Important message from Ms. Silverman. MONDAY Dec. 6

Hello Cyber Year Ones,

Please read this entire post! I know it's long. But it's important.

A message from your fearless leader. That would be Ms. Silverman. I'm sorry that I'm gone until the end of the semester, but I have no choice. I've been called for jury duty and was selected for a case - in case you haven't been informed. I just want to comment though that I have been checking your blogs and I am both impressed and disappointed. Please don't forget about the tech part of your cyberARTS class, just because I'm not in class. I am still checking your work and I will still be marking it and assigning it.

So, I noticed that some of you have posted your finished 3:6:9 projects - maybe just one group actually. Very nice job with Patty the fish by the way. And one or two of you have posted your PSA Analysis. Again, good work. I haven't seen any of your digital surrealism though...hmmm.

First, a reminder of the things you should have finished by now. If they are not complete, please make sure they are complete before the winter break, without fail. That is when I'll be marking these assignments and if they are not complete by then, they will receive a zero grade!

1. PSA Analysis - posted on your blog.
2. Digital Surrealism - posted on your blog with a written analysis and handed in as a .psd file in the drop folder. For now we won't worry about printing. I'll have to check with Ms. McFadyen about assisting with the printing. I'll keep you posted.
3. 3:6:9 Video exercise. Finished with sound and titles.
4. Video pre-production paperwork. This is on paper. I will be sending detailed instructions as to how to complete this, your video and your post-production report.
5. Your PSA video. Burned to DVD and posted on your blog with a written description.
6. Your post-production report. On paper.

I will be picking up your video assignment and paperwork and your printed digital surrealism image on December 17th. This must ALL be complete by then.


YOUR TASK FOR THE WEEK OF DEC. 6-10
DAILY LOG: At the end of each day (last 5 minutes of class) you must log (write down) what you accomplished that day AND what your group accomplished. Even if it was very little. You will need this when you write up your post-production report. Please make sure you do this!!!

REPORT TO MS. SILVERMAN: Please send me a comment to this post that tells me what you have completed and what you have yet to complete. I will be asking you to report to me at the end of the week as well.

1. Meet with your group, agree on a topic and do some research. (MONDAY)
2. Brainstorm ways to tell this story in 30 seconds, using video imagery, titles, and sound. (MONDAY)
3. Story Outline: Write a few paragraphs that includes your research and explains your 30 second PSA. This is known as a treatment.(MONDAY/TUESDAY)
4. Storyboard: Draw pictures of each frame and add the information about sound, voiceover and length of the scene.(TUESDAY)
4. Shot list: Write down each shot, the location, actors (known as "talent"), any props, equipment and clothing required. (TUESDAY)
5. Schedule: Come up with a schedule. When are you shooting. You should shoot all shots that take place in one location at the same time, regardless of when they happen in your storyboard. (TUESDAY)
6. Begin shooting: Take the video camera, get your talent and props and go! (WEDNESDAY-FRIDAY)

Once this is completed you will have a pre-production report that you can hand in. This MUST be included in your final paperwork.

NOTE: Your video must be complete by the 17th of December. You should plan to be finished shooting by the Monday at the LATEST! If you can finish shooting this week it's even better. Give yourself the most time to edit. As you know from your 3:6:9, this can take a long time. It's only a 30 second video, so split up the tasks and be efficient. This is a real test of your teamwork and efficiency. Also, the more detailed your pre-production paperwork is, the easier and quicker your shooting and editing will be. DON'T SKIP YOUR PRE-PRODUCTION WORK. IT WILL COME BACK TO BITE YOU IN THE END!!!

Good luck and have fun.
DON'T FORGET TO SEND A COMMENT AND LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU'VE COMPLETED AND HAVE YET TO COMPLETE.

Stop Motion Animation

Here are the links you requested!

Digital Surrealism Written Analysis

When you have finished your digital surrealism work in Photoshop and have approval to print, you are ready to write your artist statement/analysis.

Discuss the following for your artist statement.

1. Discuss your concept. What was your intended message? Explain the meaning behind the images you used and any symbolism that was embedded in your image.

2. Explain your procedure from beginning to end. Begin with your sketches and thought process and take us through the technical aspects of completing the work. Include information about how you used Photoshop. There should be evidence of knowledge and understanding here!

3. Explain what your learned while completing this project - both technically and conceptually (if applicable). Also discuss whether or not you are satisfied with your end result. Why or why/not?

PSA Analysis

PSAs (Public Service Announcements) have been used for years in video form to get messages across to the public from the government, social service agencies and community organizations. Usually the message sent is one of social justice, equity, fairness, health, and other messages of social "good". Before you begin working on your own PSA, you need to view some others and analyze what makes it so effective.

1. Find a PSA that you think is really effective in getting it's point across. In other words, it is persuasive and really makes you think about the issue in question. It is also quite clear what the issue is about.

2. Embed the video into your blog posting by copying the embed code and pasting it in "edit html" mode.

3. Watch the video you choose and write an anlysis based on the following 3 questions.

1. What is the main focus of the video? (i.e. the impact of prejudice, discrimination, systemic discrimination, racial slurs?).
2. Describe how the video gets this point across.
3. What techniques are used in the video to help convince the viewer of the point of the video. (Look at shots, music, content, text, voice, voice-over, sound fx etc.)

Please post this assignment in your blog by the end of the period Wednesday Dec. 1st.

Joey Lawrence - photo and video

Check out this guy's website and blog. Joey Lawrence is a Canadian photographer and videographer living in Brooklyn. His work is amazing. Ms. McFadyen discovered him last year. Explore and enjoy. He offers lots of information about how he does things. Check out his halloween in Brooklyn series on his blog.

Long but interesting

Here is a long but interesting video on how to use coloured pencil to create vivid drawings. Enjoy!

Optical Devices

Follow this link to find a post about Optical Devices. You will find a short blog assignment there too. Enjoy!

Using Photoshop to blend images

When attempting to do anything in Photoshop or any other computer application, one of the best resources is right under your fingertips. LITERALLY!!! That's right, the computer. The internet. ONLINE! There are so so many fantastic (and not so fantastic) tutorials out there that are just waiting for you to learn from them.

Your task right now is to find one that will be useful to you for this digital surrealism project and share it with your colleagues.
1. Find a tutorial that you can use and that works well. (Remember that we are using CS2 at the moment and so your tutorials should be for this version of Photoshop)
2. Read through it and try it out with some sample images.
3. Post your results and give the following information in your posting
a. The before/after images
b. The link (hyperlinked!) in your posting AND start a links list if you haven't already and add this link to the links list. Make sure you title it effectively so readers will know what it is.
c. Was this tutorial easy or difficult? Elaborate on why/why not?
d. Did you need to make any modifications in order to make it work for you?
e. Would you recommend it to others?

Here are a few that I have found, that you can take a look at just to get you started.
Blending Advance Pshop techniques
Letting an image edit itself (using blending modes in Photoshop) This one touches on the use of blending modes, as opposed to stiching or merging images together, however it's very useful and can help in editing the photos in the first place and getting the most out of your work.
Blending two images together (Youtube how-to video. Part 1)
This is Part 2
Part 3
These are just options. I haven't viewed all of them, but as you can see, there are many tutorials out there. If each of you finds one that you find useful, and shares your information, we can all learn and have access to a lot more learning!

Please add this to your blog by Friday the 12th at the end of the day.

Using free web applications for multimedia!

By now you should have created an account on Flickr and also on Vuvox. Both applications serve as a means to display, catalogue and share your image based work, however vuvox can be useful to also embed audio, text and video into your vuvox collages - a great tool for multimedia journalists to provide a rich story that integrates written text, photographic image, illustrations, audio sound bites or podcasts and also video.

You'll find that Vuvox links directly to Flickr and allows you to easily view and use any of your Flickr images. If you prefer photobucket, you can also use this application, however vuvox does not link to photobucket.

Your task:

1. Edit your 8 best images from your photo shoot the other day. Enhance the photos using the crop tool, levels or curves, dodging and burning, and the clone tool - or any combination that you need.

2. Save them in a folder as photoshop files (psd) AND also save another copy of them in a different folder marked "web" as jpg files. You need to compress them in order to upload them to the web.

3. Create a flickr account and upload all 8 of your images. You can explore flickr and create a set so that you can arrange them in an order you'd like for your slide show.

4. Create a slide show and share it by copying the html code and inserting it into a blog post while you're in html mode. It should automatically come up as a slide show so that anyone can view it on your blog.

5. Go to vuvox and create an account. Access your flickr photos by entering your username and password and start creating a collage in vuvox. Review any of the introductory videos and take a look at some other work before you start to get a sense of what's possible.

6. Once you're happy with your vuvox collage, you can grab the html code and insert it into another blog posting. Don't forget to title all your blog posts!!!

7. Write a comparison of the two applications. What do you like, what don't you like. What's missing from either of these programs that you would add if you could? What makes them easy to use or difficult to use.

8. Find one other free web based multimedia application that can be used to share, display and catalogue your work. Provide the link in a new post and give a description of this application. Tell us what's great about it and what it can do that vuvox and flickr can't! Is this something you would recommend using?

Flickr slide show

Charcoal Grid

OK Year one students, your next blog assignment is to take this raw photo and make it publishable. You will need to crop, rotate, colour correct and post the improved image on your own blog with a short description of the original assignment.

Remember to give credit to the original artist: "The Third Class Carriage" by Daumier. Your goal is to correct the image to make it look as lifelike as possible with crisp, clean contrast of value.

Copy the image onto your desktop and then open it in Photoshop to begin. Remember to 'save for Web' and keep the final version on your desktop folder.

Walls and Barriers 2 - Institute for Contemporary Culture at the ROM

Zak. Katelynn and Mike: you are all famous! Plus so many of your art pieces are in the video. Try to find them all! Congratulations everyone!

I hope everyone picked up a copy of the Metro this weekend because Niem, Elijah and Stephen represented LCI in a photograph taken at the ROM with some of our art works. The Toronto Star will run a long article on the Walls and Barriers project in the Oct 2nd edition. Several LCI students were interviewed and photographed so make sure to pick up a copy or two. It will look great in an art portfolio!

Walls and Barriers project VOTE NOW!

Support Art! Vote for Walls and Barriers

Support the Walls and Barriers project and help us win $25,000 in funding!

Walls and Barriers is an art education project. 500+ young students from across the Greater Toronto Area will create a public art installation in response to the work of internationally renowned African artist, El Anatsui.

Lakeshore CI CyberARTS students have their work at the ROM from Sept 25th to Oct 23, 2010.

Walls and Barriers project VOTE NOW!

Please vote now!

Support our Walls & Barriers project by voting
online every day until October 31. We will be exhibiting Walls & Barriers at
the ROM from Sept. 25 to October 23.
Please vote and tell all your friends at school! There's strength in numbers.

http://www.refresheverything.ca/wallsandbarriers

Walls and Barriers is a large collaborative art project created by young artists from secondary schools and community agencies across the GTA. 500+ young artists will create a public art installation in response to the work of internationally renowned artist El Anatsui. Inspired by Anatsui’s practice and his concept of walls and barriers, each participant will create an individual art response reflecting on the obstacles they encounter in their lives. These works will form a series of moveable walls, and in the process become part of a larger community project.

A note from the ROM:

Hello Everyone,
The El Anatsui exhibition does not open until the 2nd October and we have just heard from the ROM that the complimentary tickets that are being sent to you in the schools are not valid until the opening of the El Anatsui Exhibition.

This being said we will now move the Collaborative Community day to Sunday 3 October at 3:00p.m. so participants can view the student Walls and Barriers panels and then go upstairs to the ICC to view the El Anatsui retrospective.

***Please note that you can use the complimentary tickets any time before Walls and Barriers comes down on the 23 October, 2010/

Welcome to CyberARTS

Hello CyberARTists.

We've talked a little bit about rasters and vectors. Your first task is to explore a little bit more about this topic and create a new post on your new blog about it. Add the link to your posting and write a brief paragraph about something new that you learned from the reading.

Here are a few links to get you started. Feel free to explore further, or find your own information. Remember to post the original link in your actual posting.

Have fun! Now go learn and share something new.

Ms. Silverman

Your links:
Rasters and Vectors 1

Rasters and Vectors 2

Rasters and Vectors 3

Welcome to LCI CyberARTS!

Get ready for an exciting and creative semester! If you have found this post, you are well on your way to becoming web savy. I have included the CyberARTS logo here for you to use in your own blog. Also, notice the links at the right. These are blogs from our senior students. Feel free to check them out and comment on them if you like.

Post your URL in the comment section under this entry so I can add you to the sidebar too!

TGI 3MP Exam Info

Use the following two links to get to either one of these movie trailer re-makes. Make your movie poster based on the newly created Spiderman or Finding Nemo with their new themes. Have fun on the internet looking for photos. The possibilities are endless, except for the time limit. Good luck.

Spiderman re-make by Niem

Finding Nemo re-make by Stephanie

Summer filmmaking workshop

Hot Docs is delighted to bring back the popular Doc Camp, a free week-long camp for aspiring filmmakers ages 14 to 18. Offering youth a dynamic combination of hands-on creativity and lively interaction, Doc Camp participants will learn how to plan, shoot and edit their own short doc while also taking part in exclusive sessions with special guest speakers, including some of Canada's leading documentarians. Doc Camp will take place August 23 to 27, and the deadline to apply is Monday, June 14. For more information, visit www.hotdocs.ca/youth.

The "Niem Team" @ Camp VJ 2010

The "Niem team" (that's what they called us), with Journalist Alison Garwood-Jones as part of our multimedia team on day 2.

Your intrepid cyberartist (and Nick) had the chance to spend three days at the Toronto Star this week at a workshop on digital journalism. There they are hard at work on their multimedia piece which stole the show called "Street Meat".

Check it out on Niem's Journalism blog here. By the way, we won first prize for the blog beauty contest and I think it goes without saying that our video stole the show as well.

BTW - Camp VJ stands for Visual Journalism.
Check out this link for more information...
http://visualeditors.ning.com/

Banksy in Toronto

Yep, you heard it! Banksy was in Toronto and left behind some of his famous imagery on the walls downtown. Check out this link and this link to hear more about it!

Post a link to any other images you can find of Banksy in Toronto!

Blog assignment due April 22nd

1) Write a paragraph explaining the field trip
2) Write a paragraph about something you saw at the film festival that was curious, interesting, or caught your eye.
3) Describe how 'U' compares and contrasts to an average Hollywood animated feature film. You may discuss the story, theme, style, music, or other elements of the film.

This post is due by 9 AM April 22nd!

Kinetic Art - Theo Jansen

The Year 4 class has been researching art styles and Kinetic Art was one of the styles chosen. This video is well worth watching. You decide if it is Art!

PS - I know the resolution is terrible but you can always search for him on youtube for better versions...

Video Pre-Production

Please prepare and hand in the following documents by the end of the class on Friday March 26, 2010:

1. Story Outline/Proposal

In a few paragraphs, summarize your idea for your video. Who are the main characters? What is the main focus of the video? Is there a conflict and resolution? Narrative arc? Also add any other details that you think are important - technical requirements, music and sound, etc.

2. Storyboard

Using the templates provide, or you can make or download your own, create a storyboard of your video idea. This will give you a visual picture - scene by scene - of your video and should include music, dialogue, sound fx, voiceover, and a description of the visual scene including specifics about lighting, setting and type of shot (C/U, MS, LS etc.)

3. Shot List

Using your storyboard to guide you, create a shot list that groups similar scenes together. You should be shooting the same locations on the same day. Include in your shot list any required materials, props, talent, costumes and equipment for that shooting day. Also include any permission that may be required to shoot (i.e. inside buildings, or on private property, or permission from people) and be sure to get the permission well in advance!

4. Shooting Schedule

Once you have your shot list, you can create a shooting schedule with dates and times for your various shots.

5. Script/List of interview questions

If you are shooting a documentary, you will want to generate a list of 3-5 questions to ask the people in your video. Keep your focus in mind and think in advance of what the conflict/obstacles are that your individual may have overcome. Address this issue and find questions to ask that put this into context. Be as specific as you can.

If you are shooting just about anything else, you will need a script. This is a written version of your storyboard, with your dialogue clearly laid out and descriptions of each shot.

Here is an example of a script for a recruitment video for hospital volunteers. CLICK HERE.

6. Equipment/Materials List

This is your overall list of all equipment, talent, props, costumes, settings etc. that you will need. This will be broken down in your shot list so that you know exactly what you need for each shoot.

7. Title Page

This should include your name, my name, your class, the title of your project and the date.

That's all folks.

Please hand this in on paper to Ms. Silverman by the end of class on Friday March 26, 2010.

LCI takes the Plunge for Haiti

Lakeshore CI showed immense support (and bravery) as they took the Polar Dip Plunge in support of Haiti. Thousands of dollars were raised by students and staff at LCI and it looked like they had some fun too! Congratulations LCI on a great effort to support those in need!



Is that really Ms. Silverman getting thrown in Lake Ontario?



Before

and

After

Film making workshop opportunity!

Check out this FREE excellent opportunity!

"This is a free six-week workshop series that runs six Saturdays at the National Film Board Mediatheque in downtown Toronto, ON. Workshops are open to all high-school students. Dates are March 20th - May 1st, from 12-3pm.*

*An additional March 13th 10:30 A.M. - 1:30 pm workshop will be held for successful YFI applicants on Intro to Video Camera's at Henry's School of Imaging 119 Church Street, Toronto."

Ask Mrs. M for more dtails or check out thier blog at http://torontoyouthfilms.blogspot.com/

Videojournalism: Year Three

Check out the following sites:

10 Tips for Video Journalism
Visual Editors
Media Storm
Mercury News Photo (Great video stories)
Visual Journalist

Using the 10 Tips for Video Journalism, find 2 videos to view and critique. The videos should be found through the links from these sites and should all be shot in a video journalism style.

1. Go through the 10 tips as you watch the videos and comment on the video's use of each tip?
Where do they stray if at all?
2. What do you find some of the most effective elements of the video (look at cinematography - shots, lighting, environment. sound - fx, natural sound, use of music. interviews - how they're shot, choice of clips, how long do they stay on the interviewee?).
3. What if anything do you find not as effective.
4. What is your overall impression of the video? Are you captivated? Inspired? Bored? What mood or emotions do you feel?
5. What ideas do you have to improve the video - editing, interviewing, shooting, sound?

Also...if anyone is interested in applying to be part of a documentary video free workshop series for youth!!!! CHECK THIS OUT! Youth Films International Go to the Tell it like it is video applications. They say they'll likely accept applications until the 3rd of March. Do it!!!

Video making tips and tricks - SILVERMAN

Hello CyberARTISTS!



This posting is for both year threes and fours and will serve as either a refresher, or some valuable new information about some basic tips of video making.



Your Assignment:

Click the link HERE and read through the slideshow on Creating Video for the Web.

Take NOTES!!!

I want you to take about a page of notes that dissects the most important information from these 16 slides. We will meet on Monday to discuss your findings and discuss the basics of video making. This is good information whether you're creating an art video or a short documentary on a local hero. From here we'll divide and conquer (so to speak).



Your notes: Due Monday March 1, 2010.

Please submit them to me for marks. So make them legible!

Movie Trailer Download

For the movie trailer sound assignment, here is a Youtube Video that explains how to download a youtube clip on a Mac. Be sure to use Safari and not Firefox to do this. There are a bunch of pop-up notes that come up - pause the video and read them. They explain how to do it. You can also choose the HD option if you want to. If I could figure it out, you can. I managed to import it into iMovie and then extract the audio. From there, have fun!

Here's the link. Or, you can watch it below.

Work on this assignment for the next two days. Have fun with it and please read through the requirements of the assignment. There are extra copies on the table in the computer lab.

Ms. S.

Seriously....

OK, you are all lucky that I am such a nice teacher. I could have spammed a lot of your blogs with inappropriate comments. Please be sure to set comment moderation on to avoid spam!!!

Also, please update your link lists to delete unused blogs and add new ones.

Thursday, make sure that you proof read your El Anatsui posts before publishing them. Aim to write in small paragraphs so the readers want to keep reading. One big long paragraph makes me want to click onto youtube rather than continue reading ;)

Assignment for Wed and Thurs

Hi CyberARTISTS! It looks like my lesson got bumped down by Ms. Silverman :(

Scroll down to find the El Anatsui instructions below. Manage your time wisely!

The Art of Sound

Sound is a HUGE industry and holds many varied career opportunities. In the movie industry alone - whether it be small independent productions or massive blockbuster movies, sound production is technical, creative, artistic and crucial in making the visual in audio-visual really shine.



Here are some sites to explore to learn more about sound production and post-production and to find some technical information about microphones.



Videomaker.com - an online magazine dedicated to creating and publishing video

Filmsound.org - for the art of sound design for film

Equipment Emporium - an online resource for film and video production, specializing in production recording

Film Inside Out (iofilm) - here's an article on recording good sound for film and video in a blog called iofilm, on the art and craft of making movies

Good luck and remember to create an 11x17 (2 page spread) of your finished work - as though you were creating a buyer's guide for a magazine like Wired or some other techy magazine.

Due: Thursday Feb. 18, 2010

Additional reading: Here is a lick to an article called Sync Tanks that discusses post-production sound in depth. Please read through it over the next week or so and take some notes of the key points.
We will review it next Thursday before you show your final microphone buyer's guide.

El Anatsui at the ROM

This is looking to be an exciting semester in the CyberARTS program! It is time to dust off our blogs and get them up to date again.

Your assignments for Wed. and Thurs. are as follows:

1) Take a bit of time to update your blog. Rethink the design elements so that it is beautiful to look at while still being functional (easy to read and navigate). You may need to use your own time out of class to complete a redesign of the blog. If you change your address, make sure that you leave the new link in my comment box so I can update the sidebar.

2) El Anatsui! It is time to do a little digging into who this artist really is and why is there such hype around him and his artwork. If we are going to make art as a response to his work, we need to understand him and his message.

Read as much as you can about El Anatsui on the internet. Start with this link. While you are reading, make notes in a word doc and be sure to reference the webpage, date and author. (See your agenda for how to reference webpages)

3)Your Blog post will consist of several main sections:
a) Who is El Anatsui?
b) What does his artwork look like? Describe the stylistic characteristics of his work but also post or link to one or more images. Consider and discuss which design principles are significant or dominant.
c) What are some of the big concerns/ideas he is communicating through his artwork?
d) How do you connect to his work? What do you appreciate about his work? Does the work of art hold some particular attraction or personal association for you? You can mention your participation in the ROM project as well.

* Aim to make this post personal rather than a formal critique. Write your opinions and thought about his work. Enjoy!

Erik Johansson - Master Photo Manipulator

Just wanted to draw your attention to your friend esoremada's posting on surrealism and include the links in this posting. Please check them out. Very inspiring! The photos that I posted earlier are by Erik Johansson and here is the link to his website and also an interview with him.
Thanks Esoremada!

Anti-Racism Video - analysis

Now that you have completed your Anti-Racism Video, we will be submitting them to the Racism Stop It! National Video Competition.

Post the video that your group created in a blog posting and answer the same questions that you answered to analyze someone else's anti-racism video. See how your video stands up to the evaluation!

1. What is the main focus of the video? (i.e. the impact of prejudice, discrimination, systemic discrimination, racial slurs?)

2. Describe how the video gets this point across.

3. What techniques are used in the video to help convince the viewer of the point of the video. (Look at shots, music, content, text, voice, voice-over, sound fx etc.)

4. Are you satisfied with the final product? Why/why not?

5. Whether or not you answered yes to the last question, describe how you would improve your video now that it's finished. Be specific in terms of camera shots, sound, quality, lighting etc.