CCR

CCR DOCUMENT 

Above is the link to the document to this CCR Reflection

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

For my team's music video, we wanted to challenge the given conventions. We wanted to do what was asked of us, but a bit different. When I first was given the song, I did not know the song at all, but learned it. I am someone who listens to the artist, Kanye West but not daily. However, I am aware of who he is and represents as an artist. Kanye West has a unique way of expressing himself, he can be calm or crazy. Crazy in a good way, he will wear whatever, say whatever and be whoever. He can be an extrovert and has some outlandish ideas. This is completely different for what our friendship is. We can be "crazy", but Kanye’s representation of crazy is costly, we did not have the budget for that. So, we went a bit different to his mellow side. To just be calm and show the definition of friendship and what it means to enjoy each other. This helped us to create a different dynamic than what is expected from a Kanye West music video. It is not too different, but it adds a little bit of his style. To be comfortable, to be happy, and to just do whatever you want and love doing it.

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

2. Our music video stands out for several reasons. Firstly, the chosen song lacks an official music video but only features animation. By creating and uploading our video, we provided viewers who appreciate the song with a fresh visual experience, incorporating real people into the scenes. Our video deliberately steered away from a somber tone, opting instead to showcase people enjoying themselves and romanticizing life, a departure from the norm. This approach aims to present our content as uplifting and entertaining. Each clip within the video captures moments free from the distractions of phones and societal pressures. Whether laughing, smiling, or engaging in activities we genuinely enjoy, the video, while staged for artistic purposes, mirrors aspects of our real lives. Shared experiences like driving, spending time in the park, and cherishing one another's company are depicted in each frame. Considering the platform for dissemination, YouTube becomes the primary choice for sharing our professional-grade music video due to its substantial audience and revenue-generating potential. Many artists leverage this platform to showcase diverse content, and its widespread daily use attracts a broad audience actively seeking new material. Additionally, we plan to share a teaser or snippet on TikTok, a platform widely embraced by Generation Z. Similar to YouTube, TikTok caters to an audience that appreciates visually appealing and engaging content. Leveraging popular hashtags like "Ye West" and "#DONDA" aims to maximize visibility, especially since Kanye West enjoys immense popularity, boasting a large and devoted fan base.By strategically sharing our content on these two platforms, YouTube and TikTok, we anticipate positive analytics, reaching a wide audience, and receiving valuable feedback. These platforms align with our goal of spreading positivity and resonating with viewers who actively seek and appreciate visual and auditory content.

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

3. To start off, my partner in crime was Alyssa – just the two of us tackling this collaborative project. Now, I'm not used to teaming up like this, especially with someone I didn't know. It sounded a bit nerve-wracking at first, but hey, it turned out to be a breeze. We set up a group chat to throw around ideas for each blog and figure out how to piece the video together. We hashed out the nitty-gritty details together – figuring out when, where, what clips to shoot, which angles to go for, and all the moves to make the video pop. It hit me during this process that making something awesome isn't a solo gig; it takes a bunch of us putting our heads together. Now, my commercial experience was all about editing without filming anything specific. But this music video? It was a whole different ball game. It taught me that shots and movements matter big time. I went through some serious stages to nail those specific clips, realizing that using different angles is like the secret sauce that completes the whole video vibe. And guess what? Editing doesn't have to be this over-the-top thing. Simple edits that match your video's vibe can hit the sweet spot. If your song's all chill, slamming it with crazy effects might not be the smartest move. This whole process also clued me into the fact that crafting the perfect video takes time and effort. Constructive criticism? You bet. A ton of clips? Absolutely. You'll be all over the place, chatting away, and moving around for that perfect shot. It taught me to be patient but also on the ball. Rushing things won't give you the video you're dreaming of. Taking your time, putting in the effort

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

4. So, for our music video, we dove into the tech world, using Blogger, Cap Cut, YouTube, and good old iPhones. We could've gone the typical route with a camera, but that felt too played out, you know? Everyone uses a camera for music vids. We wanted to shake things up and see what an iPhone, with all its updates and supposed cool effects, could bring to the table. It was a bit of a challenge, but we were up for it. The iPhone's cinematic option was a game-changer, offering resolutions beyond 4K. It let us zoom in on details, adding a special touch to our video. Blogger was in the mix because it was assigned, sure, but it's also got all the bells and whistles needed for a solid blog. Plus, it made it easy to upload straight to Cambridge, showing our progress in a neat timeline. Now, Cap Cut. We'd all used it before for our intro video, and it just clicked. It's user-friendly, and with a bunch of edits, speeds, transitions, and song options, it gave our video that extra something. And, of course, YouTube. We used it to slap our music video onto Blogger. It's like the direct highway to making sure Cambridge can easily see our creation. Every piece of tech we brought in made life easier for us and, more importantly, for Cambridge. Together, they were the secret sauce for what we're calling the perfect video

Thank you so much for reading! Do you have any questions?