Tuesday, 31 January 2012

Review of reader 1 - Professional Communication Technology


Despite feeling fairly ‘in the know’ when it comes to social and informational technologies, I found that after reviewing  Reader 1 – Professional Communication Technology (WBS 3730)’ that there was far more knowledge and exploration to be had below, what I now perceive to be its superficial surface level.

The web 2.0 platforms such as; Blogs, Facebook, and YouTube (all detailed in the introduction to professional communications) are programs of which I am familiar with both for social and career boosting prospects within my world of work. I was aware of their benefit to me, but once I began to read and review this reader I started to explore and identify other forms of enhancing web 2.0 programs, as well as how they are used globally. While researching I came across this article, which I felt elaborated on the reader itself:


Ironically I found it on one of the largest web 2.0 informational platforms Wikipedia, which I feel supports the ever-engulfing power these forms are having within technology today. It really identifies the importance of communication and file sharing between users, eradicating the typical one way communication between reader and creator, which can still be seen in more physical forms of media such as; newspapers. Before studying this reader I did not fully appreciate nor comprehend the importance of this ‘equality’ between reader and creator. This form, I believe allows each individual to feel more involved during the progression within society.

Throughout my further research I also discovered numerous other forms of web 2.0 platforms, one of which I feel will be particularly beneficial to me. The site is called ‘delicious’ and allows you to bookmark sites that interest you, as well as viewing the sites that capture others. My link is as follows:


Despite all the positives these web 2.0 platforms can provide us with, for example; the marketing of ourselves or the unlimited forms of interaction and communication of knowledge, as I read further into the three competencies – based upon O’Reilly’s meme - It occurred to me ‘what about privacy policies?’ ‘When are we becoming too publically exposed?’ Young adults are un-knowingly revealing themselves to the wider world via these web 2.0 sites such as Facebook. Unlike us as professionals who can see the benefits of this freely exchangeable knowledge to enhance us, as well as our careers; children as young as 7 and 8 are not only being exposed to the ever demanding and ever changing media, but becoming influenced and persuaded into views or opinions that they may not have. In addition to this, the children that are growing up in this world that is becoming more and more ‘technologically consumed’ are finding it hard to differentiate between ‘cyber worlds’ and ‘reality’. I found this short video clip on YouTube detailing this:





To conclude my review of Reader 1 – Professional Communication Technology, I feel that I have explored and identified both the positives and negatives that the world of web 2.0 has to offer. For me personally, the unlimited boundary whereby the reader has now become the creator and vice versa, is a phenomenon. Catapulting my progress to gain knowledge and promoting myself to establish the best career I can achieve. On the flip side, the harsh and addictive natures of these sites I believe are too much for young adults to be experiencing. Without boundaries and guidelines at these young ages, who knows what damage can be caused.
Reading and reviewing this reader has definitely captured and encouraged me whilst exploring media further. It has left me more ‘in the know’, yet curious as to others opinions and the question ‘what is to come next within this web 2.0 world?’ While asking myself this question I discovered some quotes I found thought provoking and have detailed them below:

"I'll go to multiple news sites because I don't trust any one site." - Sean, age 17, on how he gets news online.

"For me, transparency is a competitive weapon." - Sun COO Jonathan Schwartz, on why he blogs.

"eBay has 150M customers, in the nicest terms, that's 150M people who have learned to trust strangers." - eBay founder Pierre Omidyar, on how business can be an engine of positive social change.

"[In 5-10 years, the value in media] will be in the companies who can grow audiences, not in those who control content." - Vinod Khosla, former General Partner at Kleiner Perkins.


Monday, 30 January 2012

Performance CV !!

SIMONE GRANDJEAN
07786515505
sgrandjean001@googlemail.com
Date of Birth 30th September 1990
Nationality British
Height 5’4”
Eye Colour Blue
    Hair Colour Blond
Vocal Range ♦  Soprano/Alto
PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
LAINE THEATRE ARTS (2008 – 2011)
National Diploma in Musical Theatre (TRINITY, London) Course encompassing Singing, Drama, Performance, Contemporary, Jazz, Modern, Classical Ballet, Pas De Deux, Tap
THEATRE EXPERIENCE
THE SPIRIT OF LIFE (2011) Dancer Epsom Playhouse Th, Dir; Betty Laine
TRINITY DADA 10TH ANNIVERSARY (2010) Dancer Imagination Gallery, London
AHEAD OF THE GAME (2010) Dancer Epsom Playhouse Th, Dir: Betty Laine
FACING THE FUTURE (2009) Dancer Epsom Playhouse Th, Dir: Betty Laine
THAT’LL BE THE DAY Dancer Bournemouth International Centre
GISELLE Dancer European Ballet, The lighthouse, Poole
SLEEPING BEAUTY Dancer English Youth Ballet, Bournemouth
CENTRAL SCH OF BALLET PRODUCTION Dancer UCI, Bloomsbury, London
ROYAL BALLET UPPER SCHOOL SUMMER         Dancer               Royal Ballet Upper School, Covent 
SCHOOL STUDIO THEATRE                                                                 Garden, London  
TV EXPERIENCE
ONE MINUTE SILENCE – AMARILLO FILMS Extra
OTHER PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
DANCE DIRECT – MODEL
QUALIFICATIONS
Ballet Advanced RAD/Intermediate ISTD
Modern Dance Advanced ISTD
Tap   Advanced ISTD
SPECIAL SKILLS
GCSE - French Athletics Swimming Basic skating

Friday, 27 January 2012

Starting to get the hang of this...?!

8560BW8560868386708564

Portfolio, a set on Flickr.

I'm not sure this is completely correct, but I have started to use and upload images to Flickr, using their program, I guess to promote yourself via image and video media.
These were my first portfolio shots, taken in 2011. I'm sure all you performers are completely familiar with the nerves and possibly slightly uncomfortable nature of first presenting and indulging yourself in front of camera.
Feedback would be greatly appreciated, more so on if I have applied the correct technique and uploaded accurately - still finding my feet with all this...

Wednesday, 25 January 2012

Me...!!

In addition to posting my initial thoughts and impressions, detailing what I feel this course is to entail. I also feel it beneficial to post a little about me.
My training began at the age of 8, where I was accepted onto the Royal Ballet Schools associate program. Throughout my child and teen years I trained intensely with both them, and the Central School of Ballet, shaping me into what I felt was the best classical dancer I could be. During my time at both these schools I had many performance opportunities, as well as some more unconventional experiences, for example; I modeled for dance direct, and became part of a short film for 'Amerillo' film company. My passion for performance and its variety only grew from here, which is why I decided I wanted to become a more 'well rounded' performer, and took up my final 3 years of professional training at Laine Theatre Arts. Since graduating in July 2011, I have been part of many corporate events, but have found myself falling more so into the 'acting field', which is all very new and exciting for me. I hope to develop both me and my career whilst studying this course, fingers crossed hey....

And so it begins.....

After attending what I can imagine to be the first of many sessions on site at Middlesex Uni, I feel somewhat more at ease. The anticipation, excitement and nerves have vanished, only to be replaced with the confirmation of the ever daunting challenge that is to come.
At the end of our induction we were asked to explore the theme 'academic' - identified by the terms 'rigorous' and 'systematic'. This discussion really sat in my brain, compelling me even more so to learn, grow and achieve as a person, which I feel is one of the main objectives whilst on this course.
So, here it begins - the explorations, methods, mystery and of course hard and dedicated work....