[FILM 116] Deadline Reminders

Hello, all.

A reminder that your Audio/Video Hardware/Software Responses are due
tomorrow, Friday, May 1, 5 PM, as a comment to this post on the Course Blog:
http://tinyurl.com/c587ud

Also, Reading Response #3 is due Sunday, May 3, 5 PM, as a comment to
this post on the Course Blog:
http://tinyurl.com/dj3asu

Have a great weekend.

Best,

Glenn

--
Glenn Bach, Adjunct Assistant Professor
UWM Department of Film
Mitchell Hall B-60
3203 N. Downer Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53211
_______________________________________________
Film-116 mailing list
Film-116@uwm.edu
http://listserv.uwm.edu/mailman/listinfo/film-116

Reading Response #3

Reading response #3 is due Sunday, May 3, 5PM, as a comment to this post. Your response should consist of a three-paragraph statement that answers the following three questions (one paragraph per question):

1. Identify the article you have selected and why you chose it.

2. What are the main points of the essay?

3. How are the ideas or arguments in this article relevant to your own practice as a media artist?

Pick one of the following readings: Delehanty, Miller, Oliveros, Russolo, Spirn, Toop, Trachtenberg, Ximm; and post as a comment to this post by Sunday, May 3, 5 PM.

[FILM 116] Final Screenings

Hello, all.

We meet tomorrow in B91 for the first round of Drift 2 Final Screenings.
Attendance is MANDATORY!

See everyone tomorrow.

Best,

Glenn

--
Glenn Bach, Adjunct Assistant Professor
UWM Department of Film
Mitchell Hall B-60
3203 N. Downer Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53211
_______________________________________________
Film-116 mailing list
Film-116@uwm.edu
http://listserv.uwm.edu/mailman/listinfo/film-116

[FILM 116] Production Kits due tomorrow

Hello, all.

Remember, Production Kits are due tomorrow (Monday, April 27) at 1 PM.
The equipment room is in Mitchell Hall B-54.

Also, if you want to get a head start, post your Audio/Video
Software/Hardware response as a comment to this post on the Course Blog
by Friday, May 1, 5 PM:

http://tinyurl.com/c587ud

Final Screenings begin Wednesday the 29th, and so Drift 2 blogs should
be wrapped up soon.

Best,

Glenn

--
Glenn Bach, Adjunct Assistant Professor
UWM Department of Film
Mitchell Hall B-60
3203 N. Downer Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53211
_______________________________________________
Film-116 mailing list
Film-116@uwm.edu
http://listserv.uwm.edu/mailman/listinfo/film-116

Individual Crits, Production Kits

Hello, all.

A reminder that if you have not signed up for an individual, one-on-one
crit with your Lab Instructor, you need to do so immediately. The
signup sheets are on my office door, MIT-B60. There are only a few
slots left for Wednesday and next Monday, while some labs have no slots
left at all. In that case, you will need to confirm with your Lab
Instructor about a visit during regular office hours.

Monday, April 27, 1 PM, is the deadline to turn in your Production Kits.
At this point in the semester you should be well into editing mode
rather than data gathering mode. A reminder of the Late Policy
concerning Production Kits:

"You will be docked 10 points from your Participation grade for every
day the kit is late. If the Equipment Room does not receive your kit by
the end of the semester, you will receive a 0 on your Drift 2 grade, the
Film Department will put a hold on your records, you will be billed for
the cost of replacing the kit, and you will be forbidden from checking
out equipment in the future."

Don't let this happen to you. Be a good Film Department citizen and get
those kits in. (You can turn your kits in earlier, if you wish.)

Audio/Video Hardware/Software Response

Audio/Video Hardware/Software Response

Reflect on your experiences working with the audio/video hardware and software in this class. Answer the following in a word processor or text editor:

1. Discuss your experiences with building your microphones. Was this process more or less what you thought it would be? How did your microphone rig work on your Drift walks? Were you able to capture both overall ambiance and extreme closeups? Describe your ideal microphone and recorder setup, with unlimited time and money.

2. How was your experience with operating the MiniDisc recorder? How does this recorder compare to other audio equipment you've used? In an ideal world, how would your recorder of choice function?

3. Discuss the audio-editing software you chose and your history with this application. If you used this software for the first time, explain why you chose this particular application and how you think it helped you to accomplish your creative goals (or proved detrimental). Will you use this software again for future projects?

4. How was your experience with the digital/video camera you chose to use in this course? How did it compare with other still or video cameras you have previously used? Were you able to successfully implement your Image Capturing Strategies using the features of this camera? In an ideal world, how would your still/video camera of choice function?

5. Discuss your choice of video-editing software and describe your history with this software. If you used this software for the first time, explain why you chose this particular application and how you think it helped you to accomplish your creative goals (or proved detrimental). Will you use this software again for future projects?

Copy/paste/publish as a single comment to this post by Friday, May 1, 5 PM.

Past Drift Examples

Hello, all.

Just a reminder that links to past Drift projects are available on the
Tutorials page, second heading down:

http://www.glennbach.com/film_116/116_tutorials.html

Announcement: Interesting Concert this Thursday

FYI: upcoming concert of interest:

An evening of 21st-century works for the electro-acoustic medium:
surround compositions by Charles Nichols, Asha Srinivasan, and Chris
Mercer played back over an eight-loudspeaker system, plus Kristine
Burns's Copper Islands for video and tape, and a new interactive
audiovisual performance by Christopher Burns.

Thursday, April 16, 2009, 7:30 pm, UWM Fine Arts Recital Hall
Tickets: $7 students

Final Help Session for Drift 2

Hello, all.

Tomorrow (Wednesday, April 15) is the final Help Session/open lab for
Drift 2. Take advantage of this valuable class time to come in for
feedback or assistance.

Next week we begin Individual Crits, and then after that are the Final
Screenings. Only 3 1/2 weeks remain in the semester, so be smart about
your time. Remember to sign up for your Individual Crit on the signup
sheet posted on my office door, MIT B60.

Drift 2 In-Progress Crit

Hello, all.

We meet tomorrow, Monday, April 13, in the Lab rooms for the Drift 2
In-Progress Crits. Please have something ready to show and talk about.

Wednesday the 15 will be our final Drift 2 Help Session in B18.

Sign up for your individual, one-on-one appointment with your Lab
Instructor. The sign-up sheets for each Lab section are now posted on my
office door, B-60. Pick your slot by Monday, April 20, 12 noon.

Your rough cuts must be posted by the time you are ready to meet with
your Lab instructor, and you should have strong ideas about where your
final-cut sound video is headed.

See everyone tomorrow.

Reading Response #2

Hello, all.

I hope you are progressing well on your Drift 2 walks, and that you've
gathered a lot of great material. We didn't see many of you at the last
two help sessions, and I hope this is because you were all out walking.

This Sunday at 5 PM is the deadline for the second Reading Response.
Pick one of these articles (Cuper, Daniel, Hansen, Hill, Lippard,
Lopate, Peterson, Pinkowish, Self, This American Life) and write your
response as a comment to this post on the Course Blog:
http://film-116.blogspot.com/2009/04/reading-response-2.html

We hope to see many, many more of you on Monday, April 6, in B18 for the
third help session.

Reading Response #2

Reading responses on assigned readings will be due throughout the semester as comments to selected posts on the Course Blog. The responses will consist of three-paragraph statements on the readings or screenings, answering the following three questions (one paragraph per question):

1. Identify the article you have selected and why you chose it.

2. What are the main points of the essay?

3. How are the ideas or arguments in this article relevant to your own practice as a media artist?

Pick one of the following readings (Cuper, Daniel, Hansen, Hill, Lippard, Lopate, Peterson, Pinkowish, Self, This American Life) and post your response as comment to this post by Sunday, April 5, 5 PM.

Drift 2 Help Session

Hello, all.

We meet tomorrow (Wednesday, April 1) in B18 for the second Help Session
for Drift 2.

One quick tip for adjusting the size of the thumbnail images in your
blog posts: if you click once on the thumbnail, the image will be
surrounded by a line with small boxes in the corners. Click on the
lower box in the right corner and drag the box upward, shrinking the
thumbnail to whatever size you wish.

See you tomorrow.

Drift 2 posting; Help Session

Hello, all.

Today at 5PM is the deadline for you to have your initial Drift 2 blog
created and posted, along with your Production Strategy and Drift 2
Starting Point.

We meet tomorrow in B18 for the first round of Help Sessions for Drift 2.

Drift 2 Overview

Hello, all.

We meet tomorrow (Wednesday, March 25), in B91 for an overview of Drift
2. If you would like to get a head start, review the Drift 2 page:

http://www.glennbach.com/film_116/116_drift_2.html

See everyone tomorrow.

Drift Assessment and Ten Questions

Make sure your answers to the following questions exist as self-contained statements.

1. Describe two situations that aggravated, bothered, shocked or otherwise stressed you during Drift 1. (Please note that the situation CANNOT be technology-related.)

2. Describe, with details, two situations during Drift 1 in which you felt unusually peaceful, at ease, or contemplative.

3. Describe three surprises or unexpected situations you encountered on your Drift and in the days that followed. The surprise could stem from your expectations that conflicted with "on the ground" realities, cultural or social issues of which you were previously unaware, feelings and reactions that you did not expect to have, appearances and soundings of things you did not expect, good or bad outcomes of "on the spot" decisions you had to make, or the discovery of "deeper" realities in the materials you brought home. (Again, skip anything technology-related!)

4. Describe your favorite experience, situation, place, or recollection from your Drift. Be specific about what happened, how you felt, how you reacted, and why you think this particular experience affected you so much.

After writing and reflecting upon your assessment answers, come up with ten questions that best address the aspects of your Drift process you are most interested in pursuing further in Drift 2.

These questions must be related directly to your experiences walking the specific landscapes of your Drift 1, and should be specifically worded enough to generate possible strategies and solutions for executing Drift 2. Note that you will not be ANSWERING these questions right away. They will serve as inspiration for areas to explore on Drift 2.

Here are some examples:

1. Are there any back roads that lead to something interesting?
2. Is there a house that has a very unique and interesting architecture?
3. Are there any places where sound takes on a strange quality?
4. Where can I find the strangest sight within my Drift area?
5. What differences are there on Lake Michigan between night and day?
6. Are there any places where one can make a complete 180 degree turn and only see nature?
7. Are there any buildings that will give me access to a high and panoramic view?
8. Is there some kind of elaborate garden in the area?
9. Are there any kind of monuments in the area?
10. Are there any bodies of water (other than Lake Michigan) in the area?

You may want to copy and paste the Drift Assessment questions into a Word or TextEdit/Notepad document, and then copy/paste into the comment field when you are done. Publish as a comment (click on the "comments" or "Post a Comment" link below).

Drift 1 Final Crit

Hello, all.

Welcome back! I hope Spring Break treated you all well.

We meet tomorrow (Monday, March 23rd) in the Lab Rooms for the Final
Crit for Drift 1. Attendance is mandatory.

Please make sure that everything is up and running on your Drift 1
Blogs, and that your sounds are linked via PantherFile. Remember, we
should be able to view your Drift 1 Blogs from ANY computer, not just
the one you are using.

We will be viewing your blogs from the Course Directory, so please make
sure the link next to your name correctly direct us to your blog:

http://www.glennbach.com/film_116/116_directory.html

Here are the Lab Rooms:

* Lab 1, B-91, Emir Cakaroz
* Lab 2, B-18, Sean Kafer
* Lab 3, B-75, Joe Sacco
* Lab 4, B-68, Heidi Spencer

See you all tomorrow.

Final Drift 1 Help Session

Hello, all.

Tomorrow (Wednesday, March 11) we meet for the last Drift 1 Help Session
in B18. From what I heard, only a few of you had much posted on your
Drift 1 blogs for yesterday's In-Progress Crit, which tells us that you
are still editing your sounds. At least, we hope you are in the editing
stage and not the walking stage!

Tomorrow will be the last opportunity you will have to get access to the
PC desktops in B18 for SonicStage transfers. It will also be the last
time all FILM 116 instructors will be available for one-on-one help for
Drift 1.

Drift 1 is due Monday, March 23rd.

Hopefully we will see many of you tomorrow.

Drift 1 In-Progress Critique

Hello, all.

We meet tomorrow (Monday, March 9) in the Lab Rooms for an In-Progress
Critique for Drift 1. Here are the Lab locations:

* Lab 1, B-91, Emir Cakaroz
* Lab 2, B-18, Sean Kafer
* Lab 3, B-75, Joe Sacco
* Lab 4, B-68, Heidi Spencer

Make sure you have your Drift 1 blogs as complete as possible, and that
all of the information on your blog is visible to the general public.
Also, many of you are still embedding your maps/images directly into
Blogger. Any imagery on your blogs must be linked via PantherFile.
Check steps 15-17 on the Blogger Tutorial to make sure you are posting
your images using the correct procedures:

http://www.glennbach.com/film_116/116_blogger.html

Some of you are having problems with SonicStage, mostly dealing with
locating your WAV files. Remember, any file that has the .OMA (or .HMA)
file extension is worthless and should not be copied. When you transfer
recordings from the Hi-MD using SonicStage, it automatically converts
the files to WAV format. The trick is finding those WAV files on your
computer after the transfer is over.

Check the SonicStage Tutorial, especially steps 2-6, to set the exact
folder where these WAV files will be placed by SonicStage.

http://www.glennbach.com/film_116/116_sonicstage.html

If they don't show up there for whatever reason, remember that you can
do a Search on your computer for the name (using the characters that
appear in the My Library part of SonicStage). Remember these WAV files
will probably be called "2009-03-09 23:17:79" or something similar, with
the "2009-03-09" representing the date you did the transfer.

You can also do a search for recently added or updated files, and your
computer should list all the files that were created on a particular day.

Okay. See everyone tomorrow.

Drift 1 Help Session/Open Lab continued

Hello, all.

We meet again tomorrow (Wednesday, March 4) for another open lab/help
session for Drift 1. Attendance has been sparse for the past two
sessions, and so I hope that you are all enjoying a trouble-free Drift 1
editing experience (rather than waiting to go on your walk).

All instructors will be there tomorrow, so please take advantage of our
time and let us help you troubleshoot technical issues or give you
feedback on your recordings or blog structure.