Music Video CCR Questions

 

1. How does your product use or challenge conventions and how does it represent social groups or issues? For my music video my costume was a simple, black dress with black heels. For my makeup I wore false lashes and lip gloss. For props I used my backpack which was used in the beginning of the video and a hair straightener that I used to style my hair. For my location, I decided to film at my friend's house. I mainly filmed in her bathroom and outside in her backyard. In my music video it is about a normal girl who wants to be someone else in a way. When no one is around she immediately turns into this more glamorous and feminine person. This is basically her alter ego. I used the lyrics of the song to create another meaning behind the artists' words. Instead of using the lyrics "In your eyes, I see there's something burning inside you" in a more emotional and romantic way as he does, I chose to create a story, and show how this girl wants to be more than herself. My product represents social issues by trying to illustrate how you shouldn't hide another side of you from the world. In the beginning of the video she looks at her "imperfections". I put imperfections in quotes because I don't necessarily believe in imperfections when it comes to someone's face or body. Every one is made in their own unique way and shouldn't be judged by things that are natural and beautiful in its own way. In our current society people judge others for their appearance, where they come from, how they act, etc. In terms of appearance, there is a certain unofficial standard created by society by how someone should look. Many characteristics included in this "standard" are having a skinny body but must have some type of weight or curves if you are a female, your height, your complexion, you can't have an excess amount of body hair, etc. Many of these things are natural and cannot be changed in an instant. Yes, people are able to change and alter things about them, but why should somebody change themselves for other people who are just going to continue to create more standards. If you want to change something about yourself you should do it for yourself and your happiness, not for other people's approval. So in my music video, my character isn't really satisfied with how she is normally. This is why she turns into her "alter ego" by getting all glammed up. She feels as if she can only be satisfied and happy with herself by changing certain things about her. In addition, she hides this other side of her from other people, when she really shouldn't. If you feel happy when you explore another side of you, then you should also let people see that other part of you instead of hiding it.  

2. How does your product engage with audiences and how would it be distributed as a real media text? Even though my product is basically about a girl, I would say that my video would engage with all types of audiences. Anyone can perceive my music video however they would like, and understand my story in their own way. I feel as though many young females would relate to my character more because we are held at higher standards than males. We are subjected to fit into other peoples desires in how we should look like and if we don't reach that standard, we then get belittled by society. However, young men could also relate to my character as well. Men are also held at standards just like women more on how they should act rather than how they should look. They are expected to show little emotion, and be athletically inclined, however when they are not, they are "weak". Both men and women can relate to the video and lyrics in their own way whether they want to express themselves differently or simply just want to show another side of them to everyone else. I also believe that my product and it's meaning could engage with the LGBTQ+ audiences. People of the LGBTQ+ community are constantly being judged still, and often have to keep their sexuality a secret. In a way they can interpret my message from my video and connect it with how they feel about hiding their sexuality. All in all my music video is meant for all types of audiences who feel as if they need to hide a part of them from other people because they feel as though they might not be accepted or because that is their only outlet to happiness.

3. How did your production skills develop throughout this project? I believe that my production skills developed a lot because of this project. Not necessarily about the filming and editing portion of production, but improved when creating a story. I used multiple techniques to create this video when it comes to different angles, and camera movements, and also editing. However, this project allowed me to become even more creative and really envision an actual story that relates to my chosen song. I knew that I wanted to change the meaning of what the artist was saying so that is was more relatable for not only me, but for other people. I honestly do believe that my finishing product could have been better in some senses, but I am also glad that I was able to express current issues in a piece of work in some type of way.

4. How did you integrate technologies - software, hardware, and online - in this project? For this project I used my phone and my laptop. For filming, I used my cellphone and mainly filmed all my shots through Instagram. I did this because it provides a less grainier picture when zooming in and in other movements. I then uploaded all of my shots to my Google Drive from my storage. After I uploaded all of my shots to my Google Drive I then opened ClipChamp on my laptop. I accessed all of my shots and then added them to ClipChamp in which I used to edit and create my music video. I placed all of my shots in my desired order, and added filters to certain shots. I continued to edit my film and when finished I uploaded my music video to YouTube.