Music Video CCR

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dNQxZQV6oi-FQxaQf4QcEJwH1IR69icA9PwUNN7kJ7E/edit?usp=sharing

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

    My music video uses a multitude of pop song conventions to its advantage. It uses costumes that are consistent and representative of the character's story. The costumes in pop songs aid the telling of the story that the music video tells. This brings me to the second convention it uses, which is that it has a consistent storyline that goes with the song's meaning. Another prominent theme in pop songs is that most of them revolve around themes of love and heartbreak. My music video uses this convention to relay the tale of a heartbroken girl who finds her passion and comfort in her job. However, my video challenges certain conventions at the same time. In most pop songs, the video features the artist performing or lip-syncing the song so that the viewers remember the artist and the song. However, my video does not do this. The reason for doing so is that there really was no need for the incorporation of this convention, as that is not the aim of our video. Our aim was to tell a story, and that could not have been accomplished if we had the artist- Marissa in our case- lip-syncing to the camera the whole time.  

    My video represents the working class through its use of real workers and the workplace setting. It further represents the issues of toxic relationships, depression, and lack of passion. The issue of toxic relationships is heavily represented in my video by clearly showing how a relationship crumbles because of secrecy and insecurity. This issue then leads to the second issue, showing how toxic relationships cause sadness and lack of joy in life. This is shown when Marissa is in her room by herself, crying, and when she sees her ex holding hands with another girl across the street.  

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

    To engage with the audience, I worked to create a compelling narrative that resonates with viewers. Additionally, a relatable narrative is essential to reach a target audience. By creating visuals that capture emotions and tell a relatable tale, the audience will be able to connect with the video on a deeper level than something they have not experienced. 

    To distribute my video as a real media text, I would have to do a lot of promoting. As a new and emerging artist, my main overall goal would be to get my video on to MTV. To do this, I would need to have a decent popularity and platform before sending my video in for consideration. If I were to have no popularity or recognition, it is quite unlikely that MTV would give my video much consideration. To do this, I would create a social media account, for example Instagram, to promote and push my video. I would also especially take to TikTok, as TikTok is quite influential in media popularity in recent times. I would post videos that fit current trends and reach out to larger creators to partner with them to promote my music and gain recognition. I would invest in ads to promote my video, which would build suspense and excitement before release. To further generate anticipation on social media, I would also use teasers, countdown, and behind-the-scenes content since that is something audiences love to see. I would further take to YouTube and use compelling titles, tags, and thumbnails to grab the attention of scrollers. After this is done, I would research MTV submission guidelines and ensure that my video meets their specifications. A compelling pitch is key to highlighting my video’s potential and appeal to viewers on MTV. Additionally, since it is a music video, I would engage with music streaming services like Apple Music, Spotify, and Soundcloud, where many people find new music. I have seen myself that Apple Music features music videos along with some songs, so this would be useful. 

How did your production skills develop throughout this project?

    My production skills developed drastically throughout this project. Starting from the very beginning with the storyboard and planning. This allowed me to organize and plan each shot, which helped develop my organizational and production skills. Further into the project, my camera operation skills were the next to be affected. By doing the majority of the filming, I was able to learn how to set up shots, maintain a steady frame, and adjust angles. My editing skills were also influenced, as this project resulted in developing proficiency in the program I used. This project was a direct influence on the development of my technical skills, but also of my personal and collaborative skills. Adaptability, time management, and feedback are all a massive part of film. The numerous setbacks and time complications most definitely improved my ability to work around problems while working with a team. This project further taught me the importance of listening to others and finding a way to persevere to meet a deadline. 

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

    In this project, the main technology I used was Capcut. This software allowed for a multitude of edits and enhancements to the final product. I used Capcut to add visual enhancements throughout the video. These enhancements include filters, effects, and color correctors and adjustments. Specific examples of this are the 90’s filter I used to create a nostalgic feel, and the brightening adjustment to add light to a dark shot. I also used transitions in my video to smoothen transitions between shots. When the project was complete, I used software to export and share my video, specifically to my email, and then further to my YouTube channel. Prior to the creation of the actual video in Capcut itself, I used other software to plan out the project. Specifically, for the Storyboard my groupmates and I used Canva to collaboratively edit the storyboard and its captions. During the process, we used Word on Office 365 to share documents that were used for planning, outlining, and pre-writes, or drafts, of important blogs. Additionally, I personally used the notes app on my phone to write out ideas for scenes that were different from what we had planned out already whenever they would pop into my head. This was especially helpful when I was somewhere without access to my computer and I needed to write something down quickly to share with my group online.