Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Campaign diary 26/01/2010

After analysing the three campigns I decided to start working on an anti-drug campaign.
Then I started looking at some other examples, including campaign posters.
I then decided to work on my campaign. At the end of the lesson the first part of my campaign was completed on a sheet of A4 paper.
However I think there is much more that I can do on it to make it better and more informations to add, so I'll wait till our next lesson with Mandy so I can ask her some tips.

Timeline from research to launching my campaign

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Research activity A 21-01-10

What is your form of performance?
Our performance is a radio play

How did your chosen form begin?
It begins with a narration and then the first scene is inside an internet cafe'.

List the features of the form when it began.
When it began, the story didn't have any dialogue and it was short and streamlined.

How is it different now?
Now it's long and more detailed, it's got many dialogues and sound effects.

For each factor that is relevant, give an outline of how it has influenced the development of your chosen form.
1 Developing technology
In the beginning we wanted to do real sound effects during the performance and also use pre recorded sounds, but at the end we decided to get all the sound effects in the internet.
2 Social and cultural factors

3 Economic factors

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Campaign report

The three campaigns I found were: "act on CO2," "foundation for a drug free world" and "action on smoking and health". Three of them were found in the internet.

The first one is about the climate change and the CO2 emission. It's colourful, it's got images and texts. It's aimed to persuade adults and the youth and its message is eye catching and effective. It's an online campaign but I think it might be a good publicity to purchase on TV.

The second campaign is aimed to warn the youth about the effects of drugs on lives, about how they are dangerous on every aspect of life. It is really good and I think it might have a lot of successes with the youth because it communicates with them in the way they can understand without any problem.

The third is an anti-smoking campaign. It has got lots of text but no image. It's neither interesting nor catching. It's got many informations. It's aimed to adults and young people, but I don't think it might be successful between the youth.

THE MUSIC TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY 19-01-10

Task 1 Investigate the range of jobs in the Music Technology Industry.
-Engineer:
  • Sound engineer
  • studio engineer
  • audio engineer
  • music system engineer
  • studio recording engineer
  • maintenance engineer
  • acoustics engineer
-Directors and teachers:
  • music director
  • head of music
  • music teacher
  • nursery music and movement teacher
  • musical director
  • songwriting teacher/tutor
  • harmonica tutor
  • music production tutor
  • music school administrator
  • video guitar teacher
  • violin teacher
  • audio engineering lecturer
  • sax teacher
  • piano and keyboard teacher
  • talent recruitment manager
  • music business manager
  • marketing communication coordinator
  • producer
  • choral director
  • conductor
  • strings teacher
  • singing teacher
  • examiner GCE music
  • lecturer in sound and media production
  • casting director
  • marching band director
  • orchestra librarian
-Singers:
  • female singer
  • music band
  • solo singer
  • female lead vocalist
  • gospel choir
  • rock choir
  • mezzo soprano
  • tenor
  • bass
  • R&B singer
  • marching band
  • speaking singer
-Musicians and performers
  • pianist
  • musicians
  • guitarist
  • DJ
  • VJ
  • MC
  • dancer
  • dance development officer
  • choreographer
  • singer song-writer
  • actor musician
  • popular music performer
  • viola player
  • vocalist show team performers
  • organist
  • piano vocalist
  • jazz keyboardist
  • trombonist
  • bassist
  • drummer
  • cornet player
  • french horn player
  • oboe player
  • flautist
  • saxophonist
  • percussionist
  • radio announcer
  • Internet radio presenter
  • radio curator

Task 2 Select two and research the skills and experience required for each.
-Music director
Has to be a well qualified and inspirational musician ready to lead a thriving department with superb facilities.
A music director should have a Master of Fine Arts and Ph.D. in musical programs like conducting, music theory, music composition or in a specific instrument. A school Music Director requires at least a bachelor's degree in a music related field and a teaching credential from the school's state.
A fine Music director should have experience in orchestras, especially in conducting. A school Music Director will only need skills benefiting a teaching position.
Sometimes Music Directors gain additional training for writing, marketing or teaching or they take classes or seminaries in fundraising because they are often called on to perform those tasks.

-Female singer
Needs to be a strong singer with harmony experience, must be hardworking, with a good personalty, motivated and persistent , creative and resourceful, confident and able to accept criticism and willing to promote themselves to people such as bar owners and agents and should have a good memory for songs and music.
The singer should have knowledge of vocal and performance techniques, and correct breathing method, skills in interpreting music, good performance skills, excellent written and oral communication skills, organizational skills.

Task 3 Identify how you might normally apply for a job within the music industries.
If the applicant wants to apply online he has to register in a website for music jobs. Once he is a member he has to create a profile featuring pictures and mp3s, then browse and apply for current industry opportunities on the members Jobs Board. In this way he will know about any vacancy.
Many people get a job in the music industry because they know other people that are connected to it. Most a times it's just a fact of knowing the right people and to have luck.
It usually takes a lot of time to get a way in the music industry.
For example an unknown band might start their career by performing in pubs, or small places and maybe after several years they might be noticed by someone and then be sponsored.
Another example is the X Factor; many unknown singers and groups perform and compete and at the end there's one winner that will be sponsored for a year. Different people made their way through this program, even if they were not the winners.

Task 4 Identify recruitment practices for the two selected jobs
-Music director
There are many different types of music directors and different types of recruitment practices. The common method for the recruitment for music directors is:
  1. apply directly at the company, or school, or church;
  2. get an interview;
  3. take your CV, career development plan (short, middle and long term goal) and the application form for that job to the interview
-female singer
These are the same recruitment practices for every singer:
  1. apply through a website or straight from the manager;
  2. get an interview;
  3. get some evidences of performances, compositions, any work experience at the interview
  4. take your application form and CV to the interview.

Task 5 Research the pay scales for the two selected jobs
The average salary for a Music Director is around $50,000 per annum, but the salary depends on the experience.
The average salary for a female singer is around $35,000 per annum but it takes a lot of time before a singer starts earning much.
The average salary for a Music Director depends from where the subjects practices his profession: a Music director in an orchestra always earns more than a music director in a church.
The salary of a singer increases only if the singer is successful. If the singer gets a number 1 hit or if she sells many of her CDs her salary gets higher.

Task 6 Identify the training needed for the two selected jobs.
-To be a professional female singer the subject has to have a good and a strong voice. Many singers start out by singing in a church or in a small band. Most of them are trained in professional schools or with private teachers. Singers should have study drama and arts and follow a program for voice. Voice training is very good but sometimes training requirements depend on the field of music. Some people get a professional training such as the ones you can receive from a private singing teacher or more in a music university.
-To be a music director one has to possess Master of Fine Arts and doctorate degrees in music programs. A fine arts music director should have experience in orchestras and a prior conducting is essential. A school Music Director needs skills benefiting a teaching position and also a teaching credential from the school's state.
Music universities and their courses
Classical Literature & Civilization and Music
Drama and Music
English Language and Music
French Studies and Music
German Studies and Music
Hispanic Studies and Music
History and Music
Italian Studies and Music
Mathematics and Music
Modern Language with Music
Music
Music and Russian Studies
Music and Theology
English and Music
French and Music
German and Music
History and Music
History of Art and Music
Italian and Music A
Italian and Music B
Mathematics and Music
Music
Music and Philosophy
Music and Theology & Religious Studies
Music, Multimedia and Electronics
Popular and World Music
Music (Performance/Composition) (with foundation year)
Music (Performance/Composition)
Music and Event Management
Music Performance (Pop, Jazz, World, West, Urban)
Music Performance/Composition with Options
Music Technology
Music Technology and Music Perf/Comp
Music Technology and Pop Music Performance
Music Technology and Radio Broadcasting
Music Technology Specialist
Music Theatre
PopMusPerf (guitar, basso guitar, drums, vocals, key B)
Royal College of Music
Brass
Choral Conducting
Classical Accordion
Classical Guitar
Composition & Contemporary Music
Harp
Historical Performance
Jazz
Musical Theatre
Opera
Organ
Piano
Piano Accompaniment & Repetiteur
Studio Courses
Timpani & Percussion
Vocal studies
Woodwind

Task 7 Identify how to find out where work opportunities exist.
To find out where work opportunities exist people usually go to job centers or they look on advertisement boards or on work websites.
There are different mediums used to advertise job opportunities: magazines, newspaper, TV, advertisement boards, Internet (through different work websites), Job centers, and many others.




Monday, January 18, 2010

FINAL PREPARATIONS 18-01-10


What is your role in the performance project?
I am the producer, the director and also the second character.

Make a list of your main responsibilities
I have to set up the script, make sure everyone knows his or her part, make sure we have everything ready for the performance, direct the performance, be realistic while playing my part and encouraging others to do it as well.

List the task you will be undertaking in the final stage of the preparation process and during the performance itself. When does each of these tasks have to be completed?
Characterization of the voice, synchronization with the sound effects, make sure we have all the sound effects ready for the performance , make sure our voice is not covered by the sound effects. We should be in able to do all this before our last performance.

Make a list of the resources you will be using
Computer, microphones.

How will you make sure that you are working safely in the final stages of the preparation progress and during the performance itself?
Being careful in the studio, use the equipment well and carefully.

AIMS OF A PERFORMANCE 18-01-10


What is the theme of the piece?
The story is all about a young girl who is always at the computer. One day a stranger persuade her to go to his house and at the end no one knows what happened to her.

Why did we choose the theme?
Because nowadays many young people spend a lot of time at the computer and they don't think to the consequences of many of their acts.

Who is it for?
I think it's mainly, if not only, for teenagers.

What do we want our piece to do?
To inform and educate.

Thursday, January 14, 2010

The beginnings of performance 14-01-10


FORMS OF PERFORMANCE

WHEN AND WHERE THE FORM ORIGINATED

EARLY EXAMPLES

PAOPLE WHO WERE INVOLVED AT THE BIGINNING

Blues music

Within the American communities in the Deep South of the United States at the end of the 19th century

Memphies Blues, St Louis Blues, Beale Street Blues, Loveless Love,.....

George W Johnson,Charley Patton, Son House, Robert Johnson,and other performaers

Melodrama

In Europe, especially France and England during the late eighteenth century.

Sigismundus, Pygmalion, Ariande auf Naxos, Medea, Zaide, Fidelio, Der Freischütz

Johann Eberlin, Jean-Jacques Roussau, Anton Schweitzer, Georg Benda, Mozart, Beethoven, Weber

Morality plays

In Europe during the 15th and 16th century

The Second Shepherd’s Play, Hickscorner

Dominican and Franciscan Monks

Classical ballet

Late 15th century in Italy

Russian ballet, Italin ballet, French ballet and British ballet

Enrico Cecchetti, Agrippina Vaganova, Jean-Georges Noverre, Christoph Gluck.

Ragtime music

African American music in the late 19th century

Maple Leaf Rag, All Coons Look Alive To Me, The Entertainer

Scott Joplin, Ernest Hogan

Sattriya dance

15th century by Srimanta Sankardeva

Apsara Nritya, Jhumutra, Sutradhara


Lindy hop

New York City in the 1920s and 30s


“Shorty” George Snowden, Big Bea, Little Bea,...

Restoration comedy

In England from 1660 to 1710

The Country Wife, Provoked Wife, The Rover, The Wife's Excuse

Nell Gwin, Elizabeth Barry, Anne Bracegirdle and Susanna Mountford

1980s alternative comedy

UK 1980s

Beyond the Fringe, That was the week that was, Q5

Ben Elton, Paul Merton,...

Punk Rock

USA,UK and Australia, 1974-1976

Oi! Oi! Oi! Oi!, Horses, Hey Joe, Piss Factory

Patti Smith, the Velvet Underground, the Dolls Of New York, the Ramones, McLaren, Bernie Rhodes.

Britpop

In the UK in the early 1990s

Popscene, The Drawners

Blur, Lush, Suede, Elastica, Buzzcocks, Autuers, Sleeper, Who, The Small Faces

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Evaluation of the recorded performance 5-01 10

AFTER THE FIRST PERFORMANCE
I think our first recorded play went quite well, but it could have been better.
Generally the characters were successful in playing their parts. We had planned to have music at the beginning and at the end, but for various reasons it was not possible and I think the radio play would have sounded better with it.
The part of the narrator and the dialogues were quite clear and expressions were good.
The sound effects were present and they were put in the right place and at the right time.
If we were able to do it again then I think we should add some music at the beginning and at the end and maybe even some more sound effects.
When we were planning the play we never thought of including incidental music, so I don't think we should look at the possibility of putting it in the play into consideration.
AFTER THE SECOND PERFORMANCE
In this second performance we didn't have any live sound effect , because we preferred to get recorded sound effects from the internet.
They were actually good and we tried to synchronies our parts with them so i.e. we would not talk while the phone is ringing.
Before performing we prepared the music for the beginning and the end, but at the end we were not able to transfer the music into the PC in the studio.
Although the music was absent I think the performance was well done.

Monday, January 4, 2010

My radio play character description

My role in the radio play isn't only the one of the producer and director, but I am also a character.
My character is a young girl and she's the main character's friend. She' s not got a name, in fact she's known only as "Lauren's friend".
She was born in London and she has always lived in the same house and city. Now she' s 16 and she goes to Lauren's college and she's a hard working student. She spends more time on books rather than on computers, as Lauren does. She's friendly and nice but can be nosy and pessimistic.
In the radio play my character plays the part of the friend who tries to help the protagonist in different ways, especially by warning her of the danger she might be in.
While playing her part I had to change my voice according to the requirements of the script. At different times during the play I had to be happy, facetious, curious, surprised, annoyed, angry and every time I had to do it as realistically as possible.

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Evaluation of the southbank guide

In order to work out a Southbank guide we decided to visit Southbank as a class, so we could know what attracts young people. We went all around the place asking information about the interests of the young people, taking photographs and collecting leaflets. The Southbank guide is all about events for people aged 16-19 years old, and as I am 16 I chose things that would interest me.

I decided my guide would be about skateboarding, graffiti, 4-D cinema, London Aquarium, art and the London Eye because I think they're the things young people are interested in and when we went to Southbank I saw that these things were more appreciated by young people. The first things I started working on were the images to put in, the text, the writing style and the colours.

After deciding the topics of the leaflet I looked at different layouts and thought about which would be better for my guide. First of all I experimented with "Illustrator", but after having some problems trying to modify the pictures I decided to use "Fireworks"because I was more familiar with it and I knew how to do whatever I needed to do. Fireworks was good, but it had to be printed out separately, which added to my work, but I can still say that it helped me a lot and it made my work easier.

The text is simple and straight forward: it gets to the main point without too many words.
The layout is simple and it has examples of the sponsored events.

According to the poll I did about my Southbank guide and to what people say, the guide is good.

Having a look at my guide I think I can say that all the information required is present and that the text goes straight to the point, but if I was given the opportunity to improve it I would change some things, for example, some colours of the text to make it easier and clearer to read.

southbank guide


Wednesday, December 16, 2009

16th December 2009 performance diary

Today we tried to do the best for the radio play to seem more real, so after Mr Smith gave us some hints we tried to say our parts without reading.
Tomorrow we'll try to do everything better

Thursday, November 26, 2009

26/11/2009

Sound effects happen in two different ways.
1. Live sound
2. Pre recorded sound
Make a list of all the sound effects your plan needs. Include what materials/props are required, plus when and where any recording is to be done.

Monday, November 23, 2009

SCENE + music effects

(Initial music from Patrick's logic pro)
The name of the story is The stranger

PRODUCER:
Emmanuela
DIRECTOR: Emmanuela
MUSIC AND SOUND EFFECTS: Patrick
NARRATOR: Susan
LAUREN: Falak
LAUREN'S FRIEND: Emmanuela


This is the story of a teenage girl whose life was going smoothly.
Her name was Lauren and she was always on the computer...... In the daytime, after school, she was in an internet cafe' and in the evening she was at home. If she had homework to do or something to study, she used to do everything at school or late in the night.
One day she was in the internet cafe' ( sound effect of a crowded place and someone typing something at the computer)(the noise of a crowd and of a door that opens and closes frequently goes throughout the story) when she signed up on a website that changed her life. That website was "FACEBOOK". While Lauren was using facebook one of her friends entered the cafe to greet her.(sound effect of a door that opens)(recorded sound effect of someone walking into a cafe)
"hi darling are you Ok?"
"yeah and you?"
"I'm good"
"what are you doing?"
" I'm using Facebook........I just signed in......I think you too have to join it"
"yeah maybe...but not today...you know some people, and I repeat,some people spend some hours for studying and now I have to go home"
"Ok sweetie bye" "go and study!"
"Bye" (sound effect of someone walking out of the cafe and of a door that opens and closes)
Everyday she was having many friends on Facebook.
One day she received a friend request from someone who claimed to be her friend.
She accepted the request.
He wrote her sweet things and she liked it.
" Ooh this guy is so sweet! No one has ever been so nice to me !"
She believed all his words. (there is a pause of 5 seconds: the sound of the crowd and of the door stops)
One day he decided to give her a date........in his house.
Some days later Lauren's friend called her on her mobile: "hey...how are you?"
"fine and you?"
"so so....how I feel depends from what you'll soon tell me!"
"What's the matter?"
"you know the guy you told me about the other day?"
"yes ...and then?"
"someone told me...,correct me if I'm wrong, that he gave you a date at his house and you accepted...is it true?"
"who told you that?"
"it doesn't matter...I just want to know if it's true"
(no sound during these last beats)
"so?"
"yes,....it's true"
"are you mad? you don't even know him!"
"well I don't think it's your business, after all I am the one who has a date!
"don't go, you don't really know him.....what if something happens to you??... don't go...". She continued telling her this, Lauren always replied saying " don't worry... nothing will happen to me!", and at the end her friend gave in.
Lauren liked him and trusted him so much that she was determined to go.
(recorded sound effect of an outdoor ambient with cars going on the road and some other noise)The day of the date she left home in time.(the sound of someone walking in a street) (sound of someone knocking at a door and after the noise of the door that squeaks ) (a door opens)She entered in his house and it was in darkness...........( recorded sound effect of someone walking in a room with fear)(the door shuts)and never came out .
(ending music from Patrick's logic pro)

Thursday, November 19, 2009

class work- radio performance 19-11-09

Today is the first time all the group components are present.
After dividing each part I started adding some dialogues because Mr Smith told us it would have been better and we changed the venue from a room to an internet cafe.
Next time we are going to see if we need to modify the dialogues then we'll start putting all together.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Script Music Effect 17-11-09

Today, after making some changes to the script we started to think to the music effect individually.
The scene will have a slow and repetitive melody, that will go from the beginning ,and then stop in the middle of the story, just when the tension starts

Character description

PRODUCER: Emmanuela
DIRECTOR: Emmanuela
MUSIC AND SOUND EFFECTS: Patrick
NARRATOR: Susan
LAUREN: Falak
LAUREN'S FRIEND: Emmanuela

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

New unit: SCENE 10-11-09

Today I had to look in my local newspaper website to find out how for the last week how I would access some activities in my area, but I didn't found anything so I changed the area to Sidcup.
I looked on the News shopper and found that there is a Symphony orchestra concert,

The script

THE STRANGER

This is the story of a teenage girl whose life was going smoothly.
Her name was Lauren and she was always on the computer...... in the daytime, after school, she was in an internet cafe' and in the evening she was at home. If she had homework from school or something to study, she was used to do everything at school or late in the night.
One day she was in the internet cafe' when she signed up on a website that changed her life. That website was "FACEBOOK". While Lauren was using facebook one of her friends entered in the cafe to greet her.
"hi darling are you Ok?"
"yeah"
"what are you doing?"
"ooh I'm using Facebook........I just signed in......I think you too have to join it"
"yeah maybe...but not today...you know some people, and I repeat,some people spend some hours for studying."
"ok sweetie bye" "go and study!"
After a while she started having many friends on it.
That day she received a friend request from someone who claimed to be her friend.
She accepted the request.
He wrote her sweet things and she liked it.
" Ooh this guy is so sweet! No one have ever been so nice with me !"
She believed all his words.
One day he decided to meet her........in his house.
When her friend heard it she continued telling Lauren: "don't go, you don't really know who he is .....don't go...". Every time her friend said like this Lauren always replied saying " don't worry... ", and at the end her friend quitted.
But she liked him and trusted him so much that she decided to go.
That day she left home in time. She entered in his house........... and never came out.