thejusticizms2099-blog

[thejusticizms2099-blog]

I am a writer!! 

[thejusticizms2099-blog]

Reflection Video

[thejusticizms2099-blog]

Beyond Detention

INT. - BRIAN’S CAR - DAY BRIAN KNIGHT, 17, athletic build, handsome, unbuckles his seat belt and watches a group of people run towards the back of the house BRIAN KNIGHT Well, this is it. Are you ready? And please, don’t mess this up for me. I want to at least have one great party I can remember before we graduate. Brian looks over at the passenger seat to his best friend KOREY DAYE, 17, small framed, fidgets nervously, wiping his brown hair from his forehead and pushes his glasses back up the ridge of his nose. They exit the car. KOREY DAYE Are you sure about this? I mean, GEORGE looked awfully pissed off last time we spoke. You know, with me not helping him with his test and all. BRIAN KNIGHT Look, with him embarrassing you like he did at the science fair and what happened to his sister’s hair, I wouldn’t even worry about any more payback. It’s a done deal. KOREY DAYE You know it wasn’t supposed to be her! How would you feel if you were a senior about to graduate with a bald head? I just wanted to get him back. I’m tired of these jocks getting away with bullying people. BRIAN KNIGHT It was me who switched the shampoo remember? Look, no one is blaming you, it’s not like George suspects us and besides, this isn’t even his party but some other rich dude, relax. Brian uses both hands motioning to the people and the commotion all around them outside. BRIAN KNIGHT (CONT’D) You hear that? Is that a party you wanna miss? Earth to Korey, h-e-l-l-o! KOREY DAYE Okay, okay. You got me. But if we spot the smallest hint of trouble I want you to promise me we are outta-here! BRIAN KNIGHT No probs. Sounds like a plan to me. Let's do this!

[thejusticizms2099-blog]

MJCobbs_Advanced_StorytellingEx

I will post the video when it comes available.

[thejusticizms2099-blog]

Digital Victims

Is your self-esteem linked to affirmations from other people by the number of likes and dislikes that you get from social media platforms? If so, you are a digital victim. It may seem impossible to be a victim or taken advantage of with today’s access to relevant information but it is through that ease of access, that we are unaware that this is actually happening. I recently wrote an adaptation to, the Gift of the Magi exploring these issues. These underlying issues can be translated in advocacy advertisement. My reimagining of the same story is called, For What It’s Worth. My lead character, Nate’s world has technology all around him that has made his life easier. He must make a sacrifice by giving up an older medium to reaffirm his commitment to his wife. It is a story of sacrifice and human bonding where we become more distant in a world surrounded by gadgets. What to take from this adaptation is to hold onto and remember older forms of media that lead us to our current state. In remembering, hopefully, we will pause and reflect on our core values of what makes us human. Technology has made our lives easier but it has also made us colder and dependant on it. Among the things that we have lost is our sense of navigating around our world. We used to pick up a map and read it and now we are reliant on the GPS on our phones. Handwritten letters in cursive are replaced by text messaging. Memorization of telephone numbers and math equations are done by the phones calculator and contact list. Communication is done less with people because we can easily avoid conversations by looking down at our phones. The goal of the story is to appreciate the things that we used to appreciate about each other such as art, skill, and face to face communication. For all the benefits of technological advancement, we need to sometimes unplug ourselves and reflect on the things that make us humane and social instead of being a victim of everyday digital onslaughts.

#Blog 

#Gift of the Magi or Curse of Technology?

[thejusticizms2099-blog]

The things that we used to do may be in the distant past and we may presently have the benefits of new forms of technology that makes our lives better but that doesn't mean that we have to have a future without the things that made us human, to begin with.

For What It’s Worth an original story by Marc J. Cobbs adapted from, “the Gift of the Magi”

[thejusticizms2099-blog]

Promotional Plan Ideas

A brief synopsis on my story called, For What It's Worth, follows a couple who has the misfortune of having unfortunate events and money issues on the day when they are supposed to be exchanging gifts to celebrate their anniversary. The promotional plans that I am going to implement for my adaptation for, The Gift of the Magi are varied due to the nature of the medium's content and genre. Other than the usual standard advertising, some of the advertising models that I will use are advocacy advertising, image advertising, and copy/body text.

Advocacy Advertising The script, For What It's Worth, has an underlying message. As society becomes more modernized, other forms of mediums are displaced or abandoned due to newer forms of technology and content. Our society is introduced to these newer forms of technology and then there is a progressive marketing campaign that slowly pushes older forms of technology aside to make way for the newer ones. Within the script, Nate is confronted with a dilemma in getting rid of a rare relic from an earlier time to compensate for the loss that he has experienced earlier. He is confused with the newer technology available but ironically must use it for his negotiating a trade with his rare hand-crafted object. Advocacy advertising would work in this instance to engage us to reflect and appreciate the past and the mediums that were in existence prior to our newer ones. This can be done with an image with a short headliner or blog post.

Blog Post A blog post could be used to discuss how newer technology has enabled us to do things more efficiently, thereby making our lives easier in the process. Older forms such as handcrafted objects took a lot of time and skill to produce. Now, someone can design and produce many of these things digitally on a computer. There is something that can be said about producing things by hand. More senses are used such as the tactile feel of the material at your fingertips or the smells of the paint or wood as you shape and mold it. A blog post could bring awareness to how we are losing skills that we once had to technology. In the script, instead of having a person that is physically there, this is substituted with voice-overs and holographic images. This sterilization of human connectivity is resolved by the time the script is concluded as two peoples bond is further strengthened by their shared physical and emotional experiences. In the end, it is about the sacrifices that we make for one another that strengthens us as human beings which is part of the human experience.  

Image Advertising A visual connection would draw interest to what you are trying to market. The stronger the visual image the better off you are in being in the social memory of the people who will be able to remember your product. Color, images, and content should be relatable to the content of your product. It must draw on the main concept and ideas that you are trying to give a voice to. In other words, people must care for it otherwise it will be overlooked over the countless other advertisements and distractions that people face every day due to overmarketing and competition from other brands.

Copy/BodyText Along with images there should be written content. A slogan or headline would pull all of this together especially if you have images that enhance the proper wording. Determining the target audience, length, tone, and message must compliment the images and vice versa. It should never be too complex but rather straightforward and told in the simplest of terms so that it could be remembered.  

[thejusticizms2099-blog]

My Magi Story 2.0

Is your self-esteem linked to the number of likes that you receive from social media platforms? Do you prefer to allow yourself to wait, or long for someone due to their absence or do you log into your computer or handheld device to get instant gratification by skype or face time? Odds are, if your answer is yes, to any of the above, you are a digital victim. In my adaptation of the Gift of the Magi, I sought to improve on the irony of the original story with a modernized twist. In other words, a story with a deeper meaning than the original or a story that I wanted to tell. This assignment has challenged me to create something with irony, a twist, and something that is relevant in today's society. The detachment of us as a society of people in a cold digital world has always been a topic that I wanted to address. I feel that this exercise has given me the opportunity to do it. My adaptation is called, “For What It’s Worth,” and it is placed in a near or alternative future. My character like the original story has to make sacrifices to get his wife a gift and she has to do the same. My underlying message was to see and remember the importance of human interactions and bonding as we are moving deeper into a digital world. Certain skills that we once possed such as memorizing numbers or handwriting a letter are being lost as we tend to let newer technology take over these skills that we used to use. I used the art of handcrafted images such as a rare African mask, and the selfless sacrifices that are used for others to show the warmth of a meaningful relationship. Human interaction with other people through conversations, real-life issues and how they are solved with compassion, empathy, and self-sacrifice. The core of the story was to show all of the good qualities that we have which make us human such as being selfless, giving and considerate. The things that we used to do may be in the distant past and we may presently have the benefits of new forms of technology that makes our lives better but that doesn't mean that we have to have a future without the things that made us human, to begin with. 

Sources

https://www.itbusiness.ca/blog/new-it-vs-old-it-cloud-computings-technology-disruption/50102

[thejusticizms2099-blog]

Gamification and Media Convergence 

Gamification has a reward level system that mimics what you would find in the video game genre which is also found its way into the workforce. I often see my current employer using the same tactics using a reward system. In order to increase our productivity, a reward is given to whoever completes their documentation in the shortest amount of time. 

I also find myself using a gamification model when it comes to redirecting my children. In order to keep them quiet while I am driving, we play a game where they are non-talking NPCs who must make it back to base. Whoever talks is excluded from the game until next time we play and whoever wins get the reward at the base which is home. 

My youngest daughter is 4-0! Other forms of Gamification can be found on Linkedin who utilizes a percentage system to tell whether your profile is from 10% to 100% completed. Twitter and Facebook use an upvote, likes or follower counts and Reddit has an up-or-down-vote system that unlocks trophy badges. There are many forms of Media Convergence, most of which are seen to be very lucrative in cinematography.  

Hollywood has had its share of lagging returns from the box office and has run to other forms of pop culture for inspiration. Due to the success of the Harry Potter books by R.K. Rowlings, many adaptations from book to movies have taken place such as Maze Runner by James Dashner and  Hunger Games by author Suzanne Collins to name a few.  

Disney has made many successful movies based on Marvel comic book characters which also are seen in a plethora of merchandise such as toys, coloring books, video games, cartoons, and clothing. Other forms of Media Convergence have made the transition from video game to movies such as Tomb Raider, Assassins Creed and Dwayne Johnson's Rampage which is based on a classic 1980's video game from the 2-bit era.

Sources

Kelly, Tadfe. (2012, November 17) Everything You'll Ever, retrieved April 23, 2018, from https://techcrunch.com/2012

Kuo, Ivan. (2013, February 15) Why You Probably, retrieved April 23, 2018, from http://www.gamification.co/2013/02/15/why-you

Marshall, Joel. (2016, March 14) Why Is Convergence Important, retrieved April 23, 2018, from https://asguilsboroughmedia006017jmarshall.wordpress.com

Murray, Clara. (2012, April 24) The Hunger Games. Retrieved April 23, 2018, from http://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/magazine/books

Readr. (2014, August 25) The Maze Runner. Retrieved April 23, 2018, from https://www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/2014

Marvel.com. Retrieved April 23, 2018, from https://marvel.com/movies/all

[thejusticizms2099-blog]

Word of Mouth Marketing

Logos help but there also has to be a strong driving force behind your ideas, work or business to move it forward. The Starbucks company, believe it or not, started in Seattle, 1971. As time went along it began to improve its infrastructure and curbside appeal to be innovative and formidable in its own right. Starbucks high-quality blend of coffees and snacks appeals to people of various tastes. The restaurant is aesthetically appealing and a nice place for a social visit or one of leisure. This brings to the consumer good times and memories which is passed on to the word of mouth which increases their already good reputation. Positive reviews are sent to social media outlets which influence others to try their brand due to having a good reputation. I would say that uniqueness, passion, consistency and being perceived positively in the public eye has helped this company succeed where others have failed. Using these techniques, you will be sure to strive.

Millman, Debbie. “How Starbucks Transformed.” September 2011. Retrieved from https://www.fastcompany.com  

https://www.starbucks.com 

  Brand Recognition and Flexibility

McDonalds has been a successful fast food chain of restaurants that started back in the 1940's. Though it has experienced its ups and downs like every other company before and after it, it has maintained its dominance in the market due to its ability to listen to the voice of its consumers. McDonalds initial logo design that has been relatively unchanged through the years and it is shown as being consistent and strong enough to survive the passage of time. Its sheer number of franchises has made it a strong presence in the public eye whether here or overseas. It has made changes in its infrastructure and policies due to bad press and has won back the assurance of its consumers due to these changes. Ultimately, what we can take from this is having good public perception, reliability, goodwill, and flexibility has enabled this company to stay ahead of the competition. Following these methods are great steps to being successful.  

Rampton, John. "8 Things McDonald's." February 2016. Retrieved from https://www.entrepreneur.com  

https://www.mcdonalds.com

  Mass Marketing and Advertising    

Samsung has been a constant thorn in the side to rival and competitor Apple for a while. Though Samsung also delves into laptops, televisions and blue ray players, most of its success has to do with its cell phone strategies. Part of that has to do with attending to the need of people than the need of society as a whole. There are different variations of the same phone or with differences that vary from model to model. Their distribution of these models gives consumers a choice on what and where to buy them from. This has led to lowering the prices to phones that can best suit the consumers budget. Advertising is done by commercials and regular everyday people other than using people who are famous. In short, having multiple products available to the public with different price ranges flooding the market gains the public's trust as well as having sales and discounts. Discounts may not be an option but being able to relatable to everyday people may win them over to what it is you are bringing to them. 

Nisen, Max. "Samsung Has a." March 2013. Retrieved from https://www.buisnessinsider.com  

http://ukessays.com  

[thejusticizms2099-blog]

There isn’t an author is unknown for this quote but it is empowering. 

[thejusticizms2099-blog]

My ESW Experience

This month I learned about Episodic Serial Writing. I enjoyed it a lot, to say the least. There was a lot of information to digest and to implement as I created my own stories that I wanted to tell. I loved delving into each character's bio to see how each one ticked and making them distinct from one another. This distinction also helped with deciding how their personalities differ from each other and how it made them connected. The “beats” were bones to a story and the dialogue was the muscle. Using this analogy I felt like a god perfecting the perfect machine. Seeing and interacting with my Professor and fellow classmates made me even more excited about what I was trying to accomplish. My goal as a writer was to create compelling stories of likable and memorable characters and I have enjoyed my first attempt at the webisode that I have created. I have never done script writing before and it was different from writing poetry which I was more familiar with. There were a lot of rules which had to do with formatting and structure. It became easier to follow as the month went by. The reading material and examples helped a lot too. Poetry has a structure to it but it is not as in-depth as a script. I could see me writing webisodes for a living but more in the style of an anthology of sorts with different characters and stories. Overall, I would recommend this class to anyone who wants to dig within themselves and try something that requires a lot of forethought and revisions. These steps will empower you to craft the story that you would want to read as well as others.  

[thejusticizms2099-blog]

It is never too late to be what you might have been.

George Eliot