curtislnhs11′s Blog

Curtis
English II 1st Block
Mrs. Pomerantz
May 22, 2009
Evaluation of Sustainable Living Film
This film opens the eyes, to help inform and better understand our world, and show that we need change for a more “Green” Earth. The film tells a lot of information about what we can do to help the environment. There was a lot about recycling which most of us know about. But, more important facts about recycling are what happen after recycling? Our video shows that yes recycling can really help reserve our environment, but when you do recycle it goes into making other things that we use or see on a daily basis. In the film it was shown that when we recycle plastic bottles, it can be made into house hold carpet, or a down for a jacket, or even an everyday tee-shirt. The video was immensely informative and helped create ideas, and show what our world could become.
The film was easy to watch because it grabbed attention and was very persuasive with its use of appealing to the senses. The use of music and metaphors or even simple text, help entertain the mind. Such as when information was being presented, it would start with a short text or a summary and then music would start. And also to improve the understanding a narration would be added to help us obtain more than is just there. The music would appeal to our minds and help sooth, to better understand or make learning more enjoyable. Also another metaphor was when the earth exploded and then reversed and came back together. The music helped enhance the visual metaphor and the explosion showed that the earth is in danger, but when it can back together there was text telling how the earth can be saved and telling the viewers to take steps towards a bettering the world. These steps would be the effects of change. It was shown that change is good, and people need to comprehend that we can make a better world for our generation and the next’s. It shows that not many people are informed on this topic and we should start education early on to raise awareness and force people to realize that we are doing many wrongs. Such as the facts that show that people are to lazy to even recycle. As one of the simplest forms of helping the environment, people can’t even recycle because they are not thinking of it or are to lazy. We need to help people take an effort towards “Green,” and show them that it doesn’t even take the slightest bit of energy to try. It was also shown in the video that one little step and be the difference in a life. And we need to move towards the better way of living for the environment and even the world.
In this film there were many things that came together to show our views, ideas, and thoughts. The showing of experts and normal people really helped inform people of the differences in what is known. The experts knew what and how a better environment is obtained. Their thoughts helped us show that there are ways to form a “Green” world. In one of the interviews, it showed that when we recycling, we can create very helpful products that are in use everyday and reuse what we as humans have created, instead o taking more. Also the music chosen for certain segments of the video really help enhance the feel, or show the mood or emotion of the scene. Such as when scenery was being shown, the music is soothing and a bit playful, for an upbeat and yet relaxed feel. Also the still pictures improved the video by adding a sense of realistic life into the video. The video had a great understanding of many moods, showed our thoughts and views, and flowed together very well.
What could have been improved were little things that could have just been technical issues. At one point a narration overlapped, but that could have been a simple mistake that was overlooked or accidentally moved. Also there were certain scenes where the video repeated its self o there were blips of words and those could have been corrected or fixed. And last but not least there where some pictures or scenes that had no meaning when it was in the video. But over all the video was great, there were slight mistakes but those were overshadowed by the important and interesting sections.
The video really helped me learn about our world, what people are doing or not doing, and what can people learn and what people already know. I learned that the little things that we do to help the environment stack up and become big influences. This video was little bits and pieces and when it comes together it became a big influence. I learned that there is much more we can do besides recycling to help the environment, such as replanting for a more natural environment, teaching others about what anyone can do, and that half of the people on the world want to learn about this topic. I learned that the brain isn’t always or sometimes not even thinking about the future, or that the brain is selfish. I also learned that some people are not as reliable as others, such as when working in our group’s people tend to avoid work and get away with taking praise for something they had no idea about. And I also learned that when making this video, certain sounds or visuals help entertain and catch the mind or attention. This was a really helpful experience and I learn much about the environment and the world.
The information that I learned from this video will greatly help me in the future because as I grow I will help others understand a better world. This information will help me teach my children and others about how we can take steps toward a “Green” Earth. I also want to become a teacher as I grow up so I can use this information to inform and maybe inspire a new generation. I also will use the group or people skills I learned from interviewing and working with others. These skills will help me no matter what career I take and I can make an advance toward becoming a better person. This information will always be in my mind and it will help me in every direction I decide to travel.

http://www.sustainableliving.org.nz/

This website give a bundle of little tips to help preserve the environment and use the natural elements with out using more than you need. This saves a lot of trouble and possibly money. The article talks about placing a tankard under your down pipe and when it is full, you can use it to water plants or clean the car. Also, you can install a sun roof for natural sun energy and heat, in stead of raising the heater. And, planting trees can give shade making a more comfortable environment and it can also provide for wildlife. When it comes to driving, only drive when necessary or else ride a bike and get some exercise, and when shopping don’t use those plastic bags that get thrown away by the thousands a day. Buy a reusable biodegradable bag.

1. When you hear sustainable living, what do you think?
2. What are your opinions on sustainable living?
3. What do you do to help the environment?
4. Do you have any ideas on making a better world, where we can live sustainably and environmentally friendly?
5. Do you know of any affects of sustainable living?
6. Do you think it would cost more or less in the long run to use or make environmentally friendly technology?
7. Do you think that living sustainably will ever be environmentally friendly?
8. Do you think we should teach this in schools to increase awareness?
9. What are some ways to spread information about this topic?
10. What can you do to help our environment as an individual?

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/19/magazine/19Science-t.html?pagewanted=6&_r=1&ref=magazine

Notes:
- The mental proces­ses that shape our choices, behaviors and attitudes
- people can behave unexpectedly when confronted with simple choices
- studying how perceptions of risk and uncertainty shape our responses to climate change
- climate change is anthropogenic
- proceeding risks:
1. consideration of costs and benefits
2. primitive and urgent reaction to danger
3. personal experience
- pay for whats proven? or pay for the future?
- best way to avoid such failure is by collaborating more
- seating people together at a table increased participation rates to 75 percent
- analytical and emotional methods of risk assessment
- there is no such thing as true preference
- about 98 percent of the federal financing for climate-change research goes to the physical and natural sciences
- most Americans think about climate change as a distant problem
- society won’t act decisively on global warming until we experience a shattering re­ali­zation
- climate change a long-term problem that required more study before acting

This article talks about how the human mind isn’t set on trying to help the environment. We have hard decisions we choose depending on emotion and past choices or events. The human brain is thinking that these problems are so far away that the problem can be solved later.

Response:
I think that this article is a great article that shows how the brain works and it can help us with the fact that many people don’t care about the world. It shows that the brain doesn’t think about the fact it is a big problem and we can’t base on emotions and the past. These problems are coming faster and we need to combine our efforts and brains to come up with a solution now and kill this issue where it stands.

On April 20, our class, well less than half of the class went on a field trip to Alberici. And then we went to the zoo. At Alberici, we got a tour of their cool building that was very environmentally friendly, and I learned a lot about how the little things mean so much. Then, the zoo was very interesting, trying to make people do interviews and end up looking like idiots. But for the most part it worked out well. What was disappointing was the fact that most of the people who voted for this topic didn’t attend the trip but what can I say?

I learn that while interviewing, the best thing you can do is speak clearly, listen, respond, and make the person laugh. It works very well when you comment positively on what they say to encourage them to continue. When you make them laugh it lets them and yourself relax a bit more and then the nerves will go away. When you make questions the ones that everyone can answer are best. Or questions that give an opinion over facts that they know. Because most people don’t know much about our topic and I heard recycling about 10 times. And we only did 8 interviews. . . . The experts have much more to offer as in information but the people on the streets really do help with showing how much a person can or can’t know. It shows that the world needs to be more informed because it was about a 1/6 ratio of people who knew something.

Well I am about to go eat so next time.

http://kykernel.com/2009/04/20/earthdays-in-the-bluegrass-provides-students-tools-for-sustainable-living/

The UK is educating students with a month-long program. Earth day program’s help raise awareness and make a day more environmentally friendly.

Notes:
- mountain top removal
. hazards
. water crisis
- planting a garden
. food
- car free day
. parking is a waste of time
. save money
. no gas fumes
. healthy to walk or bike

I think that this is a very helpful program that should be promoted in the united states. Because it will raise the awareness of our environment and build a better world. We will have less polluting days, and a better future. If the program “sticks” and it last longer than a month in peoples houses then we can save our mother earth.

Notes:
- try to get point across quickly and pleasantly
- dress up
- speak clearly
- have the questions
- be able to follow up
- encourage them and reply to their answers
- don’t get your hopes up

We will need a camera person, interviewer with the microphone, and a sounds person.

http://k12onlineconference.org/?p=329

Today in class we watched this video by Mathew Needleman, called Film School. I learned the rule of thirds, which is dividing the shot into 3 segments horizontally and vertically. Then the placement of the subject is on the intersecting points of the line. I also learned that using different angles can add a dramatic effect on the shots to get messages across. It is also a good idea to sketch out the pictures that are desired and then put a box on the most interesting part of the shot to make a good frame. Even though not every person will use the pictures that are drawn, they help you image what is interesting or what you want.

We could use these to help improve our documentary and get our message across.

The calls in class went very well, except for the fact that they have yet to call back. But, we can always call them again. Unfortunately, I was forced to go first because of my group, they voted on me just because I seem the most calm. The first call I made was good it was nerve racking but it went smoothly and we got forwarded to another person. After calling once it feels as though I can do it one hundred more times.

We will probably need to recall the Mr. Gilliam, but that is only a day away or so.

In class we are focusing on the differences of camera shots and how they bring life to a video.

A reason that we could use a wide camera shot would be to get a good view of the surrounding or maybe make something seem not as significant as others. The wide shot helps us get a general sense of everything.

A medium shot can be used to for most of the normals when using a camera. The medium shot is use to see the world as though you are watching it through your own eyes, and it gives us some body languages.

A close up would help with interviews because it shows everything that is important in a person. It shows a light expression of their emotions, but its not overwhelming. The close up is used for a show of emotions.

The extreme close up is for a dramatic effect of extreme emotions. They could use this when someone is giving an interview and it is in a part of strong feelings.