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

This is a short video that I made to answer the question:

Evaluation 4 Script 

During the early stages of my coursework, I used media technology such as Ical to help me plan each stage of the task so that I would be able to work effectively and keep up to date with my work. Ical also enabled me to stay focused with each task and allowed me to compare  how much work I had completed against the targets that I had set. 

 For the research stage of my A2 Music Video, I primarily used media technologies such as Google and Youtube to help me to research the different kinds of acoustic music videos that would help me to gain some good ideas for my actual video. I used Google to search for acoustic videos and then used Youtube to watch them. Once I had found a shot that I liked, I took a screen grab of it and uploaded it onto Blogger. This media technology was really useful throughout the entire stages of the coursework as it enabled me to constantly upload my progress throughout each stage of the task. 

Other media  technology that I used in the research stage of my task was Survey Monkey. I used this to create a survey that aimed at giving me an idea of the kind of music video that people prefer to watch as well as if they prefer a video that relies heavily on narrative rather than shots of the artist or band. Once I had created the survey, I uploaded it onto Twitter and Facebook and this allowed me to gain some useful feedback that I could use when creating my video. 

In the planning stage, I first went out and scouted possible locations that I could use for my music video. Whilst doing this, I took some pictures of the locations and uploaded them onto Blogger. I also created a short music video using the images whilst the song that I had chosen to cover, the Wrestler by Bruce Springsteen, played in the background. Once I had created the video, I was able to upload it onto my YouTube channel and then embed it onto Blogger. After I had chosen the locations, I then went about creating a storyboard for my music video. Once I had done this, I created an animatic and uploaded it onto YouTube. I then went about holding auditions for possible actors and filmed the process, which I also uploaded onto my YouTube channel. 

I also had the opportunity to use the 7D cameras which enabled me to practise using the aperture and depth of field shots which allowed me to become familiar with the equipment that I would be using to film my video. I was also able to have a go using the crane and dolley which I did not actually use for my final film but was available if I needed to use it. I played around with InDesign and created a weird landscape using different images.  

For the construction stage of the task, I used InDesign, Photoshop, Final Cut Pro and IPhoto to create both my music video and my ancillary tasks. I used iPhoto to import the images and footage that I had taken onto the Mac and then copy them into Final Cut Pro and InDesign. I used Final Cut Pro to edit my footage and create the music video. For the ancillary tasks, which included making a poster and DigiPak for the artist and his/her album, I used Adobe InDeisgn and Photoshop to create the Digipak and poster. The majority of the Digipak and poster was designed on Indesign however, some images required a different colour or filter so I did this in Photoshop. 

In the evaluation stage, I used used my Youtube channel to upload the final music video and then embedded it into Blogger. I also used social networking sites, such as Facebook and twitter to share my video in order to receive user feedback. This was really useful as I was able to take the comments on board and change my video accordingly.  

Evaluation 3 - What have you learned from your audience feedback?

Class Animatic Feedback
After completing the Animatics, we used 2 lessons to go through everyone's coursework and look at the Animatics that everyone had created. Once we had seen an Animatic, we wrote down what we liked about it and, if needed, gave them some constructive criticism. Once we had given our feedback, we uploaded it onto the A2 Wiki that had been created especially for this role. By doing this, it allowed us to access and read the feedback that had been given for our Animatics. The feedback that I gained for my Animatic was very positive and said that the choice of locations and shots were really suitable for the genre and song that I had chosen to use. However, they also said that I should add in some more shots of the artist on his own, as  the majority of the shots that I had used in my Animatic were ones of the artist and his guitar. The feedback also encouraged me to use a wider range of shots and locations, as these would suit the song better.

This is the feedback that I received for my Animatic.

DigiPak and Poster Feedback
We also used some class time to look at the DigiPaks that we had created for the Ancillary tasks. The feedback that I recieved from this was very positive as people believed that my DigiPak and Poster used the typical codes and conventions of a typical acoustic genre product. They feedback that I gained for my DigiPak Booklet was also very positive.

This is the DigiPak that I created for my Ancillary Task.

This is the poster that I created for the Ancillary Task.

This is the Booklet that I created for the DigiPak.

Social Network Feedback

Since I was having trouble with the cross-dissolves in my music video, I decided that whilst the problem was being fixed, I would upload the video anyway as I would be able to gain some feedback. To do this, I uploaded it onto my YouTube channel and then copied the link and pasted it on Facebook so that my friends could view the video and give me their feedback. The feedback that I received from my friends was positive, even though there was a problem with the cross-dissolves. Some of the feedback said that it was really good apart from the black flashes that appeared on screen, however this was down to the cross-dissolve problem, which was being fixed at that time. I also used Twitter to share my music video and gain some feedback, which was very positive.

This is a screen grab of the message that I sent to a group of my friends to gain feedback.  

This is a screen grab of the feedback that I received for my music video.

This is a screenshot of my music video on Twitter. As there is a maximum limit of 140 characters I had to use 2 posts to ask for feedback.

Evaluation 2 - How effective is the combination of your main product and ancillary texts?

The combination of my main product and ancillary texts are effective as there are reoccurring themes that apply to my music video and my Digipak and poster that work well with the acoustic genre that I have chosen to use in my music video.

These reoccuring themes include:

Type and style of the font

Similarities between the DigiPak/Poster and Music Video

Imagery/Locations and Costumes used in the main product and ancillary texts


Main Product

Ancillary Texts

DigiPak Booklet

This is a short video that I made to answer the question in more detail:

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

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

To see how my media product uses, develops and challenges forms and conventions of real media products, I have compared real products with the ones that I have created.

Music Video Comparison

In this section, I have compared my music video to real media products in order to show the similarities and differences between the products. I have done this by taking screen grabs from my own music video as well as screen grabs from music videos such as Hero of War, Time of Your Life and Rhythm of Love. For my music video, I ensured that I used several codes and conventions that are found in real life acoustic music videos. These conventions include having close-up shots as well as various other shots of the artist, various shots of locations and scenery as well as shots of the artist singing and playing the guitar. I also used Andrew Goodwin's music video theories to help me to use various forms and conventions in my music video.

These are some of the theories that I used in my music video.

1. Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics/conventions (e.g. stage performance in metal video, dance routine for boy/girl band)

The song that I chose to use in my video, "The Wrestler", by Bruce Springsteen, is written and sung by one person so the conventions within the music video reflect this, as the video only features the artist and no one else. The locations are also based on typical conventions seen in acoustic genre music videos as the locations, such as the beach and wood, are open areas that are quite natural and peaceful and this is reflected in the song. However, I think that I have challenged the forms and conventions of some acoustic genre music videos as I have added a monochrome filter onto my video. This is not seen in most acoustic videos as they tend to use filters that make the video look happy and bright. I have decided to do this as I believe that it suits the sombre tone of the song and by not adding the monochrome filter, it takes away the bleakness of the song.

 These are some of the locations that I used in my music video

 2. There is a relationship between lyrics and visuals (either illustrative, amplifying, contradicting)

The visuals in my music video, "The Wrestler", both illustrate and amplify the lyrics. An example of when the visuals illustrate the lyrics can be seen around 1.18 as the lyrics say "I always leave......" whilst the visuals show the artist walking away from the camera. Another example of this can seen around 3.26 when the lyrics say "If you've ever seen a one-legged man then you've seen me", whilst a shot of the artist is shown. Also, the majority of the lyrics are being sung on screen by the artist, which can be used as a way of amplifying the lyrics as they are not only being heard, but are also being seen by the audience. Since the song has a sombre and isolated tone, the visuals reflect this by showing the artist on his own throughout the video whilst showing large open spaces, such as the beach, as a way of amplifying the artist's isolation.

The lyrics say "I always leave......" whilst the visuals show the artist walking away from the camera  

 

3. There is a relationship between the music and visuals

The visuals in the music video are either illustrating or amplifying the music. For example, there is a very distinctive guitar rhythm throughout the song and it corresponds with the visuals, i.e. in some scenes, the rhythm of the guitar is in time with the cuts between the shots. Also, when there is no singing in some parts of the song, the camera moves away from the artist and shows shots of the various locations, such as the beach and a wood, as these are conventions that are seen in the majority of real media products and also help to illustrate the tone and feeling of the song.

4. The demands of the record label will include the need for lots of close ups of the artists and the artist may develop motifs which reoccur across their work (a visual style)

In the music video, the majority of the shots are medium close-ups of the singer. Most of the shots in the music video are quite dark and they show a lot of isolated locations and this is reflected in the album cover as it only features the artist, which reflects the isolation of the song. However, it can be argued that my music video challenges the conventions of some real media products as I have not used a motif, such as a heart, which would reoccur throughout the video. I have chosen to not do this as I believe that it does not suit the theme of the song.

This can be seen in both screen grabs of two different artists from two acoustic genre music videos. In my music video (left) I have used several close-up shots of the artist as this a typical convention that is seen in real media products. This can be seen in the music video "Hero of War", by Rise Against, as the video features a number of close-ups of the artist.

This is another screen grab of another close-up shot from my music video as well as one from "Time of Your Life", by Green Day. This can be used to shown how I have used and developed forms and conventions in my music video as shots like this feature in the majority of typical acoustic genre music videos.

In my music video I have chosen to use a variety of different shots of the artist. This can be seen with other typical acoustic genre music videos as there are usually more than one shot of the artist. This can be seen in the Green Day music video "Time of Your Life" as the main artist is shown from a variety of angles, such as from the side, which can also be seen in my music video.

This is another screen grab of the different angles that I have used in my music video. I have tried to follow typical acoustic genre music videos by using a range of shots, such as close-ups to long shots.

This is another shot of the artist, this time from a different angle. I believe that by using loads of shots of the artist, it allows the audience to see the artist in a new light and in a way it takes down the "walls" that are surrounding the artist and in a sense makes him "human".

Music Video Poster Comparison

The music poster that I have created follows typical forms and conventions of real media products as I have based my poster on typical acoustic genre music posters. The poster that I have created has the name of the artist and album as well as the price. To follow the typical conventions of the acoustic genre, the main picture is of the artist, unlike posters from other genres that feature just text or a random object, as this is seen on the majority of typical acoustic genre music posters. I have also included a picture of the album DigiPak as the poster is promoting the album. Another typical convention that is seen on music posters is the logo of the store that is selling the album. These are similar to the real media product (right) as all of these conventions feature on the music poster.

DigiPak Comparison (Front and Back cover only)
 The DigiPak that I have created follows the typical forms and conventions of real media products as I have based my DigiPak on typical acoustic genre DigiPaks. The DigiPak that I have created (top) features the name of both the album and artist on the front cover as well as a picture of him. This can be seen with the real media product (below) that features a picture of the artist as well as the name of both the album and artist on the front cover. On the back cover of the real media product, it features another picture of the artist as well as the names of the songs that are in the album. A copyright disclaimer, barcode and record label also feature on the back cover. These conventions can be seen on the back cover of my music video as they feature all of the typical forms and conventions of a real media product.

This is the music video that I created: