How to Fix a World of Disorder

     I enjoyed both of the screenings and took something from each.  "Disorder" was powerful because Huang Weikei used sound very effectively.  We typically heard something before we saw something and the sound didn't always match what we saw (especially in the 2nd part) as the sound was often a leftover from the previous scene that carried over into the new scene.  A perfect example of this was the pig squealing as it was carried over from one scene to the next and was effective in adding an extra layer of tension to the already disturbing images of people being manhandled.
     This is definitely a technique that I can employ in the projects for this class and it all becomes a matter of picking certain sounds with certain images.  As well, choosing when not to use any sound at all is another choice because with the flood of sound, silence also becomes a powerful tool to use.  As you (Todd) suggested in class, you can spend an unbelievable amount of time working with audio while editing video and I will say that I typically spend the same, if not more time on the audio than I do the video.  That means, for me, learning how not to overdo it then becomes the trick.
     "How to Fix the World" was, to me, just one of those perfect videos in that it incorporated captivating images, provided educational moments and interesting information, and allowed humor to enter the discussion.  The take away from this screening for me was the use of humor and I know that is not an editing or filming technique (well, maybe it is), but I think it is often overlooked as a way to share information.  In this case, if the information was to be shared in a traditional way (narration or interviews or on screen printed quotes), even the best visual graphics would have rendered this a far less entertaining watch.  And, I'm not saying you have to entertain me all the time, but if you can share information and entertain the audience without losing the integrity of the information, why not do it?  I will look for moments where I can reassess how I'm transmitting the information to the audience and see if there is another way I can share it that may not only bring a smile to someone's face, but also inform them.  Like I said, I'm not a believer that you have to do this, but if you can, why not?  The subject matter may lead you one way or the other, but Mel Brooks and Spielberg have covered some of the same material in their movies and both of them have taken different approaches.  This probably was not the best example of what I am trying to say, but I think it's just a good idea to ask yourself if you can cover your subject from another angle and see what you get.