In your final post discuss what you accomplished, whether you plan to continue your efforts or start over, and what you learned and maybe wish you had learned.
It really is amazing what you can accomplish in 7 weeks. I never imagined how much can change, how much thought goes into everyday, and how much is out there in the world to learn. This class not only taught me how to write better, it has opened up the world of writing and online media for me. I guess you can say I had a limited and traditional vision about what writing was. Bob did a wonderful job of showing me how impactful and vast the writing world is, and how much communication changes our lives. Writing is a skill I hope to continue to improve upon and utilize as much as possible in the future.
Accomplishments:
This was the first time in my life I ever created a Flash presentation. I just learned Adobe Flash a little over a year ago and was surprised at how much it can do. I really enjoy animation and I had a great time doing my executive presentation - but realized how time consuming the program is (especially if you pick apart your work like I do).
The storyboards were also a first for me. It was a logical choice for me considering I love to draw. I wish I had a little more time to flesh out some more scenes, which I hope to do in the near future. It was interesting to learn how to write using images and sounds, and how film can open up and transpose writing in a unique way.
My biggest accomplishment was writing about my experiences with Irene. I had to let the demons out and face a terrifying memory. In a way it was a form of therapy, and I am glad I stuck with my topic and wrote outside of my comfort zone (tough!). There were times I struggled with my writing identity, and felt unsure about how to attack the content. I think I would have been comfortable writing as myself (without the pen name), but then again it helped to have a new and fresh voice that is still my own.
Starting over:
Even though I do want to continue my story/script/film with that dreadful day during Irene and the days that followed, I want to get back to improving/promoting/designing my freelance business CED Design and its online presence. With what I have learned in this class I hope to go back and tidy up the content that is there and continue to expand and develop its possibilities. My first step is to finish hand coding the site (which is now just a blog) and create pages within it to display my many multimedia interests. Ideally I would like to have a page for each endeavor (portfolio, video, audio, writing, poetry, and of course the blog). I would like the site to be a business site as well as an artist's page. So in a sense I am not really starting over, I am just continuing where I left off. I want to review all the connections to this as well, and strengthen the links to it through LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Google+.
If There Was More Time (and there will be):
From what I stated in my proposal it is clear I did not get around to all I said I would. Within the time given I pushed myself as far as I could within the means and wish I could have found time to do a bit more. I wanted to interview some people that had their homes destroyed by Irene, but found the task a little daunting. For some reason it was hard enough to deal with what I went through personally and found just writing and thinking about it very difficult. I also wanted to get some statistics on Irene through FEMA, but could not find the time. Although this did not happen, I found what I did accomplish to be quite heavy, and by focusing on the story it seemed efficient in the angle I originally wanted to take. Like I mentioned earlier I still want to flesh out the story of my experiences with the storm and someday turn it into a masterpiece. I will never forget that day and particularly what my step mother said. "This is something you can tell your grandchildren about." And someday I will, but it started right here. Hopefully, more than just my grandchildren will know what happened that day, I guess that is the reason I choose it for a topic. It is an ongoing story and someday will be that tale of a man who fought against nature. I did find many layers of meaning through that troublesome day and realized how important each and everyone of us is, how we are all struggling against (our) nature and looking for answers within the world we live.
I am very thankful for having been able to participate in this class. Bob - you are a fantastic instructor and I appreciate everything you showed (us) me. You have a unique and inspiring way of teaching, it is like a friendly slap on the back - which pushes us into opening our eyes and minds to the amazing world around us - even if it is just about being a better writer/communicator. I hope everyone in the class realizes it is more than just that. I hope everyone had an eye opening experience like I did, and I wish the best of luck to my colleagues in their travels on the road of interactive communications.
Thanks again to Bob, Amie, and Sadie - I enjoyed reading and experiencing your work - kudos to you guys!
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
StoryBoard
This is a storyboard I designed for a film I would like to make. It is just a start but gets down to the major events I experienced during Tropical Storm Irene. I hope to continue elaborating on it and possibly write a script in addition to the storyboards. The characters are my father John, my stepmother Lynn and myself. The location is at our home on the CT shoreline, and runs on a timeline of around 10am to 12pm on the day of the storm. 
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Social Media Campaign: Facebook
As one of the most popular social media networks, Facebook will be my focus for generating a stronger online presence. It was an easy choice but I can foresee some problems with this choice as well. Facebook is interacting with just about every person, business, or institution out there today; which is beneficial yet hazardous. The hazard is the noise. I think that these days there can be too much going on for any one person to focus in on what they are looking for out of networks like Facebook. While the style and user functions of the site has changed over the last couple of years, it still remains the dominant interactive site due to its pure popularity.
One of the main reasons I believe Facebook will work for me is the amount of traffic to the site and the number of friends I have there. Not all of them are actual friends, but with what I have experimented with in the past (C.E.D. Design-blog and business page) has worked beneficially for myself and my followers. Now that the format has changed to creating circles or niches, there is less general noise from the 554 friends I have and more posts from people I have selected for certain circles. It seems you can still broadcast to everyone you know but that some peoples' settings may tune you out. When you post you have options on who you update too, which I find very useful. Then again, maybe you still want everyone to hear what you had for breakfast - hopefully those days are over.
With the emergence of Google+, Facebook has been offered some clean competition. Although Google+ is still very new and not too many people know about it, its numbers alone showed us all the power of social networking sites. I think it is good to have options, but these days I find Facebook still takes the cake when people want to interact.
Eye on my niche...
My real focus now is to intertwine my writing from this blog into my C.E.D. Design niche. I think it is time to reveal my identity to those who don't know yet, but I find the mystery of it all counter productive in creating online presence in the first place. I believe people need to know who you are to follow you, or at least have common niche interests. I am not quite sure how I will unravel this mystery without jumping into the spotlight. Even though I am reluctant to broadcast my experiences with Irene, I find it has to be done. The story has to be told, and if anything it will help me move on in the future without feeling shitty about what happened.
The Growing Conversation...
Facebook is the main hub for online conversation, at least from what I have seen recently. It is the normal new chat room, photo gallery, event board and status center. It is connecting more people everyday, and is an easy way to stay on top of whats going on without actually having to interact in person. Convenient. Casual. No big whoop. Well, maybe a very big whoop. I am not sure that conversation is what I would call deep or intelligent, but at least it is making people think and connect at their leisure.
I think it is almost obvious why I choose Facebook over other social networks. Do I need say more? Like I mentioned earlier, the noise and amount of traffic could pose a problem, but I plan to focus on certain groups, like my close friends and family to see what kind of reaction I get.
One of the main reasons I believe Facebook will work for me is the amount of traffic to the site and the number of friends I have there. Not all of them are actual friends, but with what I have experimented with in the past (C.E.D. Design-blog and business page) has worked beneficially for myself and my followers. Now that the format has changed to creating circles or niches, there is less general noise from the 554 friends I have and more posts from people I have selected for certain circles. It seems you can still broadcast to everyone you know but that some peoples' settings may tune you out. When you post you have options on who you update too, which I find very useful. Then again, maybe you still want everyone to hear what you had for breakfast - hopefully those days are over.
With the emergence of Google+, Facebook has been offered some clean competition. Although Google+ is still very new and not too many people know about it, its numbers alone showed us all the power of social networking sites. I think it is good to have options, but these days I find Facebook still takes the cake when people want to interact.
Eye on my niche...
My real focus now is to intertwine my writing from this blog into my C.E.D. Design niche. I think it is time to reveal my identity to those who don't know yet, but I find the mystery of it all counter productive in creating online presence in the first place. I believe people need to know who you are to follow you, or at least have common niche interests. I am not quite sure how I will unravel this mystery without jumping into the spotlight. Even though I am reluctant to broadcast my experiences with Irene, I find it has to be done. The story has to be told, and if anything it will help me move on in the future without feeling shitty about what happened.
The Growing Conversation...
Facebook is the main hub for online conversation, at least from what I have seen recently. It is the normal new chat room, photo gallery, event board and status center. It is connecting more people everyday, and is an easy way to stay on top of whats going on without actually having to interact in person. Convenient. Casual. No big whoop. Well, maybe a very big whoop. I am not sure that conversation is what I would call deep or intelligent, but at least it is making people think and connect at their leisure.
I think it is almost obvious why I choose Facebook over other social networks. Do I need say more? Like I mentioned earlier, the noise and amount of traffic could pose a problem, but I plan to focus on certain groups, like my close friends and family to see what kind of reaction I get.
Friday, October 7, 2011
Lecture Comments: "The Script"
This lecture got me excited about taking writing to a new level through imagery and sounds. This section of the class is quite interesting - never thought we would be diving into the movie making/script writing process. I have always loved imagery, visual arts, movies, television - basically anything that told a story visually. Now I get to create some of those things, inspired not only by Robert but by my favorite film makers as well. I plan to go the storyboard route, it is the closest to my skill set and I already have a good idea of the direction I want to take.
It is amazing how sounds and images in film can say so much in telling a story. In my view it sometimes tells it better than words, but one also has to pick up on the visual cues. I never noticed the zippo scene in The Godfather as being so significant (then again the last time I saw it was 10 years ago - must rewatch). Films can also not be as good as a book/novel and that is because of how the reader creates imagery without being presented any. When reading, we create our own world (closest to the author's descriptions) in which the story manifests. With film, we are given the visuals and have to almost work backwards to understand the characters that normally would be described in the book. Movies like the Lord of the Rings trilogy does a great job of staying true to the text but also creating a magnificent world that is close to (and beyond) what we pictured in our heads.
It will be difficult to write like a script writer does or a storyboard designer draws. From what we have been learning so far, this is an interesting twist into how we present information. Looks like it will be a lot of fun.
It is amazing how sounds and images in film can say so much in telling a story. In my view it sometimes tells it better than words, but one also has to pick up on the visual cues. I never noticed the zippo scene in The Godfather as being so significant (then again the last time I saw it was 10 years ago - must rewatch). Films can also not be as good as a book/novel and that is because of how the reader creates imagery without being presented any. When reading, we create our own world (closest to the author's descriptions) in which the story manifests. With film, we are given the visuals and have to almost work backwards to understand the characters that normally would be described in the book. Movies like the Lord of the Rings trilogy does a great job of staying true to the text but also creating a magnificent world that is close to (and beyond) what we pictured in our heads.
It will be difficult to write like a script writer does or a storyboard designer draws. From what we have been learning so far, this is an interesting twist into how we present information. Looks like it will be a lot of fun.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Lecture Comments: "Conversation"
Conversation is a strange thing. I have a good friend who enjoys having good conversation, if possible. He hates to be interrupted and I sometimes find myself finishing his statements or 'filling in the gaps'. It seems to me that sometimes I may know what he is going to say and I blurt out before he is finished, which only pisses him off. It is not that I am trying to be rude - it is rude I have learned - but at the same time I only wish to be part of the conversation. I want him to know I am listening, and that can't be done through interruption. I know now I can not think I know what the other person is going to say and then say it. It does not work that way, unless the person asks for the right word or may say "Do you know what I'm saying?" I have learned that patience in a conversation is a good thing. Waiting for your chance to speak not only lets you absorb more of the conversation but it allows you to have more time to say what you want.
I think a lot of people go about their lives thinking they know more than others. Of course this degree of knowledge varies, but I know because I am at fault. I think most of this comes from being 18 years old and knowing everything at that age. It takes many years for that delusion to ware off. Only through time and wisdom do we all realize that conversation is precious and that sometimes not everyone has the answer - even when we think we do.
The fact that the audience seats are empty and the stage is full scares me a bit. I would consider myself a little of both but I prefer to watch. I am an observer, a good listener (most of the time), and I love to be entertained. Who doesn't? I just don't understand why everyone wants to be the star. Wait a minute, I know the answer to that. Why can't some of use just sit back and enjoy the show. But what really scares me is that if everyone is a singer, musician, artist or whatever, how do those of us who have been trying to specialize and stand apart from the crowd shine? I guess we have to climb up on their shoulders or be mobbed by the masses. I guess there is always the originality factor too - there are many like me but no single soul that is exactly like me. If this is true then there is nothing to fear, and if anything I wish the best to my competition.
I think a lot of people go about their lives thinking they know more than others. Of course this degree of knowledge varies, but I know because I am at fault. I think most of this comes from being 18 years old and knowing everything at that age. It takes many years for that delusion to ware off. Only through time and wisdom do we all realize that conversation is precious and that sometimes not everyone has the answer - even when we think we do.
The fact that the audience seats are empty and the stage is full scares me a bit. I would consider myself a little of both but I prefer to watch. I am an observer, a good listener (most of the time), and I love to be entertained. Who doesn't? I just don't understand why everyone wants to be the star. Wait a minute, I know the answer to that. Why can't some of use just sit back and enjoy the show. But what really scares me is that if everyone is a singer, musician, artist or whatever, how do those of us who have been trying to specialize and stand apart from the crowd shine? I guess we have to climb up on their shoulders or be mobbed by the masses. I guess there is always the originality factor too - there are many like me but no single soul that is exactly like me. If this is true then there is nothing to fear, and if anything I wish the best to my competition.
"Rebecca West, the Twentieth Century writer and feminist said there is no conversation, just intersecting monologues. While I don’t believe her cynicism is correct; she makes an important point. Our thoughts are often so preconceived when we bring them to the table that we miss many of the opportunities to make connections that are right in front of us."
I found this quote to be true in my experiences with dating, both online and off. I have found that males and females do have a certain preconception about who the person they are when they date as well as who the person is they are dating. This probably goes back to gender biases. I think when we first date someone we are so nervous about whether or not the person is going to like us, we lose touch with who we really are. I have found in the past that just forgetting about that helps, it makes no sense for me to try to impress. That person is just going to have to take me for who I am. If they don't like it, tough shit. They are the ones who are missing out. Basically if we all let go of some of our preconceived notions we will all be better off. No one really knows how it will all turn out, so just ride along. By ignoring preconceptions, we can turn over a whole new rock with interesting bugs underneath we have never seen before. Monologues are important - if it is self coaching and confidence based, but we have to leave that at the door when we enter the unknown future (or watering hole where we are to meet our date).
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Presentation Script
Intro 1:
Are you prepared for the next hurricane or tropical storm? Is your home prepared?
"Don’t let this happen to your home. Get the protection you deserve. Invest in Safe-T-View, Advanced Window & Shutter Technology."
Intro 2:
During a storm or hurricane, you and your home needs protection from the elements. The windows to your home are the most vulnerable areas in the events of high winds, flying debris, and heavy rain. If you live near coastal areas, waves like this one can be an extreme threat to the integrity of your windows.
Hello, my name is Drake Fillmore and I have lived through hail storms, blizzards, tornadoes, earthquakes and hurricanes. Non of those storms caught me off guard quite like Tropical Storm Irene. I was not prepared for the intense power of this storm, and as you can see, I paid the price for it. Normal storm windows like I had installed were no match against the forces of Irene.
Then I heard about Safe-T-View, the newest and most advanced in window & shutter technology.
How It Works
Safe-T-View uses the latest technology in hurricane proof windows & shutters. These state-of-the-art windows are pressure sensitive, measuring wind and water pressure through a control panel installed inside your home. Once these windows detect a certain amount of pressure, the aluminum shutters are activated, covering the windows and locking into place. The amount of pressure detected can be adjusted by the home owner, or the windows can be activated or deactivated through the control panel at any time.
Once the shutters are activated and lowered, metal bars inside the frame of the window lock into place, offering further strength & support. The shutter technology absorbs shock away from impact areas and into the frame.
The Glass
Safe-T-View windows are made with triple layered laminated glass with waterproof seams and impact resistance. Our windows keep out harmful UV rays and glare while letting in natural light. Our windows are supported by a heavy duty frame which comes with our patented metal bar locking mechanism.
The Shutters
The shutters are made from rigid aluminum and can withstand winds up to 210 MPH/322KPH, and missile impact up to 160 MPH/241KPH. Their construction and anchoring keep high winds and debris from breaching your home’s outer envelope. Our windows and shutters have passed a series of tests including the "Miami-Dade County Hurricane Impact Test",* making them the strongest and most reliable storm windows on the market.
(Show text)
Our heavy duty Safe-T-View window shutters:
• Offer four times the impact strength of 1/2" plywood
• Protect windows and doors from winds up to 160 mph
• Resist corrosion and rusting
• Have a thickness of .050"
The Control Panel
Our windows and shutters are controlled by an electronic device installed inside your home. This system is known as the WindQ® pressure measuring device. Through this device, small pressure sensitive plates are installed on the windows edges, allowing it too measure the amount of wind or water pressure impacting the window. Once a certain amount of pressure is detected, the WindQ® system automatically engages the shutters to close. "So what if the power goes out?" -you may ask. The Safe-T-View window & shutter system has a manual override as well, allowing the home owner to engage the shutters in case of power loss.
Installation
Safe-T-View windows and shutters are installed by our dedicated staff and comes with a full money back guarantee. Our storm shutter systems can also be installed over doorways. Our large line of storm and wind mitigation systems will keep your home safe and secure.
Cost
Our line of all aluminum Shutter Panels cost $4.65 per square foot. Window prices vary due to size, specifications and thickness, but are priced according to market competition. Installation prices run anywhere from $250 to $1500 depending on size of job.
Closing
Do the right thing. Reduce the loss of revenue from your home or business due to storm damage. Invest in Safe-T-View window & shutter technology. Thank you for your time and consideration.
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