Communication Department to get a back-up.  By the time she returned, it had been a few minutes and the street vacuums and leaf blowers were at it again.  I asked them for a couple more minutes, which they graciously gave us.  In the end, both the audio and video turned out really well, we have a lot of great footage to work with.  It just goes to show that even when you try to take everything into account when setting-up an interview, there can always be unexpected factors that come up.  All we can do is learn from it, try to be as prepared as we can, and when things come up, try to figure out a way to make it work!

Here’s a screenshot from Marleen’s interview:

Have you every been on a film shoot and had something unexpected happen like that?  How did you handle it?  What are the things you make sure to look out for when you’re planning a shoot?

Big thank you to Marleen for a great interview, to Ms. Rita at the CSU Bookstore for letting us use the facility, and to the city workers for working with us to get this part of our project accomplished!

Now, with B-roll organized and interviews completed, here is my projected plan for completing the Artbeat of Columbus promotional video:

-synchronize audio and video from interviews

-layout narrative from interviews onto the timeline

-find a music track and lay it down

-organize the B-roll clips to match the music and narrative

In other news, I’m enjoying working with the video production students and helping them finesse their skills.  I’ll keep you all posted as my project continues.  For now, here a link to a tutorial from Izzy Video about Compound Clips.

Corinne Fisher – WTVM – Gettin’ the job done!

As I continue to learn the ins and outs of the news world, the fact that there is never a dull moment is constantly being reinforced. Wednesday was my long day again at the station. Fortunately for me it wasn’t as long as Mackenzie’s, the anchor I am shadowing. When I arrived, Mackenzie wasn’t there but she showed up shortly after. She had already been there and gotten an interview that morning around 8:30. She started the morning by making her “beat” calls. A beat is a particular subject or topic that she is always assigned to check in on. Mackenzie’s beat is Lagrange, GA. Soon after, we headed out to collect our interviews. We had to cover the canned food drive and Red Ribbon Week going on at Richards Middle School. While there, we interviewed two girls about the drive and about Red Ribbon Week. When we returned to the station it was editing time. I began to put a package together from the footage that we shot and was almost finished when someone else had to use the computer. So I spent the rest of the time watching Mackenzie. We also had some visitors to the station.

Firefighters and law enforcement touring the news room

Local firefighter and policemen came to the station to learn about how to interact with the media and see first hand what goes on at a news station and all the behind the scenes. A reporter’s job is to dig up the dirt and they will go to whatever lengths they have to to do so. Unfortunately, getting through the police can be the hardest part. That is why it is important for them to learn how to work with the media to make things better on both ends. They won’t get annoyed and we won’t have to nag. The day for me ended after we received an unexpected assignment to shoot a bus tour made up of individuals from the Concerned Veterans of America. This tour included a lieutenant from the same company that found and captured Saddam Hussein. We had the opportunity to interview him and others on the tour. We then returned back to the station around 6PM and Mackenzie was in for some overtime as she had to then put the video together.

This job isn’t always a glamorous one and calls for long hours, unexpected assignments and little to no breaks. But I am seeing that when you are passionate about something, that doesn’t really matter. You accept the job, do it to the best of your ability and don’t stop until it’s finished.

Carlinton – Small Groups, Big Lessons!

One of the things that I have always enjoyed about my Communication classes is the opportunity, or rather the requirement that we work in small groups. I am what Columbus State University calls a non-traditional student. When I first began my education here at CSU, I was 34 years old and had recently completed my 16^th year in the US Army. As a result of my years in the military, I had worked in every conceivable form of small group. However, unlike in my Communication classes, the groups that I’ve worked with in the Army always had a clear leadership structure. There was never any doubt concerning the identity of the individual who had the authority to end all discussions, and implement the decision he/she deemed appropriate. Thus, adjusting to the way business was conducted in a Communications class small group environment, in impose to the Army, took some effort (to say the least). Unlike with the Army, leaders were often identified after work began, based on the strengths and weakness of group members. Also, unlike in the Army, where I would dictate (or be dictated to) the next step in a project/mission; the communications classes required that I gain the support of my fellow group members prior to any final decisions. While I believe the US Army is the greatest leadership school on earth, unfortunately it does not often allow one to practice the decision making process in a democratic and collaborative manner. I believe the leadership lessons I have learned working in the small groups at CSU, are as important as the lessons I have learned leading troops in combat. Therefore, I would encourage my fellow students to embrace the small group-teaching format, which is often offered within the Communication department. While I’m sure we have all had those nightmarish experiences working in small groups. The small group format inevitably offers experiences and lessons that are invaluable to students who enter the workforce following graduation.

Kayla-CSU Athletics-Working on Brochure

This week I continued to work on the brochure for the soccer camps that are held in the summer. I am trying to figure my way within Adobe’s Indesign program. I am still working on some finishing details in order to make the brochure look the best that I can make it. Compared to the old brochure, I believe that the new one will have many advantages to attract people to attend their camps. It will have more consistency than the other. This will be within colors and alignment of the sections. I also added a different font and updated picture with information about the head coach that was not provided within the others. I tried to include detailed and more updated pictures of the children playing soccer and swimming in the pool; which are all of the activities that they enjoy when they attend the camp. I made a border around the fonts of the different sections. Although it is hard to see within the screenshot it is present when the brochure is printed. This border is not distracting but serves its purpose. I am still trying to figure out what to put on the cover of the brochure but I was thinking along the lines of have a navy blue cloudy background with one of the current players on the front. Can’t wait to show the finished product!

 

Jennifer Therrien-Columbus Museum- A Different Day

Well, the past week has been a little different than all the other weeks at the Museum. I have finally got the hang of planning the Facebook posts, so now they are prepared and ready to go at least two weeks before they post. It is so much easier to have them planned. Last week we created our Pinterest for the Museum and it was so exciting to actually begin on that. We are still new to it but it seems to be coming along quite nicely. It is interesting to see what other Museums post on their Pinterest accounts. Some of the boards we want to create are Chicken George, Events, a Museum board, Contemporaries, and a Museum Shop board.  Right now we have the most information on the Chicken George board.

Last Friday was a very fun and entertaining day at the Museum. It was nice not to be stuck in an office all day at a computer. The Museum hosted an event called the Historic Bradley Olmsted Garden Tree Walk & Luncheon. There was about 25 people to attend this event. Before the guests arrived Ashley and I set up the tables with pamphlets and information about what was going to happen that day. We listened to a speaker talk about the Olmsted Garden at the Museum and the original house on the Museum! It was interesting to learn how much the Museum has grown over the years and to see what the original building was. The Olmsted Garden at the Museum was created by the same person that created Central Park in New York. After listening to the lectures we went on a tree walk around the garden at the Museum to look at different trees and plants and pools that used to be occupied. It was a beautiful day for this walk and it turned out to be a huge success. Most of the women there asked if the Museum would do another garden walk in the spring time to look at the way the trees and plants are at that time. I can’t wait to help out with another event at the Museum!

Dacia with PMB Broadcasting

This week working at the radio station went well! I did the same thing as I did last week, so I handled the imaging for Q107.3. I’m getting the hang of developing an ear for what sound effects go well with certain phrases, so I’m getting much better at making some music samples! Either I’m in the Ritmo 107.7  booth when the regular DJ’s aren’t in there or I’m upstairs next door to three different production rooms working on more samples. The whole thing is becoming a great experience in reference to learning more about music production.

Alexis Jarrett-WLTZ NBC 38- Dee Armstrong Show-Production Assistant

Lights ! Camera ! Action !

A camera person has been one of my job descriptions since last December for the Dee Show. Working behind the camera during the live Dee Armstrong show can be a very scary experience, but it is also very rewarding!  There are times when I glance over at the shots I am taking and realize that I have moved the camera during live T.V. ! It also is very fun when we get to have cooking segments and get to see all the yummy food up close and personal.

I have to remember to white balance, check the focus, and frame the shots correctly. I was taught all of this within the first week of working inside the station. Take a look at some of the pictures of me at the Dee Show.

Cool right!

One of the most important things to do is to make sure that the camera person keeps track of the time, and make sure that the talent (Dee) gets to her position in time.