StephUW's Blog

Convos with the Community

stephuw — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 18:08:31 +0000

From all of our guest speakers we heard of the value found in getting outside information. By tailoring interview questions to our concept and reaching out to a diverse group of people in the community I feel that I found some interesting material. It’ll be very powerful to find what the rest of the crew came up with as results as well!

To hit on a couple key points and interesting trends I found, I’ll elaborate a bit here.

One thing that was prominent from the get-go was the fact that all my interview subjects could account for some connection (either personally or relational) to the economic downturn. This reinforces our premise that the state of our economy is felt on a very large scale. Also, this lends validity to our hopes of the show’s concept as a relative concern.

Another pattern that I saw in responses was in regards to a question we posed about likes/dislikes of reality television. It was interesting to see that so many people from such diverse demographics could identify either the amped up levels of drama or the blatant staging that took place within these programs. While some of the individuals admitted to being kept interested by this and a few others opted to stay away from this genre of television all together, there did seem to be definite connotations associated with reality TV at all levels. This is great knowledge to have, and will help us to shape our concepts in a way that doesn’t fall into a category with other “scripted-reality” type shows.

I look forward to seeing what my other group members came up with, and contrasting their results to the ones that I gathered myself! These interviews can definitely be used in a progressive way, and have the potential of contributing a lot of useful information to our production as it develops.

Filed under: Uncategorized

Jamie Hammond: The Grand Finale

stephuw — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 20:50:02 +0000

I think it goes without saying, Jamie Hammond is a remarkable woman and an excellent model for the purpose of our class as a whole. The opportunity to both absorb all the information she shared with us about her career in the entertainment industry, as well as the chance to individually discuss our group project with someone with 35 years experience was truly invaluable! I found it extremely fortunate to have Hammond as the last presenter in our series of guest speakers. It was interesting to draw parallels between Morris, Chang and Hammond alike, as well as see where their approaches differed.

In Hammond’s case, I felt like there was a whole new perspective of the industry brought to like in addition to several small details our group had looked over completely. On the financial front in particular, we had given hardly any consideration up until this point. Luckily though, this newly registered cost-awareness was spurred by an expert in the field, who helped us immensely with concepts for budget control. With her finance background as an asset, Hammond was completely on the ball in helping our group come up with quotes for cost and even went as far as promising to send us a budget analysis from one of her own productions. Additionally, the insights she shared in finding and retaining investors was also very eye-opening as a producer-in-training. I knew that we would be needing money and that it was pertinent to sell to those who ultimately provide, but I hadn’t taken into consideration the amount of maintenance and management doing so would incur. Again, invaluable information for our own concept creating.

Another thing that really stuck out to me with Hammond’s speech was the emphasis on flexibility and keeping up with times. I thought that it was interesting that way back in 1995 Hammond and her team for “Billy Nye” made the decision to shoot in HD, in what she called “staying ahead of the game, not following the pack.” Until recently I was completely clueless as to what it even meant to be an HD production, so the fact that she had the foresight to predict future trends was especially impressive to me. Although we’ve been drilled to keep up on the times, Hammond’s own reinforce offered an added content to the sentiment.

One thing that has seemed to be a common theme amongst all of our guest speakers, as well as our own class lectures has been the idea of finding the “need” of a network. It seems like such a basic concept, but one that could easily be overlooked if it weren’t for the insights we’ve been offered. Like Morris and Chang, Hammond also put emphasis on finding what is missing within the lineup of the targeted network, or a void in programming on television as a whole. She used the example of “Bill Nye” as a premise that was desperately needed, thanks to new TV regulations promoting educational programming, and was not being aired currently. With the repetition we’ve seen in respect to this focus I believe it’s safe to say that we as producers need to be giving special care to our research and analysis of what’s happening in the market.

All in all, I would say that each one of our guest speakers provided us with valuable information for moving forward. Hammond in particular was a helpful source of knowledge and individual insight for our group. I think that we are on a great track with our program concept, and have a fairly clear direction of where we need to go in the next couple of weeks. We will be focusing on the story-telling premise that Hammond suggested to our group, and developing this portion of the production as well as the details that will ultimately make our pitch a realistic and thorough concept.

Filed under: Com 495, Reviews, The Office 2.0, University of Washington, UW

The Job Market’s Shining Stars!

stephuw — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 01:58:24 +0000

All in the spirit of “working life” I decided to focus on optimistic outlooks for my research assignment. It was interesting that multiple sources pointed straight to the computer and health care professions as the avenues with most promise!

The “Bureau of Labor Statistics” offered tons of useful graphs, charts and background information to support the projections from 2008-2018. And on the same note, I found excellent info and support in an article on “Forbes Magazine” detailing the top 20 growing and disappearing jobs in America. Among some of the other top contenders for growth were positions in the oil & gas industry, financial analysts, as well as work found in the media realm.

(Just as a side note- some of the fastest disappearing jobs included positions such as sewing machine operators, home appliance repairs, and conveyor operators/tenders… Not a good time to be competing with automated machines who can do your work more efficiently!)

Filed under: Com 495, The Office 2.0

Blacklisting Even the Brightest

stephuw — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 01:48:39 +0000

While reading the chapter entitled “The Plastic Years” in Tube of Plenty, I was struck for several reasons by the trend of “blacklisting” entertainment related individuals during the Civil War. The fear of the times and the implications these labelings held both took dramatic tolls on the persons in question, as well as the nature of the industry surrounding them. In a day and age where the prospect of communist infiltrators stir up panic to rival an outbreak of the plague, those put on the list were essentially deemed untouchable. They lost their jobs, they were put under national speculation and all they built was demolished under the weight of their title. All it took was one publication and they were dead by association.
While the notion of such exclusions seems like a trivial and over blown thing of the past, it is interesting to note similar happenings in our current world. With all things taken into consideration, it seems as if such “blacklisting” has carried on forward with its destructive ways and has left noticeable marks in similar instances today. I don’t think anyone will have much difficulty retracing the story of the Dixie Chicks, and their swift fall to disgrace a few years back. All it took was one unpatriotic jab and the world’s most popular musical girl group had been cast to the streets, all sponsors and support lost. There were organized CD burnings taking place all over the country, radios were dropping their music, and fans turned a scathingly cold shoulder to the band’s existence. Essentially, the Dixie Chicks were ruined.
In their particular instance, the national shunning they received was directly linked to the idea of patriotism and pride and happened to take place in a very sensitive time of turmoil and conflict after the terrorist attacks of 9/11. But it’s crucial to note that this “blacklisting” trend doesn’t end there. Beyond offenses tied to our country, or the leaders there of, there is another brand of blacklisting that is far more common and currently a hot topic in the entertainment industry! Let’s take Tiger Woods for instance… Whenever a role model fails to live up to the standards placed upon them, a backlash is inevitable. In Tiger’s case though, the magnitude of his actions brought on the equivalent of a HUAC listing! After drunkenly crashing a car into his front yard, and upon the reveal of (2…4… 11?) possible mistresses, the golfing prodigy/media icon faced dire consequences. Nobody wants Woods representing their products anymore, and nobody could deny that the reputation he held has been eternally tarnished.
Branching into another area- Look at the downfall of hip-hop star Chris Brown. The attention garnered in maintaining a high-profile relationship is drama enough, but add a dose of physical abuse into the mix and you have crossed an unmistakable line! When reports surfaced that Brown threatened, and hit his fellow hip-hop singing girlfriend Rihanna the tabloids were relentless. Outrage broke out, and Brown’s music was being tossed. Facebook groups popped up ridiculing the fallen star, and Rihanna even took it to the next level by producing a song to smear Brown’s reputation even further.
All in all, we see here a modern-day blacklist in the multimedia capacity. No longer are lists compiled and research done to out the entertainers of today. Instead disgrace comes at a much swifter pace, and in a much more apparent mode. There’s hardly any escaping the tabloids that highlight the latest wrong-doings of our current stars, and unless they’re in ship-shape, ready for the publicity at all times- one unpleasant step could land them in the pits of modern industry‘s “blacklisting” hell!

Posted in Com 495, Recent Trends, The Office 2.0, University of Washington, UW

“Celebrity Apprentice”

stephuw — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 16:49:03 +0000

Finding feedback for this series was a lot more difficult than I had anticipated. After our tutorial in class I was hoping that tapping into reviews for the “Celebrity Apprentice” would be a fairly straight-forward venture! Unfortunately though, I instead found that this series has been cast into a category of television right along with other celebrity-related reality shows, such as “Dancing with the Stars” and “Celebrity Rehab”. Articles that noted “The Celebrity Apprentice” as a standalone where pretty brief and typically derived from quick magazine exerts highlighting shows to watch for during the upcoming week.

From the info that I got in articles based around the comparison and uprise of “celeb reality” programs, I did take away the sense that these series’ are often cast as a “guilty pleasure” sort of viewing. Most of those who commented on it noted the lack of class or respectability found within the content, but were all the same drawn to watch the developments of “unscripted celebrity”- a unique occurrence in and of itself.

Another reference that seemed to tie in repeatedly with this program was mention of the cost-efficiency of such a program. Many of the articles made brief statements about the downturn in economy, and rise of cheap, drama-filled reality shows in place of quality, scripted programs with notably more meaningful content. I found this interesting, and directly applicable to our own concept and creations. It’s important to note the rise of low-budget television in such unstable times. And reminded me much of what was shared by our guest speaker Ethan Morris. Funding is an obvious issue not only for us, but for the entertainment industry as a whole- and these trends are important in terms of possible competition, as well as concept development in our own projects.

Overall, it became clear that “The Celebrity Apprentice” was not a highly regarded program among those reviewing, but nonetheless had a distinct appeal that none of them could deny. Unfortunately though, it does not seem that Trump’s productions will ever be held as more than a “guilty pleasure”.

Posted in Com 495, Reviews, The Office 2.0, University of Washington, UW

Sound off on “Sound Tracks”

stephuw — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 02:16:50 +0000

The basic concept behind this documentary-style show is to explore various musical trends from around the world. The show’s description of “music without the borders” very much applies to the expository manner in which the reporters immerse themselves in the surrounding cultures of significant musical movements. They touch bases with key players, knowledgeable sources and incorporate relevant history in each case, making for a very well informed synopsis of the trends they cover.

An interesting emphasis is made in all three stories from the pilot episode…. Each country’s trend seems to reveal dense political references or statements. One that I found particularly intriguing from an American citizen’s standpoint was the cultural revolution that surrounded Russia’s “A Man Like Putin” song. I guess the stretch between a government official’s rise to “superstar-dome” shouldn’t be so much of a shock after the immense popularity, especially amongst America’s youth, that President Obama has rendered… But the same time it seems a bit odd that not only the Russian government and pop-culture are so entertwined, but that their President, Putin, embraces his role as a sex symbol.

I believe it is these sort of differences and seemingly contradictory messages from other countries that make the show so interesting to cultures such as our own. It is always an eye-opening experience to see the inter-workings of cultures beyond our own, and the contrasts that lie between. I don’t quite get the sense that this series is intended for young audiences such as college-age students. I could see it being a bit more appealing to adult-age (25-40 year old) viewers who have a more distinguished sense of their values or cultural ethics. The interviews and language is a little more dry than younger viewers may like it, which also infers an older focus to me. With that said though, I think that this pilot is fairly unique and holds a lot of valuable content. It’s an interesting take on the culture of music, and the effect it has upon mass audiences… And also offers up a lot of room to contrast norms and happenings between various cultures. I personally would be interested in following the progression this series takes now that I have taken in a full episode. Although, I am not so positive that it would be a program capable of capturing and holding my attention had I just been surfing through channels on any regular day.

Posted in Com 495, The Office 2.0, University of Washington, UW

Reality TV Class

stephuw — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 07:56:49 +0000

The Prompt: Write a post about two websites/Internet sources that are worth knowing about to follow the TV industry; and two websites relevant to Work/Labor/Jobs.

TV Industry:

Screen Rant

TVB: Research Central

I chose the Screen Rant website as a quality TV industry resource for several reasons. To begin with, in relation to other similar websites such as TVSpy.com and Variety.com the Screen Rant website was more far more easy to navigate/way more aesthetically pleasing! It features current entertainment reviews, news, and reports of upcoming trends “without the sugar coating”. The blunt, straight forward nature is refreshing in a day and age where it seems like every publication has some promotional related underlying agenda.

My second link is connected to a website which is committed solely to tracking various industry components, as they occur and as they have played out in the past. With sections devoted to ratings, market trends, consumers, trends in media, and revenue reports this website offers valuable info for anybody in the entertainment realm to tap into and pick apart the trends of yesterday, today and what may be a sensible next step.

*Just as a side link, I think that this article by the Seattle PI provides a lot of insight into the progression our television trends have taken over the years, and how they have developed into what we see today. It’s also a great way of envisioning what could be possible in future productions…

“Ten Trends that Transformed TV in the Past 10 Years”

Work/Labor/Jobs:

Career Builder

Employment Spot

Although Career Builder is a fairly well known and trusted resource, I felt that out of all the websites I reviewed (Monster, Jobs.com, etc.) that their site provided the most relevant and broad information/resources of the bunch. There are links to career availabilities, career outlooks, tips for building a resume and professional persona, as well as educational information important for anybody in the working field today. They have focused their content on employment opportunities that allow security and a bright future with respect to our economy and its nature of the time. Overall, its just a well-rounded, informative site that would serve as a definite asset to any one on the hunt for opportunities or direction.

Finally, I included a link to the website Employment Spot because of the very personalized information they offer you. Especially as it is relevant to today’s issues. The focus on this site is based around projected forecasts for employment, and which career avenues appear to be the most promising. The site breaks jobs down by City, State, Industry, etc. so that visitors are able to easily find the most relevant and applicable information for their current situations, and have the information to make wise career decisions based upon it. In the working world, security is an extremely valuable characteristic, and it is the research and efforts of organizations like this that help jobseekers plan out an employment map that makes the most sense for their wants and needs.

Posted in Com 495, Reviews, The Office 2.0, University of Washington

Hello Winter Quarter, and Com 495 round two!

stephuw — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 19:57:24 +0000

2010? Whaaaat??

This quarter marks a new transition for both my educational focuses and for this blog! I’m thanking my lucky starts that I was able to secure a spot in Florangela’s winter Com class, and am incredibly excited for the new venture this group is launching. The Office 2.0 is undoubtedly going to be an experience. So here we go!

*To differentiate Winter from Autumn Com 495 classes from one another, all posts related to the current class will be categorized under “The Office 2.0″! This should make finding new relevant posts a little easier…

Posted in Com 495, The Office 2.0, University of Washington Tagged: The Office 2.0

B.Barista- Final product

stephuw — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 05:38:24 +0000

“At least 65 bikini stands have been opened since 2008 in Seattle and its surrounding areas”

Serving Sex with Coffee

Seattle, Washington is famous for its obsession with coffee and higher-priced specialty lattes. Now, the rising popularity in using sex appeal to sell your daily macchiato or tall drip can be found in the bikini barista business. Finally: a service Starbucks is less likely to provide. For some bikini baristas, however, the matter is a matter of economics.
“At a bikini stand, you can make as much as $400 a day,” said an employee of Java Juggs in Everett, Washington. “So it’s a big difference.”
While there are those who to criticize bikini baristas for an unsavory profession, it is not as if the service is not appreciated. Regular customers stop by Java Juggs as part of their morning routine. Signs also decorate the windows to warn or lure potential patrons, trumpeting “sexy girls” and “sexy bikini baristas”. Despite the negative reputation, there are employees who work at these places in order to provide a better lifestyle for their own family.
“I want [my daughter] to be able to do what she wants to do. She wants to play sports, she wants to be a cheerleader, she wants to go to the movies. I want to be able to give her money. I don’t want to be one of those families that have their kids miss out on things because they’re broke.”