Filming David Dunkley Gyimah

David Dunkley Gyimah was giving a lecture to Shenzhen Media Group Delegation,China yesterday, in Canvendish campus, Uni. Westminster.

The deligation was invited by China Media Centre, Uni. Westminster for a month exchange learning programme.

Web revolution

David emphasized web's importance for today media's development, he mentions an interesting expression: what's the difference between "a platform to place our media" and "a place to platform our media".

From what I have understood, the former one is still focusing on traditional media, the latter one is more innovative,emphasizing technological perspective.

A passionate multimedia expert

David is a very passionate multimedia expert, I'm glad to have such a brilliant tutor, I was filming him when he's lecturing to Shenzhen Media Group Delegation, I'm quite happy to help him out with the film.

Afterwards, he went to see his former boss John, and I was surprised about John's Apple laptop, according to John, at the moment in the UK, only few people are using this newest type of apple computer.

What kind of people are?!? David was joking with me, his boss is the real star.

Three Goddess Net Critique

(1) When surfing the net what websites don’t you like and why?

When I’m surfing online, I find out some websites that I really don’t like, the main reasons have been given out as the follows.

I will present Sanxia Media Network as an example (three Goddes Medis Network): http://www.sxcm.net/

Too much flash on the home page

This website seems adore using flash, one of the multimedia elements on the home page.

I feel the web designer overproduced the home page trough using 11 flash altogether.

It distract my concentration when I browsing the web.

Another big problem, when opening the home page, the top part is appearing as blank, I do not know what happened, seems as big ads there, or another big flash.

It happened to me for many times.

Home page is not well designed

When opening the front page, especially the top part of the home page, I just feel it is badly organised.

The first impression is a very complicated web, and seems texts, images, flash are everywhere.

It is not simple and not neat, I do not feel user-friendly character.

The three columns, I do not know why they are not in the same height, some of them shorter, some of them a bit longer. (see the top part of the home page):

http://www.sxcm.net/

Design is not always in consistency

The web design is not always consistent, when click some pages the design is changing.

For instance, click health, you will see: http://www.sxcm.net/jiankang/node_4295.htm, click wanzhou news, you will see: http://www.sxcm.net/newscenter/node_4115.htm.

However, most of the web pages look in this way: http://www.sxcm.net/newscenter/node_4116.htm.

So sometimes I am wondering am I still in the same website?

Navigation bar on the top is inconvenient

The Navigation bar is on the top instead on the left, it makes me feel difficult, because I always need to scroll up for finding some new information.

Though on the bottom, it also has the same navigation bar, but imagine, if I am scrolling in the middle of the page, of course I prefer to just click on the nearer left side!

I prefer the navigation bar on the left, like the BBC News website.

Content looks like ads

The Banner just under navigation bar, which looks like an ads, but in fact there is a big issue hiding behind the ads alike.

I got very confused first, even try to avoid it, after quite a long time, I realised that there is important content behind the banner.

Non-strictly comply with online writing rules

Look at this link:
http://www.sxcm.net/sh/2007-12/16/content_185656.htm

The paragraph is too long, I do not feel user-friendly character.

Since it is Chinese character, so cannot apply:

Ø heading verdana 18 bold,
Ø body text verdana 12
Ø sub-heading verdana 14 bold,
Ø the sales copy (the first paragraph under the heading, like the intro) verdana 12 bold

The topical news does not have complemented hook, which should include 3 important elements: image, keyword phrase, sales copy.

But in this web, the hook does not include keyword phrase.

No visited colour changing

There is no colour difference between visited link and non-visited link, I got lost many sometimes before I cant remember whether I visited or not.
I do hope there is colour changing for the link been visited.

New opening window should not always appear

The new opening window always appear when I search for something new, it is so frustrated because, what the hell am I return back to the front page?

The return button always becomes gray!! The web creates so many new window layers, and it is so inconvenient!

Search engine within the web not good

The Search within the web is very bad, because it does not has a box, and too much literal search.

I am looking for some specific search methods, for instance, the dates, the topic etc to help me to search, I feel it is easier and just tick.

Also the web does not handle typos, plurals, hyphens, and other variants of the query terms.

Almost no web 2.0 feature & lack of multimedia

The web is lack of multimedia section, I cannot find video/podcast in this web. Only one video I got after more than 2 hours search!

http://www.sxcm.net/sh/2007-12/30/content_187445.htm

RSS, Del.icio.us, DIGG these interaction tools are also left far behind.

Though the web has comment section after every article.

East End of London (2)

Directing: Daria Koshkova

Filming: Daria Koshkova, Yixiang Zeng

Editing: Yixiang Zeng, Daria Koshkova

Presenting: Daria Koshkova

London Galleries Journey (3)

Embroidery Art

While appreciating western artists’ outstanding talent, Chinese embroidery art also brings our visitors exotic oriental mystery.

The main character of Chinese embroidery art is her varied stitches, beautiful design, superb workmanship, and elegant colours.

Most of the creations displayed in the gallery are very much passionate on exploring natural views, such as birds, mountains, rivers, and traditional Chinese construction.

Those special and delicate silk is utilized to fulfill Chinese artists’ understanding and sensitivity towards oriental culture.

If you are a fervent Chinese embroidery art lover, it is definitely a great news for you – embroidery art gallery, do not miss it!

London Galleries Journey (2)

Feminine Attraction

While Annie Ralli utilizing different colours to depict this extraordinary city.

Anna Izzo, an Italian artist, more likely to express herself through human beings – feminine attraction.

Anna’s works are the combinations of Fibreglass Resin, Soft Design, Steel and Bronze Sculpture, and Canvas Paintings.

Most of them can be extensively exhibited in the outdoors areas.

For instance, one of the fiberglass resin works gracefully stretches her body and lies down on the grass, the beautiful curve explicitly shapes a charming young lady.

Through her works, it is not that difficult to find out artist’s deep interest in exploring feminine characters. Her soft design features women’s eyelash, lip, and hair.

Anna’s women creation is bold, dynamic, and a fascinating alchemy of nature.

London Galleries Journey (1)

Lots of gallery exhibitions are displayed in London for attracting world tourists; Yixiang Zeng is taking you to this exciting journey.

Are you interested in visual arts, are you looking forward to appreciate expressive artistic works, let’s begin with the exhibition featuring Annie Ralli.

London Vibrancy

Entering the elegant Colomb Art Gallery, a collection of colourful canvas paintings jump into your eyes.

Probably cannot wait for you to scream a big wow, you are already attracted by the theme “London Vibrancy” the artist intends to express.

Annie Ralli, a reputable British artist depicts to you her understanding of this extraordinary cosmopolitan.

Her earlier paintings are fully filled with the main colour – red, which stands for passion, enthusiasm, and loads of energy – the vibrant side of London.

Especially she gives lots of attention to the red bus, red light, and red tube sign etc, you will definitely feel the most enthusiastic London atmosphere.

While the later works are more expressively packed with blue, it is interesting to find out the transformation among her works.

Blue is a colour of describing London’s loneliness, more specifically Londoners and outsiders’ loneliness, their struggles and madness of staying in this multinational cosmopolitan.

An email makes me smile

Candidate Ref: 1276376

Dear Yixiang

Further to your recent application, we are pleased to inform you that you have been shortlisted for the next stage of the recruitment process.

We will contact you shortly to explain what this will involve and make the necessary arrangements.

Yours sincerely
The BBC Recruitment Team

BBC HR Direct
PO Box 48305
London
W12 6YE
UK

Telephone: 0870 333 1330
Textphone: 02890 328 478
Fax Number: 02890 444 151
Email: careers@bbchrdirect.co.uk

http://www.bbc.co.uk
This e-mail (and any attachments) is confidential and may contain personal views which are not the views of the BBC unless specifically stated. If you have received it in error, please delete it from your system. Do not use, copy or disclose the information in any way nor act in reliance on it and notify the sender immediately. Please note that the BBC monitors e-mails sent or received. Further communication will signify your consent to this.

radio kid programme

East End of London (1)

East End of London is quite an interesting and colourful place, if you want to explore multiculturalism, if you want to see different angle of London, East End is the ideal place to go!

Graffiti

Many vivid graffiti are along the street, some of the shapes like children, some of them like animal, while some of them are just abstraction. You can see lots of tourists are staying at the same places, and watching those graffiti carefully.

White Chapel Gallery

It’s amazing to see so many green cards handing on the wall, however, if you think they are only normal cards, or just for decoration of the gallery…you haven’t found out the surprising point – environmental protection!

A Russian tourist leaves the enthusiastic message to appeal her country raising awareness of recycling.

“I couldn’t understand why people don’t care about the environment we live, we can’t only think of ourselves, and we need to think of our next generation, how they’re going to live on this earth?”

Chinese Cultural Year in London '08

London, one of the most vibrant cosmopolitans in the world embraced the 2008 Chinese New Year. Its festive atmosphere brought Londoners good fortune and luck.


People enjoyed the combination of bright red lanterns, traditional Chinese parade and delicious food. The 2008 London-Chinese New Year Festival was the UK's largest ever Chinese cultural events.

Director: Yixiang Zeng

Filming: Yixiang Zeng

Editing: Yixiang Zeng, Laura Lee, Ying Yao

Special Thanks: Alex Lu, Yin Wang

Budapest Spring Festival" Travel Research and Action Plan – Org/people their usefulness

Budapest Spring Festival" Travel Research and Action Plan – Action Plan

Action Plan:

Contact the following tour operators,

➢ ACE Study Tour, the association for cultural exchange
➢ Martin Randall Travel
➢ Thomson
➢ Travel for the Arts, for lovers of opera, dance and classical music
➢ Osprey City Holidays
➢ Personal Contacts as well

Backgroud information

➢ Consult Classical music encyclopaedia for background on Music
➢ Talk to the official organiser who organises this event, for more backgroud information
➢ General search on the bibliography for the most outstanding Hungarian composer Franz Liszt, Béla Bartók.

Budapest Spring Festival" Travel Research and Action Plan – Research findings

Research findings:

➢ Budapest Spring Festival official website: http://www.budapestspringfestival.com/, the website provides a list of musical and cultural programmes, and places which will hold the events, As well, from the information provided by the official website, it will not be that difficult to search the surroundings.

➢ I googled “UK tour operators”, and found AITO is very helpful, two tour operators from AITO are specialists in Budapest Spring Festival tour.http://www.acestudytours.co.uk/l/tours.subject/Music, http://www.martinrandall.com/

➢ I also found some tour operators that offering the tailor-made tours to Budapest.http://www.thomson.co.uk, http://www.travelforthearts.co.uk/, http://www.specialtours.co.uk/, http://www.ospreyholidays.com/

➢ I found the official organiser who holds this creative festival: the Budapest Festival Center Kht.

➢ I personally know a Hungarian concert pianist, who is quite familiar with the festival, also I know a Maltese concert pianist, she attended the festival when she was studying at the Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest, 2003, I am contacting them and try to understand more about the musical events.

➢ I found the BBC Radio 3 Music Magazine – Classical Music, 4th edition Revised & Expanded which including all of the composers that the festival will be featuring.

➢ http://www.budapestspringfestival.com/btf2008/?t=h this webpage provides the list of places that holding the events, I have googled most of them, such as Artpool P60: http://www.artpool.hu/Defaulte.html, The Bartók 32 Gallery, http://www.c3.hu/~bartok32/, Hungarian State Opera House http://www.opera.hu/index.php?module=main, etc.

Budapest Spring Festival" Travel Research and Action Plan – Research Objective

Research Objectives:

➢ The objective is to find out what the Budapest Spring Festival are all about, what exactly it will provide for our audiences?

➢ To find out the details of the places, and their surroundings that hold the concerts, opera, exhibition, and musical etc.

➢ Find people who have first hand experiences of Budapest Spring Festival, who are interested in and understand the classical music, as well the composer/performers the festival intends to feature.

➢ Find out the tour operators, their contacts and packages, including flights, hotels, restaurants, visiting places during daytime (the festival events will be mainly held in the evening).

➢ Consult travel guidebooks, official festival website, and learn more about the classical music that the festival will be featuring.

"Budapest Spring Festival" Travel Research and Action Plan -- Backgroud

For Travel Feature

Background

I could count the destination show we visited on 13th February, was my inspiration of writing up this travel feature – Budapest Loud Out.

Firstly I was thinking to write something about Spanish Flamenco dance, however, when I got to the destination show, there was no Spainish stand, only part of Spanish region Catalonia with a few visitors there.

finally, I was lucky enough to discover the Budapest Spring Festival at Hungary stand, which will be held from March 14th to 30th annually.

This is definitely an interesting angle, my knowledge background and interest tied me to this particular theme. Also I remembered, once I heard BBC radio 3, the classical music magazine introduced Budapest Spring/Autumn Festival.

Eastern Europe possesses magnificent sight views, combined with Budapest’s cultural and artistic character, therefore, this feature article should own a vast readership, for those who are keen on exploring Budapest, and experience her glorious cultural and artistic enrichness.

The publication I am targeting is the Guardian, because the Guardian’s travel section provides readers particular cultural/festival trip features, it should be suitable for my feature.

Chinese documentary

2nd semester, 1st 6 weeks, Westminster

Messiaen and the Piano

04/02/08, Royal Academy of Music, London

The sound is silvery, pearly, rapid, and full of enthusiasm, passion with warm-hearted nature.

Inside Duke Hall, Royal Academy of Music, London, young talented pianists once again brought the masterpieces to our music lovers. Their delicate and profound performance evokes the beautiful memory of Olivier Messiaen, the greatest twentieth-century French composer, in his centenary year.

Bird Sound

The 1st half of the recital is fully contributed by Messiaen’s astonishing way of composing and conveying his music – the bird sound.

In 1948, the newspaper France-Soir published an interview in which Messiaen was asked to describe the greatest influences on his work. He said, the bird.

Bird sound, through this fresh materials, through the non-distance touch of different birds species, through his openness towards music, he creates and conceives the real atmosphere of our nature, including most of the natural sound, La Bouscarle & La courlis cendre. The prominent piano work performed by Japanese pianist Yurie Miura:

In south-west of France, a foggy morning bemists the attractive and charming countryside, suddenly, wren’s silvery and rapid sound breaks the quietness and softness of the whole environment, gradually people can hear the golden oriole, like a very large flute, almost a horn; then the crow, raucous, powerful, sneering and sarcastic…However, all of the musical elements unexpected stopped in one second…Yurie’s fingers, remained in the air…

Such a rhythmic piece conveys Messaen’s new concept of timing, birds’ sound appearing differently, the stop between various musical elements (river sound, wind sound etc) all indicate his new way of organising and conceiving time, which opened the door for another generation of composers.

Two Pianos

After interval, Visioins de I’Amen for two pianos, performed by a UK-based Chinese pianist Bingbing Li, and an Italian pianist Mariangela Vacatello.

The richness of this work is concentrating on the harmonious cooperation, and sharp confrontation between two pianos, the musicianship of individual pianist brings her own understanding of Messane into the vast meaningful piece, where the first piano plays the complex and powerful music texture, over the chorale provided by the second piano.

Interestingly, Bingbing Li’s delicate and sensitive musicianship (second piano), combined with Mariangela Vacatello’s straightforward and “free soul” performing style (first piano), conveys incisively and vividly Messiaen’s deep emotion of this work – suffering, pain, conflicts, together with cheerfulness, and cherished wishes.

The work was composed for Yvonne Loriod, Messiaen’s future wife, one of his most outstanding piano students. In that period, Messiaen had just returned from the war camp from Germany, 1943. His first wife, the violinist Claire Delbos, hospitalised due to mental illness, and it was these circumstances that heavily influenced Messiaen’s Vision de I’Amen .

It was a lovely evening, filled with composer’s life-long experience, and performers’ imagination. For our audience, besides enjoying beautiful piano music, most probably are the nostalgias towards this greatest French composer -- Olivier Messiaen.

Destination Show

Earls Court, 02/02/08

As a travel journalism student, me and my group attened the Destinations Show , held in Earls Court.

It's a fantastic visit, many countries set their stands there, people can get information as much as they can, including regions such as Europe, Northern America, Latin America, Middle East, Asia & Pacific. not only the destination informations, People also can get tour operator's detailed service.

From the destination show itself, together with the Saturday morning session, travel journalists should understand that they have to possess the skills of discovering a fantastic angle, negotiating with both publication and travel industry side, which will be satisfy both sides, and also fill his/her own pocket ^_^.

It's definitely a challenging profession, require passion, hard word, enthusiasm, and lots of related skills.