SMASHCAST at Brower Youth Awards

IMG_0497, originally uploaded by smashcast.

SMASHCAST members Jose and Estefania attended the Brower Youth Awards on Tuesday October 19th. They had an opportunity to watch the awards ceremony and interview all of the award recipients about their environmental achievements.

Stay tuned for videos about the event and interviews with the award recipients!

Smashcast at Momentum 2009

For 3 days in September of this year, Tides hosted its Momentum conference at the W hotel in San Francisco.  The basic gist behind momentum is that it "brings together some of the world’s most innovative thinkers and dedicated activists to challenge, inspire, and energize each other." And for three straight days its does just that. Speakers from far and wide come and share their minds, passions, and solutions through themed plenary sessions and discussion. As Smashcast, we got the opportunity to sit in and participate in the conference. That along with documenting a good portion of it too. As pretty much the youngest group of people attending the conference, I thought it was a good idea to look into the youths perspective to it The following consist of the Smashcast experience to progressiveness at it's best.  

-Virgil Almeda

Prom Night In Mississippi

In this day and age, where equality is the word of the year, can it be true that America is still holding on to the racist roots of its previous generations? Although it may be a hard fact to face, places, like Charleston, Mississippi, continue the abomination that is racial segregation. In this interview, we talk to two of the students from Charleston High School in Mississippi, where, believe it or not, they still hold segregated proms! As we talk to them, they tell us their story on, not only how they were involved in bringing about the first integrated prom at their high school, but also about the film that documented the whole process. For more information about the documentary, please visit www.promnightinmississippi.com.

Posted by megangage

How has racism changed through generations?

Some people claim that racism in the U.S. has  dissolved over time, but recently it has come to our attention that there are still marks of racism being imprinted in our nation's history. Up until last year, Charleston High School in Mississippi had been having two separate proms: the "white" prom and the "black" prom. In the movie "Prom Night in Mississippi" Paul Saltzman tells the story of how home town-native Morgan Freeman offers to pay for their 2008 prom, as long as it was a single-integrated prom. The majority of students agreed, but there were still some unsettling comments of a few of the students and some parents clearly opposed to this idea. Some students were threatened to have their trucks taken away, or even to be disowned, if they attended the integrated prom or spoke in the movie. However, we must not ignore the radiance of the brave students that spoke about their beliefs and thoughts on the issue with or without the approval of their parents. Later in an interview, one of the students even stated her dissappointment that the nation already had a black President and her town was still stuck on the issue of segretated and integrated proms.

So after learning about this incident our question for you today is: Do you think the aura of racism has faded as much as people say it has? Or is it the ideas of activists like Martin Luther King that have faded?

By Estefania Avila & Virgil Almeda

Have you heard of digital democracy?

 

WOAH!!! 

"It's life changing"-says fellow smashcaster megangage after viewing Mark Belinsky and Emily Jacobi's presentation on Digital Democracy. Digital democracy is an organization that takes an interest in empowering other's through the use of technology. Digital democracy focuses on closed societies who do not allow the freedom of speech. They have worked in places such as Thailand, and Burma. Their goal is to not only increase technological proficiency, but to also link schools in refugee camps with schools in America to spread ideas and experiences internationally. Their currently mode of doing such is a little something called "Project Einstein." It started with four cameras, eleven adolescents living in a refugee camp, and one goal: to spread the word; whether it be about using cameras, or about political happenings, this team is definitely spreading the word. The title says it all; Einstein was a refugee and he did great things, just like these youths are destined to do as well. To get more information about these revolutionary volunteers, or ways to help fund their endeavors, go to www.digital-democracy.org. 

One Web Day: Overcoming the Digital Divide

The Smashcasters had an opportunity to meet with One Web Day's Executive Director and produced this video about how they see the digital divide manifested in their communities and some strategies for overcoming it.

New New New!

Hi, 

This is Derek, I wasn't here last weekend with smashcast, so I missed out on the first day back. I've been updated with the new projects and other smashcast secrets waiting for us to reveal soon! As Selina mentioned we're busy with Ice Story videos from our Exploratorium visit back in April, One Web Day videos for the big day on September 22, and getting ready for the Momentum Conference event in San Francisco that will take place on the 7th-9th that we will be documenting and producing some media of what happens. Today we're continue to edit videos and just planning what we want to do with these projects. I'm really excited and can't wait to see the results of these events and our media we will produce from it all.  

Before we began our work today we went up to the roof for some Interview review for a procedure of a typical interview, getting ready for interviews we'd do at Momentum and took the opportunity of a group photo for the day

Trevor explaining finalcut express tricks

Kevin Madrigal working on logo designs for smashcast

Selina Villanueva editing video for the Ice Stories project

Alanna Reyes editing video for the Ice Stories project

Simon explaining to Kevin about photoshop as other smashcast members continue to work

We're a swarm, and We're just buzzing to get work done! The next time we'll be getting together is Monday September 7th for the first day of the Momentum Conference. 

who are the new kids?

Smashcast is back!

With new members and a whole new out look! 

Smashcast has grown from a handful of students too the amazing new count of roughly 20 members.AHHHHH so many new faces!!! And so many new projects... editing Exploratorium Ice Stories videos, shooting the One Web Day videos on green screen, designing business cards, and the list just goes on and on. 

We'll be meeting again next week, and we hope to resume our work and possibly start even more fun projects!

-Selina

Tech4America - Limitless Technology in a Limited World

Catherine T. signing in! The video below is my interpretation of Tech4America and what I think it can offer to the community. I hope you enjoy it! :D

What is Tech4America? Tech4America, in a nutshell, is the "tech" version of the government's WPA (Works Progress Administration). Tech4America, like WPA, not only provides jobs but contributes to the betterment of the community as a whole in the long run. Despite the fact that today is the age of technology, there are many people who have limited technological resources because of financial/circumstantial restraints. Tech4America bridges those gaps and brings technology to a bigger step, connects people, provides opportunities for education and employment. What can Tech4America offer? (Indicated chronologically in the video) 1. 1 laptop per student 2. New equipment for schools to allow easier dissemination of information and demonstration 3. Volunteer opportunities for teenagers and adults alike; volunteers can teach people about technology 4. Jobs 5. Technical classes/training for everyone 6. Online lessons Director's Comment: This is a video montage set to the tune of the Forrest Gump theme. When I saw Mitch Kapor's presentation about Tech4America, this song popped immediately on my head because I believed that Tech4America inspires and gives people hope. During pre-production, I had many ideas as to how I originally wanted to do the video, but the video montage appealed to me the most because through this I'm able to cover many things Tech4America can do.

Tech Issue?

Hello everyone!

This is Derek Macario and Monica Alcazar . For more than 2 months or so we've been working on this video and just finished today. This video is about the issue of students having laptops for school use and their work. With laptops work becomes much easier than using just books and having to research that way. In our video we wanted to include a board meeting(scene) to show that Corporate sponsors and others non-directly involved in schools need to help with the education and process for students and the way they find resources and materials. We hope one day students will have all the materials and tools they need to be equally equipped for their learning. 

See Ya' Later SMASHCAST!

Hey SMASHCAST viewers! This is Juan and I'm signing out of SMASHCAST and heading off to college in the fall. For sure, this may not be my last time in SMASHCAST so I'll see you later. I'll be going off to Bowdoin College, which is an elite Liberal Arts College, in Maine. I'm hoping to participate in the Bowdoin Cable Network, which also uses Final Cut Express. So there will be more movies from me in the future.

I'm going to miss SMASHCAST. I want to thank Trevor and Simon for helping us a lot in the editing processes of our videos and for ordering great food for us! You guys are awesome! With SMASHCAST, I've applied to video contest for the first time, been to the Expoloratorium for the first time, been on the radio for the first time, thought about a career/study in Arctic Studies (Check out our Ice Stories videos!), and I even tried Thai food for the first time too! I'll try to send over some videos that I will be making next year. I'm also going to miss taking BART from Richmond and arriving to the LPFI office and seeing Catherine, Jose, Selina, Devonna, Tommy, Monica, Derek, Trevor, Simon, Virgil, and all the other SMASHCASTers. I'll miss you guys and the creatively unique discussions we had!

A lot happened this year. I'll miss the times when we went to get footage of the Momentum Conference, the Prop. 8 Protest in San Francisco, the Exploratorium, RedTap Station, and other events. We've had a LOT of funny moments and I won't forget them.  

If you're a first-year/second-year SMASH scholar reading this, SIGN UP! SMASHCAST is awesome! Media is an activity that I will be active in while pursuing my career in the sciences and I know that you guys will enjoy your time in SMASHCAST. SMASHCAST is for everyone in SMASH, even if you'll be graduating soon or if you have no idea how to use Final Cut Express/Audacity. You'll learn and Simon and Trevor will like to teach you. 

I'm going to miss everyone, and I hope to drop by next year to say hi and let you guys know how my experiences are in Maine and in college. 

     Thanks for everything Simon and Trevor! And I'll see everyone later,

                     Juan

What was my favorite video during smashcast?

My favorite video has to be the one where I helped out Jose with the Ice stories video. Jose did a story about the Adele penguin it was cute funny and informational. I also had some part in it, which made the video a little more interesting. I’m going to miss all the cool videos the third years have provided us, especially going to miss how all of them made Smashcast an interesting place to be every month... I’m going to miss them.

 

I wish you guys the best of luck!  Goodbye third years (what I do in my spare time)

Good Bye Jose, we hardly knew ye.

R.I.P. my time here at SMASHCAST. This is the last day I will be allowed in this building, as I am now a graduate. I have signed a form stating that if i stand within 10 feet of the building I would be subject to a tar and feather with no remorse. Or something along those lines.

Every great year deserves a great wrap-up. And I will stand and deliver.

I began these sessions a boy, and ended it a man (I had my eighteenth birthday).

Well, its been fun. Through all the laughs, the sweat, the pain, and the joy, SMASHCAST has been very memorable. I remember my first video here. It was a mock debate for Proposition 5. I feel it was quite dandy, and pretty good for a first attempt. Mind you, it was not the first video I've ever made. It was just my first movie as a member of SMASHCAST. 

How did I wind up coming here twice a month anyway? The world may never know. Well, I do. My friends in here told me to join. They figured I'd be pretty good with a laptop and make magic happen. I may not have made complete magic, but at least I made some nice vids.

My favorite movie must be the one I made about the Adelie penguins. I got my partner in crime, Selina Villanueva, to do the voiceover for the penguins. She did a really nice Australian accent. It was quite nice. And no, I'm not implying penguins are Australian, because they're clearly not. I learned this while I was here.

SMASHCAST has brought me plenty of opportunities as well. I was able to go tour Pixar and get of screening of the movie 'UP!'. I went with my other partner in crime, Edward Thomas Mark, and we had plenty of fun, from the taquitos, to the supercomputers. We were able to meet and ask Pete, the director of the movie, a few general questions about animation and the sort. How many other programs give you that opportunity?

But what will become of me now? Will i just wither away and disintegrate in a shallow cespool of despair? Not quite... I will be withering away in college. This fall I will be making random scenes at UC San Diego where the temperature is hot, but the people are... cooler. I will be majoring in computer science and learning even more about computers, programming, and the ilk. WIll I continue to make films? More than likely. I'm sure there'll be enough time for me to keep up with a hobby among all the other 'scholarly' things I must do.

Some may say I am rambling. I believe I'm just stalling. I don't want to say good-bye to all these kids. I'm going to miss them the most. Nobody made me laugh as much as they did. Juan, Catdawg (Catherine), Monica, Selina, Derek, Virgil, Henry, Carlos, Devonna, and although not quite kids, Trevor and Simon, all pretty much made these hour long trips to San Francisco worth it. Thanks guys. Stay cool.

And well. All good things must end. Including myself. And no, I'm not conceited, because being conceited is a flaw, and I am flawless. Just kidding. Or am I? The world will never know, because this is officially my last blogpost of the year, if not ever.

Thats that. See you in SoCal,

Jose Bernal

Signing Off

Hi, everyone....for the last time :(.

     This past year has been quite an experience. We moved on to doing video and it was difficult for me to transition from simpler audio projects to audiovisual podcasting. In the end, though, I was able to have a very positive experience with the projects we put together (No, I did not break Audacity ever again, and I managed to never break Final Cut).

     My favorite video is the one we made about the protest we attended in front of San Francisco City Hall. I really liked it because it was something I really connected to (I went to support some of my friends at the protest). Also, it was the first time I had ever been to a protest or anything so outspoken for any cause!

     The most memorable part of this year, for me, was the field trip to the KPOO radio station in the Mission District. That day was the first (and actually, the only) time I have ever been on the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), and also the first (and also only) time I have ever been to the Mission District. It was such a great day of "firsts" and it was so much fun; the Missions District was so colorful and new to me, and the BART was so fast and the confusing to maneuver!

     I am a bit disappointed that I was unable to attend a number of SMASHCAST meetings toward the end of the year. I missed April, May, and one in June :(. I was unable to partake in the filming of a Tech4America podcast, but I was fortunate to have great fellow SMASHCASTERs who were able to take my place and make a FABULOUS video. I am truly grateful and appreciative of their amazing work and understanding. 

Thank you for another great year, and for making my last year worth all the hard (and fun!) work :)

-Monica A

My Final SMASHCAST Blog Post!!! D:

Hello peoples, I am part of the third graduating class of seniors from SMASH and unfortunately I am graduating from SMASHCAST as well. It’s been nearly three years since I joined SMASHCAST and it has been a very educational yet extremely fun ride. While here I’ve been given the chance to work with some very talented people and some awesome programs, such as Photoshop, Flash, Final Cut, and DreamWeaver etc. Though I may be leaving SMASHCAST, it doesn’t mean I am done with Media, I still plan to be involved with Media in the near future. We seniors were given a task to choose a video that we think is memorable, or represents SMASHCAST. The video I chose was Jose, Selina, and Juan’s video, down below. The reason behind my choice is the simple fact that I believe it's one of the videos that represents how far SMASHCAST has come in the past three years.

-Thomas Mark