MOBILE EYES BY SHAHEN MARTIN HOVIK & ASTGHIK

This film is about bone sickness. This is really very important problem and we decided to make film about this theme.

Our index cards:
1. Be an angel save a life!
2. Every day discover 100 new sick person!
3. Every day 20-30 child die in Armenia because of this sickness.
4. They want our attention!
4. We can help them!
5. Every donor can help 15000 sick person.
6. We can help them!
7. Be an angel save a life!
8. www.abmdr.am

Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry is a charety foundation. The aim of the foundation is to encourage and make people understand that by becoming a donor they save lives.
Bone Marrow disease hits mainly children. In Armenia each year from 20-30 children at the age from 1-16 die from this disease.
The delicate point is that a great variety of parameters of blood MUST coinside.




Our second film is about Swine Flu. This sickness is very popular in the world now and it's important to know about this illness.

Index cards:
1.Flu A-H1N1, H1N2, H3N1, H3N2, H2N3.
2.H1N1 history.
3.Pandemy.
4.H1N1 has the similar symptoms as the simple flu.
5.How to protect?
6.The virus disappeared in high temperature.
7.cdc.gov/H1N1FLU/

In this video we use our Limbic and Neocortex brains. We hear music and see images in this video. This means that works our Limbic part of brain. When we read texts in this video works our Neocortex brain.

Films by Shahen Mayilyan, Astghik Khachatryan, Martin Hakobyan and Hovhannes Sarajyan.

DOTCOM Phase #3, Module 2 - Exploring REEL BAD ARABS

A Story Told by my neighbour, when his daughter was a small girl, they were visiting Egypt and it was the first time that the little girl saw an Arab. The Arab man put the girl on his knees and the girl starte rubbing her finger on that man's hand and examine her finger, wether it was becoming black. The source for the very first thing I thought was a Real Life Experince.



1. THE THREE-PART BRAIN - In what ways do YOU think REEL BAD ARABS attracted your REPTILIAN (instinctual), FEELING (limbic) and THINKING (neo-cortex) brains?
The film attracts my LIMBIC brain with the music at the begining of the film, this part attracts my emotions and images on middle east, that is pictures of magic, dancing Arab women, poverty, a piece of worls counting secrets and wonders.
My THINKING brain works, while watching the film when at the end the journalist calls for young filmmakers to produce new film, overcome old images of Arab world.
REPTILIAN brain activates, while watching the film, when I see the images of killing and humiliating Arabs.


2.PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES - List and describe one specific production technique - lighting, music, camera effects, editing - used by REEL BAD ARABS.
A number of Production Techniques are used in the film like:
Music - Very nice and arising emotions of mysteriousness of Arab world.
Motion - Excerpts from cartoons and various films on Arabs, showing fighting, killing, etc.
Camera effects - Presenting the scenes by zooming the people and objects to offect viewers minds.


3. PERSUASIVE TECHNIQUES - Looking at our list of 24 plus persuasive techniques, list and describe a specific moment from the film as an example of THREE different specific persuasive techniques used by our filmmakers.
The following Persuasive Techniques are used in the film:
HYPERBOLE - exaggerated stupidity of Arabs. They are portrayed as sub-human and easily defeated.
Fear/defensive nationalism - Persuasing that thay are enemies, villains dangerous.
Repetition - Persuary through in dif exerceples repealing the stupidity and ancompetence of Arabs.
Race Card/race based fear - The film shows that Arabs can be of danger, because of their vengeous nature in the result of being treated as sub-human.


4. SUGGESTIONS - Offer one specific suggestion for the REEL BAD ARABS filmmakers that might make their film even more powerful.
In Arab world people have their values, which must be respected. New films must be made to show that human dignity and national traits must be respected.


5. Would you recommend this film for viewing with friends or colleagues? Why or why not?
I would recommend the film for viewing my friends, because I think that hostility among nations must be eliminated. I would recommend them to see the film from the point of view that bring new perspective on portraying Arabs world a better place.

DOTCOM Launches Phase 3!!! - Module #1 Reflecting on DOTCOM Phase 2

Step #1

1. The most challenging part of my July Phase 2 DOTCOM experience was the language. Learning English theoretically was different from live spoken nice English. I was enjoying learning through communication.
2.The most rewarding part of my July Phase 2 DOTCOM experience was first, learning film-shooting skills, second seeing America, third, meeting all of YOU.
3.The most fun part of my July Phase 2 DOTCOM was Bolton Adventure day, of course FLYING.
4.The most excited part that I’m looking forward to in our online Phase 3 DOTCOM experience is shooting of a new interesting film.

Step #2




We are at the Airport. Our first flight was delayed. We were waiting for Tessa, but in Facebook she wrote that she had already flown. We were sitting sadly, remembering David Sackstain speaking Armenian and suddenly saw him, Jacob, Katie and Danielle. Our happiness was endless. You can see our reunion in the photo. We were really-really happy to be together again.

A Best Song By Jessica Best

Hey!!!
First time I heard JB's song at the picnic. It was very praising because the song was created by her. I loved her song. She is very modest but in fact she is very talanted. And I don't want to abuse tour patience. Here it's. Enjoy it.

PICNIC

It was one of our free days and all DOTCOMers went to picnic. It was very interesting and funny day. We all were very happy. While we were having lunch Rob Williams and his friends were singing. I loved their song. Then we went to play. By the end of the day some participants went to see Yaks. It was pity that I couldn't go with them, but my friends had alredy told me everything about them. One of American participants, Jessica Best, sung a beautiful song, which was written by her. We enjoyed her song. The weather was fine and nature was amazing. So we had a wonderful day. And, of course, THANKS TO THE ALL DOTCOM STAFF for such a nice day.

Day #5. Our First DOTCOM Reflection Assignment

1. What did you learn in Washington D.C. about media?
At first I want to describe what funny and intersting days we spent in washington DC. Almost every evening we( Armenian and American participants) gathered and talked, played some instruments and laught. I noticed that we have a lot of talanted participants. In State Department we talsked a lot about the things we were interested in and got the answers to our questions from State Department representatives. Representatives told us a lot about their activity.
Then I learnd a lot ablout media in Newseum and understood that press (which is kind of media) has a great role in comunity.

2. What did you learn in Washington, D.C. about your student colleagues from the other two countries?

I was impressed by our first meeting with Americans. They accepted us so warmly that I liked all of them at the first sight. We spent very nice time with Americans. During four days we became good friends. I noticed that Americans were interested in our culture and language. and some of them know a lot of words in Armenian, it's very nice. We took a lot of photos with them, which I will always keep and them will remind me about the wonderful time, that we spent together. I am really vary happy and proud at the group we have.

3. What has been hard or challenging about the DOTCOM program so far?

It was hard and challanging for me to speak English and understand it, because we have learnd Britain English in our shcool and this is the fourth year that I'm learning English and it differs from American English. But now I got used to it. And it was hard to overcome the whole differances.

4. What has been exciting and rewarding about the DOTCOM program so far?

At first I want to say that I'm inspired by the devotion of the managers of each country. Their devotion make us be more careful and be friendly with each other. I'm excited of the days we are spending now, full of interest, fun and busy. I'm excited of our group work and our theme. I'm also excited of our realtionship with the participants. We miss each other, when we don't see each other for a day. I LIKE DOTCOM GROUP VERY MUCH AND THE PARTICIPANTS TOO.

My Top Three REEL ACTION Themes

#1. Environment

Environmental issues are of great concern in the 21st century. For example, I have heard about ozone depletion, cutting of forests for construction of plants, use of harmful chemicals by the plants that dump the waste into the waters, car exhausts, human activities, like using of fertilizers in agriculture. I’d like to address environmental issues. If you remember in my elevator pitch I spoke about construction of a gold plant near lake Sevan, which uses cyanide for processing of ore. Environmentalists fear that this cyanide will drain into the ground waters and then into the lake and contaminate it.

#2. Media

Media is a powerful means to raise issues, which concern me. There are two types of media – informative and analytic. I am more interested in analytic media, so that I can explore some issues and write about it and draw attention of people to the problems.

#.3 Peace/War/Conflict

This is the first issue I worry about. I want the world to be a peaceful place. I have heard recently that Korea tested nuclear weapon. There is so much tension in the world between different countries. Peace/war/conflict issues are very important to be tackled.

RAY

First time I saw this film when I was 10 years old. I was very imprest, because the film was about the life of my favorite singer. While watching the film I understood, that if somebody has a goal thich he wants to make true, then no obstacle can stop him.


My favorite opisode in the film is (I mean it is not what I like, but how it is introdused in the film) when he loses eyesight. I myself think that it was a result of a stress that ha had because of his brother’s death. I’m simply very touched by this episode.

One more episode from the film, which I also like. It is about how the blind talented musican could hear the bird’s breathing on the other side of the window…

Phase 2

Module # 7

I LOVE DOTCOM. It has been exciting from the start and I greatly enjoy the process. Most important part is that it is a learning process for me. I have learned so many new things, met so many new people, in one word it is great. The most exciting part of the Phase 1 for me was exploring the persuasive techniques. It took me quite a while to find a video and try to explain persuasion methods used in it. The most challenging and at the same time very interesting part was exploration of the parts of the brain. I didn’t think of it before that we could approach our brain from that point. Knowing it now, I, when thinking or watching something concentrate on what part of my brain is being activated, limbic, neocortex or reptilian, which is fun. Another challenging part of this Phase 1 was reading the three interviews with Josh, Arzu and Onik, because formerly I had never read any interview the way we had to in this Phase, I mean reading carefully and trying to understand things, which were new for me, I mean, before I never thought of social changes, human rights violations, gender issues, and now at least I have an idea what are they and that there are people who are concerned about such problems. I can’t think of any suggestion for this Phase 1, I find it well-considered, well-organized. Funny video: You’ll laugh with this cute baby. Somebody’s voice serves a stimulus for him to laugh. Seeing this happy laughing creature is amusing and his laugh is very contagious, have fun.

Module 5

This is a one minute advertisement of Samsung G800 mobile phone.
A young handsome man is walking in the street, at the same time talking to somebody on his mobile. To persuade that Samsung G800 is worth buying the ad is using persuasion through simple solution - this young man has Samsung G800 and his heart is full of love, he sees the symbol of love (the image of heart) thirteen times – a wire in the street, carving on the tree, on the wall of tunnel, cup handle, reflection of the cloud in the window, on the asphalt, on the swing, in the tree branches, in combination of sunset and wheat plant, on a furry puppy running in the street. Through this repetition of the same “love” symbol the advertisement persuades us that Samsung G800 will bring us love and warmth. We can ZOOM the love (image of love in the roof of a big building). We can send it to people we love. The advertisement ends showing beautiful people, receiving the love message. Perfect! Everybody is persuaded! Everybody is persuaded by the emotional romantic music, which is playing along the ad. Repetition of the love image and music are processed through our limbic brain. At the end of the advertisement there is a work for our neocortex too, we read, think and understand that we must buy Samsung G800.

Module #3 Our Brains On Media

SEE THIS NICE ADVERTISEMENT CALLED "WHAT HANDS CAN DO" This commercial starts with nice violine music, affecting our feelings, emotions, that is our limbic brain. First I see shades of human hands depicting figures, I start guessing what animanls the hand are depicting, and in this moment my thinking neocortex brain is working, trying to guess what will come next and at the same time admiring what hands can do. By the time I process the information, a written text is appearing on the screen saying "Isn't it beautiful what hands can do". Then again our thinking brain is switched on to understand that it is an ad of Phaeton, which is a HANDMADE PERFECTION.

MY MEDIA PREFERENCES

1.Music

2.Internet

3.Computer

4.Video games

5.Books

6.Television

7.Newspaper

MODULE #2. My Personal Media Inventory

1.Books
Books attract me, first of all, with their nice covers :) I'll explain. There is a very big book-store near my school, which I often call on. While spending time there, I enjoy reading them, eg. last time I spent there almost an hour, reading a detective story of Irish Williams, and then bought it. I often buy nice colorful books for my 9 year old sister and 6 year old brother. Recently I read «Daddy Long Legs» by Jean Webster, which I greatly enjoyed and then «Uncle Tom's Cabin» by Harriet Beecher Stowe. My aunt recently told me about and internet site http://www.lib.ru/ which is a very big library, one can choose any book and enjoy for free. Most of the books are in Russian, but some are also in English. Although now I am very busy with my classes, but I am planning to make use of that site.

2.Newspapers/Magazines
Newspapers and magazines also attract me with their nice covers :) Are you smiling? I am at least honest to express what I really feel. I don't read news I hear them whether I want it or not, news like plane crashes, or earthquakes, or war in Middle East, or world financial crisis is everywhere. I like to read about celebrities, magazines like «All the Stars», and «Oops», where I learn about fashion, singers, actors, and see beautiful smiling faces.

3.Music

Music is my world, I wake up, I sleep, I study, I shower - music is with me always. I listen to it in many forms, cassettes, MP3 files, FM radio. One of the greatest experiences I had was that the rehearsals of our troupe were taking place at the Yerevan Opera House (which is, by the way, a very nice building, it is the pride of all the Armenians) so I and my friends were lucky to be inside, and be present at almost all the pre-concert rehearsals of all live concerts, like the days of festival «Yerevan is listening to jazz» enjoying live performances. We were being present also to all ballet rehearsals. I myself took piano classes while attending ballet school up to age 11. I will now open you my secret desire. I have made up my mind to learn playing «dhol» (percussion instrument) – it is a national Armenian instrument played with fingers, when I play it you will like it :)

4.Television
I am not very interested in TV programs, but I do watch it sometimes, when I just sit and do nothing and watch what other members of my family watch. But I follow the program and watch all the Mezzo concerts, mainly ballet performances, and also I follow projects like «Armenian Superstar», or Russian similar programs. As I told you above, I have an impression that TV is for bad news only.

5.Video games
I play video games! It is one of my most favorite pass-time experiences. In between all my activities, I'll always find time just to relax and play, it is so great! I have a Play Station and many-many games. If I try to explain what I feel, when I play, maybe I feel like it is real world where I win.

6.Computers
I have used computers since I was 7. First I was just playing games, then I learned touch typing by a program of Mavis Beacon, then I learned to use Internet, then I started to chat, then I learned how create an email account, then learned how to browse in the Internet and find songs and the lyrics of the songs and videos of my favorite singers. I learned also Photoshop. As I have told before, I like photography, and I have files, where I keep all my photos. And now this Dotcom program. I also use the computer for making use of electronic dictionaries, which is very easy.

7.Internet
I really spend quite much time browsing in the Internet. One of the activities I like is watching Youtube videos. I also like to print names of famous artists in the search-box and see works of art, like paintings, sculpture, graphics. Recently I used internet to listen to Dr. Williams's songs and the songs of his brother, Christopher Williams.

The eyes of orphans make me sad

For all of you one of the dances of our troupe, filmed by my friend from not a very successful angle

Answers to "Knowledge Tree"

My name is Astghik Khachatryan of Yerevan, Republic of Armenia. I am so happy to be selected for participation in this program. What I liked up to this point was dancing, I named my blog “Dancing in the Universe” (they are not my words). Once I saw a program on TV, and heard this sentence, and thought what an interesting expression, how can I dance in the Universe, but surely when one is looking into the sky, it seems like the stars are dancing. I am very much interested in what is there in the Universe, how much is not explored, really what is there? So, again about me. I have danced for 10 years, since I was five. Those classes were enjoyable, I was attending them with great pleasure, I usually was getting there almost one hour before the classes, so were my several friends. What about me, I am always in good mood, I am active and attentive to many details around me, especially what interests me. Am I a leader? Perhaps no, because I have calm nature, do not try to persuade my opinion to others, but I am making quick decisions. I am very fond of “The Beatles”. One of my passions is learning the words of their songs, because I have an MP3 with all their songs and words. This last summer I obtained one more interest. I went to a horse-riding camp, and I liked it very much, both the riding and the horses. This is briefly about myself.




My most active relationship with media is the TV, I watch mainly youth programs. Recently, on a New Year occasion I received a very precious present, which I liked very much, it is a book and a CD of Oxford publication, so what I enjoy greatly is I put the CD and follow the book. It is read by actors, and you cannot imagine what a fun it is to listen. When I was perhaps ten years old I read that book in Armenian, but this is an opportunity to improve my English. I have a video game PSP (play station portable”, but most of all I like “Medal of Honor”, “Call of Duty”, “Need for Speed”, etc.


What I am concerned about is why there are no many places for dancing and people don’t know what a nice thing is dancing. Young people of my age, do not go in for sports, so that they have nice bodies. I would like that children know more about dances and sports, but I don’t know what can I do now. Another thing that I am thinking of are the orphans. We have an Armenian singer Kristina Pepelyan, who some two years ago filmed a video of a song about mothers, and in that video a group of orphans were participating. I have often thought why parents leave their children. If I could, I would organize that these children have the best clothes, the best teachers. I want them to be happy. Some time after that songs was played on TV and radion, Kristina Pepelyan told on TV that many parents have taken their children back. If I could I would make all the parents to take their children back.

Possibly, during workshops I can be able to give ideassometimes I find myself spontaneously finding new ideas. I can also teach them some Armenian dances.