Films on Demand – New titles added!

New titles from Films Media Group have been added to the following Films on Demand streaming collections. A few of the films are highlighted below: Humanities & Social Sciences Collection – 96 new titles DNA: Secret of Photo 51 – Streaming video One of the greatest scientific achievements of the 20th century was the discovery … Continue reading “Films on Demand – New titles added!”

New titles from Films Media Group have been added to the following Films on Demand streaming collections. A few of the films are highlighted below:

Humanities & Social Sciences Collection – 96 new titles

DNA: Secret of Photo 51 Streaming video

One of the greatest scientific achievements of the 20th century was the discovery of DNA’s double helix structure. James Watson and Francis Crick published their findings on April 25, 1953, but it’s been revealed that their crucial breakthrough depended on the work of another biologist, Rosalind Franklin, whose X-ray image, “Photo 51” held the vital clue to decode the double helix. This program from NOVA reveals the shocking truth of this DNA discovery and details how close Franklin came to making the discovery herself. Distributed by PBS Distribution. (56 minutes)

Business & Economics Collection – 22 new titles

Suze Orman for the Young, Fabulous, and Broke – Streaming video

In her inimitable straight-talking style, financial advisor and best-selling author, Suze Orman provides powerful, insightful, and often surprising guidelines for actions that can help young men and women at perhaps the most critical financial time of their lives—getting started. Ms. Orman understands the financial realities of today and believes this generation has the grit to deal with these problems. She provides powerful, real-world advice on exactly how to succeed in today’s economic environment. Distributed by PBS Distribution. (85 minutes)

Secret History of the Credit Card – Streaming video

The average American family today carries 10 credit cards. With credit card debt and personal bankruptcies now at an all time high, this episode of Frontline examines how the credit card industry became so pervasive, so lucrative, and so powerful. The program investigates why there were no legal limits on the amount of interest or fees that can be charged and how credit cards have become the most profitable sector of the American banking industry, with more than $30 billion in profits in a single year. Distributed by PBS Distribution. (60 minutes)

Science and Mathematics Collection – 27 new titles

Genetic Engineering – Streaming video

It’s one of the greatest breakthroughs in scientific history, but genetic engineering has also brought disturbing new questions. Should we push genetic research to its absolute limit, exploiting every discovery? What are the consequences of intervening in nature’s processes at their most fundamental level? Outlining the potential benefits of genetic engineering, such as the treatment or cure of hereditary diseases and the creation of better, more efficient crops, this program also explores the moral dilemma over cloning and the controversy that surrounds stem-cell research. Viewers encounter both secular and religious perspectives in those debates—which will only acquire greater urgency as the scientific frontier advances. Viewable/printable educational resources are available online. Part of the series Medical Ethics: Real-World Applications. (19 minutes)

Health & Medicine Collection – 23 new titles

Moving on with Disabilities: Episode 1 (of 5) – Streaming video

This program presents a disability simulation in which an all-star football player learns to deal with some of the day-to-day physical challenges faced by single-arm amputees. In addition, two enabling activities are featured: golfing at a course designed specifically for wheelchair users, who compete using specialized clubs and adapted carts, and cruising on a motorcycle ingeniously customized for paraplegics. Also, the importance of wheelchair-friendly sidewalks and street crossings is stressed, and the DynaMyte touch screen communication device for people with speech impairments is demonstrated. (24 minutes)

Archival Films & Newsreels Collection – 2 new titles
The Big Picture: Pictorial Report No. 3 – Streaming video

This classic episode of the U.S. Army’s The Big Picture television series takes viewers on a journey around the world in a mere half an hour, showing military police activities in Europe, helicopter activities in the Far East, and the latest in training methods within the Zone of Interior, aka the United States. This video from the National Archives and Records Administration presents these thrilling, informative scenes to American viewers so they understand how our Army is responding to events worldwide. (30 minutes)

Do a keyword search for “films on demand” from the Media Services homepage or go to the Films on Demand site and see what’s available.

SOC’s Center for Environmental Filmmaking Presents “Growthbusters: Hooked on Growth”

Tuesday, October 25, 7:00 p.m., Mary Graydon Center, Wechsler TheaterIt’s estimated at least 1.5 Earths would be required to sustainably support the current level of human activity on the planet, yet we continue to pursue economic growth and avoid the topic of overpopulation. In this new documentary, filmmaker Dave Gardner takes on Wall Street, the … Continue reading “SOC’s Center for Environmental Filmmaking Presents “Growthbusters: Hooked on Growth””

Tuesday, October 25, 7:00 p.m., Mary Graydon Center, Wechsler Theater
It’s estimated at least 1.5 Earths would be required to sustainably support the current level of human activity on the planet, yet we continue to pursue economic growth and avoid the topic of overpopulation. In this new documentary, filmmaker Dave Gardner takes on Wall Street, the White House, and the pope as he questions society’s most fundamental beliefs about prosperity.
Sponsor: SOC’s Center for Environmental Filmmaking
Contact: Chris Palmer, 202-885-3408 or palmer@american.edu

Movie and Pizza Night: Music Within

Tuesday, October 25, 6:00 p.m., Kettler-Palmer Lounge (second floor, Bender)In honor of Disability Awareness Week, the movie Music Within, the story of Richard Pimenteland the creation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, will be shown. Pizza and drinks will be served. All are welcome.Sponsor: Disability Support Services/Disability Rights CoalitionContact: Sherrita Rogers, srogers@american.edu or 202-885-3363Web: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0422783/

Tuesday, October 25, 6:00 p.m., Kettler-Palmer Lounge (second floor, Bender)
In honor of Disability Awareness Week, the movie
Music Within, the story of Richard Pimentel
and the creation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, will be shown. Pizza and drinks will be served. All are welcome.

Sponsor: Disability Support Services/Disability Rights Coalition
Contact: Sherrita Rogers, srogers@american.edu or 202-885-3363
Web: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0422783/

New Media Center Software Training Sessions this week

The New Media Center is located on the lower level of the library past the Technology Services desk, next to Media Services. The NMC conducts open workshops on a variety of topics related to multimedia production. These 20 to 30 minute sessions are open to all AU faculty, staff and students with all levels of … Continue reading “New Media Center Software Training Sessions this week”

The New Media Center is located on the lower level of the library past the Technology Services desk, next to Media Services. The NMC conducts open workshops on a variety of topics related to multimedia production. These 20 to 30 minute sessions are open to all AU faculty, staff and students with all levels of multimedia production experience. There are usually four or five workshops held each week. Check the NMC calendar for the latest schedule. For more information, contact the NMC staff (202) 885-2560.

Sunday 10/23 at 4pm – Basic Video Production Shooting
Monday 10/24 at 7pm – Red Camera Workflow for Final Cut Pro
Tuesday 10/25 at 12pm – Beginner Photoshop
Wednesday 10/26 at 8pm – Animation for Video (Titles)
Thursday 10/27 at 4pm – Making Movies in iMovie HD
Friday 10/28 at 11am – Final Cut Pro: Beginner
Saturday 10/29 at 4:30pm – Flash: Animation

See the complete Fall Training Schedule by date or by topic.

There is a wealth of multimedia training resources available online. AU faculty, staff and students have access to thousands of hours of free training at Lynda.com. Create a personal profile and get started. More information about resources can be found at Multimedia @ AU.

Scary Movies

It’s scary movie time again. Here are 22 titles that should help to get you in the Halloween spirit. Also don’t forget about our our previous scary movie suggestions. You can find those here. 28 Weeks Later – HU DVD 7248 Alien – HU DVD 885* The Brood – HU DVD 1400 The Crazies – … Continue reading “Scary Movies”

It’s scary movie time again. Here are 22 titles that should help to get you in the Halloween spirit. Also don’t forget about our our previous scary movie suggestions. You can find those here.

28 Weeks Later – HU DVD 7248

Alien – HU DVD 885*

The Brood – HU DVD 1400

The Crazies – HU DVD 7320

Cube – HU DVD 6101

Dawn of the Dead – HU DVD 7280

Daybreakers – HU DVD 8627

Dead Snow – HU DVD 7972

Evil Dead – HU DVD 8141

Ginger Snaps – HU DVD 6111

Hausu/House – HU DVD 7846

Let Me In – HU DVD 8009

Let the Right One In – HU DVD 5522

Lost boys – HU DVD 8775

A Nightmare on Elm Street – HU DVD 864

Psycho – HU DVD 411

Requiem for a Vampire – HU DVD 8143

Suspiria – HU DVD 855*

The Silence of the Lambs – HU DVD 925*

Dark Night of the Scarecrow – HU DVD 8958

Zombie – HU DVD 8959

Demons – HU DVD 8960

Are Digital Media Labs the Libraries of the Future?

As electronic books and other digital media become more popular, libraries are going through an identity crisis. Their role as repositories of bound books is uncertain in the long-term future, and nobody knows what the next iteration looks like. YOUmedia, a two-year-old teen learning experiment that incorporates digital media into a wider educational experience, could … Continue reading “Are Digital Media Labs the Libraries of the Future?”


As electronic books and other digital media become more popular, libraries are going through an identity crisis. Their role as repositories of bound books is uncertain in the long-term future, and nobody knows what the next iteration looks like. YOUmedia, a two-year-old teen learning experiment that incorporates digital media into a wider educational experience, could be a model for what neighborhood libraries across the country might become.

Housed in an old storage area of the Chicago Public Library’s downtown Harold Washington Library Center, YOUmedia isn’t just a place where teens come to check out books. “We are in one of these rare moments in time where what it means to be literate today, what it meant for us, is going to be different from what it means to be literate for our kids,” Nichole Pinkard, who developed YOUmedia, told USA Today. To keep up, Pinkard and the YOUMedia team build the space as a vibrant community learning center that seeks to inspire collaboration and creativity.

YOUmedia is in Chicago’s Loop, right at the intersection of several of the city’s train and bus hubs. The design of the space replaces the sterile shelves of traditional libraries with a setting that more closely resembles a cozy living room or collegiate lounge. And, while students can still access the thousands of books in the library’s collection, the center also comes equipped with computers, video cameras, video and photo editing software, and an in-house recording studio with keyboards, turntables, and a mixing board. It’s all free for any high-school student with a library card.

While all the technology and resources are great, what makes the space truly work is that the teens aren’t left to their own devices once they walk through the doors. Exploring individual interests is encouraged, but YOUmedia is staffed by mentors from the Digital Youth Network and by experienced librarians who run structured workshops and projects to help students build their critical thinking skills and creativity.

Some of the dozens of workshops offered are ones that you’d associate with a traditional library. But courses on radio podcasting, fashion photography, graphic design, and the production of YOUlit, the student-produced online magazine definitely follow a 21st-century concept of a library as a multifaceted learning space.

YOUmedia is beginning to expand to other branches of the city’s public library system, but it’s requires a significant investment of financial and human capital. Whether the YOUmedia model expands elsewhere will certainly depend on whether public and private entitites work together to make it happen.

As seen on GOOD Education

Photoshop CS-5’s Content Aware Fill

With Photoshop CS5 and Photoshop CS5 Extended, when you remove an image element, Content-Aware Fill replaces the missing pixels almost magically. This revolutionary new tool matches lighting, tone, and noise so it looks like the deleted content never existed.

With Photoshop CS5 and Photoshop CS5 Extended, when you remove an image element, Content-Aware Fill replaces the missing pixels almost magically. This revolutionary new tool matches lighting, tone, and noise so it looks like the deleted content never existed.

Movie Camera Companies Have Quietly Stopped Making Film Cameras

Over the past year, major movie camera manufacturers ARRI, Panavision and Aaton have all quietly stopped manufacturing film cameras — a tough blow to film, and grim news for film photographers. Debra Kaufman over at Creative COW writes, “The demand for film cameras on a global basis has all but disappeared,” says ARRI VP of … Continue reading “Movie Camera Companies Have Quietly Stopped Making Film Cameras”



Over the past year, major movie camera manufacturers ARRI, Panavision and Aaton have all quietly stopped manufacturing film cameras — a tough blow to film, and grim news for film photographers. Debra Kaufman over at Creative COW writes,

“The demand for film cameras on a global basis has all but disappeared,” says ARRI VP of Cameras, Bill Russell, who notes that the company has only built film cameras on demand since 2009. “There are still some markets–not in the U.S.–where film cameras are still sold, but those numbers are far fewer than they used to be. If you talk to the people in camera rentals, the amount of film camera utilization in the overall schedule is probably between 30 to 40 percent.”

Panavision’s Executive VP Phil Radin states that, “Film will be around as long as Kodak and Fuji believe they can make money at it.” With their revenues from the movie industry drying up, Kodak and Fuji are going to have a harder time keeping their film businesses profitable. If you want to see film survive, then you can do your part by buying film and encouraging others to shoot analog as well!

As seen on PetaPixel

Podcasting

For those of you who missed my Podcasting Plus: Garageband workshop today, here are some tidbits: What is a podcast?A podcast is a digital media file (audio or video) that can be played on the computer or other media readers (phones, ipods, etc). It is usually thematic and comes out as a series. How do … Continue reading “Podcasting”

For those of you who missed my Podcasting Plus: Garageband workshop today, here are some tidbits:

What is a podcast?
A podcast is a digital media file (audio or video) that can be played on the computer or other media readers (phones, ipods, etc). It is usually thematic and comes out as a series.

How do you make one?
You need to learn to use an audio or video editing software. You can record your own voice, or compile interviews. With Garageband, you can import a movie file and edit the audio. (When you open a new project, select Podcast-movie. This will give you a movie track).

Where do I post it?
If you have podcasts linked to your blog or website, set it up as an automatic feed so users can subscribe to it.

Examples:
NPR
http://www.npr.org/rss/podcast/podcast_directory.php

iTunes store-podcasts
You can subscribe to receive new epidodes automatically.

Walk-in Technology Support is now on the first floor of the library

The OIT Walk-in Technology Support Service has moved from ACC to the library. Get support for:-AU computing accounts and passwords-AU-supported software-Connecting to the wired and wireless networks-Accessing your e-mail-Health check remediation-Troubleshooting-System restoration-Virus removal-and more

The OIT Walk-in Technology Support Service has moved from ACC to the library.

Get support for:
-AU computing accounts and passwords
-AU-supported software
-Connecting to the wired and wireless networks
-Accessing your e-mail
-Health check remediation
-Troubleshooting
-System restoration
-Virus removal
-and more