Posts Tagged ‘Videos’

The LAMP’s August Illuminations

Tuesday, August 10th, 2010

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The LAMP Illuminations
August 2010

News from The LAMP!
In July, we wrapped up two sessions of LAMPcamp, one in Brooklyn with the Prospect Park Y at the Park Slope Armory and another with the Mount Hope Housing Company in The Bronx. And, Education Director Dr. Katherine Fry traveled to Ludwigsberg, Germany for the “Culture and Education: An International Survey” conference sponsored by the Department of Culture and Media Education at the University of Ludwigsberg. While there, she delivered a presentation on The LAMP’s media literacy efforts in New York City as a microcosm of other media literacy efforts throughout the United States.

Through the month of August, The LAMP continues its Saturday workshops with Mount Hope. To learn more about these workshops and the most recent LAMPcamp sessions, keep up with the LAMPpost blog and be sure to check out our Flickr page and YouTube channels as we continue to post student work.

Spotlight: Sabine Gruffat and Bill Brown, creators of Bike Box
The LAMPpost’s newest blogger Sarah Brown sat down with Sabine Gruffat and Bill Brown.  Together, Gruffat and Brown created an iPhone application called Bike Box which turns a typical bike ride into a multimedia experience of personal narrative and local history. Brown spoke with them about what motivated them to build the application, the challenges involved, contributing artists and much more. Check it out!

Highlight: LAMP t-shirts!
The LAMP is proud to present its very first t-shirt! Available in crew neck or v-neck, these short-sleeved grey American Apparel shirts include The LAMP logo on the front and our slogan and website on the back. The shirts are sponsored by our good friends at CustomInk.com, so when you buy a t-shirt, your money goes to support our programs and students. E-mail us today if you’d like to buy a shirt!
To help us continue our services as New York City’s only nonprofit organization giving free media literacy workshops to parents, youth and educators, please consider a small tax-deductible donation. Your donation goes to work immediately supporting workshop equipment, supplies, and administrative and facilitator fees.


Check out The LAMP on News 12!

News 12 stopped by The Bronx for a segment on LAMPcamp, and spoke with teachers and students about the program. Watch the clip and see for yourself!



Gaslight:
August
in Media History

August shares landmark anniversaries for news coverage, film and literature. Learn more in August’s gaslight!

Connect with The LAMP on:

LAMP delicious
LAMP SU
LAMP YouTube
LAMP Twitter
LAMP facebook
LAMP flickr
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Explore our website!

News from The LAMP! Our January Illuminations Newsletter

Tuesday, January 19th, 2010

The LAMP Illuminations
January 2010
In This Issue
Spotlight: Merlin, LAMP Student
Highlight: Katherine Fry Speaking at T Salon!
Gaslight: January in Media History

The LAMP has big plans for 2010!
BP CharterHappy new year from everyone at The LAMP, and a very special thanks to all of you who donated during our December fundraising campaign! Your donation will support many activities in 2010, including upcoming workshops with Girls Inc., Rooftop Films, Brooklyn Automotive High School, P.S. 107 and others. Plus, The LAMP is developing additional free LAMPlit resource guides, family events and much more as we continue expanding our services throughout New York City. If you, your school or community organization would like to host a LAMP workshop in the coming year, please email us or call 718-789-8170.

Spotlight: Merlin, LAMP Student
MerlinThis month we interviewed Merlin, a middle-school student who has taken two video workshops with The LAMP. Read about how he thinks media impact his classmates, and how workshops with The LAMP changed his perspective. Check out  “Fading Away From The Stereotypes,” one of the videos he made with The LAMP!

Highlight: Katherine Fry Speaking at T Salon!

Katherine FryThe LAMP’s Education Director, Katherine Fry, Ph.D., will be part of a panel discussion with the Young Women Social Entrepreneurs discussing how media can be used as a catalyst for change, and how it is used to show change. Click here for details!

To help us continue our services as New York City’s only nonprofit organization giving free media literacy workshops to parents, youth and educators, please consider a small tax-deductible donation. Your donation goes to work immediately supporting workshop equipment, supplies, and administrative and facilitator fees.


Just some of our notable achievements from 2009:


Gaslight: January
in Media History

Media in January was one President’s boon, but another President’s bane. Find out more in this month’s Gaslight entry!

Matt Drudge

LAMPcamp – Day two

Wednesday, July 15th, 2009

Daniela_5

We opened our 2nd day of camp with a presentation from Daniela Capistrano. The LAMPers immediately lit up when she told them she worked for MTV News. She was gracious enough to answer some questions about their favorite shows, celebrities and musicians – and even a tough question (“How and why do they come up with all the spin-off shows?”). She spent the majority of her presentation telling our LAMPers about other great organizations in New York City (Ghetto Film School, Starting Artists, and The Point) that allow youth to explore their creative aspirations in media careers.

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Many hands went up when she asked who would like to have a job working in the various media. Thanks so much, Daniela, for your presentation and your help throughout LAMPcamp.

We then broke back up into our Girls and Boys camps, allowing us to pursue some very incredible dialogue about issues that impact their respective gender and how the various media they encounter reinforce, define and propogate these issues.

Boys_3

I was with the boys, so i can only report on what it was we did. Our main male LAMPcamp counselor put together an incredible media montage of various video and images that really got the discussion rolling. Images of Mike Tyson contrasted with Michael Jackson, or Christopher Reeves in his ‘Superman’ uniform with images of him in his wheelchair after his accident, or Wesley Snipes all muscled out as the main character in the movie “Blade” next to an image of Mr. Snipes in drag in the movie “To Wong Foo”.

Boys_5

We asked our boys “What makes a man?” And a fantastic discussion grew from there, as they talked about their own experiences and opinions and openly addressed topics that in other circumstances wouldn’t be comfortable to tackle (i.e. boys who want to dress up like girls). Some of it was received with laughter, some of it with some very serious tones – but all of it was simply a thrill to be a part of as afterward the LAMPers declared how much fun and educational that was.

We then broke out into our smaller groups and started working again on our group media topics. These projects are really going to be fantastic as we can see how the discussion on gender really is going to play out in them.

Some of the more profound moments from the 2nd day:
- It was declared that most of the boys weren’t comfortable with seeing two guys kiss (that it somehow made them less of a man), but thought there was an incredible double-standard that it seems so socially acceptable if two girls were to embrace (which had no impact on how they were viewed as women).

- After just shooting two takes of one shot for their “Thriller” tribute video, the LAMPers declared “Man, if it takes this long just to do two shots for a 5 minute video, no wonder movies take so long to get made and are so expensive.”

- Going through some camera tricks to show them how they can get some cool effects, one LAMPer said,”You’re gonna ruin all the illusions of movies for me.”

Tomorrow, we’re going to chat about their mobile devices, their digital lives and the best practices for how to have a positive online, digital experience. We hope to go into more detail about the private social network we created for LAMPcamp and how we want this to go beyond the completion of LAMPcamp at the end of the week.

For Immediate Release: Makers of Flip Video Camcorder Partner with The LAMP

Tuesday, February 24th, 2009

Makers of Flip Video Camcorder Partner with The LAMP (Learning About Multimedia Project)
Flip Video Spotlight Program matches camcorder donations to enterprising non-profit media education organization in New York City

NEW YORK, NY: Pure Digital Technologies, Inc., the makers of America’s best-selling camcorder, Flip Video, have invited The LAMP (Learning About Multimedia Project) to participate in the Flip Video Spotlight Program. The program, announced at the Clinton Global Initiative in September 2007, aims to put one million Flip Video Camcorders into the hands of qualified non-profit organizations over five years. Flip Video Spotlight works directly with non-profit organizations through a matching program: for every 60 minute Ultra camcorder the non-profit purchases, Flip Video Spotlight will donate one to the organization. Each kit costs $150. As part of the matching program, The LAMP joins other prominent organizations such as Kiva, American Red Cross, PBS, National Wildlife Federation and Livestrong.

“This is an incredible opportunity for The LAMP because our most popular and engaging media education workshops require video cameras,” says D.C. Vito, Executive Director of the LAMP. “Initiatives like the Flip Video Spotlight Program enable us to continue bringing basic media education training for free to young people, parents and teachers throughout New York City. We’re so proud to have Pure Digital support our efforts to help people make smart choices in a media-saturated world.” LAMP students use video to make their own news broadcasts, commercials, family video albums, documentaries and more. By creating and editing their own material, students explore how and why different media messages are constructed. They also gain workforce development skills to help them join the modern marketplace, which is increasingly dependent upon technology.

With over 1200 approved partners to date, Flip Video Spotlight is steadily expanding its support of non-profit organizations such as The LAMP. “We want to make sure that all qualified non-profit and charitable organizations have affordable access to video equipment and the means to tell their story. We feel that the small size, low price point, high quality, and onboard sharing software make it the ideal companion to any organization’s communications strategy,” says Basho Mosko, the Flip Video Spotlight Program Manager.

Companies, foundations or individuals are also encouraged to participate and can find out more at the Flip Video Spotlight website, www.flipvideospotlight.com.

Groups or individuals interested in sponsoring Flip Video Spotlight Kits should contact The LAMP at info@thelampnyc.org. More information about The LAMP is available online at http://www.thelampnyc.org.

About The LAMP:
The LAMP (Learning About Multimedia Project), founded in 2007, is a certified non-profit organization which strives to provide critical media literacy skills to the inter-related groups of youths, their parents and educators throughout New York City. Media literacy workshops offered by The LAMP demystify the constant flow of media these three groups encounter, bridge the gap between generations, and provide workforce development skills.

Contact:

Basho Mosko, Program Manager
Flip Video Spotlight
inquiries@flipvideospotlight.com

Emily Long, Communications Director
The LAMP
718-789-8170
info@thelampnyc.org
http://www.thelampnyc.org

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Holiday greetings from Doc and D.C.

Wednesday, December 10th, 2008

Click here to donate online.

Happy Holidays from the LAMP!

Workshop: Family Video

Thursday, September 25th, 2008

Location: TBD in Brooklyn, hosted by Brooklyn Center for the Urban Environment

Dates: October 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th; November 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th

Time: 3-6pm

Ages: Families of all ages

Cost: FREE!

The whole family comes together to make a video memory book! Shoot and edit a video of parents and children interviewing each other, sharing favorite memories and stories while creating a lasting record to be enjoyed now and forever.

Skills learned include:

  • Group collaboration
  • Exploring representations of family in commercial media
  • Using visuals, words and sound to create a family narrative
  • Video editing

To register, call us at 718-789-8170 or send us an email.

Workshop: Video Poem

Thursday, September 25th, 2008

Location: Prospect Park YMCA, Brooklyn (357 9th Street)

Dates: November 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th (possible addition: Dec. 3)

Time: 4:00-5:30pm

Ages: 8-10 years

Cost: FREE!

Explore how different editing techniques are used for sounds and images when you make a video poem! Use your original artwork and writing to learn how different elements come together to make a piece of multimedia art.

Skills learned include:

  • Group collaboration
  • Exploring poetry using visuals, words and sounds
  • Videocamera use
  • Video editing

To register, call us at 718-789-8170 or send us an email.

Workshop: Documentary and Non-fiction Video

Thursday, September 25th, 2008

Location: Prospect Park YMCA (357 9th Street, Brooklyn)

Dates: October 1st, 8th and 22nd

Time: 4:00-5:30pm

Ages: 8-10 years

Cost: FREE!

Using a subject of your choice, write and shoot your own documentary video! Explore the different ways that documentaries can be used, along with basic editing techniques.

Skills learned include:

  • Group collaboration
  • Critically exploring the languages of visual documentary
  • Directing with a videocamera
  • Interviewing techniques
  • Structuring a point of view using words, visuals and sounds
  • Video editing

To register, call us at 718-789-8170 or send us an email.

Mapping and Media

Thursday, August 14th, 2008

My first love is mapping, as I spent a good portion of my professional life as a cartographer. I understand the power of maps – the ability to display information in a spatial manner that shows relationships, patterns, trends.

Alisa Miller from PRI did a video report on the way news is reported in the US. To say the least, it is illuminating. I encourage all of you to visit the link and watch. I know I plan on going back and rewatching it as soon as I post this.

The video can be found here.

Pink Oval Office?

Friday, August 8th, 2008

One of the best things about the John McCain ad  featuring Paris Hilton and Britney Spears is the kind of response it’s gotten.  Paris’s mother spoke up briefly, but it’s the response from Paris herself that’s been getting a lot of attention.  Since it’s release about three days ago, her video has received almost 6 million hits, and is indeed worth the watch.

Part of what’s wonderful about Ms. Hilton’s response is in the way she sends up political campaigning.  Her video is all about her public image, which is of key importance in any campaign.  She sends a clear message about the type of President she would be, speaks with conviction about her energy policy, invokes her love of the color pink, does her signature, “That’s hot,”and she also just happens to be caught sunbathing in a bathing suit and heels.  Barack Obama and John McCain have both suffered from identity crises during the campaign, but Paris is clear. We know who she is.

More than that, her response loudly points out how ridiculous John McCain is for trying to draw a comparison Barack Obama and herself.  In spoofing his ad, she shows it for exactly what it is: a really weak attempt to smear someone for being famous.  And let’s consider this for a second.  When you’re campaigning for President, aren’t you supposed to try to get yourself out in public as much as possible?  Don’t you want masses of people to like you?  I welcome Paris Hilton’s comic relief in all the media exhaustion that accompanies a Presidential election.  Maybe we should give some thought to that pink White House after all.

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