That’s right folks! Television, or to be precise, media as a whole, is getting much smaller in size in terms of viewing space!
Or so says a report from eMarketer, a news source that reports on how digital is transforming marketing, media and commerce. The report stated that adults based in the USA aged 18+ will spend some three hours and 43 minutes per day on a mobile device this year, and three hours 35 minutes watching TV through a traditional television device.
Media devices in this case consists of smartphones and tablets. As to the phones themselves, users will spend just shy of three hours (two hours and 55 minutes to be precise) on a smartphone, with most of the time spent using an app of some type.
Electronic tables, the latest of the portable internet connected devices is lagging behind. The report also notes that a little over an hours time (68 minutes) are used on a tablet, with the same time using a dedicated app for the tablet’s usage.
Out of the many apps one can have on a phone, or on a lesser note, a tablet, the most method of usage is to listen to music, followed by social-networking based activity.
Perhaps the other well used element is to stream video content. YouTube is the most wildly choice to view media, and a good number of what one can find via the site holds shorter running times, usually around ten minutes or less. This amount of time is ideal to take part of viewing something or another on such a small screen, around 4” to 6” in size on a phone, and around 10” on a tablet device. This amount of time reduces eye strain one can get when attempting to eyeball moving imagery on a small piece of screen landscape.
And since such gadgetry is portable, anywhere one can connected to some wifi access, one can catch up on their favorite TV program that “airs” on a streaming channel of their picking (assuming that the channel requires a subscription and they are a subscriber) or on to a free(er) service to get what they want where. And since this is vacation time, many folks will be heading off to the beach, the forestry parks and regions, or to the desert and rural areas to see the sights while taking the time viewing the ball game or their favorite series. What can be better?
But fear not gang! Big screen TV devices are not going away! Granted, nothing beats taking a gander of a video program on a screen as big as eight feet in size. Alas, it’s far from being portable. But with that handy-dandy phone nestled within their hands, one can see the same programming no matter where one is!
Just think! If one is taking the brood on a camping trip to a national park, one can connect to the park’s wifi signals, and before one knows of it, one can view the shows to their little heart’s content while taking advantage of what the park has to offer. And if one has kids in tow, that’s even better! Since these tyke were weeded on media from day one, they won’t be bored at all! They can really appreciate this wifi service made available in the park. After all, what’s the point of visiting anyplace if one can’t remain on the grid?
OK…perhaps this writer was just a bit snarky in tone with the previous statments! We know that there are folks that are aware when to say when in terms of using and not using their phone devices. And kids, or even young(er) adults, are not totally glued to their phones! Yes, they do spend more time on their phones that their parents, caretakers, or another else that may be over a selected age. But many of these smartphone owners have the ability to appreciate the world around them that isn’t part of an “A.I.” or a “V.R.” variety.
And for those that really thought we were kidding about national parks offering wifi, this is a true fact! Just visit the U.S. National Park Service website (http://www.nps.gov) and check to find out which parks offer this form of service! (Not every park offers wifi, so plan accordingly!) This way, one can make their camping experience very memorable! After all, how is one going to take pictures with their phones on hand and to upload ‘em to the social media site of choice to prove to their family, friends, and followers that they actually visited this place they are blogging and tweeting about?
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NEWS AND REVIEWS
Theatre 68 of North Hollywood continues its limited run of its 16th Annual One Act Festival. Entitled Onward We Go, the program consists of an anthology of six new short plays written, directed, produced, and performed by the members of the Theatre 68 theater group that speak about various topics about life as its known–or not!
The six that are featured consist of (listed in their order of appearance), The Ride written by Stacy Toyon and directed by Jonathan Moreno and Narmar Hanna that star Paula Jessop, Barbara Keegan, Brendan Dunleavy, Valentina Tammaro, Nick Puorro, Yasha Rayzberg, Malik Bailey, Altara Michelle, and Angelea Yee: The Janitor written by Allegra Leal and directed by Misao McGregor, feature Valentina Tammaro, Wade O Alden, Stacy Toyon, and Sofiane Madi: The Plant and the Pot written by Molly Leach, and directed by Sarah Haruko with the cast Laura Siskoff, Valentina Tammaro, Toni Perrpta, Yasha Raysberg, and Nick Puorro: Aunt Janice written by Jason Kyle, and directed by Brendan Dunleavy, star Malik Bailey and Stack Toyon: Connected written by James Medeiros and directed by Vikram Bhoyrul, featuring Sofiane Madi, Nick Puorro, and Sarah Haruko: and Bury the Cat written by Val Gehley and directed by Molly Leach, with Paula Jessop, Altara Michelle, Sarah Haruko, Toni Perrotta, and Angela Yee.
Although the theme is Onward We Go, each story, be it as comedy, drama, or a hybrid of both, speaks upon the notion of “us going”, but it’s not necessarily into a physical sense of getting from one location to the next. The plays themselves may be short in length, but are long in creativity, style, and attitude.
This method of theater are for those that prefer a selection of plays that are of “bite size” quality, running fifteen minters in length or less. It’s also ideal for those that are of a short attention span mode as each little episode as seen on Theatre 68’s “black box” stage makes it perfect to witness a cast of players that use their own technique to carry their stories out sans the wait!
Theatre 68‘s 16th Annual One Act Festival: Onward We Go performs at the Theatre 68 performance space, 5112 Lankershim Blvd. North Hollywood. Remaining performances take place on Thursday, July 11th, Friday, July 12th, and Saturday, July 13th at 8:00 PM.
For ticket reservations, visit http://www.Theatre68.com
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Son of Semele Ensemble presents Jaclyn Backhaus’ MEN ON BOATS, a saga about ten stouthearted men who take part on an excursion to discover America’s final frontier, and the effects presented to discover what mother nature provides among herself.
The year is 1869. The place is the western United States. Along the perimeter of what is now The Grand Canyon, a team of explorers lead by single armed John Wesley Powell (Melissa Coleman-Reed) are set to explore and map these parts of the uncharted region that exist or known to exist. His team, consisting of hunter O. G. Howard (Shelby Corley), Englishman Frank Goodman (Taylor Hawthrone), veteran soldier John Colton Sumner (Tiana Randall-Quant), O.G.’s younger sibling Seneca Howland (Ashley Steed), map drafter Andrew Hall (Thea Rodgers), galley cook W. R. Hawkins (Liz Lanier), Bradley (Cindy Lin), and John Powell’s elder brother known as Old Shady (Elsperh Weingarten), travel along the rough Green and Colorado rivers on four boats to see what lies ahead. The trip holds excitement and danger. There are many times where boats capsize, previsions become lost and destroyed, and death is always around the corner. But through this hell and high water, this team is set to recognize the regions that progress forward through this troupe for the sake of the nation in which they serve.
This single act play and making its Los Angeles premier through Son of Semele Ensemble, presents this program that does not feature any real boats as the set itself uses props that are composed of building materials consisting of ladders, a rolling scaffold set, a tool box, and scarps of wooden planks with a backdrop of plastic opaque sheets meant to keep the dust clouds at bay. (Carlo Maghirang designed the stage set this method!) Not only there are no sets depicting nature, there are no men in the cast either as the ensemble are all women or those that are not of the male persuasion. This gender change enhances the drama that exists within this stage program. And the performers appearing are not necessarily causation either as the diversity levels are at its peak. The cast of ten players work well with one another that shows off the so-called “he-man” stance that is required to fulfill such an excursion. Skill, wits, and strength are key elements here, and these women (and equivalent) brings these characteristics to its fullest.
Although the story takes place in the middle 19th century, the playwright creates much of its dialogue as spoken by the characters with lines and phrases that are more post-modern 21st century than 1860’s. This action may have been intentional as such an excursion with the drama that’s contained is timeless in nature. Barbara Kallir’s stage direction shows of these (wo)men that battle the elements witnessed, if not dealing with the drama staged with one another!
It’s no real spoiler alert to state that John Wesley Powell’s expedition was indeed a success. This trip eventually extended itself to another excursion held two years later. Directed by Barbara Kallir, MEN ON BOATS is a journey that holds water, and those treading water manages to keep afloat, not matter what twist and turn of the raging river may present. Thanks to these men, there would not be the travelers that seek the regions that show off the natural beauty this part of the nation holds. And thanks to social media, many a selfie exists as posted via an Instagram and/or Facebook account. But for now, the women and those of color rule here, another part of what makes America great–with no political viewpoints given or implied!
MEN ON BOATS, presented by and performed at the Son of Semele Ensemble, 3301 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, until July 28th. Showtimes are Friday and Saturday nights at 8:00 PM, Sunday afternoons at 5:00 PM, and Tuesday evenings at 7:00 PM.
For tickets and for more information, visit the theatre ensemble’s online presence at http://www.SonOfSemele.org
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