Dead Actors, Live Audiences

The following is a MediaNote Classic. It was originally presented to Mass Comm 101 classes in Spring 2018.

If I want to see Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn in a movie, I find a copy of their 1949 film, Adam's Rib. Soon I may be able to see them in a whole now movie created many years after their deaths. Movie technology has advanced to the degree that not only do we have trouble telling animation from live action. We now have difficulty telling live actors from dead ones. NPR reports.

Questions...

•Is this technology good for the movie business or bad for the movie business? Why?

•What jobs will this technology eliminate? What jobs will it create?

•You are a major Hollywood star. How do you use this technology to fund your retirement? How do you use it to provide income for your heirs?

•Will the audience want to see new movies (or TV shows or video games) with John Wayne and Marilyn Monroe in them? In 50 years will audiences want to see new movies with a young Jennifer Lawrence or Johnny Depp?

New Stage for Movies

If you are a moviemaker, you probably dream of the big movie premiere, followed by audiences flocking to theaters nationwide. Well, all of that has changed for the time being. This NPR story tells what Universal is doing with its next few movie releases.

Questions...

•What is the strategy for releasing movies when no movie theaters are open?

•Why don't studios usually make movies available for streaming right away?

•Is this change expected to be permanent?

On a Radio Long Ago and Far Away

The following is a MediaNote Classic. It was originally presented to MC101 students in January 2016.

Radio dramas and comedies were commonplace American entertainment from the 1930s through the 1950s. In the decades since there have been sporadic attempts to revive the genre, including an NPR-created version of "Star Wars" in 1981.

Could podcasts--which are done on nearly every imaginable non-fiction topic--possibly find a place for a new crop of radio dramas. Would people listen?

Questions...

•How do we listen to the radio, or radio-like programming such as podcasts? Where does it fit in in our lives?

•How is writing a radio drama different than writing a movie or TV show?

•Is it easier to turn a book into a movie or is it easier to turn a book into a radio drama?

•Who has listened to an audio book? Would a radio drama version be more satisfying or less satisfying? Why?

•Does the Long Tail Theory suggest that radio dramas are due for a revival? Why or why not?

Apparently, The Force Was With Us

The following is a MediaNote Classic. It was originally presented to MC101 students in January 2017.

One of the things that makes a great city a great city is that it has cool things that practically everyone can enjoy. That said, Los Angeles bagged another cool thing recently as it was named the site of The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art. The museum, which will be underwritten by Star Wars Creator George Lucas and his wife, will focus on storytelling through pictures, from cave paintings to present. It will be in Exposition Park, near the Coliseum and USC. It is expected to open in 3-4 years. KCBS News reports.

Questions...

•Name all the ways that we tell stories through pictures.

•What pictures can you think of that evoke an emotion or feeling?

•How do you use pictures to tell stories in your life?

•What academic departments at USC could benefit from having this museum nearby? How?

•Is this museum good for Los Angeles? How?

Moving Movies to Digital

The following is a MediaNote Classic. It was originally presented to MC101 students in Summer 2012.

As we have discussed in class, the major movie "studios" today are largely distribution companies, looking for multiple ways to make money off the content under their control. Also, we have discussed the "atoms to bits" theory, where all physical media--including film--is destined to be replaced by its digital equivalent.

Today's Medianote is an NPR story about converting classic films to digital format, and the artistic and capitalistic decisions that are made during that conversion process. Should a film be made exactly as it was released in 1940, or should it be enhanced by processes that have become available over the last 70 years. At the end of the day (to use a horrible professor phrase), are movies mostly commercial products subject to change to fit consumer tastes? Or are they art works to be preserved in the way they were made? Or are they a combination of both?

Questions...

•Are movies art? How are they and how are they not?

•Is altering a classic film like altering a painting at the Getty Center? What about a not so classic film? Who decides if a film is classic or not?

•Is making a film image lighter or more in focus always a good thing? When is it not?

•If you were in charge of the Warner Vault, what would you do with an original print of a classic film?

•How much does the original artistic vision of the director matter?

Lights, Camera, Sandwiches!

The following is a MediaNote Classic. It was originally presented to MC101 classes in February 2015.

One of the tenets of media literacy that MC101s learn is that "all media messages are constructions." They are not reality. They are a selected reality or a stylized version of reality or a pictorial version of reality. Creating realistic-looking food for television and movie scenes is an example of the latter. Here's an example: If ice cream is shown in a TV or movie screen, it is probably mashed potatoes or something other than ice cream. Why? Ice cream melts too quickly under the lights.

NPR did a nice little feature recently about food on the set.

Questions...

•Name all the support businesses that make money off the movie and TV industries.

•Does a healthy movie/TV industry do anything for our local restaurants, dry cleaners, car dealers, etc.?

•Are Hollywood-related jobs good jobs or bad jobs? Why?

•How do people get these jobs?

With New Technology, What Is Acting?

The following is a MediaNote Classic. It was originally presented to MC101 students in April 2016.

We're used to digital retouching of still photos, but what about movies? Apparently, the technology now exists to give an actor more (or fewer) wrinkles, greater facial expression and a lot of other things the actor might not be able to do on the set. NPR reports.

Questions...

•Is this the end of acting? Why or why not?

•Is this an example of disintermediation? Who is being disintermediated?

•When does live action end and animation begin?

•What jobs will be created by this technology?

•Will audiences care if actors don't look in real life the way they look in the movies?

Virtual Thrills

The rollercoaster business has had its ups and downs. Sure, you can create faster rides and bigger drops, but it increases safety risks and decreases the number of people willing to enjoy such an intense experience.
The rollercoaster business has had its ups and downs. Sure, you can create faster rides and bigger drops, but it increases safety risks and decreases the number of people willing to enjoy such an intense experience.

This is where virtual reality (VR) comes in. This summer, Six Flags Magic Mountain started handing out VR goggles on one of its rollercoasters, turning it into a multimedia experience. Will this be the next big thing in theme park rides or is it a novelty that will wear off soon?NPR reports.

Questions...

•Who has used VR? What have you used it for?

•How might you adapt "Avitar" as a VR rollercoaster experience?

•What other stories (movies or other stories) could be adapted for a VR rollercoaster experience?

•How could Magic Mountain use VR to compete with Knotts' Scary Farm around Halloween?

•In your opinion, will VR be a hugely successful technology, or will it be more like a Segway for your eyes?

Why Ebola Freaks Us Out

The following is a MediaNote Classic. It was originally presented to MC101 classes in October 2014.

People are avoiding flu shots because they fear walking into an Ebola-tainted hospital. U.S. residents from West Africa (including those who have not been back there for years) report that they are being treated strangely. Some politicians have called for stepped up patrol of the U.S.-Mexican border, even though Mexico is nowhere near West Africa.

Over-the-top fear of the Ebola virus has scared us into some odd ideas and behaviors. What is it about Ebola that makes it so much more scary than other dangers that kill many more people? NPR reports.

Questions...

•One person has died of Ebola in the United States. The flu, on the other hand kills around 25,000 Americans per year. So why are some Americans afraid of going to the hospital to get flu shots because they fear getting Ebola?

•How do movies and television shows make us more afraid of deadly diseases?

•How does news coverage make us more afraid of Ebola?

•How should the news media cover Ebola?

•If Ebola does begin to spread more widely in the U.S., how might social media help spread information in a positive way? How might social media reaction make things worse?

Reinventing the Multiplex

The following is a MediaNote Classic. It was originally presented to MC101 classes in October 2014.

A great year for attendance at movie theaters is one where it doesn't go down. Movie theaters are having increasing difficulties hanging on to their audiences. Some believe there are technologies that can be placed in movie theaters that will help sell tickets. NPR reports.

Questions...

•Have movie theaters "jumped the shark"? Will people still be going to movie theaters in 20 years?

•Will you pay more to see a movie in 3d? Why? How about 4D?

•Will you pay more to go to a premium theater like Arclight? What services would you pay more to have?

•How might 4D change the way movies are shot? (In 3D, there always seem to be scenes where someone is pointing a spear at the hero, or something like that.)

•What types of non-movie events should be shown in theaters?

Hollywood: Diversity Not Included

Hollywood--especially the movie industry--apparently isn't very diverse, according to a USC study. This NPR story discusses some of the possible reasons why the movies don't really look like present-day America.

Questions...

•Apparently, the movie isn't as diverse as America. Does that matter? Why or why not?

•Does diversity matter more on camera or behind the camera? Why?

•Why does it matter if the director is a woman and the screenplay writer is a person of color?

•Hollywood is a business of personal contacts? Is that part of the problem?

•Philharmonic orchestras have blind auditions. Would that help in this case?

•What do you recommend that Hollywood do?

Too Soon?

Comedians will tell you that disasters aren't funny right after they happen, but eventually they can joke about even the most awful things. Entertainment and sporting events are sometimes rescheduled after an awful event. The following Los Angeles Times story discusses this uneasy intersection between tragic news events and entertainment in light of the recent events in Paris.

Questions...

•Are there any disasters so horrible that they should not be turned into movies or TV episodes? How long should we wait before turning tragedy into entertainment?

•When should entertainment TV shows and sports events be suspended? (this happened after John F. Kennedy's assassination)

•How do movies, TV shows and other entertainment help us make sense of the world?

•What responsibilities do movies or TV shows about historic events or recent tragedies have to be authentic?

Hollywood Buzz Over Drones

Movie making has always been about technology, from the very earliest hand-cranked silent film cameras to the introduction of talkies, Technicolor, Steadicams and today's digital film cameras. The latest development in cinematography is the camera drone. The Los Angeles Times reports.

Questions...

•How creative are you? Come up with a scene for a movie about your life that can be shot with a drone?

•Are drones good or bad for movie and TV camera people? What jobs are gained? What jobs are lost?

•How might drones change how movies or TV shows look?

•Should GCC have a drone operator certificate program? What media-related jobs (movie, TV, and other) could a certified drone operator do?

Soothing an Old Wound

The following is a MediaNote Classic. It was originally presented to classes in Fall 2012.

Hollywood is a glittery factory town. It's not so different from Hershey, Pennsylvania where you can tour the chocolate factory, buy chocolate souvenirs, walk the same streets as people who work in the chocolate industry, and so forth.

But Hollywood is different in that it profoundly shapes--and is shaped by--culture and politics. The Hollywood Blacklist was an artifact of the virulently anti-Communist post-WWII era. This NPR story tells of an attempt to explain and bring to closure a troubled time in the history of the Hollywood entertainment industry.

Questions...

•What are all the ways that media destroys people, or at least their careers?

•Does the Internet make it easier to destroy careers, or does it make it easier to respond?

•Is big Hollywood entertainment diverse, or is it elitist?

Virtually There

The following is a MediaNote Classic. It was originally presented to MC101 students in February 2015.

Folklore has it that when "The Great Train Robbery" was shown in 1903, some audience members pulled out their revolvers and shot up the screen. Unfamiliar with the idea of moving pictures, some folks didn't know how to react when an actor pointed a gun at them from the screen. So, just to be safe, they fired.

Hard to imagine what they would think of virtual reality, where people can experience a war zone or a historic event or a fictional world. NPR reports.

Questions...

•Create the VR version of "Avatar." What would the VR user want to experience in the Avatar world?

•Name a movie about a real-life event. What would you like to experience from that movie?

•What are some real-life adventures you would like to experience, but probably won't?

•Will this technology be good or bad for Hollywood? Why?

Exporting Files, and Jobs

This is a MediaNote Classic. It was originally presented to MC101 students in Spring 2013.

This MediaNote will be presented only to TTh classes in Spring 2015.

On the face of it, Hollywood special effects wizards should have plenty of work at great pay. Their job is a highly skilled combination of technology and art. And films, TV shows and ads are using more and more digital special effects.

But the highly portable nature of digital communications--whether it be a simple email or an enormous special effects file--means that they can be created half a world away. Because of this, Hollywood special effects companies have fallen on hard times. The Los Angeles Times reports on this disturbing trend.

Questions...

•Why are special effects jobs good jobs for workers and for California?

•Should taxpayer money be used to keep film jobs in the state? Does anything make these jobs more important to protect than others?

•According to the article, special effects houses in India are 60% cheaper. Is there a solution to this?

TV and Diversity

Your Humble Blogger is sometimes amused by TV shows and movies that are allegedly set in Southern California. The actors on the screen don't look much like Glendale or Los Angeles or the communities we live in. Somehow, our impressive diversity doesn't make it onto the screen. Why is this so and why does it matter? NPR reports.

Questions...

•Does it matter if there are people who look like you on the screen?

•Why does it matter if people behind the camera (screenwriters, directors, etc.) are a diverse group?

•Is Hollywood a reflection of American culture, or does American culture reflect Hollywood?

•Does it matter if Hollywood consistently portrays a President or corporate CEO as a white male?

Taking Sides on Net Neutrality

The Federal Communications Commission recently voted for "net neutrality" rules that will regulate Internet Service Providers more like a telephone company and less like a cable company. Is this a good idea? C/Net reports.

Questions...

•Is access to the Internet a luxury or a necessity?

•Should big companies (like NetFlix) be allowed to pay to get their information to you faster?

•Should there be any regulation on Internet service providers? What regulation?

•Is net neutrality better or worse for supporting a "marketplace of ideas"?

•Is net neutrality better or worse for supporting a capitalistic marketplace?

Is This the 9th Milestone in Communications History?

This is a MediaNote Classic. It was originally presented to MC101 classes in March 2014. Virtual Reality is one of those cool ideas that hasn't yet become mainstream. But maybe that is about to change.

Oculus Rift is a gaming device that puts the user into the action to an unprecedented degree. NPR reports.

Questions...

•Does anyone have experience with virtual reality? What current devices have some VR capabilities?

•Will this technology make films and TV obsolete? How should the film and TV industries use this device?

•Will this device increase or physical activity, or decrease it?

•How could this technology be used in a GCC classroom?

•How could advertisers use this technology?

Do the Movies Flunk History?

Make a movie about a historic event or person and someone will inevitably denounce its accuracy. The is happening now with "Selma," "American Sniper," and "The Theory of Everything." Los Angeles Times movie critic Kenneth Turan explores why there will never be a movie about a historical event that is universally hailed as accurate and fair.

Questions...

•Name some movies about historic events and people. Can you tell what parts are factual and what parts are not? How are you able to tell the difference?

•Why do historians and scientists have to call press conferences to correct the historical portrayals or science in a movie?

•How true to life should a movie about a historical event be? What is a reasonable level of truthfulness, and what is asking for too much?

•Why might two movies about the same event turn out differently, even if the moviemakers are trying to tell the truth?

•What could happen in this class on final exam day that is so big that a movie will be made about it? What would be fair storytelling? What would be unfair?