Museums and Community Collaborations Abroad

Not Just Another Brick in the Wall: Engaging Italian and American Teens in Planetarium Technology

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Headed to LSMSA again!

Hi all...I am going to be heading out to LSMSA to work on the D3 components. Mainly we'll focus on uploading the files and (cross your fingers) play them through D3 w/o any issues arising. I plan on bringing the files back to Shreveport and uploading them in the planetarium but the upload won't take place for a few days (we are currently undergoing a technical repair with the planetarium).

Speaking of files...I don't think I stated my expectations. Keep in mind I haven't seen anything outside of what's been posted on the facebook and/or blogs, so I am "clueless" as to what the final film will feature. I expect this to be a film that is going to be everything but a typical planetarium show...LOL! My initial thoughts were to help create something dealing with astronmoy, but as I've watched the progress, I've seen more and more how the film is focusing on aspects of common life for Americans versus Italians. I am very amused by the Italians video postings - they are hilarious! I never imagined comedy to be associated with a planetarium environment...but that is part of my cultural understanding. In reflecting over this project, I've discovered the word "planetarium" now needs to expand its connotation. I'd love to write more, but I've got to mosey on down the road. I'll provide more "fodder" when I return.

Looking forward to seeing everyone!

Cheers,
Greg

(Giorgia) Still working, but the end is near!

Dear friends,

all the students are working hard in order to complete their scenes.
They have hurried up and we all met every Tuesdays and Thursdays in the last weeks: in the photos you can see images of the students editing the last scenes, adding their music and some captions.

In the photo above, you can see my colleague Emanuele (the one on the left, with the black jumper) helping the students using the softwares for video and music editing. In the right, you can see Oscar while helping the students taking the last decisions for the storyboard.

The last photo below is a bit older, it dates back to the last skype call with the American students: in the rear you can see Adele and Matteo while talking through facebook and skype with Louisiana's group, making the last arrangements for the show.


At last all the students succeded in getting their passport for the travel to America. We are all looking forward to meeting altogether in April. Eleonora, Emanuele and Antonella are ready to set off with the students in this exciting adventure!
Oscar and I are so sorry not to be able to come to America! But don't worry: we will have valuable substitutes! Antonella (the vice headmaster of Vallauri) will come instead of Oscar, and Emanuele will come instead of me: he can be a valuable help for Greg and all the students, as he is expert both in Digistar scripting and in video and music editing.
I can't wait to see the results of this hard work! And we are waiting for all the American group to come to Italy!
See you very very soon!
Giorgia

Thursday, March 11, 2010

(Giorgia) Problem in skype call for 11th march

Dear all,

last night it started to snow and now it is still snowing (yes! despite we are in march!!! if you click on the title of this post, you will see our webcam), so we are not sure if we will be able to skype with you today: we don't know neither if we (Eleonora, Emanuele and I) can reach Vallauri from the planetarium nor if Vallauri school will be open (it depends on the decision of the regional council).
I asked Adele and Matteo if they will be able to skype at least with Courtney from their houses, but we may have to postpone the skype conversation with everyone to next thursday (18th march 2010).
Sorry for that! I will be on skype anyway, if someone needs or wants to talk to us.
Giorgia

Monday, March 1, 2010

Let's talk- from Rebecca

Hi Everyone,
I had a couple of very interesting conversations last week with the two different partners. I'm really glad that the teams have shared their interpretations of "A Day in the Life" and their scene descriptions.
There are some questions now. How are we going to put this all together into one creative product? There has been some suprise at how much more metaphorical and narrative the Louisiana team's interpretation of the scenes is.
I would like for the two teams of kids to start talking about how to make this "ours" instead of "theirs" and "ours". So instead of posting something on the web and then walking away, I think it is important to have a back-and-forth dialog discussing how to put everything together.
I'm recommending three skypes in the coming three weeks. The first I'd like you to talk about how to make the narrative make sense. The second about the soundtrack, and the third on why you chose to feature certain things in your scenes. Why was it important to the Italians to show playing with a sibling in the first scene? Why was it important for the Louisianans to show Louisiana woods? This is where the cultural exchange will happen.
So, I was hoping that the first scenes would be e-mailed to each other before Thursday, and I think that the kids need to plan on meeting by skype on the next three Thursdays- as many kids as can be there.
Hope that is okay with everyone! After these meetings we will have enough information to write the Digistar script.
My best to everyone,
Rebecca

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Hey guys! US Update

Hi, guys! This is Courtney :)

This week we've done a lot! Chris King (our teacher) and Ethan (our director) have put in 6 hours to come up with a preview of our movie. Look forward to seeing it soon! Felipe and Cari have been meeting with Greg to work on the D3 scripting. We are working very hard on editing and getting things together. 

Looking forward to seeing the end project!

Friday, February 5, 2010

The Backstage 2

The Backstage 2



This is the second and final backstage of the film-making...
It had been amazing!!!

Thursday, February 4, 2010

End of filming

Hi to everyone! =) I'm Adele!
I'm going to update you about our filming!
Today we have finished the scene: we've been in Savigliano at the railway museum :)
you are watching soon our product! it is very funny and now we have 'just' to edit everything and choose the music!
tell us your work!

see you on the skype meeting next Thursday!
Bye!