Evaluation Question 4: How did you use new media technologies in the construction and research planning and evaluation stages?

How did you use new media technologies in the construction and research planning and evaluation stages? 

Technology in Research

I began my research effective using new media technologies such as search engines, Microsoft products and such viewing products as Adobe Reader etc. The search engine I chose to use was Google, which ultimately helped me choose a target audience through various magazine websites found through the search engine - http://www.bauermedia.co.uk/.

Furthermore I used such programmes as Microsoft word to help me write certain lists/texts/ideas etc. The programme gave me a wide range of fonts, text sizes which would effectively help me with later programmes such as Photoshop which uses similar font pallets. Microsoft PowerPoint gave me much help through the use of being able to create short and concise presentations which gave my findings in an effective manner.

In the planning of the magazine I was required to read a lot of texts from online sources, Adobe Reader greatly helped me being able to read texts in the form of a PDF. By this I would not have to save an online document due to the quick open function. Adobe Reader is also a very effective and easy programme to operate through the concept of zooming, scrolling through pages and manipulating texts.

Technology in Planning

Technology was a key component of my planning my music video. I used many programmes allowing my knowledge to grow. I also began to learn to combine technologies in an effective manner e.g. Microsoft Word and Scribd. Scribd is a programme that allowed me to upload a document in the txt. format to my blog. The programme would also effectively give a tool to scroll through the document whilst it is posted on my blog.

Another effective combination of technologies is Microsoft Word and Slideshare. Slideshare ultimately allows you to load txt. Formatted documents on your blog, very much like Scribd. Yet Slideshare gives the document in a format allowing you to move from slide to slide giving a much different effect on your blog. Both Slideshare and Scribd are both online programmes which can be prone to failing causing many problems, yet fortunately are easily fixable through restarting the converting process.

Another effective piece of technology is Prezi, this, much like Powerpoint, allows people to see presentations in a way allowing the viewer to see a very animated-like presentation of texts. Furthermore, Prezi gives an embed code for each presentation created allowing for easy upload to blogs.

Technology in Construction

In the stages of constructing my music video a programme that was mainly responsible for the editing process was Adobe Premier. This allowed me to cut, fade, screen and edit shot views. Adobe Premiere requires a lot of practice, yet is a very effective programme allowing someone to be able to manipulate videos and sounds. I effectively matched the beat of a song to my camera clips giving my music video a professional look. Furthermore, I effectively cut clips to a shorter time to make them seem a lot more tightly timed. Adobe Premiere also allowed me to manipulate sounds through the tools letting me edit volume and speed of sounds/music.

Adobe Photoshop was an effective programme used for creating my digipack, the use of layers, colours, templates and tools helped me to make a effective digipack. I effectively used the pen tool to draw my characters on the covers of the digipack. Furthermore, I found tracing easy through using layers and the paint brush tool. I made this look more effective through using drop shadow on the traced item. I enjoyed being able to edit brightness and contrast of text and drawings.

The online website Weebly enabled me to create a professional looking website for the band of my music video. I inserted various widgits and pictures making the website look further authentic. I used Adobe Photoshop to make banners and picture, then weebly allowed me to upload the JPEG’s to my website giving the website a more welcoming tone. Weebly allowed me to use my vision of an effective website to mould my own. This was through the vast amount of combinations of tools, proxemics and backgrounds.

Technology in my Evaluations

I used such programmes as Microsoft Word/Powerpoint, Scribd, Slidshare and Adobe In Design to allow me to write and upload my evaluation questions.

Adobe In Design allowed me to move texts and pictures into spaces allowing for an effective and professional look. Adobe In Design allowed me to make a booklet looking concept for my evaluation question 2. The programme effectively blends Microsoft word through aspects such as Spell Check and text font changes, and Adobe Photoshop allowing the creator to manipulate pictures with things such as contrast and brightness.

Evaluation Question 3: What have you learnt from your audience feedback?

From my audience feedback I have effectively found that my music video appeals to different markets and alternate target audiences. Through this I have also been able to understand what different groups appreciate within a music video.

I have effectively been able to understand from my target audience the attraction to my music video through the exposure of the band within the performance side of my music video. Furthermore, it is appealing to my target audience through the strong use of colours being black and bright lights. I found from my questionnaire I handed out around my class that people who enjoy rock music also enjoy having a section of narrative. I took this into account when planning and included a narrative section in my final product. I gained feedback from the same people towards my music video which came back with positive reactions.

I also asked for feedback from various other audiences e.g. that of an older audience. I gained positive feedback, being that the proxemics of lighting and band during the performance based performance was effective, yet I learnt that the camera shots of the narrative were not as effective as I would have wished through the lack of facial expression shown.

Furthermore, I asked for feedback from various teachers out of my target audience who admired the quality of the music video, yet were not as drawn in to the narrative as I would have wished, therefore I have effectively learnt to focus more on narrative to allow a connection to build between audience and protagonist’s in the music video.

I also asked my mother for feedback in which she responded positively yet, gave effective feedback highlighting the in-direct use of a character driving a car. Through this I have learnt to make smaller point vivid for my audience, allowing them to understand the narrative in more depth.

I have gained a lot of effective feedback from my audience allowing me to adapt my music video to the highest standard that I could possibly get. I believe through the feedback I also learnt that my target audience is not necessarily the only audience I wish to be appealing to.

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

Evalutation Question 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 from Nick Fortella

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

My music video envelopes many conventions of real media products through structure, narrative, and common idiosyncrasies such as image, instruments and setting.

Initially, my music video shows has an opening sequence reinforcing the co-orperation that makes the video. The music videos of my genre commonly give credit to the label of Production Company that helps the band fund and shoots the music.

Firstly, my music video uses the convention of the theme of love in my narrative. This is due to the strong use of boy and girl, in a relationship. The audience are presented with a boy and girl waking up together as a first shot to the narrative. The conflict occurs when the female finds an earring in the bed of the male character. This suggests infidelity. I strongly believe this conveys the convention of common music video of the genre due to the research I did in the music videos of the genre having themes of infidelity.

The male character enters the room and the female confronts him, the use of anger is a strong convention of the common music video of the genre. This is through the video usually matching the music effectively. The use of camera angles keeps eye level of both characters, subverting from the convention of typical music videos due to the camera following the person with the higher status.

The male character is pushed out of the door challenging Andrew Goodwyne’s theory through the use of giving the female character the higher status in this scene of the video. The male character stands below the female character on the stairs further highlighting the subversion of Goodwyne’s theory.

The male character leaves the house while the female character could be seen to be a ‘damsel in distress’ being convention of typical music videos, due to the character needing to be saved emotionally.

The use of costumes relates to Mulvey’s theory through the use of the female character being shown in revealing clothing, showing her legs, this, in a way, subjectifies the female character further linking to Goodwyne’s theory. I believe I effectively initially give both characters a equal power stance through the costume, both being revealed in a certain way.

Furthermore, in the performance, all characters are wearing smart clothes challenging the convention of music video of a similar genre, who tend to wear casual clothing. The bands vocalist wears black with a white shirt and black tie, this foreshadows the death of the character in the narrative due to the strong connotations of black signifying death. Also, black being a colour worn at funerals.

The male character drives away, linking to the freedom of the male character within the narrative, while the female is subjugated to the confinements of the house in which they live. This relates to Muly’s theory of females being objectified, this conveys the stereotype of typical music videos of my genre as the female gender are seen as weak highlighting Propp’s theory a ‘Damsel in Distress’ (commonly seen as a film theory)

 
 

Re-edited/FINAL Music Video

Music Video 2 from Nick Fortella on Vimeo.

FINAL OPENING SEQUENCE

Music Video Draft

Sequence 01 from Nick Fortella on Vimeo.

This is my draft music video, it has been rendered and includes the opening sequence