Just keeping busy

So since classes have wrapped up I've been trying different ways to keep momentum until my internship starts.

Besides cleaning, I've had classmates give me "assignments" and I've been walking around town re-introducing myself to Kingston.

Saturday, Mar. 23rd was Earth Hour and Kingston Unplugged had an evening of events planned in market square downtown.  I decided that I'd challenge myself to cover the event and shoot a multimedia.  I hadn't shot video in low light situations so I figured it would be great way to learn.  To just jump right in.

It was soooo fun.  I had a basic idea of what I wanted but looking back I wish I had taken more stills and spoken to the organizers before hand to get a better idea of what to expect and maybe an interview :D

Here is my final product: VIDEO LINK - Earth Hour - Kingston Unplugged 2013

 

Victorian Fashion Show

At the Pioneer story meeting on Thursday I chose to cover the Belleville Theatre Guilds Victorian Fashion Show and High Tea.  I had covered a show with the BTG in year one and it seemed like a fun, full circle kinda thing covering them again in year two.

I decided that I wanted to try for all three: photos, written story and multimedia

Saturday (Rehearsal/Final Dress) - I figured that I'd want to include some 'behind the scenes' shots and footage so I arranged to go to the dress rehearsal.  I got a chance to meet everyone and get them used to me being around.  AND figure out where I could shoot from and where NOT to be, because the space is at a premium.  Getting a chance to just observe was great.  It helped me focus on some of the little things I might have missed.

Sunday (Show Day) - You could feel the excitement in the air.  Two 1st year photojs came to cover the event for their writing class "event" assignment.  I was able to give them a bit of help in what to expect.

I just love live theatre.  You never know what's going to happen, which makes things all the more interesting when covering it as media.

Here are some of my favourite photos - full story and video below:

Vimeo Link

-30-

The Pioneer - Week Four

This week was my final shift on The Pioneer.  It was a bit tricky because our section had our story meeting on Thursday (Feb 21), came in to work on Friday and then was off for Reading Week.  It was hard to get everyone back into the swing of things on Monday (Mar 4) after a week off.

That's why I took on the streeter assignment.  I wanted to get something accomplished that first Friday. 

My first story was about the Belleville Theatre Guilds special event: Victorian Fashion Show and High Tea.  I really enjoyed the covering this event and took on the extra challenge of producing a multimedia piece as well as the story and photos.  I went to the rehearsal on Saturday to get a feel for the event, scope out the location and get the cast/crew comfortable with me being around so I'd be able to shoot around without being in the way.

The editors decided to hold that story until the Thursday edition so I didn't have anything published in the Tuesday edition.

My other story started out as a piece on internships/placements but got changed to cover Daylight Saving (which is this Sunday).

Lastly, on Thursday I got assigned to interview Tim Hadley, a local bass player who toured/played with Stompin' Tom Connors.  I got assigned the story at 10am, did the interview just after 11am (a classmate took the photo) and had it written/edited by 3:30 for deadline.  I was surprised to find out that the recording of my interview was good enough to make a podcast for QNet.  I hadn't written a story with such a tight deadline before and am glad I did.  It's not as scary as I thought it would be.

Overall this was a great end to my time on The Pioneer.  I can easily see myself doing this kind of work in the future. 

Op/Ed: Streeter
Article: Victorian Fashion Show (plus pics & multimedia)
Photo: Rotaracts help fight Polio 
Article: Daylight Savings (no photo)
Article: Stompin' Tom Connors (photo by a classmate)

LINKS:
Pioneer Edition - Mar 7th, 2013
QNet News Community (including podcast)
Multimedia on QNet News Vimeo

Story by Julia McKay - Photo by Richard Barclay

Story by Natalie McMullen - Photo by Julia McKay

 FULL THURSDAY EDITION

-30-

Snowmageddon 2013

Feb 8, 2013 - Today was interesting - my first day as Pioneer editor and we get hit with "Snowmageddon 2013".

Just over half my group was able to make it into school (we're the commuter group).  Everyone stepped up and got stuff done, either by phone or going out in the storm to shoot.

I don't know what possessed me to go to school today.  I live in Kingston and Loyalist is in Belleville soooo when I left home around 7:30 a.m it took me twice as long to get there.  I will admit that when I got to Belleville I stopped at Starbucks for a venti tea, I figured it was going to be a long day.

Because I'm one of the editors I'm not suppose to leave the newsroom (that's what the staff is for) so I didn't get any shots during the day.  I stuck around campus until 4:30pm, when a group of us were leaving so we could help clear each others cars off.  Everyone got home safely (or to a hotel in my case).

Please take a look at what I was able to cover for SNOWMAGEDDON 2013.

Photoj's on a dare between classes

(l-r) James, Justin and Julia

Getting out of the Loyalist parking lot (l-r) Jeff, Lyndsay and Dan in his truck.

VIDEO LINK - "Wait! Grab my shovel!!"

 
-30-

100th Grey Cup Festival - Day One

For my documentary class we were involved with the 100th Grey Cup Festival and had the chance to shoot at the many events during the 10 day festival.

On the first day of the festival I drove to Toronto with Myriam Lublink and Gail Paquette (fellow classmates) in the school vehicle, and shot at the Rushes Football Film Festival Opening Night at the Scotiabank Theatre in downtown Toronto.

(l-r) Gail Paquette, Myriam Lublink & Julia McKay

After speaking with the festivals reps we, as a group, decided that I'd shoot stills and the other two would shoot video.  This was a great experience and I can't wait to work with these two women again.

Mark Cohon - Commissioner of the Canadian Football League at the Kick off of the 100th Grey Cup Rushes Toronto Football Film Festival.  Photo by Julia McKay

Michael "Pinball" Clemons with some Toronto Argonauts cheerleaders  at the Kick off of the 100th Grey Cup Rushes Toronto Football Film Festival.  Photo by Julia McKay

Chris Rudge, Executive Chair and CEO of the 100th Grey Cup Festival with some Toronto Argonauts cheerleaders drawing tickets for the raffle  at the Kick off of the 100th Grey Cup Rushes Toronto Football Film Festival.  Photo by Julia McKay

Michael "Pinball" Clemons signs a fan's football at the Kick off of the 100th Grey Cup Rushes Toronto Football Film Festival.  Photo by Julia McKay

(l-r) Julia, Myriam Lublink and Gail Paquette having fun on the red carpet

Our final product:

 

VIDEO - Rushes Football Film Festival Opening Night 

-30-

Advisory Board Fall 2012

Twice a year members of our programs advisory board stops by for the day to chat, see our work and share real world experience with us.

This was my 3rd advisory board since starting the program and I was excited.  I'm the 2nd year rep (no one else put their name in the hat) so got to sit in on the morning meeting and share with the advisors how the 2nd years were doing.

The day progress quickly.  Fifteen advisor were able to come this session.  The agenda for the day was broken down into the morning meeting, portfolio with students, lunch, bearpit session, 2nd portfolio with students, then dinner.

Each student signed up to meet with two advisors and by the afternoon things were moving so smoothly some of us got to speak with a fifth advisor.

The day is all about showing our work, getting feedback and being seen by possible employers and mentors. 

I showed my portfolio to:
-->
Luke Hendry - Belleville Intelligencer
Doug Wiken - Photojournalism professor
Ian MacAlpine - Kingston Whig-Standard
Lesley Sparks - Documentary
Graeme Roy - Canadian Press
Jim Wilkes - retired from 36 years with the Toronto Star

In general, they reinforced my idea that I can do community news and see "the moments" and gave me helpful suggestions on ways to improve my shooting and how I edit.

I'm now looking forward to the spring meeting.

Oh, and dinner at Montanas was fun too :)

Dinner at Montana's with advisors and teachers.  Photo by Alicia Wynter

-30-