Media Monday #16: Research and choices and stuff

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Probably no secret that I always wonder if I’m actually any good at anything I do. It’s like, what, my whole blog?

I like using my blog as a place for reflection. It’s actually been really helpful, digging my way through piles of jumbled thoughts – have found some interesting things come out.

I hate research. Jesus, I’ve written that all over social media lately, Facebook and Twitter and Instagram (my first proper ‘selfie’, all in the name of procrastinating – you get how dire the situation was). So now the clear next place to go is here!

Now, hold up – researching has been bleh, and always has been really, but I HAVE learned some interesting things…like…yeah.

You know what I did today? Today I locked in my preferences for next semester’s Production Project 2 subject. It’s…well, it’s not a life changing decision, but for some reason it’s still nagging at me like it is one. One of my tutors made a joke about being able to change preferences if we ‘wake up in a cold sweat’, and I laughed heartily – but now I realise it may be needed! :P Ha ha, maybe not really. Maybe.

I ended up going like this:

  1. Online video
  2. Fiction
  3. Documentary
  4. Sound

No surprises on my last preference, ha ha!

When the preference slips were first handed out, gee whiz I was so sure that fiction would come first. Gee whiz, does gee whiz look stupid in writing. Anyway. I was so sure, and it was the first pitched thing, so I was like BOOM DONE. Then the pitch for online video happened, and I guess I was swayed? One of the first things mentioned was MAKING MAKING MAKING, and I was thinking YES PLEASE. One of the reasons why I despair so much regarding research is because I like making things. That’s all I want to do – make stuff happen. Preferably, actually, I’d love for people to be like ‘yo Thao, make this for me, here’s an outline, go nuts’, and I’ll reply ‘yes!’. And then hopefully they like it, get me to tweak it, and things are awesome. (Have been fortunate enough to have this happen. I enjoyed it a lot.)

Re: online video, was also mentioned that it’s very much about aesthetics, poetics…that’s ace! Can totally get behind that.

I’m on the fence about the claim that it’s not that structured as, understandably, a fiction film production process. On one hand, the idea of ‘PLAY! Let’s play! Wooooo!’ is excellent, and if this is what I think it is, things will be short and snappy and have tons of potential. On the other hand…I’ve whinged about lack of structure before. Vagueness and hand waving. I’m feeling that way about certain things right now, actually. I do like plans, most of the time? Though we will be working with a client, which is nice – and also close to the ‘yo Thao, make this for me’ thing?

Whatevs really. I suppose it’s always about what you make of things. I’m hoping that I’ve made the right choice – my main concern was picking the best thing in terms of quality of life for next semester. :P

So many things due. So many meetings to have…sometime…

This has been a rambling, ‘I hope I am good at media’ post.

Top Ten Thursday #9: Life Lessons From Songs

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Top Ten Life Lessons From Songs

  1. I won’t worry my life away – The Remedy (I Won’t Worry) by Jason Mraz
  2. Be your own hero/Be your own saviour/Send all your suffering into the fire – Lycanthropy by Patrick Wolf
  3. It’s always better on holiday/So much better on holiday – Jacqueline by Franz Ferdinand
  4. Roses really smell like poo-oo-ooo – Roses by OutKast
  5. I fell into dark times but you were there to help me through – Fall Of ’82 by The Shins
  6. Save some face/You know you’ve only got one – Smile Like You Mean It by The Killers
  7. You’ve gotta be tenacious/Have charisma/But most importantly/You’ve gotta have ‘it’ – Lazy River (Beyond The Sea film/soundtrack version)
  8. I could have been a famous singer/If I had someone else’s voice – Road To Joy by Bright Eyes
  9. Take a chance you stupid ho – What You Waiting For? by Gwen Stefani
  10. Nobody is an island/Everyone has to go – Driftwood by Travis

Weekend Words #17: Kinda sorta nearly twenty

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I turn 20 in two days. 20. A new decade. How’s that work? It’s been like, nearly ten years since this has happened to me!*

I don’t remember much about turning ten. Naturally, typically, the thing that made me feel ok with attaining double digits was realising that I would be the same age as Bart Simpson. When I turn 20, who will I relate to? Or is the point that at 20, I’m supposed to just want to relate to myself?

Oooooh, deep. But I can’t go any deeper, ’cause I’m fallin’ asleeeeeeep. I most definitely sung that in my head as I typed.

Seriously though, zzz.
Really, things are pretty swell all up.

*Badum tisssshhhh

Tunes Tuesday #18: Jason Mraz

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Short post ’cause I’m a little behind schedule for homework tonight, oops!

I went to see Jason Mraz last night with my sister, what a great gig. He is such an awesome performer!! Also totally loved his percussionist, Mona – I watched her for ages, she’s amazing! My sis introduced me to Mraz’s music quite a long time ago, and (as I’ve told her) when I think of her + music I think of Mraz and Travis. :D I’ve babbled on about music/memory/identity lots in previous posts, and all that stuff applies here. Really happy I got to go with her!

Here’s one of my favourite Mraz songs. :)

Media Monday #15: The nostalgia of TV

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Note: Officially changed to Media Monday – all of the old Movie Monday posts retain their titles, but are in the new category.

In my Media Industries course this semester, we’re researching media issues – here’s one of my posts about TV from my uni blog. It’s been slightly edited so that it makes a bit more sense for anyone reading who isn’t in my class…

The nostalgia of TV, and preserving the experience: most of us have abandoned watching traditional TV for whatever reason, but are still interested in it. Is it because of nostalgia?

My answer is yes, absolutely – childhood nostalgia for the ritual.

When I was a kid, I woke up at 7am (a feat that is pretty damn tough nowadays) every single Saturday morning to watch cartoons on Saturday Disney. I would always be the first one up, and was highly connected to the ritual that I had. I looked forward to it every week. In fact, the ritual was one of the many ways that I bonded with my future brother in law. It makes me smile thinking about it – I was so excited to find out that he enjoyed cartoons too, and every time he stayed over at our house he would wake up early to watch with me. I grew up with Lilo and Stitch, Kim Possible, Dave the Barbarian, Teacher’s Pet…

Pretty much my favourite was The Proud Family. I mean, come on – the theme song is by Destiny’s Child! And it was consistently bloody hilarious.

After Saturday Disney I’d watch Video Hits on Channel 10 – aside from a couple of brilliant years where it was JTV (the Triple J music video show) that always came next. I adored JTV. I got my dog on there twice from entering funny photos of him for competitions, I was so proud. :) JTV also introduced me to LOTS of new music, though funnily enough it was Video Hits that first got me into more rock/alternative stuff by showing The Fallen by Franz Ferdinand (still one of my absolute favourite bands). That communication of new music is certainly something TV did for me that has affected my life.

Cheez TV was and will forever be the classic weekday morning show. Again, I’d wake up early to watch cartoons like Pokemon (the best!) before primary school. And Hamtaro. And Yu-Gi-Oh, holy crap was I obsessed with that at one stage.

The Simpsons of course must have a mention (when talking about anything really, not just TV ;) ). 6pm on Channel 10, anyone?? Though the episode ‘Rosebud’ (with Mr. Burns’ teddy bear) was shown aaaallllll the time, it didn’t matter. My favourite show in the world, always on at that time*, like a familiar friend with arms wide open.

Recollections of the TV rituals I took part in have become great memories. Reliability and consistency is a vital element to having FOND memories; as I mentioned in class, my attempts to follow the show 24 every week was what made me start to crack in terms of watching TV on TV. The timeslots changed too often, and my ritual for that particular show was shattered. Having been so engaged with the show up to that point, I found it too annoying to put up with. As mentioned in discussion, you practically plan your entire week around the shows that you watch.

It’s very clear to me (and probably very clear to anyone reading this, seeing as I unintentionally got very memory-happy just then) that nostalgia and a sense of ritual is a huge asset to TV.

*I remember feeling relieved that I’d already ‘given up on TV’ and had access to online viewing and DVDs when Channel 10 pulled The Simpsons from 6pm…

Weekend Words #16: What matters

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In a nutshell: today was pretty awful.

It started off well, and did have a few good moments, but all in all it was rough, and strange. It was like being in a nice car and enjoying the view before the driver suddenly pushes the button that makes your seat eject.

Everyone is ok, and I’m very thankful for that. I was told that everything would be ok, and I did know it would be, but occurrences like today’s stir up a lot of emotions and thoughts that you wish you wouldn’t think. It’s scary to be worried about the people you love the most.

The silver lining is that you really, really understand what matters.