Sound Slides

Objective:  To create a unique sound slide presentation between 2-3 minutes.

This may seem like an easy task to people who are computer literate, but for myself it was extremely challenging.  I decided to go with a video montage of my years at St. Joe's.  I took important pictures from my freshman year to recently and placed them in correct order and decided which way they should transition (I did that part in imovie).  Then I went in Garage Band and pulled songs from my itunes and choose bits and pieces to put together -- this was the hardest part.  The songs had to sound good together and they had to make sense with the pictures.  I was able to convert this into one large song and then place it with my pictures.  The hardest part was transitioning, cropping, and placement of the pictures, along with the creation of the unique song.

So... here it is:  My Master Piece (which could use even some more tweaking -- things I saw when I published this version).  Your thoughts are greatly appreciated and encouraged!

Blog post: Week 8 Post: What are you making? How are you making it? Why are you making it?


I saw this on YouTube while surfing and thought it was really inspiring!  First of all I really like the song playing in the background, but the message is unique.  I love how they were able to pull types of advice together and draw pictures to resemble them.  They all go together very well and are true for life! Ideas like "Finish what you start" and "Don't be afraid to fail"  are all very applicable in everyone's life. 


My sound slide is going to be based around a year in pictures.  I plan to take a bunch of pictures and add songs that relate well to them (small snip-its, so that a few songs can be heard).  It is a family tradition to have a year in pictures every year which my aunt makes -- we all sit down on Christmas Eve with family and friends to watch it!  It's a great way to remember the events that happen and it is something that will last forever. I'm plan on using imovie, but this is only my idea right now! I want to incorporate ideas from our Presentation Zen book using ideas such as the rule of thirds and how things fall into place ( whether they spin or zoom in at the end on one single point ). :)

The English Patient

Blog post: Watch a movie and discuss the nuances of its sound design. Extra credit if you watch a film edited by Walter Murch. See pages 314 -317 of The Conversations for a complete list of Murch’s movies.

Listen to this scene for The English Patient.  Pay close attention to when Kip, the Indian man, shoots the gun and tries to get inside.  Also, pay attention to after he discovers the mine, when Hannah is upstairs in the bedroom window observing.

Hopefully you are able to see the wonderful sound editing done by Walter Murch.  In the beginning of the scene the details of Kip shooting the gun, attempting to open the door, and trying to find the mine are all vivid.  There is no attention to what is going on outside, no sounds of wind, animals, crickets, bugs, etc.  This is there key moment were they first talk with one another.  A sexual tension is felt through the noises and there conversation.  After -- when Kip is outside with the others, and Hannah is upstairs with the English Patient, you are able to juxtapose both the sounds outside, as well as the conversation inside. You hear the crickets, conversation, and assembly of the tent, while also experiencing the intimate conversation occurring inside. This scene seems to show the beginning of the relationship between Hannah and Kip and implies there sexual attraction.  They both like each other, and this is the first scene where we can tell.  The sole focus on the two of them is what makes this apparent.  The crickets at the end of the scene allows us to tell that time has passed and night is falling.  Also, the picture show Hannah's admiration of Kip.

I loved the movie -- maybe it was because I was watching it by myself on my computer listening via headphones.  I was so engaged and interested, although I was interested by class, but I returned immediately to finish it.  The movie was one I believe I could watch over and over again.  The editing both sound and picture wise is AMAZING!  The sounds really tie the photos in together, allowing it all to flow smoothly and be an awesome movie! Thanks for the recommendation Professor Knight!