Reflection on Post-Production

Audience Questions

1. What were some of the successes (or, things that went right) during this week’s process work? Explain, with evidence.

The video-editing process went without complication, and was quite fun! I was considering doing video reviews of K-Pop songs, and the ease at which everything came together for this project makes me want to attempt this idea.

1. What were some of the challenges (or, things that went wrong) during this week’s process work? Explain, with evidence.

Video editing IS laborious if you do not have your clips gathered in one place. Every time I wished to use a video, I was forced to download it and then clip the selection I needed it, which was very tedious.

1. How do you think next week will go, based on your experiences this week?

I am simply relieved to have only one more project in the course.

1. How are you feeling about the project overall at this point?

I am happy with my final product, this is the first time I ever edited anything more extensively than simply syncing audio to a dance, for example. I would've liked to add a vocal overdub compression effect over my voiceover to help it to rise above the video's audio, but in the end, I suppose the audio from the videos is not too distracting.

Editorial Report 13B

1. How did the content change (even slightly - details matter!) when you re-edited it? Why do you think the content is being communicated more effectively in the re-edited version?

The audio content is now complemented with visuals depicting the source of the quotes I am discussing.

1. How did the form change (even slightly - details matter!) when you re-edited it? Why do you think the form is presenting the content more effectively in the re-edited version?

The switch to video allowed me to add in visuals, which enhancing understanding of this passage of my voiceover.

Selection from Rough Cut

In one of the few interviews given by the label, owner and principal producer A.G. Cook talked to TankMagazine about PC Music’s sound, citing Nightcore, Aqua, J-Pop, K-Pop, and Ark Music Factory, of all things, as influences of the sound. There are some other possible influences I can pick out, PC Music taking heavily from German electronic rave music and digital hardcore tracks like Lolita Storm might’ve done. There’s even some mainstream references strewn throughout their catalog, such as GFOTY’s Bobby lifting the textures, chords, rhythms, AND flow of LL Cool J’s I Need Love

[Audio Clip]

Re-Edited Selection

[3:25-4:17]

Editorial Report 13A

1. How did the content change (even slightly - details matter!) when you re-edited it? Why do you think the content is being communicated more effectively in the re-edited version?

The audio content is now complemented with visuals depicting the source of the quotes I am discussing.

1. How did the form change (even slightly - details matter!) when you re-edited it? Why do you think the form is presenting the content more effectively in the re-edited version?

The switch to video allowed me to add in visuals, which enhancing understanding of this passage of my voiceover.

Selection from Rough Cut

What I also can get behind is the mindframe that PC Music’s principal producers, Cook and Sophie, promote. Cook expouses his interest in any kind of extreme pop music. Talking to Rolling Stone, Cook says that his intention is “to push pop music, make it experimental and accessible, put an interesting personality as well as melody”. Sophie identifies what’s wrong with pop music’s downright rotten attitude today when he says that “pop music has to have a…” Ahem, excuse me [cue vocoder] “Pop music has to have a good concept, a good sound, and good hooks, most dance/experimental music has one of those if you’re lucky”, (Pc music clubland) and “Pop music is about who can make the loudest, brightest thing. I don’t know why who can be the most raw emotionally is prioritized as something more valuable”. The people at PC Music are people who just *get* what pop music is all about.

[Audio Clip]

Re-Edited Selection

[9:18-10:10]

Revised Post to Peer Reviewers

Audience Question: What are you anticipating the post-production process to be like, based on what you accomplished during the production phase?

I anticipate that post-production might be a bit tedious, what with repeated clipping, trimming, and alignment of video clips.

Author Response

Explain, with some specificity, your thoughts and feelings about the following:

• Key information about your particular project that you would like anyone who peer reviews your draft to know

I decided to not show my face, as compared to the pristine visuals and out-of-this-world look of the music videos I'm using, my face doesn't quite compare to my subjects! Additionally, the lighting on campus without camera lamps is quite poor, and would not be high quality.

• Major issues or weaknesses in the “Fine Cut” that you’re already aware of (as well as anything you’d like to know from your editors about those weaknesses)

There are some mis-timings with syncs and voiceover alignment that will need to scrubbed out.

• Major virtues or strengths in the “Fine Cut” that you’re already aware of (as well as anything you’d like to know from your editors about those strengths)

I would like to think that the video is highly visually-stimulating, as well as the audio being of good quality!

[Fine Cut]

Reflection

1. What were some of the successes (or, things that went right) during this week’s process work? Explain, with evidence.

The audio recording and editing came together swimmingly. It was quite a bit of fun to use the recording booth at the radio station! I also was familiar with the digital audio workstation I used to edit and connect the clips.

1. What were some of the challenges (or, things that went wrong) during this week’s process work? Explain, with evidence.

Unfortunately, the video workstation I was planning to use, Final Cut, is available only at the Fine Arts Lab. I decided to use VideoPad on my laptop as my video workstation instead.

1. How do you think next week will go, based on your experiences this week?

After playing around with VideoPad, I believe I will be able to quickly organize and sync video to my voiceover.

1. How are you feeling about the project overall at this point?

I am ready to organize my chose clips and audio to make my topic engaging. PC Music is a pretty "out there" subject, so I believe that will be easy enough!

Open Post to Reviewers

Audience Question: What are you anticipating the post-production process to be like, based on what you accomplished during the production phase?

The post-production process will be syncing up video clips to the audio that I've made, as well as further cutting the audio for interspacing videos.

Author Response

Explain, with some specificity, your thoughts and feelings about the following:

• Key information about your particular project that you would like anyone who peer reviews your draft to know

Right now I have a script detailing visual cues, and the voiceover audio that stems from the script.

• Major issues or weaknesses in the “Rough Cut” that you’re already aware of (as well as anything you’d like to know from your editors about those weaknesses)

There is currently some awkward silence between some clips, to signify space for a visual, or due to switching between two different takes.

• Major virtues or strengths in the “Rough Cut” that you’re already aware of (as well as anything you’d like to know from your editors about those strengths)

I used some vocal effects to had some humor into the voiceover, so let me know if that works! I'm not much of a humorist, to be fair!

[Audio]

[Script]

Editorial Report 12B

1. How did the content change (even slightly - details matter!) when you re-edited it? Why do you think the content is being communicated more effectively in the re-edited version?

With recording, I had to make sure I used proper phrasing to emphasize the important details. This resulted in many recordings of the same few lines, where the best cuts of each were sliced together for the final product.

1. How did the form change (even slightly - details matter!) when you re-edited it? Why do you think the form is presenting the content more effectively in the re-edited version?

The most obvious form change is that the script went from text to audio. This allows me to emphasize the most important details to the listener.

Selection from Rough Cut

What I also can get behind is the mindframe that PC Music’s principal producers, Cook and Sophie, promote. Cook expouses his interest in any kind of extreme pop music. Talking to Rolling Stone, Cook says that his intention is “to push pop music, make it experimental and accessible, put an interesting personality as well as melody”. Sophie identifies what’s wrong with pop music’s downright rotten attitude today when he says that “pop music has to have a…” Ahem, excuse me [cue vocoder] “Pop music has to have a good concept, a good sound, and good hooks, most dance/experimental music has one of those if you’re lucky”, (Pc music clubland) and “Pop music is about who can make the loudest, brightest thing. I don’t know why who can be the most raw emotionally is prioritized as something more valuable”. The people at PC Music are people who just *get* what pop music is all about.

Re-Edited Selection

[Audio Clip] (8:21)

Editorial Report 12A

1. How did the content change (even slightly - details matter!) when you re-edited it? Why do you think the content is being communicated more effectively in the re-edited version?

With recording, I had to make sure I used proper phrasing to emphasize the important details. This resulted in many recordings of the same few lines, where the best cuts of each were sliced together for the final product.

1. How did the form change (even slightly - details matter!) when you re-edited it? Why do you think the form is presenting the content more effectively in the re-edited version?

The most obvious form change is that the script went from text to audio. This allows me to emphasize the most important details to the listener.

Selection from Rough Cut

In one of the few interviews given by the label, owner and principal producer A.G. Cook talked to TankMagazine about PC Music’s sound, citing Nightcore, Aqua, J-Pop, K-Pop, and Ark Music Factory, of all things, as influences of the sound. There are some other possible influences I can pick out, PC Music taking heavily from German electronic rave music and digital hardcore tracks like Lolita Storm might’ve done. There’s even some mainstream references strewn throughout their catalog, such as GFOTY’s Bobby lifting the textures, chords, rhythms, AND flow of LL Cool J’s I Need Love

Re-edited Selection

[Audio Clip] (4:21)

Reflection on Production

• What were some of the successes (or, things that went right) during this week’s process work? Explain, with evidence.

This week, writing my basic script came together quite easily once I had picked apart my sources and references sufficiently. The script-writing process also was more "fluid" than essay writing, due to myself being able to write about an interesting development in pop culture.

• What were some of the challenges (or, things that went wrong) during this week’s process work? Explain, with evidence.

Recording the script was a challenge: I finished on late Friday, and was unable to enter the KAMP Station, due to it locking for the weekend. Unfortunately, I will have to record my audio next week.

• How do you think next week will go, based on your experiences this week?

I will be rushed for time next week, due to having to finish recording audio and gathering and editing video clips for the project.

• How are you feeling about the project overall at this point?

I feel like the ease of editing in my video workstation will affect the quality of the project at this point. Hopefully the program I plan to use, Final Cut, has a low learning curve.

Production Report 11B

1. How did you decide to use form to present your content in the raw material you’ve shared here? How did the conventions of your chosen genre influence your choices?

For this project, I will be making a video essay. Therefore, in the conversion from outline to raw material, I included cues for video and vocal inflection.

1. How did the production of this raw material go? What kinds of any hiccups, challenges, successes, creative epiphanies, etc. occurred during the process?

I realized how being aware of the visual and audio dimensions of this genre is difficult! Writing in "cues" and such made scripting a bit more relaxed of an exercise than traditional essay writing.

Outline Item:

1. Properly introduce what PC Music is

• Sound

Adaption of Outline Item

In one of the few interviews given by the label, owner and principal producer A.G. Cook talked to TankMagazine about PC Music’s sound, citing Nightcore, Aqua, J-Pop, K-Pop, and Ark Music Factory, of all things, as influences of the sound. There are some other possible influences I can pick out, PC Music taking heavily from German electronic rave music and digital hardcore tracks like Lolita Storm might’ve done. There’s even some mainstream references strewn throughout their catalog, such as GFOTY’s Bobby lifting the textures, chords, rhythms, AND flow of LL Cool J’s I Need Love

[GFOTY Bobby]

[LL Cool J I Need Love]

A.G Cook in Pop Cube Trailer 1 talks about how he got his start with music, where he spent his teenage years in Mexico and began tinkering with wooden player pianos, otherwise known as the “pianos that play themselves”. After moving back to London and reconnecting with a friend who was also interested in writing music, he established the PC label.

He namechecks composer Conlon Nancarrow in his description of PC Music’s sound, and yeah, after listening to his piano player compositions, the hectic, human-execution unfriendly influence is totally obvious. Compare Nancarrow to this song by PC Music artist GFOTY

[Friday Night GFOTY]

Production Report 11A

1. How did you decide to use form to present your content in the raw material you’ve shared here? How did the conventions of your chosen genre influence your choices?

For this project, I will be making a video essay. Therefore, in the conversion from outline to raw material, I included cues for video and vocal inflection.

1. How did the production of this raw material go? What kinds of any hiccups, challenges, successes, creative epiphanies, etc. occurred during the process?

I realized how being aware of the visual and audio dimensions of this genre is difficult! Writing in "cues" and such made scripting a bit more relaxed of an exercise than traditional essay writing.

Outline Item:

Does PC further progress pop music, or is it a regression?

• History of persona in pop
• Visual/Audio component of pop

Adaption of Outline Item

[Like a Prayer - Clip]

Then there’s the presentation of PC Music artists. Equal importance of sound and image has been a thing in pop music since Madonna first stepped on the music scene. Look at today’s stars: Ariana Grande is the lolita-soul singer, [Right There - Clip] Katy Perry is the sugary-pop cheerleader, Rihanna is the foul-mouthed wild-child [Work - Clip]: they’re all purposefully positioned in their niches. This stretches back even further than Madonna into Motown, where handlers groomed acts like The Supremes in charm schools so that they never pissed-off any of the white-buying public. [Where Did Our Love Go? Live - Clip]

[Maxine Powell Interview over Motown grooming] Even the female avatar for music with no middle man thing isn’t a brand new concept: Vocaloid has been doing that sing the mid-2000s in Japan.

[Hatsune Miku "LOL" - clip]

Reflection on Pre-Production

In all honesty, not much went right this week with the project. Project 3 snuck up on me very quickly and I was not prepared to be this far along with the production schedule. I am still unsure whether I want to shift my topic focus, although I know I want to remain in the realm of music.

This sets me back for next week, I am going to need to buckle down if I hope to keep up. Right now I am feeling overwhelmed by the speed of this project, although I have a few additional topics in mind that I believe I can get impassioned about.

Peer Reviews A & B

I reviewed Michaela's Rhetorical Analysis for her podcast. I decided to make a brainstorming suggestion for her rhetorical analysis by suggesting she tool her argument as if she was trying to persuade state representatives on the issue of fracking in Oklahoma. I think this might sharpen her project's focus and invigorate her further by feeling as if she's talking directly to the people with control over the issue. I greatly enjoyed the painstaking detail put into her analysis.

I reviewed Gabby's Rhetorical Analysis for her project. I decided to offer a new approach to her project since she said she was considering restraining her take on the topic. I feel like suggesting that she let her view shine through more vibrantly will make for a more engaging project, since environmental justice is a subject near to her heart. Again, the high level of detail in her draft was appreciated.

Production Schedule

Only a rough schedule because I'm not so sure of my topic yet

Monday-Wednesday

• Scripting
• More scripting
• Revising

Location: Dorm, anywhere with pen/paper and/or laptop

Thursday-Friday

• Recording audio components/speaking bits
• Gathering sources

Location: KAMP student radio recording booth

Saturday-Sunday

• Compositing
• Sync
• Editing

Location: Multimedia student center underneath the main library

Content Outline

1. Address stance on PC Music genre
• Use PC music videos as visual hook
• Dry humor
2. Properly introduce what PC Music is
• Founders

Simon Vozick-Levinson: PC Music Are for Real: A. G. Cook and Sophie Talk Twisted Pop - The Guardian

Here Levinson interviews the label's founder, A.G. Cook. Cook is the primary character in the conversation around PC Music.

Sam Wolfson: PC Music: the future of pop or 'contemptuous parody'? - The Guardian

Sam Wolfson journeys around London to talk to key players in the label.

• Sound
• Visual/Audio Media

Assorted PC Music videos.

1. Backlash in music
• Disco

Burn, Baby, Burn: A Look Back at Disco Demolition Night

Here the most prominent genre-backlash ever is discussed, centered around Disco Demolition Night. This is the extreme of genre hate, and highlights how there may be underlying sentiments in backlash.

• Metal
• Electronic
1. Does PC further progress pop music, or is it a regression?
• History of persona in pop
• Visual/Audio component of pop

PC Music: Pop Cube Trailer 1 - Hannah Diamond & A. G. Cook In The Studio - Youtube

Here PC Music founder and artist explain the genre's roots and influences.

Hannah Diamond: HDTV01 - Who is Hannah Diamond? - Youtube

A first-hand account from prominent PC Music artist Hannah Diamond. She highlights how visual presentation is just as important in the construction of PC Music.

• Parallels to PC Music
1. Re-emphasize stance
• Use of dry humor
• Unifying arc to grab attention

Research Report

Title, author & host of source [+2]	The source’s author(s) [+2]	The target audience for the source [+2]	The source’s main purpose or message [+2]	Any important contextual details [+2]
Sam Wolfson: PC Music: the future of pop or 'contemptuous parody'? - The Guardian	Cite TWO specific facts about the source’s author(s) that makes you think he or she is reliable. Hyperlink us to the sources that will corroborate these TWO facts.	Explain how you can figure out who the source is targeted at, based on where the source was hosted. Cite TWO specific details from the source/ host that betray the intended audience. If we don’t have access to those details, hyperlink us to them.	Analyze what the source is trying to do to the audience. Pay attention to the author’s rhetorical choices. Cite TWO specific details from the source that betray its intended message or purpose. If we don’t have access to those details, hyperlink us to them.	Cite TWO specific contextual details that help you confirm that the source is reliable and a good fit for the project. Do not repeat any details from the previous categories.

Title, author & host of source [+2]	The source’s author(s) [+2]	The target audience for the source [+2]	The source’s main purpose or message [+2]	Any important contextual details [+2]
Simon Vozick-Levinson: PC Music Are for Real: A. G. Cook and Sophie Talk Twisted Pop - The Guardian	Cite TWO specific facts about the source’s author(s) that makes you think he or she is reliable. Hyperlink us to the sources that will corroborate these TWO facts.	Explain how you can figure out who the source is targeted at, based on where the source was hosted. Cite TWO specific details from the source/ host that betray the intended audience. If we don’t have access to those details, hyperlink us to them.	Analyze what the source is trying to do to the audience. Pay attention to the author’s rhetorical choices. Cite TWO specific details from the source that betray its intended message or purpose. If we don’t have access to those details, hyperlink us to them.	Cite TWO specific contextual details that help you confirm that the source is reliable and a good fit for the project. Do not repeat any details from the previous categories.

Title, author & host of source [+2]	The source’s author(s) [+2]	The target audience for the source [+2]	The source’s main purpose or message [+2]	Any important contextual details [+2]
Steph Kretowicz: Feminine Appropriation Was 2014's Biggest Electronic Music Trend - Fader	Cite TWO specific facts about the source’s author(s) that makes you think he or she is reliable. Hyperlink us to the sources that will corroborate these TWO facts.	Explain how you can figure out who the source is targeted at, based on where the source was hosted. Cite TWO specific details from the source/ host that betray the intended audience. If we don’t have access to those details, hyperlink us to them.	Analyze what the source is trying to do to the audience. Pay attention to the author’s rhetorical choices. Cite TWO specific details from the source that betray its intended message or purpose. If we don’t have access to those details, hyperlink us to them.	Cite TWO specific contextual details that help you confirm that the source is reliable and a good fit for the project. Do not repeat any details from the previous categories.

Title, author & host of source [+2]	The source’s author(s) [+2]	The target audience for the source [+2]	The source’s main purpose or message [+2]	Any important contextual details [+2]
Dan Weiss: Trend of the Year: How PC Music Chewed Up Pop Conventions - Spin	Cite TWO specific facts about the source’s author(s) that makes you think he or she is reliable. Hyperlink us to the sources that will corroborate these TWO facts.	Explain how you can figure out who the source is targeted at, based on where the source was hosted. Cite TWO specific details from the source/ host that betray the intended audience. If we don’t have access to those details, hyperlink us to them.	Analyze what the source is trying to do to the audience. Pay attention to the author’s rhetorical choices. Cite TWO specific details from the source that betray its intended message or purpose. If we don’t have access to those details, hyperlink us to them.	Cite TWO specific contextual details that help you confirm that the source is reliable and a good fit for the project. Do not repeat any details from the previous categories.

Title, author & host of source [+2]	The source’s author(s) [+2]	The target audience for the source [+2]	The source’s main purpose or message [+2]	Any important contextual details [+2]
PC Music: Pop Cube Trailer 1 - Hannah Diamond & A. G. Cook In The Studio - Youtube	Cite TWO specific facts about the source’s author(s) that makes you think he or she is reliable. Hyperlink us to the sources that will corroborate these TWO facts.	Explain how you can figure out who the source is targeted at, based on where the source was hosted. Cite TWO specific details from the source/ host that betray the intended audience. If we don’t have access to those details, hyperlink us to them.	Analyze what the source is trying to do to the audience. Pay attention to the author’s rhetorical choices. Cite TWO specific details from the source that betray its intended message or purpose. If we don’t have access to those details, hyperlink us to them.	Cite TWO specific contextual details that help you confirm that the source is reliable and a good fit for the project. Do not repeat any details from the previous categories.

Title, author & host of source [+2]	The source’s author(s) [+2]	The target audience for the source [+2]	The source’s main purpose or message [+2]	Any important contextual details [+2]
Spencer Kornhaber: The Gloriously Tacky Future of Music - The Atlantic	Cite TWO specific facts about the source’s author(s) that makes you think he or she is reliable. Hyperlink us to the sources that will corroborate these TWO facts.	Explain how you can figure out who the source is targeted at, based on where the source was hosted. Cite TWO specific details from the source/ host that betray the intended audience. If we don’t have access to those details, hyperlink us to them.	Analyze what the source is trying to do to the audience. Pay attention to the author’s rhetorical choices. Cite TWO specific details from the source that betray its intended message or purpose. If we don’t have access to those details, hyperlink us to them.	Cite TWO specific contextual details that help you confirm that the source is reliable and a good fit for the project. Do not repeat any details from the previous categories.

Title, author & host of source [+2]	The source’s author(s) [+2]	The target audience for the source [+2]	The source’s main purpose or message [+2]	Any important contextual details [+2]
Tom Thorgood: Beats 1 News: PC Music Interview - Beats 1	Cite TWO specific facts about the source’s author(s) that makes you think he or she is reliable. Hyperlink us to the sources that will corroborate these TWO facts.	Explain how you can figure out who the source is targeted at, based on where the source was hosted. Cite TWO specific details from the source/ host that betray the intended audience. If we don’t have access to those details, hyperlink us to them.	Analyze what the source is trying to do to the audience. Pay attention to the author’s rhetorical choices. Cite TWO specific details from the source that betray its intended message or purpose. If we don’t have access to those details, hyperlink us to them.	Cite TWO specific contextual details that help you confirm that the source is reliable and a good fit for the project. Do not repeat any details from the previous categories.

Title, author & host of source [+2]	The source’s author(s) [+2]	The target audience for the source [+2]	The source’s main purpose or message [+2]	Any important contextual details [+2]
Radio 1: SOPHIE Radio 1 Interview (2013) - BBC	Cite TWO specific facts about the source’s author(s) that makes you think he or she is reliable. Hyperlink us to the sources that will corroborate these TWO facts.	Explain how you can figure out who the source is targeted at, based on where the source was hosted. Cite TWO specific details from the source/ host that betray the intended audience. If we don’t have access to those details, hyperlink us to them.	Analyze what the source is trying to do to the audience. Pay attention to the author’s rhetorical choices. Cite TWO specific details from the source that betray its intended message or purpose. If we don’t have access to those details, hyperlink us to them.	Cite TWO specific contextual details that help you confirm that the source is reliable and a good fit for the project. Do not repeat any details from the previous categories.

Title, author & host of source [+2]	The source’s author(s) [+2]	The target audience for the source [+2]	The source’s main purpose or message [+2]	Any important contextual details [+2]
Hannah Diamond: HDTV01 - Who is Hannah Diamond? - Youtube	Cite TWO specific facts about the source’s author(s) that makes you think he or she is reliable. Hyperlink us to the sources that will corroborate these TWO facts.	Explain how you can figure out who the source is targeted at, based on where the source was hosted. Cite TWO specific details from the source/ host that betray the intended audience. If we don’t have access to those details, hyperlink us to them.	Analyze what the source is trying to do to the audience. Pay attention to the author’s rhetorical choices. Cite TWO specific details from the source that betray its intended message or purpose. If we don’t have access to those details, hyperlink us to them.	Cite TWO specific contextual details that help you confirm that the source is reliable and a good fit for the project. Do not repeat any details from the previous categories.

Title, author & host of source [+2]	The source’s author(s) [+2]	The target audience for the source [+2]	The source’s main purpose or message [+2]	Any important contextual details [+2]
Huw Stephens: PC Music Interview - BBC Radio 1	Cite TWO specific facts about the source’s author(s) that makes you think he or she is reliable. Hyperlink us to the sources that will corroborate these TWO facts.	Explain how you can figure out who the source is targeted at, based on where the source was hosted. Cite TWO specific details from the source/ host that betray the intended audience. If we don’t have access to those details, hyperlink us to them.	Analyze what the source is trying to do to the audience. Pay attention to the author’s rhetorical choices. Cite TWO specific details from the source that betray its intended message or purpose. If we don’t have access to those details, hyperlink us to them.	Cite TWO specific contextual details that help you confirm that the source is reliable and a good fit for the project. Do not repeat any details from the previous categories.