Sound Portrait

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Or, read the transcript:

Kyle: When it comes to super heroes, Batman is probably one of the greatest super heroes of all time. Russ Hammaker was always a fan of Batman during his childhood. And one day, he got to live every fan’s dream.

Russ: When I first moved out to Los Angeles, I was working a job and met a gentleman by the name of Andy, who became really good friends with me. And he was working various movie jobs throughout the time that we were friends. He ended up working on the Batman and Robin set, and while I was employed at Best Buy at the time, he called me up and said they needed someone to fill in for a day at their job. So, he called me and I accepted and worked for a day there, and everybody thought I did a great job and stuff. And so the next week, they decided that instead of the person that they had hired for that position, that they were going to go ahead and let them go and they asked me if I would like the position, which I gladly accepted, seeing as how it was working on a Batman and Robin movie, and I've been a big fan of Batman since childhood.
My official job title was VFX Runner, which is for Visual Effects Runner. It’s basically like a go-for. A typical day would start about six o’clock in the morning. Get up and run over to ColorVision to pick up what they call our dailies, which were the previous day’s film shots. And then I would go back to the office, load them up on a flat bed editor, to view the film, set that up for all the directors and supervisors on the set for the day.
Around seven o’clock that would all be done, and then I would pick up my first set of purchase orders to go out and pick up various lenses from Panivison, or drop off light meters, pick up various items that we needed for different shots, hardware, hardware materials, just various things that were needed on the set to make sure that we were able to get the shots that we needed.
Around noon or so, I would come back, have lunch and then the afternoon was another set of runs, to pick up whatever we needed that afternoon for any shots or anything like that, drop off lenses again, pick up the light meters that I had dropped off earlier that morning, and such.
Usually around five o’clock, we would wrap up, I would take the newly shot film back over to ColorVision and drop that off and go home. Or, there were some evenings where we went as late as two o’clock in the morning, because we were trying to get a visual effect shot of blowing up a building like on the airport tarmac. So, when those things happened, a lot of times I would also be in charge of going, picking up hamburgers for the crew and things like that. But that was basically, my typical day, just running back and forth, dropping things off, picking things up, and doing whatever was needed to make sure that we got the shots.

Kyle: Although working in the visual effects unit, kept Russ away from most of the famous celebrities, he was still able to meet some of them, and meet some other, very cool, people.

Russ: The director of the movie was Joel Schumacher, although I didn't actually work directly with him, I ended up working under other directors and supervisors on the movie set. And that was a very cool experience, working with them on special effects, miniatures, and things like that, so.
As far as while I was working on the movie, I didn't really get to meet any celebrities, but afterwards, they have a thing called a wrap party, which is where you're wrapping up the movie and everybody comes together and they say, you know, "Thanks for all your hard work and everything." And while I was at the wrap party, I met Chris O'Donnell and Alicia Silverstone. I did get to end up meeting Joel Shoemocker at that party, and although I never got to see, face to face, or say hi personally; across the room, I did see Uma Thurman.

Kyle: Russ was also able to experience some very cool and sometimes very strange things that most people will never get to experience.

Russ: The coolest thing that I did while I was working on the movie was I had a daily pass to go on and off of the Warner Bothers movie lot. And, I was over there dropping off some of the paperwork that we needed at the home office on the lot, and one of the guys that worked in the office was good friends with me and he took me out to where they were actually doing the live shot of where the Bat-Mobile comes around the corner of the street and everything, and it’s all real set and out on a street and everything. So I was actually on the street where they were filming the Bat-Mobile coming around and Batman jumping out of the car and stuff. So that was pretty cool.
The strangest request that I ever had was, the main manager over me, it was his anniversary that coming weekend, and he actually asked me to forget everything else I was doing that morning, and he gave me five hundred dollars to go out and find the best bread maker that was ever made on the face of the earth, so he could give it to his wife for their anniversary. So that was probably the strangest request that I had while I was working on the set.

Kyle: Although it was strange at some times and it required some late nights and early mornings, Russ was glad that he got the opportunity to take this job and live his dream.

My Commercial Scripts

(60 Second) Home Theater Center Commercial

(Husband and Wife watching television)
Kid: Mom, I need help.
Mom: Hold on, I'll be back. (Leaves room and comes back) So, what did I miss?
Dad: Well...
Kid: Dad, I need you.
Dad: Hold that thought, I'll be right back. (Leaves room and comes back)
Mom: So what is it you were going to tell me?
Dad: Oh, well this guy (points) found out that he has a sister.
Mom: Ok, that makes sense now, because...
Kid: Mom, Dad, come here.
Mom: Ok, this obviously isn't going to work out tonight.
Dad: Yeah, probably not.
Announcer: Have you ever felt this way? Well, this problem could easily be solved with a Home Theater Center. The Home Theater Center allows you to pause and rewind live TV. I know what you are thinking, there is probably a monthly service fee. Wrong, unlike Tivo, there is no monthly service fee, just pick up a Home Theater Center and that's it. It has a 2 year warranty, and around the clock tech support. We will even send one of our experts to your home to hook it up.
(Cuts to Husband and Wife watching television)
Kid: Mom, I need you to come here.
Dad: (Hits pause and looks at Wife) Aren't you glad we bought this Home Theater Center, now you don't have to miss a thing.

(30 Second) Leopard Commercial

(Brother and Sister sitting at table using computers (brother using Vista, sister using Leopard))
Brother: Have you seen Windows Vista, it is amazing.
Sister: Oh yeah, well Leopard is pretty amazing too.
Brother: Watch this, (plugs printer into Vista PC) I can print in less than 10 seconds, without even installing the printer. (Wizard pops up saying installation failed) (Gets Frustrated)
Sister: Good luck with that. (plugs printer into Mac and starts printing a letter) Leopard can do that too, except it actually works.
Brother: Well, Vista also has this cool quick search. I can find anything on my computer just by typing the name. (Types file name, and nothing shows up) (Gets frustrated again)
Sister: Leopard has spotlight that can search names of applications, files, and within the text of files, and it can search any computer on the network too. (Types in the same search and it shows up (found on the Vista PC))
Brother: (Frustrated with Vista) So, tell me more about Leopard.

Commercial Scripts

(30 Second) Progressive Commercial

(Guy approaces house and Lady is inside with kids)
Lady: Not in the abdomen Cameron.
Guy: (Knocks on Door)
Lady: (opens door) Hi
Guy: Mrs. Matthews, I'm Steve, your Progressive claims rep. I inspected the damage on your car and you're all set.
Lady: Thanks so much for coming by. My insurance agent recommended Progressive, cause you do this kind of stuff for free. I have four boys so the smallest errand is just (kids yelling) you know.
Guy: No problem.
Lady: Ok, Thanks so much, bye. (shuts door) Who wants to be quiet?
Announcer: With progressive, saving hundreds is just the beginning. Contact a local independent agent to switch today.

(60 Second) Nutrisystem Commercial

Girl: I admit it, part of my job is to look great, and I let that go. I know I lost out on work when I was overweight. Casting directors just didn't even want to see me. I called Nutrisystem and I lost 27 and a half pounds.
Announcer: You can't miss the results of Nutrisystem Nourish, the weight loss program that lets you eat great and lose weight.
Girl: This was the old me and this is me now.
Announcer: Call or go online now to find out how you can get 2 weeks of Nutrisystem meals, free.
Girl: If I even thought about a carb I gained weight, and with Nutrisystem I get to have carbs.
Announcer: Our secret is the breakthrough science of th glycemic advantage that separates good carbs from bad.
Girl: Losing weight is the hardest thing in the world. Nutrisystem made it so easy.
Announcer: for about 10 dollars a day, enjoy 4 weeks of perfectly portioned meals and your shipping is free.
Girl: Trust me, you will lose weight.
Announcer: See how Nutrisystem can change your life, and get an extra 14 breakfasts, 14 lunches, 14 dinners and 14 desserts. 2 bonus weeks of food, free. Call now.

Custom Built PC: Keywords

computer, tool, build, screw driver, ant-static, systemax, midwest micro, AGP, PCI, PCIE, PATA, SATA, RAM, CPU, processor, hard drive, memory, motherboard, AMD, Intel, Nvidia, ATI, Asus, DBA, business, customer, HD, media center

Custom Built PC: Personal Experience

In my experience with building custom computers, I have had both good experiences and bad experiences. Usually the person that wants to buy the computer has an idea of what the computer will be used for, and then they come to me and tell me what they need. I try to find parts that will meet their needs, and that are within their budget. Then, I give them a price quote, and they will either agree to build it, or deny it. If they agree, then I usually purchase all of the parts, and when they arrive, I put it all together. If they request it, I will put software on it as well. That is an example of how things usually go.

One time, my uncle asked my cousin and myself to help him build a High Definition Media Center. So first we researched HD tuners, since HD in a media center is still sort of experimental. We decided to go with an ATI HD tuner. When we were putting the parts together, everything was going fine. There was one thing we were not sure of, because the pin-outs were not listed in the manual; it was the audio cable for SPDIF to work. Well, we hooked it up and when we turned on the computer, it started pouring out smoke. This is definitely not what you want to see happen, especially considering how expensive the parts were. So, we pulled the plug on it as quickly as possible. My uncle had very little hope that anything would work, but we removed the fried audio cable, and everything else was just fine. The Media Center was up and running that night, without any problems.

I decided about a year ago that I was going to build myself a new computer. I wanted a computer that had a lot of storage for music and video editing, and it had to have a dual core 64 bit CPU. I also wanted to use it for some gaming, so it had to have a decent graphics card. So I ended up with a 2.8GHz Pentium D CPU, 1GB of RAM, 2 250GB SATA hard drives, and an ATI x1650 graphics card. When all of the parts arrived, I built the computer and turned it on, and it worked just as expected. The computer is still being used every day, and it cost about $350.00 for all of the parts.

So, I have built computers that worked the first time I turned them on, and I have had others that do not work so well. If something goes wrong, I just try to diagnose the problem and fix it as best I can. In the end, things usually work out, and some issues that may seem bad are only minor.

Custom Built PC: Business Profile

Systemax Inc., while not as popular as Dell or HP, is one of the biggest computer manufacturing companies in America. One Systemax facility is located in Fletcher, Ohio, and was formerly known as Midwest Micro. Midwest Micro was started with the idea that customers would want name brand parts, service and a warranty, without paying the extra cost of advertising. Obviously that idea worked, and Systemax is based on the same premise.

Today, Systemax is one of America’s biggest companies, with a World Headquarters in New York, and manufacturing and tech support based in Ohio. Systemax ranked in the Fortune 1000, and has subsidiaries located in the United Kingdom, Canada, Sweden, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Finland, Belgium, Austria, and Switzerland. Systemax markets computers to mid range and major corporations as well as resellers and small home office users, and they rake in about two billion dollars annually. Systemax stock is traded under the New York Stock Exchange as SYX.

Custom Built PC: Selling PCs

It is hard at first to get a good customer base when selling custom built computers. The computers you build may be great, but how will people know about them? At first, the only computers you sell might only be to your closest friends and family. They will trust you enough to buy their computer from you. The good news is that if they think it is a good and solid computer, they will pass the word on to all of their friends. Then, if their friends buy computers, they will pass it on to even more people. After awhile, you will have a decent sized customer base.

After selling computers to your regular customers, you will probably build up enough money to start spending on some advertising. One of the best things to spend money on at this point is a website. A website will allow your customer base to share the news with others with ease. More people will visit your website, and if you have good information on it, and seem trustworthy, they will buy a computer from you. If more people visit your site, it will be ranked higher, and it will be available to even more people in search engines.

It is very important to use quality parts, if you are selling custom built computers. If you use generic parts, customers will probably be hesitant to buy the computer. If you use names like Asus, ATI, Nvidia, Intel, and AMD, names that are well known, you are likely to sell more computers. These parts will usually have good warranties, which is also a plus with customers.

Another important thing to keep in mind is pricing. You want to keep the initial cost of the parts needed to build the computer, as low as possible. By keeping the cost low, you can sell the computer for a lower price than competitors, and still make a decent profit. If you do not make a profit, then there is no point in selling custom built computers.

There is also the whole business side of things. What do you need to become a business? There is a lot involved with starting a business, and one thing you will probably want is a DBA (Doing Business As). This will allow you to cash and deposit checks written to your business name. It will allow customers to write the check to your business name as well. There are a lot of other business aspects that you can find more information on at Entrepreneur.com.

Custom Built PC: Tools and Skills

When it comes to home-built computers, very few tools are actually required for the building process. In most cases, the only tool needed for the job is a Phillips head screwdriver. The screwdriver will be used for securing the screws that will hold all of the hardware components in place, such as the motherboard, hard drive, optical drives, and all other components. The only other tool that may be required to prevent damage to the electronics of the computer parts is an anti-static wrist band. The anti-static wrist band can be placed around the wrist of the person working on the computer, and it redirects any static electricity to the metal that the wrist band is attached to. This prevents the unwanted electricity from traveling through the electronic components of the computer.

As with building anything, some skills are required to build a computer. However, the skills are not as advanced as some might think. When building a computer, most components are either fastened in place by screws, or simply snap or slide into place. The only skills required are lining up pins or screw holes, and pushing things into place without breaking them. Older computers require the use of a screwdriver for attaching the brackets of the processor fan to the motherboard. This has been simplified in the last few years, and most processor fans now snap onto the motherboard.

Knowledge is the best tool, when it comes to building a computer. Knowing specific part names, such as the motherboard, processor, hard drive, and memory, will be very helpful. Also, knowing what each part is used for will help ensure the right parts are used for the type of computer that is being built. It is also to know that some acronyms are interchangeable with part names. For example, a processor is also known as a CPU, and memory is also known as RAM. Other acronyms are used to describe the type of slot or connector the component uses, e.g. AGP, PCI, PCIE, PATA, and SATA.

Portraits in Text and Sound

Geneva Tisdale has worked at Woolworth's Lunch Counter for years. She was working there when African Americans were allowed to clean and cook, but they were not allowed to serve food, and everyone knew that African Americans could not be served food either. Geneva remembers the day that four African Americans came to the lunch counter and asked to be served. At first she thought they were just trying to be funny, but they insisted on being served. More African Americans came in on the second day, and enough came in on the third day to fill up every seat at the lunch counter. On the sixth day, there were a thousand demonstrators at Woolworth's. They closed the counter and opened it back up two weeks later. After five months of negotiating, Woolworth's announced that they were changing their policy. The manager told Geneva and the other workers to dress like they were customers and order food at the lunch counter. So, they all ordered food, and ate it as quick as possible. Before the news reporters and photographers got there, Geneva and the other workers were back in uniform, and none of the media knew that the workers were the first African Americans to be served. Geneva said she has not had a meal at the lunch counter since that day. She dreamed of coming back one day with her grandchildren and being served, but the owner announced that the lunch counter would be closing. They told Geneva that she can work in the store, until that too closes. Geneva said she has been working for $5.50 an hour ever since she started working there. She said, "I feel like, sometimes, if a white person had this job, that person would get paid more than me. Just because of the color of their skin."

I think that listening to the interview is much better than reading the transcript. Listening to the interview gives you more of an idea about how Geneva feels about the story she is telling. She expresses a lot of emotion that is lost when reading the transcript. It is also important to hear the story from Geneva, because she experienced it first hand as an African American. She can tell the story as it happened, and she can tell about all of the things that were only experienced by the workers.

Related Links
Sound Portraits

Today's Front Pages

Sunday Searchlight
Redding, California

There are two main stories on the front page of this paper. The first is "School losses ease," and it is about the loss of enrolled students decreasing. The article states that the schools in Shasta County, California have only lost 100 students this year. This is down from a loss of 450 students in the previous year. Another story is "Bridging slow times." It tells how bridge construction in Sacramento has affected businesses in the surrounding area. The businesses have suffered from weak sales, since the construction started.

According to the headlines of this newspaper, it seems like California is concerned about the issues that affect the community. The first article tries to look at a bad situation in a positive way, by saying that the amount of student loss is decreasing. The second article looks at another community issue, bridge construction. The article tries to appeal to the feeling of the people of the community, by telling of the situation’s negative affect on the community.

Des Moines Sunday Register
Des Moines, Iowa

"Why Ethanol Must Bulk Up to Compete" is the headline story in this paper. The article tells how vehicles that use ethanol get less gas mileage. Ethanol also has many competitors, ranging from hydrogen to natural gas. Another headline story is "Steep student loan debt affects lifestyles, dreams." The article says that people in Iowa have such a steep debt from student loans; that they are giving up dream jobs and buying a house, just so they can pay off their debt.

The headlines of this paper suggest that Iowa is concerned not only with the issues that affect the communities or the state, but are also interested in how the issues of the entire country are being solved. The article about ethanol talks about the issue of rising gas prices, and gives reasons why ethanol is not the answer to the problem. It also lists better alternatives, to show how the issue is being taken care of. The second article talks about the problem of student debt, and how it has a negative impact on the students in Iowa, showing the concern for the problems that affect the state.

The Post-Standard
Syracuse, New York

The main article in this paper is about President Bush's advisers supporting Bush's decision to keep troops in Iraq. The article is called, "Bush Advisers: Don't Rush Exit." Another big article on the front page has a headline that reads: "14-year-old, stabbed through heart, Comes Home." A boy was standing up to someone at school, and was stabbed through the heart. Miraculously, he survived, and the story tells of his return home.

This paper looks at an issue that affects the whole country, and then tries to look at another situation to put a positive spin on things. The first article shows the dissatisfaction and disappointment that most people feel toward the President. Then, the second article looks at a bad situation in appositive way, by telling how a boy survived a stab through the heart, and is returning home.

Stars and Stripes
Europe

There are only two stories on the front page of this paper. The first one, "Crime rate at Europe AF bases remains low," says that Europe's Air Force Bases have always had a low crime rate, and this year is no different. The second story is called, "Good times at Bad Dürkheim." This story talks about people having a good time and listening to the German oompah band at a Sausage Market Festival in Germany.

This European newspaper seems to focus on the positive things. Even though the crime rate has not gotten lower at Europe’s Air Force bases, the bases have maintained the low crime rate, and this is a positive thing. The second story focuses on people enjoying a good time and good entertainment at the Sausage Market Festival, which is also a positive thing.

Irish Examiner
Ireland

"McCann offered jail deal if she confesses," is the headline story of this paper. Apparently police have offered a woman a sentence of two years or less of jail time, if she confesses to murdering her 4-year-old daughter. Another article, "No safe level of alcohol in pregnancy," warns women that no amount of alcohol is safe to drink during pregnancy. This article was written after a surprising study found that most women in Ireland drank half of the maximum recommended amount of alcohol, while pregnant.

The first story seems like it is just a story that most media around the area is concerned with currently. However, the second article, and the other smaller articles are sort of surprising, especially to someone living in the United States. Some of the smaller articles are about alcohol poisoning and even the death of a certain woman, due to drinking too much alcohol. To add to those stories though, the second article I talked about is warning women about drinking while pregnant, because a new study proved that no amount is safe to drink when pregnant. This shows that possibly the people in Ireland are almost oblivious of the affects of alcohol, or at least they have been.

Related Links
Newseum

First Post

This is the blog I have setup for the Writing for Electronic Media class.