Video inspiration – The Centralia Mine Fire
Ever since watching scenes from MUSE’s concert film “HAARP Tour: Live From Wembley,” I have wanted to produce a recording of a band. No, not the huge production required for a band of MUSE’s stature. More of a regional touring act, one which would truly benefit from having a professional-looking piece of video to share. Well, Cellar Media did just that, with Central Illinois act The Centralia Mine Fire. Recorded at The Castle Theater in Bloomington, Illinois, this video really captures the feeling of being there at a concert, watching an excellent regional band do what they love. High production values and a new band for me to love. What’s not to like?
The Black Keys – Tighten Up
So I’m a bit late getting to the party, but I’m starting to give in to loving videos shot on DSLR cameras. Sometimes the tiny depth of field is just ridiculous and over the top. However, I think these guys pretty much nailed it, and the color and contrast is just perfect. Now to start saving up for a basic video-capable DSLR…
Director/Editor: Chris Marrs Piliero
Producer: John Lathan
DP: Jeff Butcher
Shot on the Canon 7D
Takeaways from Job seminar
I am at a seminar right now with the head of Career Services at Goshen College, pretty much on how to job-search after college. Here’s some takeaways:
- There is a TON of pressure on students these days to not only find a job out of college, but to find THE job which DEFINES who you are and who you will become, THE JOB which you will be happy with and content at and enjoy forever.
- You don’t have to figure out what you want to do for the rest of your life… just figure out what you want to do first!!!
- Don’t take your skills for granted – there are a lot of people who don’t have the skills that employers want, and you need to make sure that they know you have these skills!
- Things like your reume and LinkedIn profile are like your business suit – keep it pressed and polished so that it makes a great first impression.
- Goshen College probably helped me become a little too timid when it comes to talking about myself. Be bold sometimes!
Planned plans are no longer planning
Sometimes, plans are not so great. I much prefer ideas to plans myself, especially detailed, long-term, where-am-i-going-with-my-life plans. If I put much stock in plans, I would still want to be a firefighter (age 8), pilot (age 14) or an architect (age 17). Now I can see that I really wouldn’t be much good as any of these. Seriously. I much prefer to make fires, I’ve always been uneasy with heights, and I’m not great at drawing (or math for that matter).
However, sometimes plans are WONDERFUL. Ever come into a new job where they tell you a very general idea of what you’re supposed to do, and just leave you on the proverbial curb with a ton of responsibility and no guidance? That was a little bit like my summer job as a pool manager. A plan is a really helpful thing at that point! I ended off the year by putting together the document I wished I had received at the beginning of the summer: a manual that spells out how things have worked in the past at the Roanoke Pool. Hopefully it will be useful to whomever gets it next.
So what’s the point? Plans are made, and plans are changed, plans are bent and plans are broken and plans are fulfilled beyond your wildest dreams. I think I’m figuring out that plans are neither good nor bad. They can be helpful, but they are not unfailing. Use em, but place your faith elsewhere. And keep some humor in your life to help when plans go awry!
To end, here’s a little bitty piece of a plan. A very important plan. Goshen College’s crisis management plan, actually. Even in something as important as this, you should keep your sense of humor.
The difference between a crisis and an emergency
London round 2
More pictures since the last one, featuring an indie concert, the British Museum, riding the Tube, and today’s daytrip to Salisbury and Avebury. Photos below…
Pictures from London…
I’ve had my camera with me at odd times on this trip so far, so I’m not happy with all the pics I have. Never the less, here’s some of my favorites…
A little more sleep…
13.5 hours of sleep does a body real good! So does a large english breakfast, which consists of bacon, egg, a stange (but good) sausage, beans, cooked tomato, toast, and tea or coffee. After that amazing start to the day, we got to work burnning off those Calories with another, larger tour of the city. Today’s tour got us used to the London Underground (the subway system), and we visited many of the venues and sites that we’ll ned to find later for mandatory performances.
My group (music) visited Barbican’s Centre, St. Paul’s Cathedral, The Tate Modern, The National Theatre, Westminster, and The Royal Opera House. Other exciting occurances were witnessing my first May Day celebration (and first time talking with Communitsts), getting the hang of the Tube (there seems to be 3x the number of lines as the Chicago L), and exploring some more of our neigborhood by myself afterwards.
Having been on Study-Service Term in Senegal this time last year, I keep trying to relate these experiences with those past ones. However, I think I’m slowly learning to just take things as they come, one day (and step) at a time.
((Pictures will come as soon as I get access to a computer which enjoys my camera!))
And I’m off!
Next post (hopefully) from London!
See blog.goshen.edu/london for more posts from our London group!
End of semester
As quickly as it came, it left.
2nd semester.
I don’t know really what to say, other than it’s been a ride. Many of my friends dubbed it “the semester from hell.” It wasn’t that for me, but it was very different than any other semester. Partly because of my new major (communications). Partly because… well honestly I don’t know why. But it was different.
What am I happy about? Got an A in my animation class. The following is my final project…
What else am I really happy about? For Comm 312 (Broadcast Media Production 2) I had to do a final film project, either action sequence or music video. After flirting with the music video idea, I decided that an action sequence was the better route to go. The final product, titled Markers, is something I’m very happy to show off to the world. Please note the HD version!
What’s next? Well, as I type, I’m also packing up all my things for an early move-out. In less than 48 hours I will be traveling with 45 other students to London for the Arts in London may-term class. 30 days in London taking in theatre, music, and art, and going to all the little rock shows that I can find! I’ll be blogging for the official Goshen London blog at www.goshen.edu, I’ll probably post excerpts and pictures here as we go. Wish me luck!
Should I? Shouldn't I? What would be the benefit? Does anyone I know use Twitter? Isn't it the same thing as Facebook status updates?
Gah, so many questions for such a little thing!
Help me please!
