This Post Is Not For Assessment Paul! But read it as it has feedback:O

After viewing all films earlier in the evening with all TV1 students, I became acutely aware that there's a lot of talent among the students. Also, I can safely say that my group's take on Bloodhounded 2 is far, far superior to the other group's take. It's funnier, doesn't have those two lame Asians (Asians generally stick out like a sore thumb in a white-dominated media environment) who became the focus of the movie with their Asian stereotype looks, dressing and accents. For once I do not care if they are perfect casting for the movie; if you want to get an Asian, get a pan-Asian. Or an Asian who isn't an International Student. It's quite obvious those Asians aren't locals. The conventional Asian look simply distracts viewers.

But anyway, I meant to vent steam about how some of the Media students are far more advanced in technical abilities and knowledge. Paul, if you read this, remember that I have stressed several times (and I'm not the only one) that Prof Comm students pale in comparison to the Media kids. As far as I know, ALL Prof Comm students are pursuing TV as an interest, but do not see TV as a career. Many of the Media kids do see TV as an enviable career choice, and are fucking good at it.

I got home earlier and went through every student blog. Several Prof Comm students have their grievances about being paired with Media students as we are always outnumbered. And out-thought. And out-inspired.

I could be wrong, but most of the Prof Commers wish to pursue a career in PR, Marketing, Journalism or the likes, so none of us have the insane knowledge, expertise and craftmanship of the Bills, Matts, Lionels and Steves. And these people have their little posse of friends who worship the ground they step on, making it extremely hard for the Prof Commies to generate any input.

I felt extremely saddened that Ariel was told off by the Director of her group. Bill was in no position to tell her off this way. Perhaps he's an egotistical male chauvinist who doesn't value Prof Comm opinions, but no one deserves a verbal lashing. I know which day this happened, as earlier this week I saw an extremely upset Ariel in campus. She has been shedding some tears; I didn't know why then. But now I do.

I was lucky to have a group that was really friendly and chatty and had no airs about them. But towards the end differences in opinions and lack of communication soured the friendships and split the group dynamics into two, which was very obvious. And that makes me sad. I didn't come to uni after ten years in the workforce to see teenagers being bullied by other teenagers, or friendships ruined due to work differences.

Which makes me proud of the big brother role that I have been playing since Year One. Arbitrator is always better than Antagonisor.

I'm only hoping I have a great bunch of people to work with in TV2. Wish to graduate with a bang, with no enemies and lots of friends.

Have a great holiday everyone.

Looking at fine cuts

The team met up and discussed, dissected, chatted and edited the almost final cut of Hounded on Tuesday. We were extremely lucky to have Paul coming in at 10.30am in the morning to have a look as Alice (who was there first) experienced problems with the sound in our suite.

Paul ended up spending an inordinate amount of time in our suite and completely changed the structure of our film.

By the time the team (just Sam, Charlotte and I) left at 7pm, the version we'd submit for screening was vastly different from the version/s that we were all familiar with.

The team was very cut up about which version we'd love to submit. There are varying opinions on which version was best, but ultimately we decided on Paul's version coz if this is the version Paul loves, this is the version we'd submit. We were not about to submit something that Paul doesn't like just because we feel it's 'better'.

There are at least four versions of Hounded

1) Paul's version - scenes of the two boys were not as convulated as our version. Music was presented in a headphone-style way and utilised both the instrumental and rockish music.

2) Alice, Lily and John's version - this version utilised the instrumental music Lily's friend provided and scenes of the boys dressing up were short and staccatoed.

3) Sam and Charlotte's version - this version utilised the rockish vocal music that Charlotte picked. Scenes of the boys were almost similar to 2), but the music was drastically different. Paul made a comment on this version and said it looked and sounded like a Year 10 production and looked liked someone had just chucked in a track to expediate the process. I don't agree completely; the music is rather suitable, but I felt the music took focus away from the film.

4) The team's original version - In this version, the scenes were more like 2) and 3), but the music was the original track that Lily's friend provided. Lots of people liked the music and said it provided a lot of finesse to it. I felt the music was really good too, but some parts of the music didn't fit certain parts of the film.

In the end, the team was just extremely happy to have completed the assessment. It really has sucked the energy out of the team and I'm just looking forward to TV2 as we get to do documentaries on miniDV cameras.

I knew I bought my miniDV camera for a reason. :O

Baz Luhrmann's Australia

I've always wondered why the hell we've got to do so much 'pre-Action!' stuff before the directer screams 'Action!'. The team may have wrapped up production with Hounded and I am aware of the roles each member of the crew plays, but I still think it's unnecessary. Why can't we just say, "OK I AM READY! JUST FUCKING FILM ALREADY!"

Until I saw and heard this audio and visual reel from The Age. I'm quite a history buff, and old iconic scenes and wars interest me a great deal. So imagine my surprise when the reel took all my doubts away and convinced me that all the 'camera ready-slate in-bullshit' was really worth my while.

I know it's stupid, but hey it took something that interests me to be convinced about set etiquette. People learn things their own way and at their own time, and I've justified that reasoning.

Now, get the fucking slate in! LOL.

Off topic, I'm extremely keen on this movie. I'll be keeping a look out for the number of non-Anglos in the movie. Fast forward a century and a half, and Australia today still has traces of the White Australia policy in the form of white supremists. No doubt Pauline Hanson will be flocking to watch this movie.

Somebody needs to tell these people, that pre-2000 was all about colonialization and white people. Post-2000, it's the rise of the Asians. In several decades time the sight of an Asian man in a 'white' country would no longer raise eyebrows. No more asexualised Asian man in the media, and the Asian man will win the girl's heart.

Okay I really am straying away from this television blog.