Just Some Thoughts

2006-11-29T23:34:00.000-08:00

I have waited the best part of almost a fortnight for the Greek community to wring me. I gave all my details to Euan and he said he would forward them, but we are running out of time. I rang him again and he says that he has forwarded them and hastily sent me an email confirming that the ball was now in their court. Time is running out rapidly though, so the group and I are thinking of trying an alternative tack.

Apparently Heather has a number for the Greek Group, the Pan Koakos group and we are going to try directly to get into contact with them. The delay was a pain, but at least we tried and we established that it is still in fact a Greek community group who run the Theatre.

Some facts...

2006-10-03T00:21:00.000-07:00

Today I spoke with a Euan Matheson, a real estate agent from Colliers International working on the sale of the Majestic Theatre. He was very forthcoming and agreeable to help me out with information, which is a nice change.

Matheson says that The Majestic has been owned by a Greek Community group for over 20 years now. The group is based in the Marrickville Council area and due to dwindling numbers and thus funds, they have had to put The Majestic up for sale. The Majestic has been on the market for just over a month, and the final biddings for the property are due by this Thursday (5th October).

Apparently the largest show of interest has come from church groups and private function groups, who I imagine are keen on its large size and open-plan spaces. I questioned him about the title he placed on the website- The Majestic: A Unique Opportunity. Thinking this opportunity meant redevelopment, I asked, but he reassured me that would not be possible. Matheson says that the Majestic is on the Council Heritage list and they have been interested in following the sale procedures so far. He says that due to the original art deco architectural features inside, tearing the place down or even conducting any radical renovation would be virtually impossible.

The best part about chatting with Mr Matheson was the fact that when I asked if Juliette, Heather and myself would be able to visit the Majestic and perhaps shoot some film/take photos inside, he was more than happy. He simply asked that we email him our project brief so he could forward the message to the owners. Perhaps that may lay some groundwork for some interviews?

The Majestic Up for Sale

2006-09-28T18:18:00.000-07:00

Heather mentioned in an email that the Majestic is up for sale, which could add a new chapter to the history of the theatre. I noticed that on the sale brief by Colliers International the title is 'The Majestic- A Unique Opportunity'. I would be interested to know what that unique opportunity is exactly. Methinks redevelopment, though I am not too sure how well that would sit with the public. As Heather points out, The Majestic was added to the List of Important buildings in 1989, so I don't know what protection that places over the site. Possibly none? Contact with the real estate agent is now necessary. The advantage of it being up for sale is that we may be able to inspect the site and shoot some footage/take stills, which was previously unavailable due to the site being shut. The disadvantage is that the closing day for bids is the 5th of October, which is next Thursday. Euan Matheson is the agent for The Majestic, I have tried ringing him and got a message bank but I will continue trying.

Majestic Up for Sale

2006-09-28T18:06:00.000-07:00

I worked out how to use Flash in a much more competent, and I daresay, creative way. I learnt how to activate the button, insert stop and start functions, and also how to make the images fade in and out instead of appearing abruptly (with help from Juliette mind you!) I think now I am at about the same level as, at least on one part, Heather and Juliette, the other two members of the group. We also assigned some tasks to do over the break, with a possible meeting in the second week of holidays or first week back.

Majestic Roller Rink

2006-09-07T23:52:00.000-07:00

Just Some Thoughts

Today's session was great because we finally were able to establish the groups for the main project, which makes me feel a little more directed and grounded. Heather, Juliette and I have formed a group to work on Heather's intitial idea of the Majestic Roller Rink, located at Petershem. This idea is great, because the venue itself has so many stories to tell and is rich is many histories. Hopefully we will be able to explain its significance not only to the area but to the flourishing of sub-cultures throughout the years. We brainstormed some ideas and thought that a balance of multimedias (pictures, video and audio) would provide a rounded presentation and depiction of the Roller Rink. I am actually very excited to get involved with this project, though nervous because I am still at a loss when it comes to Flash. I guess now I just have to work at it harder and learn faster because it will be essential to know at least the basics when we begin production. First and foremost, I need to do some research about the Rink, so Im on the same level as Heather, then from there, too completing that mini-project due on Friday. And yeah, we have a 300 word overview plan due as well but we discussed that today so that shouldn't be much of an issue.

Flash-Stuck!!!!

2006-09-06T22:55:00.000-07:00

Just Some Thoughts

I am currently in the lab trying to complete my slide essay, and I have zero idea of what I am supposed to do. I have my six photos on my USB stick, and messed around with them on Adobe for a while because that was fun and I can semi-use it now. But I am completly stuck as to what we are supposed to be doing with Flash. I mean, I know that we're meant to be creating a slide show/essay thing but I have no idea how to do it. I think I created a button, though I don't really know why or what it's for. I have been following the hand out but I simply don't understand. I don't think for starters that my photos are saved in the correct format, they were in Adobe format but I think I converted them to PNG in flash. Then I made the photo which I want the 'start' function to be the button, which I think worked. The sizes are all wrong and I can't seem to make them 800 X 600. Mighty, mighty confused and lost as to where to go.

Blog Site?

2006-09-05T18:28:00.000-07:00

Just Some Thoughts

I am confused... Are we still supposed to be continuing our forum on UTS Online in regards to the project ideas? Or are we simply meant to be reading each others blogs. I don't think anyone knows my blog is here and thus I am effectively talking to myself. Wondering whether I should be contributing project ideas... I don't understand whether we are joining the existing ideas or coming up with more? When are we going to form groups?

Ah, Need to post..

2006-09-05T05:39:00.000-07:00

Just Some Thoughts

While the workshop in the lab was productive on Friday, I still feel way out of my depth for doing it on my own for the little assignment, and Im not technology inept either. While in the beginning of this course I thought a journalism student like myself would be able to learn these skills with the help of others, and offer some of my research or writing skills, this subject now seems entirely MAPS directed- which is daunting. Sorry to those of you who find navigating Adobe and Flash more straighforward that tying your shoe lace, but Im gonna find this assignment HARD. It will be all good though in the end, and will teach me to not get impatient with people in Radio that think using Pro Tools and audio equipment is an impossible challenge.

So here it is...

2006-09-05T05:00:00.000-07:00

Well I had to create a blog for my Online Documentary course at UTSydney so here it is...