AICE Media Studies

  Jada’s Pitch Song: Special by SZA Pitch 1: This music video follows the story of an insecure girl who is dealing with heartbreak. As she tries to get over her failed relationship, she reminisces on all the good times she had with her ex. During those times she looked happier and more confident, but she slowly realises that she was changing into someone she was not the longer the relationship continued. Now in the present, she is trying to come to terms with the person she has become due to her ex. Conversation: This pitch was a good contender, but in the end we decided not to choose it. It had a great storyline but wasn’t as interesting as another pitch. We decided that this idea was a little too elaborate and would be hard to film. We also didn't choose this pitch because it would involve one of us dressing up as a guy or convincing one of our male friends to play the ex. Tamia’s Pitch Song: Beaches by Beabadoobee Pitch 2: A girl and her close friend spend one last summer togeth...

 For our music video project, I decided to work with the same group as before, Jada-Ann Kates, Aloria Bryant, and Tamia Ellis. We all agreed that since our first project went smoothly, it made sense to team up again. We already know how each other works, so we don’t have to waste time trying to adjust to new people. I feel comfortable with them and confident that we can make another good project together. One of the main reasons I wanted to stay with them is because of how well we communicate.Whenever we work on something, everyone listens and gives feedback in a respectful way. We all take each other’s ideas seriously, which helps make our projects more creative. I also like that we don’t have to deal with awkwardness or confusion about responsibilities. Everyone knows what they need to do, and we trust each other to get it done. That kind of teamwork makes things way easier.Another reason I wanted to stay with them is because they live close to me. That’s really convenient for me...

 My name is Qetsia Duclos, and I am in 10th grade. I would describe myself as creative, thoughtful, and determined, but also someone who takes time to open up to others. Outside of school, I am involved in colorguard, and I am also very active in my church community. Baking is another hobby of mine, and it has become something I enjoy both for myself and for others. Along with colorguard, I play the piano, which gives me another way to express myself. Music is a big part of my life, and I enjoy listening to artists such as Daniel Caesar, Frank Ocean, Drake, and Jhené Aiko. I also like watching anime, since it combines interesting stories with unique art styles. When it comes to reading, thrillers and romance novels are my favorite because they keep me engaged from start to finish. One thing about me is that I enjoy trying new experiences, even if they are outside my comfort zone. Family is also very important to me, especially because of my Haitian background. I have one younger br...

1.      How does your product use or challenge conventions AND how does it represent social groups or issues? Our Takis commercial uses common snack ad conventions like upbeat music, bright colors, and close-ups of the product, but we also challenge them by giving it a Halloween twist. Instead of a basic ad showing people eating chips, we built a little story that makes Takis the main prize of Halloween. The commercial starts off like a normal trick-or-treat scene, but when the kids reject candy and get excited for Takis, it flips what people expect. We wanted to make something funny and creative that still feels like a real commercial. It represents a younger audience that likes bold snacks and wants to stand out from the crowd. It doesn’t focus on deep social issues, but it shows how younger people today look for something unique or “extra” even in snacks. The humor and twist make it more entertaining and relatable. It also uses diversity through Halloween cost...

  This was the first big project my group and I worked on together, and I feel good about how it turned out. Even though there were parts that were stressful, like acting in the ghost costume and helping with the decorations, seeing the final video made it worth it. I can also notice things that could have been better, like timing in certain scenes or how the props showed up on camera. Still, I’m proud of how much effort I put in and how the commercial came together overall. This project gave me more confidence for future productions and showed me that even small details matter in the final product.

 Even though I was acting in the commercial, I also helped direct parts of the filming process. It was important to me that the scenes looked right on camera, so I gave feedback whenever something seemed off. Sometimes I noticed props in the wrong place and suggested moving them so they would show up better. I also paid attention to how the decorations looked in the background and if they matched the mood of the scene. While wearing the ghost costume, I had limited visibility, but I could still tell when the timing of a scene was off. I spoke up when I felt a line or an action did not come across the way it should. In some moments, I even suggested reshooting so the reactions would feel more natural. It was stressful to balance acting and directing at the same time. The costume made it harder because I could not see clearly, yet I still had to keep track of the scene. I learned to focus on both what I was doing as an actor and how the overall shot looked. Sometimes I would wait unt...