MEDP 160 Blog Post #5

This semester I've learned quite a number of things, from "hard skills" to soft ones.

In the first half of the class, I learned first-hand how hectic film-making can be, and how much planning is required for even a small production. It became apparent that one should spend the majority of time in preproduction - storyboarding, scheduling, scripting, etc. - if a smooth shoot is desired. It also became apparent that regardless of the amount of work you put into planning, the shoot will always be hectic. I found my mind boggles by all the variables it had to process in balancing loads of zombie extras, main actors, the sequence of shots, overall morale and energy, and more.

My first foray into Adobe Flash proved a challenge as well. Discovering Flash was almost like exploring an entirely new dialect, complete with obscure terminology (symbols, movie clips, tweens, .swf, .fla, .flv) and a unique coding language behind it all. I also had to embrace a new way of thinking, while trying to picture how to create a smooth animation over multiple frames. Having had a good deal of graphic design experience, it felt wonderful to bring my previously motionless design elements to life.

The biggest things I've taken away from the course is the epiphany that I have no desire to restrict myself to one creative medium. MEDP 150 and 160 have helped me realize that my interest is in becoming a truly cross-media designer, harnessing audio, video, interactive, and print production skills in order to create cohesive messages.