Valerie’s Weblog

Modern integrated media allows us to enhance and add more value to a movie or major film by forms such as additional content on DVD releases or websites. A major advantage of DVD Videos is that its storage capacity allows more added features in addition to the feature film itself. These features can include audio commentaries that are timed to the film sequence, interviews, commentaries by producers, cast members and directors, deleted scenes, photo galleries, storyboards, isolated music scores, trivia text commentary, simple games, film shorts and most commonly theatrical trailers and teaser trailers. In 2002, Miramax released a collector’s series of A Hard Day’s Night . It is a 1964 British comedy film written by Alan Owen, directed by Richard Lester and starring The Beatles: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. The film was successful both financially and critically and was rated by TIME magazine as one of the all-time favourite 100 films. The film is credited with having influenced 1960s spy films, The Monkees’ television show and pop music videos. The two-disc set included additional content on the second disc.

The second disc (or bonus) features to A Hard Day’ Night added extra depth understanding to the film. It includes interviews with filmmakers: Richard Lester, Sir George Martin, Denis O’Dell, and David Picker. These exclusive interviews give the audience insight on the creative process of the film and reasons for their directional choices. For example, eye contact between the Beatles is very common in the film. Richard Lester, director of The Running, Jumping and Standing Still Film, mentions his interview that the reason for this in the film was to create surrealism “…the point at which two concentric realities meet…” and to emphasis identical similarities between of the Beatles. Commentaries by the filmmakers gives the viewer a better understanding of scenes that need further interpretation, and also provides more of an intellectual insight in the creative process of the film. Clearly, the audience can appreciate the movie less superficially by this type of added content.

Added content gives value to the DVD and also an incentive for consumers to buy the film. The filmmakers, cast, production crew, and post production crew were filmed exclusively for the 2002 DVD re-release of A Hard Day’s Night, therefore the interviews would not be available anywhere else. Also, it gives a unique personal perpective of their experiences. Another means of adding value to a movie or film is a website. Games, bloopers and galleries provide extra entertainment, especially for younger ages. It can provide a user a branding experience of the film or DVD, introduce new products relating to the movie, provide information of the movie and also a convenient way of ordering the product online. Another film by the Beatles called Yellow Submarine is a 1968 animated feature film based on their music. The film is directed by Canadian producer George Dunning. The movie is about a fictional place called Pepperland located under the sea. It is a fun peaceful place that is protected by Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Heart Club Band and is attacked by the Blue Meanies.

An interactive website was created for the launch of Apple’s first publication of the new picture book version based on the animated film Yellow Submarine. The flash site allows the user to play actual games within the site and download puzzles. The site opens up with an introduction of the film and the new book. The left tab, when clicked on, provides links to downloadable games such as mazes, word searches, and coloring books. The site itself is one whole flash game. A target window is placed in the center of the scene and its view can be controlled by the arrow keys. You can shot a Blue Meanie by pressing the space bar; the more Meanies you find and shoot, the more points you get.

The games on the website target a younger audience and creates excitement for the new launching of the book. It allows a user to interact with the theme of the site and include the user in the actually story: it virtually places the user in the Yellow Submarine and fight against the music hating Blue Meanies. Involvement with the story by means of interacting creates a more intimate and personal experience with it; your interaction with the story effects its continuity and outcome. The site provides both a “lean forward” and “lean back” interaction, which causes the user to be more active with the site and increases their excitement.

Websites can introduce, give information, enhance the branding experience of a film and provide a convenience means of purchasing the DVD. Additional features on a DVD can serve as an incentive for a consumer to buy the product and also provide a better understanding and interpretation of the film and therefore create a better appreciation of the film. Evidently, both media properties contribute by adding value to its main story or subject.

Stephen Boyd is a graduate of Waterloo University with a degree in Environmental studies. However, Boyd had an artistic endeavor. Stephen is Centennial’s Digital Artist-in-Residence and specializes in designing interactive experiences for public spaces and events.

Steven uses math or algorithms with pixels to create beuatiful colourful abstact images. His work includes peices such as Declare 1 in which he uses the declaration of independance. By rewriting the pixels on the photo, it mimics the texture of cloth.

Steven’s Tsu Ean which was created by running an interpretation of the population density of the north eastern US. The abstract image looks like wavey strands of dark hair.

In addition to art work and istallations, he works with clients by implementing technology for them.

Jim Babbage gave the Interactive Digital Media class an informative talk on his expertise on Abobe Foreworks. However, his expterise isn’t just limited to this softeare program. Jim’s knowlede extends to Dreamweaver, Photoshop, Acrobat, Web Design, Imaging, Commercial Digital Photography Immersive Imaging and Design.

Not only does Jim teach imaging, web design and photography at the School of Communications, Media and Design at Centennial College, he is also co-owner of NewMedia Services in Toronto

Jim taught the advantages of Fireworks as a great way to show prototypes of websites to thier clients. Clients can also change and add content with fireworks.

Candace Lee, a regular guest speaker at Centennial College, has appeared in events such as the Hybris Media Panel in October 2006. Recently, she gave an informative talk to the students in the New Digital Media Program at the college. She was a Multi-Media Producer at CanWest Interactive and a graduate of the joint New Media Program at Centennial and the University of Toronto.

During her talk, Candace shares her experience with the New Media class. She emphasis the importance that there is a need for good quality online content. Also, she states that strong video content will be will be very important for websites in the near future.

Candace also spoke about advertising online. She says that advertiser have a “unique opportunity to reach an audience” either at a micro or macro level. They can go beyond mere banner ads or button links.

Lastly, Candace share with us the dos and don’t of a first job:
be compent, always deliver, pick a company that is a reputable and always have a positive attitude.

Although coffee is mostly consumed for its stimulant caffiene, there are other benefits and risk associated with coffee.

For example, coffee contains the anticancer compound methyloyridinium which is an antioxidant not found in significants amounts in other foods. Coffeee also reduces heart disease and rids the blood of lipids. It is also a laxative which is considered to reduce constapation. Many people use it as an enema to cleanse the colon.

However, there are risks to this powerful stimulant. It can cause anxiety and irritability and of course insomnia. Also, coffee might put people in risk of high blod pressure. Coffee might also cause coronary artery didease.

Fair Trade is a social movement which promotes fair wages to farmers who produce commodities such as coffee, nuts, tea, bananas. sugar, cotton, cocoa etc.

FINE created the most widely recognized definition of fair trade , Association of the four main fair trade networks: Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International, International Fair Trade Association, Network of European Worldshops and European Fair Trade Association):

“Fair trade is a trading partnership, based
on dialogue, transparency and respect,
which seeks greater equity in international
trade. It contributes to sustainable development
by offering better trading conditions to,
and securing the rights of, marginalized
producers and workers – especially in the
South. Fair trade organizations (backed by
consumers) are engaged actively in supporting
producers, awareness raising and in
campaigning for changes in the rules and
practice of conventional international trade.”

For those who want to support Fair Trade, watch for Fairtrade labelling. The product must carry either the International Fairtrade Certification Mark or the Fair Trade Certified Mark, it must come from FLO-CERT inspected and certified producer organizations. Fairtrade certification guarantees not only fair prices but also ensuring crops grown and harvested in accordance with the international Fairtrade standards set.

Coffee can be seen in almost every aspect of our lives. We drink coffee with pasteries, cakes and sandwiches. We drink coffee almost every morening to give us that caffeine perk.We drink coffee as a means to socialize with friends at cafes and restaurants We serve coffee to our guests as a good host or hostess should. Coffee comforts our being and arouses our senses. We cannot deny that coffee isn’t just any beverage we consume; it is an integral part of our daily lives.

Where does coffee come from? Brewing coffee first began in Etheopia. Legend says that a shepherd in Ethiopia found his goats chewing on the leaves of an unkown plant. The goats then began to be excited. He be began eating the berries of the plant and felt energetic and exhilerated.

Ethiopians talk much pride in thier coffee. When they drink coffee, it is usualy communal meaning they gather together as the mistress prepares the brew. First she roasts the beans when they are green. As the beans are being roasted, she spreads the aroma of the smoke in front everyone being served. After, she grinds the beans then brews it then serves the coffee in small ceramic cups. Before dinking the coffee, it is usualy preceeded by prayers.

Coffee eventually spread to Egypt and Yemen, and by the 15th century, it had reached the rest of the Middle East, Persia, Turkey, and northern Africa. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:PalestineCafe.jpg