The Falling Man

What does this picture mean to you?

To me, it's both horror and art. Horror for the fact that without being gruesome it displays the tragic events which transpired on September 11th, 2001 and Art for what it signifies. As this man plummets to his certain doom, he looks as if he is at peace with the decision he has made. It is quite a sad picture but strong as well.

We watched an entire documentary surrounded in the controversy which is this picture, It was called 9/11: The Falling Man. This picture hit tabloids and boy did it make people angry. I think this picture potrayed exactly what happened, and what choices people had to face in the towering inferno. It is not without regret that theses events transpired but as time goes by, I hope people can look at this photo and think about what happened and what came from it.

Now a question delegated in class was: Was it right to show this picture? I say yes! My reasoning is that, it displays what happened and tells the truth, no cover ups. I know what you're thinking, this man is a human being, he has dignity and imagine what his family could be going through. The fact is this photo has be examined and looked through a million times over and we can still not tell who this person was. His face is never seen, not even in the photos that were covered up, with the technology we have, we can't even see what he looks like. Black pants, dark face, white shirt, black shoes. That's all we get from this picture.

The film itself dug deeper, looking to an article written about the falling man and declaring who it was originally presumed to be. Now, this is a mistake! Don't publish you're story under assumptions, it will kick you in the ass down the road. Not a good idea. Come to find out, it wasn't that man.

This film was spectacular, I recommend it. It's heart breaking, the certain things that were said. A man's wife jumped from the WTC building and the man said "It was like she was just trying to get a breath of fresh air." I couldn't breathe, I couldn't believe what I just heared. I was stunned.

If you get the chance, Watch it!

Thanks Yvonne for showing us a really powerful doc!

Joel D.

Diversity

Alright, it's diversity time in this weeks blog as I come to terms with diversity. That's a lot of diversity in one sentence, imagine having to say that three times fast! I'm sure once you read that, you attempt it, and you probably succeed, if so good for you and if not, it's ok. So the question raised this week is how can I, as a reporter, put diversity into my stories.

We'll essentially, I could use diversity if the subject matter of my story effects them in some way. I don't think I could take any random person who is a visible minority and ask them "Hey what do you think about such and such" when it doesn't even phase them. That's when it becomes tricky unless you know or have heared that this certain individual has a problem with or is effected by this certain subject. Sometimes you just have to ask essentially.

I guess that if it's a story about diversity or race, that you could take someone of that color or that sexual preference or that disability and ask their opinion on the matter.

I plan to incorporate more diversities into upcoming stories, like doing a story on Acadians, or doing a story about Gottigen street and how a bad reputation can create fear amongst the community. Gottigen Street isn't that dangerous, I've walked up and down that street many times and it hasn't phased me none. It seems that one bad egg can create a mess of trouble.

So my plan is to get more diversity into my stories, but I won't incorporate them if it doesn't concern thoses people, I mean I don't wanna stick in a crappy clip just because an Afro-Canadian is saying it, I mean that doesn't help my story, it doesn't make him or her look good, and it would be a poor decision to do so.

Well I'm Out, next week we talk about something really interesting.

Joel D.

Directing

Well this week is the week that I direct an episode of Waterfront Weekly. I hope to bring something new to the game, I have been concentrating my brain out attempting to figure out the perfect skills to use in attempt to keep order in the workplace. People have been frustrated with editing and trying to get their stories out, so I consider it my place to keep the peace. So far, it seems to be going well. So I'm keeping calm with everything going on around me, but you can never tell what's gonna happen.

So what else has happen to me in school.....I met up with Katey Day, we are doing a Diversity Profile on her. I couldn't believe how well spoken she was and what she has been through. Greg, Ella and I sat there in awe of this woman who has been through a lot in her single life. Not only is she inspiring but I look forward to getting to know more about here. It was funny, our recorder actually stopped at the wrong time, kind of in a cliffhanger kind of way. Hopefully she'll keep on from where the digital audio recorder stopped!

(LATER THAT DAY)

As a result of the days work of rehearsal on the show, we find ourselves in a little pickle...we weren't able to rehearse the show at all...we only got to rehearse about a segment. All in all, I'm kind of worried, I mean if I had more rehearsal time I think I would have the hang of this entire show and it would go without a hitch but suddenly I think the pressure will get to me. Everyone has been fantastic, I mean besides some of the struggles that I'm sure they've been going throught , they have been positive.

We are a team...one pretty good working team. I will be excited when it comes to being Producer, even though Director has been my dream job since I was 5. Seriously...at the age of 5 I wanted to be a director. I remember vividly my teacher asking us to draw a picture of what we wanted to be when we grew up, and I drew a picture of me as a director giving direction to an actor. The actor in the picture was Arnold Schwarzenegger, but I digress. I hope one day to become that image I drew years and years ago....I just hope I'm awesome at it.

I seem to hold well under pressure as well, when it comes to time restraints as well, I'm awesome. I've remained open minded and hope everyone gets there work done. We are missing two reports and a lot of viz!! But i'm confident it will be done!

(THURSDAY)

Well it's around 1:00pm and it's terrifying to know that none of the viz besides a couple of stories are in the Overdrive system. I will attempt to keep composure but it's kind of difficult figuring that essentially the entire show has to be filmed in the next couple of hours and a lot of it isn't done. I have to run tho!! This had to be online yesterday, and it was, but I thought i'd update it...looks like it'll seem late!!

LATER DAYS!

JOEL D.

A Rundown

Seems like another week has passed by, and it's time to take a look on the amazing world of News...First story, what is wrong with the world. Answer: Lots!

Firstly, Catholic priest charged with having child pornography...I hate my religeon, seriously. Why is it that we have become known as the sexually perverse religion. Did we seriously pick the wrong straw? Did we pick a subject out of a hat and say "I guess we have to act like sexual perverts for the next 100s of years." I think I may convert to a religeon that is cooler, like a religeon where a god represents every single human emotion. Sounds more logical then child fantasizing priests.

Secondly, NSCC is planning to go on strike. I think we should go on strike as students to stop this strike. Maybe this double negative with create a positive somehow...but wait, wouldn't that create a, kind of, continuous loop of striking. If we strike, the food establishment will strike for we are not eating their food...then food providers will have to strike on the behalf that their product isn't being sold. Then protesters and vegeans will strike because they think we are being starved. Finally it ends at the Parliament Building with Prime Minister Harper declaring "Frig this, this is too much hassle for me, I'm headed to the United States, where nothing this absurd happens!?" NSCC teacher's going on strike is good but as a student at the Waterfront Campus, its kind of depressing. I've paid my money, and I want the education that I've always dreamed of. It just boggles my mind that I have to put my education on hold. I know it's a good cause but I'm sure I'm not the only one thinking that it kind of blows.

Thirdly and lastly in news wise, Waterfront Weekly will be airing Thursday night at 7. I will be delivering my first news report, will it be awesome? I hope so!

When it comes to news broadcasting, I find myself in a puzzle. What tone should I take when speaking about certain subject? Should I smile when on camera, or will that take away from what I'm speaking about? Does Bruce Frisko ever get a haircut? I hope so.

I am the first television student this year to do a report and it's kind of scary to think about it. I mean, out of all the students, I'm jumping in head first. My report is about student budgeting...a subject I hold dear. I can't hold on to money for the life of me, I don't understand it either. I have money and it's gone, I see that dvd in the corner and I'm thinking "What if it's gone tomorrow." I'm not in much debt compared to other students, but I think about it all the time. Hell, I've been living like this for the past 6 years, and to tell you the truth, I'm sick of it. I despise the fact that I have no money and I would love help. So I thought, I'm sure other students out there are asking for help but don't know where to go. Super Joel to the rescue and that's how I got my idea.

My money has been shoved into 450 dvd cases...that's where all my money goes. Is that a problem?...yes but i'll live. I mean, I could rent out my movies and make a fortune. It would be a great living.

Steve B. is sitting next to me, he's doing a rant for Waterfront Weekly. It's all about the Halifax Harbor and how disgusting it truly is. I mean seriously, looking at the footage that he took, it doesn't surprise me that mutated beings could pop out of their any second. Doesn't that sound like an awesome movie...that'll be number 451 in my dvd collection one day :p

I couldn't believe what I saw, I saw condoms, wrappers, and a PICNIC TABLE. A FLOATING PICNIC TABLE....ARE YOU KIDDING ME. Why on earth would someone go "Humm, I don't need this picnic table, might as well throw it in the harbor." Whoever thought of doing that should be thrown in the harbor. Take that random citizen of Halifax, hope you smell like garbage and used condoms!

Anyways, that's my rant for this week, see ya next week!

WATERFRONT WEEKLY

EASTLINK TV

THURSDAYS

7PM

WATCH IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Joel D.