Documentary Debrief

I really liked watching all the presentations because they all used different elements that made them both engaging and informational. I think that the music really helped to set the mood in all the documentaries. For example in Allie’s groups documentary they had sad music playing as students talked about how they were unfairly marked as tardy, the music really helped to convey their message. Also some of the editing techniques helped to further prove a groups point, such as in some documentaries the group would cut an interview short or do a voice over to refute the interviewee’s opinion. This technique was used in Michael Moore’s documentaries, because he often cut off the people that he was interviewing. Also many of the professional documentaries that we watched involved a lot of music and visuals such as pictures or charts, which many groups included in their presentations. If you wanted yoy wanted to watch our fun video again heret it is!

All the groups had a question and through a video they answered it. The one about the unhealthy lunch foods was interesting. I also think that the school food is not healthy but I pack a lunch so I never eat the nasty and salty fries. I pack a lunch because I can pick what I feel like eating instead of having to choose what the school picked. Also the presentation about lowering the drinking age was the best. We went around the school and asked random people what they thought about lowering the drinking age. Many said that we should lower the drinking age because if you could fight in the war then you should be able to drink.

Finals Week

Personally, I've never felt overstressed from finals week. I try not to over study the night before a final and just look over all the notes and tests we've had in that particular class. It always seems to work out for me and I'm never stressed out while taking the final. I cant speak for other people but I prefer to not have to do a ton of studying the night before a final so I can relax while I'm taking it. I've been able to do pretty good in high school by doing this. Some kids over do it and try and cram too much information into their head at once. This method has never worked for me personally. However, if it works for them then that's fine but I prefer to not stress myself out before the actual test. The people that cram will probably be better prepared for college though, since there is a lot of material covered in a college class. Plus with Thanksgiving break coming up we can all finally relax for once.

Video Essay Debrief

Most of the groups posed a question in the beginning of their video and then went on to answer it throughout the video. All of the groups also used music effectively. Cydney’s group had heavy metal music in the beginning to get your attention. Allie’s group had dramatic music during the part when Brad was walking through the school trying to get to class on time. Most groups also used editing effectively. After someone they interviewed would say something they disagree with they would post the question on the screen and then go on to try and counter their point. I thought music was the most effective tool that all the groups used. It draws the audiences attention from the beginning and if used correctly, can persuade people from one viewpoint to another. However if used incorrectly it can reduce the quality of the video. The group's videos reminded me of Supersize Me. The interviews were all pretty similar to the ones Spurlock did. We would ask the question and if it was something we didn't necessarily agree with then we would try and show our viewpoint. Overall I think all the groups did a good job of using music and editing effectively to create a quality video.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

It’s almost the holiday season and I’m so EXCITED! December is one of my favorite months of the year. Not only is Christmas in December but so is my birthday and the New Year. I like to refer to these 3 holidays as the trifecta of holidays. They all come in a row within a couple days of each other .I always get excited for December because it has 3 of the most exciting days of the year especially this year. This year I’m turning 18 which makes my trifecta even better. I’m really excited to celebrate my birthday this year because it’s big one, I’ve already start thinking about what I want, and what I’m going to do. My birthday will be super fun because I’ll be able to go out! Then after my birthday comes Christmas which is equally as exciting. I love getting gifts, but I also really like giving people things that they like. Also during Christmas I get to see family members that I don’t usually see. After Christmas  is the New Year which is always fun. Needless to say I can’t wait until December, only 39 more days until my birthday tips off the festivities. 

NBA LOCKDOWN

After all the commotion to the side the NBA season will begin November 1. This is only the second time in history that the NBA has had to cancel regular season games. Many players are on stand waiting to see what the owners will do. The first option they gave the players was that they will have 70 game seasons instead of 82 games. That also means that the players and owners of teams will be missing out on 12 game of pay. So there will be less games and everybody will lose some of the money they should be getting.

Cuckoo's Nest: Film/Book Differences

There are many differences between the book and the film of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. For example Cheswick dies in the book when he gets his hand stuck in the bottom of the pool, however in the movie Cheswick doesn’t die. In the book Chief Bromden is the narrator. In the movie there is no real narrator, but McMurphy is the main character and he’s usually the one talking. Chief is more of a secondary character in the movie. Doctor Spivey is also much less of an important character in the movie. He doesn’t go with the patients on the fishing trip and is only in a few scenes. I felt that the most significant change between the book and the movie was how they choose not to have Cheswick die in the movie. That was a big event in the novel and the patients were devastated by his death. In the movie he lives and stays in the hospital.