evaluation question four

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

 

Research: the internet

Firefox internet browser

The internet was of great use during the research of different music videos, as well as Digi pack and advertisement. By using Google, we were able to research into a variety of different enabling us to gain ideas of which features to adapt onto our own digi packs, such as the images which were used, colour schemes, use of font styles and house styles used throughout.We were also able to use Google search to research into our target audience, where we were able to look at their interests and the genre of music which they enjoy looking to. We also used Google to look at forms and conventions of music videos, in order to gain some ideas as to what needed to be included in both our music video, and our Digi pack and advertisement.

 Similarly, we were able to use You Tube to research different music   videos. We used You Tube to browse through several music videos which we then analyzed as part of our research into different music videos. You tube was exceptionally useful as it allowed for us to focus on certain areas of the videos. In particular, we chose to look at Eminem-Stan, and chose to Annalise this video, as it involved a variety of camera angles and shots as well as transitions, which were used to tell a story We then used You-tube, to research music videos similar to our own music video, such as The Fray how to save a life. You Tube allowed us to browse through a wide range of videos, and was a great method of research.

Construction: the internet

 The internet was a great help when it come to the construction of the main product and ancillary tasks. With the use of the internet, both Emily and I were able to research for help on using Final Cut, which we had never before previously used. This helped us a lot through the construction of the music video, by showing us how to use certain tools such as the split tool, and how to add effects and transitions. This came in a lot of use throughout the construction process, and saved us a lot of time, whilst also teaching both Emily and I a lot of new tools and techniques. We also found tutorials on You Tube extremely useful, when we found it difficult to complete a certain task in Photoshop or Final cut, You Tube offered us a wide range of solutions.

 Once the construction process of the music video was complete, we then used Vimeo , to upload our video, This site offers free video hosting, where we were able to upload our video, and use the HTML coding, to present it onto our blogs.

Evaluations: the internet



The evaluations were presented on blogger, therefore the internet was of key importance during the evaluation period. Blogger was our main way of presenting all of our evaluations to the examiner. We decided to use blogger and the internet to our advantage by using a variety of different methods of answering the evaluation questions and presenting them on blogger. Therefore with this in mind, we chose to use videos and sound recording programs such as sound cloud to record ourselves answering some of the evaluation questions. Similarly, we also used the internet to answer some of our evaluation questions. For example, we used Voki, which was a voice recording anime. This allowed for us to make answering the evaluation questions a little more interesting, by creating an anime which spoke the answer which we had given.

 
we also used the internet to our advantage when looking for feedback from our friends, by using online social networking sites such as Facebook. This allowed for us to publish our video onto our profiles, for all of our friends to see. Once this was published, we sent messages to our friends asking for their comments and feedback on the video. As this was a social networking site, our friends were able to 'like' and comment their thoughts on the video. This was a great help when trying to receive feedback for our video, as it gave us a chance to gain feedback from a wide range of different people, in a small space of time, without us having to ask questions.






Planning: Bubbl

When planning our music video, we became a little bored of hand writing lists and hand drawing designs. Therefore we decided to use a variety of other forms of expressing our ideas and plans. We chose to use Bubbl: an online brain storming device. This was simple to use and allowed for both Emily and I to express our ideas in a different way, which we both really enjoyed.  I found using this device, allowed for our ideas to expand, as we did not lose interest, or become bored, as creating the mind map was really fun and enjoyable.


Planning:Final cut

We also chose to use our Iphone's camera devices to take photos of our planning. For example once we had had drawn our storyboard, of the music video. We then chose to take photos of each scene using our Iphone cameras, and upload each image onto Final cut.   Final cut then allowed for us to bring these hand drawns to life. We were able to use this program, to place each scene in sequence, and time the music to the footage. This was a great way of planning as it helped us to realise what would go well with the music and which scenes needed to be changed.








Final cut construction:

Final cut was our method of editing the music video which we had filmed. It was chosen because both Emily and I had previous experience with using this software, meaning that we were able to understand the basics of the program, saving a lot of time. Final cut allowed for us to create a time line, which we could add and remove features, such as video, images and audio. Once all of the footage was put into sequence, we were then able to edit the footage, using the transition effects, as well as the video and audio effects. For example we wanted some parts of the footage to be in "sepia" so that it looked as if it was an old memory. Final cut allowed for us to do this using its effects provided. Final cut also allowed for us to lock some sequences, meaning that they would not change or move until they were unlocked. This became a huge benefit for us, as it meant that we could focus on the editing of one scene at a time, and once that scene was complete we could lock it, so that it did not move or change.


Final cut: evaluation

Finally, final cut was also used during the evaluation period. When answering the feedback question, we decided to film our target audience, by asking them some questions on the music video in order to gain some feedback. Once the filming was complete, I was able to use Final cut, to add text, to show the questions which were asked, and to show the labels of each persons name which participated. This was a great tool, and really brought our evaluation questions to life.

 
















I phone camera: Research and construction

As a part of our planning process, we took part in a lot of research into a variety of products before creating our own. The Iphone camera, helped us in the research process, as  it allowed for us to take images of our research. The Iphone camera, was also used during the construction of the products. During filming, we were able to take photos of the scenes, and the character during filming, in order to use these when blogging. This allowed for us to prove what we had been filming throughout that day and show the examiner the mise-en scene of each scene and the props used throughout filming

Construction: Cannon Camera

Emily and I used a Cannon camera for the filming of our music video. This camera was our main piece of equipment which was used through the creation process of the music video. It was very easy to use, and allowed for us to film everything which we needed for the construction process of the music video. Similarly, this video recorder to particular was very good at picking up sound, meaning that the arguing parts of our video were heard well which was another advantage. We also used a tripod which was of great help, when we needed to film with a steady hand, and that was not possible.







Photo shop: construction of the digi pack
Photoshop was our main program used for the creation of the digi pack. We used the effects, and tools provided by Photo shop in order to create and maintain a house style across the three platforms. For example we used Photo-shop to create a font family, which featured in both the advertisement, and and the digi pack.

I photo: construction of the digi pack and advertisements

I photo is a digital photo software program which provides the tools and effects needed to manipulate the photos. I photo was very useful when creating the digi pack. By using I photo we were able to use the effects and tools it provided us with to alter the images to create a house style which we were looking for. For example, by using i photo we were able to create the black and white effect which we wanted, to maintain the house style across the three platforms. Although this effect could have been set in Photo shop, using Photo was a quick and easy way to create the effects which we wanted, without having to open up Photo shop, as this program opened automatically when the photos were uploaded. By using I photo it saved both Emily and I a lot of time, in the creation process of the digi pack. However, if we had chosen to use Photo-shop instead, we may have been able to manipulate these photos further, as I photo only provided us with minor tools
                                                                       to make the changes which we required.

evaluation question three

3. What have you learned from your audience feedback?
(written by both Emma and Emily)

We took three different methods of retrieving feedback for our music video. Our first method was to gather the class together, in the class room, for the whole year 13, doing media, were able to watch the media video and give us their feedback and thoughts on the video, from a media students perspective. This allowed for us to gain feedback from a creators view, and not just an audience view point. The media students were much more critical, of camera movement, and angles, than the target audience were, as they were looking for different things within the music video to comment on. We received a wide range of positive feedback, as well as some helpful comments on how we could improve the music video. This method was extremely useful as it gave Emily and I the opportunity to receive a wide range of different media students views, which offered a lot more detailed and in depth feedback, than our other methods. The feedback was anonymous, which also made this method extremely useful, as it meant the feedback was honest, and truthful, based on what the media students saw. However, Emily and I were in the room at the time, which may have had an effect on the feedback which we received as well as the fact that the media students knew us both, and knew the music video was ours.

 

From the feedback from the media students we learn't a lot about our music video. We learnt a lot about the use of  camera angles and shots throughout the video, which the media students thought had been used well. We were also really pleased that the media students liked the storyline, and that it came across clear to them. We received a lot of positive feedback on the transitions also, which we were also really pleased about. The media students were also impressed with the miming of the main character throughout the video, which we had chosen to improve on after our last feedback session informed us to do so, as some miming areas were previously poor.

Here are the images of the feedback sheets which we received:

(feedback images here)

Our second method of retrieving feedback, was to upload the video onto Facebook, in order to receive some feedback from our friends on Facebook.  Both Emily and I placed the video on our Facebook pages, with the caption "Here is our music video, please leave some feedback"

This attracted a wide range of different opinions and views of our music video. This seemed a good way of receiving feedback on our music video, as we did not choose who commented or liked the video, and the audience was completely random. We received a lot of positive feedback from this method, and the video received plenty of likes, and positive comments, which we were both really pleased about.  

Some Facebook friends even asked, if it was actually created by us, as they were so impressed!

Alot of our Facebook friends, were very impressed with the video, however, this may partly be as they do not take Media, as a subject, and therefore do not look too much into detail, such as looking at camera angles and shots like the media students did. However, it was still brilliant feedback, as they were all impressed! It was a good idea to chose the Facebook method of receiving feedback, as the main age of our friends on Facebook are the same as Emily and I, and more importantly, the same age as our target audience. Although we did not have specifically people who enjoy Indie music, comment on this video, everyone who did comment, and leave feedback, was within our age range for our target audience which was between 17-20.

From this method of feedback, I learnt that the music video, was very legit, as several comments asked if this was a real video. I also learnt that although this video was targeted at the Indie audience, the video still attracted a variety of different people who took interest in a variety of different genres of music. I am very pleased about this, as this would boost sales, in the industry for the artist, if other people who are not of the target audience also enjoy the music video. However, it is important that the music video does attract the attention of the audience, which the video is targeted towards, which is the indie scene. Therefore with this in mind, I am now going to receive some feedback from our target audience.

We have received feedback from media students, and randomly from our Facebook friends. We now need to receive feedback from our target audience to make sure that they also like the music video, as they are the main purpose of the whole product. To do this, we have chosen people who we know enjoy listening to indie music, and are generally in the indie scene. We will ask them to watch the music video (which they have never before seen) and ask them some questions to see what they think of the video, this will all be recorded on camera.

    

TARGET AUDIENCE FEEDBACK, AND FRIENDS. (VIDEO)

feedback from emma maher on Vimeo.

evaluation question two

2. How effective is the combination of your main product and ancillary tasks?
 
Across all three of the media platforms, we have maintained a consistency by including similar images, by creating the same mise en scene, clothing, and font styles, in order to create an identifiable house style across all three platforms. By researching into conventions of music videos and digi packs, we were able to learn tools and techniques which we needed to use to create legit products, which would stand up well against real music videos and digi packs.

 This means that the products are easily recognized as the products of one artist. This means that the target audience will recognize and purchase the products. One way in which a house style was created and maintained consistancey throughout all three areas, was to have the artist in the same clothing throughout. This linked all three areas together. The clotheing which he is wearing throughout also attracts the audience well, as when we looked into our target audience we found that the "Indie" scene were most likely to be the target audience for this genre. When researching into the type of clothing which our target audience would wear, we found out the following results, as shown below:

We done a lot of research into conventions of music videos, and looked at a variety of digi packs and advertisements before creating our products, so that we were able to create products which were legit and came across as real media products.

This was taken into account when choosing the clothing for the artist, so that we could be sure to attract our target audience. Our clothing for the artist was from Urban outfitters, and Top Man, which sell very similar clothes to those shown above. The same clothes were then worn throughout filming, as well as in the photographs which have been used in the ancillary tasks. This maintained a house style across all areas and will asist in promoting all three products, but most importantly the artist.

As you can see from looking at the digi pack(shown on the left) we maintained a house style throughout the digi pack including the same font which is used on the front cover, back cover and the actual CD. Similarly, all of the images contain the artist, in the same setting, wearing the same clothes in all images. These are the same clothes which he wears throughout the entire video, and their are parts of the video where the mise en scene is by the harbor which is where the artist is in all the photos used in the digi pack.

 The images which were taken for the digi pack and poster, were very closely linked with the scenery and look of the music video. Although we did not take any images out directly from the video, the images which were taken of the artsit, were in the same scenery which appears in the video and the artist is wearing the same clothes. This means that the audience will automatically resemble the music video with the posters, and digi packs, promoting and advertising the artist and his music to them. All of the images used in the ancillary tasks, were effected into black and white, in order to maintain the house style throughout both the digi pack and the poster, without losing the link with the main product, the music video.

How could we improve?

evaluation question one

1. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
(answered my both Emily and Emma)

evaluation 1 from emma maher on Vimeo.

finished digi pack

THE ALEX LLOYD ALBUM:

INSIDE THE ALBUM:

THE POSTER:

the cd

First of all we done some research into the different CD designs.
1.                                                                                                     2.

I really like these two CD designs which both contained an image of the artist on the CD.Next we needed to create the CD and the background for where the CD will be placed in the album. We chose to use an image of scenery for the background CD. We captured this scenery from opening to the music video, as this will maintain link between the video and the album.
This was then placed on top of the CD holder in the case and the opacity was dropped so that the case was still seen underneath the image.


When creating the image for the CD, we chose an image which was taken by us when filming and decid

the poster

Here is the image which we have decided to use for the poster which will advertise the album to the public. We chose to use this image based on the following:

• The artists maintains eye contact in this image engaging the public, and attracting them to the poster.
• The artist is wearing the same clothing which he is in the rest of the digipack which helps to maintain the house style throughout the digi pack.
• The long shot means that the entire body of the artist is included in the poster, fulling advertising the artist to the audience.
• The surrounding space, means that there will be room for text to be added to this poster without covering the face or part of the artist.

In order to edit the poster, we used the similar effects which were used on the rest of the digipack in order to maintain the house style. However, here we also used the Matte effect, which allowed for us to create a circular border around the image. This helped to make the poster focus on the artist, in order to promote him further.

Here is the finished poster, which we created:


We included the image of the album in order to advertise the album to the target audience. We also included the HMV logo to make the poster seem more legit. I then placed the poster onto a bus stop bord, to see what the advertisement would look like in real life, this is shown below: