Task 3a

A few professional networks that i use are: Spotlight, Casting Call Pro and Star Now
http://www.spotlight.com/1899-1206-4283


http://www.castingcallpro.com/uk/view.php


From doing some more research i found a few more sights that can be used as tools for professional networking:

www.linkedin.co.uk

www.viadeo.com

www.mandy.com

www.xing.com

the web is a huge tool in which i and many others use to network, as well as some of these sites, social networking sites are also a huge help in networking. Facebook, Twitter, Youtube etc. These are great ways to interact with others in your chosen field if work to share ideas and expand relationships. One of the things i have noticed with others i know using some of these social networks is they tend to have more than one profile one for all there friends displaying the crazy things they do on weekends and one for professionals with all there c.v. work and head shots as it is very important to make the right impression as first impressions always count. I only have one Facebook account and have set some privacy settings as i would like to keep it for socialising purposes. If any casting agent or any professional would like to see what i am like out of the industry they wouldn't be able to although there is nothing really bad on my Facebook i just feel if they want to see what i am like they should stick to my professional profiles. I also have a twitter account where i follow many artists from all creative backgrounds. A lot of agencies and others have pages and they sometimes tweet about upcoming auditions and opportunities. Being able to directly message some of these people is also a big help. 


Networking in any industry is key, most of the time its not about what you know its about who you know. Networking gives others a chance to get notices and have as equal a chance to make something of themselves. Taking advantage of the use of web 2.0 and all the tools it has to offer is very important. Adding cast members and directors and producers on social networking sites can make you feel a little embarrassed as sometimes you feel like they won't accept you, but thats what it is all about, knocking on every door till someone opens. 


From some of the research i have done on professional Networks, i have come across the networking site www.linkedin.com. I think that the layout is very clean and easy to read, It''s no to much to read and gives you all the information you would need. This is what my ideal network would look like. 


http://ng.linkedin.com/pub/eku-edewor-thorley/28/b67/811

Making professional profiles besides casting call pro and spotlight would be a big start towards me networking further, also making a website with some type of showreel would be a good thing. 


Since learning about web 2.0 i am going to make use of it as much as possible as web is a big way of communications in this day and age. 

What I Think Networking Is?

Before i start with the tasks, i though would write my definition of what i think Networking is and involve's and see how my view has changed at the end of all the tasks.

I guess here we are talking about social networking, this is the relationships between those in a certain industry and them sharing there links and ideas.


http://www.whatissocialnetworking.com/

Task 2c: Reflective Theory

This is my reflective theory essay, feel free to comment as to what it is missing as i would like to keep editing and adding information.

Afi :)

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rzq_YS_mfozXHy7pQmGJM3s1wHy3EiXG4oNgj6JrSoc/edit

Task 2d: Inquiry Task

What in your daily practice gets you really enthusiastic to find out more about? Who do you admire who also works with what makes you enthusiastic?


African culture and media involved init is something i am always keen to learn more about. Cinema in Africa is a definite passion of mine. Over the recent years it has risen above and beyond anyones expectations. 


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinema_of_Africa


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinema_of_Nigeria


“Ties that Bind tells the story of 3 women (Adobea, Buki and Theresa)  from different walks of life, bound together by a similar pain; the loss of a child. In a destined meeting, in a small village, the women journey together to redemption, love, life and forgiveness as they renovate a dilapidated clinic for the villagers.”
Source: http://www.ghanacelebrities.com/tag/ties-that-bind#ixzz1pkLM439L 

Ama Abebrese is a Uk actress of Ghanaian origin, she studied at St Mary's University in Surrey gaining a BA in Media arts. Since her move back to Ghana she has stared in Ties that bind and many more movies winning the 2011 AMAA for best actress in a leading role. She is the head of local productions at VIASAT 1 TV in Ghana.

What do you love about what you do? Who do you admire who also seems to love this or is an example of what you love?

I love being able to make people smile whilst performing or teaching, weather its sharing my ideas or performing them myself. So the element of sharing is what i love best about this profession. I think you can guess by know that i am very passionate about the African media industry, one actress who definitely uses the element of sharing is a nigerian actress named funk kindle, i remember listening to a radio interview were she spoke about her performing academy and its way of giving back and helping nurture young performers, this is something i would love to do in the future. 

HELP!!!

Every time i begin to read reader 2 i find myself finding an excuse to do it the next day and then the next etc. Whats the best way to get through it, just get on and do it or read it in bits. How have you guys gotten through it???

My journal writing expirience part 2

Over the last two weeks and throughout this journal writing experience i have become more aware of my apprehension towards writing down what I'm thinking and my feelings. As the days went by i realised i was becoming more open to 'active thinking'. In the beginning i was surprised with how uncomfortable i was with this exercise as i thought there was a set way in how i had to do it. Using the different ways to write really helped expand my thinking and help me go deeper into my thoughts.

I found this site 'The Personal Growth Library' reading this has really made me want to 'master the art or critical reflection'.

Self Reflection: A Critical Skill for Your Personal Growth and Development

Mastering the art of self reflection can lead to profound personal growth and transformation. 

In fact, many learning theorists in the West argue that critical self reflection is the core ingredient in personal transformation.  

This means simply having an experience does not lead personal and professional growth.  

Rather, growth occurs through reflecting on experiences and expanding your own established worldviews. 

There are three main types of reflection:

• Reflection-on-action
• Reflection-in-action
• Critical self-reflection

If you'd like to read on please click this link: http://www.best-personal-growth-resources.com/self-reflection.html

My journal writing expirience part 1

Although i have chosen video logs as my chosen video logs as my chosen method of recording my thoughts. i have chosen to critically reflect on a chosen day in writing. This is because i have always been a bit apprehensive about writing my own thoughts down as i feel like there is always a right or wrong answer. Over the last week i have realized there is no right or wrong answers and journal writing is just based upon how you feel and your experiences. This is a short extract from one of my logs i have put into words.

Thursday 8th of March 2012

The drama festival is fast approaching, both me and Olivia* (David’s*) mum are panicking as we start to think we have bitten off more than we can chew with verse and prose grade 1 exam in 3 weeks recommended age 9 David* is only 6, and a speech and drama festival next week which we are not quite prepared for. As the teacher i feel even more panicked as i feel i should have better planned and spread out the timing of the lessons to give equal concentration on festival and exam work. i did feel a little worried and concerned as getting up on stage unprepared is a horrible task for a little child. although we had done this extract of prose before, it was sometime last year so expressions and things would not be fresh in Davids* mind. With lots of persuading he finally got up for me to hear this extract back to see if it was competition worthy and as usual he pulled it out of the bag. everything we had practiced in the past was there in his performance:

Expression

Facial Play

Voices

Posture

He was able to say the piece with confidence and he in himself felt like he was ready to get on the stage. As Davids* support team his mother and i could have chosen to pull him out of this category as we did not feel he had had enough practice time but giving up is not something i would like to instill in my pupils ever. Better preparation and communication is definitely the key.

A journal is a friend that is always there and is always a comfort. It reflects back to me things that I can learn about my world and myself. 

http://www.infed.org/research/keeping_a_journal.htm

I will not be uploading any of my personal videos as they are my personal thoughts.  

Task 2a: Reflective journal Task

Reflective Writing is a practice in which the writer describes a real or imaginal scene, event, interaction, passing thought, memory, form, adding a personal reflection on the meaning of the item or incident, thought, feeling, emotion, or situation in his or her life. Many reflective writers keep in mind guiding questions, such as "What did I notice?" "How has this changed me?" or "What might I have done differently?"


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reflective_writing


My chosen method for the journal task is video/webcam logging.