Sunday, September 28, 2008

Celebrity Sports

In many aspects, professional athletes are thought of as celebrities. To many children they are even their heroes. One little boy might grow up his hold life wanting to be like Mike. So I searched the NBA's website to see what kind of multimedia I could include that focuses on professional athletes.

The NBA has a special feature on its website that allows fans or anybody to put together clips of various moments that happened in the NBA. You can put together any clips from Buzzer beaters to 3-point shots to slam dunks. They call this tool that allows you to do this 'The Mixer.'

There are other cool features that you can do such as adding special effects like slow motion, cropping clips, adding transitions between clips, adding music, titles and the ability to share the clips you put together.

Below i put together a set of my own clips just try it out.

To the clip above I arranged which order I wanted the clips to appear in. I also chose the music and the effects, such as black and white and fast motion, to go with the clips.
I think 'The Mixer' allows people to become videographers. This is a great tool for aspiring journalists to use. It's free and available to anyone who has access to the Internet. Also if someone wanted to be a sports journalist, these mixer clips could be added to a resume.

As technology is allowing everyone to do things themselves. This is just another example of how the Internet is allowing people to do what they want, when they want and how they want.

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Graduate Work

Much preparation proves successful for grads

Students at Midlothian High School have been preparing to end one chapter while starting a new one at their graduation commencement.

Christopher Shelton hangs out with friends backstage at the Siegel Center as he awaits his graduation. As Shelton looks back over many years of hard work, he realizes he is spending the last minutes of being a senior at Midlothian High School.

Shelton is nervous, but excited at the same time.

“Since the first day of my senior year I have been looking forward to this day,” said Shelton. “I made sure I did all my work, kept studying, kept good grades and always held on hope.” He will be attending Virginia Tech in the fall majoring in computer engineering.

Chesterfield, Henrico and Hanover counties high school graduations are held at Virginia Commonwealth University’s
Stuart C. Siegel Center. VCU hosts 26 graduations at its 190,000 square foot facility.

Many behind the scenes preparations help make this day for Shelton and the other 341 seniors at Midlothian High School a day they will never forget. Parking passes are issued, roads are blocked, security is in place and chairs are organized.

There are close interactions between senior class faculty sponsors and officials at VCU. Nate Doughty, associate director of the Siegel Center and Athletic Facilities, said it is great public relations.

“This is a great way for VCU to give back to the community,” said Doughty. “We fit the need and it’s a win-win for everyone.”

Eileen Sunseri, senior class sponsor at Midlothian High School, is already planning for the 2009 commencement ceremony. Preparations for an event that involves students, families, faculty and the community is a year round affair.

Sunseri describes the graduation process as “controlled chaos.”

“We get started in October when the students are measured for their caps and gowns,” said Sunseri. “Most planning really starts in March. VCU sends us the date, time and schedules. In mid-May there is a walk through where we receive maps, parking passes and information to give to the parents.”

Doughty said the biggest headache is parking.
Traffic on VCU’s campus is congested and heavy during these times. There are between 300 to 500 graduates for each ceremony. On average, there are three graduations a day during this 11-day period yielding more than 1300 vehicles for each graduation.

VCU Enforcement and Safety Coordinator Lou Ann Jones has overseen this process for the past four years. Each year changes are made to make sure the entire graduation process is a success.

Between 100 to 150 people work during graduations.

“The secret is teamwork,” said Jones. “The school systems, Siegel Center staff, deck staff, enforcement staff and the VCU Police Department work closely to assure that everything run smoothly.”

During graduation regular traffic is not stopped. Jones said that so far they have done a great job with accommodating everyone.

“Our goal for these graduations is to make them as safe and happy as possible for all involved,” said Jones.

Shelton could not be more happier as he hugs his friends and takes pictures to capture last memories. He reunites with his parents.

His mother Debra Shelton said that the entire process leading up to graduation has been a smooth one.

“I thought the graduation was wonderful and well organized,” said Debra. “I was impressed.”