the modifications to my blogs layout was a success. I grouped my blog posts into individual group pages. These pages can be accessed through clear headings at the top of my blog. Each headings page has a title and a list of links. The list of links shows the week number next to the hyperlink so that if for example I need to view week 6’s Lecture notes, I simple have to click on the Lecture notes heading then scroll down and click on week 6. This has proved far more time efficient than scrolling through the entirety of my blog.

I would like to add a brief description of each group in the coming month so that my tutor is able to understand what is included in each type of blog post e.g. ‘Korsakow Blog posts’ include a summary of what I have done and learnt in that week on the Korsakow program. Without a description my tutor may think that this would lead to blog posts detailing others Korsakow films I have watched, reviewed, or even just posted.

Another addition I would like to add to my blogs organization is the upgraded appearance of the pages. Rather than just plain links, I could use pictures as links and could make my blog’s aesthetic quality more professional .

This week’s lecture further discussed the constraints of Korsakow. The lecture explored how Korsakow, unlike traditional film, is about making lists not narratives, something as simple as riding your bicycle to work has a number of different factors that can be listed. Putting on high visibility clothing, checking your breaks, checking your phone GPS for traffic conditions. This simple list could become a korsakow film.

A list in not a narrative but can be turned into one. In a previous lecture summary I discussed how I didn’t wholeheartedly agree with Adrian’s definition of what a narrative is. This week I gained further understanding into what he meant. A list is not a narrative but can be turned into one. The act of getting ready for a bicycle ride to work (previously mentioned) could be the beginnings of a narrative but doesn’t have the beginning middle and end as you would see in a feature film or other media text.

The constraints of Korsakow are positive. Sure, you are not able to create an epic fantasy tale but like a song writer these constraints make us better story tellers and most of all producers.

Image Source : http://castlemaineindependent.org

It was this week that I truly started to see my korsakow film come together. I was able to understand how to use the main aspects of the software. Despite my film only doing what was required of the assignment, it still felt like an accomplishment to me. Inserting text, creating snus and uploading clips/pictures in correct aspect ratio were the main points of the assignment. I was able to for fill these requirement.

I did experience difficulties in creating my project. Whenever I went to export my film I was greeted with an error list. I did not fully understand the terminology being used in the list but the word ‘java’ was repeated over and over again. As I was using the library computers I contacted support and the assured me with a follow up email that all Mac computers in the library had the latest version of Java installed.  The software would not let me export my project more than once. This required me to move computers (with my usb stick with files on it) to a new computer every time I wanted to export. This resulted in me moving computers 5 times in the space of two hour and was a little time consuming but I still managed to get the project done. Another issue I faced was one of my videos would only play for 2 seconds. At the risk of completely wrecking my work I chose to leave the one broken clip rather than try and replace it in the export folder. These are all issues I have learnt and need to address if I am to use Korsakow again.

This week’s lecture mostly focused on audiences and their relationship with producers. Despite companies spending copious amounts on creators, focus groups, surveys etc. The sender and receiver don’t always have the same interpretation of a text. No matter how much a director tries to out a point across, or make the viewer feel a certain way, there is always a chance that the receiver interprets the film differently because of things like life experiences and point of view. Adrian Miles discussed how you cannot control interpretation. An example of this that came to mind when I thought about this idea was Nazi Germany. No matter how hard Hitler tried to control his audiences interpretations i.e. beliefs, there were still some that were not ‘sitting ducks’ to these concepts.

The lecture went on to discuss the structure of Korsakow and the relationship this model has with audiences. Like a sport you don’t just play a korsakow film once you relive it again and again having new experiences every time. Compared to a traditional linear feature film, korsakow does not have a beginning middle and end and there for is more about the promiscuity between connections of its parts rather than the content itself.

Image source: http://kdgeorge.files.wordpress.com

–          Constraints are good Like song writing

–          Korsakov about making lists instead of narratives

–          In primary school people were taught that aboriginals were primitive. (act of tyranny )

–          Something as simple as riding your bike to work can become a korsakow film

–          What route am I taking , what time I have to be there, road conditions: these are lists that can make up a nonlinear map that can create a Korsakow film

–          A list is not a narrative but can be turned into one.

http://www.themediastudents.net/im1/2014/carl.gibson/

This is my first Korsakow film, featuring sixteen of my constraint films. This film uses a three image preview interface and uses text to give detail on each clip. Each clip deals with a new subject, from vlog style videos about parts of places I enjoy spending time to scripted shorts. 

My laptop, as well as other students with Windows computers have been having a lot of trouble installing Korsakow. After hours of reinstalling and trying everything listed on the site, I gave up. Clearly Korsakow was made with Macintosh in mind.

So this week was my first week with a working Korsakow version (Mac version now). I began with the basics. Making Jpegs of all my clips to use as previews proved the most time consuming of this week’s Korsakow work. I used Paint to save the print screens from VLC. I was going for a higher quality image. I then moved onto the first tutorial on the website. It showed the simple process of starting up a project and beginning to tag my video clips. Each ‘snu’ was relatively simple to make, however I am very unsure of how it will all look. It appears as though this will be the greatest challenge with Korsakow. Working with a program where you cannot automatically see the progress. The program reminds me of coding, creating the links then exporting to see if it works. This was not my area of I.T so Korsakow might be more challenging then I originally thought.

–          Sender and receiver don’t have the same interpretation in mind. Viewers find new ways to analyse stories.

–          Language relies on other language to explain its meaning.

–          Boy only means boy because you can hear it as boy.

–          Korsakow is about the promiscuity between connections of its parts

–          You cannot control interpretation

–          There is too broad of a definition of narrative. It has been diluted through its uses

–          Story is media independent. narrating is

–          discourse = the way it is told

–          A kick ass story does not matter if it is told badly. It’s all about how the story is told.

–          Its only when something ends that you can understand what has happened.

–         A good korsakow film has no ending. The audience decides when they should leave or when they have had enough then maybe they can go back for another visit and have another experience. You don’t just play a sport once. the korsakow film you watch will not be the same as someone else. Compared to film.

Image source: http://www.number27.org/assets/work/whalehunt/constraints-big.jpg

Review: The Way I Saw It (Korsakow film)

‘The way I saw it’ (2007) is a film by Paul Juricic that explores his employment at international cooperation’s Starbucks and Costco Wholesale. The film deals with the current issues surrounding Major corporations and the way they run their businesses, while also delving into Paul’s experiences as a lower class worker on a personal level.

 The film brilliantly juxtaposes positive propaganda infomercials by the companies with accounts of his less than Stella experience at Starbucks and Costco. This allows him to present an opposing view on how these companies are run without spelling it out to the audience. One minute the audience is looking at an actor positively speaking about how profits “get you the good things in life you want” to Paul’s anecdotes about how repetitive and lonesome it was working as a cart boy.

‘The way I saw it’ (2007) gives the audience a brief look into the corporate higher achy of Costco illustrated by transitions of an animated triangle depicting the employees on the top compared to employees on the bottom. Although primitive in style the animation used varies the content shown and demonstrates the point the film maker is trying to make in a better way than if simple voice over was used.

The majority of the film uses a layering effect which allows the creator to show two images at once. In the foreground could be a quote from a Starbucks official discussing Intellectual property Provision while in the background plays footage taken from outside the establishments. This editing effect keeps the audience engaged as they are not simply looking at a quote on screen. Much of the film is also sped up. This was able to capture the frantic nature of retail employment.

The way in which the film was structured could not have been done better in my opinion. The interface which consisted of clear titles on particular subjects was easy to follow. The ending sequence which dictated his resignation letter was genius and I was able to watch every piece of content made without re-watching anything.

In conclusion, the best Korsakow film I have watched so far.

Image Source: http://www.thewayisawit.org/

Korsakow was the main focus of this week’s lecture. TV shows are created with the four stage structure. Each stage has a mini cliff hanger to keep the audience watching for the three planned commercial breaks. Korsakow does not have these restrictions/ limitations. There are still shot sequences and narrative guide lines but the audience is able to choose the pace and order they would like to view the content (in most cases). Korsakow uses media designers over media producers, mentality. Many creators find this concept hard to deal with because they are surrendering the control to the viewer.

One of the main goals for film and television creators is to use everything in their power to make you suspend your disbelief, that this is a staged performance. This will allow for maximum audience immersion. The director wants you to feel as though you are part of that world. However many film and television makers step outside these conventions, having the actor address the audience or show that it is a movie or ‘Breaking the fourth wall’. This practice of asides, while rare takes the audience out of the experience.

Image Source: http://familyguy.wikia.com/wiki/Fourth_wall