Week eight - Respose to content

Sharing is caring

Everybody uses free software every day without thinking about it; Facebook, e-mail, MSN, Skype etc. It is only when we are told that we can not use something that we react to it.
Why is it that some things are labeled with copyright and other things are not? Why doesn't everyone just want to share everything and let people play around as they wish? Well would you like it if another person took all the credit for your hard work?


Today you can find a lot of free software on the Internet, but not everything. Music, pictures, movies, books and articles are marked with copyright. This means that the person who made has all the rights to the product and if they find out that someone has been fiddling with it or used it for something they don't approve of, they can sue you. The reason they use copyright is because they have been working long and hard on something that they are proud of and would like to get credit for, maybe even paid. Like artists; you can buy their music cheap on iTunes, but most people choose the illegal way of downloading it for free (like we talked about last week). 
It is understandable that people want to protect their work and not just let anyone use it for what ever they want, but what about the people who would like to use it for something great that could promote the product in a good way? People who would like to make something great of their one by using others work as well. Shouldn't they be allowed to?


"Free software, software libre or libre software is software that can be used, studied, and modified without restriction, and which can be copied and redistributed in modified or unmodified form either without restriction, or with restrictions that only ensure that further recipients can also do these things and that manufacturers of consumer-facing hardware allow user modifications to their hardware. Free software is generally available without charge, but can have a fee, such as in the form of charging for CDs or other distribution medium among other ways." (link 1)


Some may use the argument that you can share clothes and food recipes, so why not software? Well if you think about it; if you give someone a cake recipe on a cake you have worked hard on, do you think someone could make the exact same cake? No, because all caked are different. Different products have been used, it has been made in different places and with different tools. But if you are to copy a song for example, then you're not making the song over again, you are taking the exact product someone else have made and making it your own. And that is what is not OK for most people. 

(link 2) Free software is a matter of the users' freedom to run, copy, distribute, study, change and improve the software. More precisely, it means that the program's users have the four essential freedoms:

• The freedom to run the program, for any purpose (freedom 0).
• The freedom to study how the program works, and change it so it does your computing as you wish (freedom 1). Access to the source code is a precondition for this.
• The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor (freedom 2).
• The freedom to distribute copies of your modified versions to others (freedom 3). By doing this you can give the whole community a chance to benefit from your changes. Access to the source code is a precondition for this. 

Projects like GNU and Creative Commons are trying to give you a chance to find products that doesn't have copyright and wants people to have the chance to create and share openly. But they agree that people should get credit for their work, so they mark the product with other conditions. Such as ways they can use it, that you have to document the name of the person you are taking things from and maybe where you found it. As long as you follow a few rules like that, you are welcome to play around with it. 

"Creative Commons develops. supports, and stewards legal and technical infrastructure that maximizes digital creativity, sharing, and innovation." (link 5)

Reference list:


Found Friday 30 Sept.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_software


Found Thursday 29 Sept.
http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html


I couldn't find the name of the writer.
Copyright © 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010 Free Software Foundation, Inc.

This page is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 United States License.

Updated: $Date: 2011/09/20 08:15:37

Found Thursday 29 Sept.
http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/1vPTPR/www.gnu.org/fun/jokes/foreign-signs.html 


I couldn't find the name of the writer.
Copyright © 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 Free Software Foundation, Inc.

This page is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 United States License.

Updated: $Date: 2011/09/23 15:31:03

Found Thursday 29 Sept.

http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/1vPTPR/www.gnu.org/fun/jokes/foreign-signs.html

Copyright © 1994, 2009 Richard Stallman
This page is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 United States License.

Updated: $Date: 2011/09/20 08:15:47

Found Thursday 29 Sept.

http://creativecommons.org/about

Written by Creative Commons

Week eight - Tutorial Task

A small bump in the road!

After editing everything in two days, I got the last scene from André and put it in as well. I had put in the music we needed and the pictures of Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and MSN, and was pretty happy with the result.
Then Wednesday came and I was showing the short film to my group members, when my lovely teacher Lauren informs us that we can't use the music or the pictures we were using! Wohoooo! Great news! NOT!
The reason for this is because the short film is going to be put on this blog and YouTube, ergo the Internet, for everyone to see. To do this we need the artist's consent and permission from the people who made the pictures we used. I love copyright! This sounded complicated.

But no worries! We decided to approach the situation differently. We searched the web on pages like creative commons for songs that weren't labeled with copyright. And in stead of using pictures I just wrote the names in on the picture instead. Which actually looked better.
After no luck with the music we decided to go home and try to find music till next time.
When I got home I remembered that I know the guitarist in a Norwegian band back home. They're called "The Dirtydogs" and are actually very good! I found one of the songs that went well with the short film and am now pretty happy with the result. It's not as good as the original song we had, but it works.

So I sent a message on Facebook to the guy I know, and asked if he think the band would mind if we used their music to this project. I'm still waiting for an answer, but think and hope it won't be a problem! =)

There are never any problems, just challenges!

Everything works out, no need for panic!

Week seven - Tutorial task

So far so good

I am impressed with my group. We all came prepared to this weeks tutorial. The others have started filming, and we are only missing one scene. And I have learned how to use iMovie, it's actually kind of fun! We downloaded everything onto my Mac, saw through it, and decided what to use and what not to use. They shot from a lot of different angles, so it gives me some play room and I can find the best one. Let the editing begin!

I really enjoyed playing around with iMovie, so I have already edited a rough version of what the end result is going to look like. I'm playing around with different effects to see what works the best, I think I'm getting the hang of it. So much fun! 

André is going to film the last scene we need for next week with the "bad guy". The boys and Astrid are also going to find some pictures that we need. I am going to continue editing, and hopefully be done with what we have now till next time. We still need to figure out what music to use and other small details. I'm trying out different songs to see how it works with the theme, it's really hard. But I think we will work that out easily if we have a little brainstorming next time. 

I'll be very happy if we keep up the good work. Can't wait to see the end result! 

Week seven - Respose to content

Wikipedia - the free encyclopedia 


Wikipedia is a good information source, it is not a GREAT source, because you can not trust that everything you find is 100% accurate. But it is a GOOD source, because you can find something about almost everything there.


Wikipedia came to life in the early 2000d and has gone through many changes. It is used all over the world and is translated into 282 languages. They are trying to cover as many as possible to include everyone. (link 3)When it started it was not seen as a very reliable source because anyone could write anything in there. The web site was a victim for vandalism many times. In 2005 they took a lot of hits for some articles that was written by an anonymous person, about the murders of Robert Kennedy and John F. Kennedy, saying that a certain person had done it, and other similar stories.(link 2) Wikipedia wants to have articles based on facts and not opinions, so today they have stricter rules. Anyone who wants to can share information on Wikipedia, but they have to sign in as a member and then let it go through the editors who who will give you a green or red light. Most of the time they decline the editing, because it is no point of fixing what is already good, other times the information is wrong. This new system they have with the security has built up Wikipedias reputation and is making them stronger year after year. 




Reference list:
Found Friday 30 Sept.
General information in this text is from here. 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reliability_of_Wikipedia


Found Friday 30 Sept.
http://news.cnet.com/2100-1038_3-5997332.html


Found Friday 30 Sept.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Multilingual_coordination
http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/List_of_Wikipedias

Week six - Tutorial task

The start of something good!

For the next three weeks it's all about making a short film about New Communication Technology. We were told to get in groups of four. I'm in a group with André, Shae, Astrid, who are all really cool so I'm very happy with my group! We started of great, had a small brainstorming session, and figured out what our short film was gonna be about. At first we wanted to make a trailer for a horror film, but figured it would be way to much work. But then Astrid came up with a great idea we decided to go with. Then we planned out what need to do, when and where.

The film is going to be about a guy who likes a girl and wants to contact her somehow. His friend tells him to go the modern way, but he decides he wants to be old-fashioned and romantic. Bad call!

We made a script; it was weak, but it was still a script. The group understood it and knew what to do, and that's all that matters. We also planed out what angles and shots we're going to use. We are starting the shooting next week.

So till next time, I'm gonna have to learn how to use iMovie and edit things. The reason for that is that I'm the one with the Mac. And I can't join the others when they are going to be filming next week, because I have another tutorial at that time. We all need to do our parts in this, so it's only fair.

This is going to be interesting, and a lot of fun! Wish us luck!

Week six - Respose to content

Is Hollywood going down?


Which one would you rather prefer; going to the movies, getting dressed, standing in line for tickets, popcorn and soda, sitting in a crowded room in a uncomfortable seat OR download a movie, lie in bed, on the sofa or in your favorite chair, eating whatever you have at home, refilling your drink whenever you want and after the movie is done, you're already home, so you don't have to move? 
Now a day many would go for the latter. So how is this affecting Hollywood? Is the new world of downloading things from the Internet good or is it killing the film makers slowly? Is it Hollywood's fault or the people? Let's have a look shall we..

The movie world has come a long way since 1895. It has gone from black and white without sound on the big screen, till black and white and then color on the TV, and then back to the big screen again, better and bigger. Then came the VHS, then the DVDs, the Blue-ray and now you can download what ever you want online. 
Many people don't think about it and some just ignore it, but it is not legal to download movies from the Internet. The reason for this is that the producers, the actors and big companies have put in a lot of time, money and work in to these movies, and the only way for them to get paid and credit for their work is if people buy their product or go see the movie at the cinema. So why would people download movies in stead of paying to watch them? 


Some would say the Internet gives movies free publicity. They hype up the movie and get people exited, so they just have to go to the premier or see it the week it comes out. But it would depend on the movie. For blockbuster movies, this might be true. But for smaller movies, it might be the end of their journey. 
Hollywood has become aware that if they don't make a blockbuster movie like Avatar, Lord of the rings, Harry Potter etc., they are doomed and are going to end up with a flop. The budget are getting tighter and they feel the pressure. The studios use a lot of money on location, special effects and "extra cool stuff", so sometimes they have to postpone movies or pull the plug. Take "The Lone Ranger" for example. Disney have postponed it because they don't have money for it right now. They have Johnny Depp as the lead character and a 200million dollar budget, but that is just not enough to make it in the movie world right now. 

Only a week after a film is showed on the big screen it is streamed out into the Internet. But not everyone takes advantage of that. Most people take the time to go to the cinema and enjoy seeing the movie on the big screen in good quality in stead of on a tiny computer or TV. These people are either aware of the consequences piracy have for Hollywood or they just don't know they can download it. While others are extreme movie lovers and it means a lot to them to be the first to see a movie or to have seen it at the cinema. This is why Harry Potter and The lord of the rings have done so good. Their fans are so committed and supporting, they sleep outside the movie theatre for days, just to stand in line for tickets for the premier. Some might even see it twice. Now Hollywood have gone big with the special effect "3D" to lure people out. 


But it is not just in the cinemas Hollywood is loosing money, it is also in the DVD sales. Because of free downloading very few buy actual DVDs anymore. We can't just blame Hollywood for not making enough good movies, or the cinema for being too expensive. We have to admit that people are becoming lazy and ignorant too. But let's not give up hope. Maybe soon Hollywood will come up with something new and exiting yet again and people will come running. 




Reference list:


Wednesday 28 sept.
https://learning.secure.griffith.edu.au/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab=courses&url=/bin/common/course.pl?course_id=_101249_1&frame=top


Thursday, 29 sept. 
http://www.news.com.au/business/movies-shelved-as-dvd-sales-dive/story-fn7mjon9-1226140043350