Q4

Question 4 how did you use media technologies in the construction and research, planning and evaluation stage?

Media technologies was a method I used in which helped in all three stages ( research , planning and evaluation) to produce a music video.

Research:

The internet gave me access to websites such as YouTube to look into other music video for our bands to help with the research into the codes and conventions of what Indie Rock bands do in their music videos. Google also allowed to research into other theories such as Godwins Theory of music video so we can apply this to our music video and then share it to my blog. Google also allowed me to research more into indie rock bands, find out about their codes and conventions, and research into their appearance ect so I could apply this to our music video. In addition, part of my research consisted of myself getting feedback from my target audience and public to ensure that I was working towards the best product I could. Social networking allowed me get feedback online from my audience, posting drafts onto my Facebook account , Twitter and YouTube allowed the public to see my product and give me one to one feedback through comments. In addition, online websites such as ‘surveymonkey’ allowed me to post questionnaires for people to fill out and give me feedback. These feedback consisted of fonts, music video draft ect and help me improve my digi pack, poster or music video.

Planning:

Media technologies allowed us to plan in advance. The internet/Blogger was used to allow me to document my progress and helped me keep my work organized and plan in advance in film shoots ect. In addition, programmes such as Final Cut, allowed us to produce an animatic. This animatic was made up of our song but showing our storyboard. This allowed us to get a over view of how our idea would look along with the song and we presented this to our class to get feedback on what they think.

Construction:

Media technologies was a vital to create the music video and ancillary texts. From studying media for a certain amount of time and producing work in AS, This enabled us to push boundaries and produce a high piece of standard work due to knowing that we can literally do anything with the media technology now available to us.

During the construction of our music video, we filmed on a DSLR 500 , a high quality camera which enabled to use the focus on the camera to produce a lens pull. This made our music video more professional and at a high standard. Also using the iOS toll on the camera when using the camera in dark areas to ensure that we are filming with the most amount of light available to ensure that our music video is again professional and not dark so you can see it. The addition of a tri pod enabled us to keep our shots still and with the addition of  the memory card being such as large memory holder , enabled us to take as many shots as possible in different angels to ensure we had back up material to our music video.

Programmes such as Final Cut Pro is where the editing was mainly done. This enabled us to upload the footage and put it together and then use tools such as cut to make the video fast paced and adding the music to go with the video so it makes it easier to merge together. From using media technologies on our research in producing the animatic and researching other bands , we knew we had to make the video fast paced and quick cuts. Final cut enabled us to do this. In addition , final cut also allowed us to show the character growing up. We used the fade in tool , to do this as we got the idea form the lion king. We wanted to get the message across quickly and simply that the boy is growing up in age , and the cross fade enabled us to merge both video clips together to give that effect.

In adition , final cut allowed us to put our music video into black and white , a technique which we wanted to do as it made our music video more dark and many indie rock bands use the black and white effect tool for their music video. Furthermore , another software we used was Adobe after effect to create the CCTV footage , this software was a software we never used before , so researching into Youtube in how to use the software and create a CCTV footage enabled us to actually do this as we wanted our music video to be creative. Another media technology we used was mobile phones , this media equipment allowed us to have lyrics on the screen for Harry to see to ensure that when singing he was in time with the music and gave him confidence as he can see the lyrics in front of him , meaning that he will give a high standard performance.

Ancillary texts

For the ancillary texts , I used Photoshop to create these.  Photo shop was a software in which I was familiar with and enabled me to create a poster and digi pack. For my digi pack , Media technologies such as DLSR was what I used to take photos of that to ensure that my photos was a high standard. It also enabled me to be creative and unique and use the pull in focus . In addition , actually forming the products was done in photo shop. Photoshop enabled me to make them black and white , a technique in which I used as it was going to be a theme across all my media products. Furthermore , Photoshop enabled me emphasize on the colour red. The colour red like mentioned before was a important colour for my products and wanted to bring it out as much as possible because of the meaning it as and it brings life to the black and white images. Photoshop enabled me to do this , and bring out /play around with the darkness of the black and white in the brightness and contrasts. Furthermore , website such as DA Font enabled me to get fonts from online and conduct research to which is the best for me to use.

Evaluation:

Media Technologies allowed myself , to contrast an evaluation to evaluate my work as a whole. Evaluation stage enabled me to used media technologies such as final cut pro to conduct a voice over to produce my evaluation and images of screen shots to use as evidence to give the audience an indication of what I am talking about. 

Evaluation 3

http://prezi.com/lchqaglnvbl-/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy&rc=ex0share

Evaluation 2

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

For my media coursework , along with a music video , I had to produce a digi pack and a poster advertising the digi pack. In these I wanted to produce a product which is consistent in communicating the genre and characteristics/personality of the band with the audience. But also , produce a product which is unique and links in with the music video.

For the digi pack I wanted to express the image and genre of the band through the photographs. I didn’t want the photos to look and come across like a pop band such as One Direction and this is a element in which I didn’t want to come across in our music video. Together, we wanted to drill into the audience minds that we are a Indie Rock band through our appearance but with the Digi Pack , I  also wanted to express the genre through images that relate to our lifestyle  through using image of alcohol and cigarette which indicates our genre too. The font style I chose was from a website called ‘Da Font’ under the name ‘Piston Pressure’. This font was chosen due to the research I carried out on similar bands such as Artic Monkeys. Bands go for a bold basic font, but unique from different bands. This font is used for out band logo and used the same font for the posters and digi pack so there is a strong link between both. In addition, the more the public see the font , they will start to establish the font with the band , gaining a strong recognition with the public towards the band. I chose the colour black to mostly all the fonts , as black is a colour that stand out most and is a colour that similar bands use. They don’t go for nothing fancy or pop. Indie bands use dull/dark colours , so I carried this over to my digi pack and poster. In addition , I used a dark red on the poster for ‘out right now’ this emphasize and makes the statement stand out from the poster to audience. In addition , the colour red Is a theme and link through both ancillary texts. I choose to emphasize on the red as the colour red is associated with indie bands , but it has a strong meaning behind the colour. Red is assertive, daring, determined, energetic, powerful, enthusiastic, impulsive, exciting, and aggressive. Red represents physical energy, lust, passion, and desire. It symbolizes action, confidence, and courage. The colour red is linked to the most primitive physical, emotional, and financial needs of survival and self-preservation. These words associate with the bands lifestyle and image and symbolizes their music also. Therefore , red was the perfect choice , it also bring life to the black and white edit , which is a theme running throughout my music video , digi pack and poster. A message in which the band are trying to bring  life through their musical talent.

In my digi pack , I wanted to ensure they I wasn’t a pop genre band and didn’t want to many images of the band like one direction. I didn’t want the bands photos to look as if they was taken in a photoshoot. I wanted photos of the band naturally, such as ‘The Kooks’ in their albums and many others such as oasis and The Liberteens. This photo type are used in other album and digi packs , I wanted to ensure I use these for my digi pack.

For my front cover I choose to use a collection of photos than just one photo. That’s because I wanted to be unique and different. This is the bands first digi pack/ album , so I wanted to express the success of the band through images of them out together enjoying themselves. This gives a insight into the personality and the type of band we are. In addition , close ups of the band members allows the audience to see the members individually. This is linked in with the music video , as we use close up there to show the appearance of all the band members so the audience have an idea of all the band members.

My back over has a image of the band looking out into London, showing a London land mark of tower bridge . This image is a strong image , showing the location of where the band are from , giving a connection of the audience around where they came from , but alos show them looking out chasing their dream and that this is only the beginning . Not seeing their faces represent that they are not trying to sell their image but selling their music and skilled talents.

For my inside panel , I linked in the colour scheme again of black and white which goes along with the music video. This link is used in music videos such as Kasabian club foot  a common theme indie rock music videos , and a theme in digi packs such as artic monkeys, this associates with our target audience as these dark / dull targets appeal to male audience more , but the darkness and our appearance appeals to more a adult target group such as 16 – 25 , such as students. In addition , for my inside panels I wanted to use images that associate the band lifestyle portrayed negatively , therefor I used images such as alcohol , smoking  that give this rebellious / negative lifestyle. This lifestyle is represented slightly with the narrative of the music video in how dark it can be seen with the fight scene with all the blood. As our band , we have a rebellious, aggressive or just dark lifestyle and we wanted to show this. In addition , I brought out the colours of the red to make the image more engaging and again show that symbolise theme of the colour red throughout. In addition , to make the image more engaging , I ensued that the cigarette was lit so I can capture the smoke , this created a great edge to the photo and brings life to the image. But in addition , on my other inside panel , I used a image of the guitarist. This is a marketing tool as this panel will change into a different band member with every one that is released. This keeps the fans engage and exciting and makes our digi pakc feel more special and collectable. This technique is used in other bands such as Nirvana and Kiaser Chiefs .

For my CD panels , I wanted again to be unique and different. Being unique is a strong representation , as we want to be different. I decided to take this idea and turn the CD into two products but are associated to the band. I chose to use a ash tray and beer Bootle top. Again , I choose these objects as they can be easily turn t into the shape of the CD as both round. But also , as they reflect the band image and have that connection. To make it more engaging and fun and unique , I ensued that the background linked in with the CD/DVD. So as you take the CD up behind on the table is Rogues Gallery etched in , and behind the Bottle Top is a bottle with the head of the beer frothing over the side. This is unique and links with our target audience as this is associated with the youth . The DVD is a marketing selling point including footage of the band , engaging the audience to collect it and give the audience that behind the scenes experience with the band.

The advert for my digi pack still has a link. Looking into other adverts they do this through mainly having their album cover as their poster. I decided not o to do this and put the image in the corner of the album cover so everyone can see what it looks like for selling purpose. But I decided to use an image of the band again looking out to show the success of the band but also relates to the digi pack as all the image I used where taken in a day out with the band. The main point of the poster is market our band to the public and the type of image we are portraying through our outfits, you can tell we our indie band. The social networking and website links engages the audience to find out more about the band to market our artist in different media social networking due to our target audience being a young age , social networking is what they always use. The black and white image effect links into the digi pack and video creating a recognition for the audience.  I am pleased with my digipak and advert as I think they demonstrate both the conventions of these products, whilst portraying my artist suitably.

Overall , my digi pack has a link between and strongly shows the genre and the characteristics of the genre through the appearance of the band in both. You can clearly see it’s a band and their target audience is for more adults over 18 through the advertisement of alcohol and cigarette. The colour scheme in both, and the type of band we are portrays the rebellious/dark lifestyle the band have and empathize that the band main selling point is not their image , its their skill in their music.

Evaluation Q1