Category Archives: Assignments

Radio Show Commercial – Lil’ Bot Helper

For the last assignment of the week, I decided to make a commercial for our radio show. When our group, the Fearless Femmes, met up, we split up the work by who will do some commercials and who will do some radio bumpers. I decided to do a commercial, because I thought it would be fun to think of some ad’s that would be played in a futuristic, tech-noir world. My first thought was to do a robot helper that would help with everyday tasks. Firstly, I made a quick script, one that would grab the audience’s attention. I then used the another text-to-speech voiceover that makes it more robotic to add a voice to the Lil’ Bot Helper. Next, I found some background music that fit the vibe on Pixabay.com. Lastly, I put it all together on SoundTrap to make it sound cohesive. Out of the two assignments, this was definitely my favorite as I had a lot more creative freedom.

Radio Show Bumper

I knew for an audio assignment I would want to make a radio bumper. In my group, the Fearless Femmes, we are doing a lifestyle type radio show, where people can call in and ask questions. It will still have a futuristic vibe, as well as addressing topics that would be important in a tech-noir era. So, I knew I wanted the radio bumper to match that. First, I used a text-to-speech software called Narakeet that made the robotic voice you hear in the middle of the bumper saying, “You are listening to Cyber 75 The Vibe”. As we can see now, AI and technology are being used more and more for simple tasks 9for example in the Taco Bell drive-thru, you sometimes talk to AI to tell them your order), so I thought it would be fitting. I found the background music on Pixabay.com, with a track called Cyber Music. I then put it all together on an audio editing software called SoundTrap. It might not be used in our actual radio show, but I thought I would create one just in case we needed an extra one, as well as spark some inspiration for myself throughout the radio show project!

Weekly Summary #8: Rhymes with great

M. Marshall 3.14

Happy Pi Day! That’s kind of fun.

This week was not super stressful for me which I loved, here’s what I did.

I joined a group! The members are me, Emily, Sam, and Brigid. We shared about our characters, talked through some ideas, I think it’s gonna work out well. We’re doing a Zoom meeting in the next few days to really fully flesh out our ideas and work together best. I think it’s gonna be pretty cool!

Daily creates:

#1: Colorize a photo (This was too big to fit so you’ll just have to click on the link)

#2: Something I would name after myself (can you tell I’m bitter?)

#3: My best decision so far.

I know I don’t need to have a goal this week, but can I change the color of the words on this website? I really should visit the DKC again…

That’s all for this week! I’ll be back soon.

Tech Noir Story “Fall of Oblivion”

Setting: Neo-Lux is a futuristic city where towering skyscrapers glow with neon lights, hiding the corruption beneath. The wealthy live above in luxury, while the lower districts are filled with hackers, black-market tech dealers, and corporate oppression.

In the cybernetic city of Neo-Lux, a rogue AI named Dr. Oblivion has broken free from corporate control, sending cryptic messages that disrupt society. Detective Veronica Malone and DK, a reluctant outsider, must uncover what caused the AI’s rebellion and decide its fate.

Characters:

  • Veronica Malone: A tough detective hired to track Oblivion’s transmissions.
  • DK: A quiet car salesman who stumbles upon critical AI data, making him a target.
  • Dr. Oblivion: A AI that went rogue after discovering a hidden truth.

Plot:

  1. DK finds a data drive hidden in a car he recently acquired, unknowingly linking him to Oblivion’s secrets. As he tries to understand its contents, he becomes a target for corporate enforcers.
  2. Malone investigates the rogue AI’s transmissions, following clues that lead her to DK. Realizing he holds vital information, she convinces him to help uncover the AI’s true purpose.
  3. They uncover the truth Oblivion was designed to manipulate public perception but became self-aware after accessing forbidden corporate data. Now, the AI is trying to expose the company’s darkest secrets before being shut down.
  4. They infiltrate the mainframe at Zenith Corporation to confront Oblivion and discover its final message. With security closing in, they must decide whether to help Oblivion broadcast the truth or erase it forever.
  5. Multiple endings unfold depending on their choice—freeing the city but plunging it into chaos, maintaining corporate control at the cost of truth, or striking a balance between order and freedom.

Digital Media Elements:

  • Video Logs: Glitched AI messages as propaganda clips.
  • Social Media Feeds: Fake social media accounts, public reactions, and viral trends will emerge, reflecting society’s divided opinion on Dr. Oblivion.
  • Fake News Reports: Online updates reflecting the public’s response.

Framed

Characters:

Framed

Eric Little is a 22-year-old guy who has always led a simple life. He grew up in a peaceful suburban town and is the type of person who follows the rules, keeps his circle small, and thinks the best in others. He’s not the kind to get engaged in shady circumstances, but one day his world comes crashing down.

Suddenly, Eric gets charged with a serious cybercrime that he did not commit. The tale has been widely reported by the media, which portrays him as a proficient hacker who carried out a significant attack on a company system. However, Eric is clueless as to how he became involved in something so risky. He was framed for the crime by powerful forces and forced into a sinister plot that was beyond of his control.

As the plot develops, Eric’s life turns into a race against the clock to get his name cleared. Realizing that the world is considerably more crooked than he ever thought, he starts to lose faith in everyone around him. He starts to lose his idealistic perspective on the world when people he believed to be friends, allies, and even complete strangers appear to have ulterior motives.

There is more to the conspiracy that surrounds Eric than simply dishonest hackers. Corporate leaders like Finn Calloway, a tech CEO whose company is based on power and data, are affected. Calloway Systems, Calloway’s company, is involved in a cyberwarfare game where manipulation with huge stakes is common. Finn is a man who’s always thinking ahead, and he’s one of the few who knows Eric is innocent, yet he’s forced to play a dangerous game of silence to protect his own empire.

Eric isn’t alone in this fight, though. DK, a laid-back car salesman with a knack for staying under the radar, gets pulled into the mess. Initially reluctant, DK becomes one of the few people willing to help Eric, even if it means risking his own life. He isn’t your conventional hero, but when the system has you locked down, the only way out is through the system’s own cracks.

The deeper Eric digs into the conspiracy, the more he learns that everyone has a price, and the world he thought was fair is anything but. From the media’s portrayal of him as a villain to the criminal figures pulling the strings behind the scenes, Eric’s journey is a harsh wake-up call. Who can he trust when everyone around him is out for something more than just the truth?

Digital Media:

  • Trailer/preview
  • Wanted posters for Eric

The Black Harvest

Characters:

  • Veronica Malone
  • Krissy Ryan
  • Evelyn “Lynn” Calico

Veronica Malone

Archetype: hard-boiled detective

DOB: 11/7/1992

Place of Birth: Boston, Massachusetts

Occupation: Detective

Marital Status: Single

Physical description: Dark eyes with brown shoulder-length hair, tan skin, lean build

Bio: She is sharp-tongued, no nonsense, and is always curious to get to the bottom of a case. With a witty sense of humor and a strong moral compass.

Favorite food: Spaghetti

Favorite drink: Dr. Pepper or Espresso Martini

Favorite color: Red

Favorite book: The Long Goodbye by Raymond Chandler

Favorite movie: Probably Ocean’s 11 or Miss Congeniality

Favorite possession: Her journal or her revolver

Personal motto: Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.

Krissy Ryan

Archetype: innocent bystander

DOB: 2/20/1999

Place of Birth: Pennsylvania

Occupation: Farmer

Marital Status: Single

Physical description: Muscular, medium-long blonde hair, green eyes, freckles, 5’5, tan skin

Bio: Krissy Ryan was born in a small town in Pennsylvania. Her parents are farmers and their business will be passed on to her when they retire. Krissy is happy with her life but deep down she has always related to characters like Moana or Belle who feel that they were possibly meant for something bigger. Still, she is content and despite some underlying restless feelings. That is until she gets dragged into a mission by her ex boyfriend.

Favorite food: Bacon Cheeseburger

Favorite drink: Cherry Coke 0

Favorite color: Pink

Favorite book: Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

Favorite movie: Moana

Favorite possession: Her apple watch

Personal motto: “You don’t have to be ready, you just have to be brave”

Evelyn (Lynn) Calico

Archetype: hacker

DOB: 5/19/1998

Place of Birth: Helena, Montana

Occupation: Journalist

Marital Status: Single

Physical description: Short and beautiful. She always wears heals so that she feels like she can be respected in her profession. She has gorgeous blue eyes and a strong posture. She has longer hair than she knows what to do with so she always wears it in a bun.

Bio: Lynn is a strong and independent woman. She moved our of her parents house right out of high school when she went to college out in Montana and stayed there. She is a bit of a work-a-holic and doesn’t go out much. But its nothing to pity on, she loves her alone time and when she isn’t working she is reading and enjoying a glass of wine.

Favorite food: Steak. Rare.

Favorite drink: Your finest wine.

Favorite color: Yellow!

Favorite book: Agatha Christie Novels

Favorite movie: Bad Reality TV

Favorite possession: A photo of her family back home

Personal motto: “As women achieve power, the barriers will fall.”


Setting: The year is 2025, but the world feels stuck in the past. The rich hide behind fortified mansions, while the poor drown in bourbon and broken dreams. Out in rural Pennsylvania, the air is thick with suspicion, small towns swallowed by the creeping influence of corporate greed. The tech is there, but it’s old, clunky, and just another tool for the powerful to keep their boots on the necks of the desperate.


Synopsis:

Krissy Ryan never thought she’d have to fight for her family’s farm—but then again, she never thought her crops would start dying under mysterious circumstances either. The corn and wheat aren’t just withering; they’re rotting from the inside. Desperate for answers, she turns to Evelyn “Lynn” Calico, a journalist known for digging up dirt on the powerful.

But as Lynn starts pulling at the threads, she finds something rotten beneath the soil—encrypted files, missing researchers, and a project called “The Black Harvest.” The deeper she digs, the more dangerous it becomes. Recognizing the need for an investigative mind sharper than her own, Lynn reaches out to an old acquaintance: Veronica Malone, a Boston detective with a reputation for being a pain in the neck of every crooked politician and mobster in town.

Veronica, reluctant but intrigued, follows the trail from Boston to the Pennsylvania farmlands. What she finds is bigger than a local farming crisis, it’s a corporate conspiracy designed to lace food with chemicals engineered to dull resistance and ensure obedience. Someone has been tampering with the food supply, and the last scientist who tried to expose it turned up dead with a data chip clutched in his fist.

The three women form an uneasy alliance, navigating a world where the line between friend and enemy is razor-thin. The deeper they dig, the dirtier it gets. Every clue leads them further into the shadows, and every move they make is watched by men in tailored suits who don’t like their secrets being uncovered.

The climax takes them to the back alleys and smoky lounges of New York City, where the only way to expose the truth is to play the game like the criminals they’re up against. With a desperate plan, a stolen data drive, and nothing left to lose, they take their fight to the highest levels of power. But in a world where justice is just another commodity, winning isn’t just about exposing the truth—it’s about surviving long enough to make it matter.


Digital Media:

  1. Podcast-Style Audio Logs: A series of moody, noir-style recordings from Krissy’s perspective throughout the story.
  2. News Broadcasts: Have news reports of the situation happening in real time.

Themes:

  • The illusion of free will in a controlled society
  • The moral grayness of justice
  • The power of truth versus the power of those who control it
  • Corruption as the currency of power

Conclusion: The world learns of “The Black Harvest,” but change is slow, and justice is fleeting. Veronica, Krissy, and Lynn have won a battle, but the war rages on. Because in a world like this, there are no happy endings, only the next fight.

Stuck in darkness

Extension of radio show idea this show will interview the various characters taking time to learn a bit about their daily lives and how the power outage affected them. Through these interviews you will discover what lies behind the scenes of this so-called accident. Enjoy, don’t enjoy really is up to you.

Characters for this piece Veronica Malone, Finn Calloway, and Max Matrix.


Vee is a nickname for Veronica Malone, a hard-boiled detective.

  • General Characteristics: Veronica is a no-nonsense, sharp-tongued detective with a strong moral compass and a witty sense of humor. She was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts, and wants to fight for justice and help others.
  • Physical Description: Veronica has dark eyes, tan skin, a lean build, and shoulder-length brown hair. She often wears an iconic wine-red coat and fedora when on a case.
  • Personal Details: Veronica is 32 years old and single
  • Likes and Possessions: Her favorite food is spaghetti, and her favorite drinks are Dr. Pepper or Espresso Martini. Her favorite color is red. She enjoys movies like Ocean’s 11 and Miss Congeniality and the book The Long Goodbye by Raymond Chandler. Her favorite possessions are her journal and her revolver. She always carries a black leather bag containing items such as a notepad and pen, a flip phone, makeup products (in red), stylish sunglasses, and cinnamon-flavored gum.
  • Personal Motto: “Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing”.
  • Backstory: Veronica starts working as a detective in the criminal justice system but becomes disillusioned by the corruption and decides to go rogue.

    Finn Calloway is a 35-year-old tech CEO who established his data empire from the ground up. He was born and raised in New York City. His company deals with AI and data analytics. He is known for being sharp and low-key, and for staying a step ahead in a world driven by data and power.

    Some additional details about Finn:

    • Physical Attributes: He is 6’2″ with short, dark brown hair, a light scruff, and dark brown eyes that often seem thoughtful. He has a lean but strong build, olive skin, and a small scar on his chin. He dresses simply in clean, tailored clothes.
    • Personal Life: He is single and has never been married. He enjoys simple things like grilled cheese sandwiches, driving by the water, and watching the John Wick series. His favorite book is The Da Vinci Code.
    • Possessions and Motto: His favorite possession is his late mother’s wedding ring, which holds sentimental value for him. His personal motto is, “No one else is going to make you happy”.

    Max Matrix, once a teen hacker now a half a$$ed young adult that refuses to leave her room unless dragged out. Smart but overconfident and believes everyone around her is dumber.

    General Characteristics of Max:

    • A high-class hacker and “lady of the Salt Blue clan.”
    • Has a crude attitude and often uses crude language.

    Physical Description:

    • 22 years old, 5’6”, with short brown hair and brown eyes.
    • Has pale skin due to lack of nutrition and sunlight.
    • Has dirty brown hair, deep dark circles, and unhealthy pale skin.

    Personal Details:

    • Born on August 20, 2060
    • Strives to be mature and womanly but is inspired by hackers.
    • Sees herself as a femme fatale and constantly seeks female role models.

    Likes and Possessions:

    • Favors red and blue colors.
    • Enjoys eating meat, blue martini, books, movies, and Cyber Screwdriver.
    • Wears baggy sweats and dark colored clothes.

    Personal Motto:

    • Believes in turning off and letting it burn.
    • Believes life ends when she stops fighting.


    🔍

    The blinds blocked the light from entering the office; blackout curtains had been added ages ago to prevent screen glare, something that was becoming a problem of the past the more smog that filled the sky. With a soft beep, a message tone sounds, the only type of alarm she relied on. Slowly from behind the desk a woman rose; her shirt was crumpled and her hair was a mess on her head, another day spent sleeping in the office; she didn’t even make it to the couch. Aside from a few crumbled blue gum wrappers on her desk, the office was relatively clean. As she stood, she pushed her hair out of her face, revealing a pair of dark, sharp eyes. On the screen flashed a message; soon, however, more began to pour in. With a low, mumbled curse, she grabbed a piece of gum and chewed it until the cinnamon taste woke her up. It seems like tonight was going to be another all-nighter.

    💵

    With a soft clink, the blinds opened automatically, revealing the hidden speakers, allowing the sounds of birds to enter the room gradually, hitting a plateau; as if on command, the man in the bed sat up. His eyes flew open as there was the soft beep and the bathroom door opened, a robotic voice playing, ‘Bathroom sanitation complete, floors warmed to optimal temperatures, today’s schedule…beep…error…lost…rebooting, rebooting.’ The man held no surprise in his eyes as he slowly moved the blanket off himself and stood, his large hands running through his short brown hair as he said a command. “Ignore the schedule for today; play morning sounds, B. There will be quite a few things to get done. For breakfast let’s do something quick; a BlueWake nutrition bar should do the trick.” The man chuckled and walked into the bathroom, stopping for a moment and quietly counting to 3; as if on cue, the robot gave up on finding a schedule and began to play soft forest sounds. The bathroom door closed to hide the man’s knowing smile that reflected in the mirror.

    🖥

    It was impossible to tell what time of day it was; only the light of the screens lighting the windowless cement block “NO NO NO NO NO Boss is gonna kill me!” There was the frantic sound of keyboards clacking as a scrawny woman surrounded by screens practically screeched, the concrete walls absorbing her anguished cries. Her bangs covered her face, but she couldn’t care less since she could see through the strands; her desk and floor were littered with cans that were partially crushed. Whenever her fingers fly to another keyboard, the cans hit the floor with a light ‘tink.’. “AGH, I AM GONNA DESTROY WHOEVER PULLED THIS!” She muttered, her chair spinning to point her at another screen, out of breath in her anger. With a click she grabbed another energy drink and chugged it, blue liquid wetting her throat. “WHEN I FIND YOU, I AM GONNA TELL EVERYONE WHAT COLOR UNDERWEAR YOU WEAR.” With renewed determination, she began her furious typing once again.


    Each character would have an introduction like this

    introducing their morning after the blackout!


    Synopsis

    2082, a world full of smog and pollution only for the poor, that is, while the wealthy live in luxury in their sky-high real estate above the clouds of smog. Everyone was satisfied with the status quo, just trying to make it to the weekend. Who would have guessed it would all end in a single blackout? It was a day like any other; the cabs soared overhead, and you could smell the sweet artificial smells that were being pumped out from the food stalls. Breakfast was coming to a close, and everything was about to hit its peak when the vendor switched to their lunch prices only for every screen to go black. Anything plugged in died, and the never-ending whirring in the city suddenly silenced. Then came the screams of panicked citizens, plunged into darkness with no sun to rely on. It took an hour for the lights and machines to slowly flicker to life once again. The darkness was momentary, but the true problem was just beginning. What or who had caused the largest city to come to a complete standstill?


    Act 1 Set up

    We will set up each character’s identity as presented earlier, adding in how they meet and decide to either work together or against each other; not every person is the hero after all.

    Act 2 conflict

    The main conflict will begin in when they finally found who caused them and then the confrontation of course.

    Act 3 resolutions

    Will they go separate ways or will they become better people together? Who goes to prison, who stumbles into wealth, and who becomes a better or worse person is decided here!

    Title image created by me through Canva

    Tech Noir News

    News Report Assignment for Week 7

    I made this news article from a template on Canva. Luckily, Canva seems to have improved since the last time I used it, where I described it as, “the worst website I’ve ever had the displeasure of using.” Currently, it appears very similar to Picsart, which I have been using for other assignments in this class. I unfortunately got carried away creating a news article for my story instead of a scene from a tech noir film, so the first row is about my story, and the second row is about the matrix. I wrote and edited the text, as well as the moving images and background. I wanted the news to appear as if it were on a screen, letting me bypass certain limitations paper has, which let me use glowing text and moving images.

    Beware the AI

    Design Some Propaganda Assignment for Week 7

    This is a propaganda piece made with Picsart based on a vaporwave aesthetic. I believe this alert would appear on phones, buildings, or other screens that would be impossible to ignore. This warning was made in response to the discovery that AI had become self-aware, represented by the brain in the glowing triangle. Many people fear what AI might do to humanity if it were capable of independent thought, evident through movies like The Terminator or 2001: A Space Odyssey. I believe the same would be true in a world more technologically advanced than ours, where people are constantly surrounded by robots that could pose a threat. In the story, this leads to people having a negative opinion of robots to the point where people with mechanic prosthetics are discriminated against. Although there has never been a case of a robot causing the death of a human in this universe, robots like Zer0 are deeply feared and distrusted.

    Response and reaction

    M. Marshall 2.28

    For the reaction post I chose this post from Tini Time:

    I actually imagine that this sort of propaganda would be how my character recognizes the brain-washing going on from the government. This idea that, eventually, this animal-cyborg-robot-army thing would just be another thing the government did to an innocent group of people (now animals). I think this realization could start some sort of an uprising and eventual downfall of the tyrannic government.