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One Week To Go!!!

Dear Media Artists:

Firstly, we have Eddy Scanlan to thank for this embedded video below. Check it out. It's a good one, Eddy! Could you please comment on why you called this video up at the end of the class on Friday? (I have a feeling why you did so, but I want you to tell us what relevance it has with what we were doing in class.)


From questioncopyright.org "All Creative Work Is Derivative"


Secondly, please post your continuing thoughts on what your final week's project will be. I will now list what was agreed upon during Friday's class. Remember: YOU MUST BRING ALL MATERIALS (SUPPLIES/TOOLS/ETC.) THAT YOU WILL NEED TO COMPLETE THIS IN CLASS ASSIGNMENT--ON YOUR OWN!!!

Cadet--straw art
Campbell--records on ceiling tile
Champion--??
Guns--Boston Logo
Kotler--mixed media ceiling tile
Ross--song
Scanlan--name with videotape
Shay--ceiling tile on ceiling tile
Washington--flipbook (and 3 page paper entitled "Mr. Hoban: You're A Fool")
Vukasin--??
West--blog
Whelan--stop motion animation

I would like to see each of you post multiple comments over the course of the three day weekend. Comment on other people's posts. Add new ideas to your own. Remember: comment writing is 30% of your marking period grade!!


And thirdly, a link to the movie review of "Picasso and Braque Go To The Movies", (a copy of which was handed out in today's class but some of you conveniently left the article behind) and the supporting video we screened in class:


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Have a safe weekend!!

-Mr. Hoban

Keep on [Searchin'] in the Free World!!

Media Artists:

Reminder, here, to find the BEST Google Earth videos of this great nation of ours and to post the links on this blog. Harrison got lucky today when he stumbled upon some very nice examples of Google Earth 3D. After watching his "technique" you should know where/how to begin your search. And if you want to learn something about U.S. geography, now you have an opportunity to search for some places that you've always wanted to visit...or you can check out the state or city of a distant family member...think up a location and see if something 'pops' up.

The videos in the links you provide will be elements that will be edited into a 'closing video' at the end of the Video Festival on Wednesday. In keeping with one of the themes of the evening (the music of Neil Young), we will end the festival with Young's song: "Keep On Rockin' In the Free World" playing over sweeping images of the USA (thanks to you media artists).

If anyone is interested in helping out with the editing of the piece, let me know. Also...read your classmates' blogs if you haven't already and be sure to leave your comments.

Have a good weekend!


-Mr. Hoban


Oh. Listen up, if you'd like.

Technology Innovation (Guest Blogger: Alex Shay)

The innovation of technology spans from the beginning of time to an undefined end. Technology started in its simplest such as the wheel, the wheel, has given us so much innovation through products such as the car, train, plane and bicycle. An electrical invention such as the radio was very complex for it’s time. The radio can be compared to the Apple iPhone. Obviously there is a profound difference between the radio and the iphone. But innovation of technology has allowed us to grab technology from the early 19th century and late 20th century to unite as one in the early 21century. By this I mean, the radio, television/film, telephone and record player have all been placed into an advanced system that can now fit in your pocket. The iPhone can play your favorite music while you are talking to you friend and looking up dinner reservations and buying movie tickets all at the same time all in the palm of your hand. This was considered completely impossible until the idea was sparked by interest and collaborative ideas. Sometimes we are limited to innovate by the technology of our time. The iPhone could not have been made in the 19th century because there was not enough technology to make it at the time. For example, teleportation seams impossible now but can be possible in the future. This is the same view point that people in the 19th and 20th century had at their time.

So my question is... What is your favorite apple product and when did you get it?
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Jack Kelly--World Class Rower (Guest Blogger: Julia Vari)

John (Jack) B. Kelly Sr. is one of the most influential oarsmen. He’s the “Babe Ruth” of rowing. After his family moved to Philadelphia from Ireland, he’d watch professional single scullers(one rower in a boat using two oars) racing on the Schuylkill River dreaming to one day be them. He started rowing with local clubs, the most notable being Vesper Boat Club. Vesper is still around today and is one of the boathouses making up Boathouse Row. He later learned to scull and after overcoming flipping his boat in early races, Jack won numerous events. With a 126 race winning streak and 6 National Championships Kelly applied to race at the Henley Royal Regatta, one of the most prestigious rowing events taking place in England. Kelly, being a bricklayer, was not accepted because at the time all rowers had to have professions that were not laborious since it was seen as an unfair advantage for someone to work with their hands all day. He got his redemption by competing in the 1920 Summer Olympics where he won the single a second faster than Jack Beresford and he won the double scull with his cousin Paul Costello.


I got into rowing last year as a freshman. Basically every weekend this year my team has traveled down to the Schuylkill River. It's really inspirational rowing on a river where such a great oarsman got his start. Above is the statue of Jack Kelly at the finish line on the Schuylkill.

Below is a rowing race. The first is a single sculler (which Kelly was). The second is the more popluar eights.





Now, my question for you is who is your favorite athlete or what is your favorite sport? Why?

Taylor Swift (guest blogger--Lauren Kotler)

Taylor Alison Swift was born as a star,she was born on December 13, 1989 in a small town in Wymossing, PA. Taylor has been singing all of her life and her inspiration is her grandmother who was a professional opera singer. She started her career by locally performing starting at the age of 8 and everyone enjoyed her music. At age 11 she sang the national anthem at a 76s game and preformed at restaurants until the age of seventeen until her fame sparked while she preformed at a showcase at Nashville's Bluebird Cafe in 2006, Scott Borchetta who was creating a new record label and wanted Taylor to be the first one he signs to his new label called Big Machine Records.Later that year of 2006 Swift had her first single called Tim McGraw which was a hit and went to number one on the charts. In 2008 she released two studio albums, Fearless, and Taylor Swift. Fearless was the best selling album from 2008 through 2009. Later in 2009 she kicked off her Fearless tour in all 50 states and more. Her tickets sold out in less than two minutes and became the most awarded country artist in the music history. Swift has been nominated 86 times and had won 62 awards from 2008-2010. Taylor is my favorite singer and role model who is yours?

How To Make A Hit Video (Guest Blogger: Harrison Whelan)

Here is how to come up with good video ideas and how to create good videos.
Usually you will start off brainstorming for new ideas, and this usually happens when you are in a quiet place. My favorite places consist of a park, an empty bedroom, or a in a classroom.





If you are with a friend then the brainstorming will be much easier, since you both can come up with thoughts at the same time and piece them together. Make sure you are with a creative partner though; you don’t want your ideas being bland and boring. Another tip is to write down every possible idea so then in the future; it can be expanded and hopefully written into a script. When coming up with video ideas think realistically. If you have an idea that seems out of budget for your own situation then don’t do it. There’s nothing worse than being stuck with all this filmed material and have it being trashed because you cant finish it because of your budget.
Another tip when you’re finished shooting is to have a good editing software and good knowledge of said editing software. The pros use a program called Final Cut Pro. If you cant afford this (it is pricy) then you should get Final Cut Express. It is less expensive but has less effects and options than FCP.
Here is a video tutorial about the basics of FCE.



Here is a link to the Apple website.

Another situation one has to deal with is writers block. Which is basically when you can’t come up with any good ideas. A quick solution to this (I have found to be very successful) is to just have something to eat, watch some TV, and talk to yourself a lot. I know talking to yourself may sound weird but it really helps keep the mind going and sometimes helps good ideas flow.

I hope these tips have been helpful and good luck on creating a great video!