Well... This is a conundrum...

Hello! This morning, I woke up to an email from Instagram saying that the phone number and email on my @AGNP_official account were changed. When I investigated further, I found that the profile picture, bio, and profile name were all changed, and all my previous posts were deleted. I was hacked overnight, and the account name was changed to @paun_14758. I have since gone in and disabled this account for my own protection.

If you look through my past blog posts, you can see some of the posts that I made on my Instagram before it was hacked. Attached below is a Google Drive folder containing all the posts that I had on my account before it was deleted. Take a look!

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/12pf-dTfbN1Tn6OhqIudqaAR64JqMenK5?usp=sharing

Thank you for understanding! 

Creative Critical Reflection (A Level)

 Hello! As I complete my second portfolio project, I look back at all that I learned over the past two years studying media. Take a look at my CCR, which contains a detailed reflection of my portfolio project.

Creative Critical Reflection

https://drive.google.com/file/d/160IWsaFH0La9Ummx_KbKJvGEfW20zW53/view?usp=sharing

Thank you so much for following along on this journey with me! It was truly an eye-opening experience, as I proved to myself how much I have grown as a media studies student over the past two years!

I hope you enjoyed my portfolio project!

Sincerely, 

Mason's Media Studies

I present to you: America's Greatest National Parks

 Hello! After many weeks of hard work, I finally present to you, my final AICE Media Studies A Level portfolio project. Take a look at my 5-minute extract (major task), social media page (minor task), and magazine article (minor task) below!

5-minute Extract

America's Greatest National Parks: Season 1 Episode 1 (Final 5 minutes of episode)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-6M2HxHZjQTP4-xQ8eMHyXbaFJRltXfJ/view?usp=sharing

Social Media Page- Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/agnp_official/

Magazine Article

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yh4iuNWhBSEN-1bqQ6jIOzWBEt-CPJ8z/view?usp=sharing

Thank you for coming along for the ride! I hope you enjoyed getting a behind-the-scenes look at my portfolio project! Stay tuned for more!

Looking back over the past few weeks...

 Hello! Wow, what an incredible past few weeks it has been. I got the opportunity to further expand my knowledge of media studies through yet another in-depth project. However, this project was different from the rest of the projects I worked on throughout my media career, as it was a culmination of every single topic I have studied while enrolled in AICE Media Studies AS and A. From distribution to brainstorming, to genre, to digital design, to storytelling, this portfolio project required me to use every topic I have learned about to develop my own production.

At the beginning...

 At the start of my project, I used my knowledge of the brainstorming process and storytelling, to decide on a topic for my docuseries. In order to choose the best topic for my docuseries, I utilized the help of my peers, who gave me feedback on my ideas and guided me in the right direction in selecting the best topic. When brainstorming topics for my extract, I knew that I wanted to choose the topic that will best achieve my purpose of inspiring viewers to preserve and protect the national parks. For this reason, I decided to create a 5-minute extract discussing the perils of the Florida Everglades in the modern-day. I was aware of the climate issues Florida has been facing recently and felt that, by sharing information about dangers the park faces in the modern-day, I would be able to tell a story that will inspire my viewers to enact change.

A minor setback

A challenge that I encountered when completing this project was finding a video-editing platform to edit my 5-minute extract on. For my previous projects, I used a service called WeVideo. This service was provided to me for free by Broward County Public Schools in past years, however, this year they ended my subscription and I was left without an editing platform. I searched the internet and asked my peers for suggestions for a new platform that was easy to use and worked on Windows. I was suggested services like Adobe Rush, Videoleap, and Davinci Resolve, all of which either required a subscription or did not have all the tools I needed to edit my extract. After one last Google search before settling for one of these services, I found a platform called Movavi. Movavi is a copycat of iMovie, a video editing service I used in the past when I owned an Apple computer. Movavi's user interface is much more simple than the other services I researched and it did not require a subscription to use. I used Movavi to edit the entirety of my 5-minute extract, and it turned out great.

All in all, this project has allowed me to combine knowledge from all the media topics that I have learned about over the past two years. By developing an in-depth production complete with a social media page, magazine article, and a 5-minute extract, I was able to use my skills to create an incredible project. Stay tuned to see the finished product!

Distribution for days

 Hello! Today, I wanted to take the opportunity to discuss my plan for one of the most important aspects of a production: Distribution! There are many different methods of distribution that work for different production types. For example, a new hit movie may be distributed via a wide release in movie theaters, while an independent short film may be distributed via semi-theatrical release or on social media such as Youtube. For my docuseries, I decided that it would be best for me to follow a video-on-demand digital distribution for my production. 

What is video-on-demand? 

Video-on-demand, or VOD, allows users to access a production with little constraints. With this distribution model, consumers can select and view productions whenever they choose. They view material on-demand through streaming sources or on-demand television. After the rise of personal computers and new digital consumption habits, video-on-demand became a powerful tool to distribute media, as it was able to get media in the hands of consumers at their convenience at no substantial effort/cost of the distribution company. Video-on-demand revolutionized how media companies decide to distribute their projects.

Fit for a Docuseries

Video-on-demand is the best choice for distributing my docuseries. Other methods of release, such as wide release in movie theaters, would not be practical for my project, as it is designed to be viewed over an extended period of time. Video-on-demand allows consumers to view media at their own pace, without the constraints of a movie theater schedule. In addition, video-on-demand distribution via streaming services allows consumers to watch my project in any order they want. Because there is no specific structure in the order of the episodes, consumers can watch the episodes that they are interested in and customize their viewing experience. This makes video-on-demand perfectly fit for my docuseries.

The big day: April 12th

On my social media, I shared multiple photos that advertised my production's release date and method of distribution. The big day of release is going to be April 12th, at that time, users will be able to view my docuseries on any on-demand platform, from AT&T U-Verse to Netflix. The multiple posts promoting my docuseries' distribution serve to generate excitement among my target audience, who are excitedly counting down and waiting for April 12th to come so they can come take in the view on season 1 of AGNP.

That's all for now. Stay tuned for more!

Getting started with the magazine article

 Hello! Today, I started putting together my magazine article minor task. This minor task is new to the project this year, according to my instructor, so there are not many guidelines as to how this magazine article should look. That was good news to me, as I was able to take this task in any direction I wanted! After brainstorming what platform would be best to write this article on, I have decided on...

Meet Canva. It is an online service that allows users to "design everything." I used Canva to develop the entirety of my social media page, as well as clips for my extract.

Drag and drop editing

Canva is a very effective editing tool because it is much easier to use than other tools on the market. Canva uses drag and drop controls to help users create with ease. All a user needs to do is click on an item and drag it wherever they desire. I used drag and drop editing to create all of my social media postings, it allowed me to set the spacing of the objects without having to deal with any numbers or measurements. In addition, a user can click through tabs that contain image effects, filters, animations, etc. Canva has many powerful editing tools that they make available to users in a simple fashion.

Elements, stock images, and more!

Canva is a very effective editing tool because they have a database of visual elements, stock images, and backgrounds that they make available to users. With the click of a button, Canva users have access to a wide range of visuals that can be used in their projects. Instead of having to scan a third-party source, like Google Images, Canva offers users the ability to search up images in their database and use them in their projects with one simple drag. In addition, users can access tabs with shapes, lines, and frames that can be used to develop designs.  Any portion of Canva's database can be customized in order to best fit a user's design, such as color or size. This gives users an infinite amount of visual stimuli to work with when editing.

This is what I have created with Canva thus far. I plan on writing this article and improving its design throughout the week. Stay tuned for more!

Instagram Page: Complete

Hello! This past week, I spent a lot of time working on my minor task of creating a social media page for my production. After developing my Instagram throughout the week, I am pleased to report that I am, for the most part, finished with my social media page. Take a look at what I created:

https://www.instagram.com/agnp_official/

Consistency is key

My social media page is very effective in developing my brand. Throughout the page, I used a consistent font as well as consistent visuals, posting styles, and even comments. This consistency allowed me to establish a cohesive brand. Take my photo comments as an example. On every photo, I added the hashtags #AGNP and #docuseries. I included these on every post because they are tools that help viewers find my postings, as they will my page if they view the feed for either hashtag. By including the two most important hashtags on every post, I am able to create links to my profile that can be viewed by people who share similar interests to my postings. This increases the likelihood that a member of my target audience will find my production. By using this tactic in addition to the rest, I was able to create a consistent product that my viewers can use to learn about my topic and production.

Increase viewership

In order to increase viewership, I was sure to include a balance of docuseries promotional posts and engaging visual posts. This combination of posting types allowed me to increase viewership on both my social media page and on my production. By including engaging visual posts on my Instagram, I am able to attract users that are not aware of my production. For example, these engaging visual posts, like the one shown below, would show up in user's explore or suggested pages. As users go through these pages, they are able to view these posts and make their way to my media page. Once a user is viewing my page, they will see the docuseries promotional posts containing important info about my docuseries, such as where to watch, the full title, and episode information. By including engaging visual posts on my page, I will increase viewership on my social media, which will allow promotional posts to further increase viewership on my production.

I am very proud of the work I did developing this social media page. It will serve as a powerful tool for connecting with my target audience and promoting my docuseries. Stay tuned for more!

Love, sorrow, and the emotions that power climate action video

 Hello! This morning, I woke up to a notification recommending that I watch a TED Talk on Youtube called "Love, sorrow, and the emotions that power climate action" by Knut Ivar Bjorlykhaug. I immediately gravitated to Youtube to watch this video, as it looked like it was about a topic that was very similar to the topic of my docuseries. Take a look at this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Pl44w0iYc4

After watching the video, I realized that the purpose of my docuseries is very similar to the purpose of Bjorlykhaug's speech. Therefore, I plan to use this video as a model for constructing my 5-minute extract, which will serve to inspire viewers to care for and protect America's National Parks. 

Pulling at heartstrings

One tactic that I plan to take from this TED Talk is the exploitation of emotion through jarring visuals and alarming facts. For example, from 1:44 to 2:32, Bjorlykhaug uses a "what-if" scenario to tap into the emotions of his viewers. He asks, "Picture that place you love... is in some way broken, or even worse, gone...Well, it's not about imagination anymore. The destruction of nature and wildlife is real." By including this line in his speech, Bjorlykhaug is able to tap into the emotions of the viewers and use an alarming realization to show them the truth about climate change. With the inclusion of this line, Bjorlykhaug is able to strike fear into the hearts of his viewers, which will in turn empower them to take action on climate change.

Ecological Sorrow

Ecological sorrow is the feelings associated with loss and morning of nature. According to Bjorlykhaug, "many people in various cultural contexts feel a complicated form of loss and morning regarding nature." Ecological sorrow is just one of the feelings that empower people to take action on climate change. Bjorlykhaug argues that this is because love and sorrow are connected and that because people share a love for nature, they will also share an emotional pain for it if it is ever lost. From 7:05 to 7:21, Bjorlykhaug includes jarring visuals of pollution and ecological disaster in order to evoke these feelings of ecological sorrow in his viewers.

After watching this TED Talk, I found feelings of ecological love and sorrow are the emotions that empower viewers to take action on climate change. If a person makes room for these feelings, they will be more inclined to act, as they cannot ignore the overbearing feelings of nature's impending doom. In my extract, I plan to evoke these same feelings of ecological love and sorrow in my viewers through the use of jarring visuals and alarming facts. By doing so, I will be better equipped to achieve my purpose of inspiring viewers to care for and protect America's National Parks.

My Brand Identity Prism

Hello! I wanted to take this opportunity to share my brand identity prism. A brand identity prism is a diagram that describes a brand's identity through its characteristics. The brand identity prism diagram is a useful visualization for identifying a brand's core characteristics and how they relate to one another. Take a look at the diagram below:

Physique

Physique refers to the physical characteristics of a brand, including visual cues that help consumers identify the brand. My brand's physique will include:

• Natural hues- greens, blues, greys, oranges.
• Nature visuals- mountains, rivers, canyons, flora, and fauna

Personality

Personality refers to the brand's character or "feel." It represents the traits of the brand in the eyes of the consumer. My brand's personality will include:

• Friendly
• Adventurous- Each episode will feel like an "adventure" through a national park. This will be established through voiceovers that reinforce the idea that the episode is an "adventure.
• Whimsical tone- In order to best convey the magic of nature, the tone of the brand will be whimsical. This will further reinforce nature as a beautiful, magical, breathtaking place. 
• Bright colors; colorful

Relationship

Relationship refers to the nature of the relationship between the brand and its consumers, including both abstract and tangible aspects. My brand's relationship with consumers will be...

• Playful yet serious- When discussing the national park, the docuseries will maintain a playful, educational demeanor. However, when it gets to the end of the episode, the call to action would be more serious, as it will have to evoke emotion in the viewer that will inspire them to care for the national parks.
• Intimate- My brand will talk directly to consumers. Viewers will feel that each episode was made specifically for them, like the narrator and they are in a one-on-one conversation.

Culture

Culture is the set of values that set a foundation for the brand. My brand's culture will be:

• Forward-thinking- My brand will be more concerned about the future than the past. It will work to build a brighter future for the natural world by inspiring people to love nature. 
• Collaborative- My brand will be concerned with connecting like-minded people with each other in order for them to achieve a common goal. My brand will emphasize that protecting the natural world will not be possible without the collaboration and working together as a global community.

Self-image

Self-image relates to the way in which customers see themselves in a particular brand. By associating themselves with certain brands, customers view themselves differently.

• Savy- Customers of my brand view themselves as "nature-savy." They understand the realities of nature and are realized of the problems it faces.  
• Apart from the norm- While the general population overlooks these climate issues, my audience strays from the norm and establishes an interest in protecting nature. They have fully realized the issues nature faces and consciously work to solve them because others won't.

That's all for now. Stay tuned for more!