IPP Approved!

Today, on average, seventy something CreComms had fifteen minute interviews with a panel of instructors. The panel interrogated us and asked a series of questions (to make sure we know our stuff).  The nerves didn't set in until about 5 minutes beforehand.  In the time leading up to the interview, I took my dad and son on a tour of the Red River College campus. Joey loved it. For some reason the stairs were his favourite part. He kept wanting to go up!

So once I was in the office anticipating the questions they'd ask, my stomach started to flop a bit. So, I did what I always do. I put on a smile and laughed a lot! I think, now I think... that my positive personality is what got me approved. They said they could sense how passionate I was about this project. They tried to scare me off by telling me that my choice of project; a film documentary on Haunted Manitoba was an extremely difficult task. They even tried persuading me to do a still photo slide show with narrations. I think that the face I made, quickly told them I was not impressed.

Now as a first year CreComm, I will not lie, I have no idea as to how to produce a documentary. I am learning. And as to why I have chosen this method of IPP? Why not? We are in a program that gives us the opportunity to do something that we wouldn't ordinarily have the option of doing. I mean, how cool would it be to make a documentary?

I am now officially devoting my summer to filming this thing. Documentary... here I come!

The best Haunting Movies of all Time

So in an effort to start preliminary research on my Independent Personal Project : Manitoba Hauntings documentary (pending approval with the panel next Monday), I have been on this kick of rewatching haunting movies and have stumbled upon this list of best Haunting Movies of all time:

1. The Shining (1980)
2. The Blair Witch Project (1999)
3. Session 9 (2001)
4. The Ring (2002)
5. The Sixth Sense (1999)
6. The Amityville Horror (1979)
7. The Changeling (1980)
8. Ju-On: The Grudge (2003)
9. The Others (2001)
10. Al Final del Espectro (2006)

Check out the full list HERE
Think of any others?
Let me know.

I'm Lovin' It

Just as promised....





Scroll down to the earlier post, "Gimme that Fillet O Fish" if you don't understand the purpose of this post.
:)

And now some insights in CreComm screenplay writing

In school we are learning to film short mini-screenplays we had written last semester.  So far, we have written radio dramas, and entered them in a competition.  My group didn't win, but I'm sure if we presented on time, we may have a had a chance.

Then we had to write a montage and like usual, I used the deep angle.  I, for some reason have a much easier time writing about traumas.  It's not that I'm sick and get some sort of cheap thrill out of it, it just seemes to be something that I can write fairly well.

Currently, we in the process of writing a much longer screenplay and now that we have had the chance to film a short, I'm sure that writing a bigger one will involve a lot more detail to be taken into consideration.

For me, it feels like writing a screenplay is sort of like writing a short story.  There needs to be a beginning, middle and an end, as well as a PURPOSE. Also just like a short story, the setting needs to be described fully.

And don't forget there has to be a protagonist.  But there is a further step into writing a screenplay, something about plot points? Yes I know there is a bit more meaning to the plot point than what I have specified, my definition is still a little sketchy, but I think I get the gist.

Anyway, this is an example of the short film featured in class.  My idea is somewhat similar in the way of concept. Hence, the traumatic theme I was referring to earlier.

"Gimme me back that Fillet O' Fish"

There is an abundance of fish burger ads recently, have you noticed? I noticed this wave of fish burger advertising last weekend.  It started with the wendy's ad explaining that their fish burgers are not made from mystery fish. Well that's good news to hear, if I liked fish burgers.
Anyway, I found the commercial to be sort of comical.  Especially the part about the floating fish shaped like question marks at the beginning.  Quite an attention grabber, I must say. 
However the commercial does in fact lack this little jingle:



As soon as both commercial are available on YouTube, I will post them.  Ahhhh. The rivals of Wendy's and McDonalds.

Have a good weekend all!
:)

Twacebook

So, in PR class we are formulating a plan to promote Winnipeg director Sean Garrity's new film Zooey & Adam. The film has already played at Cinematheque for a week the first week of February.  However, our strategic plan is to generate publicity for the film as if it were yet to be played.

One tactic I am using for this plan is by using social media such as Twitter and Facebook.  I was quick to realize that these two sites will be used quite differently.  Many people use Twitter (if at all) and Facebook completely differently.

For me, I started out using Facebook around four years ago.  I didn't want to join the Facebook nation.  I loved my MySpace.  But sadly, I was losing all my social media friends to Facebook.  At frist Facebook was used to promote photos of yourself in all your glamour and update your status reports.  I would say, it was mostly used a network between friends, to find all of those people you haven't spoken with since eighth grade and just say "hi."

Facebook was becoming a great way to meet people and used pretty much for pleasure.  As time went on, applications were added, for games, poking people (just because it's so nice), sending gifts, etc.  Even major corporation and U.S. President Barack Obama Facebook now.

So in the case of my PR project, (I wont say much as to not give my strategy away) I used Facebook to formulate a fan page (kind of like good 'ol MySpace).

Now, Twitter. I honestly have to say that if I wasn't in PR, there is a good chance I may not be twittering at all.  I did attempt to start a twitter account in the beginning of the school year, before having an active Twitter account became mandatory, however, I felt it way too confusing to get going.  For some strange reason, I just couldn't seem to find the people to ad.  I knew they were there, I just couldn't find them.



But since I have been Tweeting, I have noticed that it is a great tool, to keep in touch with corporations, the news, music, tours, etc.  It's only downfall, if people Twitter constantly, and if you miss a couple hours of feeds, you miss a lot.

My friends list, besides fellow CreComms consist mostly of people that I want to network with, that will be essential in my future career.  For instance I follow such feeds as TED.com, a worldwide advertising website, local ad agencies, local and national news feeds.  I even follow local news anchors.  And even though, Andrea Slobodian (former weather and community anchor for Global Winnipeg) has moved to Calgary, I can still keep in touch with her via Twitter.

None of my personal outside of CreComm friends use Twitter or at least not to my knowledge.  But then again how would I know.  The major difference of Twitter than Facebook: the people are not right at your fingertips.

Lush Ad

So far, I have developed two ads for Lush. The first, not being very good, actually quite horrible, inspired me to create a better one that is to be handed in as my draft.  Since then, I have another concept in mind, kind of like a cartoony looking bath tub.

This project boosted my decision to decide to major in Ad next year.  I came to the college with the dream of working in the ad industry, but my mind changed shortly I was introduced to Media Production.  Ever since I have been not just coming up with copy, but design ideas as well, my love for this profession has set me on a fast track.

Honestly I can sit for hours, even just starting out a rough draft with paper and glue is super exiting to me. Just as long as I can make my idea into a reality. I can't wait to see what the final draft will look like.