AICE Media Studies

1. How does your project challenge conventions AND how does it represent social groups or issues?      My project challenges conventions within media by displaying themes of mental health and depression. Additionally, while indie artists' music videos are often low budget, its not often you see an entire music video shot in a single setting, with a single actor, and a single person creating the whole thing. Throughout my music, the main character is shown experiencing feelings of depression as she ages. This goes against the norm because mental health is often an overlooked and taboo subject, especially within music videos, where the goal is to most usually entertain in a positive way. Another way it represents social groups is by featuring a woman of color as it's main subject. It's no secret the music industry white-dominated, so having someone of color isn't as common and this music video serves as representation for that issue. 2. How does your project engage with a...

The product of my weeks of work, now done. UPDATE 12/18: There was an issue with the original video I posted on 12/16 it was uploaded incorrectly. It’s all working right now!

 To edit my final music video, I used an app called InShot for most of the process. This was an app I discovered during the commercial project. And because I became familiar with it during that process, I figured it would be easiest to edit there.  While filming my shots, I inserted each clip into my InShot project draft as I went. After filming my final shot, I got to cleaning things up. I started this by shortening down and adjusting each clip to sync up with the music. This proved extremely simple, because during filming I made sure to make each clip extra long so there would be no problems of a clip not fitting the lyric portions. Though one thing that was difficult was reaching the time limit. To achieve this, I lengthened the intro and added a title scene. Using the "text" feature, I created a title, then added a transition to make it slide into the screen.  Then came the zoom affects I planned in my storyboard process. I discovered InShot didn't have a zoom animati...

 Today is the day I've been preparing for, filming! Production got com plicated, because of restraints on daylight. I was going to film on the weekend so I can do the day and night shots. But due to some issues that arrised (procrastination), I was left to do it during the school week! Problem was, there was never enough daylight after school to be able to film the day parts in time. For this reason, i filmed the daytime scenes yesterday, on Tuesday. Then I filmed the nighttime scenes today! Breaking up the production made for a less stressful filming process. On day one, I completed the daytime scenes. The first scene was improvised, with leftover birthday balloons I had from last week. I needed to fill up more screen time, so I created an opening shot balloons displaying the number "16".  A difficulty I faced was getting proper angles. Without a tripod, the shot of the laptop scene was very difficult! I needed the laptop to be in shot, but at a downward angle, without m...

 The deadline for the music video project is approaching. I was actually planning on filming in the past few days, but things haven't quite worked out. Main problem: just my procrastination! But there's been a few other loose threads to sort out before I start actually filming. For one, I now have doubts about my whole music video premise. Speaking to classmates, many are doing very extravagant things. Filming at interesting places, many actors, whole storylines, etc. Meanwhile, my project is just me filmed in my bedroom. I will not change the storyboard or premise though. Not only because the deadline is just a week away, but I think my video will be unique. But with the amount of times I've been listening to my song selection, it's safe to say I am now sick of this one too! However, creating a whole story with a single setting and actor, with minimal editing will create a video that is different from the rest. Actually, that last line is not entirely true. There will ...

 Now that revisions in the storyboard have been made, it's now come time to plan for filming! First, to actually shoot the video, I will be using my iPhone camera. The quality works well, but in dark lighting their auto-HDR makes shots look grainy. In preparation, I will need to research how to alter the camera app settings. Another must for shooting is a tripod! Since I will be filming the whole commercial by myself, something to hold my phone will be crucial. These can be purchased anywhere, but for convenience, I will buy one online.  I've also found myself planning how I will film shots! For example, I took quite some time yesterday figuring out where I can prop my camera for one specific scene. in this scene, there will be a bird's eye view shot, which has added some complications. Nothing I can't overcome with some more planning though. When it comes to setting, the whole music video will take place in my bedroom. In preparation, it should be neat. It's an amb...

The last blog, I talked about my new song choice! With a new song, it may seem like my old storyboard is now useless. But I’ve concluded that I can still make use of most of it. Anti-Hero and Sinking  are both different songs, but their theme is practically the same. Lyrics talk about topics like insecurity, loneliness, and isolation. Since both songs are so similar, I want to reuse most of the old ideas! Here is my revised storyboard for the music video. Beginning:  “Every night, think of things I can’t do, or haven’t done.” In a choice I hope will come off creatively, this scene will first show a recorded movie I am watching. It will feature friends running around and having adventures. The camera will cut to me alone. Then, a shot of me replicating the movie scene with action figures.  “And does it make me weak?” “Sometimes like I can’t breathe” This scene will first show me trying to do homework, but then tearing the paper up. I will then be shown looking out the wind...