Audio-Visual Techniques for Communication and Expression

Audio-Visual Techniques for Communication and Expression Use of Audio-Visual Techniques in expression of ideas – an insight into the use of effective techniques Word Count: 2554 Table of Contents (Jump to) 1. Introduction – Audi visual techniques and communication 1.1 Background of Study 2. Marry Me 2.1 Narrative 2.2 Characterisation 2.3 Genre convention and variation 2.4 Specific technical features 3. Photo Booth 3.1 Narrative 3.2 Characterisation 3.3 Genre convention and variation 3.4 Specific technical features 4. Conclusion References 1. Introduction – Audi visual techniques and communication The use of the different audio visual techniques in communication and expression of ideas has been widely regarded as an important and significant evolution of the different techniques used for communication that emerged from the use of print medium and incorporation of multimedia. Communication has always been an important part of human existence and throughout the history of mankind; the same has seen a transformation from mere papyrus sheets to the incorporation of the elements of sight and sound (Branston and Stafford, 2010). The opinion of experts on the transformation on the use of visual communication is diverse, but all of them are believed to be in affirmation with the fact that the use of different audio visual techniques in communication is considered to be the most effective and efficient by senders and receivers alike (Cunningham and Turner, 2010). The reason behind the same being the fact that the incorporation of the different audio visual formats helps in the presentation of the communication in a most concise manner, yet again enabling the sender to create a long lasting impression on the mind of the receivers (Chandler, 2004). 1.1 Background of Study The aim of this academic work is to highlight the importance of the different audio visual techniques and formats and its application to the creation of two astounding creations – short films, that have made it to the finals of Tropfest, considered being the most prestigious recognitions of Australian short film categories. What makes the feature more important and relevant is the fact that annually only 16 short films are considered by the jury as finalists from a pool of more than 700 entries annually. The two important finalists to the same event that have been selected for analysis in the study are director Michelle Lehmann’s Marry Me that had been adjudged the winner of 2008’s Tropfest. The other short film is that of Photo Booth, which had been directed by Michael Noonan (http://tropfest.com, 2014). The following sections of the academic work will be individually considering taking into consideration the narrative, characterisation, genre convention and specific technical features that have helped these short films receive the accolades (Cunningham and Turner, 2010) that have led to the popularity of the films in the Australian and International film circuit as well. 2. Marry Me Michelle Lehmann’s short film Marry Me that is of 7 minutes duration. The plot revolves around a little boy and girl with their individual attention and objects of interest. The following sections provide an insight into the narrative, characterisation, genre convention and highlight the technical features that have set the film apart from the rest of the entrants to the contest (O’Donnell, 1999). 2.1 Narrative The film is seen to revolve around the interest among two young individuals and the communication or the idea that has been expressed in the film has been carefully crafted, reflecting the different individual pursuits of two young people, which have been seen to have a strange co-incidence to real life drawing significant parallel to people’s needs and wants. The film depicts the girl is particularly interested in the boy who is overwhelmed by materialistic pursuits signified by the love for his little BMX bike. The message and expression of the idea of the film is clear through the emotions that have been captured through the girl’s expressions and gleam in eyes every time he sees the boy. The girl is depicted to have fallen in love with the bike riding boy and the same has been clearly expressed through the attempts by the girl to draw the boy’s attention through a number of different ways (http://tropfest.com, 2014). Many are of opinion that the film is about the complexities of emotions of the young, but it also subtly underpins the interest and love of two different people – love for the boy for the girl, and the boy’s (Jason) interest in nothing but the bike that he has. 2.2 Characterisation Michelle Lehmann had drawn crucial similarities to the character of the girl as she had stated that even as a 5 or 6 year old girl, she had experienced the same emotional tension as being attracted to a boy who had been her neighbour and like Jason, had been found to have a particular knack to materialistic pursuits that are considered to be natural (O’Donnell, 1999). The girl who is seen to endlessly pursuit her love interest in the film has been named Chloe and the boy Jason. In order to express her idea clearly to the audience, Michelle has carefully selected the two most astounding young actors in the roles of Chloe and Jason who have been able to win the hearts of the viewers through their childish charms and natural acting. For Jason, the need was to portray a character that was very much in skin of the role portrayed by him – a young BMX enthusiast and the ease with which Jason has been seen to express his disinterest for Chloe busy fixing the wheels of his little bike makes on feel as if it is almost real and not a short film. On the other hand, the role that had been portrayed by the young girl Chloe has been nothing less than au naturel. The determined look and the expression on her face towards the end of the short film as she approaches the high plank constructed by Jason leaves one spell bound and many would wonder whether the expression can be attributed to the next to impossible task in real life (http://tropfest.com, 2014). 2.3 Genre convention and variation The genre of the film is based on the complexities of human emotion and it needs to be highlighted that the message that has been attempted to be conveyed through the short film is largely based on the different emotional pulls and pushes one might experience at a young age. Much of the film is aimed at the general audience who would leave the screen enthralled and spellbound by the enigma of analysing the meaning and idea behind the short film. The convention of the genre is based on the fact that the theme of the film holds true for human beings in reality as well. Most individuals are often engaged in the tireless pursuit of something or the other in life that is perceived to have been difficult to attain for them. The same has been carefully highlighted in the feature film through Jason’s character as he is seen to remove the ancillary supporting wheels from his bike at first, failing to successfully ride his bike without the use of the same. In the background, the girl is shown being able to learn what Jason fails. A little later, Jason attempts a small jump off the plank created by him, which also leads to a fall. Chloe tries her best to impress Jason and draw Jason’s attention; successfully achieving the feats which Jason attempts to achieve a number of times (http://tropfest.com, 2014). The variation that needs to be highlighted in the same is that human beings sometimes become so engrossed in being able to achieve a particular job or accomplishment, that they end up undermining the abilities and success of other human beings that are near to him, failing to even to pay attention to any important or critical messages that the other might convey. The same has been specifically observed while Chloe tries to give her opinion to Jason about the bike and riding. 2.4 Specific technical features Though the film does not showcase any impressive graphic or video filming in conveying the message across, one cannot help but wonder about the smallest details that have been used in the film for spreading the intended message (Cunningham and Turner, 2010). For example, when Jason removes the red coloured attachments to the spokes of his bike wheel and expresses his disinterest in them, the emotional attachment of Chloe is also expressed through the same behaviour. In the same scene, if it is considered that Jason had been rotating the wheel simultaneously whereas Chloe is seen to focus more on Jason instead of her bike, the emotional quotient is carefully reflected. More camera focus has been devoted to capture emotions on Chloe’s face as it must have been found that the girl would be more expressive in terms of emoting by the director. These are small and important specifications that need to be captured and presented by any short film director to successfully convey the intended message and at the same time be able to keep the audience entertained. 3. Photo Booth Michael Noonan’s short film the Photo Booth is an interesting and contemporary take on the aspect of hope and despair that has been portrayed in the short film of around seven minutes’ duration. The film captures the important themes of human life and the message it tries to portray is an important aspect for critiques and short film enthusiasts around the world (O’Donnell, 1999). The short film revolves around three solders on a war torn landscape who suddenly find an abandoned photo booth in the middle of nowhere, whereby the pictures coming out as print carry messages for each of them. 3.1 Narrative The narrative of the short film revolves around three soldiers and their fate outside an abandoned photo booth in the middle of a war torn landscape that keeps the audience glued to the screen to wonder about the outcome and message of the film unlike that in the case of ‘Marry Me’. The narrative is unpredictable and has successfully incorporated one of the most critical elements of movie making – uncertainty and suspense. These are considered to have an everlasting impact on the viewer and many regard the same to have a lasting impact on the mind of the viewers as the key element of surprise and awe is always a key ingredient to the success of a film or small movie (http://tropfest.com, 2014). The narrative brings to light the plight of three soldiers who are trying their best to survive and do not know for themselves the future of their predicament in war. Suddenly, they are met with an unpredictable situation, that of a lonesome photo booth in top of a small hill. Curiosity is one of the most dignified and yet sometimes cursed traits of human behaviour and the same has been highlighted in the film as the soldiers wonder what awaits them at the photo booth and goes on to investigate, under estimating the threats of being exposed to enemy observation and gun point. 3.2 Characterisation The characterisation of the short film is an important attribute as it becomes the responsibility of the actors in the film to bring to life the relevance of each of the characters that are planned and incorporated in the film. The film revolves around the three soldiers and each of them is found to display three different emotions among human beings – adventure, curiosity and suspicion (http://tropfest.com, 2014). The first soldier who enters inside the photo booth is unsuspecting and is taken by surprise once the flashes of the camera start to go off. The second soldier is portrayed to have a trait of curiosity and wariness as he is seen to be cautious when he enters inside the photo booth after seeing what the first soldier had been presented with. The third soldier had to be portrayed to be suspicious of turn of events and this is the same reason why there have been extra alertness displayed by the first and the second soldier while guarding the booth as the third entered inside. The three of them have been shown to have different outcomes based on the character portrayed by them. The first one, unsuspecting and taking life as it is, is presented a picture which shows him part of a beautiful family comprising of a beautiful wife and twin daughters. The second soldiers displays mixed traits and is shown to receive a picture with only his companion who gradually disappears from the frames while the third is shot dead by enemy gunfire as he was the most suspicious one and enters the booth at the last. Through the characters, the director tries to portray the message that it is perception and thought process of individuals which leads to the outcomes. 3.3 Genre convention and variation There have been two specific genres displayed in the short film – that of human nature and the relation between the thoughts and outcomes faced by human beings in reality. It needs to be highlighted here the fact that initially the genre of the short film was thought to be related to war and the outcome of the film being rendered predictable. However, the message and surprise element of the film clearly unfolds when the pictures are presented to the soldiers (http://tropfest.com, 2014). In the end, what makes the film so interesting is that the film portrays a multitude of different factors that are related to human life and fate, and it is highlighted how the thought process of human beings influence the outcomes and fate that is met by individuals in the real world. Genre convention and variation is an important aspect of any communication to large section of viewers as the same enables the makers of the short films to captivate the interests of the audience and keep them glued to the outcome of the message to be portrayed in the film. 3.4 Specific technical features The film is considered to be richer in terms of the technical features that have been included in the film. The aim of the director was to include the elements of surprise more on the lines of shock and the same has been effectively incorporated in the sound designing of the film which makes the film more relatable to reality and one can identify the suspense and uncertainty that is faced by soldiers in the war field. Fear and anxiety has been portrayed well in the movie as the soldiers are successful in expressing the same feelings on their anguished faces (http://tropfest.com, 2014). Moreover, the loud snapping of the shutter of the camera has been effectively used to shock the audience which is considered to be an important component of film making. Especially in the last scene when the third soldier gets shot and there is an element of confusion clearly depicting the mental state and trauma of the soldier when he gets to see his picture in the photo is considered to be outstanding in highlighting the theme of despair as the soldier is shown to lose composure and his guard at the most critical time – in the face of enemy gunfire, when in the previous scenes, he is portrayed to be most suspicious of the circumstances. 4. Conclusion There are different factors and aspects that are considered to have an impact on the success of film making and the effectiveness of the director to incorporate these elements determine the ability of the production to captivate audiences and determine the outcomes of film making. This academic work was aimed at highlighting these specific factors in film making and the effective incorporation of the same in the two short films that have been highlighted in the study. References Branston, G. and Stafford, R. (2010). The media student’s book. London: Routledge. NB Chandler, G. (2004) Cut by Cut: Editing Your Film or Video. Studio City, CA: Michael Wiese Cunningham, S. and Turner, G. (2010). The media and communications in Australia. Sydney: Allen Unwin. Marry Me, Michelle Lehman (director), Australia, 2008  http://tropfest.com/au/2011/12/08/marry-me/ Morley, D. (1996) Television, Audiences and Cultural Studies. London : Routledge. ODonnell, P. (1999). The other 66 per cent? Rethinking the labour market for journalism graduates. Australian Journalism Review, 21(1), 123-142. Photo Booth,  Michael Noonan (director), Australia, 2012http://tropfest.com/au/2012/02/04/photo-booth/ Ruthven, K. (1998). The Future of Disciplines: A Report on Ignorance. In Knowing Ourselves and Others: The Humanities in Australia into the 21st Century. Australian Research Council Vol. 3, pp. 95-113.

Come Back into My Arms :: Love Letters Dating Email Relationships

Dear Jason, As time goes on and we're apart, I think of how things could have been. What we could have said or done to work things out. I would have been more understanding and not so judgmental, more loving and less hurtful and selfish. I would have told you I loved and cherished you more often. There can never or will ever be another person who I admire like you or who has reached the depths of my heart like you have. I would have told you that I'm so very proud of how far you've come and of all the things you have accomplished. But how could I find the words or actions to explain to you just how much I love you? It would have taken a million lifetimes to comprehend my feelings. I would have told you that you took my breath away the first time I saw you. I would have told you that you made me believe in love the first time you kissed me and you stole my heart the moment you uttered those magical words. I would have told you that every time I looked into your eyes I saw my destiny, my one and o nly. My soul mate, my best friend, my lover, my husband, and the father of my children. I can still close my eyes and feel the softness of your lips against mine and your tender fingers as they caress and explore my body. I would have told you that my knees and entire body shook every time you looked deep down into me with your eyes. You made me feel like you could read my mind and soul. Life just isn't the same without you. I wish that there was a way to make time stop and go back to when we were happy. We both know that before we can go back to being one, we need to change things about ourselves in order to make this relationship last.

Jeanne Lewis at Steples

Harvard Business School 9-400-065 Rev. July 24, 2000 Jeanne Lewis at Staples, Inc. (A) (Abridged) op YO INC Six months from now, on February 1, 1998, Jeanne Lewis (HBS '92) would become the senior vice president of marketing at Staples, Inc. (Staples), a nationwide office supplies superstore. After 10 months working side by side with Todd Krasnow, the current executive vice president of marketing, Lewis was becoming familiar with the department. Her initial assessment led her to wonder if the department's operating style was suited to evolving competitive realities.As KrasnoWs heir apparent, Lewis anted to be involved in shaping the department's priorities for the upcoming year. The strategic planning process traditionally began around this time in August, and Lewis wondered if the time to start taking action had arrived. Thus far, 1997 had been a trying year for the company: the Federal Trade Commission had challenged Staples' proposed merger with Office Depot, and the two companies had recently abandoned 10 months of merger efforts.At that time, Chairman and CEO Tom Stemberg reaffirmed his commitment that Staples would grow from a $5 billion company to a $10 billion company by the turn of the century. Staples not only had to grow bigger, it also had to grow better, as analysts had become accustomed to the company's 14 consecutive quarters of earnings-per-share growth in excess of 30%. The theme of the upcoming year was twofold: strong growth and more effective execution. c Lewis believed that Stembergs pronouncement to look for the â€Å"silver lining† in the failed merger and to take to heart the lessons of the merger could serve as a call to action for the marketing department. Marketing, which served as both an architect and driver of the brand, would play a critical role in Staples' continued success. Lewis knew that Staples could survive only if it was prepared to get rid of outmoded ideas and replace them with new ones†a philosophy shared b y Krasnow. But Lewis also knew that it could be trigntening to give up the ideas that nad made the company successful.Furthermore, the marketing staff was understandably apprehensive about KrasnoWs planned departure, and many were already mourning his loss. Lewis explained: No While the merger distractions were going on, things that maybe should have been dealt with, weren't. Now, I wanted to make it clear that a new person was coming on oard in this area, and fgure out how we could get back to business. We needed to refocus on building our business, because it was as competitive as ever, and we had lost a couple of beats in a few marketing areas while busy with the merger.We were at a turning point in the marketing department, as opposed to being long past it. Because of the confluence of external events as well as our own internal complexity, if we didn't change, then I was concerned it would start to show eventually in sales. Research Associate Jennifer M. Suesse prepared this ca se under the supervision of Professor Linda A. Hill as the basis for class discussion rather than to illustrate either effective or ineffective handling of an administrative situation. It is an abridged version of an earlier case, â€Å"Jeanne Lewis at Staples, Inc. (A),† HBS No. 499-041, prepared by Research Associate Kristin C.Doughty under the supervision of Professor Linda A. Hill. Some names have been disguised. Copyright 2000 by the President and Fellows of Harvard College. To order copies or request permission to reproduce materials, call 1-800-545-7685, write Harvard Business School Publishing, Boston, MA 02163, or go to http://www. hbsp. harvard. edu. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, used in a spreadsheet, or transmitted in any form or by any means†electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise†without the permission of Harvard Business School. This document is authorized for use only by Harutyun Gevorgyan at HE OTHER until November 2014. Copying or posting is an infringement of copyright. [email  protected] harvard. edu or 617. 783. 7860. 400-065 Lewis knew the marketing department's role in ensuring success was twofold: maintaining the delicate balance between meeting short-term financial objectives ith appropriate promotional tactics and building customer loyalty and retention witn an ettective marketing strategy; and investigating ways to leverage Staples' brand and broaden its franchise.She also had specific questions about some of the department's structures, systems, and staffing. She was eager to get started, but recognized the risks of doing too much, too fast: My style is that I want things to happen quickly. When I see things†either a new problem someone has never had to fgure out before, or where theyVe Just had a different sense of timing†I Jump in and say, â€Å"here's the way to do it,† and that makes hange happen quickly. But that could l imit my ability to work across and with the organization.I could end up spending too much time managing down and not enough time making broader, more expansive impact by managing across the organization as well. Staples' Background (1985-1991)1 In 1985, Tom Stemberg (HBS '73), known for his marketing sa'. n. y and innovations in the staid supermarket industry (as vice president of sales at Star Market, and president of First National Supermarket), pioneered the concept of the office supplies superstore. A â€Å"Toys ‘R' Us† of office supplies, â€Å"Staples, the Office Superstore† would provide completeness, convenience, informed assistance as well as attractive prices†¦ overing everything from coffee to computer software† for the small-business customer. 2 Initial customer research indicated that most small businesses did not track their total expenditures for office products closely, nor were they aware that they were paying on average 40% more for t hem than large corporations. To communicate the savings and increased convenience of its new way of procuring office supplies, Staples' management was prepared to invest heavily in marketing. Staples' message would emphasize discounts and convenience, leaving customers free from the hassles† of dealing with long lines, order forms, and multiple suppliers.For the pivotal role of director of marketing, Stemberg hired Todd Krasnow, a 28-year- old HBS graduate who had worked in marketing at Star Market with Stembergs new VP of operations. In the early days, Stembergs team of five (himself, Krasnow, CFO, VP of operations, VP of merchandising) each had their own primary spheres of responsibility, but they all worked very closely together, doing whatever it took to get the Job done. They began the mornings with a 7:00 0'clock meeting, reconvened for a orking lunch, and generally worked through the evening until 10:00 0'clock.

Religion and Justice essays

Religion and Justice essays Stanley Kurtz and Jonathan Rauch are two well-respected journalists. In 2001, they engaged in a series of debates, published on National Review Online, in regards to the issue of same-sex marriages. In his article, Point of No Return, Kurtz was opposed to allowing gay couples to marry because marriage domesticates men based on what he described as the underlying dynamic of male-female sexuality. Rauch, a homosexual man, wrote Whos More Worthy in support of gay marriage because marriage is indispensably about the commitment to care for another person. These men both agree that the solution to ending the national debate is an amendment to the constitution defining what marriage means. If you asked 100 Americans to define marriage, receiving 100 answers, many of these answers would be based on religious principles. We should not make an amendment to our constitution based on religious doctrine. This country was founded on the principle of religious tolerance. We have even judged other nations for using religion as a means to control its citizens. For example, when the Taliban ruled Afghanistan, based on their interpretation of the Koran, Americans declared they were a rogue regime, and we removed them from power. Therefore, we must define marriage without any religious influence, or we will be just as guilty of imposing religious beliefs on American society as the Taliban was in Afghanistan. So, what is marriage? Websters dictionary defines marriage as any close union. A pretty broad definition, it does not mention gender. We all probably agree marriage is a long-term, committed relationship between two people, vowing to love and care for each other. Marriage has been predominately male-female for centuries. Who decided marriage had to be male-female? An explanation often quotes God as that decision maker. If we take out God as the reason for this, another g...

101 Freedman and Response Professor Ramos Blog

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Discussion on NSA Security Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Discussion on NSA Security - Essay Example According to Hypponen, basically, each international internet user is under US surveillance. Hypponen is worried about our future communication and data which he fears will be stored in the US data center in Utah; the world’s largest. Hypponen laments how the US government is infringing on individual privacy and making everything insecure by infiltrating standardization bodies to purposely sabotage encryption algorithms. The NSA by use of PRISM which is a particular NSA database and an aspect of the entire NSA surveillance endeavor, details collection program for data collection from various service providers. Thus clearly, the world is no longer a safe place to communicate freely and the US has completely infiltrated people’s privacy under the guise of fighting terrorism. Although the US is legally obligated to monitor foreigners as well as foreigners’ data connections when they end up or pass through United States, you realize that 96% of people in the planet are foreigners. This means that almost virtually everybody is being watched by the US. This i s not only morally wrong, but also rude and should make everybody angry. Hypponen proposes that the world unite together through either political pressure or by seeking alternative services, so as to build together open, free as well as secure

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Pathophysiology and Current Management Practices - Case Study Example This paper outlines three differential diagnoses for a case, their respective pathophysiology and current management practices for those diagnoses. The case diagnosed in this paper is about a 62-year-old man who collapsed at a shopping center at about 10:30 am after feeling extremely dizzy. The man who is also living alone had experienced an episode of falling from stairs eight months ago without any major injury. Although the man is awake and sitting on the ground, he shows signs of drowsiness and disoriented and has difficulty in talking. The man insists on going home even though his eyes suddenly move upwards and in a few seconds he begins a seizure. The key symptoms, in this case, are drowsiness, difficulty in talking, dizziness, difficulty in talking and seizure. The history such as episodes of falling, age, time of the incident and the fact he lives alone are also crucial and important information in obtaining accurate differential diagnoses. The brain metabolism relies primari ly on glucose to supply the energy necessary for metabolism. When levels in blood drop below certain levels normally 0.55nm, subtle reduction in the mental effects of the brain occurs and results in the impairment of judgment resulting in symptoms like seizures. Small quantities of glucose can be derived from the stored glycogen within the astrocytes; however, a brain is dependent to the greater extent on the continual supply of glucose from the blood. Glucose from the blood diffuse into the interstitial cells, then into the central nervous system (CNS) and finally into the neurons. Within the CNS, energy is required for synthesis of signals and conveyance of information to the muscles. This explains the emergence of symptoms such as drowsiness, difficulty in talking, dizziness, and seizure. Generally lack of enough glucose supply to the brain would result in confusion and in severe cases, it is preceded with dizziness and drowsiness, seizure and finally, the patient can go into a c oma.