CCR

1. How does your product use or challenge conventions AND how does it represent social groups or issues?
- The song used in my video was “Infrunami” by Steve Lacy, it is in the genre of Rnb/soul & alternative. In these genres of music, there are often camera angles of close-ups in long and slow slower movements. This practice persisted throughout my video. One example of this is in the very first scene of the video, there is a wide shot establishing the scene, and the camera is rotating in a long and slow motion. This genre of music [videos] also regularly has costumes that have a “matching” vibe to the lyrics/meaning of the song. This was also present in my video. All of the actors’ outfits were inspired by the song itself and its “fall” and “calm” vibe. The reason all of these things were included was to make sure the video and song [lyrics] were connected and were able to tell a story.
One social issue that was present in my music video was the issue of internal battles. In certain parts of the video, it can be seen that the actors are reluctant and awkward. In the first couple of scenes, the actors were not interacting and were very antisocial. They were distant and seemed to be feeling out of place. This can be presumed to be caused by internal struggles.

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

- My music video contained a group of friends going through many emotions. They were first reclusive and shy with each other, and then they shifted into joking around. This is something that many teenagers go through with their friend groups. There are a lot of mood shifts and often energy changes. Sometimes the friends are happy and comfortable with each other, and then another moment they are confused and chaotic. My music video is something that teens would be able to watch and relate to. They would watch it and realize they aren’t the only ones going through what they’re going through. Oftentimes, people use music as a way to not feel so alone and disconnected from life. They look at music videos as a way to make sense of their disheveled lives. My music video would allow those struggling with friendship issues to not feel out of place and utterly confused.
If this was a professional video I would release it on Youtube. YouTube would be the platform best fit for my music video because being over a minute it would surpass the regular TikTok video watching time and containing recent music it would be the perfect fit for YouTube.

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

- Throughout this project, my production skills really evolved. I learned so much about the process of coming up with ideas and posting videos. Prior to this project, I had never done anything similar to a “music video”.With my partners' help, I could think outside the box and do some things I had never done before. Brainstorming ideas was a very creative process. I learned that it's important to consider different perspectives. Working with 3 of my peers, there were many thoughts and ideas being thrown into the air. For example, when it came to picking which song was going to be used for the video. For this aspect, I spent a lot of time pondering which song would be the perfect fit. And not only were my thoughts being considered, but the ideas of my teammates as well. Through this project, I learned to be more open-minded and considerate of new plans. 

The filming stage was not too difficult. Though it took some time on account of becoming distracted and small mistakes, it was overall a fun and easy experience. I discovered the importance of lighting, sound, and framing to create a visually appealing and engaging video. It was also crucial to capture the right emotions and expressions.

While editing, I learned to use different software [CapCut] to trim, rearrange, and enhance the footage. Adding specific elements helped to elevate the overall quality of the video.

Finally, posting the video was exciting. After putting so much time and effort into the project, I was so relieved to finally be finished and share [submit] it.
Overall, this project taught me that production skills are not just about technical aspects, but also about creativity, planning, and connecting with my team. It was a journey of self-discovery and growth, and I’m ecstatic to apply the skills that I've learned to upcoming projects.

4. How did you integrate technologies – software, hardware, and online – in this project?
- In this project, I integrated various technologies to bring it all together. To film the video, an iPhone was used, which allowed the capture of high-quality footage with its built-in camera. An iPhone was used rather than an actual “camera” on account of availability and just the knowledge of myself and my group members. The iPhone was easy to use and something familiar. For editing, I utilized the CapCut software, which provided a user-friendly interface and a wide range of editing tools. As stated in previous blogs, Capcut is an application I am quite familiar with so I prefer to use it over any other editing app. It made the editing process smooth and efficient. When it came to finding a way to get the music needed I used both TikTok and Soundcloud. I used both apps to decide which specific clips of the song I was going to use and to extract the song to be able to add it to CapCut.
To blog I mostly used my laptop and when necessary I used my phone. I used my laptop on most occasions because it allowed me to type quickly and see my mistakes easier since it has a wide screen. When editing documents and uploading blogs onto Blogger, my laptop made all the processes the easiest, and this is why I stuck to it. I only ever used my phone to transport specific pieces of media from it to my laptop. So even when using my phone, my laptop was still needed. I also used my phone to make blogs if my laptop was malfunctioning, so in a manner, it was a “backup” method for my blogging process.  By integrating technologies like CapCut, an iPhone, TikTok, and blogging platforms, I was able to bring my project to life and showcase my skills. It was an exciting and fulfilling experience that highlighted the power of technology in creative endeavors. 
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YgpxlH4bOoLDLUMtzc3U8GOLArvE4i2SjwaPjeLFhsU/edit