Blog Post #6 Dear Michelangelo

Dear Michelangelo,

I have been on this journey for far too long. My legs ache and my head spins. I lost my left eye last week. An enemy mortar landed only a few yards in front of me and the angry shrapnel kissed my left eye. My human spirit is longing for rest. My fellow classmates are either dead or lost. Weeks ago, before I was on my own, we had heard rumors of a great virus sweeping across the lands. Legend has it, this virus killed the “10 Minute Show” beast as well as it’s intimidating companions. Nonetheless, my dear Michelangelo I write to you with great hope. For I write from the bed of a medical tent among friendly allies. They have informed me I will be returning home to complete my mission with this new technology called…”The Internet” we are to finish our missions via…”Online”. I cannot wait to lay my eyes upon your sweet face and the faces of my family. To sleep in my own bed. To laugh with my friends. To finally taste freedom, once again. I am coming Michelangelo..I am coming.

Yours Truly,

Caleb McCasland.

Lighting Experiment Blog Post #4

Shot 1: The first shot is a close up of a dwarf hammer with natural lighting. It is positioned slightly off center and touches the lower right vertical axis from the rule of thirds. Upon close inspection, the natural light grazes down the right side of the object with light beaming through the window. Due to this particular position, the hammer is darkened along the backside and holds a slight shadow on the backside of the resting surface. 

Shot 2: The second shot is a close up of the dwarf hammer with 100% flash lighting. This was taken in complete darkness without any natural lighting available. It is positioned more in the center and cuts across the center panel and horizontal axis from the rule of thirds. Notice, the flash lighting has removed all major shadows from the hammer and is very direct with its exposure. 

Shot 3: The third shot of the dwarf hammer is a mixture of both natural lighting and flash lighting. The positioning rests above the lower panel and lies primarily in between the top center and center of the frame (rule of thirds). The lighting is gradient in that it transforms from bright to darker or dark to brighter depending on where you start. At the bottom of our picture we recognize the slightly brighter flash lighting that exists, whereas at the top the flash lighting is faded and natural lighting seems to take over. Notice the baby shadow that curves around the top of the object. 

Blog #3 Dear Michelangelo

Dear Michelangelo, I am starving and cold. I am tired of watching my friends die in the most painful of ways. Our most recent fight occurred as follows –

“GET DOWN!” Explosions rippled across the dark forest floor as Alyssa urged her fellow classmates to take cover. We were surrounded. None of our recent training and victories over various mic types and editing programs could prepare us for for these camera beasts. The voice of our commander echoed through our headsets “New beasts from the left! Cue weather girl now!” Following his commanders advice, Noah (Our current Floor Director) frantically removed a small package from his backpack. Tossing it into the air, it suddenly transformed before our eyes in a smoky explosion of magic. Lacy emerged from the smoke wielding a large green axe. One by one, she smashed and slaughtered the monsters of the forest. These beasts included “White-balancer’s”, “Lavalier-Mic’s” and “Zoom&Focus.” Just as we began to regain hope, a large screech bellied throughout the forest in vibration. The tree’s were tossed aside with ease to clear it’s path. The “Switcher Monster” appeared before us. Holly opened fire and took cover. Parker limped his way to the side tossing grenades. Connor followed his lead doing the same. Morgan and Eva ran straight for its feet with a large thick rope. Together, they ran as fast as they could encircling the beast and tangling it’s underside. I watched in agony, my leg was losing blood, and fast. I shouted “LAAAB TEEECH MEDIC!” as my vision began to blur in and out of darkness. Suddenly, I blacked-out due to blood loss.

Michelangelo, the next thing I knew I awoke in a low, cold, and wet valley. My team had overcome the beasts days before and nursed me back to health. Today, we are still awaiting our fight with the dreaded “10 Minute Show” beast and it’s sidekick, “The 30 Second Commercial.” My GPA pounds fast in my chest and I do not plan for its precious red life to ever stop beating and fade from me. None of us do. I hope to live long enough to write to you once again my old friend,

Sincerely, your dear friend, Caleb.

2nd Blog Post (Dear Michelangelo)

I still don’t feel much structure or purpose with these blogs. I don’t have a strong sense of direction. I know I want to include valid information in terms of what I have learned in class, but simultaneously, be entertaining. Okay I’ve got it. This particular post will be as if I am writing to a friend who lives far away and desires an update of whats been going on in class. You know what, let’s go with war theme too. I guess. Okay here we go. Lets have a laugh while learning today shall we. Cue the low, slow speaking, aged, exhausted, and curiously desperate war torn voice.

Dear Michelangelo, it is has been four weeks since I left the safety and comfort of my home and joined the war. Life here is vastly different. We are to show up to the training facility on time and prepared. Our commander has informed us we are to learn the inner workings of various systems in order to survive. At the start, around 24 brave men and women were among us. Today, only 16 remain. She (our commander) has provided us with “Scheduling and time management” an internal device that once mastered could kill any man from nearly 100 yards away. We also use tactics like “Long shots” and “Knee shots” to assist each man in his duty. In addition to these devices we are to gain full exposure, understanding, and control of various tactics such as “Headroom”, “Nose room”, “Closure”, among others. We are now transitioning out of training and occasionally we will take trips to the place the Lab techs call “The Great Unknown…..of future assignments”. To battle against the nasty beasts of the dark. On my first trip there I briefly engaged with a “Final Cut Pro”. A vicious animal with a long gaping mouth, it drips a black acidic liquid from the jaws and screeches often. It’s red eyes seem lifeless. It is not to be agitated, nor taken lightly. It took our entire squadron weeks to overcome the beast. Among its last moments, Parker ran in front of the beast, shouting and throwing rocks, to distract it from the rest of us. With its attention on Parker, Alyssa fired a few shots to the side. Eva fired from the front. Holly took a quick stab at the tail causing a fresh wound and then wisely fled away. Connor launched a spear to the leg, irritated, its snatched him up and devoured him whole. Moments afterward, Morgan hurled a grenade causing it to stumble back. Finally, Noah sprinted straight to the beast with a massive golden sword in hand. He slid underneath the belly narrowly dodging the teeth and sliced open the gullet. Connor falling from the opening, abruptly emerged in a putrid bright yellow slime and gasped for air. “Final Cut Pro” let out a last dying screech and lay dead among the darkness of the earth. Lacy cut off the head and held it to the air in victory. Finally, we had won. Anyway Michelangelo, we have also been told of and introduced to other monsters such as audio microphones, camera technicalities, and the great big audio room. Recently in training we learned the role of director, announcer, host, guest, and new communication signaling. Overall, I have been challenged greatly, yet grown very much. Once training is finished we will transition to full scale attack. Our mission is to defeat the leader of the monsters, the “10 Minute Show” and its sidekick the “30 Second Commercial”. Pray for our safety and success my friend. That I may one day return to my family unscathed and alive. Best wishes, your dear friend, Caleb.

First Post

By Caleb McCasland,

Jan 28th, 2020.

Hello everyone! For my first post I am just going to describe my experience with this class (Media Production) so far. This class is a core requirement for Mass Communication majors, that includes myself. I am far from a technologically savvy individual, in fact, I prefer to keep things old school. I prefer in person activities over screen time activities nine times out of ten. I would wager I am the least technically educated student in the class lol. That being said, I am excited to learn how to successfully operate new video and audio editing systems and find uses for each of them in the workforce post college graduation. At the start of the class I was feeling overwhelmed and stressed. Fast forward to present day and I am slightly less stressed and overwhelmed. Nonetheless, I hope the hard work will pay off and produce some fun as the class evolves. I have learned the basics of final cut pro, various microphone types and uses,  and a plethora of new technical terms regarding media production. The class is quiet and currently holds low energy. My hope is that as time progresses we as a class will familiarize ourselves with each other and become friends. Trust me, a class that is loose, free, and friendly is much more enjoyable than quietly going through the motions and never getting to know one another. A primary criticism I have of both my high school and college classes, is that the students have a lack of “doing” within their learning environment and system. Which is not beneficial for the students, however, this class does incorporate hands on learning and more “doing” than previous classes. So that is certainly a positive aspect of the class so far. Especially for a student of my nature who learns best through genuine experience and consistent failure until eventually finding success, rather than through audio lecture learning or visual textbook learning. Everyone I have met in the class seems genuine and fun so far. To summarize,  my experience has been challenging, yet useful. The lab techs are a nice touch for the class and are beneficial for me. That about sums up my experience with this class so far and I am hopeful and excited for the upcoming weeks! 

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