In creating my video project, my goal was to explore how artificial intelligence (AI) and automated decision-making (ADM) impact everyday life, with a specific focus on autonomous driving technology and its influence on human behavior. I aimed to engage the audience through interviews and carefully selected visual elements, including copyrighted materials, to support the key themes of the video. Although I encountered challenges, particularly in sourcing and integrating copyright content, I am pleased with the final product.
The primary intention of my project was to craft a narrative that would captivate viewers and prompt them to think critically about the often invisible role AI plays in daily life. Through a combination of interviews and complementary visual materials, I sought to make the topic accessible and engaging. The copyrighted content played an essential role, serving as a visual metaphor that reinforced the interviewees’ points. This layered approach—merging spoken word with visual content—was crucial to my strategy for keeping the audience engaged.
One of the most challenging aspects of the project was finding copyright-protected materials that aligned with both the video’s style and the themes of the interviews. Sourcing footage that seamlessly matched the narrative required significant effort. Furthermore, ensuring that I was using these materials ethically, within the legal boundaries of copyright, added another layer of complexity. According to the Australian Copyright Council, educational projects must adhere to strict fair use guidelines to avoid infringing the rights of the original creators (Australian Copyright Council, 2021). This made the task both labor-intensive and meticulous, but it was essential for maintaining the project’s integrity.
Despite these challenges, the greatest success was completing the video in a way that met my vision. Seeing the finished product—a cohesive piece that combines interviews, visuals, and copyrighted materials—was immensely satisfying. The interviews, in particular, added depth to the topic of AI and ADM by offering personal perspectives, which humanized a complex subject. This, I believe, is the most successful part of the project: translating a technical issue into an engaging, accessible narrative through human storytelling.
If I were to continue working on this project, I would focus on refining the alignment between the interview questions and the central theme of AI’s influence on everyday life. During production, I realized that some interview responses veered slightly off-topic, which diluted the clarity of the message. To enhance this, I would craft more targeted questions to elicit responses that are more directly related to the core theme. Another area for improvement would be the pacing of the video. While the structure is solid, some transitions between interviews and supporting footage felt abrupt. Smoother transitions could enhance the flow and make the overall narrative feel more cohesive. According to Berger (2020), smooth transitions are essential for maintaining viewer engagement, ensuring that each segment flows naturally into the next.
A key lesson I learned from this project is the importance of precision in every aspect of media production, from planning and interviewing to editing and finalizing. The studio experience emphasized the need for careful preparation—crafting interview questions, sourcing appropriate visuals, and ensuring every element contributes to the main message. This precision aligns with Bolter and Grusin’s (2000) concept of “remediation,” which emphasizes how different media forms interact and reframe one another. In my project, the interplay between interviews, video footage, and copyrighted materials reflected this principle, demonstrating how various media can be layered to enhance storytelling.
One major takeaway from the collaborative aspect of this project was the value of feedback. Although much of the production was completed independently, the brainstorming and critique sessions with peers and instructors were invaluable. The feedback I received helped me refine my ideas and improve my approach. Collaboration, even when informal, played a crucial role in shaping the final product. As Jenkins (2006) notes, collaboration is a cornerstone of modern media production, particularly in a participatory culture. This project reinforced the importance of engaging with others to elevate individual work.
Overall, this project was both challenging and rewarding. The difficulties I faced, particularly with sourcing and integrating copyrighted materials, pushed me to develop new skills and deepen my understanding of media production. At the same time, the completion of the video gave me a sense of accomplishment, as I was able to create a narrative that not only informs but also engages the viewer. Moving forward, I will carry the lessons learned from this project into future media endeavors, with a focus on precision, collaboration, and thematic clarity. The project demonstrated that, with careful planning and attention to detail, even complex topics like AI and ADM can be made accessible and compelling to a wide audience.
References:
- Australian Copyright Council. (2021). Copyright in Education. Retrieved from https://www.copyright.org.au/
- Berger, A. A. (2020). Media Analysis Techniques(5th ed.). Sage Publications.
- Bolter, J. D., & Grusin, R. (2000). Remediation: Understanding New Media. MIT Press.
- Jenkins, H. (2006). Convergence Culture: Where Old and New Media Collide. New York University Press.
