Final reflection

 Dear big year old Cambridge people and Ms. Stoklosa, 

I am sad but also happy to say that the end of the 25–26 school year is coming to an end, and with it the end of my final project. I have finally finished everything. This class was a really fun class that helped me learn a lot and also helped me realize that I might be interested in pursuing a career in this field. I’m not completely sure yet, but it’s definitely an idea and something I could see myself doing in the future.

Throughout this project I learned a lot about filmmaking, editing, and how much planning actually goes into creating a media product. From brainstorming ideas with my group, to filming the scenes, to editing everything together, every step of the process taught me something new. One of the biggest things I learned was how important editing is, because it can completely change how the story flows and how the audience experiences the film.

This class also helped me make new friends like Vale, Emily, and Kylie, and working together on projects made the experience even better. Collaborating with other people helped us share ideas, solve problems during filming, and make the final project stronger. 

I really enjoyed this class, which is why I will be taking A Level Media next year. I’m hoping it will be just as fun and interesting as this year, and I’m excited to keep learning more about media production.

Until next year- Luca

Project links

 question 1 and 2 CCR-https://drive.google.com/file/d/1I_-AZDf1QQV71cF2rwsyC7zkGGm942lp/view?usp=drivesdk

question 3 and 4 - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dHVV7H7wJLcRtsuwq-7UAF_BDqO91OVv/view?usp=sharing

2 minute opening- https://drive.google.com/file/d/1u1vMVJ7U_ItMdicIKszFQBrqmh17nK9R/view?usp=sharing

Editing (CCR)

 After recording my CCR videos, I moved into the post-production stage where I edited everything together. For my second CCR video, my friend and I recorded a podcast-style discussion on Google Meet where we talked through questions 3 and 4. However, when we finished recording, we realized that the audio from the call didn’t record properly.

To solve this problem, we recorded the audio separately on our phones while we were doing the call. After that, I had to sync the phone audio with the video from the Google Meet recording.

I used Clipchamp for most of the editing of my film project, but for the CCR podcast video I used iMovie to combine the video and the audio together and make sure everything matched correctly. I trimmed parts of the recording, fixed timing issues, and made sure the conversation flowed naturally.

Even though the audio issue was unexpected, it actually helped me learn more about problem solving during editing and how important sound is in media production. In the end, I was able to combine the recordings a
nd create a final CCR video that clearly answered the questions.

Post production (CCR)

 For the production of my Creative Critical Reflections (CCRs), I decided to present the answers using two different formats. For questions 1 and 2, I created a presentation where I talked through the slides and explained my ideas while showing examples from my film. I wanted it to feel clear and organized so the audience could easily understand my analysis of the genre, audience, and representation in the project.

For questions 3 and 4, I chose a different approach and recorded a podcast-style discussion with a friend (
jano he is a friend that took aice media studies last year) on Google Meet. I thought this format would make the reflection feel more natural and conversational instead of just reading answers. My friend asked me the questions and I explained my production process and the technologies I used while making the film.

During the recording process, I focused on speaking clearly and explaining my ideas in a way that connected directly to my project. I also tried to reference specific scenes from the film to support my answers. Using two different formats helped make the CCRs more creative and engaging while still clearly answering the required questions.

 

Question 4

 CCR Question 4 – Technology Used in the Project

The fourth Creative Critical Reflection question asks: How did you integrate technologies such as software, hardware, and online tools into your project?

To answer this question, I will begin by explaining the different technologies I used during production. This includes both hardware and software tools.

For hardware, I will discuss equipment used while filming, such as cameras, phones, tripods, lighting, or other production tools.

For software, I will explain the programs I used for editing, planning, and designing elements of the project. These tools helped me organize the project and edit the footage into the final product.

I will also include examples such as screenshots or images from the editing process and behind-the-scenes photos from filming. This will help visually demonstrate how technology played an important role in creating the final film.

At the end of this reflection, I will summarize how these technologies helped improve the overall quality of my project and reflect on what I learned from using them.

Question 3

 CCR Question 3 – Skills Development

The third Creative Critical Reflection question asks: How did your skills develop throughout this project?

In this reflection, I will focus on how my skills improved during the production process. I will begin by explaining how the project started with research and planning, which helped guide my ideas and production decisions.

Then I will discuss how my skills developed throughout different stages of the project, including filming and editing. I will reflect on what I learned during the production process and how I adapted when challenges came up.

I will also include specific examples of the skills I developed, such as improvements in camera work, editing techniques, storytelling, or organization. Showing examples from different stages of the project will help demonstrate how my work evolved over time.

Finally, I will end this reflection by discussing what I learned overall and how these skills could help me in future media productions.

Question 2

CCR Question 2 – Audience and Distribution

The second Creative Critical Reflection question asks: How does your product engage with audiences and how would it be distributed as a real media text?

For this reflection, I will start by identifying my target audience. I will describe their approximate age range, interests, and the types of films they typically watch. Understanding the audience is important because many production decisions are made based on what will appeal to that group.

Next, I will explain how my production choices were designed to engage this audience. This includes choices such as camera work, editing style, pacing, music, and storytelling techniques. These elements help create a certain tone and make the film more interesting for viewers.

I will also explain how my project could realistically be distributed if it were a real media product. Because the film was created as an amateur production, a realistic distribution platform could be something like YouTube or online video platforms, where independent filmmakers often share their work.

I will include visuals and examples from my project to show how these choices help attract and engage the intended audience.