Back to my review…Blade Runner is a futurist movie starring Harrison Ford as a “blade runner”, a person who seeks out and “retires” humanoid androids, known as replicants.  As written in Yahoo! Movies, the story line of Blade Runner is as follows:   “In the year 2019, ex-detective Rick Deckard is called out of retirement to track down and eliminate a team of humanoid androids that have escaped from an outer space mining colony and have taken refuge here on Earth. During his search for the fugitives, he discovers some disturbing secrets about the future plans of the androids’ manufacturer, the Tyrell Corporation.”  (http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1800037822/details)
           

Given that we were asked to review the “photography” of the movie, I cannot tell you much of the storyline.  While viewing the video, I paid more attention to the placement of persons, places, and background items.  I chose three scenes to discuss in detail, as well as general observations to include in this review.

The first scene I would like to review is the opening scene.  I found the opening scene to be “Star Wars-esque” in that the opening scene was not a visual of pictures, but a visual of scrolling written text.  The opening scene provides a outline, so to speak, to explain blade runners, replicants, and the like.  I found this interesting as Harrison Ford also starred in the three ORIGINAL Star Wars movies.

The next scene I would like to discuss is the first scene that is visual.  The movie begins with a dark skyline, very futuristic, with its share of flying vehicles.  In addition, the foreground shows multiple flaming towers, which appear to be placed roughly using the rule of thirds, as well has the occasional lightening bolt.  I found this scene to give the impression that the future is a dark, dreary place.

During the film, it became apparent that the rule of thirds was frequently used.  There are many conversational scenes throughout the movie.  Each of these scenes frequently applied the rule where one participant was on the left third of the scene while speaking and the other participant would be on the right third of the scene while speaking.  During the conversation scenes, I noticed there was very little visual background, although there was almost always background noise.

Another observation, one pointed out by my boyfriend, was the style or fashion of dress.  Although the movie is set in the future, the dress or fashion of the characters seemed to be “retro” or Dick Tracy-ish.  It is obvious the film is set in the future, and frankly the computer graphics for the time are very good.  But the style of dress/fashion of the characters struck me as odd for the time frame the movie is to take place.

The last scene to review is one with Harrison Ford.  In this scene, he is leaning on a piano, tinkling the keys.  He is located in the left third of the scene, while the piano keys cut across the bottom third.  I found this to be another good example of the rule of thirds.

Upon reviewing my notes, I noticed that I had written that the movie was a good mix of conversational scenes and action scenes.  In the conversation scenes, it is obvious the person speaking is the focal point.  There seems to be very little to no visual background as to not detract from what the individual is saying.  In fact, I wrote that the background in these scenes appear to be “plain”.  In contrast, the “action” scenes were just the opposite.  In those scenes, you see a lot of background, buildings, people, vehicles, etc.  These scenes, although almost always having the appearance of dark and dreary, were rarely “plain”.

In conclusion, I had never sat and watched a movie in this way before.  Like most of us, I choose a movie based on interest and the storyline, not for its cinematography.  Definitely a very unique experience.  I enjoyed it.

~R

Now for my review…I believe that Audrey did an excellent job putting her montage together.  It is obvious that a lot of thought would put into her project.  She managed to coordinated very good pictures with the lyrics of the song.  She was able to have the pictures transition easily with the lyrics and as the chorus repeated, she repeated the pictures but used a different size or angle or edit to show differences at the same time.  I feel Audrey’s montage was well thought out, the photos were appropriate and followed the lyrics very well, and the transitions were smooth and clean.  I’d like to say “my only criticism is…”, but truly and sincerely, I can’t.  So, I won’t!  Excellent job, Audrey!

~R

Anyway, why am I freaking out, you ask?  Well, it’s the end of the semester for my (two) online courses.  One course, thankfully not this one, required all materials be turned in by 4 PM TODAY.  Did I make it?  No!  I had everything in by 5 PM.  You think that will work?  Man I hope so.  Thus, one down, one to go.  Easy, you say?  NO!

I feel as if I am completely missing something for THIS course.  I’ve completed everything I can possibly think of, yet I feel “unfinished”.  Since this is our INSIGHTS board, can someone please, PLEASE, give me some insight into my self-induced craziness?  PLEASE?!

Anyway, I have my montage review to complete and post here, as well as my cinematic review.  I’ll be working on those later tonight and tomorrow night.  So, stay tuned for more.  I bet I end up having a Scary Saturday and a (Where’s my) Sanity Sunday.  Oh Lord, please, PLEASE, help me get through!

~R

Well, today I was cruising through her posts, again.  As I was looking at pictures, I noticed that some of her pics applied the rules of thirds, whether she realizes or not,  I don’t know.  Anyway, I thought I would include a few here to show her work and to see if anyone else sees what I saw.  Maybe I’m crazy?! 

Jasper Benton

The above photo is of my nephew, Jasper.  I noticed that he was positioned in the right third of the photo, with his arms cutting across the bottom third, and his hands and steering wheel in the left third.  Aside from that, he’s just a cute kid, isn’t he?! 

Joanna

I happen to LOVE this photo that my SIL took of her cousin’s wife, Joanna.  My SIL has a great way of editing photos in such a way that it brings out the photo.  This was taken at her family’s 4th of July celebration.  Doesn’t Joanna look great?!  I love the black and white look.

Ella

The above photo is of my SIL’s cousin’s daughter, Ella.  I again saw the rule of thirds applied to this photo as Ella is positioned in the right third of the photo with the “line” of the picket fence cutting across the top third.  I love how she was able to capture the beauty in Ella’s blue eyes and the pink in the flowers behind her.  I’m sure it helps Ella is adorable!

The indoor water park, Shipshewana, Indiana

The water park, as best I could get it.  There’s a lazy river, a “fort”, a kiddie pool, a large double slide, and an adults only hot tub.  It was really nice!

The kiddie pool. My daughter is the little girl in the pink Hello Kitty swimsuit

Different angle in the building.  This one is of the kiddie pool.

The fort. The bucket is in mid-tip. Water in action!

This fort had multiple water slides attached to it, as well as a HUGE bucket at the top that once filled with water, tipped and dumped the water on all the bystanders.  Of course, they are all standing there, waiting for it to happen!

My children awaiting the big dump!

Another mid-dump (of water) action shot.  The children waiting below are mine!

Sitting in the kiddie pool

My daughter, posing, while sitting in the kiddie pool.

No matter, as there is a really nice resort with indoor waterpark in Shipshewana.  So we ventured northwest, we live in Fort Wayne, and took the kids to a great lunch, had a very nice carriage ride around town, then spent the afternoon and evening with the kids at the waterpark.  I got some really great pictures of the days events.  And, I found myself trying to apply the rule of thirds while TAKING the pictures rather than while editing the pictures.  I’ve posted a few here, tell me what you think. 

Ryan and Hannah, Shipshewana, Indiana

We arrived in Shipshewana just in time for lunch.  There’s a really nice restaurant, the Blue Gate Restuarant, on the main road through town.  It’s a HUGE restaurant with multiple dining rooms.  And the food was really good.  The above picture was taken out in front of the restaurant right after lunch.

Landscaping/pond at the Blue Gate Restaurant in Shipshewana, Indiana

The above picture is one of the landscaping and pond located in front of the restaurant.  I was trying my hand at taking new and different photos.  How’s it look?

Carriage for our carriage ride through Shipshewana, Indiana

Getting ready for our carriage ride.  That’s my son sitting in the carriage.  We had to have the white carriage as it looks like a princess carriage.

Ryan on the carriage, Shipshewana, Indiana

This is my son, waiting for the carriage ride. 

Hannah on the carriage, Shipshewana, Indiana

My daughter, waiting for the carriage ride to start.  See why we had to have the white carriage?  Someone’s got her convinced she’s a princess.

Hannah in front of the Blue Gate Restaurant, Shipshewana, Indiana

Rachel Norton

EDTEC 665

Proposal, Major Project

We intend to develop a project in a Web Quest.  What is a Web Quest?  According to Professor Bernie Dodge of San Diego State University: (http://www.metmagazine.com/lessonplan/wonderful_world_webquests/index.html)

A Web Quest is “an inquiry-oriented activity that uses resources on the World Wide Web.”

“WebQuests pull together the most effective instructional practice into one integrated student activity.”

“An effective WebQuest develops critical thinking skills and often includes a cooperative learning component. Students learn as they search for information using the Web, following a prescribed format that focuses on problem solving and authentic assessment.”

Reason

The Web Quest method was chosen because it contains an organizational scheme with introduction, task, process, resources, evaluation and conclusion.  With the concern of “publishing,” using a WebQuest creation would all an adequately developed plan with publishing capabilities when complete.  The goal is to have an URL for classmates to visit as well as a link located on both blogs.

Motivation

The first motivation is to learn.  The second motivation comes from Mary’s real life experiences working with piano students who need a bit of a nudge to break out of ‘traditional’ music and start improvising.

Audience

The audience is medium level piano students, all about age 10, all about the 4-5 grade range who have a couple of years of lessons under their belt with Mary. These students will be familiar with Mary’s expressions and each thing will not require an explanation as if the audience were not musicians. Hopefully, they will be more comfortable learning in a manner similar to the lessons they have already taken and in a more enriching environment.

Educational Goals

The students will be able to:

• appreciate the patterns inherent in different styles of music.
• find three examples on the Internet of music patterns.
• identify the patterns of the three songs.
  • The patterns for this lesson will include, I, IV, V7, i. and iv.
  • The chords will be formed in root position, 1st in version or 2nd in version.
• identify the patterns in the sections of music.
• The forms studied for this lesson will be ABA, and ABACA.
• understand chord progression as used in a 12 bar blues pattern.
• improvise their playing given only the chord symbol.
• follow chord progressions in several keys: C, F, G, D, A and E.
• understand the concept of key modulation using pivot keys.

Tools and Resources

We will need the website where the lesson will be, several links to various music sites, literature from Mary’s library, various internet searches, and Mary’s video camera.

There will be one paragraph review of an inspiring website. How might this be used for the major project? By properly citing and including the URL.

A number of websites were visited and there were two that were inspiring. The first was http://web.bsu.edu/klcheney/portfolio/unitproject.htm that was a site Kenneth Cheney from Ball State University built for teaching a music unit.  This inspired Mary to try and fulfill some of the music educational standards. The second was http://webquest.org/index-create,php which enlightened Mary and I on the use of WebQuests.  This particular site was kind of a WebQuest for immigrants.