Web Log week 3

This week is "Hello Riverina" I was Vision Mixer. The tasks I were required to do were to listen to the Directors instructions about which cameras feed was going to be put live to air. This means listening to the Director as the Director can change the shot that is written down in the script or change how the next shot will be aired. This happened a number of times throughout the morning with the Director asking me to "fade" into the next shot instead of cutting to the next shot. Each time he done this I was able to follow his instructions properly as I was listening to him more so then just following the script.
To actually make the shots appear on the screen I was using the bottom row of buttons on the controller desk to program in the next shot that was to happen then with my other hand press the "cut" button when the Director told me to take the shot. During the interview when there were no set shots I switched to the method of pressing the second bottom row of buttons on the control panel which screens the shot you select without having to press the "cut" button with your other hand, this was very helpful during the interview segment as it allowed me to follow the Directors random quick cutting.
Overall I think we performed really well as a group as we finished in our quickest time yet and everyone in the studio seemed more comfortable and relaxed. I think everyone from the acting talent to the tapes operator did there jobs well. I think I was good in my job as Vision Mixer as I was always ready for what the Director wanted and I always had the next shot on the screen for the Director to preview it to see if he wanted it. I did make one mistake during the taped run as I didn't get the commercial break picture to air exactly as the same time as the audio but the picture stayed on the news reader so it was minimal and only a slip up of my finger and not my ability for the job.
Some things that I would suggest to be a successful Vision Mixer are:
# Listen to Director carefully
# Make sure you are familiar with the script
# Concentrate on script, Director and whats happening
# Make sure you are following whats going on in case Director gets distracted
# Familiarise yourself with the control desk
# Be alert

Assesment 2 Post

This will be my 32nd post since I started my blog at the start of the year. Over time I have changed my template, gone back to my first one again but with slight variations in fonts and colours. I have made posts on a range of different topics from reviewing movies and music, talking bout mimes and Chuck Norris, discussing favorite tv shows and wines and even who is the best James Bond-which everyone knows is the latest guy, Daniel Craig.
I have completed all the tasks we have been given and have been using my Flickr and my Del.icio.us accounts as part of my regular internet activites.
Over the time I have developed a better understanding of blogger and how to be more effective at it. This has to do with aesthetics. My page has become more aestheticaly pleasing as I have made my posts easier to understand by:
# Using point form and lists in my posts rather then long paragraphs
# Making the links clearer and having more relevant ones throughout my posts
# Having clear texts and colours that make my page easy to read and understand. this is with the dark blue colour background and the light greens, purples and whites as my font colours
# Having clear and relevant link headings in my side column bar making them easier to understand and having my important links up the top of my blog making them easier to find and more accessible.
Some of my favorite blog posts that I think are interesting and aestheticly pleasing are my Scrubs, Beer & Wine, Mimes and my Chuck Norris blog.
My flcikr account is bundled into 3 easy defined groups so it is easy to navigate and find the pictures you want and my pictures are also very good as most of them capture the moment of when the photo is taken as seen in this photo taken live of my mates "hardcore music" band. I have also labelled and tagged my pictures properly making it easier to find.
In Del.icio.us- – I am satisfied with my content as it covers many different topics that I find interesting and are relevant to the purpose of my blog. I am also pleased with the functionality of my delicious account, as it is easy to navigate and find particular links using the different bundles and tags.

Visitors to my website

since iver started my blog i have had one comment to 1 of the 30 of my posts. this is not a high rate of comments to blogs but that doesnt matter as pretty much all my pictures have been viewed in Flickr and thats good to see as I do believe some of the band photos to be quite good. My Delicious account has also been viewed my many people and my blog even being saved by other people from delicious. The photo above is one from my Flickr account and the link below is a link to the only person who has commented on my site.
LINK

Good and Bad Aesthetics

Aesthetics is important for a website or webpage as it can generate interst or turn people away. It is important in aesthetics for web pages to be user friendly, quick loading time, have the right colours and generally have everything displayed so the user can navigate around the page easily.
Common mistakes are:
# Pages that are too large and take too long to download.
# Menus that are confusing
# Absent or hidden contact details
# Flash animation for the sake of it
# Web pages deigned for one screen resolution or browser
# Complicated backgrounds that make it difficult to read the text
# Misspellings or poor grammar
# Centering everything on the page or typing everything in CAPS.
Here are tips on good aesthetics for websites and webpages:
# Keeping pages short and only including relevant content
# Use lists instead of paragraphs
# Write short sentences
# Check spelling
# Keep links current
# Put contact information on your pages
These websites TNA Wrestling and , Mugglenet that I found aethetically pleasing due to :
# They were easy to understand as the menus were simple and understanable
# The pictures were interesting and related to the website
# The colours on the pages worked well together and was easy to read
# They were quick to load and took me no time to find the information I wanted

Mimes??????????

I dont like mimes because:
# They want to stay in the box
# There hands make no sense?
# They cant breathe fire
# They hate everybody
# They started in France
# They wear to much make up
# Because

If anyone understands the point of mimes please let me know, otherwise a really good mime hateing site is the I Hate Mimes Club

Scrubs

By far my favorite dvds to watch are the Scrubs ones I own. I have all the seasons that are available from 1-5. My favorite character on the show is Janitor, closely follow by Dr Cox. I personally think he should have won a Emmy for his portrayel of the angry, talented, self obsessed Doctor for the past 5 years. The directing, acting and story lines are always top of the line with a heavy music theme always incorporated into the show which is clever and unique.
My favorite episodes are:
# My Brother, My Keeper - Season 2 guest starring Dick Van Dyke. Everyones favorite doctor Dr Townsend is in town and is working with J.D but when J.D finds out that Dr Townsend isnt up to scratch on current medical knowledge he doesnt know what to do.
# My Catalyst - Season 3 guest starring Michael J Fox. Michael J Fox guest stars as the Doctor who seems to be the best at everything which makes all the residents jealous until they realise that he has his own problems

Web Log week 2

This week I was Assistant Floor Manager for "Hello Riverina". As a group I think we performed well during our entire session, even with a Director who's style we were not paticulary used to. I think the taped production was good with improvemants maybe to the sound quality the only noticeable thing. As i was out on the floor and working with the Floor manager in paticular i think the floor did a good job over all as a team with maybe a bit more respect to the Floor Manager the only critical comment i could make. From the cable bashers who did good jobs of moving cables out of way -which me and a stage hand had to do in the last run when camera 2 moved to back of studio, we had little time to move alot of cables and we did it successfully and safely. The acting talent did a good job of presenting the show and by the final run all the camera operaters had there parts down. The Floor Manager and I worked effeciently together. I think with us sharing the duties of "cueing" in the talent it shared the workload and gave me experience at "cueing" and also relieved a bit of the workload for the Floor Manager which would of been helpful for them. This is where I learnt that there is silence after 3 in countdowns on the floor which was a very handful piece of information to learn.
To do the position of Assistant Floor Manager well, I think the main points are:
# Listen to your Floor Manager and follow their instructions and try to work with them
# Help out the stage hands with the cables if you are in position to help.
# Just be aware of all your surroundings out on the floor, paying attention and keeping focused.