CCR!! Music Video

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TSAZJw4__W3uDrY5hI9a89BCYBgAqSIpgStK6NkhoIs/edit

Beautiful Sunset reflection

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

The process of making a music video is complex and requires a wide range of abilities; as a result, developing production skills is a logical next step in the creative process. The way that production techniques have changed during the course of creating a music video is evidence of how dynamic the industry is. My music video both uses and challenges the conventions of my music video. During my research I gathered knowledge about the normal conventions you would see in the pop culture genre. It consisted of main characters (majority of the time is the main singer) and they are portraying the words of the song. They express how they feel through the lyrics. Sometimes, the video doesn’t match the lyrics of the song, while other times it does. Depending on the musical artist, the conventions vary. Each factor of their video represents them individually and current events happening in their lives. I exhibited this in my music video, portraying myself as the main focus of the video. I believe my music video represents a coming of age message. The video represented a girl reflecting back on her younger self and how she’s grown up into the woman she is today. The production of the music video was stressful but fun. Like creating the storyboard, I wanted to make sure it matched the song. I chose this storyline because I felt a connection. It was something I could relate to, considering my current life events. The whole filming process took a while because I decided to work solo. That is one thing I kind of regret looking back at now, it would’ve been easier to work in a group setting for this project. But I still enjoyed creating the video overall. Regarding the background of my music video, it was one thing I could really reflect on and it matched the song choice very well so that was a plus. 

My product did not  specifically pertain to a social group. I would say though, it relays the message of self identity. One possible issue my video represents is hardship. The self reflecting aspect shows the younger generation. This issue is associated with individuals who reflect on where they came from/the struggles they experienced. It gives a sense of achievement, when looking at how successful they have become, despite their hardships.  

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

The content created engages with audiences of different demographics. People who enjoy listening to pop culture would most likely engage with my product. The storyline portrays a sense of nostalgia which engages the audience viewing. They may watch and have a self reflection of their own. It represents something real that they can relate to. The song choice (Grown Woman - Beyoncé) targets that fan base. My video 

My product would be distributed as a real media text via social media which would be considered electronic communications. Everything that’s trending nowadays happens to be on social media of course. Social media is where everyone uses their time to connect with others, whether it’s for social purposes, business interactions, advertisements, etc. When producing my music video, I used different platforms such as CapCut and iMovie to edit my clips. These platforms are widely known for efficiently creating content. 

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

Throughout this project, I believe my  production skills improved a lot. I was able to learn more about different camera angles and shots while producing my music video. Watching different music videos really helped with the conventions of the video. After some research I was able to recognize different shots and angles that I wanted to incorporate in my video. During my production process I improved on my technique of shooting. It was really bad at the beginning, because I was working alone. Different shots were hard to record, but I was able to move my camera in different ways to get the desired shot that I wanted. I learned how to do a pan shot, which consists of moving the camera along with the individual in view. 

On about my third day of production, I began getting used to filming. The process overall wasn’t too bad once I got used to it. In a certain part in my video I am at an event. I received help from one of my friends to record this part which helped a lot. Something I learned in general from this process is that it’s better to work in group settings for these types of projects. The production would’ve been way better had I did. You truly need a designated person to play each role especially if you aren’t advanced with certain things like editing. 

In regards to editing, one skill I improved on was managing the audio of the video. While editing it was difficult to add the song to the video. The platform I worked on had established a copyright issue, so the songs available were very limited. I tried downloading it and using it, but it would only play a certain portion of the song. Finally, I found a way to play the music in the background by screen recording the song and adding it as a voiceover to my music video. I also learned other ways I could incorporate the song such as clipping it and inserting the sound and hawing other forms. I also improved with my time management. Each day I set a record, I met the majority of those dates. This helped me get everything done accordingly which makes me reflect on the real media world where deadlines have to be met.

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

To improve efficiency and creativity, software, hardware, and web tools are seamlessly blended during the music video creation process. Accurate coordination of images and music were  made possible by editing tools like iMovie and CapCut, and excellent video quality is guaranteed by high-performance technology like powerful computers and high-resolution cameras.

I used my iPhone for the filming process of the music video. I used my iCloud to store the video so that it would be saved and I could go back and edit it. The easy sharing of huge video files and project components is rendered easier by cloud-based storage.