Media A2: March 2012

How did you use media technologies in the construction and research, planning and evaluation stages?

For a big part of my research i used the my looking and commenting on existing music products i was taking in what worked well in most typical indie genre videos on Youtube and Vimeo using an Apple Mac shown top middle. Using a mac was useful when completing this project as it was easy to screen grab shots to analyse. I used the cannon 7D to shot my video as well as a tripod. Final Cut Pro proved to be useful when producing the construction of the music video. This technology allowed me all the tools needed to edit and put together the video. I was able to render files and fit then correctly in the right place; lip sync. Also the technology helped aid me when slowing down clips or changing lighting.

Facebook

Facebook is a social networking site, i used this program in my planning stage in order to communicate with my actress about plans of when/where we were filming. I used it in my construction stage in order to post small clips and gather feedback/ constructive criticism on how i coulod improve my work and know whats good about it. For my evaluation stage, I uploaded my final music video and made sure that everyone could see it on my wall. I then requested feedback from each viewer. Again, this was very easy, and I received lots of positive thoughts and opinions about my final music video.

Youtube

Youtube is a site were anyone with an account can upload videos, in my planning stage to have easy access to other music videos i used Youtube to gain more knowledge and ideas on what makes a good music video i used this site. Also i used it to pick up techniques and skills that are used in professiojnal music videos to then try and replicate it in my own music video. I used the site during my construction stage in order to upload small clips of practise filming, to gain feedback from other youtube accounts and also to practise for when i was to upload my final music video. When evaluating my video i posted it on youtube so that everyone could see and give me more feedback.

Google

I used goggle to find out information on current artists digipacks, posters and music videos. I could get images and the browser also allowed me to gather information on how to work different programs, and i easily managed to connect to Facebook and Youtube via google.

Evaluation 3

What have you learned from your audience feedback?

For my Planning stage i created a survey using www.surveymonkey.com. This programme allowed me to create specific questions that i could ask my target audience on what they would expect to see in my genre of music video. I could find out what range of props and costumes to locations and artists would be best suited for my particular genre. The feedback helped me learn and understand the area i was working in and helped me create the right characterises for my music video.

To get direct feedback I showed my animatic to approximately eighteen classmates to receive there opinion on area's that they liked and area's of improvement. This allowed me to have a full understanding of what i needed to include when shooting my music video and gave me some clear guidelines that i could follow. I also published my music video and animatic on a social networking site "Facebook" so that it was open for everyone to see and comment on.

Some feedback i received from my animatic was:

"faster shots when the beat picks up"
"More artist shots, e.g a range of close up, medium and long shots"
"Varied locations shots would be better"
"more props used, e.g guitar as it suits the indie genre"

These comments as well as many others were very useful in making my music video stronger and more professional.

Evaluation 2

How effective is the combination of your main product and ancillary texts?

My Digipack

The combination of my main product and ancillary tasks are very effective as it is clear from the images above that there is a continues style throughout all the products, which is a London indie theme. Although my poster does not completely blend in with my theme throughout the other products, i chose the black and white image as it goes in with my genre. These images were taken when i was away with the actress, in London. I have used the same font for the singers name on the front cover as on the poster. The colours which appear within my task are all fairly similar due to the image I was trying to give off which was a naturalistic and chilled out atmosphere therefore I used soft but dark tones in order to achieve this.
My locations in my music video are different to my ancillary tasks, allow if they were the same it would have blended more but i think because of the indie genre and the varied song i have changed the locations. I like the medium shot in the poster as it shows the actress in more detail compared with my digipack.

Evaluation 1

In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

I chose Jenna as my actress as she had a unique style and was appropriate for my genre which is indie. Jenna is a typical 18 year old who lives in Jersey. Her main interests are socialising, surfings and fashion. Jenna meets the conventions associated with my genre meaning she will be able to attract the target demographic.

Locations

St Ouen's Bay

Jersey Dolmens

My locations included St Ouen's Bay, which is a Jersey beach, and at a landmark on the island, these locations i felt suited and were appropriate for the genre i was shooting, and challenges the typical conventions of an indie genre.

How i applied Andrew Goodwin’s Theory:

The use of natural locations, like the woods and beach are also seen in real media products of the indie genre. The visuals both illustrate and amplify the lyrics in my music video. An example is when the lyrics go "red car's are quite rare" a car is shown driving past the camera and actress. Also the visuals in my music video are either illustrating or amplifying the music, for example, there is a faster beater in the chorus, which is illustrated in my video through a faster pace in the change of shots. I have included the use of a guitar as a prop as this visual amplifies the music as it shows that this is an instrument being used in the song. I have used several other people in my video as props, i think they make the video unique, adds character and a story line to the music video.

I tried to match the typical conventions when creating my digipack, i stuck with the same font and colour theme throughout the front and back covers. I have seen this technique used in real media products for such singers like Pixie Lott and Florence and the Machine.