This video identifies that technological changes in the workforce have shifted workplace needs to include more creativity and innovation in employees. It aims to debunk the myth that creativity is only for artists by interviewing four people in professions that are not typically known to be creative. By doing so, five themes emerge: everyday creativity still involves creativity, creativity as a means of human connection, creativity as a form of expression and confidence, creativity affects the world, and creativity is hard to define. This video indicates that creativity is present in non-artistic professions, but it is not always used or encouraged in these career paths. This video aims to implore leaders and those in teaching positions to encourage risk-taking and never undermine self-expression, as it is this that will create the change needed in the world.
The Process
Pre-production/Concept Development
After 3 years of growing my skills in video production, I felt inspired to learn more about the creative process and it’s effect on individuals, in the workplace, and in society.
I worked closely with the series’ host to pick participants, set up interviews, devise interview questions, gather resources, and plan production. All of this was being done while research was being conducted to get an understanding of the direction of the video and the ultimate goals and messages of the video.
Production
The beginning of production went smoothly, using a Sony FS7, iKan lights, and a lavalier to capture the interview. After the first interview, the COVID-19 pandemic shut down businesses and forced universities to continue online. From here, I researched how the entertainment industry was handling everything, from editing with pre-existing footage, to conducting interviews through Zoom. I proceeded and completed production in this way.
Post-production/Thesis Defense
It took a few months to pull all of the content together after transcribing the interviews, logging the footage, and conducting more research to back what I was finding. In this way, the video and the thesis paper had a reciprocal relationship, since the video informed the paper, and vice versa. I animated graphics in After Effects, and used an Adobe Premiere Plug-In for the credits at the end. I found sound effects and songs to lay underneath audio. There were multiple meetings with my thesis advisor to move the project forward and get feedback, which resulted in the approval of the thesis at the end of the Spring 2021 Semester.