Reflecting on MCOM 220

            Throughout this semester we have learned about social media, personal branding, video production, and the future of mass media. We have learned how they will affect our future and the future of each other, and how to be a part of the change, so we are not left behind in the digital dust.

            Social Media sites such as MySpace, Facebook, Tumbler and Twitter, like most things, were created with good intentions. MySpace was created to help launch new bands, Facebook to connect college students, Twitter to connect businesses and costumers, and Tumbler to post blogs so everyone can be a journalist. However, when these sites became open to a broader spectrum their individual purpose changed as the population got younger. It’s strange to think that the more unprofessional these sites get, the more prospective employers look to these as our personal brands. As a long time member of MySpace and FaceBook, I have always tried to conduct myself with tact, not cursing, posting countless numbers of self-portraits, or posting anything inappropriate, like many members do. Through this class I have learned how to present myself as a professional online.

Over the semester I have chosen to blog about movies, with reviews, analysis of how they affect society, re-blogging, photos, and creating lists of best on screen couples or holiday selections. I presented myself as intellectual about film, by observing the film industry, mass media, and everyday people by compiling the information and blogging about what I know. Over the years, friends, and coworkers have come to me about what movies to see, what did the ending really mean; I have always been the go-too girl for movies. Over this semester I tried to become that person for strangers. The way I used Twitter was to reach out to people who did not know about my blog.  I did this by linking my tumbler and twitter accounts so my followers could see what I posted in my blog through twitter. I also made a short statement about something that happened in my day or about a film I watched. I followed national news stations and film studios. Actors re-tweeted or commented off of their pages to show my followers what my page was about. I think I created a personal brand as the go too girl for movie insight. I also learned how to show this in different ways such as on video.

            Video production has always been an interest of mine, however, until this class I had not a clue on how to make a video, and it showed in my first two videos. However, it felt good to get an issue on film so others can become aware of its existence. My last video was the story of a young woman dying of ovarian cancer and her begging God to let her live so she could get married, have children and to see all the places she dreamed of going.  I chose to do this as a music video to the inspiring song, Letters To God by Box Car Racer. I feel that I utilized all that I learned through out the semester in this video. 

            Social media and video productions have and are changing the way people find their news. As the popularity of these sites grow the production of print news declines and sadly there will come a day when the only print news will be offered through the web. As technology advances the dynamic of media changes, not only with news, but advertisements and commercials have also adapted to the new flow of having to create web ads that will draw people to click on them. Youtube.com has advertisements before you can watch the selected video. As a journalism student I was torn between the advancements of social media, and technology. Social media is an excellent outlet for free advertising, or to become an internet sensation, however, I am an old fashion girl who likes to read an actual paper. After this semester I have learned how to use these devices to my advantage so that I can have a successful career and not be left behind in the digital dust.

Star Wars - AFI

Not so long ago, 1977 to be exact, in a galaxy not so far away, director George Lucas created the master piece… Star Wars. In 2007, American Film Institute (AFI), released “AFI’s 100 years of movies list which consisted of 100 of America’s most inspiring movies. Ranking number thirteen on that list is none other than Star Wars. The key elements of this film, that made it so astonishing and overall earning its spot on the AFI’s list, revolved around costuming, props, special effects within the settings, and the execution of the three-act narrative structure editing. Star Wars exploded the minds of viewers and created a new standard, not only for the science fiction genre, but also for the entire film industry.

Bruce Handy, Time International reporter, interviewed George Lucas in 1997 about Star wars episode IV and Lucas stated, “I thought it was too wacky for the general public”,…I just said, “Well, I’ve had my big hit [with American Graffiti], and I’m happy. And I’m going to do this kind of crazy thing, and it’ll be fun, and that will be that.” Handy also noted that no one associated with the film thought it would be a hit, it was a low budget science fiction movie; little did they know it would be seen as Lucas’s best work. It has been reported that the production budget to make Star wars episode IV was $11 million and a portion of that was set aside for costumes and props. “It was a low-budget movie. I was reaching for the stars, but only had enough money to get to Cleveland.”, stated Lucas, at the AFI’s 100^th  Anniversary film festival. It is surprising to hear Lucas and others say that this was a low budget movie, the costumes and other aspects were amazing. Focusing on the astonishing costumes of Chewbacca’s fur suit, C3PO’s and R2D2’s robot attire, Darth Vader, not forgetting Greedo, and the alien creatures from the Smokey bar are amazingly realistic. The costumes helped create this alternate world that no other galaxies ‘could’ excite.  Costuming was a fundamental part of making this movie, not just incredible, but also believable. A fun fact about C3PO, played by Anthony Daniels, was that all the rods connecting his inner arms and the back of his legs on his costume, were placed in the costume after shooting the first scene and realizing he was not moving “robot like” enough so the rods were then added to the costume so that Daniels would be more restricted in his movements making him more robot like. The amount of thought and care that went into creating each costume is evident when you watch the film, however, to know that little piece of fact shows the dedication. The costumes help you identify with the character and capture their essence.

The character’s personalities are expressed in the wardrobe so that you know who that person is before their first line, for example Han Solo played by Harrison Ford is a rebellious, law defying, pilot who loses a substantial amount of illegal product. His character is shown with his attire; the sling holster for his blaster shows that he is a ‘cowboy’ type character, the fact that his style favors more of the alien traits than human shows the separation Lucas builds between characters. The wardrobe is also what makes a character and a movie memorable; even people who have never seen Star Wars recognize the costumes; people know when they see a girl wearing a white dress and her hair wrapped in a bun that she is Princess Leia or what a light saber is and who uses it.

“Certainly no other movie has ever been re-released with the kind of fanfare that 20th Century Fox and Lucasfilm Ltd. have drummed up for Star Wars’”

Star Wars sparked a new phase in special effects that filmmakers are fanatical about keeping constant with. In 1977 movie viewers had never before experienced anything like the effects in Star Wars creatingan attraction and a need for more. With scenes like the Millennium Falcon jumping at light speed to cross the galaxy in twelve parsecs and the fight between the rebel alliances and storm troopers. These scenes were amazingly realistic so much so that they are used in comparison of recent film’s special effects. This movie was awarded a spot on the AFI’s 100 list because of its ground breaking and shocking effects used in creating the setting. Star Wars was set in a galaxy before our time but yet had futuristic and advanced systems beyond our world, taking place on moons, ships, and space stations. With nothing to compare the factuality of these space stations, moons and ships, we had to allow our imagination and that of George Lucas, to take viewers to look for evidence that this galaxy is not so far away. However, they will not find anything, the settings are flawless, to the hovering vehicles, the towns, there are no signs of a connection between our world’s solar system and that of the one depicted on the screen. Lucas created a world of advanced strength and cause; a place that other filmmakers wanted to emulate and viewers wanted to be.

 Lucas created a three- act fairy tale that introduced you to the characters, established the evil that needed to be taken down, and then resolved the issue. This was an excellent editing decision for the film, showing Luke the underdog, Leia the strong willed princess,  and Vader the villain; by showing the viewers who they are rooting for and shows them the connection between the rebellion and their lives. The three – act narration hooked the audience, then aroused them with fight and passion, and finally gave them something to cheer for, it gave them the satisfaction they so desperately wanted. Star Wars was the ultimate happily ever after, and the three acts made that possible.

Star Wars made AFI’s 100^th year list because George Lucas imagined it, then brought it to life using costumes, props, settings, and narration techniques that made him a legend.  Over the years other movies have quoted, joked and even created scenes to emulate Star Wars. Other films have been created in respect to the magnitudes of fans out there. Star Wars made an impact in 1977 and its fan base continues to grow; this is why it was placed on AFI’s 100^th Anniversary list, because it’s the heart of every film about triumph.

“You gotta find your Death Star …Greatest deed Luke Skywalker ever did was take down the Death Star, right? As far as I’m concerned, that’s what everybody needs. You need that one bad-ass thing that lets you live on forever, you know.” - Fanboys 

The Celluloid Closet

Just watched The Celluloid Closet an eye opening view of homosexuality with in the film industry. Everyone should watch this documentary. It points out all the things you know, how gay and lesbians are shown as victims, victimizers, week, or as the “sissy” and Lesbians were used to arouse men. We all have seen this and knew it in the back of our minds but know one said it. I wish I could say that this has changed in the last 19 years but sadly it hasn’t. If you don’t believe me watch this documentary then think of the movies made by the large studios such as Boys Don’t Cry andBrokeback Mountain the main characters are torn down and killed. I think this has gone long enough our country is run by homophobic’s who need to open their eye’s and minds to equality! I think this Documentary has help do this little by little. 

Prison Break - Spoilers

     I remember when Prison Break first aired, it was around the time that my family got DVR (ha.) mt sister and I would record all our shows and watch them when she got of work. We loved the show and it helped that it stared Wentworth Miller and Dominic Purcell two gorgeous men!

     Prison Break is about Michael (Miller) who purposely got arrested to brake his brother Lincoln (Purcell) out and save him from death row. Lincoln was framed for murder by a corporation call The Company, it controls the government and law enforcement to get whatever outcome they need. Over the time in Fox River the prison they are incarcerated in Michael is forced to create a teem of men to brake out and fall’s for Dr. Sara (Sarah Callies) who helped him successfully break him and his brother out of jail; unfortunately he also broke out other cons two of which are very bad men convicted for murders they did commit. over the months of the escape Michael, Linc, Sucre, and sara run for their lives and try to take down The Company.

     We watched the first season and part of the second before we moved and our TV provider did not carry the station Prison Break was on so sadly I only saw a few reruns. However last week I watched all four seasons and they were great. I tend to watch Movies and TV shows to escape from the real world.  How unfair, and cruel life is, How good people die and evil people live forever. However at the end of Prison Break the real world was very present. Michael, Linc, Sara and the other con’s are promised legal freedom if they can get Scylla, the one thing that can bring The Compony down. But they are double crossed by the Special agent  in charge of the mission. Michael is kidnaped by The Company, and they blackmail Linc into sealing Scylla back from the Agent. Michael has a brain tumor that will kill him if not removed, The Company saves him for what they want. With in this time the brothers find out that their mother is no only still alive but works for The Company and is one evil mother! Eventually Michael saves everyone and they are granted legal freedom! Michael and Sara get married and are getting ready to have a baby, Linc can be there for his son and his new girlfriend, Sucre can get married to his girlfriend and watch is baby grow, Everything was going great until the Police arrest Sara for killing Michaels mom and is facing 25 years to life. So what do you think Michael is going to do? You got it he’s going to break her out! But in order to do so he has to sacrifice himself; too over power the prisons electric system he has to connect two cords that will brow up.

    I was so angry that Michael died, we learn that his tumor came back and was going to die soon even without the prison break. I think this made me so mad now in light if the bombings and shootings, it hit home that good people, that would do anything for the people they love, die while people who do awful selfish things live. The world is unfair, we know that, why does it have to be so present in TV shows? Other then the sad ending this was a great show!