HeyHeyHey *our video (outline) born*

Thanks for the ideas provided by my nice group mate -- Hitomi. She came up with some really good ideas for the video on week 4, within them, we have picked up 3 which we decided to make. They are

1) Emotional Management Version:
A young man was hit by another pedestrian when he is walking on the street. Although that person had already apologized immediately, the young man loss his temper and get angry.

2) Lovers or Friends Version:
A girl is talking on the phone with her female friend about her romantic vexation. However, the female friend begins the lost patient and even cut the line when her boyfriend comes to meet her. That girl feels frustrated and decides to make a phone call to Kids Help Line who is willing to listen to her.

3) Family Version:
A young boy is in a family which everyone is not caring each others. He tries to break the ice between each family member, for example showing his interest in what his sister is doing and tries to talk to his brothers. Unfortunately, he doesn’t success, so he counsels the Kids Help Line.

These three topics are chosen because they are the most common problems that our target audiences (young people aged between 18 and 25) have. Also, we found that the stories are easier to present and shooting.

During this week, we developed a more thoughtful proposal for this video project and this gives us a clearer picture of what, when and where we are going to have the filming.

Some ideas

I have think about some ideas for the video. However, I have to consider about possibility of making the video. So, it is a hinder for me when I think of a story. Also, I must consider the angle of the video because it is for people aged between 18 and 25.

For the slogan, I come up with one idea: 'Kids Help Line, We are here all the time."

For the video, the one i have designed is separated into 5 parts,
1) A youngster is sitting in a park, looking at the sky and waiting for the sunrise, then the screen goes black and a description appears: Are you looking for the light?
2) A youngster is sitting in front of the computer, viewing the google site and typing 'help' in the search bar, then the screen goes black and a description appears: Are you seeking for help?
3) A youngster is sitting at the bar table and going to reach a glass of wine, then the screen goes black and a description appears: Are you hoping for relief?
4) A youngster is holding a phone and waiting for someone to answer his call, then the screen goes black and a description appears: Are you looking for someone to listen to you?
5) The Kids Help Line logo, phone no. and website address appears. syn-sound: Kids Help Line, We are here all the time. Just give a call.

Although the aim of the video is obvious, I found this idea is not fun enough because young adult is more likely to look for humorous in the video. So, I will keep thinking about the video.

Inspiration

During this week, I am still thinking about the story of our video. Since we have decided to make a commercial for the Kids Help Line. I have watched a few similar advertising videos for Kids Help Line or other similar organization. These videos used to have a common feature -- first present a story, usually about a kid's problem, and he felt very confused or hopeless. Then the logo of the organization and the phone no. would appear on the screen. And say chilren can call them any time when they have a problem and the organization is here to help them all the time.

This video is a production of a final year student who studies in film school. The video is stunning. The concept is very clear that people should call, if they have problems. Since there is no second chance for life and they should seek for help if they had worries or problems in stead of commiting suicide. The ending of the video brings me surprise and the actors act very well too. However, I found it's opening is too long, so a little bit of it can be cut.

Brain Storming

Our group (which consists of Hitomi, Su jin, Dama and I) has decided to design a campaign for the Kids Help Line which is

Australia's only free, confidential and anonymous, telephone and online counselling service specially for young people aged between 5 and 25.

We found that the making of a short video would be great for promoting this organization. We are still brain storming the content and style of the video at this stage, and the following two videos which are the TV commercials of Sony, I found they are quite interesting.

Both commercials are very professional and obviously these large scale ads. were made by huge budget and involve lots of special technical effects. Although the short video which our group is going to make does not the same scale as them, our group's video can use the same concept that is using simple style to bring out the key theme (for them is the celebration of colour) and in the Sony's ads, they don't have any script which break the boundary of language.

New Semester Begins =]

Hello everyone.

My 4th semester has just started and I will continue to post more entries here to talk about my design ideas as well as research notes of video-making for COMM416.

So, welcome to my blog again. Enjoy.

Spread of Love (Blog Critique)

Recently I found a blog titled “Sandee… I Will Survive” which is written by Sandee who has been diagnosed with breast cancer stage II in 1998. After the many rounds of chemotherapy and radiation treatments, the cancer surprisingly spread to her bones and liver through the blood stream one year later. Sandee felt even more frustrated and fear when she discovered her lungs were also infected by the cancer in 2004. Yet, Sandee didn’t lose her hope, she keep fighting with her illness and all the side effects of the treatments because she understand she can not make her family and friends upset, especially her 3 children. Until this moment, Sandee is still dealing with the cancer treatments.

In the blog, Sandee recorded her days and the painful experiences of fighting with the cancer since October 2006. Although these days are hard for her, it is surprised that her words are full of hope and thankfulness. Everyday she express her gratitude to others and thanks for all the positive things happened on her, just on 3rd September this year, she thanks for her 9 years survival which is extremely remarkable.

Her positive attitude and determined will expressed in the blog gives support to people with similar situation as well as the people around them. The blog is a platform for them to share their experience and spread the message of love, thankfulness and care to others.

I really appreciate the courage and attitude of Sandee as well as what she has contributed to the society. Even she is the victim of cancer, she doesn’t get upset and blame the unfortunate things. She turns this negative experience into a positive force in the community. In the blog, I strongly feel the message of ‘never give up’ and ‘give thanks’ in every blog entries. It could be this love that filled in Sandee’s mind that makes her survive until now.

This blog also remind ordinary people that they should cherish their own health and people around them. Nowadays, most of the people are so busy with their life, like the pursuit of fame and fortune, thus, they do not pay attention to what happened around them. Yet, it is always too late when the consequences carried out, for example the breaking up of relationship with others, the discovery of sickness, etc.

Through this blog, I have learned that I should always keep an optimistic attitude towards unpleasant situation. For me, I always think of the negative side of one thing, indeed it can not improve the situation. However, if I can look at the opposite side and think another way round, this could be a powerful positive force that can influence others around me.

I strongly recommend this blog to you and hope this meaningful blog would also give you some inspiration about your life.

Memory

I am a kind of person who forget everything very easily, from tiny things like what did I eat last night to what is my mobile phone no. Before I am naively believe it is good, so that I can forget all the unhappy things or unhappy experiences happened on me quickly, however, now I found the loss of memory is not that good indeed.

1. There should be something good happened in your life and you should memorize them which could cheer you up when you are down.

2. You should always remember those mistakes you have made since you have to learn from them.

3. Never forget the harm that you have done on others because you need to remind yourself not to do them again.

It is time to be mature and not to use 'forget' as the excuse when I did something wrong. I need to bear the responsibility and consequences. I have just discover that I forget the expiry day for the lent book of library, thus I need to pay the huge amount of fine. However, I totally understand that many things in the world cannot be solved so easy. So, hope that I can remember things better lateron.

How about training my brain by doing soduku?

Maybe it helps.