Rising Indie Artist

With her passion and love for music, Evangeline Jessica Johnson started playing the guitar and singing four years back when she joined college. Learning how to play the guitar is not as simple as it may seem and this didn’t stop her from wanting to play the guitar. Even so, Jessica took it up as a challenge to prove the boys wrong that even girls could play the guitar. “One day when I was jamming with my musician friends in college, a guy told me that I could never play like him. So I took it up as a challenge and tried my best to play the guitar as best I could.”

As one may see how the world is becoming a more media saturated place, Jessica with the help of YouTube videos and her friends, learnt how to play the guitar over the past four years. For Jessica, her guitar was her friend during times when she was lonely.

Today, she has been ranked as number one Indie Artist on the charts and has been having the title for over one and half months on ReverbNation, a website that helps independent musicians get recognition.

Jessica Johnson
Photo Credits: Zainab Das

With absolutely no background of any musicians in her family, her inspiration to music are none other than Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Celine Dion and P!nk and as for guitarist, her inspiration is Orianthi.

She started playing songs initially which were sung by other artists. Soon she began writing her own songs, playing and uploading it online. Jessica also has her own YouTube page where one will be able to find many of her songs. Her title has helped her in getting international recognition and also feedback from various other artists. She has gotten the opportunity to sing with American singer, songwriter, pastor and producer of Christian Worship Music, Don Moen.

Jessica prefers playing classic music and likes listening to almost any type of music. She plays the guitar and sings as a hobby, and wouldn’t want to make it as a career. “I wouldn’t mind making music a side career, but I don’t intend on pursuing it full- heartedly. Being an Indian with a passion for western music, I don’t really get many opportunities, but when I do, I make sure I grab them. I put a good education before passion, once I complete my post graduation, I intend to get a PH.D and it’ll be wonderful if I can manage both music and a professional career simultaneously.”

Currently doing her Masters in Media and Communications in Manipal University, Dubai she sees herself married with children, two to three years down the line and will continue to play music for the love and passion she has for it.

Spotlight – Lights, Camera, Action!

Designed, complied and reported for my final project – Magazine ‘Spotlight’, as part of my course.

The magazine focuses on the entertainment industry in the Arab World, Bollywood and Hollywood.

Click on the link to view the magazine: Spotlight

Rising Hub for Premiere Releases

Article focused on the distribution and promotion of the movie Kahaani in Dubai

KAHAANI

DOMINA

Designed, complied and reported for my final project – Magazine ‘DOMINA’, as part of my course.

The magazine focuses solely working women and how the lead their lives at their work places and at home.

Click on the link to view the magazine: DOMINA

Stay tuned for yet another magazine, again as part of my course ‘SPOTLIGHT’

‘Think and Drive’ Campaign

A ‘Think and Drive’ campaign for road distractions was organized by the Advertising and Public Relations specialization of the Media Department at Manipal University, Dubai on 10^th April 2012. This campaign was conducted by the Traffic Awareness Section of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).

The guest speaker for the event Ms. Amal Yousef from the Traffic Department of the RTA spoke to the students of the various types of distractions one is faced while driving. These distractions were of three types; Visual distractions (eyes off the road), Cognitive distractions (mind off the road) and the Physical distractions (hands off the steering wheel).

Ms. Yousef spoke in detail about the various top distractions that a driver comes across on a daily basis. Along with this she also discussed the various potential consequences which often lead to accidents on the road. Though one may be careful while driving and can handle about 90% of the situation, Ms. Yousef says, “Expect the unexpected”. As an advice to the young drivers, Ms. Yousef says, “Never keep anything on your mind and it is all about one self, how we control, plan in advance and focus while you drive.”

Lastly she also mentions that the more challenge one faces, the better driver one becomes.

Indian BTech degrees to be recognized abroad soon

If one may have thought finding jobs abroad is going to be difficult for an Engineer, here is a chance for the undergraduate degree holders.

In a recent article in the Times of India, it was announced that Engineers holding an Indian BTech degree will find it easier to seek jobs and opportunities for higher studies abroad from 2013. This opportunity would come through only if India’s bid to join the Washington Accord for international accreditation is accepted.

This breakthrough would be a great way for many students as this would not only raise the standards of teaching but also be compared to the international level. India will be brought on par with countries such as US, UK, Australia, Canada, Singapore, Japan and many other nations.

On speaking to Dr. Kota Reddy, Chairperson of Engineering Department of Manipal University, regarding how this degree will be helpful to students here, he says, “With this degree it will raise the standards of teaching as it is compared to international standards, giving students much more opportunity to learn more.” He also mentions that this degree is not something new, and that many students have gone before.

When inquired if it will affect the number of students coming to study abroad for their undergraduate degree, he says, “It will not affect, as the portion taught will be the same and there will also be more and better facilities abroad.”

The National Board of Accreditation plans on becoming a permanent member of the Washington Accord in June 2013, but these plans are still under process. Though India may be granted membership, only 20% of the 4000 engineering institutes are likely to make the cut. Approximately 140 institutes have applied for accreditation under this new framework.

The Engineering students are in for a lot of opportunities in the coming future and this will not only be a stepping stone for them, but also help them in expanding their horizons.

Fortnight News

Below you’ll find the link to my Newsletter which was done as part of my final Project.

FORTNIGHT NEWS

Advertising Seminar on Corporate Branding and Visual Standard Guidelines

The third year Media and Communications students specializing in Advertising, Public Relations and Event management conducted a seminar on ‘Corporate Branding and Visual Standard Guidelines’ on 28 December 2011. Through this seminar students understood what branding in the corporate world means.

The students invited Mr. Davidson Jonabas who is an accomplished advertising professional to speak on this topic.

Mr. Jonabas talks about branding, its importance in the advertising industry and how each individual is branded for he believes that it starts within our self and it is important to be unique and different from people.

Mr. Jonabas also spoke about the various visual standard guidelines which consist of choosing the right logo for the company, placing the logo at the right place and showed a few examples to explain the concept better to the students.

Talking exclusively to The Manipal Dubai Blog, Mr. Jonabas shared his views on new media advertising and useful tips for aspiring professionals. With the advent of new media creating a brand ranges in difficulty, Mr. Jonabas says, “It has become both tough and easy as it is difficult to decide which the right medium is as there are many options and choosing the right one is extremely important for the advertisement.”

With so many brands in the industry, pricing a brand and making it stand out among the others is a difficult task. Mr. Jonabas mentions that the pricing of these brands are mainly dependant on their profits and also their brand name. As a personal choice of whether he would go with branded products or stick with the quality, he said, “It depends on the occasion for me.”

Mr. Jonabas advices young aspiring students to be extremely creative and remain focused on what they want to do and ensure that they aren’t forced into doing it if they have no will or passion to do so.

Advertising Seminar on Corporate Social Responsibility

The third year Media and Communications students specializing in Advertising, Public Relations and Event management conducted a seminar on ‘Corporate Social Responsibility’ on 22 December 2011. Through this seminar, the main objective was to educate the students on what Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) was all about.

The guest speaker for seminar was Ms. Sandhya Sundaran who focused and spoke about the effect of CSR on the environment and why a company adopts CSR. Along with these topics, Ms. Sundaran also focused on the pros and cons of CSR, the reason why CSR is done. She mentions that CSR is done for the welfare of the people and highlighting the various environmental issues which are faced today.

The students showed interest and asked Ms. Sundaran questions during the seminar making it a very interactive seminar.

Documenting the lives of ‘Children of God’

Children are the essence of purity. Untouched by many human discrepancies, their virginal spirits spreads an aura of happiness to others who surround them. Fokiya Akthar, a professor in the Media and Communications department of Manipal University and a proficient documentary film-maker talks about her latest quest for realism, ‘Children of God’; a film based on lives of children with special needs in Dubai.

Realistic and moving, two words that adjectively sum up the heart of this movie. Initially titled as “We are all just people”, the name was altered to its final title at the editing stage.

“My approach to the film was to touch upon the reality in these children’s lives. Movies that have addressed similar issues in the past left the audience with sympathy alone, missing out on what one can learn from the children’s spirit for life” she says.

Ms. Akthar’s inspiration was innate and her curiosity in documenting the lives of the weaker sections in the society mainly women and children are apparent in every scene. Miniscule detailing separates ‘Children of God’ from other documentaries that have touched the same subject. “In the film, I decided to have no voiceover, so I would not be tempted to focus on one perspective alone. Each shot is therefore self-explanatory.”

When asked if there was any particular moment or incident that stirred any particular emotion, she remembered Priyanka’s (one of the kids) story touched her.

“She is always so dolled up, her personality is so vulnerable, and she looks at someone and instantly falls in love with them. Being a woman; I know her dream of awaiting a fairytale” Ms. Akthar says.

“While I was working on the movie I realized how we are the ones who are political and corrupt. All these children want is to enjoy life; we are the ones who are abnormal; not them.”

Production was her toughest challenge. Sorting permissions was not all fun, but the welcoming families of these children made it an extraordinary experience. In fact not all went as it was planned; the original story line revolved four children, but as the story evolved the other’s presence in the movie became inevitable.

In terms of drawbacks, Ms. Akthar pointed out that children with special needs in Dubai suffer from expensive education. “Their life is good here, but education is very expensive. Most of the families cannot afford it. Major organizations that are here also cannot offer the children an affordable life.”

Her journey through the film was life changing, “I thank God everyday for what he has given me. I pray that the children’s parents always find the courage to deal with their pain.”

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A rapid fire round with Ms. Fokiya Akthar:

HM: One cause you are passionate about?

FA: Women and Children

HM: Your dream project?

FA: One commercial film

HM: Describe your life as a producer in three adjectives?

FA: Challenging, interesting and giving

HM: Camera is_____

FA: Eye of your inner self

To view pictures, click on this link: