Creative Critical Reflection


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 costumes instead of focusing on one type of person, keeping it open to everyone. Overall, our commercial follows typical snack ad styles but uses a fun, unexpected story to make Takis feel cooler than candy.


2. How does your product engage with audiences AND how would it be distributed as a real media text?

The commercial grabs the audience right away with Halloween decorations and the song “Monster Mash” by Bobby “Boris” Pickett & The Crypt Kickers, which gives it a playful and spooky vibe. It feels familiar because everyone knows that song, but it’s also new since Takis replace candy as the best treat. The funny line “trick or treat, smell my feet, give me something good to eat” makes it memorable and keeps viewers watching. The part where the kids look disappointed with candy, then excited for Takis, is the wow moment that really sticks. The ending close up of the Takis bag wraps everything up perfectly and highlights the product. If this were a real commercial, it could be shown on YouTube, TikTok, or TV in October to match Halloween season. It could also be shared on Takis’ official accounts with hashtags or clips for social media. To promote it, we could post behind the scenes clips or challenges to get people involved. It’s short, catchy, and perfect for online platforms where people scroll fast but love fun ads.

 

3.     How did your production skills develop throughout this project?

Throughout this project, I improved a lot in both acting and directing. I helped direct a few scenes while also acting, which was challenging because I had to focus on my performance and still pay attention to how the shots looked. The hardest part was doing retakes since there were times when the lighting was off, someone laughed, or the timing wasn’t right. It taught me patience and showed how small details can affect an entire scene. I also learned the importance of planning, like having costumes ready and keeping the camera steady. The storyboard helped guide us on what to film next, and I got better at understanding camera angles and how they can change the mood of a shot. Even though the ghost costume was uncomfortable, I still enjoyed being part of the scene and helping my group finish everything. Seeing the final video made all the effort worth it, and I’m proud of how well the commercial turned out.

 

4. How did you integrate technologies – software, hardware and online – in this project?

For this project, we used an iPhone to record all our scenes because it was easy to manage and produced clear, high-quality shots. We adjusted the lighting and focus so the decorations and costumes looked good, especially during darker scenes. The editing was done in CapCut, which allowed us to trim clips, add transitions, and include the song “Monster Mash” by Bobby “Boris” Pickett & The Crypt Kickers as background music. The app also made it easy to adjust the audio so our line, “trick or treat, smell my feet, give me something good to eat,” could be heard clearly. We used Google Docs to write scripts and organize ideas, and Google Drive along with our class blogs to share updates and upload drafts. Using these tools helped us stay organized and creative. This project taught me how filming, editing, and online collaboration all connect to create a final product, and it made me more confident using different types of media technology.

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