*I am not sure if we are suppose to write a final reflection on CAP Hollywood yet, but I will write one now anyway.
We finished our film on Friday and I am very glad to be done with it. The editing process was hard because we didn't have a whole lot of great shots to edit and also we didn't get as much time to edit as other groups did, but we were still able to put together a solid project. I like the action shots of our movie and that think that they will impress the CAP Hollywood crowd. I will admit that the plot is kind of hard to follow because of the lack of shots that we got, but if the audience pays attention they should understand it. I can't wait for CAP Hollywood to see my movie on the big screen and other peoples' too.
This week I finished editing. Andreas and I came in at various times throughout the week and did a number of tasks. We added Danny's voiceover, put in credits, added all of the music, panned and fixed the audio levels, put in a graphic slide, and color graded the shots. The work took a long time and it had to be precise, but I am proud of the final product. Considering that all but one of our planed actors didn't show up to film, that I wasn't there the day of filming, that it took us two days to import, that other groups got to use the computers before we did, and all of the technical problems that we had our project is very good.
This next week I plan to do nothing with the project because it's done! Wednesday night will be fun because it will be great to see everyone's hard work on this project. This project might not have been super fun at times, but it taught me a lot of things about editing, and about working in a group. I wouldn't trade the experience for anything, even if the movie didn't come out great.
Monday, May 27, 2013
Sunday, May 19, 2013
CAP Hollywood Reflection #3
Our film is going great. I am really enjoying editing the film because it's fun. We have some really good shots, and I like creating a film that involves so many basketball highlights. The first two and a half minutes are edited smoothly, but the last minute and a half or so needs some work. This will take some time to do, but we can do it. I am a little worried that the plot of the film won't be completely understood by our audience, but hopefully once we finish editing the film it will be easy to understand. To help out the film's plot, I am going to have Danny, our main character, come in for a voiceover this week. I think that we should be able to finish this project on time and that it will be good. This will take some work, but our group has been working hard. The shots look awesome, and this has been a great process. Here's a video of Danny, our star player, you can tell how good he is.
This week I put a lot of work in. I came in after school twice, and also did Saturday editing. The tasks I completed were putting in music, which we didn't have any of. Also I took out some unnecessary shots that just took up space in our film. Finally, I smoothed out some of the rough areas of the film by panning the audio to zero, cutting the clips when appropriate, and putting everything together to see how the film runs. By doing these I learned that I need to cut out about a minute of the film, and add in a voiceover to provide a catalyst for the superstar basketball player.
This next week I have to finish the film. I need to finish putting in all of the music, credits, and voiceovers. I also need to smooth out all of the film's audio. In addition to this I need to make sure that the entire films flows well. This is the end of the project and the film needs to be as perfect as it possibly can. I think that I will also ask Mr. Mayo what he thinks I should add or take away from it to make it great. Again, this will take a lot of work, but it will be rewarding come the night of CAP Hollywood. I can't wait, it's crunch time.
This week I put a lot of work in. I came in after school twice, and also did Saturday editing. The tasks I completed were putting in music, which we didn't have any of. Also I took out some unnecessary shots that just took up space in our film. Finally, I smoothed out some of the rough areas of the film by panning the audio to zero, cutting the clips when appropriate, and putting everything together to see how the film runs. By doing these I learned that I need to cut out about a minute of the film, and add in a voiceover to provide a catalyst for the superstar basketball player.
This next week I have to finish the film. I need to finish putting in all of the music, credits, and voiceovers. I also need to smooth out all of the film's audio. In addition to this I need to make sure that the entire films flows well. This is the end of the project and the film needs to be as perfect as it possibly can. I think that I will also ask Mr. Mayo what he thinks I should add or take away from it to make it great. Again, this will take a lot of work, but it will be rewarding come the night of CAP Hollywood. I can't wait, it's crunch time.
Sunday, May 12, 2013
CAP Hollywood Weekly Reflection #2
I feel a lot better about my film this week than I did last week. Last week I wasn't sure of what kind of shots my group was getting and whether they would be good or not. This week I am pleased to say that the shots are awesome. I kind that Andreas has a great idea of what the movie should look like, and he is our main editor. I think that we will be able to get it done. We don't have a lot of time to edit, but we will make it work I am not worried. I was slightly disappointed with the grade that we got on the rough cut, but that's because our footage was only uploaded on Wednesday and the grade was on Friday. At the end of this next week, our film will look a lot better.
This week I helped Andreas do a lot of editing. I wasn't here on Monday and that day Grace and other members made the movie poster, which looks awesome. On Wednesday we as a group looked at our shots and determined which ones were good, and on Friday we began placing them on the correct spot on the timeline. We are almost done with that, and then we will edit down each clip again. My main job is being with Andreas while he edits to give him my perspective on what I think the film should look like, since I am the director. It's going well.
Next week we really need to buckle down and basically be done with the whole film. I think that I will come in for lunch a couple times this week and that I will also be able to come in after school, if my baseball season ends. We have to trim down our eight minute rough cut into a solid four minute movie. Then we will put in music, and credits, which we already have done. This is going to be a lot of work, but I think that my group will pull it off, and that we'll have an amazing product come CAP Hollywood Night.
This week I helped Andreas do a lot of editing. I wasn't here on Monday and that day Grace and other members made the movie poster, which looks awesome. On Wednesday we as a group looked at our shots and determined which ones were good, and on Friday we began placing them on the correct spot on the timeline. We are almost done with that, and then we will edit down each clip again. My main job is being with Andreas while he edits to give him my perspective on what I think the film should look like, since I am the director. It's going well.
Next week we really need to buckle down and basically be done with the whole film. I think that I will come in for lunch a couple times this week and that I will also be able to come in after school, if my baseball season ends. We have to trim down our eight minute rough cut into a solid four minute movie. Then we will put in music, and credits, which we already have done. This is going to be a lot of work, but I think that my group will pull it off, and that we'll have an amazing product come CAP Hollywood Night.
Sunday, May 5, 2013
CAP Hollywood Weekly Reflection
Currently our film is doing alright. We have now gotten our footage and need to edit it. We have a lot of shots that we are going to have to edit and it will take a lot of time, but if everything goes smoothly then it will be worth it. Our film is going to be dramatic, but also humorous, I think. The biggest challenge is going to be making the most out of our shots. We didn't get great footage, according to Andreas, but hopefully it will be good enough. This is a little concerning for me because now we can't go back and film anything again. It will successful though that we were able to get our shots and have enough actors as well.
What I personally did this week was help the group prepare for filming. I wasn't there to film because I had a baseball game, and since I am the director I had to make sure that my group got the shots that we needed. At the start of the week I edited the script some to make it include less characters. Then the following class Leah, Grace, and I went over a full list of shots that we needed and also tried to get actors. A couple days during lunch I went around the school looking for certain people that I needed to be actors and most of them committed to being in the film. It wasn't the most productive week because there wasn't a whole lot to do, but my group and I made the most out of it.
This next week I have to analyze all of the shots that we got, and I have to put them into the correct order on our final cut pro time-line. I have to also create a rough cut. I have some pretty good experience editing, and I feel confident in my ability to edit. We have about 75 shots and have two weeks to turn that into a 4 minute film, but it's due able. During the 60 second film project my group and I had to turn 60 shots into a 1 minute film in two days. That should give me some experience with this assignment. Here's my 60 second film.
What I personally did this week was help the group prepare for filming. I wasn't there to film because I had a baseball game, and since I am the director I had to make sure that my group got the shots that we needed. At the start of the week I edited the script some to make it include less characters. Then the following class Leah, Grace, and I went over a full list of shots that we needed and also tried to get actors. A couple days during lunch I went around the school looking for certain people that I needed to be actors and most of them committed to being in the film. It wasn't the most productive week because there wasn't a whole lot to do, but my group and I made the most out of it.
This next week I have to analyze all of the shots that we got, and I have to put them into the correct order on our final cut pro time-line. I have to also create a rough cut. I have some pretty good experience editing, and I feel confident in my ability to edit. We have about 75 shots and have two weeks to turn that into a 4 minute film, but it's due able. During the 60 second film project my group and I had to turn 60 shots into a 1 minute film in two days. That should give me some experience with this assignment. Here's my 60 second film.
Sunday, April 28, 2013
CAP Hollywood Update
Currently my group has finished the pre-production stage of CAP Hollywood, but this in no way means that we are actually close to the end of the assignment. We still need to find actors, film, and then edit. We have to film by this weekend and we need to find some good actors to be our drug dealers and basketball players. By story was mostly based off of the Wire and thus a lot of the actors I want need to reflect my inspiration. (This video has some language in it)
I know that there's no way I am going to find Avon Barksdale and Stringer Bell, but I want people who reflect some of their values and acting abilities. In addition to drug dealers I need basketball players. The way I intend to shot a lot of the basketball scenes will be based off of high school basketball players like this one.
Again with the last video, I'm not going to get Aaron Gordon to be in my video, but a lot of the shots used in the mixtape I want to incorporate in my video. In the coming week of preparation before we film my group and I need want to change our script to have the basketball game be a two-on-two game, not a three-on-three one. That will allow us to require less actors. This project is going to long and tiresome and it's just gotten started, but by the end I think we could have an amazing product.
I know that there's no way I am going to find Avon Barksdale and Stringer Bell, but I want people who reflect some of their values and acting abilities. In addition to drug dealers I need basketball players. The way I intend to shot a lot of the basketball scenes will be based off of high school basketball players like this one.
Again with the last video, I'm not going to get Aaron Gordon to be in my video, but a lot of the shots used in the mixtape I want to incorporate in my video. In the coming week of preparation before we film my group and I need want to change our script to have the basketball game be a two-on-two game, not a three-on-three one. That will allow us to require less actors. This project is going to long and tiresome and it's just gotten started, but by the end I think we could have an amazing product.
Sunday, April 21, 2013
NBA Playoffs
The real NBA season has started, that's right the playoffs. There won't be anymore easy buckets and lackadaisical defense like there usually is in the regular season. Everything counts now. I am going to describe some possible scenarios that could occur in the playoffs, as well as my finals prediction.
Can Anyone Beat the Heat
As Jason Terry found out earlier this year, the Heat can be unstoppable. Miami is coming off a championship and is poised to win another. LeBron James said, "not one, not two, not 3..." and now he has to prove it by winning his second title. I don't see the Heat facing much trouble in the East, but if one team can beat them it's the Knicks.
'Melo and the Knicks
Carmelo Anthony is coming off his best year ever and is leading the Knicks into the playoffs. The Knicks can be a grind it out team or light it up from three. If they are going to beat to the Heat them Carmelo, Josh Smith, and Tyson Chandler need to take their games to another level and go off for four games. It will be hard, but I think that it's possible.
The Nuggets
I really like the Nuggets and I think that they will make it to the Finals. They are an up-tempo team that can outrun anyone, besides the Heat. They are filled with athletes that can score as well as defend. They don't have to rely on any player in particular and can win in a variety of ways. This is unlike a lot of other teams in the playoffs, but it has worked for the Nuggets so far this year. The playoffs are a different season though, and the Nuggets will have to step their game up just like everyone else.
Finals Prediction
Heat beat the Nuggets in 6 games. I would love to see this matchup because both teams can thrive in transition and also are great defensively, but the Heat are just too good. No matter who comes out of the West, I see the Heat beating them. LeBron and company won't be denied this year.
Can Anyone Beat the Heat
As Jason Terry found out earlier this year, the Heat can be unstoppable. Miami is coming off a championship and is poised to win another. LeBron James said, "not one, not two, not 3..." and now he has to prove it by winning his second title. I don't see the Heat facing much trouble in the East, but if one team can beat them it's the Knicks.
'Melo and the Knicks
Carmelo Anthony is coming off his best year ever and is leading the Knicks into the playoffs. The Knicks can be a grind it out team or light it up from three. If they are going to beat to the Heat them Carmelo, Josh Smith, and Tyson Chandler need to take their games to another level and go off for four games. It will be hard, but I think that it's possible.
The Nuggets
I really like the Nuggets and I think that they will make it to the Finals. They are an up-tempo team that can outrun anyone, besides the Heat. They are filled with athletes that can score as well as defend. They don't have to rely on any player in particular and can win in a variety of ways. This is unlike a lot of other teams in the playoffs, but it has worked for the Nuggets so far this year. The playoffs are a different season though, and the Nuggets will have to step their game up just like everyone else.
Finals Prediction
Heat beat the Nuggets in 6 games. I would love to see this matchup because both teams can thrive in transition and also are great defensively, but the Heat are just too good. No matter who comes out of the West, I see the Heat beating them. LeBron and company won't be denied this year.
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Baseball is Back
April triggers so many great things, school's coming to a close, winter is over, and most importantly baseball is back. This year great things are expected from the nation's capitol, as the Nationals are primed for a deep playoff run, and are the favorites to win the World Series. Last year ended poorly for the Nats after they blow a six run lead in game five of the Nation League division series, but it's a new year.
The team regrouped over the off season and has solid players at every spot on the field.
Catcher
The Nats have two very solid catchers in Kurt Suzuki and Wilson Ramos. Both catchers play excellent defense and control the pitching staff well. At the plate they aren't amazing, but are tough outs, and have long productive at bats.
First Base
Adam Laroche was resigned in the off season to a two year deal. The veteran first baseman is fantastic defensively and is coming off his best offensive season in a long time. Although I don't expect Laroche to duplicate his 2012 season, I think that he will be a good presence in the middle of the Nats order.
Second Base
Danny Espinosa is back again and looks to build on his 2012 season. The third year player is very good defensively and has his moments at the plate. He will have to cut down on his strikouts, but he has the power to be a force at the bottom of the lineup.
Third Base
Ryan Zimmerman the man who has been with this team forever mans the hot corner again. This year hopefully he can stay healthy and improve from his shortened season last year. Zimmerman like much of the Nats infield is fantastic defensively and can be a monster at the plate. If Zimmerman does what he's suppose to, he and the Nats will have a great season.
Shortstop
Ian Desmond is coming off of his best year ever. The young shortshop is an exciting player and is only going to get better. Although he can be shakey defensively at times, he also can be a vacuum at shortstop. At the plate Desmond will look to be just as productive as he was last year.
Left Field
The phemon, the great one, the best teenager to ever play the game besides Mel Ott, Bryce Harper will have a monster season this year. He is coming into his second year and is now playing left field. His talent is amazing, and his work ethic is unquestioned. He is must watch television and is coming off an unbelievable spring training. I am expecting amazing things from the 20 year old superstar.
Center Field
Denard Span is new to the Nats, but his impact will be felt quickly. He is a true leadoff hitter, which the team was lacking. Also he is a great center fielder and gets on base with ease. Although he might not hit .300, he will still find ways on base, and from there the big bats behind him will drive him in.
Right Field
Jayson Werth is starting his third season with the team. His horrible first season with the team has been forgotten and Werth has shown why he was worth of the money the Nats spent on him. He has a great arm in right field, and is a very patient batter at the plate, who has good power and contact.
Starting Pitching
The Nats probably have the best starting pitching staff in baseball. Stephen Strasburg has no innings limit, Gio Gonzalez, Jordan Zimmerman, and Ross Detwiller are back and are ready to dominate, and recently acquired Dan Haren looks to prove that he belongs on this staff.
Relief Pitching
Rafael Soriano was signed to strengthen the bullpen, which did lose some pitchers in the off season. Along with Tyler Clippard and Drew Storen Soriano creates dominating 7th, 8th, and 9th inning combination. The rest of the bullpen is also strong and looks to build on last year.
The Nats are the pick by many to win the World Series, and I think that they will. They have good hitting, strong defense, and unbelievable pitching. Lets go Nats!
The team regrouped over the off season and has solid players at every spot on the field.
Catcher
The Nats have two very solid catchers in Kurt Suzuki and Wilson Ramos. Both catchers play excellent defense and control the pitching staff well. At the plate they aren't amazing, but are tough outs, and have long productive at bats.
First Base
Adam Laroche was resigned in the off season to a two year deal. The veteran first baseman is fantastic defensively and is coming off his best offensive season in a long time. Although I don't expect Laroche to duplicate his 2012 season, I think that he will be a good presence in the middle of the Nats order.
Second Base
Danny Espinosa is back again and looks to build on his 2012 season. The third year player is very good defensively and has his moments at the plate. He will have to cut down on his strikouts, but he has the power to be a force at the bottom of the lineup.
Third Base
Ryan Zimmerman the man who has been with this team forever mans the hot corner again. This year hopefully he can stay healthy and improve from his shortened season last year. Zimmerman like much of the Nats infield is fantastic defensively and can be a monster at the plate. If Zimmerman does what he's suppose to, he and the Nats will have a great season.
Shortstop
Ian Desmond is coming off of his best year ever. The young shortshop is an exciting player and is only going to get better. Although he can be shakey defensively at times, he also can be a vacuum at shortstop. At the plate Desmond will look to be just as productive as he was last year.
Left Field
The phemon, the great one, the best teenager to ever play the game besides Mel Ott, Bryce Harper will have a monster season this year. He is coming into his second year and is now playing left field. His talent is amazing, and his work ethic is unquestioned. He is must watch television and is coming off an unbelievable spring training. I am expecting amazing things from the 20 year old superstar.
Center Field
Denard Span is new to the Nats, but his impact will be felt quickly. He is a true leadoff hitter, which the team was lacking. Also he is a great center fielder and gets on base with ease. Although he might not hit .300, he will still find ways on base, and from there the big bats behind him will drive him in.
Right Field
Jayson Werth is starting his third season with the team. His horrible first season with the team has been forgotten and Werth has shown why he was worth of the money the Nats spent on him. He has a great arm in right field, and is a very patient batter at the plate, who has good power and contact.
Starting Pitching
The Nats probably have the best starting pitching staff in baseball. Stephen Strasburg has no innings limit, Gio Gonzalez, Jordan Zimmerman, and Ross Detwiller are back and are ready to dominate, and recently acquired Dan Haren looks to prove that he belongs on this staff.
Relief Pitching
Rafael Soriano was signed to strengthen the bullpen, which did lose some pitchers in the off season. Along with Tyler Clippard and Drew Storen Soriano creates dominating 7th, 8th, and 9th inning combination. The rest of the bullpen is also strong and looks to build on last year.
The Nats are the pick by many to win the World Series, and I think that they will. They have good hitting, strong defense, and unbelievable pitching. Lets go Nats!
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Tournament Time!
Although WVU won't be in the tournament this year, I am still looking forward to it. This year's bracket is already looking like one of the hardest to predict in my lifetime. There are multiple teams that could easily win, and I can't wait to see what unfolds in the next couple weeks. I am going to name three teams that I think have the best opportunity of winning the whole thing.
Louisville
The Cardinals are the number one seed overall, and enter the tournament on a roll after winning the Big East title last night. They are lead by one of the best leaders in all of college basketball Peyton Siva. He has been at the school for as long as I can remember and all he needs to complete an incredible career would be a national championship. He is surrounded by a team full of athletes, shooters, and good overall basketball players. Whenever a team wins the Big East Tournament you know that they are prepared to make a run in the NCAA Tournament. Not to mention that this team as one of the best coaches around in Rick Pitino.
Indiana
Indiana has been atop the college basketball world all season. They have probably the most talent of any team in country, and won the Big 10 regular season title. They can beat teams in many ways, and are a great all around team. Although they have had some slip-ups this year that's only to be expected seeing that they played in the country's toughest conference. Tom Creen has done an excellent job bringing Indiana back to the height of college basketball and a championship would be a great way to end a fantastic season. I think that if any team in the field is going to dominate the tournament it would be Indiana.
Miami
This is my guttiest pick, but I truly believe that Miami has the talent to win the championship. Although they stumbled into the ACC Tournament, losing three out of their last four games, they were able to regroup and win the title. In the championship game today I saw Shane Larkin, Miami's point guard, put on an unbelievable performance. He was hitting all kinds of shots and easily penetrating through the lane. He turned into a star today, which is a good sign for Miami going into the tournament. When Miami gets rolling no one can stop them, just ask Duke who lost by 30 points earlier this year to the Hurricanes. I think that Miami could win the whole thing, or lose early, but I am placing my bet on the Hurricanes.
This predictions could easily be incorrect, but I am sticking with them anyway. March Madness is about to begin and I can't wait.
Louisville
The Cardinals are the number one seed overall, and enter the tournament on a roll after winning the Big East title last night. They are lead by one of the best leaders in all of college basketball Peyton Siva. He has been at the school for as long as I can remember and all he needs to complete an incredible career would be a national championship. He is surrounded by a team full of athletes, shooters, and good overall basketball players. Whenever a team wins the Big East Tournament you know that they are prepared to make a run in the NCAA Tournament. Not to mention that this team as one of the best coaches around in Rick Pitino.
Indiana
Indiana has been atop the college basketball world all season. They have probably the most talent of any team in country, and won the Big 10 regular season title. They can beat teams in many ways, and are a great all around team. Although they have had some slip-ups this year that's only to be expected seeing that they played in the country's toughest conference. Tom Creen has done an excellent job bringing Indiana back to the height of college basketball and a championship would be a great way to end a fantastic season. I think that if any team in the field is going to dominate the tournament it would be Indiana.
Miami
This is my guttiest pick, but I truly believe that Miami has the talent to win the championship. Although they stumbled into the ACC Tournament, losing three out of their last four games, they were able to regroup and win the title. In the championship game today I saw Shane Larkin, Miami's point guard, put on an unbelievable performance. He was hitting all kinds of shots and easily penetrating through the lane. He turned into a star today, which is a good sign for Miami going into the tournament. When Miami gets rolling no one can stop them, just ask Duke who lost by 30 points earlier this year to the Hurricanes. I think that Miami could win the whole thing, or lose early, but I am placing my bet on the Hurricanes.
This predictions could easily be incorrect, but I am sticking with them anyway. March Madness is about to begin and I can't wait.
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Documentary Reflection
My group's documentary focuses on what role the internet plays in the music industries for artists, record producers, and the fans. This topic interests me a lot because a large part of my life revolves around playing and listening to music. I love that Mr. Mayo gave us the freedom to select our own topics, but I think that the freedom of selection might have made some topics to unrefined. Looking back on the project there were some bright spots, but also some pretty bad ones. I am glad that I had this experience, but also slightly upset about how it ended up.
At first my group and I decided to do something about the evolution of music, due in part to the internet. Then our topic slightly changed and we wanted to focus a lot on how artists and record producers use the internet. Then finally, after all of our interviews, we decided to focus solely on the internet's effect on musicians, record producers, and fans. We were able to interview some very important people for this project. We interviewed Kip Berman on the Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Ian McKaye the operator of Dischord Records and a member of bands like Fugazi and Minor Threat, and Sean Peoples the former owner of Sockets Records.
The problem with the interviews is that since our topic slightly changed a lot we weren't able to get the best information out of our interviews. Still, the planning part of the project was my favorite part. I loved being able to meet and talk with this people about music. I have seen the Pains of Being Pure at Heart live and it was an unbelievable experience to talk with Kip.
After we put our interviews onto the computer things got bad. We didn't have any real direction to go in, and spent many classes watching interviews over and over again, just trying to figure out what to do about the project. Eventually we kind of laid out what we had, but it didn't flow at all, and Mr. Mayo called us out on it. It was disappointing to be called out, but it needed to happen if we were going to make anything of substance at all. We took Mr. Mayo's feedback and were able to make something with it. Mr. Mayo hasn't watched it yet, but it is a thousand times better than it use to be.
Looking back on the project I feel one major issue needs to be addressed. Next time I would recommend that there be more set deadlines. There was suppose to be a rough cut due sometime back, but Mr. Mayo never asked us to look at our rough cut, which is good because we really had nothing. Without scriter deadlines we were able to slack off a bit and not focus hard on trying to create a solid documentary. If I had to do it all over again, I would have worked a lot harder to try and create a rough cut, then tighten it up, and finally create a good final product that I can be proud of. This project was an interesting experience for me and I gained a lot of knowledge from it. I am excited to use the experiences from this project in future. I know now to pre-plan well, and don't get discouraged if interviews don't work out as well as I thought they would. All in all, I enjoyed this project and was able to work on a topic I find interesting for three months, I can't ask for much more than that.
At first my group and I decided to do something about the evolution of music, due in part to the internet. Then our topic slightly changed and we wanted to focus a lot on how artists and record producers use the internet. Then finally, after all of our interviews, we decided to focus solely on the internet's effect on musicians, record producers, and fans. We were able to interview some very important people for this project. We interviewed Kip Berman on the Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Ian McKaye the operator of Dischord Records and a member of bands like Fugazi and Minor Threat, and Sean Peoples the former owner of Sockets Records.
The problem with the interviews is that since our topic slightly changed a lot we weren't able to get the best information out of our interviews. Still, the planning part of the project was my favorite part. I loved being able to meet and talk with this people about music. I have seen the Pains of Being Pure at Heart live and it was an unbelievable experience to talk with Kip.
After we put our interviews onto the computer things got bad. We didn't have any real direction to go in, and spent many classes watching interviews over and over again, just trying to figure out what to do about the project. Eventually we kind of laid out what we had, but it didn't flow at all, and Mr. Mayo called us out on it. It was disappointing to be called out, but it needed to happen if we were going to make anything of substance at all. We took Mr. Mayo's feedback and were able to make something with it. Mr. Mayo hasn't watched it yet, but it is a thousand times better than it use to be.
Looking back on the project I feel one major issue needs to be addressed. Next time I would recommend that there be more set deadlines. There was suppose to be a rough cut due sometime back, but Mr. Mayo never asked us to look at our rough cut, which is good because we really had nothing. Without scriter deadlines we were able to slack off a bit and not focus hard on trying to create a solid documentary. If I had to do it all over again, I would have worked a lot harder to try and create a rough cut, then tighten it up, and finally create a good final product that I can be proud of. This project was an interesting experience for me and I gained a lot of knowledge from it. I am excited to use the experiences from this project in future. I know now to pre-plan well, and don't get discouraged if interviews don't work out as well as I thought they would. All in all, I enjoyed this project and was able to work on a topic I find interesting for three months, I can't ask for much more than that.
Sunday, March 3, 2013
The Killing
Over the past 17 hours I have watched the entire first season of The Killing and have tried to figure out who killed Rosey Larkin, yet I still don't know. You could say I'm hooked.
The Killing is an AMC series about the murder investigation of Rosey Larsen, a 17 year old girl. It is based off a Danish television show called Forbrydelsen. What makes the show great is that it has three separate yet intertwining stories. The stories are the impact of Rosey's death on her family, the impact on the upcoming mayor's election, and the actual murder case conducted by the cops. Each episode of the show encompasses a day, which although making the show slow at times, makes the show more realistic. With all of the shows various subplots it's not hard to get hooked.
What I love about the show is how different it is from most other U.S. crime shows. Instead of just solving a mystery in one episode it takes more than one season to. The audience really gets to see what the cops have to deal with in a murder investigation. That aspect of the show reminds of The Wire. In addition, the idea of have three separate stories is very original. Each story has its own twists and turns and in the end they somehow tie together. I specifically like how the story of Rosey's family has been told. The struggles that the family has to face show just how painful the death of a loved one can be. I commend the show for writing that section so well.
I strongly recommend this show because of it's well written, shot, and it's very original. It is very slow at times, and extremely dark. Not many happy things happen in the show. There isn't a lot of comedic relief, and it can be extremely depressing, but in my opinion that's what makes it great. There's such a variety of storylines and characters in the show that it makes me want to keep watching. Hopefully next time I write a blog post I will know the answer to this question.
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Mountaineers Showout at the Combine
Today Tavon Austin and Geno Smith showed why they are top NFL prospects by having impressive days at the combine.
Smith has been labeled the top quarterback prospect in a weak quarterback class. He could be the first pick in the draft or fall to the late first round, it all depends on how well he does in the coming weeks. Today he ran a 4.58 forty yard dash, the highest of any quarterback that ran. He showed that he has solid athleticism as well as a rocket arm, which was on display during the throwing section on the combine. Over the past years Smith has showed some speed in WVU games, but his arm was always his best feature. It will be interesting to see where Smith ends up.
Geno's receiver, Tavon Austin, might have had the best day of anyone at the combine. He ran an unofficial 4.25 in the forty yard dash, the record in the event is a 4.24. Everyone knew that Austin was fast, but maybe not that fast. I can see Tavon being a very good receiver in the NFL. This year he was the most electrifying player in college football, if you don't believe me watch the video below. He could have been considered in the Heisman voting if WVU could have won some more games. In the NFL he will return kicks and punts, and also be a weapon as a slot receiver. He could possibly even get some time at running back.
It's nice to see some Mountaineers having success at the combine, and hopefully in the NFL. This year was a tough one, but looking back it wasn't all bad. We were the talk of the nation for about a month, and got a ton of publicity, when does that ever happen. Yeah we ended the season horribly, but it was an incredible ride. I will miss all the departing players, especially Geno and Tavon.
Smith has been labeled the top quarterback prospect in a weak quarterback class. He could be the first pick in the draft or fall to the late first round, it all depends on how well he does in the coming weeks. Today he ran a 4.58 forty yard dash, the highest of any quarterback that ran. He showed that he has solid athleticism as well as a rocket arm, which was on display during the throwing section on the combine. Over the past years Smith has showed some speed in WVU games, but his arm was always his best feature. It will be interesting to see where Smith ends up.
Geno's receiver, Tavon Austin, might have had the best day of anyone at the combine. He ran an unofficial 4.25 in the forty yard dash, the record in the event is a 4.24. Everyone knew that Austin was fast, but maybe not that fast. I can see Tavon being a very good receiver in the NFL. This year he was the most electrifying player in college football, if you don't believe me watch the video below. He could have been considered in the Heisman voting if WVU could have won some more games. In the NFL he will return kicks and punts, and also be a weapon as a slot receiver. He could possibly even get some time at running back.
It's nice to see some Mountaineers having success at the combine, and hopefully in the NFL. This year was a tough one, but looking back it wasn't all bad. We were the talk of the nation for about a month, and got a ton of publicity, when does that ever happen. Yeah we ended the season horribly, but it was an incredible ride. I will miss all the departing players, especially Geno and Tavon.
Friday, February 8, 2013
60 Second Video
This was our newest assignment. Each group had to write a script, get shots, and edit the whole assignment in one week. The catch was that each group got a specific prop that had to be included in the film. My group got a robot, and immediately we knew that we wanted the robot to fall in love. We decided that the robot would fall in love with me.
The process of making the film was fairly easy because we prepared for each step well. The only real problem we faced was how to get the robot to move. To solve the problem we tied string around the robot and it worked pretty well. We had a couple hiccups when we started editing, but Max and Kyra fixed them up, with some help from Mr. Mayo.
This project was really fun to make. It was a nice switch from the long and tedious documentary making process, and I really think that my group did a good job. The experiences we learned from this will help during CAP Hollywood. We managed our time, and prepared well. We were able to get around the bumps in the road, and produce a solid product. I think one important listen I learned from this is to not over think things. By not over thinking the project we were able to produce a simple, but effective film. If we had tried to do too much, then we might have been rushed and came out with a less polished product.
Sunday, January 27, 2013
New Film Project
Leigh and I made a video about basketball in Silver Spring for this assignment. For us basketball is life during the winter months. We have games and practices almost every day, so it really is important to us. In the film we show various clips. They are from an outdoor court that Leigh and I shot at today, a scrimmage the boys JV team at Blair had against the varsity girls, and a series of interviews with players on the girls varsity team. We didn't really know what we were going to do with this project, but we had a lot of fun making it. This is probably the most work I have put into any of these outside of school film projects. I still hope that we can get an in-class project like this one because then I could use final cut pro and nice cameras, instead of YouTube video editor and outdated iPhones. Here's the video, "Ball is Life."
Sunday, January 13, 2013
WVU basketball has been particularly inconsistent and bad this year. The team has only two seniors who play, Deniz Kilicli and Dominic Rutledge, and the teams lack of experience has proved to be its downfall. I enjoy watching the team play because you never know who will play well on any given day, Aaric Murray could be a force in the paint, Juwan Staten could make the defense look slow, Terry Henderson could make it rain from the three point line, or any other member of the team could step up. At times though it can be extremely tough to watch this team play games, they turn the ball over a lot, miss shots, and lose they focus on defense. What I have decided is that this year I am watching this year's team to anticipate next year's team. What I mean by that is I am basically waiting for next year.
Next year could be a great year. Junior center Aaric Murray will have played for coach Huggins for a year and know the system well. With his length and athleticism he could turn into a superstar down low. Sophomore guards, Jabarie Hinds, Juwan Staten, and Gary Brown will have even more experience and will devlop chemistry with each other. Freshman, Eron Harris and Terry Henderson, who are the team's best shooters, will have even more experience under their belt. Finally, two high caliber fowards Devin Williams and Elijah Macon will join the Mountaineers from their high school teams. Check out their high school highlights.
I can't wait to watch those two join the team next year. Next years lineup could have three guards in it, and not too many bigmen, or it could have many bigmen and few guards. The choice is up to Coach Huggins. Next year he will have a very deep and interesting team. I trust him to be able to guide the team in the right direction. With the amount of talent and experience that the Mountaineers are going to bring back, watch out because come next year they will make a lot of noise. I am not saying that I anticipate I a Final Four run next year, but I do anticipate a great team that competes for a Big 12 Championship, and makes its mark on the NCAA Tournament.
Next year could be a great year. Junior center Aaric Murray will have played for coach Huggins for a year and know the system well. With his length and athleticism he could turn into a superstar down low. Sophomore guards, Jabarie Hinds, Juwan Staten, and Gary Brown will have even more experience and will devlop chemistry with each other. Freshman, Eron Harris and Terry Henderson, who are the team's best shooters, will have even more experience under their belt. Finally, two high caliber fowards Devin Williams and Elijah Macon will join the Mountaineers from their high school teams. Check out their high school highlights.
I can't wait to watch those two join the team next year. Next years lineup could have three guards in it, and not too many bigmen, or it could have many bigmen and few guards. The choice is up to Coach Huggins. Next year he will have a very deep and interesting team. I trust him to be able to guide the team in the right direction. With the amount of talent and experience that the Mountaineers are going to bring back, watch out because come next year they will make a lot of noise. I am not saying that I anticipate I a Final Four run next year, but I do anticipate a great team that competes for a Big 12 Championship, and makes its mark on the NCAA Tournament.
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Benji Review
I watched a ESPN production called Benji. It is the story of a high school star basketball player, Benjamin Wilson, in Chicago who was shot and killed during his senior year at the high school. The documentary was great in all aspects of film and I really learned a lot from watching it.
The literary aspect of this film was amazing. The film went in a chronological order. For example, it described Benji's childhood and how he got his love of basketball. Then it described his early high school life. Next, it focused on when he became a superstar basketball player. Finally, it described his death, and the people who committed the crimes, both of whom were under 17 years old. The mood at the start of the documentary is upbeat, but it slowly begins to change throughout, and finally comes to the point where it is a sad mood. The people interview in the film were those who knew Benji well, or those who knew Chicago basketball well. For example, Benji's brother Curtis was a main contributor to the film, as well as some of Benji's old high school teammates. Many reporters from Chicago were also interviewed for the film. The filmed had a narrator describe all the events that took place throughout the film. I think that I can use some of the literary aspects used in this documentary in mine. We should tell our film chronologically, have a narrator, and a variety of interviewees.
In the film there weren't a whole lot of dramatic aspects involved. This was a documentary meaning that it is telling a real life event. Although there was drama in the film, that doesn't mean that the documentary conveyed dramatic aspects. There weren't any actors, sets, or costumes in the film.
The cinematic aspects were unique to this film. Many scenes that told stories of Benji's life were created using drawings, it was like a comic book. This was weird at first but by the end it became something that the audience was use to and enjoyed. Along with the drawings the film contained interview, a-roll shots, and b-roll footage of Benji and other basketball players, and newspaper headlines. The b-roll footage was incredible because although it was very old and grainy it gave the audience a sense of how good Benji and other Chicago-area basketball players were. The editing of the film seemed very basic, but that was fine because the film didn't need flashy editing to get its message across. The music, in addition, wasn't a main part of the film, but it did enhance the film by conveying the mood that the audience was suppose to feel at certain moments. For my documentary I don't think I am going to include comic book drawings to tell parts of the plot, but I will try to have many types of b-roll shots like this film did.
This film is great. It told an amazing story and the way it told it kept the audience engaged and excited for what was coming next. I think that young documentary film makers could learn a lot from this, even if they aren't going to use the same style of documenting that this film did. This film is part of ESPN's 30 for 30, a critically acclaimed documentary series. I have seen many other documentaries in the series, but this one stood out to me because of how is displayed the three aspects of film.
The literary aspect of this film was amazing. The film went in a chronological order. For example, it described Benji's childhood and how he got his love of basketball. Then it described his early high school life. Next, it focused on when he became a superstar basketball player. Finally, it described his death, and the people who committed the crimes, both of whom were under 17 years old. The mood at the start of the documentary is upbeat, but it slowly begins to change throughout, and finally comes to the point where it is a sad mood. The people interview in the film were those who knew Benji well, or those who knew Chicago basketball well. For example, Benji's brother Curtis was a main contributor to the film, as well as some of Benji's old high school teammates. Many reporters from Chicago were also interviewed for the film. The filmed had a narrator describe all the events that took place throughout the film. I think that I can use some of the literary aspects used in this documentary in mine. We should tell our film chronologically, have a narrator, and a variety of interviewees.
In the film there weren't a whole lot of dramatic aspects involved. This was a documentary meaning that it is telling a real life event. Although there was drama in the film, that doesn't mean that the documentary conveyed dramatic aspects. There weren't any actors, sets, or costumes in the film.
The cinematic aspects were unique to this film. Many scenes that told stories of Benji's life were created using drawings, it was like a comic book. This was weird at first but by the end it became something that the audience was use to and enjoyed. Along with the drawings the film contained interview, a-roll shots, and b-roll footage of Benji and other basketball players, and newspaper headlines. The b-roll footage was incredible because although it was very old and grainy it gave the audience a sense of how good Benji and other Chicago-area basketball players were. The editing of the film seemed very basic, but that was fine because the film didn't need flashy editing to get its message across. The music, in addition, wasn't a main part of the film, but it did enhance the film by conveying the mood that the audience was suppose to feel at certain moments. For my documentary I don't think I am going to include comic book drawings to tell parts of the plot, but I will try to have many types of b-roll shots like this film did.
This film is great. It told an amazing story and the way it told it kept the audience engaged and excited for what was coming next. I think that young documentary film makers could learn a lot from this, even if they aren't going to use the same style of documenting that this film did. This film is part of ESPN's 30 for 30, a critically acclaimed documentary series. I have seen many other documentaries in the series, but this one stood out to me because of how is displayed the three aspects of film.
Sunday, December 9, 2012
My Week of High School Hoops
This weekend I went to the National High School Hoops Festival at Dematha Catholic High School and the Gonzaga DC Classic tournament at Gonzaga College High School. I saw some pretty incredible individual performances and some disappointing ones. Here are my individual awards for the weekend.
Best Performance:
This goes to Villanova recruit Josh Hart. Hart is a senior at Sidwell Friends High School in DC. Sidwell took on Gonzaga, the number one team in the DC area Saturday night. Hart and the rest of Sidwell dominated Gonzaga from the tip. Hart was a dominant force offensively hitting three pointers, attacking the bucket, and drawing fouls. Hart also contributed defensively and rebounded well. He was the leader of his team, and finished the night with a tournament high 34 points.
Biggest Suprise:
This goes to Kameron Williams of Mount Joseph High School in Baltimore. Going in to Mount Joseph's game versus Bullis I had no idea who Kameron Williams was. Turns out he is going to Ohio State University next fall to play basketball. Williams shot incredibly well in the game I watched and also got in transition and dunked twice. He only missed one shot the whole night, yet still scored at least 25 points. It was a nice suprise to learn about this kid.
Most Exciting Player to Watch:
This award is an easy one to give out because this man is the most exciting basketball player in the country, his name is Aquille Carr. Carr is a senior at Princeton Day and will be going to Seton Hall next year. He is only five foot seven inches tall, but still has a huge impact on a game. You never know what Carr will do next, and this is a good and bad statement because Carr sometimes makes horrible plays. He is so fast and so confident in his game that he is guaranteed to bring excitement to any game. I loved watching him play.
Most Disappointing Player:
Before I go in depth on this one just look at Andrew Wiggins's mixtape. Wiggins is considered by most to be the number one high school basketball player in the country.
That mixtape is impressive and Wiggins is suppose to be amazing. When I watched him in his game versus Princeton Day Wiggins did nothing to stand out. He looked like he didn't care about the game. I was shocked and outraged to see a man with so much talent not do anything with it. If I was Andrew Wiggins and I played that poorly I would be extremely embarrassed. Watching Wiggins play disgusted me. He rarely looked to attack the basketball and just was content to hang around on the perimeter and pass the ball around. The fans came to see a superstar and Wiggins failed to live up to the expectations.
Best Performance:
This goes to Villanova recruit Josh Hart. Hart is a senior at Sidwell Friends High School in DC. Sidwell took on Gonzaga, the number one team in the DC area Saturday night. Hart and the rest of Sidwell dominated Gonzaga from the tip. Hart was a dominant force offensively hitting three pointers, attacking the bucket, and drawing fouls. Hart also contributed defensively and rebounded well. He was the leader of his team, and finished the night with a tournament high 34 points.
Biggest Suprise:
This goes to Kameron Williams of Mount Joseph High School in Baltimore. Going in to Mount Joseph's game versus Bullis I had no idea who Kameron Williams was. Turns out he is going to Ohio State University next fall to play basketball. Williams shot incredibly well in the game I watched and also got in transition and dunked twice. He only missed one shot the whole night, yet still scored at least 25 points. It was a nice suprise to learn about this kid.
Most Exciting Player to Watch:
This award is an easy one to give out because this man is the most exciting basketball player in the country, his name is Aquille Carr. Carr is a senior at Princeton Day and will be going to Seton Hall next year. He is only five foot seven inches tall, but still has a huge impact on a game. You never know what Carr will do next, and this is a good and bad statement because Carr sometimes makes horrible plays. He is so fast and so confident in his game that he is guaranteed to bring excitement to any game. I loved watching him play.
Most Disappointing Player:
Before I go in depth on this one just look at Andrew Wiggins's mixtape. Wiggins is considered by most to be the number one high school basketball player in the country.
That mixtape is impressive and Wiggins is suppose to be amazing. When I watched him in his game versus Princeton Day Wiggins did nothing to stand out. He looked like he didn't care about the game. I was shocked and outraged to see a man with so much talent not do anything with it. If I was Andrew Wiggins and I played that poorly I would be extremely embarrassed. Watching Wiggins play disgusted me. He rarely looked to attack the basketball and just was content to hang around on the perimeter and pass the ball around. The fans came to see a superstar and Wiggins failed to live up to the expectations.
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Documentary Topics
For our film class we have a new documentary topic. The documentary process is a long one, and it contains many steps. The first step, which is also the most important one, is choosing a topic. I don't know what my topic is going to be yet, but I have narrowed it down to two choices.
The first chose is a documentary about a band called The Pains of Being Pure at Heart. I have listened to the band for the last couple years and seen them play twice. They are an incredible band that probably has some interesting stories to tell. I am actually friends with most of the band members on facebook, so I could use that connection to try and establish an interview with the band. The band resides in New York City, so the interview might possibly have to be conducted on Skype. If everything worked out with this topic, then I think it would be an enjoyable experience. Here's my favorite song of the bands.
My other topic is also somewhat complicated, but could be awesome if everything worked out. I want to do a profile about Emanuel Charles, the JV basketball coach at Blair. Coach Charles attended Blair in the early 90s, and played for the basketball team. The team at that time was a lot different then the one now. The players were all huge, in fact Charles has told me that he was one of the smallest kids on the team, and he is 6 foot 2. The team nowadays is a lot smaller and for the past couple years hasn't been successful. In the 90s the team was very successful and former NBA star Steve Francis even played for the team for a year. I think that I could create a documentary from Charles's perspective on how Blair basketball and public high school in the county has changed. Also I would want to take his input on how and if future teams could achieve more success, like the teams of the early 90s did. To create this documentary I would have to find videos of the Blair basketball team from the 90s. It could be a challenge, but it's one that I am ready to accept. Here are some Steve Francis highlights, a former Blair student.
Both of these ideas are interesting to me, both pose their own set of problems, but it will be fun to do one of these two topics.
The first chose is a documentary about a band called The Pains of Being Pure at Heart. I have listened to the band for the last couple years and seen them play twice. They are an incredible band that probably has some interesting stories to tell. I am actually friends with most of the band members on facebook, so I could use that connection to try and establish an interview with the band. The band resides in New York City, so the interview might possibly have to be conducted on Skype. If everything worked out with this topic, then I think it would be an enjoyable experience. Here's my favorite song of the bands.
My other topic is also somewhat complicated, but could be awesome if everything worked out. I want to do a profile about Emanuel Charles, the JV basketball coach at Blair. Coach Charles attended Blair in the early 90s, and played for the basketball team. The team at that time was a lot different then the one now. The players were all huge, in fact Charles has told me that he was one of the smallest kids on the team, and he is 6 foot 2. The team nowadays is a lot smaller and for the past couple years hasn't been successful. In the 90s the team was very successful and former NBA star Steve Francis even played for the team for a year. I think that I could create a documentary from Charles's perspective on how Blair basketball and public high school in the county has changed. Also I would want to take his input on how and if future teams could achieve more success, like the teams of the early 90s did. To create this documentary I would have to find videos of the Blair basketball team from the 90s. It could be a challenge, but it's one that I am ready to accept. Here are some Steve Francis highlights, a former Blair student.
Both of these ideas are interesting to me, both pose their own set of problems, but it will be fun to do one of these two topics.
Sunday, November 18, 2012
What Did I Just Watch?
After the last couple weeks I swore that I wouldn't watch another Mountaineer football game this year, I lied. Not only did I watch last night's game, but I also fell in love with WVU again because of the play of one little man, Tavon Austin.
Austin, a senior, played running back for the first time since high school, and he was wondrous. The man had 574 all purpose yards, that combines his receiving, rushing, and kick returning yards. That is a new Big 12 record. 344 of those 574 yards came on the ground. Austin had 21 carries for 344 yards, that's 16.4 yards a carry. That is ridiculous for someone who has never played running back at this level. Every time Austin touched the ball something magical happened, I was in awe.Just look at some of his many highlights.
Throughout most of the game it was Oklahoma, one of the most prized college football programs, versus Tavon Austin. Austin is only five foot nine and one hundred seventy four pounds. He played his heart out on every play and embodied the Mountaineer belief back into me. It would have been easy for Austin to quit on this season that has gone awry, but he didn't. It was a truly inspiring effort.
Austin single-handily brought his team and his fans to life last night. I am usually never proud after a loss, but I am proud with the preformance last night. I can't wait to watch Tavon and this team play again, and I promise, thanks to Tavon Austin, that I will never ever give up on my team again. Let's go Mountaineers!
Austin, a senior, played running back for the first time since high school, and he was wondrous. The man had 574 all purpose yards, that combines his receiving, rushing, and kick returning yards. That is a new Big 12 record. 344 of those 574 yards came on the ground. Austin had 21 carries for 344 yards, that's 16.4 yards a carry. That is ridiculous for someone who has never played running back at this level. Every time Austin touched the ball something magical happened, I was in awe.Just look at some of his many highlights.
Throughout most of the game it was Oklahoma, one of the most prized college football programs, versus Tavon Austin. Austin is only five foot nine and one hundred seventy four pounds. He played his heart out on every play and embodied the Mountaineer belief back into me. It would have been easy for Austin to quit on this season that has gone awry, but he didn't. It was a truly inspiring effort.
Austin single-handily brought his team and his fans to life last night. I am usually never proud after a loss, but I am proud with the preformance last night. I can't wait to watch Tavon and this team play again, and I promise, thanks to Tavon Austin, that I will never ever give up on my team again. Let's go Mountaineers!
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Fall Video Project
This was our second video project, and I have mixed feelings about it. I didn't really have enough time to plan out and shoot a great video, but I had fun doing this project. The fall, for me, signifies basketball and friends. Almost on every Friday and weekends my friends and I am hanging out on a basketball court or in my basement. In this video I was able to incorporate both places. The video was shot using my IPhone 3gs.
Shot List
1. Hooligans making leaf angels
2. Andreas missing a jumper and Landon chasing down the board
3. Me getting an and-one
4. Ian Donaldson getting buckets
5. The skyline on the walk back to my house
6. Chilling in the basement
7. Ian Kiefhaber and Andreas playing 2k13 with my dog watching attentively
8. Andres throwing an oop in 2k13
9. The various Gatorade bottle left by us
10. Me hanging on a 10 foot rim with two hands
This project was fun, but next time I think we should be able to do it during school. Youtube's video editor is nothing compared to Final Cut Pro. I think that we could use class time to plan out different shots, and then actually create really cool videos with out ideas.
Social Distortion is Still Alive and Kicking
I saw Social Distortion play last Wednesday at the 9:30 Club in DC. It was amazing. Social Distortion formed in 1978. Mike Ness, the lead singer and guitarist, and Dennis Danell, a guitarist, fronted the band for many years, until Danell's death in 2000. From 1978-2000 the band was constantly off and on due to Ness's various drug addictions. The band's first four albums, Mommy's Little Monster, Prison Bound, Social Distortion, and Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell are masterpieces that gained the band a lot of popularity. Even though Danell died in 2000 the band has continued to tour and put out new music. Mike Ness is the only current member of the band who has been a member since the start in 1978.
I saw Social Distortion when I was in 7th grade in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The show that I saw on Wednesday blow the Allentown show out of my mind. Ness was the center of the sell-out crowd's attention, and he delivered everything that anyone could want. He was jumping around the stage and interacting with the crowd. He chatted the crowd up about the election, and told them that he was glad Obama won. He said that everyone should take the next day off, and that if their boss had a problem with it, that he should talk to Mike Ness because Ness would tell him where to put that problem. Ness showed his experience on stage and was an absolute pleasure to watch.
The only problem I had with the show was the setlist. The band played great, but they didn't play all the songs that I wanted to hear, but after the show I realized that I was okay with that. The band played great music and I got to hear some new songs that I had never heard before. The one song I was extremely glad to hear was the last song of their set, Story of My Life. When they started playing it I began jumping up and down and screaming the lyrics out.
After they played that song the band went off the stage. The crowd cheered and eventually the band came back on for an encore set. Again, the first couple songs they played in this set I wasn't familiar with, but it was all good. Before their last song, Ness had his last conversation with the audience. He started naming the various influences of the band, such as The Rolling Stones, The Ramones, The Clash, and other bands. After naming those bands Ness said that all those bands were incredibly influential, but that nobody should ever forget Johnny Cash. With that the band played Ring of Fire and I found myself jumping up and down again and screaming the lyrics out.
The night was awesome. Social Distortion and Mike Ness showed no signs of getting old, they would have played all night if they were allowed to. I hope that they come to DC again because I know that I will be there.
I saw Social Distortion when I was in 7th grade in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The show that I saw on Wednesday blow the Allentown show out of my mind. Ness was the center of the sell-out crowd's attention, and he delivered everything that anyone could want. He was jumping around the stage and interacting with the crowd. He chatted the crowd up about the election, and told them that he was glad Obama won. He said that everyone should take the next day off, and that if their boss had a problem with it, that he should talk to Mike Ness because Ness would tell him where to put that problem. Ness showed his experience on stage and was an absolute pleasure to watch.
The only problem I had with the show was the setlist. The band played great, but they didn't play all the songs that I wanted to hear, but after the show I realized that I was okay with that. The band played great music and I got to hear some new songs that I had never heard before. The one song I was extremely glad to hear was the last song of their set, Story of My Life. When they started playing it I began jumping up and down and screaming the lyrics out.
After they played that song the band went off the stage. The crowd cheered and eventually the band came back on for an encore set. Again, the first couple songs they played in this set I wasn't familiar with, but it was all good. Before their last song, Ness had his last conversation with the audience. He started naming the various influences of the band, such as The Rolling Stones, The Ramones, The Clash, and other bands. After naming those bands Ness said that all those bands were incredibly influential, but that nobody should ever forget Johnny Cash. With that the band played Ring of Fire and I found myself jumping up and down again and screaming the lyrics out.
The night was awesome. Social Distortion and Mike Ness showed no signs of getting old, they would have played all night if they were allowed to. I hope that they come to DC again because I know that I will be there.
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