Final Music Video

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Final Digipak following feedback

Final Advert following Feedback

evaluation question 4 - How did you use media technologies in the construction and research, planning and evaluation stages?

media evaluation q4.docx by rebeccadickinson

evaluation question 3 - What have you learned from your audience feedback?

Evaluation Question 2

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Evaluation question 1- In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

Videos of Note - Mentioned in Answer

DRAFT 4. How did you use media technologies in the construction and research, planning and evaluation stages?

Edge10 school computers and HP pavilion laptop

I used these computers to conduct the majority of my research and planning, construction of the video and ancillary texts, and the evaluation. Having access to a computer is essential for being able to conduct all of these tasks as most of the software required to make my products is on these computers. In a nutshell, if I didn’t have access to these then it would be impossible for the project to even take place. It also stored all of my images and other work so I can access them more than once and edit them. The school computers were useful but you have to save regularly on them as they occasionally crash and you risk losing unsaved work.

Adobe Photoshop CS6/CC

I used Photoshop to complete my ancillary texts. This software had the filter for my image and the fonts for the test on my magazine. I also used this software to align all of the components of the digipak and advert in order to make it look as effective as it does.  I used this to create the title slides for my video as well.  This made it easier to move the features of the image around, and with the use of layers, helped me to have the components of the image in the right order.

Adobe Premiere Pro CC

I used this software to edit my final video, the main product. I trimmed the footage and put it in the correct order, and also to add the correct filters when required.  This software was initially difficult to use as I have never used this software before this project. I struggled to get the clips onto the timeline. After watching a few YouTube tutorials, it was really easy to use and made editing really easy and fulfilling to do.

Camera

I used the camera to film the video. Without the use of this camera, the video couldn’t have been filmed as the footage needed to be stored. The Footage for my video stored to an SD card, which can subsequently be inserted into the SD card port in my computer and transferred to the computer ready to be imported by Premiere to edit the video.

Memory stick/ SD Card

These devices were used to store my work, such as video clips and the Photoshop documents for my ancillary products. This made it easy to transfer work between home and school and enabled me to work from home and manage my time effectively.

Facebook

I used this to send links to my blog for my digipak, advert and video to some friends in order to gain feedback. Without this as a form of communication, it would be difficult to gain feedback from peers as it would be difficult to get hold of some people. It was very useful as Facebook is a popular social networking website and has a messenger which was where the feedback was given from peers.

Windows Live Movie Maker

I used this for creating my animatic for my first storyboard and my first draft. Whilst it was useful for my animatic, as it was still images, which is what Movie Maker is best for. For the draft video, it was not very helpful as it was very difficult to get the videos in sync as if you edit a clip further along the video, the preview played the song out of sync for where it was supposed to be. It is best to stick to professional software for editing a video.

Google Chrome, Animoto, Blogger and YouTube (the internet)

The internet is essential to create the product like this. I used Google to search for media products. I used Blogger to display all of the research that I have conducted, all of the progression to the final main product and ancillary texts, and to display this final evaluation. I used Animoto to display the pitch that I did for my music video. YouTube was an essential part of my research and planning. It was used to research different videos to analyse, to find a song for my music video, and finally to upload my draft and final video to post onto my blog. Without the internet, I would not have been able to conduct the research and planning as most of the information that I used was on there. It forms a large part of modern media. 

DRAFT 3. What have you learned from your audience feedback?

I have learnt a lot from feedback, both during the creation of my ancillary texts and main product.

The first piece of feedback was for my draft for my digipak and advert feedback from a friend who is a member of my target audience. I was informed that although my colour scheme worked well, the images weren’t related to the target audience. I took this feedback on board as it was true, it didn’t fit at all. It did not look professional.

Secondly, I received another piece of feedback from a friend that likes the genre. That feedback was that the draft video was out of sync. They also said that YouTube messes up the sync of the song to the lip syncing, but the quality of the clips were bad too and that I should start again with a simpler video and new song.  I took this advice right on board because the first song didn’t really fit the genre and the filming was bad. I decided on a new, simple video and add more midshots and close ups.

After my initial hand in of the digipak and advert, a comment on my blog from a friend that likes the genre said that the original colour scheme and the layout worked well. The legal information wasn’t legible as it was covered by a line, and when I got my teacher feedback back, this was confirmed, so I moved the legal information above the line to make it legible. The copyright and legal information needs to be legible so it looks professional and real.

Another piece of feedback however was to create a brighter third colour as the purple text was a bit dark to read for some members of the audience. I then changed the colour from dark purple to a brighter red to make the song details and track list stand out more.

I took every piece of feedback that was given to me into consideration, especially from the audience as ultimately, the product is for them to enjoy. I also however took teachers feedback into consideration in order to make the product the most professional that I can make it. 

DRAFT 2. How Effective is the Combination of Your Main Product and Ancillary Texts?

I have chosen to carry across the ‘graffiti’ style writing through all 3 of my products. In the Music Video, the fonts were in the title text and the Artists T shirt displays a similar font too. This shows that the ancillary product is a representation of the artist and the genre as it is displayed on all of the products. It shows a rebellious side to the artists music which is shown in most rock artists. This combination is effective because it shows that all of the products belong to her and have her stamp on them.

The second link between the ancillary texts and main products is the use of a plain background to start off with. The main product is stripped back to a plain cream background to show that the artist is the main talent in the music video and the attention is on her. Similarly with the ancillary texts, I have used a plain background with writing of her name and album name. This shows that the artist is purely in the business for her music and song writing skills and nothing else.

A three colour scheme is strongly used in both the main and ancillary texts. On the ancillary texts, they are black, white and red, and on the main product, they are black, white and cream. I feel that this link is to make the artist look professional as most ancillary texts use this method of colour scheme. I feel that in the main product, I could have continued with the red background but it looks more professional with an off-white background. 

I have stuck with the black and white theme for the image on the ancillary texts and the artist’s t-shirt in the main product. This is a very strong look as the colour contrast make the artist stand out against an otherwise plain background on all three of the products. The black and white filter on the ancillary texts is similar to how the artists t-shirt looks in the ancillary product.  She is making her stamp on the music industry by standing out and being a bit ‘in your face’, as other rock bands, such as Paramore do.  

DRAFT 1. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

Digipak:

A way that I used the conventions of real products is that I took inspiration from the ‘RIOT!’ album by Paramore that I analysed in the research and planning. I used the idea to use a plain background and filled the CD cover and track list with text to create a rebellious looking theme that is portrayed in their album. Secondly, I have used a cartooned image of my artist on the front cover in order to make it look dramatic, like it does on the Paramore cover. On the inside covers, I have taken inspiration from their inside cover as well as the Kings of Leon’s debut album, Youth and Young Manhood, to use Credits for the inside cover. This adds a professional twist to the digital as it shows that everyone who was involved in the making of the album. It makes it look real.
  

Advert:

I have again used a busy layout for my magazine advert as used in most Rock band adverts such as Paramore for their album brand new eyes, All Time Low’s Put Up or Shut Up, A day To Remember’s What Separates Me From You and Green Day for Wake Me Up When September Ends. Most adverts that I have researched during my research and planning have their recording label logos placed at the bottom of the page. I have followed suit in order to make it look as realistic and professional.

Secondly, I have used a black and white cartooned image of my artist which is what a fair portion of my adverts I have done for research and planning has done. This makes the artist look more dramatic and stand out more. I have also used a 3 colour scheme which is the norm to make an advert look professional. Finally, I have made the advert similar to the digipak which is a popular convention among artiasts of all genres of music. It helps to build up an image for the artist, which I feel that I have done using my digipak and advert.

Video:

I have used a blank background with a lot of close ups and mid shots, similar to the Panic at the Disco video for girls/girls/boys. I have also used quick cuts where needed for the guitar riffs in the song. I do not feel that this works very well as the beat was hard to find in the sing as it was so fast. I have used shots with guitar movements in them in the guitar riff. It would have worked better if I had used a real electric guitar in my video but I feel that the moves are right for the video. This challenges conventions a little bit because most rock videos are really busy but mine is more stripped back.