Project Juni - DTE

For the past six weeks in DTE class, the topic was to make a project that we can work on for those full six weeks. Starting in term 4, week 1, where we got introduced to the topic, afterwards we got the time to decide what we can produce within those limited weeks in groups. I and Khush decided to make a VEX robot which we both were familiar with but making our own VEX creation. We called our project 'Project Juni'. 

Using three different VEX robot creations which already exist, we decided to combine them to make a machine that can help when earthquakes cause landslides and similar events. Our inspiration came from a thought we had that since there isn't a rescue vehicle that moves fast, does the job to clear a path and is able to move and rotate in any direction with its arm and base. From there on we settled that we will relate our project to the real-life world as to we have a reason to why it is we chose to produce or make it.

These three photos below shown are what we combined altogether to make the outcome of our final project. Circling the specified places on all three images in red is what parts we have included. Starting from the Armbot, we used its main arm to do most of the VEX robots work. Such as giving the 'Juni' the ability to sway side to side and can do 360° or can move the arm up and down, involving that it can extend the arm itself a little. Linq's scoop is used to scoop up or clear a path when there are landslides that are caused by earthquakes and similar events.

                                      Linq                                    Clawbot                              Armbot

Results: JUNI

Reflection

Our final outcome was just as we visioned it, although, within those six weeks, we encountered multiple problems during the process of making it as having trouble finding the right parts, some motors not functioning and hearing multiple cracks and sounds that did not sound very amusing to us. We had to come up with our own design and modify it numerous times until it operated correctly the way we expect it to work. 

Last week we ran out of time and were not able to add functional wheels for it to move around, but we got close to what we thought of building and both I and my partner are proud of ourselves for what we produced and accomplished. What I and my partner learned throughout our project making was how to engineer and be able to work well with VEX robots. We showed good commitment as to that even if we did encounter a problem we would always find a way to fix it and proceed with our project. We displayed teamwork well and good balance meaning we did equal amounts of work and not one had to depend on another to finish it off.

Earthquakes & Tsunamis - Science

This week in science we learned about earthquakes and tsunamis, as I have not attended that class unfortunately I studied this topic in my own time learning about it. One of the steps was to use an animation platform to create this presentation which is presented below. Although as I was not in good health I did the slideshow in a basic way but with some useful information contained. 

I have learned how tsunami alerts or alerts, in general, are sent and what special device is used to record and measure them. Also learned how buildings are earthquake-proof which most information was new to me but good to know.

My Presentation:

Workshop : Essay Planning - English

Shooting the apple - Hope & Rebellion

Techniques: Music lighting colour, Angles/Shots/Movements, Costume

- Diegetic sound
- Katniss - dark, dim, artificial, grey, black, blues - matches peers
- Senica - vibrant, bright, colour variety - pink, more privileged/individuals
- Costume - Katniss - training suit, tributes all look the same
- Capitol - individuals - all different, over the top, extravagant
- Close-ups - see the reactions, Katniss-pensive, shocked
- High angle - once Katniss shoots the apple, makes her look weak and vulnerable.
- Atmosphere - tension, Katniss comes out as the standout, someone to watch out for.

Change of Rules - Struggle for power

Music - minor, slow, dramatic - building tension, emotional intensity as music gets louder

Lighting/Colour - bright, natural, warm, green, black, greys, shadowed, - rising of the sun - new day, new victor.

Costume - not important

Angles/Shots/Movement - High shot - Senica has power according to the camera but the dialogue “stop!” contradicts that.

Close-ups - emphasize emotions - defiance, the stubbornness of Katniss - Struggle for Power

- Katniss won’t let them have one victor
- Peeta won’t let them change him.

Atmosphere - happy because Katniss and Peeta took back control, if they died, then they died on their own terms, didn’t lose their humanity.

Aspects = Techniques 

- Camera shots/angles/movement

- Colour/Lighting

- Costume

- Music

- Atmosphere

- Dialogue

- Symbols

- Props

Reaping scene - Close-ups, Costume, music, lighting

Task 2: 1-2 sentences explain what happened in the scene

T - Title

A - Author/director

K - Key ideas/aspects

O - Outline

In the film ‘ The Hunger Games’ directed by Gary Ross...

Techniques are used to engage the viewer and tell the story. In the scene (insert your scene) film aspects such as (technique #1), (technique #2), (technique #3), and (technique #4), are impactful in creating the mood and atmosphere. 

Workshop : SEXXXY Paragraphs

Brainstorm -

Diegetic Sound - Close ups-shows the emotions of the two - nervous, anxious, mostly Peeta.

Lighting / Colour - mood - sad, gloomy - greys, dark, blacks, dim lighting - works with close-ups to highlight emotions on faces.

Character / Dialogue - "I don't want them to change me" "I don't wanna be another piece in their game" "If I'm gonna die, I still wanna be me"

The atmosphere the scene is creating - Foreboding, Hesitant, Nervous, Reluctant

Theme - Rich vs Poor, Hope & Rebellion, Struggle for Power

What happened - Peeta & Katniss are having a conversation about how the games might affect them.

Scene - 'They don't own me'

In the scene, 'They don't own me; dialogue is used to create a foreboding atmosphere. Katniss and Peeta are having a conversation about how the upcoming games might affect them. This is demonstrated by the quotes "I don't want them to change me; and "If I'm gonna die, I still wanna be me" spoken by Peeta. This shows that Peeta has a sense that he is going to have to do things that he doesn't want to do like killing others. 

This makes the audience feel mournful for Peeta because he is likely going to die, or to kill others to stay alive. The director did this to make us believe Peeta will die early and that being a tribute isn't something to celebrate but a loss of personal autonomy. This worked well with the dark colours of black and greys which add to the foreboding atmosphere. This aspect can be contrasted to when Peeta joins the Career Pack once in the games because they are cold-hearted killers which is what Peeta didn't want to be.

Workshop 5: Music - English

 Tempo - speed of the music - fast/slow/moderate

Dynamics - volume - how bad or quiet it is

Key - Major - happy sound, Minor - sad sound

Rues Death - How is music used to create atmosphere: Depressing / Mournful / Sad 

minor, tempo-slow, dynamics-quiet, gets louder as Katniss raises her salutte + District 11 riots

What happened - Rue is killed, Katniss tries to give her body the closest to a burial that she can.

Colour / Lighting - natural lighting, greens, white flowers stand out - a symbol of innocence and purity - rue never killed anyone, kind, compassionate, a victim.

-Shots/Angles - medium close-ups - Rue & Katniss - see their emotions & facial expression, anguish - high angle - weak & vulnerable - Rue is an innocent + blameless victim.

Effect on viewers - the atmosphere of remorse/intense sadness, as the volume increase, it builds the intensity of the emotions - we see emotions are contagious - hope.

Rues Death - Directors Purpose: feel Katniss's emotions at that moment - remorse, anger, helplessness, acceptance, rebellion - a symbol of 3 finger salutte is a sign of defiance & anger towards the game makers - you will no take my humanity, also a symbol of unification with these who have lost loved ones to the games.

Music is used to create an atmosphere of emotions - sorrow and remorse in Rue's death scene. In this scene we see Katniss dealing with the slaughter of her young friend Rue. For example, the tempo is slow, the dynamics are quiet and the key is minor to reflect the emotional rollercoaster that Katniss is feeling. 

Like the music, Katniss moves slowly and methodically to cover Rue's body in white flowers. As she finishes, the music builds in volume, showing the escalating intensity of her anger and despair towards the Capitol. This makes us understand the pain experienced by the families of the tributes when they are killed each year. 

This was done to enable the viewer to feel the emotions of the characters. This worked well with the use of white flowers to symbolise Rue's innocence & purity and the high angle shot making her weak & vulnerable. Combined with the music we are shown that Rue is a victim of the cruelty of the Capitol.

Workshop 4: Lighting & Colour - English

 Atmosphere - feeling/mood set in the scene

Mood - the way we feel/emotional response

Location - area it is set

District 12:

What is happening - Katniss is jogging through the District

Types of colour/lighting - cold colours-more, grey undertones

                                          dull colours - nothing stands out blue-grey shades

                                          natural colours - palette - greens,browns,grey,black

                                          Lighting - cold, dull, natural

Viewer effect(feel) - not welcoming, unpleasant, run-down, dirty, poor

Directors purpose - shows how unpleasant it is to live in the districts, underprivileged, good comparison for Capitol

Other Techniques - setting - dirt roads, houses derelict, transport, old fashioned, wagons, no electricity

The Capitol:

What is happening - The citizens of the Capitol are waiting the arrival of the tributes

Types of colour/lighting - colours - cold- white undertones

                                                         bright/artificial

                                       - lighting - cold (white) artificial, bright

                                       Palette - setting - whites/melatics, bright, vibrant, colourful

Viewer effect (feel) - these people are privileged, they are celebrating, they are more advanced

Directors purpose - Makes us sympathise with the tributes - they have lots and the districts have none, don't like them because they seem over the top of arrogant

Other Techniques - Costume - rich, extravagant, flaunting, over the top

                                Settings rich, modern, technologically advanced, clean new.

The Control Room:

What is happening - People are manipulating the arena via computer

Types of colour/lighting - colour palette - blue/white/dark grey/clinical

                                          colour - cold (blue/white) bright-especially white shirts

                                                        artificial lighting/colour - cyan/holographic

Viewer effect (feel) - makes us feel they are smart but unsafe, scientific

Directors purpose - Makes us feel like they are mindless drones, detached from reality

Other Techniques - Costumes -white lab coats - feels like an experiment

                                Settings - no clutter, lots of techs, only focused on the one job

Otautahi - Social Studies

 For the past few weeks, we have been researching our region, Canterbury/Otautahi. We learned the history and such significant and important places within Canterbury and was given the task to make Prezi(A slideshow platform) about it and answer a few questions we were given by the teacher and present it onto our blog.