A university lecture about child soldiers, presented by Adam Wozniak. This lecture gives an outline of the problem, as well as discussing some of the major issues involved in its possible resolution. The lecture was presented on Thursday 15 May 2008 at Flinders University, South Australia. This video was produced by Thunderbox Productions - www.thunderboxproductions.com
UPDATE - Saturday 15 November 2008
Another university lecture about child soldiers, presented by Adam Wozniak. This lecture gives an outline of the problem, as well as discussing some of the major issues involved in its possible resolution. It provides more up-to-date statistics and facts. The lecture was presented on Tuesday 16 September 2008 at Flinders University, South Australia. This video was produced by Thunderbox Productions - www.thunderboxproductions.com
NOTE: Both of the above videos are not actual video tapings of the original lectures. The above two flash videos have been re-created from scratch using the powerpoint slides and audio recordings from the two lectures. As a result, the videos are not complete representations of the “live” lectures. For example, some of the slide timings may not be accurate, some of the audio has been edited, and - in particular - most slide text animations were not able to be recreated.
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I am very much a believer in keeping one’s mind busy and intellectually stimulated. Therefore, in addition to my work with Thunderbox Productions, I keep myself occupied with many other interests - one of those being teaching and researching at university.
Having spent many (too many …) years at university as a student, I am well aware of the many shortcomings of our education system. I can see how many people feel disengaged or alienated with it (I certainly did … but perhaps that is a post for another day…) - it is almost as if the purpose of education has been forgotten. Education isn’t about people “telling” us what to think. It isn’t about doing mindless tasks that have no constructive or real-world application. Nor is it about being bored to tears in a lecture theatre listening to some lecturer ramble incoherently (and often monotonically!) for 2 hours.
I think it’s time to get back to basics. Shouldn’t the primary aim of education be to teach us all to “teach ourselves”?
Isn’t it all about learning the skills to “learn how to learn”?
This is certainly my philosophy, and I believe that by combining this attitude with visually, aurally and intellectually stimulating content, we can transform our negative associations with the word “education”.
Finally, there seems to be this traditional belief that education and learning should be serious, and therefore, by extension, shouldn’t be entertaining. I couldn’t DISAGREE more with that attitude. As far as I see it, entertainment is simply a form of presentation that arouses an emotional response from an audience - be it laughter, sadness, anger, etc. WHY would you NOT want to arouse those emotions in people when teaching?! It amazes me that some people feel these two concepts (education and entertainment) should be kept FAR away from each other (god-forbid people actually have “fun”…). That is ridiculous. As far as I’m concerned, stimulating emotion and curiosity is the best way to engage and re-engage people in learning.
I like to call it “Education by Stealth” (TM).
The point I am trying to make is that I feel education plays a very important role in all of our lives. I feel privileged to have the opportunity to contribute to that and do the best job I possibly can. I want to aim for the lofty goals mentioned above. However, at the same time I realise I’m no expert either. I am always learning too.
Over the coming months, where appropriate, I intend to post some of the content I have developed at university (eg. lecture presentations, blogs, articles, etc). Bearing in mind that my overall goal with these things is to do them a little differently than what is “traditional”, the content I will post will be by no means perfect. However, I would like to encourage comments on these university-based posts so that I can continue to strive towards developing educational materials that engage people to think and to learn. I want to hear your ideas too!
Occasionally, I may also post some of my additional thoughts on education and learning in general. I encourage you to post your thoughts on that too.
After all, education is for everyone.
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Well, the last few posts have certainly been a trip down memory lane! I hope you found at least something of interest in them. As usual, I always welcome all comments and feedback. And if you believe others may find some of the segments entertaining, I encourage you to Digg them or share them in other ways. The more views, the better!
The last few posts only contain some of the work that was done on “Wozniak Live”. If popular demand requires it, I may consider posting up additional material. After all, a feature-length documentary of the making of the television pilot was also filmed simultaneously. So I may consider posting up highlights and other extended/deleted footage from that in future months. If you would like to see any of these extras (or more … I’m sure there are other things I can dig up from the archives!), please post a comment on this blog and encourage others to do so as well. Otherwise, I probably won’t post any additional material from this pilot.
Well, that’s about all for now. Thank you for reminiscing with me. Now it’s time to get back to work!
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Bloopers tape 2 of a television pilot for a late-night comedy talk show hosted by Adam Wozniak. Filmed in Adelaide, South Australia in 2005 on a shoe-string budget with assistance from approximately 30 volunteers. Created, produced and written by Adam Wozniak from Thunderbox Productions - www.thunderboxproductions.com
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Bloopers tape 1 of a television pilot for a late-night comedy talk show hosted by Adam Wozniak. Filmed in Adelaide, South Australia in 2005 on a shoe-string budget with assistance from approximately 30 volunteers. Created, produced and written by Adam Wozniak from Thunderbox Productions - www.thunderboxproductions.com
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“Tough Sport”, featuring Tony Abbott, Peter Costello, Amanda Vanstone, Peter Beattie, Kim Beazley and Byron Pickett. A spoof of “Sports Tonight”. This segment is part 4 of a television pilot for a late-night comedy talk show hosted by Adam Wozniak. Filmed in Adelaide, South Australia in 2005 on a shoe-string budget with assistance from approximately 30 volunteers. Created, produced and written by Adam Wozniak from Thunderbox Productions - www.thunderboxproductions.com
[excerpt from official programme guide]
“Matthew Webster, the love child of Tim Webster and Matthew White, brings you the latest in sport and sports-related controversies from around the world. Sure, you’ve probably never heard of these sports, or these controversies, but that’s why Matthew isn’t on a commercial network!”
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“How It All Started” is a behind-the-scenes parody of the making of a television show. It also spoofs Top Gun and K-Pax. This segment is part 3 of a television pilot for a late-night comedy talk show hosted by Adam Wozniak. Filmed in Adelaide, South Australia in 2005 on a shoe-string budget with assistance from approximately 30 volunteers. Created, produced and written by Adam Wozniak from Thunderbox Productions - www.thunderboxproductions.com
[excerpt from official programme guide]
“A behind-the-scenes glimpse of how the show started. Meet the crew, watch the conflicts, laugh at how stupid the host is. All that and more in this groundbreaking, reality-based, behind-the-scenes documentary. And it’s ALL TRUE! See how a show is put together, and blow those myths and stereotypes out the fireplace!”
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“A Made-up Affair”, featuring Kevin Rudd and Kim Beazley. A spoof of “A Current Affair”. This segment is part 2 of a television pilot for a late-night comedy talk show hosted by Adam Wozniak. Filmed in Adelaide, South Australia in 2005 on a shoe-string budget with assistance from approximately 30 volunteers. Created, produced and written by Adam Wozniak from Thunderbox Productions - www.thunderboxproductions.com
[excerpt from official programme guide]
“Gold Loogie award-winning journalist, Ray McClusky, brings you the latest current affairs issues that matter. Sure they probably aren’t important. And sure they probably aren’t true. But that’s what makes him the most respected man on network television!”
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Part 1 (the opening monologue) of a television pilot for a late-night comedy talk show hosted by Adam Wozniak. Filmed in Adelaide, South Australia in 2005 on a shoe-string budget with assistance from approximately 30 volunteers. Created, produced and written by Adam Wozniak from Thunderbox Productions - www.thunderboxproductions.com
[excerpt from official programme guide]
“Join your host, Adam Wozniak, as he gives you a rundown of what’s happening in the news this week! Sure, it probably won’t be very funny, nor will it be informative … but that doesn’t stop the likes of Jay Leno doing it every show! For 15 minutes!”
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[an excerpt from the official programme guide distributed to every member of the live studio audience on 20 April 2005]
AN INTRODUCTION BY YOUR HOST,
ADAM WOZNIAK
I’d like to extend a hearty welcome to you all, and thank you for coming to my live television taping of Wozniak Live. Chances are, most of you were duped into coming here, but since the doors have now been locked you don’t have much choice but to remain in your seat and tolerate the next hour or so of my “television debut”. It won’t be as bad as you think … okay, I lie.
Ever since I was a little kid growing up in the war-torn ghettos of Poland, I knew this was what I wanted to do … write really bad, unfunny intros to programme guides. Seriously … but not really … I was always in love with television. Not a physical love mind you, it was more like an emotional and spiritual connection (damn, how much more of this crap do I have to write!). And I was always in love with the late-night talk-show format, right back from the days of The Late Show with Gregorz Brzeczeszczykiewicz in Warsaw. Unfortunately, that show was cut short after it was revealed that Mr Brzeczeszczykiewicz was, in fact, a KGB operative. But I digress.
I like to think of Wozniak Live as a late-night comedy/variety show. The reason I say comedy/variety is that it covers both bases. If you find the show funny, I’ll gladly call it “comedy”. If you think it’s hilariously unfunny, then I’ll just call it “variety”. But basically, the show is in the style of other late-night shows such as David Letterman and Conan O’Brien (see if you can spot the rip-offs!), with a lot of inspiration from the D-Generation (ditto!). But don’t you dare compare it to Rove Live, or I’ll “say hi to your mum”.
Wozniak Live has been a project in the works for 15 months (since January 2004). It is an extension from my previous radio shows (Purple Monkey Dishwasher and The Late Show) on Radio Adelaide 101.5 FM back in 2003 and early 2004. However, I found that radio was somewhat limiting … fart jokes seem to work much better on television.
Wozniak Live has been a mighty big struggle to pull off. In its 15-month journey, the show has gone through several major crew changes, has had major financial and equipment troubles, lost its original producer, was promised outside help, “died on the operating table” a total of four times, and has gone through several different name changes (The Adam Wozniak Show seemed too edgy: Wozniak Tonight sounded like a cheaper version of “Chicken Tonight”). Two cats also died during this period. For a long time there, it seemed like Wozniak Live would only remain a dream (or nightmare …).
But because I enjoyed the pain so much, I kept at it. Taking over producer responsibilities, funding the show with my own money (I now live in a tent at Brighton Caravan Park … feel free to come along and say hello!), and assembling my own exceptionally talented and hard-working crew, things finally started coming together. Wozniak Live officially went into production on Saturday 15 January 2005, and despite further obstacles throughout its production (including a 3 month search for a suitable studio), I haven’t looked back since. And I owe it all to God … I’m just kidding.
Seriously, I owe it all to the wonderful people in the crew who have decided to come on this journey with me. Without their knowledge, talent, hard work, motivation, enthusiasm, and willingness to work for nothing (don’t tell them that), we wouldn’t be here tonight. You will see some of these extraordinary people working tonight, and you can find all their names in the following pages. You will be hearing much more from these people in the next few years, I have no doubt about that.
So after hitting numerous obstacles (and pedestrians) throughout the last few years, all the hard work will culminate tonight. Hopefully it will be a success. Whether it is depends as much on you, the audience, as it does on me and my hard-working and talented crew. So please … MAKE SOME NOISE and HAVE FUN!
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Several years ago, Thunderbox Productions began with its first, self-initiated experimental production - a pilot for a 30-minute late night comedy show called “Wozniak Live” (yes, self-indulgent, I know…). “Wozniak Live” was unique, in that it was made on a shoe-string budget, with consumer-grade equipment (and lots of improvisation as a result …) and a large stable of inexperienced volunteers.
But even with these severe limitations, it aimed high. The pilot was eventually filmed in front of a live studio audience and although it was originally intended for community television, it was instead pitched to television networks around the country. Whilst it did not ultimately succeed in that arena, “Wozniak Live” still stands as an early example of the spirit and determination of Thunderbox Productions - before it had the skills, experience and access to professional resources it does now.
Over the next few days, I will take a trip down memory lane and post some of the highlights from “Wozniak Live”. Hopefully, I won’t find the process too embarrassing!
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Welcome to the Thunderbox Productions blog! This blog is an extension of the official Thunderbox Productions website at www.thunderboxproductions.com
Thunderbox Productions is a media production company located in Adelaide specialising in video, dvd, commercial, graphic and website design production services. The company is headed by me, Adam Wozniak. You can find more information about both me and the company at the official Thunderbox Productions website.
Whilst Thunderbox Productions is still a small and emerging media production company, it has big dreams and ambitions for the future. Therefore, the purpose of this blog will be to keep you, the interested reader, updated on some of our activities (at least those that we can share with you). As a result, I will be occasionally posting material over the coming months, starting off with some older highlights. I may also post about other matters that are close to my heart too. I guess we’ll just see where all of this takes us …
As this is a blog, I highly encourage your feedback and participation - whether you are an individual, business or organisation. There is no better way for Thunderbox Productions to stay connected to its current and potential clients and business associates, than through this blog. In addition to simply bookmarking this blog, you can also subscribe to our RSS feed and Facebook page.
Well, that will be all for now. I would just like to thank you for visiting our blog, and hope that this will be the start of a fruitful relationship between us. Please feel free to post a comment here, whether it’s a query, feedback on our website/services/productions, or simply a quick “hello”! I very much look forward to hearing from you all!
Welcome and thanks for coming!
Kind Regards
Adam Wozniak
Manager
Thunderbox Productions
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