Day 15 – Medium Close Ups
Roosevelt Day 6
Mr. Spikes gets evaluated five times a year. If he gets an average of 350 points, he gets a $10,000 bonus. He was evaluated last week. He got 347.
They wanted the kids to do a little more on their own. In his fourth period class he told me he really just sends the kids out do their projects and rarely lectures. But with these guys, these guys who he thinks have potential, he tries to give them more tools to work with.
Instead of just watching the news this morning, we got into one of the stories a little bit. It was about Hilary Clinton going to Myanmar. It’s always a bit jarring when questions like “who is the secretary of state” and “what does she do?” aren’t answered immediately. But that’s coming from a kid who was always interested in current events. Hell, half the kids back at USM probably wouldn’t be able to answer at least the second one. But these guys got there. We talked a little bit about diplomatic relations and I got to do a little riff about embassies and how they’re technically on land owned by that country. Plus I pitched the “ambassador” career track because of diplomatic immunity (which they’d heard of) so they can park wherever they wanted.
Mr. Spikes finished up a list of camera shots today. There were five they’d practice with in total – Wide Shot, Close Up, Medium Shot, Extreme Close Up, Medium Close Up. The kids got the cameras and the tripods out, learned how to set them up and turn them on, then we went into the hallway. There were only four kids in the class, so they taped each other and then swapped. They were really good, especially with leaving enough headroom. I always find that tricky. Thank god I’ve taken that Digital Media Production class so I knew what I was doing enough to lend a hand.
Tomorrow is my last week at Roosevelt and I really don’t see how I’ll be able to come back next semester. It wouldn’t even be the same set of kids, something I know Mr. Spikes wanted. But there were only a few kids who came consistnently. Dennis and Monique were there most weeks. But there are supposed to be 7 kids in that class and the rest were just there occasionally. They know who I am and I think they think I’m friendly and helpful enough. I’ve spent enough class time with them that I’m no longer a wide shot, but I just don’t know the kids well enough to be anything more than a medium close ups. Medium close ups have an awkward cut off, just like my time here.
I’ve come to really enjoy the walk to and from Roosevelt. I learned today that they have this great ornate front enterance that no one gets to go in because of security. We were talking about establishment shots – like how the Cosby Show will show you the house before they show the people in it. The kids were annoyed that their establishing shot would have to be the crummy back/side enterance. I always walk out past the middle school under these great huge oak trees. About half way done Georgia a man walked out of a building and straight into me. Coffee spilled all over my coat. I brushed it off (with his help which was a bit uncomfortable) and the coat’s fine, it just smells a little. You win some you lose some. You know what? We had such a good class today it was worth it.
