January 2008 Archives

I've really begun to get organized and oriented. I've been having trouble focusing on the project, the fact that I forgot a posting for the weeks of break. I'm sorry to anyone who is actually following this blog who has an interest in my project. I have been allowing other things to distract me so I'm not as far as I should be with the project. We have to rebuild connection with our coordinators so I have begun reconnecting. I've been gathering in more sources about video production from the library to help with the video process. I have also begun to read about persuasive speaking in order to keep the right tone for the video. I want to be able to speak persuasively for the best possible impact. My partner and I have also met more regularly and are trying out a different system of doing things to increase our effectiveness.

Still not really learning much from the project because we haven't got all the primary data yet. The project just keeps getting more and more complicated, so I have to keep adjusting, it's not an easy process. I haven't learned much more about the issues because the data collection is still ongoing. I am learning that this process would be a whole lot easier if I had other people reminding me about the project and helping to hold me accountable.

My effort has been pretty poor of late. I just haven't been making as much time for this project as I should. Currently I haven't accomplished much in the way of objectives. I'm doing a pretty poor job at not setting my own objectives. I can't seem to find real motivation right now.

I did a lot of planning and setting up of a calendar of events (so to speak) so that I could possibly manage my time better. I'm working on setting up more meetings between my partner and I; as well as our on-site project coordinators. There is much to consider so I have been mulling the ideas over and am trying to set up a meeting time. Since the others are so busy, I figured that e-mailing would have to do for the time being. I am working on a list of the potential people to interview, continuing to develop questions and trying to figure out how to best utilize the resources that are available.
Over the break I did practice more with the camera and actions such as zooming and videotaping from different angles and speeds. I didn't get in as much as I wanted because opportunities for filming were limited. I also planned out more research involving persuasive speaking to better the message of the video.

I didn't learn much from the project as I was mainly planning what to do for and with the project. I did notice that most of the modern media has advertisements focused on buy products or paying for a service and that there weren't many public service announcements that were trying to help the poor or the marginalized in some way. I learned that I need to consistently devote time to the project whether I still have enthusiasm or not because it needs to be done regardless of feelings. Such feelings (generally of apathy) are distractions and if needed I should get a friend to help hold me accountable for the project so that it is given a chance to reach its fullest potential and not written off as some classroom project finished only because of grades.

Currently, my personal objectives are to do the best job that I can and to produce the best video that I can (which could develop future problems of its own if I follow perfectionist tendencies). I am working toward the objectives, or at least constantly moving. I think that I will have to take a step back and really go over everything when I am not in a rushed or apathetic mindset.