Question 4 evaluation

Evaluation Question 4 How did you use media

technologies in the construction and

research, planning and evaluation stages?

By Denisa Sykaj

Media Technologies

Software's!!

Equipment!!

Research & Planning! Throughout the 3 stages of this coursework ; Research, Planning and constriction , we had to use a lot of media technologies, software's and equipment as shown in the pictures above. When it came to planning and researching , we used Google the most. This was a tool that helped us research artists at www.UnsignedArtist.com where we looked through them individually as we had to find an unsigned artist to star in our music video. We also used Google to look up different locations in which we could do our music video. Alongside that was researching into the genre we wanted, what are the normal, common conventions of that genre and if we would be able to follow them to ensure we make a successful music video in that genre. We also used our own technological devices, these being our mobile phones (Iphones & Blackberry’s), these helped a great deal when communication need to be had by myself and the group this being making sure that we chose the right artist, making sure that all the research was covered and basically to keep in contact referring to the media coursework and then the group communicating with our artist. This was to set up shooting days, interview days, photo shoot days and the props/costume etc. Our mobile devices also helped with Online research which we could all do at any time during the day/week. This was to do basic research such as photographs of existing artists in the genre we chose, songs from that genre etc. Alongside these, we also used YouTube a lot, this again was to research conventions of music videos, then research conventions of music videos in our chosen genre. Above all this , for research and planning we all used Wordpress which was consistent throughout the whole process as everything we did had to go up on there, this being ideas we came up with, locations we had found/taken images of, treatments, call sheets, storyboards etc which we also could write about in great detail . This was very helpful as it kept us on track with everything we had done so far and what still had to be done ; example : the ancillary tasks that were set. Wikipedia was also used to define words or theories from the Media Terminology.

Referring back to the use of Google, Google Maps was also used to find the locations. We used Google maps to ensure we get a clear insight of how the location area looks like and what could be shot where, we kept in mind that the street views aren't always accurate as sometimes they might not be updated. This helped us a great deal as one of our group members isn’t located in the same area as the rest of the group so using Google maps helped when getting the directions by both train and bus to the shooting area.

Adding on to the list of research and planning, Microsoft Word and Microsoft PowerPoint were used on various occasions. We used Microsoft Word for our Pre-production paperwork – this being from the Call sheets which we created on Microsoft Word so that the whole group knew when and where and what should happen on the days allocated. Then there was the Video synopsis (treatment) which was the final plan before setting out to shoot our music video, this was then scanned onto a USB and transferred onto our Wordpress blogs. Alongside these, was also the Risk assessment which had to be done, we made sure this was accessible to one another and clear enough which is why we chose Word. This programme was very effective and helped a lot as it made our pre-production easier to do and to access. Similarly, to Microsoft Word, we also used Microsoft word, this was mainly for research on the aspects further down the procedure, such as the ancillary tasks which came after the music video. A lot of research was done before even thinking about starting to create our own digipack. Research had to be done on the conventions of CD Albums and Magazine advertisements/ posters on our chosen genre. That being Rap/Hip-Hop. When uploading PowerPoint's, I used SlideShare which made it so much easier to get my presentations on my blog as all you do is upload it onto SlideShare and then embed it and paste it onto your Wordpress post, not only is it so easy but it makes your blog look so much more organized. This was very helpful and effective in the whole process as I did use it more than once.

Social Networking! Social networking was merely used for feedback for our ancillary tasks : CD Album & Advertisement and our main product – The music video. As part of our evaluation we had to receive audience feedback on all of our products and the only way to do that was to promote our video wherever possible. I promoted our music video on three social networking sites ; Tumblr, Twitter, Facebook. Tumblr because it has come to my realisation that a lot of people have and use Tumblr which works well for me as I can market our music video at our target audience which is teenagers aged 16-19, both genders. Twitter because like Tumblr, it also has many constant users who retweet things they like which again is very beneficial as our music video will definitely be seen by perhaps a large number of people. And finally, the last social networking site which is Facebook, likewise with the two above, this also has a good amount of users which will promote our music video.

Survey Monkey was also used as another feedback technique where we created many open questions for people to answer in depth on our music video. This was very useful as we could get a variety of different feedback as the survey would go out to a number of people. The questions varied from thoughts about the music to more in depth questions about the lip-syncing, edits etc.

Ancillary Tasks! Whilst in the process of making my ancillary

tasks ; the CD album and advertisement, I went on two different font websites to find the best font for my CD album and advertisement. After having done my research on digipacks on rap/hip-hop I realised that representation is key, this being the image, colours and the font. By having searched almost all of the pages on the font website I found the perfect two for my front cover and advertisement. This was really effective and helped me out a great deal as I managed to make my cover more successful on following the conventions of a typical rap/hip-hop cover . Likewise, with the advertisement as it also makes it more appealing and eye-catching.

Front Cover and back of booklet!

Booklet Insert!

Advertisement poster! CD back

cover

The camera we used when shooting our music video was a . We used this for the construction process to ensure we captured high quality images for our ancillary tasks and high quality footage for our music video. On the shooting production day we had 3 cameras with us so that we could capture scenes from different angles which would help us in prior for the editing stage as not all the footage would be perfect, and it wasn't. Alongside this camera we also used a tripod, this enabled us to have a variety of different shots, tilts, steady footage which would be the first ingredient in making a successful music video especially for our genre – rap/hip-hop. Adding on to the list, we also had camera lights with us. These being the ones you put onto the camera, this helped when there was poor lighting in certain areas in which we could use the lights for extra, better quality effect. Finally, the one constant prop we had with us whilst shooting was the Dr Dre Speaker Box. This is seen throughout the music video and is a very iconic prop as it represents music and the modern gadgets of the music industry today.

Canon 60D

Filming!!

Dr Dre

Speaker!

TRIP

OD

Ligh

t

CANON 60D

Construction!When the constructing stage came up, we had all access to the Macs. Using the Macs enabled us to use the software's that are on it. This was an extra skill that I developed as I personally hadn't used a Mac for editing before, except the trial we had in advanced for our own editing. There were two main software's used for the construction stage. This meaning for editing our music video and creating our own digipacks – CD Album and Advertisements. The first one is Final Cut Pro. This was used to edit our music video. This really broadened my skills as a media student as it was my first time using it. It was quite tricky at the beginning but we I soon got the hand of it as did my group. This allowed me to use a wide range of tools leading to effective edits – from using fillers to replace any footage that isn’t up to the standards of being apart of the music vide to then editing the shots, cutting down the scenes of what is needed and what isn't, putting it together once the final footage is sorted. The second software used was Adobe Photoshop. Photoshop was used to create our ancillary tasks, the digipak and the advertisement poster. I used it for editing the images which I had chosen to set as my front cover, back cover, booklet and back of booklet of my digipack and what should be used for my advertisement poster. We also used In Design when creating our digipacks as the accurate templates for our covers were set on there, and we had to import them from In Design files to JPEG in order to upload onto our blogs.

We had to use Ethernet cables once in a while because the Macs in our college did not have internet access. We also had to use camera cables to transfer our images and footage from the camera onto the computers likewise with USB’S to save work or to transfer from one computer to another – or for use at home. Alongside this was the hard drive we were assigned to (Damon) which had all of our work saved on and accessible for each group member whenever it was needed. This helped a great deal because not everyone in our group had a memory stick to save work on.

Click Here To Access Our Video : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cN15fqHQMIU

ConclusionThis whole process has been very enjoyable but hard at the same time. Knowing what we have to get done and by when was a real challenge as there was so much to do. However, having said that it was quite interesting as there were many aspects of media to yet be experienced. This being the different editing stages of our music video and our own individual ancillary tasks. The production of the three products enabled me to use a variety of new technologies a software's and even polish my skills on software's I have used before (Photoshop) . The research and planning stages were interesting as we managed to research a lot about our chosen genre. Likewise with the planning which was quite exhilarating as it felt surreal and official that we really were going to produce our own music video.

As a result of this production for these three products, my skills have significantly developed as I feel I have gained a lot of knowledge and experience on the software's we used, the media technologies we used and the research information that was gathered.