JeremyA Senior Portfolio
I would like to welcome you to my Senior portfolio. These contents highlight my accomplishments in Freestyle 2016 through 2017.
What’s good! I’m Jeremy, and fortunately I was able to join Freestyle Academy after completing 7 classes which is the equivalent of 35 credits online at Adult Education, following my removal from Alta Vista High School. All of my hard work paid off, and Freestyle entered my life almost like a blessing, giving me the opportunity to return back to my original school. I live in Mountain View, California and I reside with my father Steven Grandburg. After High School, due to psychological circumstances I have chosen to take a gap year, to spend as much time with my Father while I can. Just after that year, I will be attending Foothill or wherever university we may move close to.
the “Silicon Struggle”
a music video
My life began in Redwood City, living with my mother sometimes in hopeless circumstances, sometimes homeless in a storage locker or in a land lords empty apartment. Unfortunately, my mother had not enrolled me in school the first year eligible, therefore my step-father could not stand for that, as a result housing us with him in Mountain View
I’ve named my music video Silicon Struggle because after leaving my struggle behind in Redwood City, with my step-fathers sacrifice he brought me to a much better place to ensure my education, and face a much lesser struggle but larger future.
Research Process
(7 pages)
My research process began the moment my English teacher gave suggestion to the types of projects, even before he could finish speaking. Although I spent a large portion of time in the lyrical process, writing music, my research process covered generic types of beats I was aiming to create. My research paper highlighted two major hip-hop producers, each with an originating sound that has captivated peoples expectations for music. After covering each producers background, I looked into which music software each engineer uses. One interesting piece of research that really surprised me was the amount of producers who use Pro Tools and use studio equipment with Mac Computers.
Video Production
During the filming process, a HD Canon T3i was used to capture each sequence of my music video. I had some help collaborating because I knew that featuring in the music video, and filming at the same time would take a lot more time than having a designated camera man for the job. Which to my best abilities, I contacted those I know that have great camera experience and devotion to recording car videos.
During the final production, I used Final Cut Pro X to edit and render each of my clips together. This process was very new to me, as I had never used the program Final Cut Pro before. In the past, the only experience I had editing videos was with Sony Vegas Pro. I noticed throughout editing that the music video could have been better if I built myself a bigger couching for recording. This is because beat took a long time to settle in with and decide on, as I was working on creating my own.
Zenith Reflection
Around the time we began our Zenith project in February, we were all aware of the reflection we would be writing to reflect on the goods and the bads of the entire process we devoted to. With our Zenith due, our reflections and what we could have improved on comes out from the back of our mind
The exact moment Mr. Greco introduced the Senior Zenith Project, I knew exactly what type of work I would be doing: beatmaking. Out of all the ideas he mentioned – comics, travel blogs,short stories, a music video – I began creating my rubric even before he was finished handing out suggestions. Throughout my Zenith, I first researched the origins of popular beat producers. My seven page research paper shed light on the style of beats that I was looking to create. My research covered two major hip-hop producers, Dr. Dre and Zaytoven, who have stayed in the spotlight due to their original sounding beats, giving them the exposure they needed to maintain their successful careers.
Several hip-hop producers I know influenced my beat sequencing. Along with producers, I contacted photographers and video filmers I knew that often shot car videos. This way, I could get help when it came to shooting my music video. After getting insight from more successful producers, I began collaborating on a single beat by making revisions back and forth with a successful music engineer that recently has tons of success with the rapper Berner. Giving me a bargain, paying him $40.00 for several hours of his time, and influence on my own beat.
Even though I was successful in creating my own great sounds, my collaboration on this project could have been better. Joining Freestyle half way through the year was one obstacle; I wish I could have partnered with a Freestyle group, but everyone had already decided on their project by that time. Another thing I could have done differently if I did this project over again would be to stick to my deadlines and eliminate all distractions. In fact, with three months to finish the project I gave myself too much leg room to write lyrics. As soon as it came time to record my music, it was time to start shooting my music video because I had spent most of my time trying to create my own beat.
Throughout my Zenith, I felt as if I grew in several 21 C. Skills upon improving my Adobe Photoshop skills for my CD cover, along with my Pro Tools ability when trying to create my own beat at Freestyle. I also used Fruity Loops 12, another music engineering studio, to craft my beat, which I improved on greatly since the beginning of my Zenith. Final Cut Pro X was used when editing my music video, and sequencing each clip of my music video.
A very huge lesson that I will be taking with me from this Zenith project is to really be aware of my deadlines the next time I am working on a multi-chapter project, and next time to include a better cushion for time.
Consumer Project
For my Design project, the Senior consumer project I decided to work on a product that can be sold that would also tie in with my Zenith project. With the help of my teacher, the idea for a CD case came to mind where I could feature my soundtrack for my Zenith music video in a plastic cd cover. My reasoning for deciding on a CD case for my consumer project lies with the dedication I had to creating a music video, and my own soundtrack to feature for my music video. Along with shots I took for the cover of my soundtrack, shots I took for my consumer project worked and tied together with my overall progress in both projects.
Book Jacket
My book jacket was a design concept of my short story project in English. This concept turned into an actual design project that I could roll with, and my project of creating a book cover was easily fulfilled.
