CCR

 https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yDkAgmp6c6Gg_qhYlzqe0iJC_eEeU4aBfX-YuZbKni8/edit 

AICE Media Studies CCR 

1. How does your product use or challenge conventions AND how does it represent social groups or issues? 

My product turned out rather different than what I originally intended to create. I had a lack of actors present, so I needed to improvise and work with what I had. My original idea was to represent the struggle between powerful and lower social classes. Due to the lack of actors and inability to find a proper location that would work for all members, I had to change the entire plot and setting of my music video. While inconvenient in the moment, this occurrence actually allowed for a whole new meaning to be created. The final product can be interpreted as a representation of the struggle that those in society seen as helpless have versus those who could easily overpower them. It can be applied to real life, especially in more serious situations and global issues, for example, how minorities are susceptible to fear of being attacked and/or followed. While the video has a fun and silly mood, it may also resonate with women and the common problem present in society where they often feel powerless or vulnerable when being attacked, harassed, or stalked due to the image of being weak that others push onto them. If looked at on a deeper level, the video can embody the feeling of fear and vulnerability some people may have when it comes to being out in the world on their own. 

2. How does your product engage with audiences AND how would it be distributed as a real media text?

My product engages with audiences by having happy and fun overtones to it. It also can be analyzed and interpreted in several different ways, and can be applied to real world problems that occur all over the globe. It would attract more audiences from the colorful filter and storyline. The fact that it is a relatively short video may also attract more viewership as today’s generation of youth and technology tend to watch videos that aren’t lengthy, for example, TikToks and Instagram Reels. They’re short and sweet and make a point pretty quickly. My product does just that, and is engaging through the inclusion of goofy scenes, like the actors chasing each other around. If this was a professional video, it could actually be distributed on social media platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram, due to the nature of all three sites that have a focus centered on watching videos. It would have a higher chance at gaining more interaction and views, and would be shared amongst the general public due to the comedic nature of the product. It’s a known fact that people do appreciate humor, so out of all websites or apps to pick, TikTok would be the best option to release the video if it was distributed as real media text. 

3. How did your production skills develop throughout this project?

At the beginning of this project, I knew I had some experience with video production and editing. The first step I took in this project was coming up with a storyboard, in which I jotted down and drew frames for the original idea I had. Each frame was a visualization of what I wanted each scene to look like, including angles and shots. I also included labels for the actors, and roles for the side characters. I drew backgrounds into each storyboard panel, and arrows to represent the camera panning or moving in any way. The next step was the most difficult, in my opinion. I needed to find actors for my project, however, as I was absent during the designated day to form groups, this task had proven to be very difficult throughout the time I had to complete the project. This was because everyone already had formed or joined an existing group, and the maximum amount was 4 people. In the end, I worked solo but recruited two friends of mine who were working on their own project. The third step of the process was to find a location to film. We weren’t allowed to go too far from school, but we still managed to find a spot outside of it. It was an ideal location too, because it was obviously public, and very popular. The final step was filming and editing, the easiest and least time consuming part of the process. We got as much footage as we could while on a limited time schedule. During filming, I had to make sure my hands weren’t shaky, and I needed to do my best to keep the camera stable. While it was hard at some points, I definitely improved than in previous videos I filmed for fun. The editing process was a walk in the park, but I did get the opportunity to further my production/editing skills. I learned to trim clips to make transitions smoother, and to sync audio with the clips as best as I could. In general, the project was a great opportunity to help me further build on skills that were already present. 

4. How did you integrate technologies – software, hardware and online – in this project?

My choice of technology and software was heavily based on what I had around me. I made use of my resources by using my phone to record rather than an expensive camera. I chose to use a phone as it was a device that was sufficient enough to film with, and no additional costs would be needed for a camera. Cameras tend to be very pricey. For example, a Canon Eos camera would cost about $350, or more. Further investments would need to be made, such as buying an SD card, a tripod, a USB cable, and having another device to export the footage to. For these reasons, I decided that using my cell phone would be the best option because it’s a useful tool that is already available to me. As for softwares, Apple devices already come with a built-in editing app, iMovie. Therefore, it was much easier and way more convenient to make use of iMovie instead of spending around $30 for a more professional app such as Lumafusion. iMovie has plenty of effects, sounds, filters, and text options, so if you know how to use the app properly and have experience with editing, like myself, then it definitely is a great option and can result in a product just as good as one edited with a professional app or software.