Dream Seeker

The “where am i” assignment0

So, last class we were asked to prepare a two minute digital video that would be due in two weeks. I am getting really excited about this project. I have been playing with Windows Movie Maker on my laptop. I enjoy meshing narration, pictures, and music to tell my little story.

I though it was going to be really difficult to get started on this assignment. I was not quite sure where to start. I took a look at the Wiki website. There are so many online sources that I could choose from to start the assignment. However, I felt like I just wanted to stick with something less technical. But it turns out Windows movie maker is not that easy- however it is manageable. I enjoy having the choice on what to put in my digital story. I am in a digital history seminar and we have to make a website and there is NO room for creativity and originality. I am looking forward to being able to express my self in this digital story as well as my blog!

The next thing I need to learn is to upload videos. I am not sure it will be too hard:)

Posted: Uncategorized, technology, thea435

I am a tourist!0

So, I have decided to put my fear of going off alone and having this responsibility into a positive view. I was in Borders yesterday with friends and came across the travel section. Well, I though what the hey and bought Fodor’s See it: New York City guide. It has over 100 pages of listings and color photos of what I can find in New York. I know I am going to be very busy while I am there researching and holding interviews- but in that free time- I want to go adventuring. It would be lovely for people to come along- but even if not, I am going to bite the bullet and go by myself!

So, here is a list of places I want to go and see (no in a particular order).

American Museum of Natural History- This museum look fabulous! It has over 40 grand exhibition halls. So if I do find some time to go, I am going to have to pick only a few things to see.

The Statue of Liberty- I know this is far away from where we need to be- but as a recent immigrant who lived the American Dream- I feel like I owe it to myself to see it!

The Jewish Heritage Museum- I say no more…

I also have chosen some neighborhoods that I really want to explore. Some could be possible homes for me in the future, and I really want to try and look at the city not only with a tourist mindset, but also like someone who lives there.

There are plenty of other places I want to go…but while skimming through the tourist book…the above choices just stuck out. Are there any places that you visted that I should consider checking out?

Well off to do some tech work for the course!

Posted: New York, thea435, travel plans

A New Day…0

So, after my long-winded blog last night I felt like a new day may give me some more rationality…right? Well I am still rather worried that we did not come to any conclusions yesterday in class. I am going to continue to research and get some figures…but even with 20 people gathering figures- we will still be in the same place.

I have been reading a few of my friend’s blogs, and I wanted to talk about them. My close friends Helena and Katie have been discussing the fears they do and do not have with this class and upcoming trip. I can relate to Helena. Katie gives another perspective where she writes that she is not afraid of anything. I admire that- but I am certainly nothing like that. In class, Gregg asked us if we had any fears with the class. People were discussing the research and the potential interviews- none of this was on my mind. I can converse quite well- but I am extremely frightened about being in New York by myself. I guess I am quite lucky to have so many friends that are independent and adventurous. I have never gone on a trip without my support system and I have never been on a trip where I could be potentially out of my comfort zone. My mum and dad are always there, or if not- I have only been on trips with my boyfriend or friends that I have known since 7th grade. I have never been to New York, and I am nervous about going in the city by myself. I am quite capable; I a sure of it. It is just that the idea of being a grown up is staring me right in the face. I am sure lots of people my age want to embrace that- but I am come from a place where I have been cushioned and sheltered. It is about time that I grow up in this way- but I have apprehensions about it.

I am anxious to see how I will do in the city, but I am glad that I have some close friends who will be there with me!

Posted: New York, feelings, nervous, thea435

Slighty confused…0

Well I am not sure where to begin with class this evening. A lot happened, and a lot did NOT happen! First of all our discussion  about the articles we were required to read was really good. I think those that contributed gave different perspectives and really interesting ideas and thoughts. The critic discussion was the most interesting to me. Do critics have a great influence on potential audience members? Do critics have even more influence over the actors, creators, and production staff?

But come on- let’s get to the point of what really was going on this evening. We were asked to get our facts in order and come up with a hotel, travel plans, and what we were going to see. To be honest, when I realized that we were going to be left to come up with all of this in class I knew it was going to be mayhem. I mean how could it not be with 20 people trying to get their say and straighten out plans and such. I am not even sure if we could have resolved the New York plans in one night- even though we were given three hours. I could not say that we were fighting- I mean 20 people were trying to get their voices heard so it was going to get loud and lary- and it did. I just wish that everyone could have stayed on task and that we were working as a group. I am not saying that our task this evening was easy- but if we cannot do this, how on earth are we all going to be able to communicate and keep on task in NYC?

I have never been to NYC. I am extremely excited about it. I hope that we can all work together as a group so that our trip can be enjoyable and we can enjoy it together. Getting 20 people to agree on things is difficult and sometimes near impossible. But, there must be compromise, and there must be a voice of reason. I felt like I needed a leader tonight- I tried to be for a little while, but unfortunately gave up. I felt like me raising my voice to just keep everything on task was not very helpful. I am sure this will be resolved- well it has to be.

Off to figure things out…

Posted: group work, thea435, travel plans

The Phantom of the Opera0

I am not sure what I should be writing about, or if there is anything specific that needs to be said in this journal, but I did want to talk about The Phantom of the Opera. It is a really close and personal production and overall experience for me. My mum and dad went to see it twice when my mum was pregnant with me. She said I was literally kicking to the music- I like to think that is the reason I was kicking. Honestly, I was probably kicking because it was bloody loud in the theatre. But when I was four, my dad put on a cassette in the car on my way to school and I sang all the songs and knew all the words- I had not heard the soundtrack before-well I had but I was not here technically. I know this sounds strange and silly, but it is true. Since I was very little, I have always had a connection to this show and it would be a dream to see it in New York City. My parents took me and Jason to see Phantomat the Kennedy Centre this summer. It was breathtaking. I am sure it is bigger and more spectacular in New York, but I was blown away. I felt that I was destined to see this particular production. I think I cried through the entire production- I am sure I was quite embarrasing!

The music is so moving in this musical. Music always moves me. I feel like I am always yopping (tearing up), or getting goose bumps when I hear music. It is an amazing and electrifying feeling. I wonder if I can ever sing those songs from the musical…can I ever make this forever favorite be an even greater impact on my life? The story itself is heart wrenching. I got a lot of mixed signals from my peers with this show. Some love it, some hate it, and most indifferent. I guess it is just an opinion- but there is something about this specific musical that just makes me stop. It makes me think that maybe I heard that in my mum’s tummy for a reason- it was destined.

Posted: music, thea435

What to Think, and Where to Start.0

Without fail, I wake up every morning and ponder on that one thing. Can I do this? Is this some illusion, or some sort of fantasy that I’m living in? Can this thing, this dream, this passion- can this happen to me? Or more appropriately, can I happen to it? Essentially, can I live in a dream? Or will the realities of this society bring me back to earth- and cause me to realize that I have lots of things to do, and lot of unfinished business to handle before I can just go off and in a way make my dreams come true. I realize all these questions are confusing to anyone reading, believe me I’m all muddled up about it too. But these personal questions are ideas and thoughts that I hope this class and this trip will help me answer.

When I walked into class last Wednesday, I was very eager; eager to hear news about the trip to New York City, as well as eager to know what exactly I need to accomplish in this course. With many objectives, the one that struck out to me the most was the objective to “draw conclusions about our own path as we reflect on where we find ourselves in the context of the greater world of theatre.” I am so excited to go on this journey. I can safely say that since I joined the theatre department at Mary Washington, I have changed. I may not have changed drastically, but I have grown up slightly, and look at the world differently. I am thrilled to go on this journey to grow even more as a student and more importantly, as a person. I am anxious to start my research project. I feel like I am at the start line, just waiting for the flag to drop so I can start running, start exploring.

We had a technology boot-camp this Saturday. It was really cool. I knew there was media and software out there, but I had no clue it was right at my fingertips. I want to use all of it. I know I can’t though. I am looking forward to compiling all the media together to create this digital story. I am amazed over how much is out there on the web! I have experience with the delicious bookmarking site, and I know it will be extremely helpful in my research. Flickr is something I have not experimented with and I am enjoying exploring the website. I am really tempted to get a primary account so that I can utilize the website to the best that I can. It is an amazing site, and it is also amazing how regular people can catch such phenomenal photos. I hope to catch some great photos in the city. I shall continue to research and play with all the things that I was shown in the technology boot-camp. I’m having lots of fun with it!

I am looking forward to this class and delving deeper into my research. I think this class may be a life-changing experience. I welcome it.

Posted: technology, thea435

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Posted: Uncategorized