CCR Blog

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

When starting this project, I kept in mind the genre of the song with utmost attempt to preserve its features without asking away too much due to the circumstances. After using the genre for reference, I took a look at the commonly used camera angles in the vides. With this gathered information I came to the realization that the use of eye level, behind the shoulder, zoom ins and more. After that I came up with a general plan on what angles to use and when. So that the video does not lose its ties to its genre. After extensive research on indie, pop music I came to the conclusion that with these genres that the music itself tends to follow more of a dramatic emotional take. While the music videos like I see a lot in music some not mot of the time don’t really match the lyrics being song. Another commonly seen aspect seen in indie music is low or natural lighting. A lot of videos tending to relate more with nature or just being outside. So, with that the decision to set most of the video with a natural lighting. This also adds to the overall vibe of the video that I was attempting to create which is more of an emotional vulnerable feel. Revolving the actors and acting, usual there would be only a few actors with a normal, natural conversational acting to them. With that I made sure to keep few actors and make the scenes to represent life and the situations. I decided to keep with a simple convection. Though I do attempt to represent a few social groups. Firstly, those currently and previously struggling with mental health and abusive relationships. The main character in the music video suffers from both butfinds peace in music. I want to spread awareness of mental health and show people they are not alone. They can find happiness in the little things.

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

 

The goal of this music video was meant to be both lighthearted but also a dress some serious topics. I aimed to achieve this without making the video too sad or serious by adding scenes where the actors are smiling, as well as finishing off the story with a happy ending. I wanted the video to be a full circle moment allowing viewers to follow along with the main character and her journey through recovery. While also adding something I know all listeners can relate to, music. Throughout the video the main character can be seen listening to music and it some sense using it as an escape from the real world and all her troubles. I know that a lot of listeners of music but more specifically those interested in indie music are usually those who are seen as different and more times then not use music as a support mechanism. I also aimed to visually represent the issue of mental health. The character of the mysterious figure isn’t real, but just a figment of the characters imagination. But also represents those who are alone and need someone to fall on but have nobody. Therefore, having to rely on external things to find happiness. Now if the music video had to be a real piece of media, I would have to say that it should be distrusted on You tube. As the demographic of people I am aiming to target are more of a young adult audience. Therefore, you tube is a place that is accessible.

 

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

 

Throughout the process of filming this music video I learned a lot of new skills that I will take with me for the rest of my life. On the topic of production skills, I would say that t was a learning process. Constant trial and error help led to the final production of the music video. I was able to easily adapt to the situation. For example, the scenes of the music video that were shot inside took some adjusting on my part. As I had to rearrange things such as lighting so that I could then achieve the best shot. On some scenes they did not turn out to be as I envisioned therefore, I had to be able to think of something else quickly.Since I decided to film quite close to the deadline and did not have ample time to shoot. Another example is the scene shot at the beach, because nature is unpredictable, when I went to shoot at the beach it was quite windy and also at high tide, so I had little space to work with. After readjusting a few things, I was finally able to shoot the needed scenes. But then after revising the scenes I realized that one scene was filmed wrong. So after refilling that I then realized that the camera lost focus on the phone which was the main part of the scenes. After some touch ups, I was finally able to complete the scene and was finally done with filming.

 

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

The process of filing this music video relied heavily on the use of technology. Firstly, the entire video was filed on an iPhone on the cinematic mode. Secondly, technology is used constantly throughout the video. From the phone the main character uses to expose her ex best friend or the AirPods she uses to listen to her music. Technology is a common topic in the music video. But even after filming the use of technology doesn’t stop there. The app CapCut was used to cut down and edit the clips together. From that the song had to be exported from other sources such as YouTube or TikTok to then be added to the video. Lastly the ending credits and title scene were added to complete the music video. But it does not end there, the video is then uploaded on YouTube publicly. So that I can then embed it into blogger to create the final product as you know it.