Drift 1 walk

Hello, all.

Good luck tomorrow with your Drift walks. The weather looks good for tomorrow afternoon, so please take advantage of the open class time and get those walks done.

A clarification on the Drift Maps. Remember that you have to make a master Drift Map that shows the outermost shape of your Drift area, a tracing of the line(s) of your walk as determined by your Drift Strategy, along with date/time/location/description of the soundmarks that you encountered on your walk. The Map should also indicate that you are exploring Milwaukee, Wisconsin (or whatever town).

The Drift Map may be hand-drawn, collaged, painted, Photoshopped, or GoogleMap . . . your choice.

http://www.glennbach.com/film_116/116_drift_1.html

Tutorials page (Blogger, PantherFile, Audacity, etc.)
http://www.glennbach.com/film_116/116_blogger.html

Have a productive walk, a great weekend, and I'll see you on Monday.

Preparation for Drift 1

Hello, all.

We did really well today by getting our microphones built in only an hour-and-a-half. That frees up our schedule quite a bit, which means that Thursday will be dedicated entirely to your Drift walks. Tomorrow, then, features an overview of Drift 1, along with demos of SonicStage, Audacity, PantherFile, and Blogger. We have a lot to cover, but bring your kits just in case we have some time to review your recordings.

Tonight, review the manual for the Minidisc recorder:
http://www.glennbach.com/film_116/Sony_MZ-NH700_manual.pdf

Review the Field Audio section of the Tutorials page:
http://www.glennbach.com/film_116/116_tutorials.html/#field_tips

If you are working on a laptop or a computer at home, download and install SonicStage 3.4:
http://tinyurl.com/fjmdm

If you are using Vista, you must use version 4.3:
http://support.sony-europe.com/DNA/sonicstage/sstage_dl.asp

Download and install Audacity, including the LAME MP3 encoder:
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/download/
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/help/faq?s=install&item=lame-mp3

If you have time, read Debord, Guy. "Theory of the Dérive," and Ferrington, Gary. "On A Clear Day I Can Hear Forever."
http://www.bopsecrets.org/SI/2.derive.htm
http://tinyurl.com/5c49ge

And, finally, remember to register for the Technical Forum by tomorrow at 1 PM, and post your survey by Thursday at 1 PM.

See you all tomorrow.

Getting Ready for Microphone Building

Hello, all.

We hit the ground running tomorrow. Riverwest Film and Video is open until 11 PM tonight, so if you haven't yet picked up your supplies, do it soon.

Remember to sign up on the Technical Forum by Wednesday, June 25:
http://www.freeforum101.com/forum/index.php?mforum=06116filmforum

In order to post your responses to the Survey, you will need to create a Google account. Complete the survey and post it as a comment to this post on the Course Blog by Thursday, June 26, 1 PM:
http://film-116.blogspot.com/2008/06/film-116-survey.html

Please review the Soldering Demo. Since we have such a small class, I can demo while you follow along with your own mics. If all goes well, we should be able to finish and test everyone's mic rigs by the end of class tomorrow.
http://tinyurl.com/ych42s

If you have a chance, read: Hart, Joseph. "A New Way of Walking."
http://www.utne.com/2004-07-01/a-new-way-of-walking.aspx

I'll see you all tomorrow.

FILM 116 Survey

FILM 116 Survey

1. What is your name (first, last)?

2. Do you have a preferred name or nickname you would like us to use?

3. Do you own your own computer? If so, what platform (Mac, PC), and what operating system (Windows XP/Vista, Mac Tiger/Leopard, Linux, unsure)? If not, have you had experience with Mac or PC or both?

4. Do you own a digital camera and/or video camera? If so, describe your gear, and talk a little bit about your experience capturing still and moving images.

5. Have you ever edited a video before? If so, what software did you use?

6. Have you worked with sound (or music) before, either performing, recording, or processing? If so, please describe.

7. Who are your favorite filmmakers?

8. What are some of your favorite films?

9. Who or what inspired you to pursue studies in Film?

10. What kind of career do you imagine for yourself in Film or other Media Arts?

11. Is there anything else you would like us to know about you?

Post your responses to this survey as a comment to this post by Thursday, June 26, 1 PM.

Summer 2008 Supplies

Hello.

As the instructor for FILM 116 Experimentation With Media this Summer, I write to give you advanced notice of the supplies needed for this class. I will dedicate some class time on Monday, June 23 to buy supplies, but if you would like to get a head start . . .

All supplies are available from Riverwest Film and Video, 24 East Center St., Milwaukee, WI 53212, hours: 3-11pm daily, 414-265-8433. Just tell them that you are taking FILM 116 and they will set you up.

A GoogleMap is here:
http://tinyurl.com/36avvt

Here are the supplies you will need by the start of class time Tuesday, June 24:

* Two (2) Rapid 35-0190 Electret microphone capsules for your DIY stereo mics ($2.50 for two)

* One (1) stereo audio cable with dual RCA male to single stereo mini (1/8") plug, 1.5m (4 feet, 11 inches) (about $5) (if it's not red and white, don't buy it!)

* Two (2) alligator clips

* One 1GB HD MIniDisc (~$7 each)

* One (1) pair of enclosed-ear design headphones, such as Maxell HP-550 MXA Full-Sized Digital Headphones, or JVC HA-G101 Stereo Headphones (~$12) (feel free to use your own headphones if you already have a pair)

* Eight (8) AA size regular or rechargeable batteries (+ charger).

* You don't need these right away, but you will need them eventually: Ten (10) blank CD-R discs or five (5) blank DVD-R discs for transporting your sound back and forth from the lab PCs, and for making back-up copies of your still photo, audio, and video files (available anywhere, less than $1.25 each, and less if you buy in bulk).

I look forward to meeting all of you and working with you in class. It's going to be a fun four weeks!

Final Class Meeting!

Hello, all.

This is it. The final class meeting of the semester. We meet tomorrow in B18 for a screening of "Rivers and Tides: Andy Goldsworthy Working With Time," a very inspiring documentary on Goldsworthy and his process. I love this film, and it changed how I thought about my work and life as an artist, particularly how failure (and patience!) should be considered a natural part of the creative process.

Tomorrow is a potluck, as well, so bring something yummy to eat or drink. We'll start the film right at 3, so we should be done by 4:30.

See everyone tomorrow.

Drift 3 Screenings, Course Evals, Drift Maps Due

Hello, all.

I can't believe we are now at the final week of instruction! We meet tomorrow in B91 for the last of our Drift 3 screenings. Attendance is mandatory, even if you've already screened your work.

We have also been asked by the Film Department to make sure that as many of you complete the course evaluations as possible, so, please, please, please, if you didn't fill out a course eval last week, show up tomorrow and help us out with that. It's really important.

Drift Maps are due tomorrow at 3 PM, so make sure you've documented all three of your Drifts.

On Wednesday in B91 we will have our final class meeting, a potluck and screening of Rivers and Tides: Andy Goldsworthy Working With Time. This should be a fun and relaxing way to end the semester, so think of something yummy to eat and share.

See you tomorrow.