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10,080 Minutes Later--Archive 2002-2003

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Meeting #1: October 8, 2002 Persuasive Techniques-
Today, was the first meeting of what we hope to be a successful club, a staple in Bronx Science for years to come! The officers introduced themselves and though there were a total of six members at the meeting, everyone got something out of it. We answered the questions "What is Media?" "What is Media Activism?" and "What is Media Literacy?" We went further into learning about media literacy, or the critical study of the media, by watching some popular commercials which used persuasive techniques to convey their message. To understand these techniques clearer, each member chose a slip of paper with a technique, one with an audience age group and a product from a bag. Then, they had to act out a commercial to sell the chosen product to the chosen group using the chosen technique to convey their message.

Meeting #2: October 15, 2002 What is a Public Service Announcement?
Today, for our second meeting, we learned what PSA's are and watched some Public Service Announcements. We talked about the elements which made them work- the imagery, audio, editing/camera movement, the message and audience. We discussed each PSA we watched and then planned out the basic idea for our own public service announcements which we will create about issues important to us. We are set to develop, tape and edit these in the future. Stay tuned. We also duscussed the photo documentary project we want to put into effect for Media Democracy Day, (October 18) an international day to restore freedom of speech back into the media. We wanted to ask students and teachers how they feel about the protrayal of teens in the Media. We discussed whether or not we could put together interview questions and could find members to stay after school on that Friday.

Meeting #3: October 22, 2002 MTV Matters
Today, we spent half of the meeting discussing the appeal of MTV to teenagers, and why the music video has become such a popular form of entertainment. We raised the questions How does MTV targetteenagers? Why? WHat types of advertisements are shown during MTV programs? How has the popularity of MTV changed other aspects of television? What images are portrayed to teens through MTV? What are the positive and negative impacts of these images? Then, we talked about an article regarding a group of teens who spontaneously used MTV as an outlet for their anti-war demonstration, and whether or not their actions are justifiable.
The other half of the meeting, we spent taiking about Media Democracy day, now postponed to November 12 because of the NYMOL and Election Day. Though it will no longer be in October, Media Democracy Month, we will still conduct interviews with students and teachers and create photo documentaries.

Meeting #4: November 12, 2002 "Media Democracy Day observed"
Today, though some of the original members did not attend, we had several new kids show up to conduct interviews with the students and teachers we found in the halls about youth portrayal in the media. Stay tuned for the photo documentaries which will ultimately result from this project!

Meeting #5: November 19, 2002 Work Session
Though Sara had to attend a LOP meeting for most of this session, Amy revealed the new ideas for the bulletin board- to create what they were thinking photo-posters. We spent most of the time this period discussing this new project and working on the planning of the Media Democracy Day Photo documentaries. Many new members came. When Sara returned, we discussed what we wanted to do for the food fair. Many of us want to bake cookies with messages about media activism written on them.

Meeting #7: December 17, 2002 The Food Fair
Every club member brought in a different dish from fried yams to milkshakes and had tons of fun selling (and eating). We had alot of food left over though, and made around $22.00. We learned from this year, that next year, we need a table at the front and should monopolize on one type of food instead of many.

Meeting #8: January 7, 2003 PSA Workshop- HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
Today, we decided to cut the photo documentary project. Though we all gained valuable interviewing skills from the process, we realized that there was too much to do in too little time. However, we are continuing with the PSA project, and today was the creative session and PSA lesson review for those who came late to the club. New members learned what makes up a PSA and how they target their audience to spread a particular message. Old members as well as new members split up into groups and decided how they wanted to create their PSAs. The trip to Video-link to edit the PSAs is on Saturday, February 15, so the taping must be done by this date. Most likely, we will tape on February 4 after midterms.

Meeting #9: January 14, 2003 Camera Tutorial
Today, we learned the basics about how to use the equipment to tape their PSAs. We learned the "Seven Deadly Camera Sins", interview technique, shots, angles and how to use the equipment by playing the circle story game. The resulting stories were extremely twisted, but everyone basically got the point of the lesson.

Meeting #10: February 3, 2003 Taping Day
Today, we helped Shari tape her PSA production about social stereotypes. At first, we were nervous that the actors she asked to participate would not show up, but in the end, every one of them came and Shari has some great footatge to work with. We promised Lenore, Tegest and Nayema that we would tape their PSA on editing day, which is February 15 at Sara's house. Sara and Amy's PSA will be taped sometime in the week of Feb. 10- Feb. 14. Josh says that he doesn't need any footage and can complete his PSA using the editing software. Today, our co-treasurer, Lee decided he couldn't handle the responsibilities of his title and dropped out. However, Tegest is ready and eager to take on his role.

Meeting #11: February 11, 2003 InterClub Meeting
Today, we went up to the third floor to meet with the History Club as part of the school's InterClub relations program. Members from our club informed the members of the History Club of what we do in our weekly meetings and the projects we complete. Members of the History Club told us about what they do, the trips they take and about the discussions they have about history. Sara showed a tape created by an independent media organization called "Peace is Patriotic" about the recent anti-war demonstrations.

Meeting #12: February 25, 2003 Intro to Journalism/ Idea Generation
Today marked the end of the PSA projects and the beginning of the video journalism project. We talked about the news media, and specifically what makes local news different from national news, what makes mainstream news different from independent news and what makes a really good idea for a news project. We created three columns on the blackboard to catagorize topic brainstorms created by club members into SCHOOL related, COMMUNITY related and WORLD related. We came up with such ideas as social anti-war activism, following someone in the communitiy with an interesting job, life or "unsung" type situation, and looking at the social climate at our school.

Meeting #13: March 4, 2003 PSA Screening Party!
Today, we invited students from our school to see the public service announcements we've been working on. The visitors loved the projects, and everyone realized the hard work it takes to create even a short project.

Meeting #14: March 11, 2003 Executive meeting #1
Today, Sara, Amy and Nayema gathered to discuss fundraising, the guest speakers they plan to have come on March 25, the news journalism project, the future of the PSA's, the website and planned a newsletter. The exciting plans for a newsletter set off tons of brainstorming. We decided to create a short publication with three articles, a "what they were thinking" corner and info about the club. This will be handed out to students and be posted on the web!

Meeting #15: March 18, 2003 Journalism Planning Session
Using the brainstormed list of topics for journalism pieces, we split up into groups and chose subjects we felt passionate about. The next few months will be for developing our topics, taping tootage and interviews, directing and editing. These news stories are the biggest projects of the year and everyone is excited to start. The groups created charts to organize their thoughts which included what they know already about their topic, what they want to know, how they are going to find their information, questions they have, and questions they want their documentary to answer. For more info on this project, see the Current Projects page. We also talked about the new news letter in this meeting as well as the guest speakers coming next week!!

Meeting #16: March 25, 2003 Guest Speakers
Today, members of the club heard two very insightful media activists talk about their experiences taking footage, editting, working in a collective, teaching, and producing media. Denise Gaberman, oral historian, educator for Video-Link and videographer, showed us clips of a piece she helped to create about the youth of color protests which took place during the world bank economic forum. She told us about her experiences working under pressure to produce media in a group. She also shared with us her inspirations and how she first became involved in the collective Paper Tiger which she still works with today. Chad Strohmayer from OHMS media (open human minds) also shared his experiences working to gather footage during protests, telling stories through video and about creating his own media collective. He also shared his inspirations. Both Denise and Chad taught us the value of independent media sources. They showed us the ways in which they use their media creations (as viewed on public access) to spread the word about the causes they feel are underrepresented. Special thanks to our guests-- and a special shout out to Alyson Vogel of Video-Link who came to document this event and offer her insights.

Meeting #17: April 1, 2003 Interviewing
Muftah was our interviewee and Shari was our interviewer. Shari was told to find out one interesting fact about Muftah through her on the spot interview. What Shari didn't know was that Muftah was pre-prepped to supply good answers to good questions. For example, he would only answer in one word phrases if the question was yes/no. We all learned that questions have to allow for longer responses, and how to avoid yes/no questions. We learned how to be better interviewers.

Meeting #18: April 8, 2003 Camera tutorial rehash!
It had occurred to Sara that many people forgot how to use the camera from the last tutorial, so we all participated in a second round of games and activities to learn how to use the camera.

Meeting #19: April 15, 2003 Planning journalism
News project groups got together and further planned the structure and the components of their videos. We watched some of the PaperTiger production "Fenced Out" about youth in the LGTBQ communitiy who are being fenced out of the piers in Manhattan, the only place where they feel safe. The video explored the cons of building Hudson River Park from a unique perspective. We discussed the use of different techniques in the video, such as the use of text, music and interviews. Also, the very first Media Activism camera crew (Lenore/ Nayema) went out on the field to tape Earth Day for their project. The Media Activism t-shirts were given out. They are now on sale for $14. To buy a shirt, please see Sara (president).

Meeting #20: April 29, 2003 Evaluation day
Sara, Nayema and Amy were on channel 67 BronxNet's BronxTalk AM during the spring break! They talked about the club, their accomplishments and even showed the PSA projects created by club members. In today's meeting, the club watched the episode of Bronx Talk AM and filled out evaluation forms to let the officers know what they would like to add/change/suggest for next year. Most responses were positive. We also finalized the taping schedules for the week.

Meeting #21: May 6, 2003 Going over commercialism in schools
Executive #2
Today was supposed to be about commercialism in schools, talking about corporate sponsorship of school budgets, but AP exams and SING kept most members very busy. Executives went over the commercialism in schools lesson plan to better understand the concept for next week. LOP club chartering committee also came to check up on us. Though they said the club's membership is low, they are on our side, and just like us, would love to see the club running next year!

Meeting #22: May 13, 2003 Commercialism in schools
Club members and new drop-in members got to become leaders of corporations as they acheived free reign over Bronx Science to advertise and market their products to students in a scenario created to inform about commercialism in schools. Students were given the choice to be part of the Coca-cola team, the Phillip Morris team (with the exception of the beer and cigarette companies within) and the McDonalds' team. Students designed whole campaigns which would fund school activities while exposing students to blatant (and subtle) advertising. The McDonald's group suggested changing the school colors to red and yellow, and changing the mascot to Ronald McDonald. They also suggested closing the campus and giving free McDonalds' food for lunch from the cafeteria. The Coca-Cola group suggested changing water fountains to Coke fountains. The Phillip Morris group decided to make "I wish I was an Oscar Mayer Weiner" the "school song". Each group received information about the controversal doings of each corporation. We had a discussion about the pros and cons of advertising in schools using information about schools around the country which use corporate sponsorship.

Meeting #23: May 20, 2003 Media Gender Role Reversal (part 1)
Today was part one of a two-part media and gender exercise. Today we learned about the way the media, specifically advertising, portrays the male and female. We realized that while there are some examples of companies which break traditional male/female stereotypes in their commercials, for the most part, these roles are reinforced. We talked about the image of the boy and man as compared to the image of the girl and woman in advertising. Next week, we will use what we learned to design our own commercials which reinforce or break the stereotypes.

Meeting #24 May 27, 2003 Media Gender Role Reversal (part 2)
We watched examples of commercials and then analyzed them to see how they broke or reinforced male and female stereotypes. We split up into two groups, boys and girls. The boys had to "sell" a typically female product (Herbal Essences or Swiffer sweeper) to men and women in two different commercials, and the girls had to "sell" a typically male product (The YES network) in the same way. The results were very... interesting...

Meeting #25 June 3, 2003 Mr DiIulio project editing
Today, Tegest, Amy, Sara and Nayema helped to edit the Mr. DiIulio project. All of the projects are really expressive and get our opinions out. Screening is next week!!

Meeting #26 June 10, 2003 LAST MEETING OF THE YEAR
SCREENING 03
We screened all of our video projects today to celebrate all of our hard work. Next year, we hope to send our projects out into the world, on independent media, public access and contests. We also want to use what we learned this year, to make amazing projects next year, with hopefully tons of new freshman. WE MADE IT! WE ARE AN OFFICIAL BX SCIENCE CLUB!!!!

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