Populaire Official US Release Trailer #1 (2013) - Bérénice Bejo Movie HD

This is a U.S. English trailer for a French romantic comedy, Populaire (Attal & Roinsard, 2012), about a speedy typist.

[I watched the movie on a DVD last night. It was very funny.] I wish I could type as fast as she did.

Reference

Attal, Alain (Producer), & Roinsard, Régis (Director). (2012). Populaire [Motion picture]. France: Les Productions du Trésor.

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My Start-Up Labels (2013)

This post is a derivation from a previous post on the Writing Studio Blog, Start-up labels (2012), April 22, 2012.

Here are labels that you will need to use for required posts on your blogs:

• books, brainstorms, drafts, essay prep., essays, fiction, free-writing, graphics, links, media, mind-maps, movies, non-fiction, outlines, quickposts, references, reviews, revisions, typing, websites (20)

For example, on book reviews, you will need to use at least four (4) labels, including:

• books, references, reviews, ... (all comma-spaced values [CSVs]); plus:
• fiction, OR
• non-fiction.

The label "references," and the minimum number "four (4)" for book reviews (above), are new for 1st semester this year. All book review posts will need APA-style references, for which your instructor will provide models and templates, from 1st semester onward.

Please feel free to use other suitable labels, as well. For example, genre labels like "adventure," "biography," or "history" (one or another, without quotation marks) are welcome. That is, as long as they reflect the content of individual book review posts.
For details on how to use other required labels, please see Sheet 1 in the Labels and Links page on the Writing Studio Blog.

Now, to jump-start your labels collections, please:

1. Copy and paste the 20 labels in the first list above into a new draft post on your own blog;
2. Entitle the new draft post, "My Start-Up Labels" (in title case, without quotation marks);
3. Copy and paste the labels in the list above into the Labels field on the draft start-up labels post;
4. Publish the start-up labels post on your blog; and then
5. Add a labels gadget to the sidebar of your blog.

____________________

Note: At present, the maximum number of labels that you can put on a post is twenty (20).

Once you've published your start-up labels posts, with 20 labels in the label field as well as in the body of the posts, the labels will show up in your Labels gadget. Then, when you compose new posts, you will be able to choose appropriate labels for required posts, rather than having to type them in by hand.

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WSBulletin 2-02 (Fall 2012): Book Reviews & Revised Essays

A couple of quick comments already this a.m., and follow-ups (reminders), for everyone:

pab said...  Hello R...,  All book reviews this semester need an opening quotation to spark readers' interest, and an APA-style reference at the end.  Cheers, PB  December 13, 2012 ...	Everyone: Please review WSBlog posts with the labels "quotations" and "references," especially: WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2010 Quotations and references for book reviews
pab さんは書きました... H...,  You and your group mates need to rewrite your essay in the _third person_, without "I," "We," or "You" [in main clauses]. Cheers, PB  2012年12月13日 ...	Example (from 1C, Dec. 12): Version 2-03a (draft): We chose this actress because she ... and .... Version 2-03b (revision): The reasons we chose this actress were she ... and ....

If you have concerns or questions about either the on-going book review assignment, or the current movie review assignment, please spell them out in comments on this post.

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Comments on essay prep. posts

This quick comment collection is to remind everyone what to put in their essay prep. posts, and what not to.

Numbers of movies to watch

pab2012年12月3日 13:13

Hi A...,

I suggest that you all plan to watch at least two two of the movies, if not all three of them (when you make the third choice), so you'll have a solid basis for comparisons.

Cheers, PB

pab2012年12月3日 13:48

Hi K...,

Please note, and let your teammates know, that teams of three need to watch three movies that are related either by stars in them or similar stories.

Cheers, PB

Bases for selections, foci for planning

December 3, 2012 1:20 PM

Thanks for the info., M....

Now what's the connection among those films?

Cheers, PB

2012年12月3日 13:29

Hi 'A...,

Thanks for sharing this info. Now would you please ...? You also should all plan to co-write about all three movies.

Cheers, PB

2012年12月3日 13:32

Hi M...,

I hope you'll consider not only differences but also similarities from the get go (from this early planning stage onward). [emphases added]

Cheers, PB

Too much personal info.

2012年12月3日 13:29

Hi 'A...,

Thanks for sharing this info. Now would you please trim your teammates' family names back to their initials? You also should ....

Cheers, PB

2012年12月3日 13:37

Hi M...,

Thanks for sharing this info. Now would you please trim your teammates' family names in your post back to their initials?

Cheers, PB

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Class notes: Nov. 28 classwork, group work, & homework

Yesterday was a big day in Writing IV, as those of you who attended will recall. Yet, as I have learned to expect, it was also a day on which there were technical challenges, not the least of which (for me, at least) was display of class notes on laboratory monitors.

The screenshot below, an enhanced version of my class notes, more or less reflects board work and general instructions from class yesterday. Square brackets enclose enhancements in this retrospective, or responses to questions in one section of the class or another.

Screenshot of enhanced Nov. 28 class notes, 2012.11.29

Essay prep. posts, as well as previewing, actual viewing, or reviewing of the movies that teams choose, are essential components of the homework assignment for this week.

Please click on the graphic above to get a closer look, or zoom in on it in your browsers. Then, if you have any questions or concern about the classwork, group work, or homework in that outline; please spell them out in comments on this post before the end of November.

Last but not least, I'd like to ask you again to share what you learn from posts on the Writing Studio Blog with your classmates and peers. Thank you in advance for your continuing cooperation.

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My Startup Labels

books, brainstorms, drafts, essay prep., essays, fiction, free-writing, graphics, links, media, movies, non-fiction, outlines, quickposts, reviews, revisions, typing, websites

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BR 2-01: Robin Hood (Swan, 1989)

"The king stayed in Nottingham for many weeks, but nobody could find Robin Hood. Nobody knew where he was. Or if they did know, they didn't say" (Swan, 1989, p. 42).

This book has many stories about Robin Hood. They come from folk tales about an outlaw, who was a hero of the people. I like folk stories, and I've watched Disney's animated film version (1973). So I decided to read this book.

At first I was surprised, because the pictures in the book were very different from the Disney's images. Other points were the same. For example, Robin Hood had many friends, but also powerful enemies. The Sheriff of Nottingham tried to catch Robin, and the King of England wanted him dead. I won't tell you what happened. You can read the book, and find out for yourself. I will tell you that I was surprised again.

This book is easy to read. Swan (1989) uses a 500 word vocabulary, and puts New Words in the back (pp. 55-57). You can read one story at a time. Color pictures with many of them show key events in the stories.

I liked this book a lot. I think you will, too. If you do, then maybe we can watch the classic film version (Warner Brothers, 1938) together!

Reference

Swan, D. K. (1989). Robin Hood [Longman Classics, Stage 1]. Harlow, England: Longman Group.

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Basic Format for Motion Picture References: Have a Go!

Here is a basic APA-style formatting guide for motion picture references:

Producer, P. P. (Producer), & Director, D. D. (Director). (... [Year] of publication). Title of motion picture [Motion picture]. Country of origin: Studio or distributor.

(Purdue OWL: APA Formatting and Style Guide: ... 

Other Non-Print Resources: Motion Picture) 

If you'd like to have a go at using that guide to compose and format a draft, APA-style reference for the movie that your classmates and peers are reviewing (Mrs. Doubtfire), feel free to post one in comments on this post. Likewise, if you have questions about the composition, formatting, or purposes of APA-style references, in general, please feel free to spell them out in comments on this post.

Last but not least, whenever you're composing references, please remember that: 

• As with authors' names for book references, you should list producers' and directors' family names before their given names (and middle names or initials, if available) for movies; 
• Commas and single spaces separate family names from other names or initials, and
• For practice in the writing course you are taking, you should spell out given names, followed by middle names or initials (if available). That will facilitate comparison and cross-checking of your draft references.

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'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2' Trailer (VIDEO)

Huffington Post Entertainment announced the release of the movie trailer for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, and said, "Breathtaking CGI, deep and rich colors and a feeling of something larger than life pervade the trailer" (2011.04.27). What do you think of it?



The movie is scheduled for release on July 15. I imagine that's for the U.S. I wonder when it will open in Japan.

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Startup Labels (example)

Startup labels:

• books, brainstorms, drafts, essay prep., essays, free-writing, graphics, links, media, movies, outlines, quickposts, reviews, [revisions,] typing, websites

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Notes for excused (2009.06.17), reminders for all

This post includes three rough but ready snapshots of class notes, for those students who were away yesterday for student teaching (or other excused absences). These notes also may serve as reminders for everyone else in the Writing Studio this semester - reminders on which I urge you not to become dependent!

1. Pointers and reminders (P & R),
2. A collective outline of themes evident in the movie (from §1C), and
3. Individual essay outlines (topic outlines [classwork, 2009.06.17]).
   

Pointers and reminders (P & R)

Collective outline of themes
Individual essay outlines
Clicking on the snapshots above will reveal larger displays. As always, if you have concerns or questions about these notes or reminders, please spell them out in comments on this post.

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Posts in Preparation of Next Essays

To prepare for upcoming essays, thematic movie reviews due next Tuesday (Writing Studio Calendar, 3rd essays due, November 4, 2008), last week I asked you to make two quickposts after you had viewed the movie to review, Mrs. Doubtfire:

1. A quick list of themes that you'd noticed in the movie, with the labels:
   
• essay prep., lists, quickposts
  
2. A quick first impression of the movie, with the labels:
   
• essay prep., free-writing, quickposts
  

In class today, I asked you to share items from those lists of themes found in the movie, and to reflect on themes shared in each class by making two (2) more quickposts, each on a theme shared in class. Please label your two in-class posts with at least these three labels: 1) essay prep., 2) free-writing, and 3) quickposts. If you wish, you may add the themes themselves to labels on these posts. If you click on the graphic (above), a larger format version will appear.

The purpose of free-writing in class today was three-fold, namely to:

• demonstrate your fluency in writing on themes of your choice, and with or without reference to the movie;
• lessen the number of weekly posts that you would need to write outside of class, so you can concentrate on outlining and drafting your essays this coming week; and
  
• collect and publicize your thoughts relating directly or indirectly to themes in the movie.
  

Unfortunately, those of you who hadn't watched Mrs. Doubtfire had little other choice but to free-write without reference to the movie. All together, as of the end of class today, you should have had at least four (4) essay prep. posts on your blog leading up to your next movie reviews.

Between now and the due date for your thematic reviews of Mrs. Doubtfire, I would like you to make at least two more preparatory posts:

1. A topic outline of the theme from the movie, including the main points that you want to make about it, with the labels:
• essay prep., and
• outlines (a new label for most of you, I believe); and
  
2. A complete first draft of your essay, including:
• a paragraph introducing the movie briefly, along with your choice of themes, and outlining the main points that you will make about your choice;
• three or more body paragraphs explaining your interpretations of the theme (hopefully one evident throughout the movie), and supporting your interpretations with concrete, detailed examples from the movie; and
• a concluding paragraph summing up your interpretations of the theme, and how you have supported your interpretations of it.
  

Students in both class meetings today asked how long these essays need to be. However they frowned at my stock answer, which is, "long enough to cover the themes you choose, and [to] support your interpretations of them." So I told all I would expect them to write at least 500 words, a round number that may suffice only if each and every word is on target, that is, on the themes that you choose from the movie.

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PS: If you have concerns or questions about this assignment, please spell them out in comments on this post, well in advance of the due date. Though I will be away on business in Tokyo (Friday, Oct. 31 - Monday, Nov. 3), I will make every effort to respond in a timely fashion to comments made soon (before I leave).

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Original post revised 2008.11.06 [+ 1 word]

Recommended Movie Sites

Rick, aka Pukman @ WinK, writes on a blog that I've listed among Course Links in the sidebar of this blog called "the community that time didn't forget." In a recent post on that blog he recommends sites to visit if you are interested in finding out about movies, new and older, watching and listening to movie trailers, or reading movie reviews (Pukman..., Movie sites, 2005.05.16).

His recommendations include one site that I listed (IMDb), and another that I had perused (Rotten Tomatoes), when I quick-posted a few days ago a list of movies that I had watched recently: A Few Favorite Movies of Late (The Writing Studio Blog, 2008.05.12). As Pukman, or Rick points out at the end of his recommendations, you can find those and many more internet sites related to movies in the WinK in Magnolia community bookmark collection, marked with the tag (or label) movies (WinK in Magnolia Tags: View All).

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A Few Favorite Movies of Late

The Milagro Bean Field War, by Robert Redford (1988)
IMDb listing
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095638/
Review
http://www.channel4.com/film/reviews/film.jsp?id=105988

Elephant, by Gus Van Sant (2003)
IMDb listing
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0363589/
Official site
http://www.elephantmovie.com/

Farenheit 911, by Michael Moore (2004)
Film
http://www.fahrenheit911.com/
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0361596/
Controversy
http://www.davekopel.com/Terror/Fiftysix-deceits-in-Fahrenheit-911.htm
http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fahrenheit_9/11_controversy
http://www.michaelmoore.com/warroom/f911notes/

Sicko, by Michael Moore (2007)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0386032/
http://www.michaelmoore.com/sicko/index.html

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Blogged with the Flock Browser

A Map of the Process: Draft Movie Reviews

This image (a quick concept map, nothing fancy) reflects the process we used today to prepare draft movie review essays:



Comments about what we did are more than welcome on this quick post.

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MR 1-1: First Semester - First Movie Review

This post amplifies movie review assignment details sent via gmail (2008.04.30), and encourages you to ask questions, if you have any, in comments on this post at least 48 hours before your first movie review for first semester is due. For the due date and time, please see the for Writing III-IV, §§ 1a & 1c.

As you draft and revise your movie review essays, please make certain that:

0. Your essays are original work. Please note that this prohibits both copying and machine translation. However, using ideas that you and your classmates shared during collective free-writing sessions today is okay.

1. You cover all of the main points in the working outline [displayed below], including: characters, story, themes, and lasting impressions. Please note that you need not follow the working outline exactly.
2. You express your ideas in complete sentences, composed into paragraphs, arranged in an organized fashion that suits your own ideas about the movie. This requires at least one paragraph for each main point. Please note that, depending upon your primary focus:
• Paragraphs about characters may include bits of the story (in order of occurrence);
• Paragraphs about the story may introduce the characters (in order of appearance); and
• Paragraphs about themes may include either notes about characters or summaries of episodes and events in the story (in order of importance to development of themes).
3. You include a paragraph (two or more sentences) at the beginning of the review explaining the purpose and introducing the main points that you will cover in your movie review. You may also include as similar paragraph at the end, if you feel a summary of the main points that you have covered will help readers get a clear idea of what you think about the movie.
4. You check your final draft movie review essay in Word for spelling, punctuation, and grammar faults, and correct those faults BEFORE you post your essay on your blog.
5. You have a classmate, friend, or peer read your essay on your blog AFTER you post it, to make sure your essay is clearly written, and easy to read and understand. Please note and follow all suggestions that they make for improving your essay, or the presentation of it on your blog.

(pab..., personal correspondence, 2008.04. 30)

When you post this essay on your blog, please include the abbreviation MR (for movie review) and the number 1-1 (for first semester, first review) at the beginning of the title on your blog post. The title of the post should read, "MR 1-1: ...," in which "..." represents a short, catchy phrase describing your review.

You also must include at least these three labels on your movie review post: 1) essays, 2) movies, and 3) reviews. Please note that all three of those labels are plural forms. Another you may wish to include is a genre label, such as animation.


If you have questions about the working outline displayed above (sent via gmail), or this movie review essay assignment, please ask them right away in comments on this post. If you post questions less than 48 hours before an assignment is due, you may not get answers until they are too late to inform the final posting of your essay on your blog.

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Shrek it is - view now, review later!

This is a cross-post of a gmail message that I've just sent to students in the Writing Studio this semester, in Writing III-1a and III-1c (original date: April 26, 2008 09:35:26 JST). I'm cross-posting it to the Writing Studio Blog in hope that it will come to your attention at least as soon as, if not sooner than, it would in gmail:

Hello, everyone in Writing III-1a and III-1c, I hope you are outdoors enjoying this fine weekend!

This message is an important one, so please let you[r] classmates know that it's in their gmail queues as soon as you've finished reading it. It has to do with the next essay assignment, which is due about a week from today (Course Calendar). There are three plus one things that I'd like you to realize right away.

0. The movie that everyone in Writing III-1a and -1c is to review for the next essay assignment is Shrek (see follow-up comments on the Writing Studio Blog, ... [We are] doing Shrek!, Thursday, April 24, 2008).

1. You do not need to start writing your review of the movie Shrek until next Wednesday, in class. As a matter of fact, you should not start writing a review until we plan (outline) the essay together on April 30, 2008. If you feel an uncontrollable desire to write on your blog between now and then, which you should (;-), please blog about anything other than Shrek.

2. To get ready for writing a review, you must watch the movie (again, if you've seen it before) BEFORE class next Wednesday, because we will not watch the movie in class. It is a very good idea to watch it with classmates and friends, with the English soundtrack and English subtitles switched on.

3. Talk about the movie (see item 1, above) with as many people as you can BEFORE we meet on Wednesday. The more people with whom you talk about Shrek, and the more English that you use while you are doing so, the better.

I plan not to send any more gmail messages like this, so please get in the habit of browsing the Writing Studio Blog and Wiki several times a week, and checking for new posts, comments, and updates. See you on Wednesday, if not online before!

Cheers, ... [signature removed, PB]

If you have questions about this movie review assignment, please share them (and answer them for one another) in comments on this post.

Image from: Internet Movie Database

[422 words]

"Mr B...'s class[es are] ... doing Shrek!" (tomei)

On the KGUWriting blog, tomei spilled the beans already. He wrote, "Mr B...'s class[es are] ... doing Shrek!" (2008.04.23).

This post is to offer thanks for his finding and sharing a Shrek YouTube clip there, to raise awareness of this selection. While I'm writing, I'd also like to ask a couple of favors, and to amplify upon advice tomei gave regarding soundtracks on DVDs.

To be precise, both writing classes that I teach this semester (1A and 1C) are doing the same movie this go 'round. I've based the assignment of Shrek to everyone on that movie's being the flick that most students in both classes expressed first preferences for reviewing in their next essays, in shows of hands in the Mac lab. yesterday morning (2008.04.23). These were the top three preferences (no others got more than one vote):

1. Shrek: 1A (10) + 1C (11) = 21
2. Harry Potter: 1A (4) + 1C (8) = 12
3. Mrs. Doubtfire: 1A (5) + 1C (0) = 5
   

So I'd appreciate tomei's correcting the title of the post cited above to read "classes" (plural).

I'd also appreciate it if everyone would avoid using family names in their public postings. Please use given names, or given + initial when there are two students whose given names are the same (e.g.: Chie N. or Chie T.); or blog handles, like pab or tomei, with capitalization as in the originals, or abbreviations, like Mr B or Mr. B., instead.

Regarding soundtracks, when you are watching Shrek recorded on a DVD, tomei suggests switching subtitles on, and selecting English. This will amplify your listening and viewing experience in English as an additional language by adding reading to the admix of skills that you are using simultaneously.

Happy Shrek viewing, everyone! Please stay tuned here, too, for follow-up posts on the first movie review assignment for this semester.

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Next Up: Movie Reviews

To get you started thinking about the next essay assignment, I've collected links to three movie reviews for you to peruse. The short list below is organized in reverse chronological order, from newest to oldest.

After you've read those reviews over, we'll brainstorm in class to come up with ideas for types of content to include in your own movie reviews. If you finish reading these three examples early (perhaps before class), you can use the label "movies" on SaaaE's blog (sidebar, left) to find other examples.

1. The Curse of the Golden Flower (Rick, 2008.04. 18)
2. Toy Story (SaaaE, 2007.10.10)*
3. Sean Bean in Sharpe adventure films (pab, 2007.04.12)

__________
* Note: For her portfolio, SaaaE selected Toy Story as her best movie review (WEI, §§1.o-1.2, 2008.01.30).

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Archives, Feeds, Labels, Settings and Such

In this post, I focus on blog settings; I provide a freshly extended list of blog features, functions, and requirements for on-going participation in the Writing Studio (Writing IVc).

0. A blog!

This is pretty obvious, but everyone has to have one, and to use it regularly for posting the various writing assignments listed here, including:

• free-writing (quickposts, photos, media, links),
  
• typing speed trials (quickposts, typing),
• book reviews (books, links, photos, reviews),
  
• intensive writing assignments (essays, graphics, media, movies, photos, reviews), and
• collective/reflective works (assignments, essays, reviews, portfolios).

Suitable labels for those kinds of posts are in parentheses (above).

Beyond the obvious, that is, by now routine, extensive writing on you blogs (above); there are several other points on which I would like you to focus your attention this week. In class, computer lab. assistants or I will help you make certain that your blogs adhere to the following requirements.

1. Archives

Blog archives must appear near the top of blog sidebars for Writing IVc. This is a requirement continuing from Writing IIIc, last semester. Especially if you didn't take part in the Writing Studio last semester, you should make certain that your archive is at or near the top of your sidebar.

However, there is a change from last semester. That is, to save space in your blog sidebars for the next item (Comment Feeds) if you haven't done so already; you need to switch your blog archives from weekly to monthly display mode.

2. Comment Feeds

Comment feeds are a new feature that also will be required at or near the top of your sidebar in the immediate future. Adding comment feeds provides extra degrees of access to your blogs. That is, in addition to archives (above), and labels and reverse chronological page displays (below). Displaying recent comments from posts on your blog, in your sidebar, is a community-building measure that enables both regular readers and occasional visitors to find active discussions on your blog quickly and to join them easily.

I posted a recipe for sidebar comment feeds earlier on the Writing Studio Blog (Comment Feed Recipe...; October 24, 2007). Please review that post, and then follow the steps to add a comment feed at or near the top of your sidebar. If you need help using that recipe to create a comment feed widget for your sidebar, ask a student who has one already, a lab. assistant, or me.

3. Labels

You must have a widget in your blog sidebar that displays the labels for posts on your blog. This is a continuing requirement from Writing IIIc.

The list of labels below shows minimum requirements for Writing IVc; the number is up from first semester to automatically collect information that you'll need for your portfolio. I've listed new requirements in bold italics:

• books, essays, links, media, movies, portfolios, photos, quickposts, reviews

• Reminders:
  
• Any number of suitable labels can be used together (separated by commas); &
• Every post must have at least one label attached.
  

The easiest way I can think of to make certain that you have all of the currently required labels is to:

1. Select all of the labels above at once;
2. Copy them into the computer clipboard (Ctrl+C);
   
3. Create a temporary new post on your blog entitled "Required Labels";
4. Before you publish that temporary new post, click in the "Labels for this post" field;
5. Paste all of the labels above into the labels field of your temporary post (Ctrl+V); &
6. Save the post, temporarily.

After you have saved that temporary post with all the required labels attached, please check the list of labels in your blog sidebar to make certain that all of the required labels appear. If the required labels do not appear, you may need to publish your required labels post.

Then correct any similar but inaccurate labels visible in the sidebar - on individual posts. The lab. assistants or I can show you how to do this, but we'll expect you to complete the process yourself. When you have finished checking and correcting all of your labels as necessary, you can open and save that temporary post as a draft (keep it; you may need it again).

Settings

A laboratory assistant or I will help you find and confirm the following settings:

• Backlinks (enabled);
  
• Comment Moderation (OFF!);
• Page Displays (last two weeks); &
  
• Security Measures:
  
• Unlisted blogs,
  
• Comments from registered Bloggers only, &
  
• Word verification (ON!).

There may be a few other settings that you need to check. I may remember them after breakfast, or before class. So please review this post later.

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