Evaluation Q4 (Edited for resubmission)

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

Throughout my work I used a variety of new media technologies to help along with my planning and research, the construction of my final music video, my digipak and advertisement, and to display my evaluation.  By using new media like Facebook and Youtube I can expand my work onto a wider audience to get feedback and display my work.  I can reach out to a range of ages, gender and locations around the world by using social media, this gives me a better range of feedback.  For this question I am going to explain what media technologies I specifically used for each sector of my work process.  

New media technologies 

WEBSITES

• Google/Google images 
  
• Twitter
  
• Facebook
  
• Tumblr
  
• YouTube
  
• Blogger
  
• Prezi
  
• SlideShare
  
• SurveyMonkey
  
• Dafont.com
  
• Radio 1 Top 40 Charts
  
• YouTube Top 40 Charts
  

COMPUTER SOFTWARE/iPhone technology

• Final Cut Pro (non linear editing)
  
• Microsoft Programmes - Word and PowerPoint
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Adobe PhotoShop
  
• iMessage
  
• iPhoto
  
   
• Facebook Messenger
  
   

HARDWARE (EQUIPMENT)

• SONY HDR-CX190E DIGITAL HD VIDEO CAMERA RECORDER
• Tripod
• 32GB SD card
• iPhone camera
• 32GB Memory stick
• Macbook Air
• MAC computer 

Research and planning

To start off my research and planning I firstly used web 2.0 to browse YouTube for existing music videos.  By doing this I found it useful as I was able to look at and analyse the different convections that were typically seen for each genre of music video.  I was specifically looking at pop music videos, I found these by browsing the top current hot 40, this lead me to all the top charts of popular music at this current time.  As it was the top 40 I had a variety of artists to look at.
As well as using Youtube for current music videos I also used YouTube to display my own videos.  For example, to upload my audience research, my draft edits and final music video.  
To display my research of current music videos and conventions analyse I used software such as Powerpoint, SlideShare and Prezi.  I used these software options to display my work because the sites are easy to use and have different creative ways of presentation, for example colour and different font types.  For research such as costume, hair  and makeup I used Powerpoint to display images, mood boards and discuss my ideas.    I typically used Blogger as well to display simple key points and visual images along side this.  
For audience research I used SurveyMonkey which is a free online questionnaire and survey programme.  Once I had decided the questions I wanted to ask I created the online survey which I then emailed to the rest of the students at college via the college email system.  From students that did take time to fill out the survey I then could collect the data.  SurveyMonkey themselves organise the data into easily readable charts which I could then print screen and display onto my blog. 
Organisation is key when working with multiple people.  To organise my cast I used Facebook Messenger to communicate with them and organise times when all three of the cast were free.  I also used Facebook Messenger to discuss costume, hair and makeup.  
When I was on location, to expand on my filming diary I took photos on my iPhone 5 to show behind the scene action. 

Construction 

For the construction of my music video I used Final Cut Pro, which is non linear editing, on a MAC  computer.  To upload my music to go along side my video I used YouTube converter.  I used Final Cut Pro to import my footage from a SONY HDR-CX190E DIGITAL HD VIDEO CAMERA RECORDER.  The camera was easy to use at it had a side flip out screen so that I could check my framing of the shot at all times.  I could also flip the screen around so that my models could see themselves therefore could position themselves well in the camera and it gave them confidence to see what they were doing.  I used a tripod the stabilise my camera and to use for angling and different shot types.    
Throughout my work process I used a 32GB memory card and 32GB memory stick to hold all of my work.  I used 32GB so that I didn't have the issue of having not enough memory to store my footage.
For my two ancillary texts, my digipak and advertisement, I used Adobe PhotoShop to construct and edit.  To take the images for my ancillary texts I used a Canon EOS 600D camera.  This gave me good quality images and was easy to use.  
The use of Photoshop was straight forward as my skills have developed from my first year in media.  For example, I had more knowledge of the tools I could use, therefore this made it quicker for me to construct my ancillary texts.
I used Dafont.com for the artist name and the album name for both of my ancillary texts. 

Evaluation  

For my evaluation work to display it I used software such as, PowerPoint, YouTube, SlideShare, Prezi and Blogger.  I used these sites as they gave me a creative way to display my work using text, videos footage and images.  For my audience feedback I used the SONY HDR-CX190E DIGITAL HD VIDEO CAMERA RECORDER to film, as well as a tripod.  I used YouTube once again to upload this footage.  I also used YouTube to screenshot the Rihanna, Rude Boy and Bloodshake by Peace music videos to analyse conventions.   

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Digipak

Process of digipak (tools used on PhotoShop)

These are the tools I used to create my digipak in Adobe Photoshop.  By using a range of tools I am using the program to its best potential and I am using all the technology I can to make my product how I want it to fit the genre of pop.  By using the tools correctly I can manipulate and move images and text to wear I want them.  I can also change the size of the images and text and the colour and font of the font, to fit the genre and make sure I have continuity between my ancillary texts.  The tools provided can also help me use layers so that I can have multiple images and text on my digipak.   

Process of advertisement

This is the process of the making of my advertisement.  By using Adobe Photoshop I can create what I planned using the tools provided and using layers so that I can add a range of text and images to the page.  I can move around images and text by using the quick selection tool.  I can also change the size by using the free transform tool.  I found using Photoshop easy and simple, but Photoshop also provides more complex tools, for advanced editing, for example morphing images into shape, I did this when placing my advertisement in a real life situation for the general public to see.  

 

To start my advertisement I needed to chose two images that would go at the top and the bottom.  I wanted to pick an image that involved the artist and an establishing shot.     

I then wanted to produce banners so that the text on the advert stood out to the audience.  I did all three banners a different colour, one black, neon green and white.  The neon green banner stands out the most and is for the main sell line. 

I then added the name of the artist and the album.  I put these over the first image of the artist because this directly links.   I changed the name of the artist to white as this made it stand out more on the black costume. 

I then added the sell lines.  I used different font for each as this adds interest and style to fit the genre of pop.      

To finish the advert I added social media connections at the bottom of the page.  This allows the audience to find more information about the artist and their music.

Ancillary digipak template

This is the template I am going to use for my digipak.  By using a template I can create a digipak that looks professional and more realistic to the existing digipaks that we see in shops today.  This digipak template has space for the disk design, front and back cover and the inside covers of the digipak.  It also shows me the outline of the digipak where the bleed line is so that I don't go over this line with any images or text so that when the digipak is put together everything is in the correct place and not overlapping onto different cover sides.  Measurements are also given so I can get an idea of the size of the digipak.      

Ancillary colour scheme

These are four colours that I will be using in my ancillary texts.  I have chosen these colours as they are bold but still girly at the same time.  I am mainly using neon green throughout my ancillary texts to have consistancy.  Neon green connotates jealousy which links to the lyrics of my song choice as they fight over the crown.  The neon has a young, fun vibe also.  Pink and Purple are also associated to be feminine and as my video involves three female models I thought this was relevant.  I chose black as it is a staple colour that comes across as important, for example, the colour of the font as a whole.  Black also connotes darkness which can be portrayed as edgy.            

Mock ancillary posters (computer and hand drawn)

These are some  mock ancillary poster that I produced.  I made a range of computerised and hand drawn designs, I did this as I wanted to make my hand drawn designs look more professional and clear laid out.  By creating multiple designs I have thought about all the possibilities that I could have on how I would like my ancillary texts to look.  By exploring different layouts I can see what suits the genre the best and what will capture the eye of the general public the most.  For example the main image and name of the artist needs to be the main feature of the ancillary text as this is what captures the publics attention the most and is straight to the point about who the ancillary text is about.  Once I have captured the attention of the public added information can then be read by them.  The main sell line can also be a focal point, therefore the position of this interns of the main image and added information is vital, it doesn't want to be overlapped or covered by anything else.    

Axillary text image ideas

For my ancillary texts I needed some images to display.  Therefore I did multiple photo shoots with the models in different locations, outfits and makeup to show variety and keep the public interested.  Even though I have shown variety through the shoots I have also kept continuity between the ancillary texts and the video by using the same locations, outfits and makeup, but by using multiple options this shows variety.  When taking my photos I was considering composition, lighting and the backdrop to the photo.  As my chosen genre is pop I chose urban locations to fit this genre.  Graffiti and worn down building structure fits the edgy vibe the pop genre has.      

Final costume/hair/makeup

In my music video I have one costume change making my cast have two outfits each.  I have decided to do this as the last part of my song, Lily Allen Sheezus, has a different beat and vibe to the first three quarters of the song.  The main costume I have chosen is American Apparel skirts and a variety of styles and patterned crop tops.  This gives a young, current, girly vibe to the video, which I wanted as the song is heavily female forward.  I wanted to use a variety of different styles of tops and skirts so that the models didn't all the the exact same but still looked similar as they are all in the same group.
The first outfit change is to all black, black jeans and black top.  This signifies a rebellious side to being born again (lyrics) as normally heaven is associated with white.  
In terms of hair I have kept it effortless and natural because I didn't want it to distract from the costume.
For the makeup it was simple eyes, just mascara, and for lip colour, for the first costume, was a variety of nudes and a pop of colour.  For the second costume, I decided to make all three models wear a dark deep purple, almost black, lip.  This went great with the theme of all black costume.        

New cast filming diary

Saturday 28th of February 2015

This was the first date filming in my new location and with the new cast.  I think the day of filming went well.  I think this as I got a considerable amount of footage.  I knew before we started filming that it would take the girls a bit of time to get used to the camera and the types of things I was asking them to do, for example, miming and movement.  They reacted well and cooperated nicely, plus they started to enjoy it.  The weather was at an ok standard but was fairly cloudy.  This didn't effect the footage to badly, as in the lighting.  The next time I will be filming is when all the cast is free at the same time.  We came to the conclusion of saturday the 14th of March in the morning as everyone had free time.  This is in another 2 weeks time, which isn't very convenient but is out of my control.  On the upside this time will allow me to edit the footage I have and see what is missing and what can be improved.  I will also allow me to plan what I want to film next.  
Here are some behind the scenes photos:

Saturday 14th of March 2015

On the second day of filming everything went to plan.  We changed location around Scunthorpe centre multiple times to get different location shots.  For example, ally ways and side streets.  No complications arose, for example, missing cast, weather or interuptions due to the general public.  The weather was cloudy with a few sunny spells, which was ok.  The cast were cooperative and they got used to the camera filming them.  We were filming from nine oclock in the morning until two in the afternoon which was a considerable amount of time to get the footage that I needed.  We also had one costume change and I added a inside location which was, Cafe INDIE.