10 'Make Your Own Avatar' Websites

Here are ten recommended websites that you can use to create a personal Avatar using a variety of techniques and looks:

http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/websites-to-create-unique-avatar/

Week 14 reading, Storyboard examples, deadlines

Hello class,

Several students have brought to my attention an error in this fall's University Reader book, which omitted our final reading assignment. Since you've all paid for this, I have uploaded the article and posted the link here on the class website in the upper right under CLASS MATERIALS, just click on the "Immersion" article link.

Also, as promised, I've added a link to three good examples of well-done Video Storyboards (you will see that hand-drawing is OK!).

And a quick recap of the deadlines discussion we had in Monday's class:

1. Transmedia Exercise deadline was extended to Tuesday 11/27 at midnight (and good job, one paper received at 11:57 pm!)

2. Last date to turn in any missing work for partial credit is this Friday 11/30 at 5 p.m. sharp.

3. Your VIDEO PROJECT topic is approved unless you hear otherwise from me, but please do be looking for an email from me in the next few days with FEEDBACK, which I obviously recommend you consider incorporating as you proceed in developing your project.

4. By Monday at 6 pm, I'll be looking for your final Exercise (#8) on Immersion in a Virtual World (plus tweet your Avatar), and the Video Storyboard portion of your video project assignment.

Please understand that in the final two weeks, I won't be able to grant any deadline extensions due to compressing our course load into fewer weekly session due to holidays falling on our Monday class.

Prof M

What Is "The Matrix?"

The Matrix is much more ambitious than a traditional movie, attempting to combine explorations of religious, philosophical, and political themes across multiple platforms, all while still delivering an action-adventure thriller that worls within each 'screen.'

Here's a remarkable documentary detailing the philosophical themes woven within the Matrix.
Philosophy and The Matrix

And of course, any transmedia storytelling effort with such grand ambitions will elecit parodies, and perhaps none was more detailed (and star-packed) than this from the opening of the MTV Movie Awards in 2003.

Video Project: Ideas and Examples

As you think about your video project, I wanted to provide some examples of videos that illustrate the range of 'production' and storytelling methods that can be used...and how video editing skills are not essential to making great digital video stories. I have also picked these because all of them, in some way, address themes covered in the DTC 375 Language, Text and Technology class...and are in line with the DTC program's mission of connect our use of Digital Technology to how we relate in our communities.

This first example is far longer than a student project would be, but illustrates that you don't have to 'shoot any video' to make a video...and uses graphical storytelling to really make the viewer think...
Did You Know 2.0

And using that same production style, a quick reprise of the very first video I showed in class, which hopefully is more impact now: The Machine is Us/ing Us

This next video was professionally shot, but you can see that the production is very simple: One person, delivering lines, and straight cuts between scenes. It's a funny video, but it also says something about Social Technology, which is one of the themes we've explored in class...
 Twitter in Real Life

Here's one a really like because it is personal and presents students' view of the world. Note that the lack of "professional" camera work adds authenticity to the video:
Visions of Students Today

And let's not forget the great examples of how a REMIX can tell its own original story, using existing video source material. A number of great examples shared at last week's class - here's one of my favorites courtesy of Michael Chaudoin: LITERAL Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood Trailer  in which there is no "video editing" at all, but the addition of 'captions' and narration to the action totally transforms our meeting of the video

This is shot and edited very professionally, but the IDEA is simple and powerful - and again shows that fancy editing isn't needed to create a powerful message with digital media:
The Power of Words

Given the class research project on Cyberbulling, I thought this was an interesting 'visualization' of the harm of cyberbullying: Being "attacked" and "beaten" by words (ironically, identical title to above):
The Power of Words (Cyberbullying)

I hope these videos illustrate the range of production methods that can be used, and the ways in which Video can be used to say something interesting the relationship between Digital media and culture.

Prof M

10 PowerPoint Presentation Mistakes

This humorous look at Presentation Mistakes also contains some good advice as you prepare for your team presentations!