A Student's Nightmare from Avid Maldonado on Vimeo.

The Museum of the Moving Image

    I did not know what to expect when I went to the Museum of the Moving Image. I had just thought it was going to be a mundane activity being that it was a requirement for the class. But to my surprise I actually had a great time. I got to dub my voice over Jack Black’s voice from the movie School of Rock. I also was able to create my own video of a lobster losing his claw at ten frames per second. It was also exciting seeing a movie theater replica of King Tut’s tomb. I liked the flashiness of the theater and story within the theater itself. I understand why theaters are no longer like that as it can be distracting to viewers. It was great reminiscing on my childhood and seeing the costume that Robin Williams wore in Mrs. Doubtfire and the mask from Jim Carrey's The Mask.

   I liked the section where we could all see the evolution of the cameras and how compact they have become. We have discussed this in class but it was great to have a tangible visual for it. In class we learned how important it is to have sound incorporated within a film but during the tour this was further supported. As a group we all saw a clip of a film and four different pieces of audio along with it. The different sounds gave us different interpretations of what we thought we should be feeling. This is evident in movie Jaws. As viewers of the film, the audience knows that a shark will be coming when the jaws music is played. Overall, it was a great experience and I would highly recommend the museum to everyone. 

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (Relationship Between Shots)

         The scene of Gwen Stacey’s death in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 starring Andrew Garfield and Emma Watson displays a great use of editing. The scene has a light piano playing in the background as Gwen is falling to the ground which gives the viewer a sense of the drama that is unfolding. Something very serious is about to take place. Will his web reach her in time or will she fall to the ground? The music stops and only Spider-Man’s cries for Gwen to wake up are heard. When he realizes his attempts are futile the music resumes.

            The scene itself is dark and gloomy as is appropriate for this scene. This is significant because of the saddening moment that is unfolding. The slow motion effect captures the intensity of what is happening at the moment.  I like the use of clock, which stops moving as Gwen stops breathing. The camera is constantly cutting from Gwen to Spider-Man as he attempts to save her from falling to her death. The camera also catches his web going to her in slow motion causing a nail biting scene for the viewer. 

            The close-up of Spider-Man’s eye in the beginning of the scene speaks volumes.  He realizes that Gwen has fallen and he needs to act fast to save her. At the same time his spider senses are probably kicking in, as he needs to direct his web to save her and not hit any of the rubbish that is falling next to him. Near the end of the scene there are medium close-up shots that express the sadness that he is feeling. Spider-man has now taken off his mask, which shows his vulnerability. At this moment he is not a superhero but rather he is Peter Parker who has just lost the woman he loves. 

Audio Portrait of Julia Beach

Sounds of New York

            It was a cool spring night as I was walking uptown listening to the sounds of this great city. Cars were heard speeding by, sirens blaring, music blasting, and the incessant chatter of people. At times, the texture of sounds is rough and cacophonous. There are too many different sounds that do not blend together. The sound of a young child complaining mixed with a dog barking vigorously is not pleasing to the ear.

            As a native of New York, these sounds are natural to the ear. Being that I was actually paying mind to every sound I can see how noisy the city of New York must appear to outsiders. People walking past me made noise with the pitter-patter of their feet. Women with heels seem to walk with authority at any hour of the night. The occasional pedestrian appeared to have had their earphones a little too loud. It made me think as to when I could be guilty of damaging my own eardrums on my daily commute.

            Being that it was late at night, during my walk I heard keys jingle as people entered their apartment buildings. The gates of closing stores being put down jangled in the night. People entering bodegas with the bell clanging notifying the clerk that someone has entered their store. The train below me could be heard in the night through the various vents that I passed during my walk. Overall, New York City is extremely noisy but somehow there is beauty in it all.

Define a Space from Avid Maldonado on Vimeo.

Artist Statement

         It all started in the summer of 2010. I went to the beach on Labor Day with my

father and brother. A woman from News 12 at the beach interviewed me that same day.

She told me I am able to speak fluidly and engage in conversation easily. She asked me if

I would ever want to be a news reporter and I had never thought of it before. But that

woman has greatly influenced more than I would have thought possible. She planted the

seed in my head and it is because of her that I am striving to become a news reporter in

the near future.

        As a young man in college, people love to ask what I would like to do in the

future. I tell all of them that I want to be a news reporter and be out on the streets

interacting with the people. Everyone who I tell this to says that they can see me

becoming a news reporter. I hope that this is a sign that I am going in the right direction. I

am interested in finding more about the people that I will be interviewing. I want to leave

an everlasting impression with them whether I am conversing with them for a couple of

minutes or a couple of hours. I am truly passionate about leaving a positive impact on a

person’s life. I believe one interaction can change a person’s life as mine was changed

that one summer day.