Camera work in CAE

Alex and I both agreed that the night before the shoot on Thursday 6 September was a rather disturbing affair, as we were extremely concerned that things wouldn't turn out well. We were worried about the amount of equipment and setting up that we had to hook up. Generally, we gave ourselves no reason to be upbeat about the assignment as we dwelled to much on the negatives.

Turns out, the morning shoot was one of the best thing we've ever did since Week One. Paul dropped by - as promised (thanks Paul!) - and helped us set up the equipment and due to the way the classroom was set up, a sound mixer was done away with. That freed up a lot of our burden as sound is a rather complicated state of affair that I personally would not want to be involved with.

A slight setback in the guise of the wrong classroom notwithstanding, the three of us thought the morning shoot was an excellent session.

The Great Happiness Space: Tale of an Osaka Love Thief

One of the more defining moments of Japan post-WW2 is the extreme sub-cultures that broke out from the traditional, conservative and strict code of conduct that the Japanese culture is famous for. In the last 30 years Japanese culture has exploded; while manga and anime is more famous in Western parts of the world, East Asian societies have become obsessed with the fashion, style and hedonism that has defined the Japanese youth sub-culture.

While not completely oblivious, I do not profess an interest in Asian cultures. Mostly, they dull my senses and reminded me of the totalitarian government in Singapore. While channel-surfing on Friday night, I chanced upon the titled documentary on SBS. It was only five minutes into the documentary, but it got me hooked.



Nihilistic lifestyle

This compelling film explores the rarely seen world of Japanese host boys, men who are paid to entertain financially independent women in exclusive nightclubs. Almost but not quite gigolos - they are more akin to male geishas - the host boys of Cafe Rakkyo share their secrets with director Jake Clennell. The narrative focuses on 22-year-old Issei, Osaka's top host boy and owner of Cafe Rakkyo, but all the characters in this unique subculture are fascinating.

I felt deeply moved by the emotional and physical torture that these young men go through to pull in several hundred dollars a day. It's good money, but it takes an emotional and physical toll. As the documentary progressed, it became apparent that many of them do not like their job, as they often have to struggle with the damaging effects of lies, deceit, alcohol and relationships.

Theses are young men who have young women shelling out in excess of 1 million yen (A$10,500) a night for emotional company; they're never lacking female suitors, style or money, yet they are intrinsically unhappy at everything around them. Yet something about the job makes them come back night after night. There's an unspeakable allure of power and control that these men crave for. What most men wouldn't do to trade their lives with them.

In just an hour, my emotions went from a high enviousness to a low sympathy. These are bright young men who are trapped in their job, not because they can't get out of it, but because they know nothing better than this. Perhaps the much used cliche 'the other side of the fence is always greener' doesn't do Issei and Co. much justice, as what they have is rather green.



Frankness of the interviews

Rarely do you see the protaganist (or in this case Issei, his lackeys and the women around him) being so comfortable and upfront to the camera. There is absolutely no need for narration, as they provided all of it. There is something refreshing about the way Issei talks about his business and himself. In just an hour, I felt I knew him well enough to be a judge of his character. And because everything is unscripted, the conversations caught on camera are extremely powerful.

The host boys who work for Issei look and talk the part as well. I have no doubt that Issei have pre-empted them of Jake's prying camera, yet they didn't look like they were hamming it up for the camera. As mentioned above, everything was unscripted. The emotions, actions and physical pain that these boys go through is real. I felt like I knew them enough to want to reach out. They need help.

Style

There's something about the camera work that is unobtrusive, stylish and bloody effective. You can barely make out the interviewer's voice above the din of the loud music, karaoke, and sounds that reverberate throughout the claustrophobic and dimly lit rooms. Issei and the boys - when pulled to one side for a one on one chat - are honest about their opinions and do not waffle. The girls - mostly interviewed outside the confines of Cafe Rakkyo - are candid and upfront about their feelings and thoughts about their lifestyles and affections for the boys.

I'm also rather intrigued with the relationship between Jake/Translator and the rest of the cast. It's quite evident that Issei and Co. have never met the camera crew, yet the way they spoke to the camera, I felt like I was sitting intimately next to them, sharing a dark secret with them. If it makes any sense, they were speaking into the camera. That is incredibly haunting.

Thoughts and ideas

Jake Clenell's style of documentary is reminiscent of Nick Bloomfield's style of documentary from the digidoss. In both cases the interviewees speak directly into the camera, as if the camera was part of their everyday thing. The camera is unobtrusive, yet it captures a nugget of life that most people are completely oblivious about. Watching Nick's documentary has also given me confidence and faith for my own documentary Tell Me A Story as it involves a heap of camera work and equipment. Before watching them, I was skeptical of showing either Bree, Alex or myself on camera as part of the cut. I was also hesitant on our voice being heard as well. If Nick Bloomfield convinced me that this style of documentary-telling is right, Jake Clenell's take on a Japanese sub-culture has taken my hand and have me pointing at the right direction.

EDIT: I've found a link to the documentary from Google video. Oddly enough, this version has converted the yen to dollars. Perhaps an attempt to make it more palatable for Western viewers. Check it out.

Our Documentary Proposal - First Draft

Working title: Tell me a story
Director: Alex Todorov
Camera/ Sound: John Ng
Editor: Bree Pagliuso

The films main focus is about showing an inner world, far removed from most people; it is a small insight into significant lives. The conflict is between the learner and the learning process. I expect the film’s structure to be determined by the subject’s process of learning and their interaction with one another. Ultimately we want the audience to have an understanding of the personalities of the subject that may not be evident upon first glance as some can be quiet shy to begin with. The subject and point of view suggest the style that is unobtrusive, almost an intimate conversation with the subjects. “A fly on the wall” approach.

Our film focuses and follows a class of intellectually disabled students. The subject is “Creative writing and stories”. In this class the students vary in age and ability and of course in personality. Each bringing different elements to the class, and the overall learning process.

The class takes place on a Thursday morning from 9:30 til 11:30, at the CAE collage on Flinders lane. The class in run by Pauline Walker She has been a teacher for 15 years and specializes in teaching young adults with learning disabilities. The class structure includes group activities, watching films and television programs, writing short stories and discussing certain subjects of interest.

Most of the sequences will be observational, an almost “Fly on the wall approach” we believe that the best way to capture our subjects is to allow them to go about their learning in class in a natural way, as if were not there. Sequences within the film will include the students interacting with each other, sharing stories and experiences.

One sequence will take place on an excursion with the students to the Ian Potter art gallery. The exhibition currently ties in with what the students are learning, “Indigenous Art”.
Any symbolic imagery will come out of the process, we’ve chose not to predict what will happen, but let it come naturally. However if there is something in particular that catches our eye, we will follow it and use it. We hope to capture the differences in their learning ability to those of the same age.

The film will also include interviews with specific students, centring on their experiences in learning. Also including their hopes and dreams, and in particular why they come to class to learn. It will focus on their individual quirks and personality.
Shots included will be: close-up of hand, writing, facial expressions, through this we hope to capture the implications of their disability.

At this point in the process we are undecided on which characters to focus on, each student brings different aspects to our film. We are considering all students as main protagonists as we want give perspective of the class, and not single out anyone in particular until we discover each character in depth.

This will help us determine who want to focus on, and whether in fact we want to have a focus. Below is a list of the students.

Debbie - blunt, straight forward. Tends to shy away from the class, doesn’t speak unnecessarily. Wheel chair bound, uses a computer that is hooked up to the white board.
Carrie - Lyn’s best friend. Cheerful. A hobby is watching movies. Not afraid to talk in class.
Robert - Loud, extraverted, works part time as trolley boy at Safe way. Not afraid to voice his opinion, constantly talking over the teacher and other students. A ladies man.
Jenny - wheel chair bound. Quiet and shy. Only really interacts with the teacher.
Frank - class clown, blunt. Swears a lot. Comes up with great one-liners. Likes to be a smart-ally to the teacher.
Lee - nick name “Speedy” for riding his wheel chair fast. Works part time selling newspapers on the corner of flinders street. Loves “The Rolling stones”. The oldest member of the class.
Mark - Autistic, quiet and reserved. But very intelligent.
Danny - plays basketball, coy and shy. Sits next to Mark, pleasant and very polite.
Michael - working cleaning microphones in a sound studio. Loves music. Cheerful.
James - wants to be apart of the action, but is a bit reserved.
Lyn - has been studying of 15 years at CAE. Loves to talk and is more than willing to be apart of the film. Asks lots of questions. Takes on the mother figure of the group.
Martin - nervous, quiet, yet seemed interested in the filming process. Articulate. Works with his computer.

The conflict is between the learner and their ability to learn. From an outsiders perspective we see the struggle they face with simple tasks, which they themselves don’t recognize. What we’ve come to understand is that we are faced with the issue of being respectful and understanding of their needs. We don’t want to be patronising in any way. We have realised there is a fine line between using our subjects as experiments, rather we need to focus on their personalities and show they are humans and ought to be respected just like any one else.

This film will show, how there is no difference in people when learning is involved. We are all given the right to learn, no matter what our ability is. The core of our film is based on this premise. Everybody has a right to learn if they are willing to grasp the opportunity, no matter what hurdle stands in their way.

Our motivation comes from being socially conscious individuals, with a passion for learning and people. We each are interested in the individual and how and individual fits within a group of individuals. It is the communication and interaction between people, which our films focus, is on. We want to be responsible media practitioners portraying people in a respectful way. None of us suffer learning disabilities, and we have a passion to understand and learn about their hardships. It’s a window into a life that we are far removed from.

Our indented audience is anyone who is interested in the quirks of personalities and how learning affects and enlightens different people. There are no expectations from our audiences only that they are respectful of our subjects and their experiences. We can expect some negative prejudices regarding their disabilities. Yet in saying that, we know that our audience will find a positive from our film, they too will take from our subjects what we have begun to and that is, how a learning disability may shape your learning process but not the entire person. There is so much more to these people than their disability.

To camera Interviews
Were considering both Lyn and Rob to be our main protagonists, but as we said above we haven’t decided how were going to approach our main characters as we have twelve very eager participants with very interesting individual personalities and stories to tell.

Lyn - Has been studying for 15 years at CAE. Loves to talk amongst her classmates and is more than willing to be apart of the film. Asks lots of questions. She seems to take on role as the mother figure within the class. She studies three days a week. And lives in the suburb of Chadstone.

Robert - Studies three days a week on his days off he works part time as trolley boy at Safeway. He is loud and extraverted and is not afraid to voice his opinion in class; he is constantly talking over the teacher and other students. It is also clear that he is a ladies man.

Style
Our shooting style will be observational; we will be observing our subjects in their everyday lives. We will most likely use a hand held camera for a natural effect. Our interviews will preferably be an intimate conversation with subject rather than question and answer, and it’s less obtrusive and will allow for the students to express themselves at their own pace. Our hope is to feel as though we are part of the class.

Tone
The mood is light hearted, we are defiantly avoiding being hard going as were not physiologists or professionals or familiar with these disabilities and want to be careful with how we portray the students. We certainly don’t want to imply we are more able than our subjects. Our desire is to show the positives of their experiences within the class and outside.

Structure
We are still working on how we want to approach the structure, as we feel there is no beginning, middle and end to our story. However we’ve decided that the theme of storytelling, will tie the film sequences together, either through voice over, or with the students on camera reading their own story. We want individual introductions of the students but in an informal style.

The learning process and journey will structure the film. Important information will emerge through individual interviews as well as the interaction in class.

Resolution
There is no physical ending to our film, these are people’s lives and their learning will continue beyond our short film. Perhaps the only resolution will be our journey as film makers. We hope to continue our relationship and film with the students as we can imagine it as a full length feature.

The Center for Adult Education

Naughty Briana, Alex and I decided to cut Paul's tutorial yesterday and made a trip to CAE for some pre-shoot material. With the Draft Treatment (worth 15%) due today, we made an educated decision that we cannot write a three page draft without making a dedicated attempt to understand the subject of our focus: Intellectually disabled students.

First things first, hats off to the guys and spin doctors at CAE for coming out with that acronym. From where I come from, physical and intellectual disabilities are 'frowned' upon, as the Government only wants to create an army of robots who think and talk alike. So, a disability means you are imperfect. And thus, should you be going to school, the school will proudly display the 'Special' tag. But over at CAE, the name is respectable - while mildly misleading as I discovered later - and it does not undermine the students' determination to be treated like normal people. And that's the feeling I got when I first stepped into the building.



We spent about two hours with the students. Actually, I daresay the adults would not like to be called 'students'. After introducing ourselves and having gone through a round of introductions, the three of us sat behind the classroom and observed the proceedings. Some of the 'students' have been to CAE for over a decade. There must be something about the program that encourages the 'students' to keep returning.

After chatting with a few 'students', I realised that a lot of them return to CAE for the physical and emotional company. These 'students' do not have many friends outside their school, home or work network and return to CAE as the people here are 'similar' to them. I was struck with how the entire class eagerly responded to the teacher's questions. I couldn't help but feel drawn to the whole experience.


(Above): Bree with Lee, the oldest student in class. You might have seen him before, selling newspapers along Flinders Street.

My brush with disability came early in my life. Okay, perhaps it's not fair to compare myself with what I've witnessed yesterday, but I'm trying to put things in perspective.

I was born with a slight speech impediment - I used to stutter a lot. It was only in recent years that I have managed to control it. Speaking out in public and having the confidence to speak to people took me many years to overcome, but I'm mastering my own imperfections.

Also, I have an autistic cousin. I used to see her rather regularly in family gatherings, but since then the family ties had worsened. 'Generation problems', I'd like to call them. Stuff between my folks and their siblings. Whatever. So I haven't seen her for almost a decade now.

Many people live their entire lives without experiencing the pain or joy of someone's imperfections. What the 'students' go through, I can only begin to understand. But I felt their loneliness, as ostracism due to something that was beyond their control is unfair. I was in that position once, and I empathise.

Anyway, while the team has yet to decide what angle the documentary should work on, I am leaning towards showing the loneliness of these adults. At only four to seven minutes, there's really not a lot to capture, but I hope it gives people a brief insight to another world that most 'perfect' people will never experience.

The Documentary

Todorov, Pagliuso (that's Alex and Bree) and I have agreed to dig a little deeper with Bree's idea. She had suggested doing a docu on kids in Melbourne who learn English. The docu might possibly cover the teachers who give their time and energy to these wonderful and colourful kids.

I reckon we've got a gem here in our hands. But more on that soon when the team meets up tomorrow.

Sex with vegans docu

This should be interesting.

A documentary on why these vegans and vegetarians who're obviously off their meds have decided to forgo sex with humans who consume meat.

Well, let's just say they've discounted about 99% of the world population. Slim pickings indeed for them.

Looks like they'll be touching themselves a lot in the privacy of their own room.

Sex-less and loveless. Oh woe is you.

TV2 Groups

It's very important to have good mechanics with your team. The machine may not be well-oiled but if the parts are still in good condition, the car'll still run.

I've been paired (Okay, not really. Alex asked me.) with Alex and her smoking buddy Bree. For the lack of an operative word, smoking buddy will do for now. I haven't seen enough of Bree in campus in the last 12 months apart from fleeting glances at her.

I worked with Alex in Broadcast Media last year and I know she's a good worker. Reported to work in the cold, sick and couldn't give a rat's ass about the assignment yet she still put on a smile and showed lots of enthusiasm. Always turned up for lab work as well. Which scores high in my books. :O

Bree, I don't know. Easy on the eye, but comes highly recommended by Alex. So, I'm taking a leap of faith here.

Less people to work with this semester. But I already have an ally in Alex. Yay.

Docu Concept

"I feel slightly more empowered than most students as I’m a mature-aged student so I don’t have to put up with all the childish teenage ways that all adults had to go through. Teenagers are too fucking concerned about what people think of them to see what the fuck is actually happening. Because I’m past that stage, I have noticed lots of interesting facets of life that teenagers fail to see."

This is an area I'm really keen to explore. When asked to elaborate, I cited the rising cost of property prices in Melbourne and young Melburnians' apathy to their empty finance as a prime example.

I've spent the last three months looking for a house and find myself slapped in the face every weekend by the steep cost of property across Melbourne. I'm almost a decade older than all my uni mates, and I'm wondering how much they'll struggle to pay off their own homes in ten years' time.

Yet, alarmingly, these teenagers are completely oblivious to that, choosing instead to spend their hard-earned casual work money on booze and frivolous stuff. 95% of my uni friends under 20 have no money in their bank, with the other 5% more 'mature' ones having in excess of $10,000. Which is good. Pity there aren't more young Australians who possess that habit.

The idea is not set in stone. Perhaps I might focus more on the the activities adults my age USED to do and what they USED to believe was cool. When I look back at the stuff I've done, purchased or committed myself into, I laugh at my silliness. I'd like to use the documentary to give teenage university students an insight into what goes on in the mind of a mature-aged university student.

Couple of good ideas I reckon.

Integrated Media 2 LMFAO

Turns out, Media students this semester are playing a fucking free and bastardised version of The Sims in Integrated Media 2.

LMFAO. It's like Seth Keen and Co. can't afford to pay monthly fees, so instead of levelling up and spell-crafting in WoW, students now have to resort to short skirts and fake jobs to get their rocks off.

Seriously, WTF? This explains why all the Media students were talking about it last week. Cmon guys, I know the men have to suck in their tummies and the women have no boobs, but surely there're EASIER ways to score an easy fuck? And online??

Geme Neverwinter Nights 2 or Football Manager 2007 anyday.

Second Life. LOL.

Dear Christine R

"Hello Christine,

just wana congratulate you on your reference to Saturday's Stage 13's time trial of the Tour de France. Some of the hairpins were indeed slippery and the race leaders lost a lot of time. As a huge HUGE HUGE fan of the Tour, it's pleasing to hear it being mentioned in a lecture of all places. Music to my ears.

Been up every night watching it till 2am btw. Not good for the heart as I get excited and cheer for the riders. As a result I only fall asleep at around 4 as I feel like I just ran 10 miles.

Great lecture btw:O "

Lecture Two post-mortem

Christine R mentioned this today:
- Documentary is an intimate conversation
- Best documentaries tells you "This is the way I see the fucking world."
- To tell something original & unique

Well this is becoming easier than I had envisioned! Just do a documentary on myself! Seriously, I'm so bloody interesting. Here's why:

a) Mature-aged student with several years work experience. You 20yo kids wana know what the real world is like, flock to Big Brother here. There's a lot from where that came from.
b) Asian editor of a white people university magazine. Herro!? There's something not quite right there! Asians don't speak English!
c) Tactless - I say things that other people are too afraid to say. What're you gona do? Swallow your pride and take it to your grave?
d) I am extremely popular in campus. It's not who you know, but how much cock you've to suck. Okay don't quote me on that.
e) I collect action figures, quote Buffy lines, listen to dance music and shave my pubes.
f) I'm not gay.
g) If I were to be stranded on an island for a year and I was allowed to bring one essential along with me, it'd be moisturizer. Can't live with chapped skin.

With all these reasons above, I can think of so many permutations. Enough material for a three-season arc.

TV2 Errands Week Two Update

Ok. I've spoken to Paul and he's cool with me using my camera as it has widescreen and miniDV capabilities. Seriously, who would buy a 4:3 video camera!?

Also, I've attended the first two lectures with time to spare before Paul R, Dave C and Christine R started rapping their latest rendition of "Your Got To Fight For Your Right (To Party)"

Well-prepared & Punctual.

Fuck I'm good.

Theme for the TV2 Documentary is belief.

From The Free Dictionary:

be·lief (b-lf)

n.

1. The mental act, condition, or habit of placing trust or confidence in another: My belief in you is as strong as ever.

2. Mental acceptance of and conviction in the truth, actuality, or validity of something: His explanation of what happened defies belief.

3. Something believed or accepted as true, especially a particular tenet or a body of tenets accepted by a group of persons.

Belief is a word I hold very close to my heart. It's a word that has driven me to the ascending heights that I sit on today; without Belief I'd still be a boring Advertising Executive at the bottom end of the food chain in sterile and culture-less Singapore.

Here are ten things that I believe in. I live by it.

"I Believe..."
1) "...I have left a poorer country for a richer one. If I cannot exercise choice, there's no freedom."
2) "...I have witnessed the media manipulation by the autocratic regime. At least here in Australia, both parties get a fair go."
3) "...truth will always be a casualty in Singapore."
4) "...I can control my pursuit of truth. I can shape my own future, my own fame, my own accolades and my own destiny. All this in Australia."
5) "...I will not return to a country that practices meritocracy and considers anyone over 40yo as over the hill."
6) "...I can change the world 'coz I'm not in Singapore."
7) "...as a child, I was villified and heckled by other Singaporeans 'coz I am different. They're afraid of me. They're myopic and cannot see the forest for the trees. What do they know?"
8) "...I can practice my own beliefs, cultivate my personality, say what I want and not be afraid to be myself 'coz I'm not in Singapore."
9) "...I am fucking talented, in spite of my limited talent."
10) "...I deserve a chance to be here, 'coz Australia is my calling and I can make a difference."

"No hard feelings mate. i just thought the wrongs had to be made right again." - Lily Goh, 16 June.

None taken.

There were no wrongs in my post. All were assumptions, or has the vagaries of the English language gone out of your window lately?

Case(s) in point:

“As far as I know, ALL Prof Comm students are pursuing TV as an interest, but do not see TV as a career”

I represent all the Prof Comm students who have told me how challenging and richly rewarding it is to work with the Media kids as they get to see ideas and practices from peers. These are also the same kids who have professed no desire to work in the television industry, but only to learn the ropes. Having said that, you and I have not had enough conversations about what you - as a Prof Comm student - intend to do. Perhaps, if you spent less time knocking me for my beliefs (non-Christian, Asian racist or not), we'd be able to sort it out :) Nobody is right here, and nobody is wrong.

"...also do not find it difficult for any Prof Comm student to make input in discussions..."

You were speaking for yourself here Lily. How much feedback have you received from your fellow Prof Comm friends? As a member of the Student Staff Consultative Committees (SSCC) it is my job to check on my Prof Comm friends. I'm also speaking from the guy-about-town's opinion, as I'm quite the social butterfly in the Prof Comm circle. Or haven't you already discovered that? :O Well I'm glad that you and I do not have any problems with the Media kids. There are some out there who do. And I'm speaking for them.

"Lastly, i would just like to say that i think Bill is an amazing person and an amazing student slash team member..."

Not once did I mention Bill being egotistical male chauvinist who doesn't value Prof Comm opinions. What I said was "Perhaps he's an egotistical male chauvinist who doesn't value Prof Comm opinions..." I have not made any accusations nor have I put Bill up for slander. Look, I'm sure Bill is the bloody Messiah and the one to end all wars, but all I said was he has to put his emotions in check and realise that working in a team means to watch out for your team members as well.

Perhaps you have a counter-argument to mine. That's great. But do we need another Malaysia - Singapore spat here? Let our governments deal with that. Between the two of us, we have bigger fishes to fry :O

Looking forward to seeing you on Monday!

Yours sincerely,
John Ng
Catalyst editor 2007

Camera

Am all primed for the new semester. I can't wait to work with a new bunch of students. New ideas, new egos. Haha.

Having said that, I know I have to make up for the poor Credit for TV1. Armed with my miniDV camera - bought specifically to arrest any annoying camera borrowing debacle for TV2 - I'm ready to kick some arse.

Bring it on, documentary.

Credit

So I scored my credit for the semester. Am contented with the mark. No guilt, no need to lie through my teeth to justify a fake score. With the amount of work I've put in last semester across the board and working for a better resume, I'd say God Damn! the result was justified. Something had to give; can't be scoring four distinctions when you're the man about town aye?

Now, if only the rest of the students can justify their distinctions....what have you done to justify the score?

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.

Last Tute - I'll take the Credit

Have you ever had one of those days where you can't please anyone? I thought honesty was a much valued trait that humans honour; seems like people much rather lie through their teeth to please others or themselves. I just can't.

I cannot justify giving myself a Distinction. Then again, I don't know. I'm the only who gave myself a Credit in class, and I found some of the self-assessed marks from my peers rather suspicious. Some really do deserve their marks, no questions asked. But hey, such is life isn't it?

I've never felt so uncomfortable before. I'm always Mr Know-It-All in classes; TV1 just brought out the ugly monster in me. I could always go in a self-assessment tute and give myself a High Distinction with no objections. Just like how Matt did it. Confident, without blinking and cocky. But today, I felt objectified.

Strangely, I felt like one of those losers who don't turn up for all the lectures, all the tutes and relied solely on their project mates to carry their fucking ass to pass. One of my group mates in Broadcast Media last year comes to mind. Lecturer still passed him. Are you fucking kidding me?

Anyway, what's done is done. I have justified my score, but my actions and words are perhaps somewhat unwarranted. It just came out the wrong way.

Then again, how many International Students juggle a full-time load, maintain a Distinction average in the first two years and run a university magazine? Last I checked, it's just me. Seriously, try convincing a 19yo kid to do that, and he'll laugh at my face. Right. Coz wasting money on booze, casual sex and partying is more fun that going home, completely exhausted with uni work and magazine. If anything, I deserve a High Distinction for effort expended this semester alone across all four subjects.

LOL come to think of it that's pretty much what I do all day. I do need to devote more time next semester. Geez. I don't know how I'm going to pull that off. This semester corrupted my physical and mental health. But two semesters?

Might need a shrink.