The Greatest Movie Ever Sold

• What did you LEARN about advertising and product placement from this movie? (Be specific)

I don't think I ever realized the amount of effort it would take to get a product in a film. I sort of just assumed that products would want to be in movies so it would be okay. It does make sense though that they wouldn't want to ruin their image by being in a certain kind of movie. I did notice afterward about the Ban deodorant being in one scene when Morgan was interviewing Quentin Tarantino that a bottle of Ban was on the table. 

• What did you LIKE about this movie?

I really like the small segment about music in commercials. I know that when I watch commercials whenever I hear a song I know I get excited. Now with Shazam (the app on the iphone, I think), you can actually put your phone up to the screen and it listens and then finds the song online. They you can buy the song right there. It is so crazy to think about it, and how much money that they get from it. 

Saved by the Bell

• What is a subliminal message?- It is a hidden message that contains some type of a meaning for people to follow.
• What examples does the teacher give to explain subliminal messaging?- The example she gave was how movie theaters put pictures of popcorn to get people to buy food at the theater. The teacher created a tape that had a subliminal message to make her students buy her apples and flowers.
• How does Zach take advantage of this new information?- Zach decides to create a tape to get the principal to like him (so he wouldn't get in trouble) and he also used it on Kelly do get her to go to the dance with him.
• Although this show is silly and exaggerated, what is the show realistically saying about the dangers and power of advertising?- The dangers of advertising is that people might not take it the right way. The message can be to do one thing and someone does the opposite. The power of advertising is that it can effect a lot of people considerable quickly.

Ray Charles' foundation sues his children

By Alan Duke, CNN, April 1, 2012

http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/01/showbiz/ray-charles-lawsuit/index.html?hpt=us_c2

The Ray Charles Foundation accuses seven of Ray Charles's children for claiming rights to his songs, when they really didn't have the rights. The children's claim over the song "created an enormous cloud" over the songs' overall value. Some of the songs include "I Got a Woman" and "What'd I Say". The defendants' lawyer is Marc Toberoff who is most famous for representing the Superman estate co-creator Jerry Siegel who is having a battle with copyright with Warner Brothers.

This is important because an entire foundation is getting involved with the children of the creator. The claims to these songs have a large impact on the foundation and the amount of money it will have. The foundation supports education programs for the hearing impaired.

Ray Charles's Children Sued

Who does own the songs if the children do not?

Studio Tour Casts Spells Just Like Harry

By Sarah Lyall, March 29, 2012, The NY Times

http://travel.nytimes.com/2012/04/01/travel/studio-tour-casts-spells-like-harry-potter.html?ref=travel#

The most popular place in Europe now is London, and it is the Warner Brothers Studio Tour of the "Harry Potter" set. All the props and scenery is there, the costumes and dolls, the monsters and magic. The model of Hogwarts Castle is right there for all to see. The tour is mostly self guided, and completely worth it. You walk through the sets of the Gryffindor boy's dorm filled with posters and suitcases. Even the three-decker Knight Bus that was used in the third movie was right there in the studio. There is also a short movie with the main stars, talking about their childhood and their lives on screen.

This is newsworthy because it allows such great fans, of the books and of the movie industry in general. People get to walk through the Hogwarts Great Hall and learn about how everything was made and what is really behind all the magic. It is a fantastic idea to let the people in the studios.

Harry Potter Studio Tour

How much money does it take to build all of these sets and keep them?

James Nachtwey

• What did James study in college?- Art History and Political Science from Dartmouth
• What inspired him to be a photographer?- The images from the Vietnam War and the American Civil Rights movement inspired him.
• What are some honors and awards that he has received?- He was shown at the International Center of Photography in NY. He also received the Common Wealth Award, Martin Luther King Award, and Photographer of the Year (seven times).
  

• Choose one photo essay from his gallery to look through:
• What was the photo essay about?- I did the Deeds of War
• What was your favorite photo in the essay?- I really like the photo of the clergyman going to Pop John Paul II's funeral during war.
• Why was that one your favorite?- I think that it was interesting because even though there were all of these sad concepts (war and death) this one man is still going to a funeral. I also like how this picture, like the others aren't posed and are a moment in time.

Digital Truth

1. The "Conveniently Placed Toys" were really disturbing. The picture of the rumble and debris in general is upsetting. Knowing that people's lives were lost and that a city was destroyed is tragic enough, but addressing that children were there makes it worse. When someone hears a story about a murder it is sad, but add a kid it makes it more interesting and more depressing. Having the toy makes sense if you are trying to make it sad, but it makes it annoying because of how staged it is. Also making it a Disney toy is heartbreaking.
2. In "Kiss by the Hotel De Ville" the kiss was staged. It doesn't seem like that big of a deal because in general people like reading about love and romance. It is really disappointing to hear about this because it seems does take away the "moment" of it all. I think that not hearing the truth is almost better.
3. The "Cottingley Fairies" picture is very interesting because looking at it now it seems so ridiculous that people could have believed this. Even Arthur Conan Doyle believed it which is shocking because he was considered a pretty smart man. Come to think of it though, people believe a lot of different photoshopping now a days, it really isn't much different.

Canadian province of Ontario legalizes brothels in landmark ruling

By Paula Newton, CNN, March 26, 2012

http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/26/world/americas/canada-ontario-legalizes-brothels/index.html?hpt=wo_c2

In Ontario, Canada, the court officially ruled prostitution laws unfair because apparently they discriminate against prostitutes. While this might make sense in a very illogical way (discriminating against people is wrong), brothels should not be made legal. The judges continued to say that a prostitutes should be able "to work indoors, in location under her control." Basically the new law is the prostitutes can work indoors, but they cannot go out on the street to try to get costumers.

This is newsworthy because in America prostitution is illegal so it is interesting that a place that is so close to have it legalized. Also the fact that insulting the prostitutes is inappropriate and Canada is uncomfortable with that. I find the whole situation odd.

Should prostitutes start getting insurance for their 'jobs' or benefits?

Prostitution: Legalized... in Canada