Post 3: Digital Publishing Project

My first two posts can be found here: http://mapcdigitalbryanricke.blogspot.com/

Having given it some thought (and some inspiration from Glen's project idea, as well) I have decided that I would like to create a "film festival" website for local filmmakers to be able to submit their film, watch and comment on other people's work, and potentially to start working together outside of the website. It would be similar to youtube, but would remain completely local and hopefully would foster a film community here in Clemson.

This idea partly stems from the fact that Clemson has no film community. Last year several MAPC students (myself included) got together outside of class to make a short horror movie titled "End it Like Beckham." Everyone had an amazing time, became closer friends, learned a great deal about working on a large project together, and made a worthwhile piece of cinema.

Overall it was a success, so we naturally wanted to celebrate by screening the finished product. We decided to hold a premiere at McKissick theater on campus and desperately tried to get other students involved. I wanted to give other students the chance to have their work seen on the big screen. We posted fliers, asked around (two of our group even made announcements in their ENG 103 sections), and we even bought an ad space on facebook to ask for submissions to the film festival. No one got back to us. We did, however, have a decent turnout for our premiere and still had a great time. I know that there are Clemson students who are also interested in filmmaking, and I would love to get them involved in a real film community.

Apart from the actual subject matter, I am also interested in the idea of a website to showcase local films, because it has the potential to mix a large variety of media, as well as foster a discussion about all the different art forms that would go into the showcased films and how they interact to create a finished film. I am excited about this project and look forward to figuring out all the possibilities with it.

Week 2 Post 2: My vision, objectives and project plan introduction

Class,

I’m pleased to share a redirection in my focus for this class. The Pennyroyal Project previously mentioned is a fascinating one. But, it’s not particularly feasible for me.

I’m shelving it. Instead, I’ve got something else in mind. Lest you begin to say Pa-…well, we won’t go “there…” I’ll simply say I’m not quitting. Instead, I’m going in the direction of my interests.

Vision: South Carolina Film Patronage Circle

Do you remember when E.T. made the bikes fly…Luke Skywalker destroyed the Death Star…The “objects in mirror are closer than they appear” writing on the Jeep’s side mirror disappear into the mouth of a chasing dinosaur in Jurassic Park?

Americans love film. I know I do. My family has maintained an annual Oscar Competition for 34 consecutive years. I remember growing up voting for Glenn Close because I liked her name (go figure!).

It’s therefore a natural progression to my new direction. I’m building a community. It’s untitled (but I have an idea in mind), but I intend to leverage the web to create a state-wide film patron circle. A patron is, by definition, one who appreciates and supports an artistic endeavor.

In broad strokes, I provide a forum for conversation on film to a general audience based in South Carolina. Through strong ties to the film community in South Carolina, I intend to organize several viewing events and film discussion.

But that’s not the “end game…”

I’d like to create a scholarship/grant for young filmmakers from South Carolina. Those passionate and gifted artists seeking to create their first independent film or advance their film skills through education would benefit from financing. My patron’s circle would produce the funding for a general scholarship fund and first-time film-maker grant. It makes sense to charter this as a 401(c) non-profit charity.

Product: Community Website/Portal

My overall project plan is in development. However, I’d like to throw out a few tentative organizational targets for the next 18 months.

1) 250 paid individual members ($10 for the first year)
2) 3 sponsors ($1000 or more)
3) 5 fundraising events (Oscar Viewing, Red Carpets, Dinner and a Movie, Design a Logo, etc.)
4) $25,000 raised into general fund
5) A noticeable presence at core film events in North and South Carolina
a. Charleston, Greenville and Charlotte Film Festivals

The website would clearly play an integral part. Key elements (and components of this class project) would need to include

1) A compelling explanation of vision. Ultimately, I'm seeking financial support for a public charity and promoting film appreciation.
2) Overview of member and sponsor benefits.
3) Calendar of events.
4) A monthly newsletter.
5) Space for “member only” discussion – community design (I'll discuss this more under a seperate post...part II of my post, I suppose)

For this class, I would like to make the prototype “live," finish my business plan, and charter the organization. In short, be on the lookout for a "kickoff celebration" in August :).

Areas of further study:

Simply put, I don’t have the technological skill to pull this off. I’m great at management, sales, and not too bad with generating ideas. I really don’t know about the technology. This class will hopefully help me with that. Also, as a result of this, I’d like a realistic budget for expenses in the first 18 months of operation...Knowing the technology will help me know what administrative costs to expect.

McChesney

Hi everyone. I originally created a personal blog for the class (http://diana836.blogspot.com/2009/07/remediation.html) where my initial blogs can be found. Unfortunately, I do not have anything though provoking to add to the McChesney assignment because my order from Amazon has not arrive at my home. I am tracking my order to see where it is. Bolter and Grusin has arrived so I continue with the readings and catch back up when the other books arrive.

A relocation

Hi Folks,

I'm moving!!! My first required posts were placed on a personal blog created for class (http://engl836glen.blogspot.com/). By all means, please feel free to check it out...I've got some nifty stuff about me and my interests.

But, sometimes one must pack up the wagons for greener pastures. This entry is just such a move.

I pick up here with "week 2 post #1" on the subject of McChesney's views regarding the future of media.

However, first I must admit...I have a bit of a gripe to share. What exactly does McChesney have against rhetoric?

Throughout his work, he employs rhetoric as a metaphor for meaningless. In fact, on page 151, he actively attacks rhetoric. "Had this been some colleague specializing in rhetoric or organizational communication, I would have been a tad dismayed but I would have understood." That's a bit mean to say, from someone actively engaged in an act of rhetoric! Where's the love? For instance, "media reform" is both a term used frequently and a rhetorical strategy employing simple pathos. Who wouldn't want the most sacred of American rights - expression - protected and reformed from threat?

Geesh.

With that bit of nastiness out of my system, I can get down to the business of discussing the role of digital publishing in the future of media.

McChesney argues that we are in a critical juncture, the third in the past century. A critical juncture is predicated by "at least two if not all three of the following conditions...revolutionary new communication technology....content of the the media system [is] discredited...there is a major political crisis..." (10). Previous junctures resulted in prolonged impact to communications policy and study...some good and some bad!

Frequently cited is the impact of policy in professional journalism. As indicated on page 97, corporate structure is destroying journalism. In lay terms, this is a very bad thing. Then on 104, He notes that there was a historical debate on whether to accept commercial journalism.

Further, his work cites that freedom of press does not mean free from government oversight...which, he notes, is an argument frequently used in support of a deregulatory free market stance. That stance, coincidentally, results in less diversity and choice as the "big fish" swallow the "little fish" in the unprotected waters of deregulation.

The media plays a key role in a free society. To McChesney, the people are capable of sophisticated argument...if provided the raw materials to do so. He cites, among others, Thomas Jeffereson and Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black. Consider the following quote from Justice Black employed by McChesney on page 127:

"And paramont among the responsibilities of a free press is the duty to prevent any part of the government from deceiving the people and sending them off to distant lands to die of foreign fevers and foreign shot and shell."

Clearly indicated are a few assumptions thus far:

1) The press is both public domain and a medium for public discourse.

2) That media is manipulated by corporate interests...if allowed to do so.

3) The public, if not involved or aware of the policy implications, fall victim to a press censured by special interests instead of public good.

Digital publication, in the aftermath of recent grassroots activism, represents the next critical juncture in this argument. It can remain a public space. The power structure controlling existing media - a "military industrial complex" of complacent regulators and commercial interests - are fighting desperately to prevent this from happening. As indicated on page 180, for example, net neutrality is under attack to become a form of annexed corporate property.

I applaud McChesney's application of critical theory (particularly Marxism) to the contemporary debate regarding policy study. Digital media is both the weapon in and battlefield for a critical juncture whose implications could stretch well in our lifetimes, according to McChesney.