The Lost Path to Perfection: I-search Movie

                                                             

                                 I SEARCH MOVIE LINK

        
         For the past two weeks, all 8th graders at Francisco Middle School had to complete an I-search, a research assignment based on a chosen topic. Jessie, Stephanie and I decided the best way to show our research would be to make a movie. Since everyone else was writing a 15-16 paragraph essay, we all felt very lucky with our choice. I think it turned out to be a very fulfilling experience for all of my team members and I. We learned many interesting facts about media influencing teenage girls while also having fun creating a script, and filming later on. I hope this movie reflects all of our hard work and dedication,as well as our research.

Article Project Questionnaire

 Answers

Which of the 8 rules of Media Literacy is illustrated in the Beauty and Body Image article? Why and how?

1. One of the 8 rules in Media Literacy that is reflected in the Body and Image article, is that all media is constructed. This article talks about a topic that discusses women's struggle and distress with their own bodies. It has been carefully organized into different categories that all backup the main idea they want to publish. Rule #2 is also shown in this article. In general, the way think is very much influenced by media, which we see in our everyday lives. As you read through this article, you will decide on your own opinion, and be able to make your own conclusion. However, with all of the evidence and facts this article provides, it will try to persuade you to think otherwise. Media around the world can be negotiated of how it will be presented to its audience. Rule #4,5,6 are also shown in this article. Media needs to be a profitable business, so it will always be trying to advertise something, whether or not the readers understand it from their perspective. In this article, a valuable message is trying to be enhanced by stating the dangers of being underweight, and the importance of being comfortable with your own body.

The article on advertising to children is a great example of media constructing reality (#2 rule of Media Literacy). Can you think of an example of media constructed reality aimed at teens? Tell me what it is and how it constructs reality.

2. A good example of constructed reality aimed at teens would be all of the T.V shows focused on school or the lives of teenagers from a very dramatic setting. It pinpoints life in middle or high school much more complicated than it really is. Some teenagers enter high school already thiking it will be the worst four years of their lives.

The commercial implications (#4) of media literacy are illustrated in The Economics of Ethnicity link. Do you think most media does a good job of showing what your real life is like? The number of minority people you see daily, the kinds of problems you have in real life, the way those problems get solved - are these things that you see in TV shows, movies and advertising?

3.  No, unfortunately, I think most media does not do a good job to show what my real life is like. First of all, all media needs to make a profit, so they need some sort of rating or awareness among the public they are trying to reach. I don't see many T.V shows focusing on our real daily lives or the common people we see everyday, because it would simply be too boring for any of us to want to watch. Even if a minor percetange of the media bussiness does try to make an effort to relate to its viwers, we all have a wide variety of problems in our lives, and most aren't mentioned out there.

Tour of Francisco Middle School Commercial

Our commercial my group (Jessie, Nicky, and Anthony) an I made was a short 4 minute film that basically gave a tour of Francisco Middle School. We introduced and filmed at the most common locations on campus: the cafeteria, the little theater, the gym etc. We also filmed mini interviews of about 40 sec each of the school staff (like the principal, or vice principal). Jessie and I were the camera crew, while Anthony and Nicky focused on the acting section of the commercial.
       Doing this assignment was a new experience for all of us, and we were able to learn new skills throughout the whole process. For example, we learned all of the steps there are to creating a commercial (creating a storyboard, learning our lines, etc.) The point of this film is to encourage new students to come to Francisco Middle School. We want to be able to persuade our audience, not otherwise. Hopefully, we were able to achieve our goal.

Tour of Francisco MS Commercial

       Our commercial my group (Jessie, Nicky, and Anthony) an I made was a short 4 minute film that basically gave a tour of Francisco Middle School. We introduced and filmed at the most common locations on campus: the cafeteria, the little theater, the gym etc. We also filmed mini interviews of about 40 sec each of the school staff (like the principal, or vice principal). Jessie and I were the camera crew, while Anthony and Nicky focused on the acting section of the commercial.
       Doing this assignment was a new experience for all of us, and we were able to learn new skills throughout the whole process. For example, we learned all of the steps there are to creating a commercial (creating a storyboard, learning our lines, etc.) The point of this film is to encourage new students to come to Francisco Middle School. We want to be able to persuade our audience, not otherwise. Hopefully, we were able to achieve our goal.

High School Acceptance Letter

      For me having to apply to schools in San Francisco, has always been a problem. We have to go through what you call a Inter School District Transfer, since technically I live in Daly City, not San Francisco. I had applied to SOTA here in SF, Carmon in San Carlos, Terra Nova in the Pacifica, and Westmoor in Day City. When I opened my high school letter acceptance letter, it said I had been accepted into Terra Nova High School. Getting into this school was way easier and faster, since it's actually part of my district. The SOTA letter also came in, and it said I was being placed on a waiting list. It's alright, since 've decided to attend Terra Nova High School next year.

TV Advertisement Assignment

Cocoa Puffs Commercial, CLICK HERE

      An Advertisement, I would always find extremely funny would be the COCO FOR COCOA PUFFS commercial. That rooster jumping up and down crazily yelling COCO FOR COCOA PUFFS, COCO FOR COCOA PUFFS!!! was so hilarious... Anyways usually everytime my mom and I go grocery shopping, we can't leave out the COCO FOR COCOA PUFFS cereal out of our shopping list.

The Secret in their Eyes Film Review

        The past can turn into something so scandalous, so obscure that makes it difficult to forget, in "The Secret in their Eyes." This drama filled movie is a blend of mytery, and violence, along with tinge of comedy marked in some points in the film to create a better perspective. And what's a dramatic movie without a forbidden love story?

        This film takes place in present day Argentina, with occasional fashbacks to the 1970's where a former ivenstigator, Benjamin Ricardo Darin can't forget a specific case that treated with the rape and murder of a woman. Even if he had never met her, the memory of her corpse haunts his dreams. Her case was never solved, with the culprit still at bay. Years later, Benjamin decided to a write a story on this specific case, which also reunites him with his former colleague, Irene. This takes him back along the road of unforgotten memories tinged with regret of never being able to solve this case which had also taken great effect on hisown life.

   

       The lighting in this film is really quite extraordinary, wrapping main characters, like Irene or Benjamin, with a more solemn or subdued style, in order to reflect their moods, or the loss and regret they both feel. There are also many low light, sort of shadowy, foggy scenes that give a pretense of the mystery itself in the film. Even the clothes the charaters are made to wear, are very well chosen to reflect of this style of lighting.

Music in this movie, can bring tears to your eyes, or make you laugh, depending on what it's set out to do. It also wraps many scenes with its own unique melody, bringing you to share a scene's mood on a more personal basis.

      Overall, this movie can easily meat anyone's standard of a good dramatic film. I think it definately deserved to win an Oscar for Best Foreign Film in 2009.