Search
Stagg Line Amos Alonzo Stagg High School Stockton, CA
Issue Date: Thursday, April 18, 2013 Issue: Volume 56 Issue 7 Last Update: Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Current Conditions Mostly Sunny
Temperature: 70.1 °F
Wind Speed: 12 mph WNW
Gusts: 22 mph NW
Rain Today: 0 "

At-a-glance

Regular joe has a hit
- Taylor Hurles and Annamarie Cunningham
Advertising
Barefoot and wearing black jeans and his hitRECord T-shirt, he sits. He has the fame, the looks, the talent, but he has much more. It’s what he does with all these components that is slowly changing the world of creativity. Joseph Gordon-Levitt, also known on hitRECord.com as RegularJOE, is this man.
            Levitt started hitRECord Production Company in 2005. This site became more than just an Internet site which people use to post pictures and record their every moment, but a place where people can create and collaborate. Instead of an artist placing a copyright on their work, where one can see but not touch, hitRECord is different. It is a site where people can post artwork, writing, photos and videos that can be remixed into new works of art that others can use in various ways. Levitt explains in an article with writer Joel Stein from Time Magazine, more about how hitRECord works. “If I see an artist who is consistently doing good work, I want to see what they do.”
           The site is continuously growing, providing artists, writers, photographers, and anyone in general, with a chance to get creative and share their work. On hitRECord uploads are instantaneous.  News, upcoming events, and contributions can all be posted on the site for others to view without having to wait. “Having somebody take creative liberty with what I’ve done is fascinating,” Levitt said.

One thing I noticed about hitRECord is how easy it is to join and be a part of a project. Unlike Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and other popular Internet sites, hitRECord is a site with a lot of potential and users who are seeking to exercise their talents. With more teens using the site, it would actually improve self-esteem, because one has the opportunity to be imaginative, allow their artistic side to show, and be productive. I’ve been to two hitRECord events and each time I noticed that the audience had more older people. I was slightly disappointed to see this because these events are amazing.

They’re mixed with Levitt singing songs, reading short stories, and playing videos. Other artists  perform at these events and members of the audience have a chance to participate in some activities. He calls people up to the stage to read some of the short stories, encouraging them to add a dramatic flare. At the beginnings of the shows, before he comes out, he poses questions for people to tweet their answers to. Also, he encourages audience members to be a part of hitRECord. He gets to know audience members by recording interviews with each other and then uploading them to the site. Just being at these events gives one a boost of self-esteem and the desire to express their artsier side. With more teenagers in the audience, absorbing the energy  could influence them to create. And it’s a healthier way to spend one’s time, as opposed to sitting on the couch playing video games.

HitRECord, which started small, is becoming larger. One man’s idea, with help from his brother, has now turned into a collaborative effort. Using his own ideas and remixing them with the contributions of others, backed by a strong support system, Levitt has created a beautiful project. There are no limitations on who can contribute and who cannot. HitRECord, inspiring people to exercise the right side of their brain, one could call it amazing but it’s much more than that. “Amazing is sort of an overused word these days,” Levitt said.

          




Back to the articles list

0 COMMENTS - Add your comment below

ADD YOUR COMMENT
Name
Email
Comments, recommendations or suggestions.
Submit

Staff View

Don Bott

Adviser
Email Me

Nicole Lawrence

Editor in Chief
Email Me

Anna Cunningham

Editor in Chief
Email Me

Reanna Rodriguez

News Editor
Email Me

Gabriella Miller

Features Editor
Email Me

Jessica Mangili

Opinion Editor
Email Me

Adrianna Owens

Entertainment Editor
Email Me

Brian Walker

Sports Editor
Email Me

Damon Heine

Social Media
Email Me

Annamarie Rodriguez

Photo Editor
Email Me

Fe Valencia

Graphics Editor
Email Me

Dellanira Alcauter

Reporter
Email Me

Alexus Plascencia

Reporter
Email Me

Alyssa Rojas

Reporter
Email Me

Alison Ho

Reporter
Email Me

Devin Wickstrom

Reporter
Email Me

Jada Johnson

Reporter
Email Me

Michealla Foules

Reporter
Email Me

Marcella Hawkins

Reporter
Email Me

Miranda Maurino

Reporter
Email Me

Nuvia Cervantes

Reporter
Email Me

Rebecca Romero

Reporter
Email Me

Veronica Vargo

Reporter
Email Me

Victorius Gemma

Graphics Team
Email Me

Chao Xiong

Web Editor
Email Me

Blanca Mendoza

Reporter
Email Me

View PDF's

Online Archives

There are currently 73 editions on-line. Click on edition name to view articles.

Advertising