Music Mishaps When Editing

 For this part of production, I focused on the issue of copyright and music selection for the opening. Originally, I wanted to use the song Last Friday Night by Katy Perry because it perfectly matched the fun and chaotic sleepover vibe I was going for at the beginning of the montage. The energy of that song fit the pink pajamas theme so well and would have made the scenes feel even more authentic. However, I quickly realized that using copyrighted music is not simple, especially for a school production that still has formal requirements. I did send out emails asking for permission to use the song, but unfortunately they were sent a little too late in the process. I tried to find multiple contacts connected to the rights of the song, but it was harder than I expected to figure out who exactly to email. I was only able to get one response, and although they did not directly deny permission, they also did not clearly approve it. The other contacts I reached out to did not respond in time for my deadline, which forced me to rethink my plan. Because of that uncertainty, I decided it was safer and more responsible to move forward without using the song. This situation made me realize how serious copyright rules are in media production. Even though it is just a two minute opening for class, I still have to follow proper legal and ethical guidelines. Instead of risking losing marks or violating copyright rules, I chose to use royalty free music instead. At first, I was disappointed because I had a very clear vision of how the montage would look with that specific song. Once I started exploring royalty free options, I realized there were still good choices that matched the mood I wanted. I focused on finding something upbeat and fun for the sleepover scenes while still allowing room for the tone to shift into horror later. This forced me to think more carefully about how sound shapes meaning in film. Music helps guide the audience’s emotions and expectations. Choosing royalty free music also gave me more creative control because I did not have to worry about restrictions or last minute permission issues. Overall, this editing stage taught me to plan ahead when it comes to copyright and to consider legal limitations during pre production, not just after filming is finished.