Monday, April 13, 2009

Spotlight on Service

My slideshow will feature a leader from the Towson club, Circle K. This club is completely devoted to community service and volunteerism. In fact, the organization has volunteer activities scheduled five to six days a week!

I have been in communication with three leaders from this service organization, but I will focus on Jess Dugger, Vice President of Service. She is quite active and cares about her community. This past weekend, I was on my way to take pictures of a tree-planting, but it was rained out. Regardless, highlights of the slideshow are pictures of Jess volunteering and examples of her leadership skills. She currently plays Bingo with senior citizens and is passionate about working with animals.

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Three Video Editing Techniques

CNN is featuring a two-minute video story on American Apparel, an up-and-coming clothing brand, which has increased profits despite a recession. The story features three components of video editing that we are learning in our MCOM class.

Matched Action: Surprisingly, I had to watch seven videos before I found matched action, but two instances stick out in this story. First, a wide shot shows a cashier at the register. Then a tight shot shows her hands as she takes a credit card and counts money. Second, a wide shot shows a seamstress at her work station. Then a tight shot shows her hands guiding fabric into a sewing machine.

Movement: The short report focuses on CEO, Dov Charney, "a man with so much energy it's hard to keep him still, even for an interview," reporter Jason Carroll says. This vibe is captured in movement. Even the actualities--which have the potential to be boring--build momentum because Carroll interviews Charney while walking. Other content, such as money counting and sewing machine, is fast-paced.


Mood: Three factors help create a specific mood. First the editor has mixed in hip-hop music. Second, most shots are only two to five seconds long. Third, the camera tends to pan quickly across subject in directions that change from left-right to up-down. When these techniques combine with animated subject matter, the result is a fun and upbeat story that is easy to watch.