Having never been part of a video production before, I was intrigued when I learned of the final project in Comm 296. It was an interesting take on what would normally be a formal presentation: suits, standing nervously in front of a room, and reciting lines
verbatim from cue cards prepared days earlier. Instead, this offered a chance at creativity and leeway for mistakes, giving our group an opportunity to produce exactly what we wanted. The experience was a nice change of pace from the norm, and one which allowed some perspective on different and engaging ways of presenting work.
There were several elements of our project which worked well. Our choice of theme (Mad Men) allowed us to produce a distinct and creative video in a boardroom setting, and present our project in a way that looked natural and flowed well from shot to shot. Additionally, our effective division of labour allowed us to overcome scheduling conflicts that could have caused severe issues if not managed properly.
Alternatively, there were pieces that failed to materialize as envisioned. Due to individual schedules that were not particularly synergistic, we had to get our filming done on a very strict timeline. This did not allow us to play around with the filming aspect as much as we would have liked, so we were unable to try out many panning shots or instances mid-shot zooming that could have added more depth to the visual parts of the project.
Overall, the project was extremely enjoyable. The ability to construct the project on our own time allowed us to retake shots and remedy mistakes in a much more relaxed setting. It also allowed for a more creative angle, which made executing the project a lot of fun. We learned from the onset the importance of a good script, as any scenes that attempted improvisation were weak and had to be changed before filming. Additionally, exposure to video editing and composition is a new skill that can be used in the future.The nature of
the project allowed us to treat it as a learning experience rather than a hurdle to jump over for the sake of our grades, and this helped each of us become much more involved and engaged with the project.
thought to be involved in these deaths. Given the intensely violent nature of fighting and the damage that it caused to these and other athletes, it is unsurprising that it is such a hotly debated topic.
Eastside region. A recent article in the Globe and Mail highlighted the company and owner Mark Brand, but also alluded to a growing interest among entrepreneurs who are seeing great potential in the area. Still faced with a stigma based around rampant drug use and homelessness, the area has nonetheless seen a growing trend of restaurants and retailers setting up shop as the number of vacant storefronts has declined massively. While not all of these business-owners may be acting out any sort of altruistic purpose (rental and lease rates are as much as 20% lower in the region), if even some are able to implement both a strong business model with an element of social enterprise it would set in motion a complete revitalization of a once beaten-down part of Vancouver. 
Instead of people avoiding the area for its poor reputation, a rejuvenated Downtown Eastside could draw an influx of shoppers and tourists. Given the effect that a single diner like Save On Meats has had on the community, it is not at all unrealistic that a wave of social entrepreneurs could magnify these benefits to the point of a new, thriving Eastside region rising from the ashes of the old.
Through the lighthearted use of online ‘memes’ on networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter, both businesses and politicians are able to advertise their products and platforms, respectively, in such a way that is more likely to be absorbed by a technology-enthralled younger generation. Justin hit the mark in noting the vicious nature of many of the TV-based attack advertisements that bombarded Americans for months on end; from personal experience, I can say that attack ads on television tend to cause me to tune out the message of the piece. By communicating through the use of humour through a medium which is dominated by young users, bussiness and politics can make a strong effort to increasing their popularity. I found the topic of the post to be highly relevant to everyday, given the scope of the United States election and its ripple effects, but the underlying themes also drew upon much of the material covered in class in terms of marketing and IT systems, and would recommend it as a short yet informative read.
The company has developed a biofuel that is not only results in a 150% reduction of one’s carbon footprint, but is already compatible with the existing engines of consumer vehicles. To begin their venture into the business of eco-friendly fuel, they will begin by building a large number of small refineries, each capable of turning out 10 million gallons of the biofuel. In what seems to be the deepest shade of green in technology seen to date, the process of production uses non-food crops and agricultural waste in such a way that carbon dioxide is actually removed from the atmosphere. However, this product would not be catered to just the very environmentally-conscious; the article estimates that the consumer cost of such a fuel would be about $1.50 per gallon, or roughly 40 cents per litre. The incentive to go green would be immense, if nothing else but for selfish cost-saving reasons. However, I feel the biggest benefit would be the ability for industry applications. If this fuel can take off,
as it seems well-equipped to do, its potential for use in everything from industry production to transport could be almost infinite. With major financial backing from major firms like Google and BP, watch for Cool Planet to make headlines for more than one reason in the next decade.
shares for an equal or even greater return without the recurring costs incurred by being responsible for the upkeep of the property. The market is forecasted to cool by as much as 15% (Ohad Lederer, Veritas Investment Research) as a result of aspiring landlords deciding against the potential of receiving far less than the base-case investment of government bonds. As a topic I’m sure is near (though perhaps not so dear) to the hearts of many upper-year UBC students, the idea of a decrease in off-campus housing is troubling. Wanless’ insight on the matter was extremely informative and insightful in its presentation, which made it easy to draw connections from the post to class topics and also glean an element of real-world relevance that could affect myself and many other first-year students in the not-too-distant future.
Mere months fell between the two reports, but the company had suffered a devastating blow to its earnings. He appropriately noted how fickle the demand for products like smartphones can be, as well as referencing the constant need for a technology-based company to be able to adjust to the mercurial nature of the market’s demand. I found the connections made in the article, particularly the reference to the older article, to be well-formulated and adept in establishing an air of relevance to both class material as well as the topical subject at hand.
of seeing a flood of responses from satisfied customers sharing their favourite experiences with the fast-food chain, the firm would see a series of consumer horror stories ranging from hair in food to food poisoning incidents. The wildly unsuccessful attempt at viral marketing had exactly the opposite effect it was intended to, exposing the worst side of the McDonalds experience. The company immediately implemented a new online campaign, labeled “Our Food, Your Questions,” in an attempt to save face. However, this new ploy by McDonald’s marketers is actually a very strong one. It has McDonald’s spokespeople respond to online questions about the company and it’s products through a series of YouTube videos to clear up various misconceptions about the company. This is significant because it could attract potential customers who are unsure about purchasing McDonald’s products because of these misconceptions that are spread by the aforementioned horror stories. By being able to clear the air in such a way, the company has not only negated the effects of its earlier gaffe, it has been able to reduce negativity towards McDonald’s that has plagued the firm for years.