Monday, 19 December 2011
Evaluation Questions 1-4 Recoroded
This is a recorded video of my partner and I, we decided to present our evaluation in a written and also technological format. Particular reasons were behind both chooses of ways to present our evaluation, I chose to use this format of recording ourselves talking about the evaluation questions as part of the coursework syllabus is to use a range of different technologies to present your work. I also chose to write out my evaluation questions in a written format, as it enabled me to go in to more depth about the questions and also include any information that was not included in the video. For example, after completing the question reguarding audience feedback, i recieved feedback about my ancillary tasks which i included in the written evaluation. This video includes questions 1 - 4.
Sunday, 18 December 2011
Evaluation Question 2
What have you learnt from audience feedback?
The audience research that we conducted before the production of our music video was very helpful; it helped us to make decisions on our video. Our audiences expected specific themes such as, death, pessimistic themes, drug use, alcoholism, and sadness. We tried to incorporate this is to our music video.
The audience also said that they expected to see instruments, with an emphasis on the guitar. Although we did not use a lot of instruments, we included a guitar, which was the most common instrument mentioned in our audience research
Everybody we interviewed liked the idea of a narrative based music video, and also thought it should include some performance elements. This is the what we done in our production
We showed the second draft of our music video to our classmates and family members; we got a number of comments which are both negative and positive. We took the feedback from the audience and tried to make changes in which would make our final production better.
One suggestion we got from our classmates was to start the music in time with the first clip or after a couple of seconds of it starting. Before the above amendments were made, the video clips which we used, started around 7 seconds before the music did. After looking over our video, we both decided this was a good idea to start the cinematography and music at the same time, the video now starts in time with the music.
Another suggestion which we got was to take out an establishing shot, this was placed at the beginning of the music video, before the worms view of the man’s feet and after the close-up on the girl’s eye. The comments we got were that the clip of the surrounding location was a good use of cinematography, however it was totally irrelevant in the position it was placed and we should consider taking it out or placing it somewhere else. We took out the establishing shot, we could not decide on a place where the shot was more relevant to the storyline. Instead we included the last shot of our video, an OTS (over the shoulder shot) which is located at a pond. Audiences said that this shot was a good use of cinematography and helps to maintain the confusion of time throughout the music video.
Synchronising the clips where the artist is lip-syncing the lyrics of the song with when the lyrics are being played; this was another comment we got back from our audience feedback which we could do to make our music video better. My partner and I are currently working of this in our editing process; we aim to have this changed by the deadline of the coursework.
The final comment that we got from our audience feedback on the music video was to make the sequence of time clearer. In our second draft of the music video, we had two clips of different clocks, showing time going past fast. One clock was going backwards, and one was going forward. This seemed to confuse the audience as the sequence of time was not made clear. We changed this in the editing process, we took out one of the clocks and left one which is going backwards; this illustrates that time is going backwards. A clip which we used from Space Odesy overlapped the sequence of the clocks, this was to reinforce that time is going backwards, this is a well known film and this sequence within it is notorious for going back in time. The audience recommended that we shorten this clip a little, so we did this. We both agree that after these changes it looks better.
We received some positive comments from the people we showed out video to. The use of locations was said to be good and effective for the genre and narrative of the music video. The comments that we received on the cinematography and visual style of the music video was good. Audience feedback showed that people liked the fact that our video was enigmatic with hidden symbols and a deep storyline. The confusion of time, hidden symbolism and inter-textual references, drew the audiences in and made them wont to watch the video over again.
I gained some audience feedback on my ancillary tasks from classmates, family, friends and lecturers. The feedback that I got was very helpful and allowed me to make some relevant changes in order to improve my music video. One of the comments that I received for my ancillary tasks was to make the text a lot clearer, this could be done by adding effects to the text, such as a drop shadow or inner glow. My ancillary tasks were produced on Photoshop, this was a completely new software for me, which I had no previous knowledge of using. I managed to make some good changes to the effects on the text, I did however have to spend time researching Photoshop effects and looking at tutorials in order to make it effective.
Another comment on the font which I used to the first couple of drafts was that it was too plain or simplistic, people said that they would prefer to see a more modern, edgy and trendy text. After looking at all the fonts which I could possibly use I decided on one which I felt portrayed the collaboration of genres and the audience which I was targeting. I changes the font of my text to a more modern, edgy font.
With regards to audience feedback, I received some comments about my ancillary tasks. This was that the Digipak and the magazine advert looked very basic and simplistic. I understood where this comment came from and looked to improve upon this aspect of the work. The whole process of using Photoshop was new and difficult to me, so producing something that looked ‘ok’ or ‘average’ was something positive for me. After I heard this comment and got to grips with working Photoshop more, made some changes to my ancillary tasks which made them better.
Before my audience feedback, the pictures which were included in my ancillary tasks were quite basic, with little or no effects to them. After I received comments that my ancillary tasks looked to plain, I made a number of changes to the images. I changed things about the images such as contrast levels, the brightness, darkness of particular aspects, these different things helped the images to look more edgy, and not as if they had simply been copied and pasted.
I also changed the picture order; the front image of my digipak had changed a number of times, from images of fire, the woods, and different images of the artist. I decided that certain images which I chose were not the best image to use, I decided on the image of the artist for my final version of my digipak and magazine advert. The reason for this choose is that some people commented that the other picture, for the front of the digipak were not very effective or relevant; even though they did help in terms of marketing and carrying out themes, symbolism and mood.
The audience research that we conducted before the production of our music video was very helpful; it helped us to make decisions on our video. Our audiences expected specific themes such as, death, pessimistic themes, drug use, alcoholism, and sadness. We tried to incorporate this is to our music video.
The audience also said that they expected to see instruments, with an emphasis on the guitar. Although we did not use a lot of instruments, we included a guitar, which was the most common instrument mentioned in our audience research
Everybody we interviewed liked the idea of a narrative based music video, and also thought it should include some performance elements. This is the what we done in our production
We showed the second draft of our music video to our classmates and family members; we got a number of comments which are both negative and positive. We took the feedback from the audience and tried to make changes in which would make our final production better.
One suggestion we got from our classmates was to start the music in time with the first clip or after a couple of seconds of it starting. Before the above amendments were made, the video clips which we used, started around 7 seconds before the music did. After looking over our video, we both decided this was a good idea to start the cinematography and music at the same time, the video now starts in time with the music.
Another suggestion which we got was to take out an establishing shot, this was placed at the beginning of the music video, before the worms view of the man’s feet and after the close-up on the girl’s eye. The comments we got were that the clip of the surrounding location was a good use of cinematography, however it was totally irrelevant in the position it was placed and we should consider taking it out or placing it somewhere else. We took out the establishing shot, we could not decide on a place where the shot was more relevant to the storyline. Instead we included the last shot of our video, an OTS (over the shoulder shot) which is located at a pond. Audiences said that this shot was a good use of cinematography and helps to maintain the confusion of time throughout the music video.
Synchronising the clips where the artist is lip-syncing the lyrics of the song with when the lyrics are being played; this was another comment we got back from our audience feedback which we could do to make our music video better. My partner and I are currently working of this in our editing process; we aim to have this changed by the deadline of the coursework.
The final comment that we got from our audience feedback on the music video was to make the sequence of time clearer. In our second draft of the music video, we had two clips of different clocks, showing time going past fast. One clock was going backwards, and one was going forward. This seemed to confuse the audience as the sequence of time was not made clear. We changed this in the editing process, we took out one of the clocks and left one which is going backwards; this illustrates that time is going backwards. A clip which we used from Space Odesy overlapped the sequence of the clocks, this was to reinforce that time is going backwards, this is a well known film and this sequence within it is notorious for going back in time. The audience recommended that we shorten this clip a little, so we did this. We both agree that after these changes it looks better.
We received some positive comments from the people we showed out video to. The use of locations was said to be good and effective for the genre and narrative of the music video. The comments that we received on the cinematography and visual style of the music video was good. Audience feedback showed that people liked the fact that our video was enigmatic with hidden symbols and a deep storyline. The confusion of time, hidden symbolism and inter-textual references, drew the audiences in and made them wont to watch the video over again.
I gained some audience feedback on my ancillary tasks from classmates, family, friends and lecturers. The feedback that I got was very helpful and allowed me to make some relevant changes in order to improve my music video. One of the comments that I received for my ancillary tasks was to make the text a lot clearer, this could be done by adding effects to the text, such as a drop shadow or inner glow. My ancillary tasks were produced on Photoshop, this was a completely new software for me, which I had no previous knowledge of using. I managed to make some good changes to the effects on the text, I did however have to spend time researching Photoshop effects and looking at tutorials in order to make it effective.
Another comment on the font which I used to the first couple of drafts was that it was too plain or simplistic, people said that they would prefer to see a more modern, edgy and trendy text. After looking at all the fonts which I could possibly use I decided on one which I felt portrayed the collaboration of genres and the audience which I was targeting. I changes the font of my text to a more modern, edgy font.
With regards to audience feedback, I received some comments about my ancillary tasks. This was that the Digipak and the magazine advert looked very basic and simplistic. I understood where this comment came from and looked to improve upon this aspect of the work. The whole process of using Photoshop was new and difficult to me, so producing something that looked ‘ok’ or ‘average’ was something positive for me. After I heard this comment and got to grips with working Photoshop more, made some changes to my ancillary tasks which made them better.
Before my audience feedback, the pictures which were included in my ancillary tasks were quite basic, with little or no effects to them. After I received comments that my ancillary tasks looked to plain, I made a number of changes to the images. I changed things about the images such as contrast levels, the brightness, darkness of particular aspects, these different things helped the images to look more edgy, and not as if they had simply been copied and pasted.
I also changed the picture order; the front image of my digipak had changed a number of times, from images of fire, the woods, and different images of the artist. I decided that certain images which I chose were not the best image to use, I decided on the image of the artist for my final version of my digipak and magazine advert. The reason for this choose is that some people commented that the other picture, for the front of the digipak were not very effective or relevant; even though they did help in terms of marketing and carrying out themes, symbolism and mood.
Evaluation Question 3
How effective is the combination of your main product and ancillary tasks?
The combination on my main production and ancillary tasks are effective in the way that they give of a certain mood. The feel of the music video, digipak and magazine advert are all gloomy, dark and sad. This is done in order to convey to the audience that the genre of the music is new wave/rock; the genre of rock will have productions and advertisements that give of this feeling to it.
The use of symbolism was has been used in the production and ancillary tasks is good for marketing our production, it helps audiences and fans remember specific things about the production and want to see more. An example of the symbolism that is included within our work is the story of Adam & Eve; this relates to people sinning. This is done through the use of a red apple and the significance of the cross necklace within the music video. The use of Christian symbols creates an enigma for the audience about the band and also the music video. The genre of rock is not normally associated with religion of any type; also one of the main themes in the music video is one of death. This creates an enigma of why the man would be stealing his victims cross and wearing it; this could be taken as the man is flaunting his sins to the heavens or showing that he is a dangerous villain who enjoys sinning. The use of symbolism is effective in the way that it allows the audience to make up their own mind on what the meaning behind it is.
The same locations have been used for all three of the tasks, the main video, digipak and magazine advert. This is effective in the way of marketing as it allows the audience to recognise one of the three tasks from one of the other. For example, a person could recognise the magazine advert from the music video as the same location is used in all three of them; this location was Hainault Forest, Chigwell. This location also reinforces the feeling of depression and isolation.
All three of the tasks have similar visual styles; this also helps audiences to recognise one of them from the other, like the above example. Apart from similar locations which are used in all three, there is a specific colour scheme which runs through all of them. The use of black and white imagery, cinematography (this is done in the editing stage of the production) appears in all three of the tasks and also helps to give on the sad feeling to it. The colour of red also appears in all three of the task, this connotation is also up to the audience to decide. The colour red could be represented as a connotation for many different things; some of these could be love, romance, passion, death and blood. This leaves it up to the audience to decide what the relevance of the colour is.
Our tasks are also effective in relation to target audiences; we are aiming to reach the largest possible target audience that we can reach. The use of hy-bridge of genres helps us to reach out to a wide range of people, people who are interested in rock (which could be a number of different sub-genres, alternative) and people who are interested in new wave will possibly listen and view the track/video. The production of the tasks will reach a larger target audience because it is a British/American production; the band is an American band, but the production of this music video and ancillary tasks are British produced. This is effective as the larger audience we can reach for our production, the better.
The combination on my main production and ancillary tasks are effective in the way that they give of a certain mood. The feel of the music video, digipak and magazine advert are all gloomy, dark and sad. This is done in order to convey to the audience that the genre of the music is new wave/rock; the genre of rock will have productions and advertisements that give of this feeling to it.
The use of symbolism was has been used in the production and ancillary tasks is good for marketing our production, it helps audiences and fans remember specific things about the production and want to see more. An example of the symbolism that is included within our work is the story of Adam & Eve; this relates to people sinning. This is done through the use of a red apple and the significance of the cross necklace within the music video. The use of Christian symbols creates an enigma for the audience about the band and also the music video. The genre of rock is not normally associated with religion of any type; also one of the main themes in the music video is one of death. This creates an enigma of why the man would be stealing his victims cross and wearing it; this could be taken as the man is flaunting his sins to the heavens or showing that he is a dangerous villain who enjoys sinning. The use of symbolism is effective in the way that it allows the audience to make up their own mind on what the meaning behind it is.
The same locations have been used for all three of the tasks, the main video, digipak and magazine advert. This is effective in the way of marketing as it allows the audience to recognise one of the three tasks from one of the other. For example, a person could recognise the magazine advert from the music video as the same location is used in all three of them; this location was Hainault Forest, Chigwell. This location also reinforces the feeling of depression and isolation.
All three of the tasks have similar visual styles; this also helps audiences to recognise one of them from the other, like the above example. Apart from similar locations which are used in all three, there is a specific colour scheme which runs through all of them. The use of black and white imagery, cinematography (this is done in the editing stage of the production) appears in all three of the tasks and also helps to give on the sad feeling to it. The colour of red also appears in all three of the task, this connotation is also up to the audience to decide. The colour red could be represented as a connotation for many different things; some of these could be love, romance, passion, death and blood. This leaves it up to the audience to decide what the relevance of the colour is.
Our tasks are also effective in relation to target audiences; we are aiming to reach the largest possible target audience that we can reach. The use of hy-bridge of genres helps us to reach out to a wide range of people, people who are interested in rock (which could be a number of different sub-genres, alternative) and people who are interested in new wave will possibly listen and view the track/video. The production of the tasks will reach a larger target audience because it is a British/American production; the band is an American band, but the production of this music video and ancillary tasks are British produced. This is effective as the larger audience we can reach for our production, the better.
Evalutation question 4
How did you use media technologies in the construction, research and planning and evaluation stages?
RESEARCH & PLANNING
YouTube - We used YouTube for a number of things which involved out research & planning tasks, including researching our choice of genres, uploading our audience research and analysing two music videos using Goodwin’s' theory
Blogger- One of the main internet sources used for our coursework, all the work and tasks which we completed were uploaded onto blogger
Google- Helped me to research particular research and planning topics, such as star analysis and auteur theory.
Scribd- I used scribd as another format in which I could upload work onto blogger.
Facebook- I used facebook to contact bands and artists for the permission of tracks to use for our production
Msn Messenger- I also used msn messenger in order to contact bands and artists for permission of the track
Camera (SONY DCR-SR35E) - We used the camera to film audience the audience research and the analysis of the digipak
Tripod (HAMA) - We also used the tripod to film the audience research and the analysis of the digipak, the digipak enabled us to keep the camera straight by connecting the camera to it and not having to hold it. It also helped us to change the height in which we wanted the camera to be positioned
Final Cut Pro - This was helpful in the research & planning tasks, it helped me edit the audience research and analysis of the digipak. By using this I was able to cut different clips into how I wanted them, place clips is specific orders, include transitions and effect, and even include text if it was appropriate.
CONSTRUCTION
Camera (SONY DCR-SR35E) - The camera was very important in the construction of our music video, it enables us to record moving images and construct different cinematic techniques/ camera shots and camera and angles.
Tripod (HAMA) - The tripod was also very important for the construction of our music video, it enabled us to create different camera shots/ angles, keep the camera straight and centred.
Laptop (SONY VAIO) - The editing software which we used to edit our music video was used on this laptop.
Adobe Elements 10 - This is the editing software which we used to edit our main production. By using this software I was able to cut different clips into how my partner and I wanted them, place clips is specific orders, include transitions and effect, even include text if it was appropriate.
Blogger - We used blogger to upload our main production and ancillary tasks
YouTube - We used YouTube to upload drafts and final draft of the music video
Adobe Photoshop CS5.1- Photoshop was the main software which I used for the construction of my ancillary tasks; magazine advert and digipak. The software was completely new to me, so before the construction I spent some time researching the software and looking at tutorials for help on how to use it. After researching Photoshop, it was clear that you can do loads of things to edit images. Some of the things which you can do to images is change the colour, include text, add creative effects to images, change contrast and so on.
EVALUATION
Camera (SONY DCR- SR35E) We used the camera in order to film my partner and I explaining the evaluation questions.
Tripod (HAMA) The tripod helped us in our evaluation whilst we were filming, it helped to hold the camera up right, keep it straight and level. It also allowed us to just the angles and heights of the camera.
YouTube - YouTube was used in the evaluation stage, we uploaded our filmed evaluation question to it.
Blogger - This was used upload to our posts during the evaluation stage, blogger was also helpful in stage to look back and refer to particular pieces of work in my evaluation
Laptop (SONY VAIO)-This is the laptop that we used to edit our production on.
RESEARCH & PLANNING
YouTube - We used YouTube for a number of things which involved out research & planning tasks, including researching our choice of genres, uploading our audience research and analysing two music videos using Goodwin’s' theory
Blogger- One of the main internet sources used for our coursework, all the work and tasks which we completed were uploaded onto blogger
Google- Helped me to research particular research and planning topics, such as star analysis and auteur theory.
Scribd- I used scribd as another format in which I could upload work onto blogger.
Facebook- I used facebook to contact bands and artists for the permission of tracks to use for our production
Msn Messenger- I also used msn messenger in order to contact bands and artists for permission of the track
Camera (SONY DCR-SR35E) - We used the camera to film audience the audience research and the analysis of the digipak
Tripod (HAMA) - We also used the tripod to film the audience research and the analysis of the digipak, the digipak enabled us to keep the camera straight by connecting the camera to it and not having to hold it. It also helped us to change the height in which we wanted the camera to be positioned
Final Cut Pro - This was helpful in the research & planning tasks, it helped me edit the audience research and analysis of the digipak. By using this I was able to cut different clips into how I wanted them, place clips is specific orders, include transitions and effect, and even include text if it was appropriate.
CONSTRUCTION
Camera (SONY DCR-SR35E) - The camera was very important in the construction of our music video, it enables us to record moving images and construct different cinematic techniques/ camera shots and camera and angles.
Tripod (HAMA) - The tripod was also very important for the construction of our music video, it enabled us to create different camera shots/ angles, keep the camera straight and centred.
Laptop (SONY VAIO) - The editing software which we used to edit our music video was used on this laptop.
Adobe Elements 10 - This is the editing software which we used to edit our main production. By using this software I was able to cut different clips into how my partner and I wanted them, place clips is specific orders, include transitions and effect, even include text if it was appropriate.
Blogger - We used blogger to upload our main production and ancillary tasks
YouTube - We used YouTube to upload drafts and final draft of the music video
Adobe Photoshop CS5.1- Photoshop was the main software which I used for the construction of my ancillary tasks; magazine advert and digipak. The software was completely new to me, so before the construction I spent some time researching the software and looking at tutorials for help on how to use it. After researching Photoshop, it was clear that you can do loads of things to edit images. Some of the things which you can do to images is change the colour, include text, add creative effects to images, change contrast and so on.
EVALUATION
Camera (SONY DCR- SR35E) We used the camera in order to film my partner and I explaining the evaluation questions.
Tripod (HAMA) The tripod helped us in our evaluation whilst we were filming, it helped to hold the camera up right, keep it straight and level. It also allowed us to just the angles and heights of the camera.
YouTube - YouTube was used in the evaluation stage, we uploaded our filmed evaluation question to it.
Blogger - This was used upload to our posts during the evaluation stage, blogger was also helpful in stage to look back and refer to particular pieces of work in my evaluation
Laptop (SONY VAIO)-This is the laptop that we used to edit our production on.
Evaluation Question 1
In which ways does your media product use, develope, and challange forms and conventions of real media?
For part of my research and planning task, i analysed two music videos using Andrew Goodwins six point approach. One of the points was a focus on close-up's of the artists face due to demand of record lables. We decided to use a number of close up's of the artist to show that he is the lead singer, we also used close up's to convey the peoples emotions and storyline. One example is the close-up of the main females face, it shows her with dark make-up and blood down her face. This conveys to the audience that something has happened to the girl. This helps build inigma within the viewers, this has shown to make people want to carry of watching the video. We have used this convention of a music video.
Another point whitin Goodwin's approach to analysing music videos is the relationship between music and visuals. We have used this convention of a music video by having the artist lypc sync the lyrics of the song. We also used footage of the main artist playing the guitar whilst the music was playing.
The relationship between lyrics and visuals is another point in Goodwins approach. Our chose track is a hy-bridge of genres, rock and new wave. We developed upon this collaberation of genres, the lyrics of the song talks about loving a girl, telling her she will never be alone, expressesing the love he feels for her as burning him inside. The choose of words develope the idea that the love he is feeling for the girl in painful, mabey an unrequited love where the girl does not feel it back. We combined the element and the point that it is not a simple love with themes from the rock genre, death we also includes the theme of obsession within the production.
We have developed upon the narrative parts of our music video. I have seen through researching music videos and audience research that music videos have more performance based elements than narrative. We challenged this idea by having more narrative based elements than performance in the music video.
We also challanged the use of instruments. The majority of rock music videos will include a band and several different instruments. We challanged this by only using a guitar in our music video, it was proving difficult for my partner and I to arrange actors who could play the insturments, the instruments and location. We also liked the idea of featuring the main member of the band and his story.
We used elements of new wave in our music video, new wave music videos usually feature either causual clothing or 'out-there' clothing, we chose to use the element of casual clothing for our lead singer in the production.
We used and developed upon symbolism within music videos, through analysing music videos and researching there are music videos which contain clear inter-textual references and symbolism such as Jay-Z's music video 'On to the next one'. We have used the idea of using symbolism in our music video, but we have also challanged it. We have done this by including intertextual references to Scarface and the capitailist reiguim within society, we have also included symbology refereing to Cristianity and Adam & Eve.
For part of my research and planning task, i analysed two music videos using Andrew Goodwins six point approach. One of the points was a focus on close-up's of the artists face due to demand of record lables. We decided to use a number of close up's of the artist to show that he is the lead singer, we also used close up's to convey the peoples emotions and storyline. One example is the close-up of the main females face, it shows her with dark make-up and blood down her face. This conveys to the audience that something has happened to the girl. This helps build inigma within the viewers, this has shown to make people want to carry of watching the video. We have used this convention of a music video.
Another point whitin Goodwin's approach to analysing music videos is the relationship between music and visuals. We have used this convention of a music video by having the artist lypc sync the lyrics of the song. We also used footage of the main artist playing the guitar whilst the music was playing.
The relationship between lyrics and visuals is another point in Goodwins approach. Our chose track is a hy-bridge of genres, rock and new wave. We developed upon this collaberation of genres, the lyrics of the song talks about loving a girl, telling her she will never be alone, expressesing the love he feels for her as burning him inside. The choose of words develope the idea that the love he is feeling for the girl in painful, mabey an unrequited love where the girl does not feel it back. We combined the element and the point that it is not a simple love with themes from the rock genre, death we also includes the theme of obsession within the production.
We have developed upon the narrative parts of our music video. I have seen through researching music videos and audience research that music videos have more performance based elements than narrative. We challenged this idea by having more narrative based elements than performance in the music video.
We also challanged the use of instruments. The majority of rock music videos will include a band and several different instruments. We challanged this by only using a guitar in our music video, it was proving difficult for my partner and I to arrange actors who could play the insturments, the instruments and location. We also liked the idea of featuring the main member of the band and his story.
We used elements of new wave in our music video, new wave music videos usually feature either causual clothing or 'out-there' clothing, we chose to use the element of casual clothing for our lead singer in the production.
We used and developed upon symbolism within music videos, through analysing music videos and researching there are music videos which contain clear inter-textual references and symbolism such as Jay-Z's music video 'On to the next one'. We have used the idea of using symbolism in our music video, but we have also challanged it. We have done this by including intertextual references to Scarface and the capitailist reiguim within society, we have also included symbology refereing to Cristianity and Adam & Eve.
Saturday, 17 December 2011
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