Summative: Self Evaluation

Name: Antonette Nolan

Class: Media arts class A

Group members: Myself

Briefly describe some pre-production work you did for the final project

i.e. storyboard, rough notes, sketches, typed ideas out, researched online (YouTube). Write down as much as possible.

The pre-production work I did consisted of several steps. First, I brainstormed what genre the film should be given the materials I had to work with. Because I do not enjoy working within groups of classmates, I decided to cast my three little brothers (who have friends their own age and size) as actors in the production. Thus, I felt obligated to choose a theme that encompassed something my little brothers themselves were passionate about. This, of course, was World War II. The second step I took in preparation for filming was figuring out a plotline. I had recently read a book about two brothers separated in childhood who had, in adulthood, actually fought on opposite sides in the Second World War. I, finding this concept fascinating, told my little brothers about it and received a fairly enthusiastic response. I then realized that I could not do justice to the story within a four-minute timeframe, so I changed my original plans in order to make a trailer rather than a movie. Finally, I drew some rough thumbnail sketches of shots I wished to include in the trailer, as well as key words to convey the story’s emotion. These, of course, were only to be flexible guidelines; I knew that filming my younger brothers was going to be unpredictable.

Production

What issues came up when filming or producing your final project? What didn't go according to plan? How would you do things differently if you had another chance?

Numerous issues occurred while I was filming this trailer. Firstly, the two weeks I had planned on dedicating solely to filming were interrupted by my sister’s wedding preparation. Her fiancé, his parents, and his seven siblings had driven from Alberta to our house—my film set—to stay for over a week. Despite being wonderful people, they took an enormous amount of my time and space in regards to producing videos. Secondly, my little brothers could only meet up with their friends—who I needed to act as additional soldiers—on certain dates, many of which did not work for me. Thirdly, my little brothers soon got tired of acting and began complaining in order to get out of being filmed. Lastly, the only digital camera to which I had access was my own, which is unfortunately very cheap. Needless to say, I was a little disappointed with the quality the videos (especially the ones I had to crop). If I had another chance, I would try to obtain a better video camera, plan ahead to avoid disappointment in regards to when my younger brothers’ friends could come over, and plan out a more cohesive plotline.

Post-Production

Using Premier can be tricky at times. What were some things you liked about editing your film in Premier? What were the challenges? What would have made your film better?

I actually used iMovie on my Mac to edit my film. I enjoyed its simplicity most. I could effortlessly change the sound levels, clip length and speed, and transitions and the like. However, I believe its simplicity was also its downfall. It would not permit me to crop videos to the extent that I wished, change image quality, or layer the sound in a smooth manner. I believe that if I had had these options the final product would be far less choppy-looking and the sound would not be uneven/cut out in some parts.

Rate yourself

Give yourself a mark, based on the amount of work you did, and how happy you are with

your final project.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

This is going to sound lame, but.. ‘A for effort!’ Haha. Creating a World War II trailer by oneself was a lot harder than I expected.

Rate others that worked with you on this project.

Write down the names of people in your group, if any, and give them a mark, 1 being the lowest,

and 10 the highest. Let me know if someone went above and beyond.

I was the only person in this group.

Re-Submit 3D Photo

Note:

I find that looking through the red lense with my right eye and the blue with my left works the best for this photo.

The Corporation: Questions

1) What is the principal purpose of this documentary?

            I believe that this documentary has three main purposes. Firstly, it serves to educate the public about the huge amount of power corporations have attained within the past sixty years. Secondly, it is a warning for those who have placed their trust in massive corporations and continue to support them through their choice of purchases. Finally, I think it is a call to action to all of us who are aware of corporate irresponsibility and unethical practices (specifically in environmental and human rights abuses—most of which occur in third-world countries).

2) What does the film critique? How do you know that?

           The film critiques large corporations who have overstepped the boundaries of ethical behavior. I can see this throughout the documentary, as the majority of people interviewed, scientific studies, and statistics given throw a very negative light on this category of corporations.

3) What methods did the filmmaker use to increase public awareness about corporate responsibility and affect people’s beliefs and behavior?

            The filmmaker used an assortment of personal accounts, factual data and statistics, and emotion-evoking visual evidence to shape the viewer’s final impression with corporate responsibility (or lack thereof). The typical large, American corporation is proven to ignore the harm their merchandise and production inflict on the environment, shown to disregard the fact that much of their raw material is derived unsustainably, exposed as a threat to human rights in many areas of the world, and ultimately diagnosed with psychopathy.

4) Which methods of theirs did you think were most effective in supporting their position on corporate responsibility? Why?

            I personally found the personal accounts regarding corporate human rights abuses the most effective method in regards to supporting their position on corporate responsibility and convincing the viewer. This was, quite simply, because of the shock and disgust they aroused in me. There were three pieces of proof that struck me as most vile. First was the fact that huge corporations are actually able to claim personhood under the fourteenth amendment (which was originally passed to protect freed slaves in the late nineteenth century) and are now able to abuse their personhood status freely without the repercussions a true human person would receive. Subsequently, I was disturbed to find that both Coca-Cola and IBM sold or leased their products to the Nazis during the Second World War and recovered massive profits just after it ended. Finally, the Monsanto chemical company’s many exploitations—especially their current selling of the cancer-causing bovine growth hormone Posilac in the U.S. and seeds with ‘suicide genes’ in African countries (as well as DDT and Agent Orange poisons in the past) horrified me the most. When I realized that more than a quarter of the milk consumed in the U.S. contains a deadly carcinogen I literally thanked God that I live in Canada, which has stricter food safety regulations.

5) Did you have any issues with this documentary? What were some parts that you did not agree with, or question? Why?

            I agreed with virtually every point made in the documentary, but have one small qualm. During the inquiry concerning Monsanto’s Posilac drug, the only news corporation being targeted and criticized for corruption was Fox News. I understand that in this particular case Fox was the only news corporation involved, but I wish that the documentary had a wider range of viewpoints for a more balanced conclusion. I am positive that other news sources are also guilty of corruption and/or fraud (CNN, ABC etc.) in regards to corporate connections. In short, I am tired of hearing about how everyone hates Fox.

6) Describe another film you have watched that had an impact on your values. How and why did that happen?

            Another film I have watched that had an impact on my values was The Passion Of The Christ. It was essentially the story of Jesus Christ’s suffering and brutal death by crucifixion after betrayal by Judas Iscariot. The movie’s strikingly accurate, graphic depiction of Christ sacrificing Himself for humanity changed my outlook on life. Even though it took place thousands of years ago, the movie demonstrated the huge significance of the event through unadulterated accuracy (basically, blood). After watching it, I came to the realization that, although this life may seem incredibly important, morality and our destination in the afterlife are far more so.

Re-submit Photo

Color pop Photo

Original photo: Pink too strong

Re-submit photo: Pink less strong

Animation: Research

Animation: Research

Hayao Miyazaki, born January 5, 1941, is a Japanese film director, producer, screenwriter, animator, author, and manga artist. Through a career that has spanned five decades, Miyazaki has attained international acclaim as a masterful storyteller and as a maker of anime feature films and, along with Isao Takahata, co-founded Studio Ghibli, a film and animation studio. The success of Miyazaki's films has invited comparisons with American animator Walt Disney, and American directors Steven Spielberg and Orson Welles.

Born in Bunky, Tokyo, Miyazaki began his animation career in 1963, when he joined Toei Animation. From there, Miyazaki worked as an in-between artist for Gulliver's Travels Beyond the Moon, where he pitched ideas that eventually became the movie's ending. He continued to work in various roles in the animation industry until he directed his first feature film, Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro, released in 1979. After the success of his next film, Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (1984), he co-founded Studio Ghibli, where he continued to produce many feature films. While Miyazaki's films have long enjoyed both commercial and critical success in Japan, he remained largely unknown to the West until Miramax Films released Princess Mononoke (1997). Princess Mononoke was briefly the highest-grossing film in Japan until it was eclipsed by another 1997 film, Titanic, and it became the first animated film to win Picture of the Year at the Japanese Academy Awards. Miyazaki's next film, Spirited Away (2001), topped Titanic’s sales at the Japanese box office, won Picture of the Year at the Japanese Academy Awards, and was the first anime film to win an American Academy Award. 

Miyazaki's films often contain recurrent themes, like humanity's relationship with nature and technology, feminism, and the difficulty of maintaining a pacifist ethic. The protagonists of his films are often strong, independent girls or young women. While two of his films, The Castle of Cagliostro and Castle in the Sky, involve traditional villains, his other films like Nausicaa and Princess Mononoke present morally ambiguous antagonists with redeeming qualities. He co-wrote films The Secret World of Arrietty, released in July 2010 in Japan and February 2012 in the United States; and From Up on Poppy Hill released in July 2011 in Japan and March 2013 in the United States. Miyazaki's newest film The Wind Rises was released on July 20, 2013 and screened internationally in February 2014. Miyazaki announced on September 1, 2013 that this would be his final feature-length film. In November 2014, Miyazaki was awarded an Honorary Academy Award for his impact on animation and cinema. In 2002, American film critic Roger Ebert suggested that Miyazaki may be the best animation filmmaker in history, praising the depth and artistry of his films.

Animation: Bouncy Ball

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Culture Jammer Ad: Reflection

Name: Antonette Nolan

Culture Jammer Ad title: Olay Irony

Medium: Photoshop

Date: Friday, April 24th 2015

Technical

            Within Olay Irony I used a few new tools and technical steps that I had not previously had much experience with. All of them were used to edit layers’ coloring in different ways. I used several warming photo filters to make the model’s skin darker (she was originally European), and played with the color curves for the same reason. In addition, I created a flat brown layer above the model’s image and used the “multiply” option to create a smooth, dark finish. Finally, I experimented with opacity changes on nearly all layers.

Idea or Concept

            When first presented with the opportunity to create a satirical ad, I thought it was almost too good to be true! I have always had an interest in criticizing unethical organizations (for many years I actually wanted to be a libertarian political cartoonist), so this project provided the perfect chance to experiment. I chose to target Olay’s skin-whitening creams because of the company’s ironic slogan, “Love the skin you’re in”. The message sounds cute and caring, while the products themselves say the exact opposite. Thus, I replaced the word “love” with a more appropriate verb: “loath”. I did not find that this concept changed much as I worked on the piece. The irony stayed fresh, so I did not wonder from my original plans. This, obviously, lead me to title the piece Olay Irony. The floating feathers, sleek fonts and white background all give the “feel” of a real cosmetic advertisement.

Influences

            No particular artist (that I can think of!) influenced my work in this project. I did, however, research Olay’s (and other prominent cosmetic producers’) advertisements before creating my own from scratch. I suppose their style influenced my own, and at least may have affected how I used the colors and space in Olay Irony.

Composition

            I balanced the composition asymmetrically, with most of the “weight” in Olay Irony on the left side (the model). I intended most of the emphasis in the advertisement to be on the model’s bleached face, but also (secondarily) on the writing in the upper right-hand corner. I believe I succeeded in this for the most part, specifically through use of contrast and space (the model’s tanned skin is eye-grabbing because it contrasts with the white background, while the writing stands out because there are no feathers surrounding it). I wanted the viewer’s eyes to first focus on the model on the left, move up and right to the message, down to the image of the whitening products, and then again down to Olay’s logo and altered slogan. Each of the feathers is placed on a specific angle and made a certain size in order to push the viewer’s eye in a somewhat circular motion around the advertisement.

Motivation

            I suppose my ideas for this piece all began with my interest in the fashion industry. I had been thinking about makeup a lot, since I would actually love to attend school for the subject. After researching several prominent cosmetic companies I was astonished to find that, despite many manufacturers claiming to have women’s interests at heart in their slogans, they also sell skin-whitening products to women in poorer countries (where darker skin is stigmatized—the darker the skin one has, the poorer it is assumed one is). I must confess I was a more than a little disgusted, and thus decided to base my culture jammer ad on the topic.

Critical Assessment             

            Personally, I found the altered slogan (“Loath (rather than love) the skin you’re in”) and the model’s perplexed face to be the most interesting and successful parts of the entire piece. I had to change her features a lot to give her a worried, unsatisfied look (which many women, I am sure, could identify with), while the word ‘loath’ fit so perfectly in ‘love’s place! If I had had additional time, I believe that I may have looked for a way to make the model’s skin darker in hue—the current darkness seems a little too ‘shadowy’.

Culture Jammer Ad: Olay Irony

Culture Jammer Ad: Questions

1.  What company does the advertisement represent/subvert?

This advertisement is subverting Apple Inc.

2.  What kind of product(s) is being advertised? 

            An iPad is being “advertised”.

3.  What imagery is used in the advertisement to subvert?

A sad-eyed and extremely malnourished African child is cleverly placed to the right of the “thinner than ever” iPad.

4.  What message (text, copy) is used in the advertisement? 

            The text “Thinner than ever” appears in the centre of the advertisement.

5.  How are the elements and principles of design used to convey a message?

            I believe the most powerful factors in this advertisement are the colors used. The classic white background and grey font—Apple’s signature combination—are a visual hook for the viewer; immediately one assumes that it is America’s top smartphone manufacturer. The iPad is held by a Caucasian hand (symbolizing rich American consumers) while the small boy (encompassing third-world workers) is black. 

6.  Who is the target audience of the advertisement?

            I believe this advertisement targets those who feel the need to stay constantly “up-to-date” in regards to purchasing the latest Apple products.     

7.  Does the ad jam convey a clear and successful message?

            I suppose this ad jam could be taken in different ways, but it really spoke to me as soon as I saw it. All of my Apple products are at least five years old, and I really don’t understand why one should buy new iPads, iPhones, etc. when the first are in good condition

8.  How could the ad jam be improved?

            To be honest, I don’t think I would change anything about this ad jam. Its beauty is its simplicity!

1.  What company does the advertisement represent/subvert?

This advertisement is subverting Malboro, a cigarette manufacturer.

2.  What kind of product(s) is being advertised? 

            Cigarettes are being “advertised”.

3.  What imagery is used in the advertisement to subvert?

The entire advertisement’s background features a photograph of a full cemetery.

4.  What message (text, copy) is used in the advertisement? 

            The text “Welcome to Malboro Country” appears in the top right of the advertisement.

5.  How are the elements and principles of design used to convey a message?

             I think that, firstly, perspective and line are important elements in ensuring that the cemetery looks “chock-full”. As well, color plays a significant role; the red writing stands out well against the green meadows, as it is its complimentary color.

6.  Who is the target audience of the advertisement?

            This advertisement, I think, targets both those who smoke and those who are tempted to start with an innocent purchase of cigarettes.

7.  Does the ad jam convey a clear and successful message?

            Absolutely. I do not see any way in which this ad jam could be taken in a way other than its intent.

8.  How could the ad jam be improved?

            Once again, I do not think there is anything in this ad jam that should be changed. It is blatant and wonderful.