Steven Harris

In August of 2006, I went to Project Resolution for the first time.

 

Always having a strong interest in the filmmaking and video production but without any real experience at the time, I remember by the end of the show, I knew pRES was an even that I was going to make time for on a monthly basis.

 

I saw Steven Harris there, working at the control table, but it was not until months later that we formally met.

 

As Project Resolution continued month after month, lots of things developed and changed. Steven Harris eventually became the host of the show after the former host moved away from Richmond to pursue a career in the video field.

 

In the summer of 2007, Richmond had its first ever 48-Hour Film Festival. The idea behind this was: teams of filmmakers would randomly be given the same character name and occupation, line of dialogue, and a prop. The teams would then randomly draw a genre of their film they will be making out of a hat. In 48 hours, each team would then write, produce, and turn in the final copy.

As it worked out, I was a part of The Plaid Connections Team, which consisted members of VCU-TV/HD and the Yellow House crew. By the end of the contest, our movie, “State of Sobriety” took second place out of 32 other competitors.

 

This was my first time working with Steven Harris. His role in the team was writer and producer. I did a little bit of everything on the set and it was one of the best experiences I had in Richmond.

 

I remember Harris being very dedicated to the film which made me realized that he was someone I would definitely like to work with again in the future. This is a very important connection to have with anyone when it comes to making short films with no financial motivation behind it.

 

Since then, Harris has continued being a part of the Richmond independent film community. He works up to 10 hours a day at times in order for the Yellow House to grow and support the Richmond film community without pay.

 

Harris hopes that the auction in late April will be an opportunity for to grow. Being a consistent audience member of Project Resolution, I will definitely be at the Yellow House Police Auction on April 30^th to support the organization and my friend, Steven.

 

 

Get ready Richmond! Here comes RVA-TV!

RVA-TV is ready to go!

Producers and writers have been thinking about adding a television component to RVA-magazine, which has been popular in recent years.

After pondering the idea and working with local broadcasters, producer Adam Sledd,  production manager John Reinhold, and marketing and advertising director Christian Detres finally got started.  They snagged Studio 108 on East Franklin Street and began working.

Now the programs will not be shown on television.  Instead, they will be broadcast on the company’s Website www.rvatv.net.

Take a look.  So far there are a few news broadcasts and also the company’s live music show.

Do you think this type of programming will be successful in an area like Richmond?

What type of things would you like to see from a company like this?

College students more stressed out than ever

Sasha Lester 

Webster’s Dictionary describes stress as: 

Stress (n.) a physical, chemical, or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental tension and may be a factor in disease causation.

College students today are experiencing  more stress levels than in past years according to a study done by the Associated Press and mtvU (an organization that is found at some colleges and universities).

The study revealed that 4 out of 10 students say they endure stress often and more than half of the students polled said they are stressed all of the time.

Even though college students are stressed, 6 out of 10 students say they are overall happy with their college experience and are having ‘the time of their life’.

The study also revealed that students are stressing about one of the things they love most – Spring Break. AP and mtvU found that students are stressed about not having enough money or not being in good shape for spring break – which is added stress.

According to the College and Finance website, the top 5 stressors among college students are:

(1) Finances

(2) Academics

(3) Time Management

(4)  Roommate Conflicts

(5) Relationships

There are many resources for students who feel they are stressed out. VCU Counseling Services welcomes students who feel they need help managing stress. You can reach them at 804.828.6200 to make an appointment any time.

Health experts also recommend exercise, listening to music, doing yoga and even sex to relieve stress.

The Associated Press and mtvU teamed up to create a video that revealed the results of their recent survey.

http://video.aol.com/video-detail/ap-mtvu-poll-students-majoring-in-stress/890162470

Health experts say there are many warning signs of stress. To find out if your at risk for high levels of stress, take this quiz: http://stress.about.com/library/symptoms/bl_stress_symptom_quiz.htm

Races bring anxiety

Shanell Jackson

When it comes to running and exercising, I can be the laziest person on earth.  I can’t even remember when I could run one mile under 8 minutes, but run 6.2? Yeah, you’re crazy.

The thought of my chest caving in and the possibility of me passing out stirs me away.  But, for over 31,000 people that seems to not be an issue.

 

The Ukrop’s Monument 10K is gearing up and shutting down many streets in Richmond for the ninth time on April 5th.  Registration closed a few weeks earlier than in previous years.  Why the sudden increase in participation, you may ask?

People are realizing that just because it is a “race” that doesn’t mean you have to be a track star.  Participants can walk or run, or the combination of the two.

Next year, I plan to participate and prepare my body mentally and physically for the race, despite probably entering as a walker.  The YMCA offers a training program to help build motivation, offer weekly training schedules, guidance from experienced coaches, and Saturday morning group workouts that allows you to meet hundreds of people for the same common goal. 

What more could you ask for?

VCU commuters adjust to rising costs

Many students commute to VCU’s campus a few times each week to attend class. Not only do these students have the normal costs associated with college classes, such as books and tuition, but they must also find a way to get to class.

For off-campus students, getting to class can be just as challenging as getting through class. A combination of rising gas prices and expensive parking create an added expense for commuter students. This fall some of these students will be forced to set aside more money for the drive to class when the Richmond Metropolitan Authority increases toll rates.

The RMA has announced that it is raising the rate of the Powhite Parkway and the Downtown Expressway tolls by 20 cents. This increase will bring the toll rate up to 70 cents. Since college students aren’t known for a lot of money to throw into tolls we contacted the RMA and asked them about discounts for college students.

A representative for the RMA responded, “we do not offer discounts to college students who use E-ZPass or pay cash along our toll roads.”

The RMA does reassure us that this recent increase is not a frequent occurence.

“Our last toll increase was 10 years ago. And prior to that it was 10 years. This recent vote for 70 cents was designed to cover expenses for what we feel is long enough to cover our debt repayment and build revenue to cover upcoming maintenance expenses for 10 years. I would not say with any certainty that this is the beginning of a trend of increases.”

At every turn VCU’s commuters come across roadblocks. One student said that he is frustrated with all of the increasing costs of commuting to class.

“I’ve avoided the parking deck altogether ever since they started… making the rates go up. The City of Richmond is getting to be like Arby’s, always raising their prices and such,” says VCU commuter student J. Vincent Pistolarides.

Pistolarides also talked about the high gas prices and how college students can’t seem to get a break with the cost of transportation.

Not all commuters are feeling the effects of increased commuting costs.

VCU commuter student Trevor Kates says, “If you think about the amount of money I’ve spent on transportation for the entire time that I’ve been here…as far as my general life, right now it’s not affecting it too badly. But I guess we’ll see what happens in the next year.”

Kates says that the cost of parking has gone up. He paid $160 for a VCU parking deck pass for the Spring 2008 semester. He says this price is $19 more than he paid for the same parking pass during his first semester at VCU. 

Once the toll rates increase in September, a commuter student who passes through a toll to go to class five days a week will spend an additional $32 a semester, costing them a total of $112 a semester on tolls alone.

Since a large portion of VCU’s student population is made up of commuter students, should the school be doing anything to help students with transportation costs? What do you think?

Reply to this post with some ideas of your own about action that should be taken to assist students with the increasing costs of commuting. Or share with us your struggles or frustrations with the increasing costs.

Richmond music venues — too close for comfort?

Two concert venues in downtown Richmond, VA are bringing new life to the music scene there. Both have opened in the past year and are competing heavily for top-selling recording artists to play on their stages and audience members to fill their seats. “The Toads Place” and “The National” are only 10 blocks from each other and are roughly the same size.

The former was a crucial part of the canal walk revitalization project overseen by the city when it opened its doors in June of 2007. “Toads” – as it is sometimes called, is modeled after and shares its name with a popular New Haven, Connecticut-based establishment.

7000 miles away, not far from home

On January 15, 2008 I made my first post on afarinqatar.com. This was a blog that I created in an effort to communicate with family and friends easily, often and for next to no money, while on a trip to the nation of Qatar.

Two weeks later Lisa Figueroa (my boss) and I left for this country, which we knew too little about and which neither one of us will ever forget.

The trip served two purposes:

• To shoot a 2 minute news package (possibly for VCU InSight) highlighting Doha, Qatar’s capital, and Virginia Commonwealth University’s Arts School of Design in Education City
• To shoot video for a cinema vérité documentary for VCUtvHD with a similar and more personal focus

Marching orders for new dads

A Class for New Dads

      Babies defiantly don’t come with an instruction manual, but have no fear Boot Camp for New Dads  is here.  That’s right! New Dads class,  Made for Men and by Men, Boot Camp for New Dads is 3- 3 1/2 hour informative class held on Saturdays every 2 to 3 weeks at Richmond area hospitals and some community based areas.  First Things First is a local non-profit organization that provides the “locker room,” style class. 

            The class is divided up into two categories, Veterans and Rookies.  Vet dads  come back with their new little ones to give advice and answer questions for the nervous rookie’s.  What exactly do these dads discuss?  It’s more than the hundreds of diaper changes or making sure that you know how to hold a baby.  These new dads discuss communication, team work,  what mom is going through or anything else is on their mind. 

The  ideas of mommy just taking baby classes has gone out the window.  Veteran Dad Jermaine McNeil advises dads to take it,” I’ll tell them to take the class it shows you that a man can be a good father and can have the same skills as the mother.” 

                                                                                                

                              Fatherhood and motherhood go hand and hand and this class provides it.  If your a soon-to-be or a new dad,  would you sign up? or would mommy push you through the door? 

It has been said that dads surprisingly sign up on their own and end up enjoying every minute of it!!

VCU’s French Film Festival turns 16

So exactly how does a festival about french films get so popular in such a random place as Richmond, VA? 

Je ne sais pas.  Don’t ask me.  But for three days each year, the Byrd Theatre is a hot place to be.

Film lovers flock from all parts of the globe to little old River City to watch brand spankin’ new french movies.  And these aren’t films that were made by some creative french VCU students, or even some creative french VCUcinema students.  These are bona-fide films from France with French screenwriters, French directors, French actors, even a French dog or two. 

Peter Kirkpatrick, executive director of the Office of International Education at VCU, co-founded the festival 16 years ago, and the campus auditorium runneth over.  The festival moved to the larger (and more majestic) Byrd Theatre in Carytown for its fourth season.  And Kirkpatrick says they fill all 1400 seats. 

So what’s next, the Coliseum?  Might be.

The festival this year was quite the success, with little room for me to move about the lobby between films, especially when lugging a very large camera and tripod.  And I was very surprised at how many French people there were.  I heard just as many speaking French as English.  It boggles the mind that people who live in France save their money to buy plane tickets to see French films in Richmond that they could see, er, in France.  Maybe they just really like Bev’s brownie sundaes, and the festival is just an afterthought.  But I don’t think so.   

How do you say “That theatre was jumpin’ ” en Francais?

Honda civic hybrid is one of most fuel efficient cars for 2008

For most of us, the high gas prices is definetely something we can’t get used to.  But in an effort to try to fight the cost of gas, you might want to consider investing in a hybrid car.  According to Consumer Report, the Honda Civic Hybrid is one of the top 10 picks.

Although many people do not know much about these cars, their presence is being seen more often, especially with the spike in fuel prices.  Salesman Peter James says this is only the beginning.

“What you’re looking at here is the wave of the future.  This is where cars are going to go at some point so it’ll be less worried about gas and more on other resources.”

This particular car runs on a combination of both gas and electric means.  It has an integrated motor assist (IMA) system that consists of a 1.3 liter gasoline engine partnered with a lightweight, high-output electric motor. 

The combination of the two elements allows the car to run on both sources, causing the gas to last longer.  This also reduces the number of times (and amount of money) that you put into fueling it.

The car is made to used the IMA motor to start.  If the charge is low on the battery pack, then the system has a seperate battery and starter motor to back it up. 

The Facts:

• Priced at about $22,600
• Gets about 44 mpg (miles per gallon) overall
• Has a 4-cylinder gasoline engine and electric motor/generator

After review of all the statistics, this is one way to help fight back in the battle of the gas prices, and doesn’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon.

So what do you think?  Do you think this hybrid is as efficient as one might believe?