All About Me

 I hope you enjoy this Short about me!

Reflection

 The making of my commercial was an interesting journey. As someone who has no experience in blogging or filming, I did not think this was a possible achievement. And although it was a tricky process, I somehow got it done.

In addition, I love the creative thinking process of what to choose for my commercial. The type of media, photos, videos, music, it was very engaging. I used CapCut for the platform and being honest, I did procrastinate on this project a bit, but looking back at it now, this was way easier than I thought it was. It was all about making a video of who YOU are. I got to talk about the things I love, and not only was that a plus, but I also got to cherish old memories with friends and family. I loved reflecting back on those times and current ones as well. 

However, let's not overweight the positives, this was not a smooth sailing boat! I have faced many obstacles. One of my main obstacles was balance. It was the issue of deciding of whether I had too much media for a certain topic more than the other. Because after all, this commercial is about me. I have to show a balance of who I am. Not saying it has to be perfect, because no one is perfect, but at least like a summary of who you are. And I gladly conquered that obstacle by having an even amount of media for the topics that describe me. 

Overall, I hope someone at least learns from my experience and can also conquer new things they are scared to do. This was such a learning experience and I cannot wait to publish many more blogs, commercials, and videos in the future. Thank you for reading and accompanying me through this creative journey.

 

 

Production Blog

 Well, I guess this is goodbye... just kidding! However, it does seem we have reached the end of the production journey of my commercial.

Now this time, we do not have any dilemmas. Instead, I'll go over the overall experience of this journey. 

I started off with the idea thinking. It is very easy to think of the things you are going to do. But the real challenge is seeing if you can actually do those ideas. And for me, this part definitely hit me hard. Some ideas were even unrealistic like having really cool and energetic transitions that were out of my knowledge to create. And although I was using editing software, there are limitations to the transitions and editing you can do. To unlock a larger variety of transition filters and effects, you do need to purchase a subscription. And sadly I do not have sufficient funds to purchase them. 

Moving onto the next step, the creation. Creating the actual media piece was pretty fun. I chose a variety of pictures that went along with my topics and I just let my creativity flow. I loved going through memories as well which was a plus for me. Although the balance did throw me off and was a roadblock for me to go over, I did manage to balance the media I used for my video.  

I also found myself grappling with the message I wanted to convey. It's not easy distilling your personality and interests into a short commercial. There were moments when I realized that some of my ideas didn't align with who I truly am. But, in the end, I managed to find that perfect balance that represents me authentically. 

 Considering the color palette and overall aesthetics was a creative journey in itself. Colors can speak volumes and evoke emotions, so I took my time ensuring that they complemented my message and created a cohesive look throughout the commercial. Of course, collaboration was a key component of this project. Working closely with my team allowed us to brainstorm ideas, share feedback, and make sure every aspect aligned with the message we were trying to convey. It was a collective effort that helped us overcome challenges and grow as a team. In the end, I learned that challenges are just opportunities in disguise. Those roadblocks pushed me to think outside the box and find innovative solutions. It's all part of the learning experience on this production journey. 

As this is our final production blog for my commercial, I am glad to everyone following me on my journey, and once again, thank you for reading. 

Production Blog

 Hey there, back again! The commercial is almost finished and I will be glad to share the results soon. I've made great progress and conquered the few dilemmas that I have had in the past. But nonetheless, a journey isn't always a smooth ride. This is where I introduce you to the roadblocks that hit me today. 

The message. For my commercial, I want to convey the message of who I am. Of my personality traits and the things I like. And the way this problem occurred was due to the uneven balance of media within my commercial. Balancing this message alongside the visuals and music has been quite the puzzle. I want viewers to not only see but also feel a connection to me through the commercial. I don't want a certain topic to overlap with who I am so people can think that's who I am mostly about.

I've been experimenting with different shots and scenes to ensure that every frame contributes to the message. Each visual element needs to tell a part of my story and resonate with the audience. Furthermore, I've been fine-tuning the pacing of the commercial. Finding the right rhythm is essential to maintain engagement and keep viewers interested from start to finish. It's all about creating a seamless flow that guides them through my story.

One challenge that arose today was the script. While I've got the visuals and music figured out, finding the right words to accompany them has proven to be a bit of a puzzle. I want the dialogue to be natural and authentic, reflecting my personality. Additionally, I've been considering the color palette and overall aesthetics. The visual style should help form my message and create a cohesive look throughout the commercial. It's amazing how colors can convey emotions and enhance storytelling. It's all part of the learning experience in this production journey. I've also been thinking about the timing of the release.

I never knew how much could go into a commercial. This makes me wonder about how rigorous the process could be for creating a commercial on TV. Choosing the right audio, media, angles, scenes, etc. It definitely is a lot of work, so much props to the creators!

As the finish line draws nearer, there's a growing sense of excitement. I can't wait to see how all these pieces come together in the final product. Stay tuned for the big reveal, and thanks for joining me on this creative journey!

Production Blog

Hello again! I wanted to share some more updates from my journey in creating this commercial.

Music plays a crucial role in commercials, but I faced a bit of a challenge because I couldn't just pick any song due to copyright rules. It made me wonder, what kind of music should I choose? I needed something that not only avoided copyright issues but also felt like a reflection of who I am and what I want to convey. After some searching, I eventually settled on a song that felt like it was the closest match to my identity and the message I want to share without disrupting the copyright rules. It was a pretty satisfying moment when I found that perfect track. But it's not just about the music; I also need to incorporate different media elements into my commercial, like images and videos. These visuals have to align with the theme and message of my project, and they need to go hand-in-hand with the chosen music to create a powerful narrative.

As I go deeper into this creative process, I'm realizing that storytelling is an important part of making this commercial effective. It's not just about showcasing a product or service; it's about weaving a compelling story that captures the audience's attention and leaves a lasting impression. I've been exploring various video editing techniques to breathe life into my project. That means testing out transitions, effects, and color grading to make the final product visually appealing and cohesive. As previously mentioned in my past few blogs, I want to go for a neutral color palette. With a pinch of color to it as well. But now I think I might head towards a pink and bright colorway. It is definitely difficult to see what color I am most familiar with. I do have warm undertones though, so I might choose colors such as green, brown, mustard yellow, and warm red. 

This production journey has taught me that there's a balance between creativity and practicality. I'm letting my imagination run wild while also staying grounded in the realities of production. In the upcoming phases, I'll be deep into the editing process, refining the visuals, and making sure every frame fits perfectly with the message I want to convey. It's an exciting road ahead, full of challenges and opportunities for growth. And that leads us to the end, thank you for reading.

Production Blog

 Hello again, it's me, Andrea! Today I will go over the production of my commercial. The platform I will be using to edit my commercial is called CapCut. The reason for this choice of platform is that it has many features that you don't get with other apps. Also, it's free! Who doesn't like free stuff? 

However, a roadblock has stumbled upon this journey. I realized I do not have sufficient pictures for the topics I want to mention within my commercial. So I have to end up switching some topics. Instead of debate, I will do travel trips. However, after this roadblock which I gladly conquered, I have sent all the pictures through my email so I could see it on my laptop. I've put them on the CapCut video form and I will be putting them into order from topic to topic. But then, here comes another dilemma. I'm having a hard time balancing the commercial about me and the things I love. I put more footage of other things than the actual me. You know what I mean? Like if there's no footage of myself, then the audience will be confused about who I am. So, this dilemma caused a new goal for me to conquer. Which is to start filming myself enjoying or experiencing the things I love. And as a person who doesn't really like filming everything, I find this quite interesting since I will get to cherish more memories by filming them.

Now onto the more editing side of the production, I want to convey the message of myself having a laidback and unique personality. I don't want anything with crazy transitions or very hyped music. I want something smooth, idealistic, just so cool in general. I can't find a word to describe it, but if it were a person, then Hayley Williams from Paramore but also with a mix of Lauryn Hill. And possibly Erykah Badu. I want them for the elements of this commercial because I reflect a little bit on all of them since I just love their music. It really does speak to me. Along with the smooth music, I want some neutral colorways. Tan, brown, white, gray and black. And a pinch of pink maybe to give it that pop of color and energy. Because since this is about me, I don't want to be dull since I also want to present more of my joyous side. I want to leave kinda of a cliffhanger type of feeling for the audience. I want to seem mature in my commercial, but not too mature to the point where I look boring, a good balance of who I am but giving it a mysterious touch. So, the audience could have the reaction of, "Who Is she? I would like to get to know her better". But that's all for now. 

Thank you for reading. 

Photo Reference: Pinterest

Research and Planning

 For the commercial of myself, I will be including many types of media. Since it is about me, I will have to pick out media from my clubs, my hobbies, and my life in general. For photos, I will add the type of music I like because I love many genres and it's a huge chunk of who I am. I also think it's a good way to know a person based on their music taste since it tells you a lot. Secondly, I will add photos from my debate club! It's definitely a part of me since I am really into law and my debate club gives me so many fun experiences for the stuff I love. And the people there are amazing, especially my teammates. Lincoln Douglas for the win! Thirdly, my dogs. As mentioned in my intro blog, they are literally the love of my life. They opened me up to new things and they are a part of what makes me, me. Lastly, friends and family. Although this might be generic, I love socializing with new people, and without the friends I have now, I wouldn't be where I am. Good or bad friends, I always have learned something valuable from them. For music, as mentioned previously, I will be choosing music from maybe a rock artist or even Latin pop. From artists from Luis Miguel to Gustavo Cerati. From Bands from Los Enanitos Verdes, to Paramore. I love them all and it will be definitely hard to pick. However, I am definitely leaning more toward the rock side since it is currently my favorite at the moment. Music plays a big role in my life, I love the sounds of the bass, the drums, everything. It's magical, and I love it so much. And that's the plan for the creation of my commercial. Thank you for reading! 

Photo: Dan Garcia/Slant Magazine

AICE Media Studies

My name is Andrea, and I am the owner of two daschunds! These fuzzy little sausages are far more than my pets to me; they are my children, which may sound odd to some people. Terry is the oldest, while Hermano is the youngest. However, I've lovingly given them a variety of nicknames, all related to sausages, like Salchicha, chorizo, loganisa, pepperoni, and the list goes on! My favorite part of the day to come home from school and see my pups. They have a certain way of making even the worst days appear more bearable and cheery. Although they are not certified as emotional support animals by the law, their influence on my mental health is enormous. They let me experience what a true companionship should feel like, loyal. My dachshunds have evolved into essential sources of happiness and comfort in my life, whether it is through their contagious energy during playtime or the reassuring presence they offer during quiet times. With owning dogs, you get to go out more. Such as going on walks, various parks, and other places you never think you would ever go to. These adventures have taught me to appreciate the small joys within life. I have also opened up to new traits  from my dachshunds such as tolerance, accountability, and unconditional love. And along with being more socially active, you get to meet a lot of amazing dog owners. You get to learn a lot about dogs and you can even use tips to help you with your pet as well. I can't help but feel incredibly grateful for the great influence my two pups have had on my life as I reflect on our time together. They have positively impacted my home into a place where there is joy, love, and everlasting adventures. With Terry and Hermano, my two cherished dachshund children, who continue to make my days brighter and nourish my spirit, I look forward to many more years of treasured memories. I am reminded to live in the now and find joy in the little things by my dachshunds' unlimited energy and love. I will always be grateful for what they have done with me and for teaching me the true meaning of finding happiness within the little things in life.