Every November, Black Friday attracts bargain shoppers

Posted on by sylviaoben

Analyzing a multimedia piece this week, I decided to search for something that is coming up, like Black Friday.

Here a multimedia video shows how it’s to be in a mall this day. I like how the video starts with a wide shot of the mall and people going in and out of stores.

Good story, having a shopper saying that she went into one store and it wasn’t crowded. The shopper got what she needed, she said. I would have liked to see that shopper buying things at the stores.

Have you been to the mall late at night or early in the morning the day after Thanksgiving? I did last year for the first time and for me it’s not a big bargain.

Nice, close-up shot of the shopping bags that a shopper was carrying while walking in the mall.

My favorite quote, which caught my attention the most, was when the CEO of Macy’s Inc. said, “At 8 p.m., last night when [Macy’s Inc.] opened the doors, we had 15,000 people line up outside or around [the mall].”

Wow, for me that number is crazy — great interview, but I would like to see the thousands of people waiting to get into the store.

To be honest, I didn’t like the transition from the CEO and the sudden shift to the topic of security. The story is about happy Christmas shopping, and suddenly we see broken glass in a parking lot. The shift in topics is too abrupt. Why does the narrator start taking about it? It just seemed to me that the reporter ran out of video.

There were too many ideas in one video. I would prefer to keep it simple, but I understand the point of the author of the video. Overall it was OK.

A THANKSGIVING BUFFET WITH INSECTS ON IT

Posted on by sylviaoben

Do you eat a lot on Thanksgiving Day? Would you eat the same amount if you knew the food had insects on it?

I wouldn’t!

The Audubon Insectarium in New Orleans put some insects on Thanksgiving recipes to give to people on this special holiday. The Associated Press took advantage of this unusual thing and made a multimedia video about it.

“Some people call it a taste treat that can’t be beat,” is the opening line. I really like how the multimedia starts by narrating people’s reactions. “Others simply turn up their noses and say no way!” The visual of people’s reactions and the narration go well.

After it, I like the natural sound of a lady saying, “ohh,” and other people laughing at her. I can see her expression of disgust.

I like how after the reactions of people the explanation of what the insectarium is doing with a wide shot image of the chef doing the dishes and the visitor taking pictures of it. The narrator talks about the insects on the food and shows an image of the insects.

Makes me not want to eat, but I will cook this Thanksgiving to make sure no one puts insects in my food.

In the multimedia, having the chefs speaking gives the video credibility to know what they cook and how the dishes are made. “We made corn bread stuffing with rusty mealworn on it, and we make delicious cranberry sauce with wax worm,” said the chef Jayme Necaise. I would have liked to see how he makes all of what he talked about while he says it.

The transition for the interview to the kitchen, and then to families who tried some of these recipes was good.

“I don’t know how they did it,” said Dinkey Kreutzjans, a visitor from Kentucky. “I can’t try any bugs, if I know it’s a bug.” Nice quote and better from her that even though she doesn’t eat it, the food made her children excited, so she let them eat it. I saw Kreutzjans while she was speaking; I would like to see her kids trying the food with insects and her look of disgust.

“They are good,” love that quote from the little girl.

Good close-up shot of the food while the narrator explains that the chefs put the bugs into a freezer and they go to sleep believing that winter has arrived.

Nice interview with a person who tried the food. The story gives the viewer both perspectives of people who won’t eat it and those who did. Love the end seeing Amelia Babin eating the food. That might change people’s mind to try it. But not mine, I am fine, no thanks.

Time Out Chicago guide Facebook cover picture

Posted on by sylviaoben

It’s Christmas already? Are people skipping Thanksgiving Day?

There are Christmas commercials on TV, stores displaying Christmas decorations and things. I would love it to be Christmas already, but let me live day by day.

On Nov. 14, Time Out Chicago guide changed their Facebook cover picture of the Christkindlmarket Chicago.

Love the picture! As I was looking at my news feed, it caught my attention.

Christmas is around the corner!

I clicked on it to see it more closely. I like the angle from where it was taken. You can see the Christmas tree and tents with the white and red stripes as well as the Picasso Sculpture in the picture, so you can tell where this market is being held — at Daley Plaza. The picture shows how many people visited the market.

The Christmas lights look so beautiful in this picture; overall it is like a postcard, with a good frame and colors.

For people who are not familiar with it, they are not going to recognize where this picture took place. Time Out Chicago should add a description of the photo in order for followers to know.

Veterans reunited with their dogs

Posted on by sylviaoben

On Nov. 11, the U.S. honors people who served in the U.S. Armed Forces, also known as veterans. Associated Press did a multimedia story about this commemorative day that touches many people’s lives. If people marking the holiday did not serve in the armed forces, they have some family member or friend who served.

Humans have traditionally been recognized, but not in this situation. Dogs for the first time are being honored. The story is about a veteran dog, Cici, and her owner, Jason Boss, a veteran.

I like how the video starts with the parade of veterans in New York where Cici joined the parade as well. I didn’t see Cici in the parade. I would love to see Cici walking in the parade.

Awww, I love the reunited between Cici and his owner. Well done!

The multimedia caught emotional moments between Cici and his owner. What caught my attention was when he said, “ I was little nervous at first because I didn’t know if she would recognize me.” Obviously it was the opposite — Cici was so happy to see him again.

“Cici helped Jason to get through to the lonely moments in Iraq when he was far from home,” the multimedia reported. I would like to see more pictures or videos of them in Iraq during the 100 missions he served. Maybe it’s hard to find, which is understandable.

Overall it was a good story, even though I would want to see more about them in the war. The B-Roll was good; I got to see Cici and how she interacts with her owner.

I have never heard that people in the U.S. armed forces are assigned to serve with dogs that later return to the States to live with them. Good story!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/11/veterans-day_n_6139724.html

Woman with cancer planned assisted death multimedia

Posted on by sylviaoben

During last week while reading news in one Puerto Rican newspaper online, endi.com, I found a sad story that I had heard before about Brittany Maynard, 29, who had terminal brain cancer.

The story was multimedia, which caught my attention and made me understand more what she’s passing through and why she decided to move from California to Oregon to spend time with her family during the last days of her life.

Overall, the multimedia was well done. So far it has 4,485,618 views.

I like the view of the state of Oregon, where she lived with her family. I also enjoyed hearing her tell the audience what she is thinking, then seeing her in a room that I am guessing was hers.

I like the text the multimedia has and the amount of time the author left for viewers to read it. However, I would prefer to have a text with Brittany’s name on the corner of it while she is speaking so I can know her name immediately.

Love the sad background music that the multimedia has. In my opinion, the music caught the viewer’s attention. From the beginning, before she even starts speaking, we know it’s a sad story.

It has to be a very difficult story to do when someone planned her death.

Emotions took a big part of this multimedia. I cannot see myself doing a story about someone who is going to die since I lost my brother a year and a half and I know how it feels to lose someone. Although we are in different situations, life is life.

I love the B-Roll, getting to see how she spent her days with her family and husband during her sickness. Especially at the beginning she said, “I still get out and do what I can. I walk with my husband, I walk with my family and my dogs.” Those who created the multimedia project caught that moment while she is talking.

Husband and parents interviews added a touch to the story.

“I don’t like being photographed,” said Brittany in the multimedia. “I don’t like being filmed, and I don’t like to spend a lot of time looking in the mirror… My body has changed so quickly.” While she said this, I like looking how she looked before getting sick and her photographs.

After she said those words, I love the transition, when her mother helped her to get ready and pretty. Later, her mom talks about what she thinks about her daughter’s decision on how to live life. I would like to hear more natural sound maybe when her mom starts laughing while they are eating.

The conclusion of the multimedia is to let people know how she wanted her family to move on and be happy after her death. Also, she wanted to encourage all Americans to fight for getting more medical (health care rights) help to avoid getting this kind of mortal illness.

See what Clara Beatty is experiencing watching a video

Posted on by sylviaoben

Looking up multimedia videos of my professor Martha Irvine, I found one that caught my attention. “Girl with deformed face learns to navigate world” story video helped me to understand the process of this girl.

Without reading the article I could understand what Clara Beatty is experiencing. I like the multimedia from the beginning to the end. The video has great visuals and interviews overall.

The beginning of the video caught my attention by looking at Beatty walking at the mall. In other words, as the title of the story suggests, she learns to navigate the world even though she is deformed.

Then the viewer hears from her and how she feels about her life.

How did Irvine found her? It would be great to know.

Then the video reveals her medical process and how her mom supports and interacts with the doctor, which makes a great transition. I also love listening to both parents, I have never tried to do a two-person interview in one shot, and I like the way my professor did it.

The B-Roll of Beatty at school taking theatre classes was great and seeing how she is treated at school too.

It’s good to know that at school, she is treated like everyone else.

I think there is no other way to make this video better. Good job!

http://www.komonews.com/news/national/Girl-with-deformed-face-learns-to-navigate-world-150012025.html?tab=video&c=y

Oscar De La Renta death

Posted on by sylviaoben

This week I chose to search for an Oscar De La Renta, news multimedia. The designer from the Dominican Republic has died of cancer at the age of 82 this past Monday.

NBC presented a multimedia video, which depicts the recognized Hollywood stars’ designer’s life through the years. I like how the multimedia was presented. It started with where he died and how old he was. Also, where he was born and how proud De La Renta was of being Hispanic. While mentioning all this, the video has B-Roll of De La Renta at special occasions like fashion shows.

http://www.nbcchicago.com/multimedia/Fashion-Designer-Oscar-De-La-Renta-Dies-at-82-279888412.html

Then the video has a transition of the stars for whom De La Renta designed clothes in chronological order, including Hillary Clinton, Laura Bush, Oprah Winfrey, among others. I like looking at the designs De La Renta did, but I would prefer to see a complete picture of them and the design drawings.

On the other hand, the video has great nat sound, for example where it says “his impact on women’s fashion has lastest 50 years,” you could heard people clapping. But after a quote from De La Renta I would prefer to hear from a woman who had been impacted by his design. It would be better to switch the quotes, so that the first comes from the actress, Jennifer Garner, and then from De La Renta.

I like the way it ends, with the picture of the designer because that way viewers will keep his image in mind. Overall the story is about his death.

Swimmer faces a mortality disease

Posted on by sylviaoben

“Danny Thrall was set to begin his collegiate swimming career when doctor’s discovered a potentially fatal heart problem.”

My Digital Storytelling professor, Martha Irvine who works for the Associated Press did a multimedia video, which it throws my attention. Since is a story of a 19 years-old guy who faces mortality. I like these particular stories because there are about real issues that somebody can have.

Me, as a journalist, I enjoy and like to cover news and topics about the community and people’s issues.

The storytelling of this multimedia works so well from the beginning to the end. I love how the video starts with Thrall swimming and ended listening at his heart loud sound. The sound bites that Irvine used for her video caught my attention since the shots also accompany those sound bites.

Even though it’s hard to find images of a hearts surgery, Irvine found visuals so the viewers could see how is the process of facing mortality and what Thrall is talking about in the interview.

On the other hand, I like his mom interview and you could see her sadness. I could see the emotion and the preoccupation of his mom on her eyes and tone of voice. The pictures of Thrall family helps to follow the story of what she is saying.

The video is very concise and takes me to the point of the story.

​

Harper High School

Posted on by sylviaoben

What is it about the audio in this piece that works so well? Is there anything you’d change or do differently?

http://www.thisamericanlife.org/play_full.php?play=487

First, the topic of violence is powerful in the city of Chicago.

I think WBEZ did a good job with the audio. Starting with the description of the place helps.  I like the interview and the sound bites. Based on what he is talking about, it’s like seeing visuals (B-Roll). It is very effective and moving to listen to other people tell their stories.

The story is really smooth.

The people crying make me feel sad, and I was able to relate to what they were feeling.

In some parts I would lower the background music since it’s the same volume as the voices of people talking. Maybe I would start with the woman crying because I want to know more when something is happening.

Depends on technology

Posted on by sylviaoben

“Technology when you are disabled becomes incredibly important.”

Hilary Lister, who is a quadriplegic, has to depend on technology so that she does not need more help and support from another person. She sets solo sailing record because of her courage and makes it into record books.

I really enjoyed learning about how she lives with this illness through multimedia. I like the visual nature of it and how it started by seeing Lister suck a straw without being able to use her hands. Also, I enjoyed seeing where she lives.

During the whole video I was able to see visuals of what she was talking about. Also, her dad and loved ones helped make her sail.

Even though it is a sad story, it makes me think how blessed I am and what obstacles other people face.