Question Four: How did you use mew media technologies in the construction and research, planning and evaluation stages?

The technologies that i used to create my product were as follows:

-Video camera

-Imovie

-Photoshop

-Internet (various websites)

 

Research and planning:

When creating my products, I spent a lot of time working on the internet researching into real media products from my chosen artist, and also my chosen genre (indie pop).  YouTube was the most used website for my research because as this course is about music videos, and because of the way YouTube has been construed, it allowed me to repeat and re-watch music videos that I was analysing in order to make sure that my analysis was accurate.


Although during my research I used the internet, when it came to lighting, costumes, locations etc. I used a HD camera in order to understand what these items would look like on the screen, because how the item looks in real life, it doesn't always look like that on camera. I was also able to take this technology out for some 'test shots' which allowed me, whilst planning my music video to understand what shots would look ideal, and what shots wouldn't look good.

 

Construction:

The technology that i used for creation were iMovie and Photoshop. I used iMovie to create my photographic storyboard, my audition piece for actors, my lip sync tests, my animation storyboard, and all three rough cuts including the final cut. Without this advanced software, I wouldn't have been able to produce my work to the standard that is it on my blog, and therefore I relied heavily on this technology in the creation and development of my main product.

Photoshop also played a heavy part in my digipack and music advertisement, because without this advanced piece of technology, I wouldn't have been able to add effects, text and different styles to the photos I had taken.

The technology that i used for creation was blogger and iMovie once again.

This technology allowed me to present my work in the most organised way and also in a way that the examiner would be able to follow my trail of thought and my reasoning why.

 

Evaluation:

Again with my evaluation questions I used IMovie to edited together my reasoning and evidence towards them (for example visual aid with my justification) and also Blogger to present my coursework. By using Blogger it allowed me to have a clear and understandable layout to allow others to follow my though-process and progression throughout this year with my advanced portfolio.

Question Three: what have you learnt from your audience feedback?

One thing that was lost from the video was the point that he had died. This was pointed out in rough cut one. Due to this I decided to add in a voice over at the beginning off of rough cut two, which then allowed audience to understand that he was dead and that they didn't just break up.

Question Two: How effective is the combination of the main product, and the ancillary tasks?

The way i chose my products to link together was through the actors and the locations.


I decided to use the actors in the clothes that they are shown in the lip-sync parts of my main product, because i thought that the best way to link the products together, would be through the actors as the entire narrative of my main product is focused around their relationship and so is the song 'bloodstains'.


The links between my music video and magazine advertisements are made apparent by;

- The location matches where the pair were shot lip syncing
- The actors are stood holding hands which connotes their union however they are facing away which shows connotations of disruption in their relationship (the disruption being that he is dead)
*The screen shot is taken from my music video and shows the clear link between products.*

I thought by using this picture, it also held mystery for the audience because they are united (holding hands) but they are facing away from each other, which allows the audience to bring their own hypothesis to the product.


When looking at my digipack and how it links to my music video, it links because:
- it uses the actors within the music video who represent the artist.
- the locations where used within my main product
- there is a divide from the two lovers (the cd) which connotes that their union hits disruption, which is the basic narrative of my main product.

I chose these picture to be on my digipack because it showed clear links to the main product through locations and actors. The locations also linked with the key conventions on a indie pop genre which are also shown within my main product. this also linked the two products together because both follow the brand that artist 'passenger' has created through video's such as, hearts on fire.


My two ancillary tasks link together because:
- they both use the same actors
- the locations are the same
- the digipack uses the magazine advert photo on the back cover with the song list.

I chose to do this because then audience members, if this was a real media product, would have recognized the advertisement, and therefore would make the link that it was the artist's merchandise.

Question One: In what way does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of a real media product

I also used Goodwin's theory, which is stage three 'There is a relation between music and video' which is used with my editing between the performance shots and the close up to the female closing her eyes to connote romance with her partner (approx.: 2:15)

Final Music Advertisement

I decided on this to be my final music advertisement because the background image shows both of the actors representing the artists (Kate Noon and Passenger) and also the characters they take on during the narrative. I edited the photo to fade in colour towards the male actor side to show connotations of the males having darker intentions towards the female (e.g. that he leaves her in the end of the narrative.) The text is in red to symbolize blood as the non-dietetic soundtrack used in the media product is called 'bloodstains' therefore showing link to the audience towards title and product. This product also creates links with my advanced portfolio task (music video) through the actors costume as they are seen wearing this during performance shots (e.g. lip syncing)

I've decided to give very little information on the track and it's album because it creates below-the-line advertisement from adoring fans, which is why i have supplied social networking sites with the title to follow (@passengeroffical). I have also supplied the Apple download icon to allow audiences to know where to download the track and the album when it it released, which i also supplied the release date.

There are also ratings from believable companies such as XFM radio (which plays a lot of passenger's music and music which relates to the audience demographics of an indie pop genre) and Billboard music which passenger made it to number one with pop song 'Let Her Go'. I added these in order to sell the song to audience members to assure them that the song is of good quality and is thought highly of from respected music stations and companies.  

Black crow records is also shown in plain sight (under ratings) to allow audiences to know which record company the song and album belongs to.

Music Advertisement Draft

This is my final Music Advertisement and it has been created to be a half page advertisement. 

I chose a warm under-tone for the effect on my photo because it shows connotations of hope and warmth, which is that the song, and also my music video focuses on in regards to the characters relationship.

Information wise I decided to keep it to a bare minimum because it allows audience members to then create their own hype by using the social media sites show in the bottom left corner. Being an indie pop genre, I also decided that below-the-line advertisement was going to be the best approach because compared to American medications and mainstream artists, there is less money on advertisement, and therefore to give the audience freedom to promote seemed logical, when thinking as though my product was a real media product.

The typography is white and elegant which connotes purity which symbolises the characters relationship, and also the content of the album. I also used this type of font because from real media text  e.g. the front used on chosen artist passenger's recent album 'Whispers' and the aim of this coursework task is to create media products which reflect and are as close to a real media product as possible. 

Final Digipack

I decided on my photos to be edited to a near black and white state because the song itself is bleak and depressing, however contains romantic connotations therefore this is reflected within my digipack in regards to the warm under-tone of the black and white state. The template that I have used shows where the panels will be when constructed, which worked well with my proto-type practice. The empty panel between the two characters is where the CD will be, and I have placed it like this because it shows connotations of a separation between the characters union which also reflects the nature of the song bloodstains.

I have placed my two actors to be looking at each other above the CD because it symbolises their love and compassion for each other, it also shows that they have been separated because the CD is in-between them stopping their union. The female actor is in a darker tone to the rest of the album because it shows that she is in morning over her lost love, the male actor is the opposite as he shows connotations of light and purity which connotes he is dead and has passed on to another life.


The two are shown in union with the song choice because it shows the audience that although the title song may be able loosing love, the rest of the album spins hope that love is beautiful and joins two people in an eternal bong, hence why the two actors are shown to be holding hands.

The front and left cover are pictures taken on shot and have been chosen because they match the generic key conventions of an indie pop genre, and the brand that passenger has created over the years.  The pathway has been chosen for the front cover because it shows connotations of an open path which implies that the album in a way forward for the artist and also the audience. The pathway from an audience point of view shows connotations of how the artists believes his work could open up new pathways for the audience due to the messages in his music.

My typography, is white which connotes purity and is in a very formal elegant font which shows connotations of the album to be soft and gentle. I chose this type of typography because it seemed simple but effective, which having looked at other indie pop genre digipacks, it fit with the key conventions and also gave me the change to have my work look as close to a real media product (Whispers by Passenger) as possible

Bloodstains, Final Cut

A change in development

I have decided to change my narrative structure. 

When listening to the lyrics I came to the conclusion that I needed to reflect upon a lovers tiff and breakup rather than a death of a loved one. This was due to re-analysing the lyrics such as 'and I hate what we've become', 'we know what it's been telling us to do' and 'it's kicking and it's telling' in post-production (editing) where I was able to construct a different narrative due to extra footage I had from shooting e.g. Filming everything three times over. 

Bloodstains Rough Cut Three

This is my rough cut three for my music video for 'Bloodstains' and like the other three cuts I asked for feedback, and this is what I received;

Negative feedback:
- The beginning sequence took away from the voice recording
- Lip syncing is out at points within the narrative
- The interior scene in the kitchen' had too many different shots and it took away from the actors performance



Positive feedback:
- The narrative was clear and everyone got it (finally!)
- They liked the differences of shots, and thought that the story was told well.
- I was asked if I could turn it into a movie, so i'm guessing that's a positive thing.
- The handheld camera was used effectively and wasn't over used, as it made it's point and quote 'made me wish my boyfriend did cute things like that'


Overall I am proud of this rough cut, despite it's flaws, and by that I mean the lip syncing. I have decided to go out and re-film the lip syncing and a few other shots (when he fades away from the bench and she is left alone, and when she is crying on the bathroom floor) I hope that this will then aid me to have a better final  music video, and also eliminates all of the criticism I have stated above.


This has aide me because I am now one step closer to having the best possible music video I can possibly create.

Rough cut 2 (Bloodstains)

Having taken into consideration all of the feedback that I have received, I made another rough cut to the video of 'bloodstains' with the feedback.


After showing this to an audience, this is what they said I could do to make it better:

- The lip syncing was off at points, mostly with the female
- Look towards using some slow motion
- The camera was a little shaky at times.
- It was confusing to see when it was a flashback, using an effect would have been better.


However what they found positive about my music video was:

- They understood the storyline and that he had died.
- They liked the interior shots of the two actors dancing
- The use of different and 'inventive' camera angles
- The use of a voice over at the beginning was 'powerful and clever'

*Each and everyone who gave me feedback said that it was sad, so that works with me because it means that I showed key conventions of the music genre and also reflected the lyrics of bloodstains*


By doing another rough cut, as well as getting another set of feedback aids me because it allows me to produce the best music video I could possible produce, which is something I would like, as it would (fingers crossed) lead to a higher grade.

Rough cut one: (Bloodstains)

By doing this it has allowed me gain some feedback on my work, which would aid me to having a better music video which would (fingers crossed) allow me to gain a higher grade.

When asking an audience, this was what they found I could improve on.

1- The beginning makes me feel sick, it has too much movement
2- I didn't understand that they died
3- Some of the lip syncing was out
4- It felt a little jumpy
5- There weren't many close up's on the girls face, and the shots were similar.


There did however like:

1- the storyline (even though they thought they just split up)
2- The 'perky' little shots that I added 'such as when she walks through the wood' (approx.: 20 secs)
3- My Mise-en-scene and lighting
4- Distance shots (for example the thumbnail)
5- How I was able to create the 'home video' feel, which allowed them to connect with the characters (which were self named 'Alice and Derek' by the cast)