Round Up of Year 2 :)

Hi guys!!

Is that time of year again! It's come around so quickly too! I've had an interesting second year, good and bad. The modules have been pretty full on, which is as expected for my second year at University.

I must say that having been through the module 'Digital Media Cultures' lectured by Keith Marley, I feel a lot more prepared now for my dissertation in the third year. That module taught me to sharpen up my writing skills and really helped me to find out the areas in which I was going right and wrong. Luckily, having written a short practice dissertation proposal (and gaining a pretty high 2:1 at 66%) I do feel much more prepared now and feel that when it comes to writing my dissertation, I won't feel frightened or reluctant to start it. It gave me some ideas of what to write the dissertation on too! I'm really interested in the globalisation of social networking and feel I could write so much on this subject. Fingers crossed, my dissertation will be of high standard :) I'm getting a bit nervous already, I must admit, and so I should!

Beyond The Camera, now this type of module what with using the Adobe software always did worry me slightly, however after going off on my own and going through a few tutorials online, I was able to concentrate in my own time and come to terms the fact I will never (if I can help it) use such software again. Obviously, I will have to sue it next year and I do feel capable now, however it just is not for me. I feel I loose concentration rather easily as apposed to studio work, or pre production although my grades didn't reflect this as I gained a high 2:2 for my digital artefact and a 2:1 for the report. In the future, I would love to aim into the direction of pre production and the organisational side before anything gets filmed, although teaching production at college level is eventually my main goal! I am all to aware that I have to keep an open mind as not everyone ends up exactly where they want to be. I definatly feel that having gone off to research After Effects in my own time has really helped boost my confidence within this area of post production and I will continue throughout University to keep myself at a competent level.

The Applied Media Research module has again, boosted my confidence in being able to use qualitative and quantitive research menthods to my advantage, and in creative ways. This module has taken a while to finish (and I am still making finishing touches to my report) but I do feel that I have learnt ways in which to go off and research in depth and deliver my findings through a presentation calmly, gaining a high 2:1 in my presentation to Sarah Haynes. I feel being able to research creatively will help me in my future career and I am able to push myself using online presentation tools such as 'Prezi', with great ease. Luck has been in my favour recently because I applied for work experience at Nine Lives Media, the production company for British and American current affairs and documentaries, and got it! 2 weeks this coming May, where I will be based at their production office in Manchester researching and transcribing. This will give me a god insight to the workings of the business and will look great on my CV. I have also been accepted for a week's work experience at the Dock10 Studio at Media City this coming July. both I am equally exited for and will keep you posted on how it goes! Wish me luck :)

The TV Studio module I must admit was my upmost favourite, as it was for many other class peers. As I have stated throughout my blog, creating my show 'Dark Side Of The Noon' was extremely interesting and kept my brain running everywhere with all the pre production that needed doing. As we were group one, we were filming first. Everything went to plan, there were some slight hitches but all very good and i gained a high 2:1 for my presenting skills and planning/researching. I need to state here though, others admitted to doing no research but gained a higher grade than myself?! How on earth does that even work? It does not and this has annoyed me, very much. Maybe I should take it to my lecturer for this module, I'm unsure, but I know if I did, it wouldn't change anything...
Anyway I can still say that this module was the most engaging and as I'm wanting to go into production once finished Uni, this module helped me to see the pressures of such industry roles and what if expected of you in the media today.

I am currently still in the making of a transmedia activism project for the Convergence Media Teamwork module and so cant say too much on this subject, other than it is all underway. I'm not too sure what it is I will gain from this module, because I am already aware that social networking gets people more invited and therefore, people are able to have their say globally now... I guess we will see at the end of this module what the point is.

I am still wanting to head in the same area for a a career as I have wanted to for the past few years now. Second year has pushed me in the right direction, and I will continue to strive for a position in a company as part of the production team, and hopefully one day once I have had industry practice, I will be able to do this!