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.

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.

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”.

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.

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

###

Click here to donate online.

Happy Holidays from the LAMP!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.