TV and Studio Production

Being involved in a crash course for television studio production has taught me many things in less than a few weeks. For one, there are so many different layers that I never knew existed. As a former radio DJ, I simply thought, a couple of cameras, sounds and "poof" you are done. I was wrong, so very wrong. There are not just cameras and sound boards.

Everything that I have tried to understand from setup to actually shooting a piece comes down to the simplest basis: planning. First, you need to know who, what, when, where and how you are shooting. In the studio at Shepherd University the general ideas as to where and how is easy. We are in the studio using two cameras, a lighting setup that has three separate areas of focus with at least two lights each, and there are mics that can be used for just about anything. The who, what and when are tricky. Sure, we could do it all during a class period, tweak it during lab hours and re-shoot if need be assuming the subjects are easy to get a hold of.

The next trick is remembering that you are not just using two cameras, lights and mics. In order for this production to be television ready, there has to be a compressor, video monitoring equipment that allows for one camera to be in place as the other prepares its next move and so that they can be switched from one to another at any given moment. There is also sound board which allows they levels to be correct, light boards to make sure the lights look right and that subjects are lit properly, and then there are the computers that these are stored on so that editing can happen should there be any needed. In the studio at Shepherd, however, we are learning to make it so everything is live.

Here is our the overall setup at the studio, as provided by the NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan. (Our setup is very similar, except for the sound board, compressor, lighting controls, etc are in a room off set but in the same room with a viewing window)



Although some of the jobs are a tad boring, there is so much to be learned. Personally, I love directing because you are always on your toes trying to bring this piece together, but being the director also allows for you to see how important it is to know how the other jobs work. Sure, sound bored can be a bit dull, but if those levels are off that person will know. Lighting fascinates me because it's all about mood. Camera angles, if you are even slightly off, people can and will notice. (To be fully honest, some of the things on the camera scare me because although you spend a lot of money on them, they can break) Speaking of breaking, that is one of the best things that I have learned. How to fix things! This experience is all about problem solving and how to not let certain things get to you, even if it means delaying something a few seconds in order to fix a problem.

All in all within just a few short weeks, this class has taught me more than most of my classes do in months. It has solidified my wanting to go into something with production or just something creative period. It has also taught me how very wrong I was when it came to production. It is hard work, trial and error, and growth at its finest.

Blog 3 for Computer Mediated Communications

As I began reading the article based on Harvard and MIT's research into artificial intelligence and making it less artificial, I started to think back to all of the science fiction that I have read or seen (on screen) based on these ideas. Then I also started to think about other things going on in the world of science that apply here, and it made me question the things that were in the assignment, and here is the overall reaction that I have:

Humans are ever evolving.

Within the last hundred years we have gone from hand plowing the fields to using mechanized vehicles that do it a tenth of the time. Not only do we have people trying to translate / transmit human thought processes onto an AI being of sorts, but there are nano bots being used to treat cancer. We have evolved so rapidly that I'm curious as to whether or not there is a stopping point that we could logically come to. If there is, where is the hand brake and can we just stop evolution at the drop of a hat or are we going to have to wait for the next great collapse?

Also, what are we trading for these technologies? Better advances in the treatment of the Earth, yes. Chances for the human mind to expand rapidly and think faster than ever before? Yes. At what cost though?

We've all seen the science fiction stories of how technology is going to ruin us. From Terminators to Tron, they say we're all doomed. Even in our everyday lives we are giving in to put technologies above ourselves. But are we really? Yes, it is possible that we are getting a tad over zealous by thinking that we can put human thought into an artificial brain in five years. At the same time, I do not believe this is going too fast.

However, holding on to the idea like nothing can go wrong is never the smart way to go. Yes, there needs to be caution, and should the money be put else where on problems that we're facing now? Almost definitely, but who are we to question those with crazy amounts of money that want to see AIs doing their dishes? Not I. Curing the world of hunger and poverty would be nice, but I'm not the one throwing my cash either. Are we already seeing some of the "doom" playing out already? Sure we are. Look at the NSA (AKA Big Brother 2.0), Wiki-leaks, and the older generations complaining about how the younger is so much more lazy.

With any new advances there comes a price, from freedom depletion to lazier students, we saw it coming eventually. Hopefully we are smart enough to figure out when we've given too much for an easier lifestyle though. I'm not saying technology is bad, probably the last thing I'm saying, but I am saying caution needs to be used.

Intro of Self for Comm 352

First and foremost, I'd like to apologize for the late hour in which this blog is being posted... I was in Massachusetts without WiFi... How that happened, your guess is as good as mine.

That being said, Hi! I'm Jeana! A 5th year at Shepherd who has been studying Psychology and Communications for 2.5 years. Before that I was into Biochemistry, but found out I am terrible at math.

Outside of school, I work at the Macy's Distribution Center in Martinsburg, and soon I'll be at the Den and Bistro at Shepherd. I'm a sports fan (DC Capitals, Washington Redskins, and Baltimore Orioles (although my boyfriend is trying to convert me into a New England fan which won't happen)). I love cooking, being a Renn Faire and Nerdy Con geek, and all things music and comedy. I like to travel in all forms, and I took my first jet ride over the summer. I have a crazy "Your's Mine and Your's" family that is all over the place.
Well, that about sums me up outside of my competitive streak which will be seen within our class when it comes to coding and design.

More to come, eventually,

Jeana