Great Job!!!

Hey guys!  Great job out there today!!!  Everyone did amazing and I am super excited to see the end results!! 

I can write up a list of credits for you to use at the end of the video.  I will probably post that on the blog early next week!

Again, good job guys!  Everything just worked out really well!

What to bring to the video shoot! :)

Hey guys, here is a list of what to bring/wear tomorrow for the video shoot!  Just so you all know, it is supposed to be sunny and in the lower 60s tomorrow so dress appropriately for when we are outside! Let me know if you have any questions!  By the way, is there anybody who is NOT going to be riding with me to Engedi from Friday Addition??

Isaac

• memory card for camera

Kaitlyn

• wear an outfit that can be changed up in three different ways
• media broadcaster 
• British exchange student
• media broadcaster 2 weeks later
• do you still have a microphone you can bring?

Laura

• outdoor, hunting type clothing - you know what i mean! :)
• something casually nice in case you are part of the Worldview group in scene 4

Autumn 

• just wear something nice but casual because you may be part of the Worldview group for scene 4

Gracie

• wear an outfit that can be changed up two different ways
• media broadcaster
• media broadcaster 2 weeks later
• if you let me know what color shirt you will be wearing, I could bring a couple different scarves for you to choose from! :)

Madison 

• an outfit to help you play the part of an extreme environmentalist - somewhat eccentric maybe?? :)
• another outfit that is nice but casual in case you are part of the Worldview group in scene 4

Paige (Gracie's friend)

• wear something nice but casual

Me (Abbie)

• video camera
• tripod
• i can also bring a microphone 

Sorry this is late... i was having issues. in the things below i highlighted the things i thought might be useful.

"Virtually all of North America's raptors take adult or young Red-winged Blackbirds, even Barn owls, which usually only take small mammals, and Northern Saw-whet owls, which are scarcely larger than a male Red-winged. Accipiter hawks are among their most prolific predators and, locally, they are one of the preferred prey species of Short-tailed hawks. Crows, ravens, magpies and herons are occasionally predators of blackbird nests. Additional predators of blackbirds of all ages and their eggs include raccoons, mink, foxes and snakes, especially the rat snake. Marsh Wrens destroy the eggs, at least sometimes drinking from them, and peck the nestlings to death. The Red-winged Blackbird aggressively defends its territory from other animals. It will attack much larger birds. Males have been known to swoop at humans who encroach upon their nesting territory during breeding season."



Red-Winged Blackbird

Agelaius Phoeniceus

Size: 8 ½” (22 cm)

Male: Jet black bird with red and yellow shoulder patches on upper wings; pointed black bill.

Female: Heavily streaked brown bird with a pointed brown bill and white eyebrows.

Juvenile: Same as female.

Nest: Cup; female builds; 2-3 broods per year.

Eggs: 3-4; bluish green with brown markings.

Incubation: 10-12 days; female incubates.

Fledging: 11-14 days; female and male feed young.

Migration: Complete, to southern states, Mexico, and Central America.

Food: Seeds, insects; will come to seed feeders.

Compare: Slightly larger than the male brown-headed Cowbird, but is less iridescent and lacks Cowbird’s brown head. Differs from all blackbirds due to the red and yellow patches on its wings.

Pg 8 of Birds of Michigan Field Guide, by Stan Tekiela. Adventure Publications, Inc. Cambridge, Minnesota. 2004

1.      Gracie Immink April 17, 2013 at 9:19 AM

I found this at: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-winged_blackbird/id And I think it will help us....

Size and shape- A stocky, broad-shouldered blackbird with a slender, conical bill and a medium-length tail. Red-winged Blackbirds often show a hump-backed silhouette while perched; males often sit with tail slightly flared.

Behavior- Male Red-winged Blackbirds do everything they can to get noticed, sitting on high perches and belting out their conk-la-ree! song all day long. Females stay lower, skulking through vegetation for food and quietly weaving together their remarkable nests. In winter Red-winged Blackbirds gather in huge flocks to eat grains with other blackbird species and starlings.

Flock- Red-winged Blackbirds roost in flocks in all months of the year. In summer small numbers roost in the wetlands where the birds breed. Winter flocks can be congregations of several million birds, including other blackbird species and starlings. Each morning the roosts spread out, traveling as far as 50 miles to feed, then re-forming at night.

Other facts- Different populations and subspecies of Red-winged Blackbirds vary markedly in size and proportions. An experiment was conducted that moved nestlings between populations and found that the chicks grew up to resemble their foster parents. This study indicated that much of the difference seen between populations is the result of different environments rather than different genetic makeup’s. Male Red-winged Blackbirds fiercely defend their territories during the breeding season, spending more than a quarter of daylight hours in territory defense. He chases other males out of the territory and attacks nest predators, sometimes going after much larger animals, including horses and people.



Is there anything extra that anyone has to bring?????

Rough Draft of Script!

Hey guys!  Here is the rough draft of the script!  Thanks so much Madison for your part in it!  Read through it, let me know if it looks okay, and then try to familiarize yourself with whatever part you are in! :)

Scene 1
Setting: News announcers are behind a table and are dressed professionally.  The script can be on the table.
Announcer 1 (Kaitlyn) :  Good morning Friday Addition!  Well, classes for the year are winding down and we know that you are all eager for summer break.
Announcer 2 (Gracie) :  Yes, excitement is definitely building in the air.
Ann. 1: Let’s take a look at the current top story today.
Ann. 2:  Today’s story is actually quite interesting and even somewhat amusing but it could possible pose some challenges.  What do you think?
Ann. 1:  I agree.  It looks like downtown Holland is facing a problem that has the potential to turn fowl!  Over the last few weeks, vicious red-winged blackbirds have been randomly attacking visitors to 8th Street.  Let’s watch a short clip of these birds.
Show a short clip of dive-bombing blackbirds.
Ann. 2:  Wow, that is rather amusing but it turns out the blackbird problem is getting worse as the birds are growing bolder by the day.
Ann. 1:  Many of the store owners downtown have even complained that the birds are driving away their customers.  Some people have decided that visiting the downtown area is just not worth the potential pain!
Ann. 2: Currently at the scene, we have Abbie Harlow reporting live to give us some updates on the story.   Abbie, can you tell us a little more about  the birds?

Scene 2:
Abbie:  Yes, I can.  I am currently in front of the CityFlats Hotel which is where the birds have built up their scary reputation.  This is not the only place the birds have visited.  Some of the coffee shops on 8th Street have reported several attacks as well as various other stores.  People walking along the sidewalk obviously face the greatest potential to be attacked.  Two young children who were both victims of an attack were actually taken to the hospital for bird pecks that punctured the skin.  Here we have a few eyewitnesses that want to give their view on the bird problem.
Turn to the first interviewee.
Abbie:  This is Kaitlyn Damron who is visiting Holland all the way from Liverpool, England.  Kaitlyn can you tell us about what you saw here?
Kaitlyn: With a heavy British accent.   I was just minding my own business and having a coffee at JP’s when out of absolutely NOWHERE a BLOODY bird flew down and took a swipe at my trousers!  What’s next??  Iguanas using my teacup for a loo?!?!?!
A:  So what do you think should be down about the birds?
K: Well, it was really quite scary and my lovely day was somewhat ruined by the fright!  Somehow, the birds need to be taken under control.  I think this will prove to be a big problem for the economy of the Holland area since it will scare away tourists and such.
A:  Well thank you Kaitlyn.  Now I want to turn to Laura Nagelkerk.  Laura, you were also here during the bird show.  What do you think should be done about the problem.
Laura:  I think they should be put into a pie.
A: Laughs.  Pardon?  Can you please explain?
L:  I think it would be better to just get rid of the birds by shooting them and save the expense of trying to remove them alive.
A:  Well thanks for your input Laura.  Now, Madison Reeves, you were not here during the attacks but you do feel very strongly as to how the problem should be handled.  Isn’t that right?
M:  Oh my goodness, yes!   Oh, I just feel sick about the whole thing!  I mean, we definitely need to do everything possible to save these birds!  I wish I could just take them home and take care of them so that they would be safe!  These birds are an important part of the ecosystem.  We invaded their homes and we have no right to be angry at them!  If they swoop down and make our lives a disastrous mess – so be it!
If someone was endangering your babies lives and your home you would be a little upset and attack someone, wouldn’t you??
A:  Thanks Madison for sharing your view.  And we have one more person that we would like to talk to on the subject.  Isaac and Caleb, you guys were actually a few of the people attacked, isn’t that correct?
Isaac: Yeah, I was just walking down the sidewalk and a bird just flew at my head and starting pecking.  It felt like I had been punched!  At first I thought it was my friend here.   Man, it’s not like I was intending to reenact a level of angry birds, but I sure felt like a little green piggy!!!
A:  So, Caleb, you were also there at the time?
C: Yup, but the bird didn’t touch me.  It was pretty hilarious to see it attack Isaac.  I couldn’t stop laughing!
I: Dude!  It wasn’t funny!  Man, that bird was scary!  I am probably going to have a scar on my head!
A:  What do you guys think should be done about the birds?
I:  I wonder if there is any way to catch them and put them in some sort of cage, but other than that, I really don’t know.  They are dangerous though and should be taken care of in some way.
A:  Thanks guys.  Well, there is your update on the birds.

Scene 3:
Video goes back to the announcers.
Ann. 1:  Thank you Abbie for the update.
Ann. 2: Joining us, we have a blackbird specialist, Paige (last name).  Now Paige, you specialize especially in the behavior of red-wing blackbirds, is that correct?
Paige:  Yes, I have spent many years looking closely at these birds.
Ann. 2: Can you tell us a little more about them?
P: Sure.  Red-winged Blackbirds are stocky, broad-shouldered birds with a slender bill and medium-length tail.  The male blackbird will do everything they can to get noticed, sitting on high perches and belting out their conk-la-ree! Song all day long.  Females stay lower, skulking through vegetation for food and quietly weaving together their remarkable nests.  In winter, Red-winged Blackbirds gather in huge flocks to eat grains with other blackbird species and starlings.
In the summer, small numbers roost in the wetlands where the birds breed. Winter flocks can be congregations of several million birds, including other blackbird species and starlings. Each morning the roosts spread out, traveling as far as 50 miles to feed, then re-forming at night.
Ann. 1:  Wow, that is all very interesting.  So can you tell us why the blackbirds may have targeted downtown Holland?
P: Male Red-winged Blackbirds will fiercely defend their territories during the breeding season, spending more than a quarter of daylight hours in territory defense. He chases other males out of the territory and attacks nest predators, sometimes going after much larger animals, including horses and people.
There must be some nests nearby where the birds have been attacking.
Ann. 1:  And what do you think the ideal solution is to this unique blackbird problem?
P: I think that removing the nests from the area is the best way to get rid of the birds without harming the adult birds.
Ann. 2: Paige, thank you for your time with us!
P: Thanks for having me.

Scene 4:
Ann. 1:  Good morning, and thank you for joining us again.
Ann. 2:  Today we would like to give you an update on the blackbirds that we heard about several weeks ago.
Ann. 1:  Yes, it seems as if everything has been taken under control and there should be no more problems.  The advice of the blackbird specialist was taken and thankfully the problem has been fixed.
Ann. 2:  Wow, that is great news.
Ann. 1: Yes it is!
Ann. 2: Today we also have the privilege to talk to a group of people who seek to understand the world’s problems in a rather unique way.  Please welcome with me (name of CWV group).
Ann. 1:  Thank you so much for coming in today!
Abbie:  Thanks for having us!
Ann. 1: So can you tell us a little bit about what you guys do?
Abbie: Sure!  We are just a group of friends that actually travel around the country finding various problems .  When we learn about a problem, we then figure out how this problem relates to the Christian Worldview.
Ann. 2:  That is fascinating!  So what do you think about this problem that we had with the red-winged blackbirds?
Autumn:  Well, first of all, we believe that red-winged blackbirds were created by God.  They are actually very beautiful birds and I think that God created them for our enjoyment.
Ann. 1:  They definitely haven’t been an object of enjoyment lately though!
Abbie:  No, and that is because sin has come in between our relationship with the created order.  Because of sin, animosity and fear has come up between animals and humans.
Laura:  Now, the problem has been fixed, at least for a short while.  This is kind of like redemption in the Bible.  Christ redeemed us, but we will continue to sin until His return.
Ann. 1:  We appreciate you all joining us.
Autumn:  Thanks for having us.
Madison: Yes, it was really great to be here!
Group Leaves.
Ann. 2:  That is it for today!  Thanks for joining us!

Video Shoot Details

I will give you all a copy of this in class tomorrow and we can go over it all together.

Video Shoot Details

When:  Friday, April 26.  We will leave right after classes finish at 3:35.  I am hoping that we will be done around 6:00 or 6:30 at the latest.

Where: For the news broadcasting station scenes, meet at Engedi Church (see address below).  I have gotten permission for us to use the building.  From there, we can head downtown Holland to find a place to shoot the rest of the video.  We can go back to Engedi to meet any parents who are picking up.  By the way, if your parents want to come along, they are of course more than welcome! :)

Engedi Church

710 Chicago Dr. Suite 300

Holland, MI 49423

Transportation:  I will be driving a truck that is big enough to actually fit everybody, so if you don’t have a car, I can plan on driving you to Engedi and then downtown Holland.  If you live in Holland/Zeeland area, I will be more than happy to drop you back off at your house, otherwise, plan on having your parents pick you up at Engedi when we are done!  

What to Bring:  We will figure out details for what everybody needs to wear or bring in class (April 19).  All that will be posted on the blog.  Ladies, when you are doing your hair in the morning, just remember that you will be on camera later in the day! :) 

Okay, I think that is it for now!  I will put all this information on the blog as well.  I also have my contact info below just in case you have any last minute questions before the video shoot!  (Or, so your parents can call me about my driving record! :)

Abbie Harlow

Cell: (616) 566-5227

Home: (616) 786-3376

Email: abbie.h94@gmail.com

Friday, April 26

Okay guys, I think we can plan on next Friday, April 26th, for the video shooting!  We can talk about details in class tomorrow . . .

Progress Report

Hey guys!  Below I have copied the report that I will be handing in to Mr. Sooy on Friday.  Let me know if there are any changes you want to make! :)


Outline of Video Presentation
Our idea is to introduce and act out a news story.  At the very end of the video, we will relate the news story to the three parts of a Christian worldview – creation, fall, and redemption.

Scene 1:  A broadcasting station.  News broadcasters introduce the news story and then show video footage of it.   The story is about vicious red-winged blackbirds that are attacking people downtown Holland.  The broadcasters talk about the problem this event is creating and then turn the mic over to a reporter who is live at the location of the attacks.

Scene 2:  A reporter who is at the location of where the birds attacked.  The news reporter talks about how the birds are creating a big disturbance all over downtown Holland.  She interviews several people who either witnessed the attacks or were even victims of the attacks.  They offer their own opinions on how the birds should be dealt with.

Scene 3:  Back at the broadcasting station.  News broadcasters thank the reporter and the various interviewees.  They then invite in a blackbird specialist who talks about the nature of blackbirds and offers an answer as to why the birds are attacking so viciously.  The researcher also talks about how the birds should be dealt with.

Scene 4:  Two weeks later at the broadcasting station.  Broadcasters offer an update on the bird problem.  They welcome in a group of people who analyze how the different stages of a Christian worldview mirror the situation.

Filming and Editing
The current date set for filming is next Friday, April 26.  We are going to meet after classes.  Isaac can then put all the parts together and put the unedited video on the blog or email it to everyone.

Videos of Blackbird Attacks

Here are some videos that may be helpful!  We could even try to put part of one into our own video.  The second one even interviews some people and could be helpful just to give us some ideas!

Bring any notes, scripts, etc. to class this Friday :)

Hey guys, if any of you have anything that you have written for our video such as part of the script, notes, research notes, etc., how about you plan on bringing that with you to class on Friday?  That way we can combine everything and figure out exactly what we will need to have and bring to the video shooting! :)  Thanks guys!  Hey, this is exciting because everything is coming together!  Yay!  

Oh, Gracie, you had mentioned a friend who was interested in helping.  If she is available and still willing, it would be great to have her!  I think my own brother will be coming along too, as well as Chloe Damron.

Autumn and Gracie, do either of you have any more black bird info??? I'm looking for things like their normal behavior, mating behavior, habitat, diet, size and wieght, flocks (how big they usually are), and other things like that.

New Date Possibility:)

Would it work for people to meet for the video shoot after Friday Addition on the 26th?  I am thinking it would be around 4:00 to 6:00ish :) 

Here are the things I  wrote down after class during our group "pow-wow"...

Potential actors

Caleb Harlow
Meg Buehler
Chloe Damron

Roles

Gracie: Blackbird Specialist
Laura: Another blackbird specialist/angry civillian ;)
Meg: Potential news broadcaster
Kaitlyn: News broadcaster/British student at Hope College
Abbie: Reporter
Isaac: Victim (shares experience of the attack)
Madison: Environmentalist

*Please look this over and let me know if I missed anything, or got a role wrong!*

Oh, we also cannot forget to give a special thanks to Wikipedia at the end credits! ;)

April 23 or April 25

Okay, I am wondering if we can shoot the video on the afternoons of either April 23 and/or April 25.  PLEASE let me know if those dates work for you.  I have the outline of the script below.  

Scene 1: Introduction with actors Kaitlyn and Chloe as news anchors.  You guys will be introducing the problem and then turning the mic over to Abbie at the place where the birds attacked.  We can try to find a video on YouTube that shows footage of vicious blackbirds :)  

Scene 2:  This will be at the place where the birds attacked.  Abbie will be the news broadcaster and she will interview various people about the story.  Actors will potentially include Laura, Kaitlyn, Isaac, Chloe?, Gracie?, Caleb Harlow?, Madison

Scene 3:  Back to the news anchors.  A blackbird specialist will be brought in - Gracie - to talk about why the blackbirds act in this way.  The specialist also needs to give advice on what should be done about the birds.

Scene 4:  This will be like two weeks later and the news anchors will give an update on what happened.  Also, they will invite in a group of Christian worldview "specialists" (this will be everybody :) to talk about why and how this situation reflects the basic outline of Christian Worldview.  

So, between now and this Friday . . .  

Kaitlyn - can you get Chloe to join you?? Also, you can finish writing the script for Scene 1 and 3 and bring that into class on Friday?

Laura, Gracie, and Autumn - finish writing the blackbird info.  I can help turn that into the script for the blackbird specialist.

Madison - work with me to write interviews.  

Abbie - I can write the part about Christian worldview and the ending.

Isaac - i think you are all set!

We need to figure out on Friday what all we are going to need.  I have an idea for some place to do the shooting.  I am thinking about my church for the media news anchors, and then just someplace downtown Holland for the rest.  Sound okay??  

Happy Day After Easter! :)