Adobe Youth Voices

Today I had the privilege of attending one of Adobe Youth Voice's workshops. I was originally asked to help present, interview and document the event but as the day progressed so did my involvement. Just a quick background for those I haven't told already, I'm part of a media team lead by Vincent Lowe and I am assisting in helping document (ala behind the scenes glimpse) Cinequest.

Today's planned format went straight out the window, and in the end, I think it turned out a better experience for me, and I'm sure for many others. I ran into some familiar filmmakers from San Jose State University too, so that was neat. Richard from Barkada Inc was also in attendance because, as coincidences would have it, he was assigned to work the event!

It was heaps of fun learning about what the young participates found inspiring and what they wanted to get out of the program. Part of AYV's goal is to make sure their voices/ideas are heard and what better way than through the visual medium, right? Right. When formal introductions concluded, we went straight to work. The first thing that caught my attention was that they provided the students/participants with Canon HV30's! And if you've kept up with my blog, you should know that that's the exact camera I own! BONUS: their editing software, obviously, is adobe premiere, so I had some familiarity with the evident trouble(s) the premiere pro has with capturing hdv footage from a canon hv30.

I felt like 'Johnny-on-the-spot' with the quick fixes. But the real credit goes out to those that spent hours assisting with creating something out of nothing by incorporating years of experience to help guide these students through tasks. Who knows, there could be another Speilberg in the bunch, right? It could happen, why not? At some point I assisted with a trio of student's documentary project. I helped them conduct the interview and offered suggestions on how to always keep an eye and ear out for footage that you didn't mean to capture initially because there could be a gem in them. More is better, in the case of documentaries. I hope their project ends up being something they can look back on and know that they'll always remember the small lessons it taught them.

Well, that was my day at Adobe. I left with a smile, experience in my pockets, new friends and a slew of free Adobe software training books. Chhhheeeeehhoooooo!

Barkada Inc announces new blog

Just as the subject suggests:

http://www.barkadainc.com/blog/

Please visit and see what we're up to. I'll be blogging there as well.

of Zombies and Fanny Packs

It was another amusing week of bus rides, rehearsals and work place happenings. I hope I'm not giving off the impression that there's always something interesting happening in my every day life, because there aren't...BUT, there is always something worth writing about every week.

Rehearsals are going well, we're fast approaching opening night and I'm anxious to expose the Chulla Chaqui to unsuspecting audience members! And no, that's not an innuendo for something else. The other characters are coming along well too; I really enjoy watching everyone develop their characters.

Today as I was sitting at work with my fellow box office staff, a HORDE of ZOMBIES appeared (almost without any noticeable early warning) from out of the blue! They lumbered, trudged, and dragged their bloody, mutilated, moaning and groaning selves across the Paseo. Wow...where did they come from? Where are they going? Better yet, where do I sign up to do that next time?! Of course, to break from the 'reality' of their moment, a few of them looked fine! Fine as in, they didn't have a limp. Sure they were bloodied, but they showed no indication of pain, anguish, or even decay! It was surreal because from inside the box office, looking out, you could either imagine you were watching this on television OR that they were coming to claw our eyes out and feast on your BRAINSSSSS!

A WEEK IN PUBLIC TRANSPORATION

1. I broke the string that attaches to the "STOP REQUESTED" device. Whoops, I guess I don't know my own strength?
2. Heh, this one was amusing--imagine this: tall, grizzly looking, hat wearing-fanny packing-steel toeing shoeing Caucasian male steps onto the bus and makes his way to the seat directly in front of me. He starts chatting it up to this Asian fella opposite of him. Wow, he starts going on about how plastic comes from oil, and oil is from Iraq! He then proceeds to tell the Asian fella that there are little black boxes inside the bus that record everyone's stops and that it helps the government enlist younger people into the Army.

HOLY COW!

(#2 cont.) By this time, Mr. Asian guy is sweating bullets and looking for any way to escape this one-sided conversation. (I'm watching this as it unfolds) A few stops later, another "interesting" character hops on the bus and IMMEDIATELY starts to conversate with Mr. Fanny Packing Fella. Imagine, come on try, two cars heading in the same direction on a collision course...except, instead of hitting each other, they both hit brick walls only yards apart. That's how it felt. Both of them "chitchatyammered" it up, yet their conversations had nothing to do with each other! I glance over at Mr. Asian Fella and there's this look of relief on his face for the brief reprieve. Soon, Mr. Fanny Pack and Other fella were out of the bus, leaving Mr. Asian Fella to digest the ear-raping he just received.

Now THAT was worth the bus ride. Who needs a car when you can ride the bus and come home with pages worth of interesting, vibrant characters?

Beep, beep!