Evaluation

I think I did a really decent job in making the multimedia poetry project. I planned it carefully and made two designs from which I chose one (which, in my opinion, suits more). I followed my design specification and the due dates, and finished my project on time.
First, I did an investigation on multimedia poetry. I learned that multimedia poetry is a mixed media format in which poem, image and sound interact symbiotically. Then I looked at some examples from the previous years and some examples that I found on YouTube. Most of them were good, but some of them really weren’t. They didn’t have the corresponding music, or they were too long, or I couldn’t read the words. Next step was creating a design specification. I wrote whatever I thought was important for a good multimedia work, which I later followed when I started working on the actual product. When I finished my design specification, I wrote the plan with the deadlines, and I followed it strictly. Then I wrote two storyboards; one that included images that correspond every line of the poem, and other that included videos. It took me a lot of time to decide which one I want to create, however, after long time of thinking, I chose to do the first option (the one that included the images).
I downloaded images from Google just as I planned. For every category, I downloaded several pictures so that I can have several options. I brought the music from home (The Suite from Mulan) and then I started working on my poem. I did all the work in Movie Maker. First, I imported all the images. I created a title at the beginning, and then I started choosing and putting the pictures together. As I would put one picture, I would immediately write one line of the poem. I used two fonts: Times New Roman and Kristen ITC. I adjusted their color according to the colors of the images (mostly, I used black and white). Then I added the transitions (shatter right and fade out) and the credits. At the very end, I added the music and finally, my project was finished.
I asked some of my classmates to watch it and tell me what their opinion is. They told me it seemed good, it wasn’t too long, and the music and the picture really added to the poem’s profoundness. Then I also asked my DT teacher to watch it and she just told me to make a few changes with the font of the letters. I added one more font, so instead of having one font, I had two.
I didn’t have a lot of difficulties while working on the project. In fact, I didn’t have any; expect that in some pictures, it was a little bit hard to read the lines. I also made sure I save my work every now-and-then so that I don’t lose it, like previous times I worked in Movie Maker.
What I might do better next time is find some pictures which would be easier to read from and make it maybe a little longer. However, I am very satisfied with my work and I think it was really fun while working on it.

Multi Media Poetry

Storyboards:

Storyboard 1
Scene 1- Opening, title of the poem and the author (Me), white background, the music begins playing (The Suite from Mulan- Disney's Mulan).
Transition- Fade Out
Scene 2- First line of the poem appears and then the second one, the picture of the rain forest or of someone walking through it.
Transition- Shatter, Right
Scene 3- Third line appears, fades out, and then the fourth line appears, the picture of the leaves in autumn.
Transition- Fade Out
Scene 4- Fifth line, picture of a person standing alone in the nature or in an empty room.
Transition- Fade Out
Scene 5- Sixth line, picture of the sea and the heart in the sand.
Transition- Shutter, Right
Scene 6- Seventh line, black and white picture of a desert.
Transition- Fade Out
Scene 7- Eighth line appears and then the ninth line, picture of a tunnel.
Transition- Fade Out
Scene 8- Tenth line, a picture of a room without a window or a door.
Transition- Fade Out
Scene 9- Eleventh line, some dark picture with a ray of light.
Transition- Fade Out
Scene 10- Twelfth line appears and then disappears, thirteenth line appears, a picture of an eye with a tear.
Transition- Fade Out
Scene 11- Fourteenth line appears and disappears; fifteenth line appears and then disappears, picture of the nature with the wind.
Transition- Fade Out
Scene 12- Credits

Storyboard 2
Scene 1- Opening, title of the poem and the author (Me), http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-ygq1W681A&feature=related (Instant Relaxation video)
Transition- Fade Out
Scene 2- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-C3MGzM0OqA (Mulan- Reflection)
Lines appear after one another.
Transition- Fade Out
Scene 3- Credits

Plan

27. 04.
Begin writing the storyboard.
04. 05
Finish the storyboard, and write the further plan.
08. 05
Begin collecting pictures and videos. Bring the music.
14. 05.
Start making the first video. Finish at home if there’s not enough time.
20. 05.
Start making the second video. Finish at home if there’s not enough time.
26. 05.
“The final touch.” Decide which one to use for the final video.

Design Specification

- Poem approved by Mrs. V
- Time: 1 min minimum, 3 min maximum
- Images and videos in high quality; copyright; suit the lyrics of the poem
- Not more than 3 fonts and two colors in the video
- Sound: with or without lyrics depending on the music itself
- Transitions should be used but they should contribute to the video; not more than 4
transitions
- Effects: (same as above)
- Lyrics: one line per slide
- Credits at the end (music, pictures, DT and English class, other help, etc.)

From examples i've seen, the video i like the most is Mimi's, because i think that it's very interesting; it defers from other videos. The video i like the least is Masha's because it lasts too long and it's boring!

Multi Media Poetry

Video poetry is a mixed media format in which poem, image and sound interact symbiotically. A well integrated poetry video strives to achieve a unity of mood with each factor enhancing the other so the synergy is more effective than the poem or image presented seperately.
Good video poetry integrates poem, image and music into a unified work of art. The whole being more effective than any of the elements presented seperately. Where the poem is dominant the eye absorbs the image and frees the ear to follow the spoken word. If the image dominates the captions or voice over enhances the course of the moving picture, reinforces it and gives it articulation and direction. The music, of course, supports and bonds poem and image.

Resources:
http://www.datawranglers.com/voices/poetryvideo/
http://poetry.about.com/od/videopoetry/Poetry_Shows_Video_Archives.htm

Sadness
It feels so hard
walking through that rainforest,
watching those wet, brown leaves
fall down.
But I can’t stop them,
my heart is dead,
my mind confused.
In the dark tunnel
I find myself,
without an exit,
not even a small trace of light.
My eyes are crying.
No sound of hope,
Just quiet wind humming
and distant echoes mourning.