I have finally finished up my interviews and have begun working on putting it together. I suppose the toughest part is figuring out how to put it all together in some sort of meaning. I have currently logged 91 gigs of interviews, about 12 people ranging from 20 to 40 minutes in length…and somehow I am supposed to get it down into 5-7 minutes in length. I believe that I have gotten myself into something I was somewhat not expecting, but at the same time I decided to do a documentary on the Titan Crew because of how much it means to me. It’s kinda like that project that you do the hard way because you think you’ll enjoy it more because you did it your way, until you are actually doing it and you keep asking yourself exactly why you decided to do it? If there is one thing I have learned from projects like that is that it makes you do your best work.
Since this is something that is near and dear to me, I know that I will figure out some way to do this in a respectful and professional manor. The only problem is how? How do you do something a specific way without having any prior experience in it? How could I expect myself to succeed with something if I have never learned from my failures? I suppose the answer to that is…work. I will just have to dedicate myself to beating my own to the finished project. Now is the time where I have to begin thinking of how I want to cut around 4 hours of footage into 5-7 minutes… Let the games begin eh?
Monday, November 30, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
My Minds Plasticity
The title was inspired from my psychology class, which taught me that your brains plasticity is how it takes your experiences and allows your brain to store them as knowledge for what to do in situations. I was hoping that by using it would make me seem more intelligent, but make your own assessment on that. With that said, I continue what Titan Crew has taught me.
Being director of WCN's live broadcasts has also taught me that I can lead a group. When playing high school ball, I was the leader of my defense, although my damn coach gave the pre-snap play calling to a brown noser, but I knew that I was always prepared to put those other 10 boys on the field in the right position to make the play. Titan Crew has helped me bring that ability into my broadcasting tool belt. Every Saturday, I have to be the guy that calls someone out for slacking, inspire them to make it through the game sometimes and make the executive decisions of what shots to take and when to run different stuff. At first, I was scared, I won’t lie. I was a junior when I started directing and my experience doing so was zero. As I continued to do it, I got a feel of what should be expected of each and every broadcast, and now that I am a senior, I feel more confident that the decisions I made are more often times than not the correct one.
Also, I have learned that this is my passion. As stated many times before, I love sports. I could go into news, or radio, but sports broadcasts are what I enjoy doing. I even love to shoot camera, which I was able to do 2 weeks ago. Football more than any other sports, there’s a bit of respect I have for the preparation put into every season, game, and play. Men sacrifice their lives in the weight room, while their coaches are cutting film for the next week’s opponent. There is a lot of work put into every game, whether it be football or another sport, and I feel that our job is to broadcast it the best way possible to the fans at home. That is my passion, and hopefully what I am doing after my tenure here at Westminster.
More to come, and hopefully it is good news. Goodnight and good luck…
Being director of WCN's live broadcasts has also taught me that I can lead a group. When playing high school ball, I was the leader of my defense, although my damn coach gave the pre-snap play calling to a brown noser, but I knew that I was always prepared to put those other 10 boys on the field in the right position to make the play. Titan Crew has helped me bring that ability into my broadcasting tool belt. Every Saturday, I have to be the guy that calls someone out for slacking, inspire them to make it through the game sometimes and make the executive decisions of what shots to take and when to run different stuff. At first, I was scared, I won’t lie. I was a junior when I started directing and my experience doing so was zero. As I continued to do it, I got a feel of what should be expected of each and every broadcast, and now that I am a senior, I feel more confident that the decisions I made are more often times than not the correct one.
Also, I have learned that this is my passion. As stated many times before, I love sports. I could go into news, or radio, but sports broadcasts are what I enjoy doing. I even love to shoot camera, which I was able to do 2 weeks ago. Football more than any other sports, there’s a bit of respect I have for the preparation put into every season, game, and play. Men sacrifice their lives in the weight room, while their coaches are cutting film for the next week’s opponent. There is a lot of work put into every game, whether it be football or another sport, and I feel that our job is to broadcast it the best way possible to the fans at home. That is my passion, and hopefully what I am doing after my tenure here at Westminster.
More to come, and hopefully it is good news. Goodnight and good luck…
I am Ron Burgendy?
Well slowly but surly, these wheels have been lubed up and churning. I have finally finished, for the most part my questions for this documentary, and I am not talking about me asking myself why I felt this would be a great idea.
It took me half of my Psychology class but them damn questions are finally done. It took me so long because when writing interview questions, it is vital to ask a question that will pull some sort of specific response from the person being interviewed. This whole documentary is based on what the people did in titan crew, how they remember both it and Chuck and how it has effected them and prepared them for whatever career they are in. So I had to kind of look at myself and ask what the heck I've pulled out of 2 and 1/2 years of Saturdays spent watching our barely average Titans battle other meat heads, but I came up with a few.
I have learned to double task. Sometimes when directing, I have to be telling one person to change their shot, while following what the other camera's are doing, request for a replay, and tell the computer graphics girl to find the graphic for whoever made the play. That's a lot for a brain to handle, and even when , hypothetically speaking, the brain is moving slower than normal for numerous reasons. But seriously, it has taught me to trust my instincts and go with what I have learned from working it over the years from my many mistakes. It doesnt really hurt either that I spent 10 years of my life playing the sport. That, combined with all my knowledge on what to and what not to do, I feel that doing the Titan Crew has taught me a lot about myself, and the career choice I have made.
It took me half of my Psychology class but them damn questions are finally done. It took me so long because when writing interview questions, it is vital to ask a question that will pull some sort of specific response from the person being interviewed. This whole documentary is based on what the people did in titan crew, how they remember both it and Chuck and how it has effected them and prepared them for whatever career they are in. So I had to kind of look at myself and ask what the heck I've pulled out of 2 and 1/2 years of Saturdays spent watching our barely average Titans battle other meat heads, but I came up with a few.
I have learned to double task. Sometimes when directing, I have to be telling one person to change their shot, while following what the other camera's are doing, request for a replay, and tell the computer graphics girl to find the graphic for whoever made the play. That's a lot for a brain to handle, and even when , hypothetically speaking, the brain is moving slower than normal for numerous reasons. But seriously, it has taught me to trust my instincts and go with what I have learned from working it over the years from my many mistakes. It doesnt really hurt either that I spent 10 years of my life playing the sport. That, combined with all my knowledge on what to and what not to do, I feel that doing the Titan Crew has taught me a lot about myself, and the career choice I have made.
Its all in the Background
MAJOR STEP ALERT: I have decided to use a black background for my interviews conducted at the television studio. Why black you ask? For drama. I've watched too many documentaries or even documentary related material this before I finally decided on the background. I was watching a documentary the other day, and it finally caught my eye. I have seen pretty much every color imaginable as background and even settings, but the black was the most dramatic for a few reasons.
One reason that black is the right choice for me, is because it solves my dramatic look problem I have been suffering from. As stated previously, I have been in search for a background that would give my documentary that intense touch to it. Black is the right choice because, as I have noticed it, it makes the person being interviewed stand out. Blues can sometimes blend the interviewee in with the background and other colors, like green, can take the main focus away from the person being interviewed. Black is the absence of color, and it is exactly what I needed. Now this isn't intended to be a tear jerking documentary, but maybe a first person feeling would be nice. This is going to be intended for people related to Titan Crew so when they watch it, I want them to feel like they are back there, in their golden hay day with their old crew, horsin' around and remembering the fond memories of one another, Chuck and the Truck. With this background, it will help to give it that feel.
At this point, it's back to the grind. Trying to pull up some gumption to get this thing rollin, good ideas, execution just seems to be my problem, but with every time thing that I finish, I begin to feel a bit better about how this is going to come together.
One reason that black is the right choice for me, is because it solves my dramatic look problem I have been suffering from. As stated previously, I have been in search for a background that would give my documentary that intense touch to it. Black is the right choice because, as I have noticed it, it makes the person being interviewed stand out. Blues can sometimes blend the interviewee in with the background and other colors, like green, can take the main focus away from the person being interviewed. Black is the absence of color, and it is exactly what I needed. Now this isn't intended to be a tear jerking documentary, but maybe a first person feeling would be nice. This is going to be intended for people related to Titan Crew so when they watch it, I want them to feel like they are back there, in their golden hay day with their old crew, horsin' around and remembering the fond memories of one another, Chuck and the Truck. With this background, it will help to give it that feel.
At this point, it's back to the grind. Trying to pull up some gumption to get this thing rollin, good ideas, execution just seems to be my problem, but with every time thing that I finish, I begin to feel a bit better about how this is going to come together.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
In need of a miracle
Well one disaster averted...I found my camera I had lost since late last week. I wasn't freaking out or anything, since it had 4 hours worth off filler shots on it...no I just knew it would turn up. Wanna know where it was? In my hamper...Yeah when you live in a fraternity house you resort to all measures so your stuff (**Cough Cough** Rock band Guitar) doesn't get jacked by an idiot freshman or an ignorant independent up to ruin your house. Needless to say, although it was rather unorthodox it got the job done. So now I continue with my Capstone saga.
Another thing was pointed out to me this week about capstone...and that is the fact of me needing to start doing some work with it. This is the part I have been dreading, and it's collecting the interviews. After all this good stuff, you know begging people to please get me their tape or to finally sit down for 5 minutes and answer questions, is to somehow figure out some way to put this stuff in an order that doesn't leave the viewer scratching their head asking what they just saw. As I have stated numerous times before, I am nothing more than an amateur film maker with enough experience to get the result I want. Somehow, even with experience, I am kinda freaking out for two reasons.
1. This is the accumulation of everything I have been taught at Westminster, it is supposed to be sparkling clean and up to professional standards. Oh, did I mention that if I mess it up then I will have to retake the class and stay a 5th year? So now I know exactly what your asking (going out on a limb and guessing that more than just my Capstone Professor reads this) Why would I choose something that I pretty much have no idea on how to do as this project...Well because Titan Crew is, in its own pathetic way, my life. I played football or 10 years, baseball for even longer, and have dabbled in almost every other sport. There is nothing out there better than sports, so if I'm going to have to do anything in this major, it's going to be something I enjoy
2. After this, I'm pretty much done. Real world check, and a lot like this capstone project I have no idea what the future holds for me. I could try to do news right? There is nothing I enjoy less than news, it's full of deadlines, bitchwork for entree level positions, snobby on air talent in small markets, and the packages are usually something less than interesting. Now many would disagree with me, citing back to my Capstone Professor, but I got into this major to do something I enjoyed, not compromise for a paycheck (which who knows, I may have to do, just not right out of college hopefully at least). I could go out west, sneak onto a movie lot and pretend like I work there until somebody realizes and either keeps me or kicks my ass out of Hollywood. Exciting but expensive and unrealistic. Now sports broadcasting, that's what I wanna do. The only problem is a majority of them are freelance. It may be difficult to pay of school loans while being "On Call" at all times.
The only thing I have realized about both those points is, they are just like my life. Flyin by the seat of my pants, having no idea where exactly I am headed, but making the most of the present and hoping for the best. It has gotten me into a college that was way too prestigious for my high school transcript, and accidentally, for numerous reasons, to this point. So you know what, I may not win the lottery...ever. But I'll take my chances...
Another thing was pointed out to me this week about capstone...and that is the fact of me needing to start doing some work with it. This is the part I have been dreading, and it's collecting the interviews. After all this good stuff, you know begging people to please get me their tape or to finally sit down for 5 minutes and answer questions, is to somehow figure out some way to put this stuff in an order that doesn't leave the viewer scratching their head asking what they just saw. As I have stated numerous times before, I am nothing more than an amateur film maker with enough experience to get the result I want. Somehow, even with experience, I am kinda freaking out for two reasons.
1. This is the accumulation of everything I have been taught at Westminster, it is supposed to be sparkling clean and up to professional standards. Oh, did I mention that if I mess it up then I will have to retake the class and stay a 5th year? So now I know exactly what your asking (going out on a limb and guessing that more than just my Capstone Professor reads this) Why would I choose something that I pretty much have no idea on how to do as this project...Well because Titan Crew is, in its own pathetic way, my life. I played football or 10 years, baseball for even longer, and have dabbled in almost every other sport. There is nothing out there better than sports, so if I'm going to have to do anything in this major, it's going to be something I enjoy
2. After this, I'm pretty much done. Real world check, and a lot like this capstone project I have no idea what the future holds for me. I could try to do news right? There is nothing I enjoy less than news, it's full of deadlines, bitchwork for entree level positions, snobby on air talent in small markets, and the packages are usually something less than interesting. Now many would disagree with me, citing back to my Capstone Professor, but I got into this major to do something I enjoyed, not compromise for a paycheck (which who knows, I may have to do, just not right out of college hopefully at least). I could go out west, sneak onto a movie lot and pretend like I work there until somebody realizes and either keeps me or kicks my ass out of Hollywood. Exciting but expensive and unrealistic. Now sports broadcasting, that's what I wanna do. The only problem is a majority of them are freelance. It may be difficult to pay of school loans while being "On Call" at all times.
The only thing I have realized about both those points is, they are just like my life. Flyin by the seat of my pants, having no idea where exactly I am headed, but making the most of the present and hoping for the best. It has gotten me into a college that was way too prestigious for my high school transcript, and accidentally, for numerous reasons, to this point. So you know what, I may not win the lottery...ever. But I'll take my chances...
Thursday, September 24, 2009
And so the story goes
Hello out there...whoever may be reading...
I continue to update about my lack of progress with capstone here on my blog. For better or worse I have yet to officially capture any video, although I have shot good filler video for the documentary, I haven't gotten any insight from former or current members. I have been watching documentaries from all different aspects. So therefore I have made some progress about it, in some aspect, and that is I am beginning to slowly mentally piece together how I would like to see this thing completed.
When I started I wanted to have some sort of time line within it along with interviews, which may be possible after I begin conducting interviews, but as of right now that has been put on the back burner. If there is one thing I have learned about documentaries is that you cant bull shit 'em. The best one's I've seen are ones that bring out some sort of emotional response from the viewer. No body wants to sit down and watch an hour about something they are mildly interested in, they want something to capture them and make them need to know more. Although they don't necessarily pertain to what I doing, I have seen a decent amount of this one series on the biography channel entitled "I Survived". It dimply interviews and re-enacts life or death events that make you say "I have no idea what I would do..." or "That simple would be a horrible way to die". One was about these guys shipwrecked on an island somewhere near California with no food or water for three days. Another was a guy who's neighbor said he had to borrow something from the guy and then closed and locked the door and said "God told me to kill you"...What kind of response do you even have to that? But still the worst one yet was some lady who was beaten nearly half to death by someone, I believe her husband (I came into it about a quarter the way into the show) and then shoved into a trash container. The way she was shoved into it she couldn't escape for some 24 hours, during the winter. I'm getting off topic a bit but the moral of the rant it, if I want this to be any good I need to find a way to appeal to peoples emotions. Not like the show "I Survived"...But somehow, when people who know what it's like watch it, just laugh and say "Haha yeah I remember that", or "Yeah that's typical of those titan crew people. But the question continues to beckon me....How.
Progress will be made, not a question of if but when. More happy blogs to come!
I continue to update about my lack of progress with capstone here on my blog. For better or worse I have yet to officially capture any video, although I have shot good filler video for the documentary, I haven't gotten any insight from former or current members. I have been watching documentaries from all different aspects. So therefore I have made some progress about it, in some aspect, and that is I am beginning to slowly mentally piece together how I would like to see this thing completed.
When I started I wanted to have some sort of time line within it along with interviews, which may be possible after I begin conducting interviews, but as of right now that has been put on the back burner. If there is one thing I have learned about documentaries is that you cant bull shit 'em. The best one's I've seen are ones that bring out some sort of emotional response from the viewer. No body wants to sit down and watch an hour about something they are mildly interested in, they want something to capture them and make them need to know more. Although they don't necessarily pertain to what I doing, I have seen a decent amount of this one series on the biography channel entitled "I Survived". It dimply interviews and re-enacts life or death events that make you say "I have no idea what I would do..." or "That simple would be a horrible way to die". One was about these guys shipwrecked on an island somewhere near California with no food or water for three days. Another was a guy who's neighbor said he had to borrow something from the guy and then closed and locked the door and said "God told me to kill you"...What kind of response do you even have to that? But still the worst one yet was some lady who was beaten nearly half to death by someone, I believe her husband (I came into it about a quarter the way into the show) and then shoved into a trash container. The way she was shoved into it she couldn't escape for some 24 hours, during the winter. I'm getting off topic a bit but the moral of the rant it, if I want this to be any good I need to find a way to appeal to peoples emotions. Not like the show "I Survived"...But somehow, when people who know what it's like watch it, just laugh and say "Haha yeah I remember that", or "Yeah that's typical of those titan crew people. But the question continues to beckon me....How.
Progress will be made, not a question of if but when. More happy blogs to come!
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Capstone...The Begining
Well, another semester at school, and being a senior brings its responsibilities...and that responsibility is capstone. Senior capstone, for those of you random readers whom aren't aware is a class seniors must complete in order to graduate. This class, a lot like a senior project in high school is supposed to be the accumulation of all that I (the student) have learned throughout their tenure here at Westminster put into a project paper, etc. to prove to the faculty within the major that we are prepared to move onto the real world. My capstone project, documentary.
I have yet to formally begin my 5-7 minute documentary (in which I have little to no experience creating) about our live sports broadcast truck and its ever exciting fearless leader, Chuck. Chuck is our department's chief engineer/schools jack of all trades. Now why would I be as foolish as to pick something that I have no experience, credentials, yadda yadda yadda, with? Very simple, because Titan Crew, as we refer to it, is my life. For better or worse, almost every Saturday morning at 9 I roll out of bed, in my drunken/hung over state and prepare to go to work. I direct the show, involving around 9 people to successfully complete, and I am going on my second year of doing so. This has been the greatest experience of my short career in communications, and for some odd reason...I love it. Now if you refer back to the aforementioned chief engineer, he is going to retire after this school year. Whether you like him or not, he is a large part of both out department and our school as a whole, and not one thing has been done to record this or honor him, however you would like to refer to it, and I think something along those lines is in order. The only problem is...where the hell do I begin?
I begin this Saturday, shooting footage, figuring out how I will get interviews, and pulling my hair out to complete this. Needless to say...lets hope I graduate. Stay tuned for my saga all the ups, downs, and hopefully completed project
I have yet to formally begin my 5-7 minute documentary (in which I have little to no experience creating) about our live sports broadcast truck and its ever exciting fearless leader, Chuck. Chuck is our department's chief engineer/schools jack of all trades. Now why would I be as foolish as to pick something that I have no experience, credentials, yadda yadda yadda, with? Very simple, because Titan Crew, as we refer to it, is my life. For better or worse, almost every Saturday morning at 9 I roll out of bed, in my drunken/hung over state and prepare to go to work. I direct the show, involving around 9 people to successfully complete, and I am going on my second year of doing so. This has been the greatest experience of my short career in communications, and for some odd reason...I love it. Now if you refer back to the aforementioned chief engineer, he is going to retire after this school year. Whether you like him or not, he is a large part of both out department and our school as a whole, and not one thing has been done to record this or honor him, however you would like to refer to it, and I think something along those lines is in order. The only problem is...where the hell do I begin?
I begin this Saturday, shooting footage, figuring out how I will get interviews, and pulling my hair out to complete this. Needless to say...lets hope I graduate. Stay tuned for my saga all the ups, downs, and hopefully completed project
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