Advice for New Directors....and for Life in General

The past year I have had the privilege to help train new directors in Cedarville's video booth. While I've already shared much of my advice with the new directors, I've found it really applies to live outside the booth as well.

1) You're always learning.
        Never think you're finished because that's the moment you'll truly learn how little you know. In the video booth, this lesson comes in waves. You may learn proper framing and even create some fantastic transitions, but looking back none of those awesome shots were to the pace of your music. Perhaps you've mastered the art of cutting on a speaker's pauses...but what do you do when they refuse to slow down?
        This is a pretty simple translation to life; take everything in. No matter how old you are, how many books you've read on the subject or how many years you've been in the business-there is always more to learn.

2) Anyone can be a teacher.
        It's not just enough to be willing to learn, you also have to be willing to learn from anyone. Don't think so highly of yourself (or lowly of others) that you find yourself dismissing their opinions. Some people are gifted with talent and just because they've only been on crew for two weeks doesn't mean they don't have good shot ideas or that they can't handle themselves on a T-bar.
        Anyone who's worked in 3D can appreciate the idea of perspectives. If you only use one, you're only seeing part of the answer, but opening yourself up to all viewpoints and taking in multiple opinions is invaluable in gaining a fully detailed render. I mean where would we be without the 'marketplace of ideas'? (Shout out to those in the trenches of Media Law with me).

3) Watch the Program Monitor!!!!
        I have told this to every single one of the new directors I train and it is very easy to spot those who've chosen to ignore it. I took a couple semesters to figure this lesson out myself, but once I realized it my directing grew by leaps and bounds. There are a lot of screens to watch during an event. Between 4-6 cameras, possibly a graphic, maybe a playback or two and then the big ones: Your preview and program screens. I speak from experience when I say I understand getting caught up in all the other shots to care once something goes live...but that's completely missing the point! You're job as a director is not really to call shots, but to create transitions. How is your first shot going to transition into the next and then the next and then the next. You have to position the framing and direct the movement to align so once those shots gets to the program monitor (what is actually seen by the audience) you've made magic. Don't get distracted by all the little things to miss the big picture in the end!
         Life doesn't have multiple camera angles or a playback feed to worry about, but that does't mean it lacks details. Especially a time like college, when work and homework seem to never end; when professors are grading on minuscule grammar corrections and warning you about the importance of a well prepared resume-it can be difficult to see what all the hassle is for. Don't forget to take a deep breath and always glance at the program monitor.

4) Review the tape
       This is my final piece of advice for anyone wanting to learn the skill of directing live video. Yes, you're directing live, but that doesn't mean your lessons stop when the event is over. Watch over your reel! Most of what I learned came from watching my own footage and seeing my own mistakes. Even watching my directing of a youth camp from last March vs. a youth camp in Aug I can see an enormous amount of improvement in my directing style. I was more on beat, I was more confident, I kept an eye on program and I didn't hesitate.
        One of the best ways to learn is to make (and recognize) your mistakes. It's a scary concept, but it's very effective. Sometimes reading it in a book isn't enough to cement it in our brains. Even writing a paper on a subject may not guarantee that it sticks around after we've turned the assignment in. But somehow, making a mistake and acknowledging it seems to leave a little voice in the back of our conscious that's always there to remind us. Whether you choose to listen to that voice is a separate blog post all together!

Below is a clip my shader took of me during Lift Camp this past August. The bigger image on the left is preview, the bigger video image on the right is program- Notice where my eyes are! (When they're not trying to find a button that is) Also, I make a mistake near the end, but I recover and I paid more attention to what buttons I pressed in the future! See...always learning!

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=822668749484&set=vb.141301058&type=2&theater

It is our Light, not our Darkness that most frightens us

I received the most adorable pair of boots for my birthday this year and I wear them all the time. Why is this important enough for a blog post? I'm six foot tall and my boots have heels on them. I've always gotten comments about my height, especially when I was younger. Apparently, because I don't have a Y- Chromosome, I shouldn't surpass 5'9''. Sorry boys. Seeing as I already have a height advantage on most men my age, I get even more comments when I wear my heels. What do I have to say in response? Catch Up.

I like wearing heels. They improve my posture, give me confidence and they make my butt look fantastic - why should I be depraved this feminine joy?

When I think about this issue it brings to mind a popular excerpt from the book 'Return to Love' by Marianne Williamson ( http://www.squidoo.com/our_deepest_fear ). "Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you." Yes, my heel issue is a very literal application of this quote, but let's try to expand shall we?

Have you ever felt that you should hide your talent because of those around you? It sounds like a silly suggestion, but I know there are those out there who understand. Maybe you were the smartest in class and the other kids teased you until you got B's like the rest of them. Perhaps there was an opportunity for promotion, but you didn't take the initiative to apply for it. Or maybe you were given an opportunity to really go for your dreams, but you hesitated. Why do we do this? Everyone thinks people fear failure, but as Marianne points out, success is scary too. "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate, our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure."

Most people don't want to be picked out of a crowd or have the spotlight shine on them-they'd rather just blend in. Anyone who knows me knows I'm not one of these people, but that doesn't mean I haven't hesitated once or twice before. Success doesn't just mean better pay or your picture in the paper, it means attention and with that attention, responsibility. Once you reach a level of success you're expected to maintain that success, what happens when you're knocked off the pedestal?

This question is strong enough to make even the social butterfly that I am, question how bad I want that success. In the end, I convince myself to go for it; direct like a crazy person, apply to that internship, wear my heels! Because the only way to conquer this fear is to go for it.

The point of my rant: Find success and show off your talents because, "as we let our light shine, we consciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

Wearing heels is just one little way I refuse to 'play small', what's yours?

The Drumroll of 21

    I turned 21 at the end of July so I thought it was time to pass on some wisdom I've gained since that day (which is ironic because I've actually lost my wisdom teeth since then - but that's its own blog post). Anyways, here is my infinite insight on the subject:

 

   You turn 16 and you're ecstatic because you can get your license, you can drive a car - you think you've finally achieved freedom. I say think because let's face it, you're still living under your parent's house so yes you can drive away....but you have to drive back.

 

    Then you turn 18 and you strut around the next month because now you're legally an 'adult.' You graduate high school, maybe you cast your first official vote, buy a lottery ticket and feel the thrill of wasting your money - but it was worth it because it was Yours! For some, 18 is when the real world kicks in and you've now got to find your life path. I decided to postpone the inevitable (an expensive endeavor) with college. For me, 18 was still just a sample of what true independence is.

 

    But now I'm 21. This is the age I'm going to graduate. This is the age I'm going to have true independence and freedom that everyone complains about wanting in high school, though now I can't remember why we were so eager for bills and long work hours.

 

   For me, these ages are like chapters in a book and Chapter 21 has a cliff hanger ending. Up until now I've always known what would come next, after 16 I continue high school till I graduate, then I turn 18 and I got to college. Now I'm 21 and I'm going to get a degree...and then what? There's no reading ahead in life. The only way to know who I'll be at 22 is to look back at the past 21 years. Like reading a mystery novel; there are clues all through the story, but you may not realize their significance until you get to the end (this is why I usually read mysteries twice).

 

   I'm extremely excited for my senior year of college and plan to enjoy ever minute of it, because I know what awaits me on the other side of my education. I don't plan to live in fear of this cliff-hanger ending, but instead in preparation of it.

 

  For all those who are dealing with the same excitement, anxiety, fear, joy, confusion, clarity, and all out giddiness of being 21 I say congratulations. Soak it in! Never again will you be on the precipice of independence - amidst the drumroll. Enjoy it while it lasts! Come summer it'll be time to jump in and hope you can swim (I'd settle for floating).

AE Rubix Cube: Puzzle Solved

           

      This passed week I got an email from my boss explaining the upcoming projects we had. In this email he mentions an idea they had thrown around of using a rubix cube to transition between different video clips....and then asked that I "throw an example together." I'm not blogging to complain about my bosses assumption that I could create and animate a rubix cube in mere hours - I'm blogging to brag that  I did it.
               After reading the email the first thing I did was open After Effects and create shape layers that formed a cube. Then, I proceeded to stare at my cube as my mind tried to turn it into a 3x3 impossible labyrinth. Null objects were my best friend during this endeavor along with Cmd. + D (duplicate). It was actually a rather simple job once I had thought about it, though I'm sure anyone who looks at my 50+layers would be at least slightly confounded.

              I'm extremely proud of myself for not only accomplishing this task, but doing so well within my deadline. This is just one of the reasons I love what I do: There's always the opportunity for the ridiculous and impossible, every project is a complex puzzle to solve, I stretch not only my mind, but my creativity. Come to think of it, my job is a lot like a Rubix Cube - good thing I learned to solve those back in High School!

Disney Challenge: More than a Tourist

         
         I had the pleasure of traveling to Disney World this past May with some of my college friends. We had an amazing time and made memories that I will always cherish, especially when I look at the pictures. This visit was a little different because this trip I gave myself a challenge. Seeing as I'm getting a minor in Photography, I thought it'd be a fantastic opportunity to test my skills. I mean where better than the Happiest Place on Earth right?

          I'm sure I looked like a full on tourist with my camera hanging around my neck, but I hope my shots turned out better than your average Disney Goer...I suppose you'll have to judge that for yourselves (Check out my Facebook for more shots).
          This challenge taught me so much about photography- things you can only learn through hands-on experience.
                   Lesson 1: You can take 40 pictures of the same 5 seconds and capture 40 different moments. If you're willing to trudge through the out of focus, badly lit, and goofy faces of the 39 bad moments you may just find that 1 magical perfect shot that you wanted.
                  Lesson 2: See things differently. Taking pictures at Disney doesn't mean you have to know it was Disney. The beauty of the parks is that they emerse you in a world. Look at this world and see what is beautiful, for me this usually meant lights. This photo (on the left) was taken in line for the Pirates of the Caribbean ride.

                  Lesson 3: Know your camera: Manual settings are a love/hate relationship. I kept my camera on manuel for the entire trip. Not because I don't trust the creative settings, they're actually very helpful, but it added to the challenge I had given myself. Having to not only know what each setting did, but recall it quickly to transition between dim inside shots and bright daylight shots was a crash course in my camera's abilities.
      Overall this trip was not only a fantastic vacation, but a great way to see how much I've learned in my classes and I'm excited to apply what I've learned as I continue on this journey called life. Though I'm happy to return to school this fall and continue my education, I wouldn't mind if my classes involved more castles and princes.
       

Seeing it All Come Together

Elliv 2013

         Elliv is a 'mock-awards' show put on at the end of every Cedarville University school year. Students perform popular songs with dancers, motion graphics and live IMAG supporting the performance. Our chapel is turned into an elaborate stage with lights, screens, and sometimes pyrotechnics (sadly none this year).
For many this event is a time to take a break from studying for finals and just enjoying the night.
       It's a little different for me.
            I've worked this semester on motion graphics for two different performances of this year's Elliv (one is featured in the image above). Motion graphics was a new adventure for me. I had dabbled in them before, but never attempted a full blown sequence. Having to not only create this content, but make sure that it followed the act's overall vision and not just my own was an exciting experience. Once the weekend of Elliv finally rolled around, I was excited to see my content integrated into the final production. However, I had to enjoy this content during a dress rehearsal because I was also directing live video for the event.

            There were six cameras, two video playbacks, and the challenge of keeping shots centered to fit onto the 1080x1080 cube in the center of the stage. Though I was standing in the video booth instead of sitting with my friends, and shouting instructions instead of shouting in excitement when one performer smashed his ukelele- I wouldn't change this experience for anything. Seeing it all come together for the final production is worth the hours of hard work (especially when you get to see it come together at 6 different angles). I've always heard that it is important to have a career doing something you love, which (as cliche' as it is) is very true.

New Workstation

Hello all!
I know; it's been ages since last I wrote and you all feel robbed of the beauty of my words. Well then this post shall satisfy you! I have recently made the most expensive purchase of my 20 years and no it wasn't a car...I should really look into getting one of those though. Anyways, it was a computer! Not just any computer, oh no. I bought my command center, or as I have titled it: The Master and Commander. Pair my new computer with my new Adobe software and I'm the happiest kid on my block (which is saying something because the kids on my block are having a snow day).
I've been spending most of my spring break working on projects for class and in no way does that upset me. My computer is insanely fast compared to what I've been using at school and I can have more than one window open without the programs crashing-It's fantastic!
I love my new computer and am crazy excited about the rest of the semester! I'll be posting soon with updates on what I'm working on now and maybe even some screenshots from my upcoming music video!
Here's a link to the computer I just bought in case you're in the market. I've only had this computer for about a week, but I would recommend it!
http://www.hp.com/united-states/campaigns/workstations/z420_features.html#.UTb7dBysh8E

The Customer is Always Right....Right?

When it comes to working with clients, trying to create someone else's vision is more a challenge of concept than production. When I'm working with my production company on in-house projects then it's our own ideas, collaborations, brainstorms. We know one another (and the industry) so it is easy to throw ideas around- freelance clients...not so much.

There's a lot of different types of clients, but the ones I run into the most are these three:

              Shy Ronnie (for all you SNL fans): This is someone who is too timid to tell you their own thoughts, which leaves you struggling to really grasp their concept. This meeting usually ends up like an interrogation minus the swinging single light-bulb, but as long as the right questions are asked a great final product can be achieved.

              The Poker Face: This person may have a concept in mind, they may love your ideas, they may loathe you with a passion...you'll never know because all this client does is nod. Occasionally they may tilt their head and squint or rub their chin in thought, but overall their input is minimal. For some unknown reason they want to hold their cards close to the vest and wait for the final product to weigh in. It's important to do all you can to get a response from this player because there is no bluffing once the deadline comes around.

              TMI (Too Much Info): This is a client who knows exactly what they want, down to the pantone colors and camera angles. It's fantastic to have a solid idea in mind, but if your client isn't giving you any creative space or wiggle room it can get frustrating very quickly. It's clients like this that need to be shown progress as it's being made and be sure to include them on any radical changes that occur.

              The Perfect Client: This person doesn't exist.

Your first meeting with a client is crucial in both gathering information about their project and about them in general. A freelancer's job isn't just about building a demo reel, it's about building relationships. Being able to work with all kinds of people is vital in this industry. Your work will get you noticed, your networking will get you hired.

Play List

            These past few weeks I've been gathering colors, drawing out storyboards, and playing around in After Effects in order to create a pitch for an upcoming project. This project is based on a song, so one would assume I'd have to listen to the song to fully create a concept. While I have listened to this song a few times to gather a concept, I find that I start to over-think things after an extensive length. So instead I've created an 'inspiration play list.'
            This list plays through Imagine Dragons, Florence and the Machine, Blake Shelton, One Direction (Don't judge I know you sing along when they're on the radio) and Johnny Cash, REO and Bon Jovi, Maroon 5, the Beach Boys, Of Monsters and Men, and FUN. I know, my choice in music is bipolar-but it's how my mind works. Once I've gotten my overall concept, these songs help me to shape and flesh out the final pitch. Because the music is so different from song to song I feel like I'm always looking at the project from a fresh perspective; instead of only listening to Mumford and Sons and discover my pitch is so hipster it needs a V-neck and square glasses (I love you Mumford, but let's be serious).
           Now my final pitch is ready to go, but that doesn't mean I'm going to stop listening to music. Let's all cross our fingers that this pitch goes well and I can create a new play list for producing the actual project. I've got a whole library of artists to choose from (A is for Aaron Carter, J is for Jimmy Eat World and Z is for Zac Brown Band just to give you a picture).

New Year, Same Blog

I know it's been a while since I last posted, but to be fair we were preparing for a Mayan apocalypse. Actually, I was just preparing for finals (though some would argue it's the same thing).
This new year has brought with it some exciting opportunities (and it's only the second week of the semester!). I'm currently casting for a music video with my production company AbstraqtMedia (check us out on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/AbstraqtMedia) as well as working on various vfx/graphics projects.
I've started getting senior emails, which is both exhilarating and terrifying. In loo of this new label, I've started to edit my demo reels (for both camerawork and directing live productions), editing my resume and creating business cards. Even more interesting- I've started to test my abilities, especially in the realm of motion graphics/vfx. I like to research video tutorials and then see if I can accomplish the task, using the tutorial only when I'm stuck. This not only teaches me new effects, but also stretches me to think creatively about how to get from point A to the final render.
I think I enjoy this technique of learning because I love to problem-solve. I'd rather figure something out for myself then read the answer in a text book (except for math problems...please don't take away my calculator). This is why I'm excited for my Designing Solutions class. In case the title didn't give it away, the entire class is devising a strategy for a business to better integrate into the age of technology. I'm looking forward to this new semester and the many problems and solutions it will bring.

Freemium Funding

All the research I'm doing on the "freemium"funding model for online and mobile devices keep talking about it as if it is new. But in reality, this model has existed since infomercials and trial periods were born. At least, the principle is the same: Let the consumer try the product (one of Everett Rodger's qualities in the diffusion of innovation), then once they're hooked up make them cough up the payment. I remember watching infomercials that not only promised steak knifes, but a 30 day free trial. This idea has transformed when applied to the web and especially mobile devices. Farmville is free to start playing on Facebook, but if you get addicted and can't level up until you earn an item buying that item starts to look like an appealing option. The same idea is applied to mobile devices. Sure you can play Fruit Ninja for free, but you want to play something other than the arcade version? Well just click right here and purchase the version you'd like. Want more colors in DrawSomething, but can't figure out your friend's pictures? No problem, the in-app purchasing allows you to simply click and purchase without ever leaving the game. It is a fascinating way to apply an old idea to new media.

VFX Underway

 

A couple weeks ago I shot a music video and cut the footage together. My two partners and I had been planning it since this summer and it was more than just exciting to see our vision come to life. Production has always been one of my favorite parts of making videos. We have recently started the third phase of completing our video: Post. I have always liked editing, but this project has introduced me to a whole new world of post-production: VFX. I expected to create a couple vfx shots because they are part of a class assignment, but the effect I am currently working on was just to challenge myself. Personally, I love how the effect is turning out and feel extremly accomplished having figured it out with only the aid of an old online tutorial. The screen is black, until the subject 'wisps' into the frame as if a memory or a ghost appearing from the air around him. The effect continues into another shot where his hand finishes appearing just in time to grab the hand of our female lead. As you can see the effect used quite a few layers, which managed to crash the computer I was working on twice (that's what having 4GB of Ram gets you).

In order for this effect to work in the final render of the music video, I have to mask this character out of the shot before this one, which isn't too hard for most of the frames seeing as the two subjects do not interact. However, there are 9 frames I keep ignoring because I know the only way is to Roto (insert scary dramatic music here). Actually, it's not all that bad. I don't get along with the rotobrush all that well, but me and the pen tool have been tight ever since my photoshop days. I am excited to see how this project comes together after compositing the different vfx shots and hope my work pays off. (You ever notice how much effort goes in to 2 minutes of the final video? I try not to think about it...it makes me sad).

Skip Ad

I was instructed to read a book and write a book report for one of my classes this passed weekend, so read I did. While I wished for the simpler days of writing reports on Maniac Magee and Ramona Quimby, I did actually enjoy reading about blogs. The book started way back in Benjamin Franklin's time explaining how newspapers became popular and tracked the same trends to the current state of the blogosphere. To summarize the book in one sentence (though my essay had to be 4 pages), when social change and new technology merge, watch out institutions cause the general public is coming for you!
I heard a speaker this week talk about the desires of different generations. When I was a child the most popular desire was to be in a group or feel part of something. Today's youth want more than anything to be famous. Applying this to the discussion of blogs I can't help but agree with the speaker. Blogs began as a way for people to be heard. Bloggers posted their thoughts and opinons simply because they hoped someone might read them and they could feel connected. Today, everyone has a blog or maybe even a vlog. Everyone posts what they think will gain them followers because it is no longer about being heard by someone, but by everyone. Bloggers give the people what they want instead of writing what they want. It has become a commercial institution, which is the very thing it was created against.
By reading this book (The Rise of the Blogosphere by Aaron Barlow) I feel like this is the cycle of things. Newspapers were started as a way of posting the local gossip, but later became dramatic retellings of the news; whatever would sell the most papers. Youtube used to be a free service to upload videos and watch other's videos, but now you must sit through advertisments. Facebook was once a community solely for 1 campus, but has grown into a company whose profits come majority from ad space.
I wonder what the next big trend will be (and no I don't mean a trend on Twitter) and how long it will take the institutions of the world to find a way and commercialize it. Then again, if the current generation is like the speaker says, they may just commercialize it to begin with.

Blur

This passed week I embarked on the challenge of Action Shots in Photography class. I discovered I'd much rather take pictures of motion blur than of stop action. Going against the grain is very appealing to me, probably because I love to break rules. But, as all my professors stress, I break them for a reason. This is the same for Motion Blur; forcing a still image to move. I liked to experiment with panning my camera while adjusting the shutter speed for some interesting shots. My personal favorite involved me hanging out the window of my boat/Buick while I photographed the road before me.
This photography assignment came at a perfect time in my life because it kind of personifies where I'm at. I feel like I'm always moving, or at least the pieces of my metaphorical life chess game are always moving. I'm moving full speed ahead into my future, but I'm not quite sure what that future is just yet. There is a big difference from the pictures I took and how I view my life, however. I refuse to let the things I pass by be a blur. I will enjoy every second of my college years and take the time to make memories and friendships.
I love photography and videography and am excited for every project I get to work on...segue to my excited rant about this weekend. Over the next three days I'm shooting a music video and I could not be more excited! There are a lot of pieces that will be moving around for this project to come together the way I want it to, but I'm ready for the challenge (This would have been a better post if I knew anything about chess, but alas...I'm a checkers player). Anyways, expect an update (maybe a photo..maybe even another motion blur photo!) from the video shoot next week and an exciting report on the book I recently read for one of my Media classes. It's subject: Blogs...(cue laugh track for irony).

Campaign Pains

       I work in the Mediaplex of the university I attend (Feel no shame in not knowing what that is, the students that wonder into it usually don't know either). Basically I sell anything you would need for a pintrest project, watch people use a laminator, check out video equipment and the Big Kahuna: Print Jobs. So when I heard it was time for Freshmen Class Council I knew I was in for a long night of work. Freshmen love to print campaign posters. Not just 1 or 2 for the Student Center, but endless amounts for the entire campus. I charge them money for these, so I know how much their spending (aka Too much). The interesting part of this experience is that it truley is just the freshmen.
        Upperclassmen don't bother with the entire campus because they understand where people focus. Sure they print out 2 for the Student Center, but then they take their campaign to the best free source of publicity there is: The Internet. Who doesn't have a facebook these days? #EveryonesOnTwitter. Reaching the student body where they spend the most time procrastinating is an easy way to not only ask for a vote, but to ask what the voters want. It's truely a new way to look at the world of marketing and Cedarville upperclassmen aren't the only ones embracing it. Many well known companies have started blogs, facebooks, forums and twitter accounts to keep in touch with their customers. Reviews are at our fingertips, ideas can be passed around the world in minutes, big time corporations are listening to advice from the little guy. In this age of communication anything is possible. Who knows, maybe one day the freshmen will adapt this groundswell strategy. Then I won't spend my nights unjamming the printer and refilling the cardstock. Ah to dream.

Get Smart...TV

This week I dove headfirst into the history of broadcast television. Some key notes I found: TVs are no longer analog! It's not just an American thing (for all those who remember those annoying commercials) if anything we're trying to keep up. Europe was the first to start the transition to Digital TV and the whole world followed. If a country hasn't completed the transition then they are in the middle of it...everyone except India...which is random. Anyways, apart from the transition to digital TV, the next big step for broadcast is Smart TV. Some of these have already started circulating the commercial market, but they are expected to be in every household within the next five years. The idea is that OTT (over the top services such as Hulu and Netflix) have started to take over the television market, so instead of linear TV trying to keep up, it's going to converge. It's genius! If you can't beat 'em, join 'em! No wonder they are called Smart TVs. 

I think that's where all technology is headed anyways, consolidated into one device - or having all of our devices connected. It's already started with our phones and mp3 players, calendars and books...why not broadcast television? I am all for this next step in technological progression! I can't wait to tweet about a commercial for twitter whilst surfing Facebook and watching the Social Network...all on the same device!

Jacque

Introductions

First things first. My name is Jacquelin Long. Hello! Just to clarify...my full name is Jacquelin so when I shorten it and go by Jacque it is still pronounced "jackie" (Not the french Jacques). There's no real reason it's spelled that way but pure laziness...just take off the -lin.

I'm a Broadcasting and Digital Media Major with Minors in Photography, Motion Graphics and Bible at Cedarville University (Say that three times fast). I have never kept a diary, or written in a journal, nor have I kept a blog. The inner workings of my brain are too complex for even me to articulate sometimes so I've kept them where they belong. I've kept them secret and kept them safe (if you get that reference you get two points! Keep track cause we'll tally them at the end and the winner gets to feel special)

I will be keeping up with this blog and letting yall in on some cool technology I find. I am also in the midst of filming a music video so you'll probably be hearing a lot about that process as well. This is not only my first blog, but this semester will be my first experience with special effects. I'm going to try and get through the course without any scars, but knowing how clumsy I am (and the fact I've already managed to smash my finger while typing this) I'll settle for just some bumps and bruises.

Jacque