Wednesday 2 April 2014
Tuesday 1 April 2014
In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
For my music video the song I chose was The 1975- Chocolate, The 1975 are an indie/rock band which are quite popular in the music scene. Their own video for this song inspired me because it showed very strong conventions for an indie/rock video. The narrative of my video was very simple and I wanted my video to show real chemistry and a fun loving relationship throughout. What inspired me to create the chemistry was Drake and Rihanna song Take Care, even though this video doesn't fit into the genre of indie/rock it shows elements. It shows the chemistry and relationship between the two characters, I wanted to created something like this in my own music video.
On the left shows a clip from Drake and Rihanna's music video and on the right shows a clip from my own. I tried to follow the simply conventions of male and female and the connections. Even though I have chosen black and white to follow the conventions of indie I wanted to challenge the conventions also that my video would appeal also to a wider audience. The 1975 music has also made it into the charts which shows it appeals to a lot of people even though it is an indie genre. I think clothing was important so I tried to create my outfits to show representation of 'typical indie teenager'. This consisted of black and white, leather jackets and black skinny jeans. In this clip I also followed the conventions of the camera shots, for example considering medium close up, long shots, pans, tilts and rooms.
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This is this original video of Chocolate by The 1975, as you can see they follow the convention of indie being related to black and white, I wanted to follow this convention by displaying my video in black and white. I like the style of the main singer which I wanted to recreate in my own music video. I haven't copied parts from this video but I have analysed this video to help me meet the right criteria for my target audience. Mise-on-scene was important to as choosing my location, I chose 3 different places to film which was the green room, the Beverley WestWood and Hornsea beach. I chose the green room because I wanted a studio effect in my video like the one in Drake and Rihanna's music video. I wanted to audience to feel a connection between the two characters without the distractions of the surroundings around them and by using the studio I was able to create this for example when my character was singing all the focus was on him and the shots of them both together kind of shows a flash back effect for the audience. I also needed shots of them resembling the chemistry and the full attention to be on them themselves. The main character being Jamie which was very dominant I used the Westwood for this being I like the open stretch of woodland and grassy area. It let me express me intentions, it shows him in different parts of the area running away from the problem of them wanting to be together. With having the wide space I wanted to create the feel of Jamie being on his own and the space around him creating the thoughts going on, creating the fact he was on his own and not knowing what to do.
Camera Shots
Camera shots in my music video was very important and choosing which ones to use I had to look at different real media products that show a range of different shots which meets the codes and conventions. The one I used in my opening shot was from a shot in the original chocolate video. It shows a tilt of the character head to toe. In one of the scenes in chocolate it doesn't so much show A tilt but shows a shot on the character which is shown throughout the video. I liked this idea and included it in my own, using short clips to show the relationship. For example shots of him and shots of her, which shows them separately but flicking back in the music video. Entertaining the audience was also important, by creating this in my video I used experimental and varied shots. The editing between the clips created this for example nearer the end of my music video the edits between the shots got quicker showing fun times between both the characters, this was made up of various practice shots, I think this created a sense of fun in my video. I wanted the audience to laugh and for them to feel a connection to the video and relate.
Ancillary Texts
As well as my music video my ancillary texts also took a lot of research to create the best I could. I had to look at existing media products, from AS media studies I was familiar with the codes and conventions of what to include in a magazine. Even though this was a magazine poster I am familiar to using photo shop and this helped a great deal when creating this. It was important to create continuity throughout my products. From looking at research I found it was important for image on my CD cover to be similar to the one on my magazine poster. To follow this from real media products I took photos from the same shoot for both my CD album and magazine poster. It was important to include a link to social media sites such as twitter or facebook, this follows one of the main conventions for my magazine poster. You would have to follow the same conventions such as including the artists/bands name, name of the album and the release date.
This prezi above is what I created to find out research into existing media products (magazine posters) from carrying out this research I looked at different codes and conventions which I needed to include. Finding existing products of my genre helped me base my magazine advert around them. I was really inspired by Lana Del Reys, born to die magazine advert. I liked the main image being very dominant of her which pulls the audience in. In comparison with mine I wanted to do the same, make my main image the most important thing on the magazine poster because before the audience have seen your music video they will have seen the advert, the picture gives an in site of what your product is about and the narrative. This is what happens in real media products and I think portraying this in my own product gave a sense of realism to it and professional.
On the left shows a clip from Drake and Rihanna's music video and on the right shows a clip from my own. I tried to follow the simply conventions of male and female and the connections. Even though I have chosen black and white to follow the conventions of indie I wanted to challenge the conventions also that my video would appeal also to a wider audience. The 1975 music has also made it into the charts which shows it appeals to a lot of people even though it is an indie genre. I think clothing was important so I tried to create my outfits to show representation of 'typical indie teenager'. This consisted of black and white, leather jackets and black skinny jeans. In this clip I also followed the conventions of the camera shots, for example considering medium close up, long shots, pans, tilts and rooms.
.
This is this original video of Chocolate by The 1975, as you can see they follow the convention of indie being related to black and white, I wanted to follow this convention by displaying my video in black and white. I like the style of the main singer which I wanted to recreate in my own music video. I haven't copied parts from this video but I have analysed this video to help me meet the right criteria for my target audience. Mise-on-scene was important to as choosing my location, I chose 3 different places to film which was the green room, the Beverley WestWood and Hornsea beach. I chose the green room because I wanted a studio effect in my video like the one in Drake and Rihanna's music video. I wanted to audience to feel a connection between the two characters without the distractions of the surroundings around them and by using the studio I was able to create this for example when my character was singing all the focus was on him and the shots of them both together kind of shows a flash back effect for the audience. I also needed shots of them resembling the chemistry and the full attention to be on them themselves. The main character being Jamie which was very dominant I used the Westwood for this being I like the open stretch of woodland and grassy area. It let me express me intentions, it shows him in different parts of the area running away from the problem of them wanting to be together. With having the wide space I wanted to create the feel of Jamie being on his own and the space around him creating the thoughts going on, creating the fact he was on his own and not knowing what to do.
Camera Shots
Camera shots in my music video was very important and choosing which ones to use I had to look at different real media products that show a range of different shots which meets the codes and conventions. The one I used in my opening shot was from a shot in the original chocolate video. It shows a tilt of the character head to toe. In one of the scenes in chocolate it doesn't so much show A tilt but shows a shot on the character which is shown throughout the video. I liked this idea and included it in my own, using short clips to show the relationship. For example shots of him and shots of her, which shows them separately but flicking back in the music video. Entertaining the audience was also important, by creating this in my video I used experimental and varied shots. The editing between the clips created this for example nearer the end of my music video the edits between the shots got quicker showing fun times between both the characters, this was made up of various practice shots, I think this created a sense of fun in my video. I wanted the audience to laugh and for them to feel a connection to the video and relate.Ancillary Texts
As well as my music video my ancillary texts also took a lot of research to create the best I could. I had to look at existing media products, from AS media studies I was familiar with the codes and conventions of what to include in a magazine. Even though this was a magazine poster I am familiar to using photo shop and this helped a great deal when creating this. It was important to create continuity throughout my products. From looking at research I found it was important for image on my CD cover to be similar to the one on my magazine poster. To follow this from real media products I took photos from the same shoot for both my CD album and magazine poster. It was important to include a link to social media sites such as twitter or facebook, this follows one of the main conventions for my magazine poster. You would have to follow the same conventions such as including the artists/bands name, name of the album and the release date.
This prezi above is what I created to find out research into existing media products (magazine posters) from carrying out this research I looked at different codes and conventions which I needed to include. Finding existing products of my genre helped me base my magazine advert around them. I was really inspired by Lana Del Reys, born to die magazine advert. I liked the main image being very dominant of her which pulls the audience in. In comparison with mine I wanted to do the same, make my main image the most important thing on the magazine poster because before the audience have seen your music video they will have seen the advert, the picture gives an in site of what your product is about and the narrative. This is what happens in real media products and I think portraying this in my own product gave a sense of realism to it and professional.
Monday 31 March 2014
How effective is the combination of your main product and ancillary texts?
When creating my main product and ancillary texts and I think it is important to create continuity throughout both different products. From my first planning and research stages I chose the genre of indie. From choosing this I chose basic things to follow for example I chose the theme black and white. For this to be effective I used it in my video and ancillary texts. I presented my video in black and white and my ancillary texts also. This created continuity throughout, when taking my photographs for my ancillary texts I took them while in the process of filming. By having the same images from my digi pak featured in my poster shows a good understanding of continuity I think this was a good idea because it shows an understanding of media products and how to make them effective. This is just my opinion I think to find out if my combination of my music video and ancillary texts worked well I should create a questionnaire. I will ask opinions of people, for example asking my target audience of 16+ if my magazine poster and my CD digi pak and my music video work well together. Below shows the questionnaire I asked my target audience.
Altogether I asked 20 people from my target audience, I think this was a good way to gather information because they was able to write down what they actually thought. I got a range of feedback from giving out this questionnaire which helped me to see how effective my combination of my main product and ancillary texts was.
I did this focus group to get information about how things worked but also how effective this worked together and the combination of my main product and my ancillary texts where. The questions I asked in relation to this where "Do you think my ancillary texts which I have shown you links in and creates continuity with my music video?"
As you can see I got positive feedback it shows that they all link in together, the person from this focus group has shown clear understanding that the combination is clear and effective. I think this is clear from the use of black and white which was used throughout, choosing black and white was from my chosen genre indie.
Altogether I asked 20 people from my target audience, I think this was a good way to gather information because they was able to write down what they actually thought. I got a range of feedback from giving out this questionnaire which helped me to see how effective my combination of my main product and ancillary texts was.
Here is one of the answered questionnaires I received back. They was able to guess my genre and they comments about my ancillary texts linking with my video was also good, as it says they look good and link well. The fact that they wouldn't change my ancillary texts if they had the option because they said it was good shows how effective it is. Asking the age was important because it shows proof that they fit in with my target audience of 18+. I am happy with this feedback. From the rest of my other questionnaires they all was very similar as they show the clear understanding of the link with both music video and my ancillary texts. I think from doing this research with my target audience it backs up of how effective the combination of my main product and ancillary texts are. From getting proof from my actual target audience it gives a real feedback and shows my product was successful.
I did this focus group to get information about how things worked but also how effective this worked together and the combination of my main product and my ancillary texts where. The questions I asked in relation to this where "Do you think my ancillary texts which I have shown you links in and creates continuity with my music video?"
As you can see I got positive feedback it shows that they all link in together, the person from this focus group has shown clear understanding that the combination is clear and effective. I think this is clear from the use of black and white which was used throughout, choosing black and white was from my chosen genre indie.
Audience Feedback and what I have learnt
Throughout my project I have collecting different audience feedback from my developments for example for my research and planning stages I created a focus group which helped me with the very early stages of my product. This focus group is what I used for audience research, I asked my target audience some questions which they would like to see from my product.
The questions asked where:
1. Do you prefer music videos telling a story or more abstract?
2. What do you normally expect to see in a music video?
3. What conventions do you expect to see for this genre?
4. These are my initial ideas what do you think of them?
5. What form of media do you use to listen to music?
6. What would you like to see in my music video?
I learnt a lot from this research at the start of my product it helped me understand what my target audience are interested in. Helped me pick my narrative and I applied the information to my final products.
The questions asked where:
1. Do you prefer music videos telling a story or more abstract?
2. What do you normally expect to see in a music video?
3. What conventions do you expect to see for this genre?
4. These are my initial ideas what do you think of them?
5. What form of media do you use to listen to music?
6. What would you like to see in my music video?
I learnt a lot from this research at the start of my product it helped me understand what my target audience are interested in. Helped me pick my narrative and I applied the information to my final products.
Also in my early on in my research and my audience research I carried out a questionnaire for my target audience. This is the questionnaire I produced to give to a selection of my target audience. I asked 20 students who are 16+ and have a strong interest in indie music which is my selected target audience. From doing this in my early stages I learnt lots of different things. The results I got back from both 4 question was that 15/20 said they feel like they belong in the group who are outer-directed which means they're belongers and emulators also achievers this is where my target audience fell into because it gives a clear understanding that this is what they believe they're part of. The results I received from question 2 which was, do you think it is important to earn respect from the type of music you listen to? 17/20 said yes which shows that more than 50% believe that respect is earned from different peers and consumers who listen to indie music this gives a clear understanding of my target audience and I think the results I am receiving from this questionnaire are shaping my target audience into clear groups from pyschographics and the hierarchy of needs. My third question asked as Do you feel more part of a group if you all share the same interest in the same genre of music? 12/20 said yes course and 8 said sometimes and none said no. This shows that more than 50% said yes and the others said sometimes. This backs up the idea that people do want to belong and this shows them as an individual group which show strong interests. My final question was does music effect you as an individual? The results of this question show that 15 said yes 4 said sometimes and 1 said no. This shows the the majority are effected and the results from the whole questionnaire itself have shaped my target audience and shown how they believe it is important to belong and respect is a huge thing when it comes into a particular genre of music. This added my research from doing this, and now in my evaluation stages it shows I learnt a lot from doing it.
Ancillary Text Feedback:
First Draft Feedback:
My first draft I uploaded to youtube was the first bit of editing I had put together, I still had filming to do and add to my music video. From uploading it i showed three different people from my target audience to comment and give me audience feedback to help improve my work. I have spilt my audience feedback into three sections these are strengths, weaknesses and things to improve.
Strengths:
- "The video is simple but effective"
- "Overall a good first draft"
- "This music video has a good use of a exisiting media product conventions"
- "I really like the last few scenes as they are a combination of different shots which connote the emotion between the two characters"
- "I really like how the video is in black and white throughout, this creates continuity within your work which is following the conventions of this form"
Weaknesses
- "The narrative and layout is hazey"
- "There is the repetetive use of the scenes"
- "Sometimes the edits don't cut to the beat"
Things to improve:
- "I believe that it is a good first draft however more shots could be developed here to make it slightly more complex"
- "A little colour could be reflected in the video to represent certain parts of the relationship maybe?"
From analysing this feedback and splitting it up into sections, I learnt what I should do and improve, from this I went out and produced a whole load more of footage for my video. I took into consideration of the comments and when editing my second draft I tried to develop it and make it better. Shows that from collecting comments from my target audience it helped me do better and I learnt from the weaknesses for example, I made the narrative more clear, took away the repetitive scene's and edit to the beat.
Audience Feedback from my final products:
Collecting audience feedback for my final products is very important because you want to know if I have have produced a successful product. First of all I got together 3 people who are 16+ to sit down and watch my music video, I also had a print out of my ancillary texts which I showed them. I then produced a focus group. When I started to record I knew they had a good knowledge of what my product contained. The people I asked fitted my target audience it was essential to collect this information to know the strong and weak points of my products and asking the questions I did i gathered this information which I needed.
Questions asked:
From looking at my music video can you tell me what genre it it?
Do you think the black and white works well?
Do you understand the narrative?
What do you think my target audience is?
What do parts do you like about my music video?
Do you think my ancillary texts which I have shown links in and creates continuity with my music video?
Do you think my ancillary texts follow the conventions of real media products?
What one thing would you change?
The comments I received showed successful through my products I have learnt continuity is a strong part of my products. The genre was clear to my target audience, relations to black and white it shows it follows real media products and links in with the same genre. The best parts of my music video was the fast ending when I show the banter between the characters and the relationship between them. The narrative was easily picked up and understood. Something I would change would speeding up some of my edits/cuts between different shots. From doing this focus groups it helps me understand what was useful and what wasn't so good. This is what I have learnt from carrying out this research.
How did you use media technologies in the construction and research,planning and evaluation stages?
This is the camera I used to film my footage and the construction of my product. The reason I used this camera is because it was a college camera, it was very easy to get hold of and to book out and very convenient for all the times I had to film. I also used a tripod from college suitable for the camera. This helped me get footage that was still and I was able to get good framing from different angles rather then my camera moving or going blurring while I was filming a shot. I was able to alter the tripod in different positions getting different camera movement and positions. The good thing about using this camera from college was that you was guaranteed good high quality footage. I had found this out by using my own camera to film some footage which didn't go too well. I had already shot some footage on a college camera but I then shot some on my own camera which was a Nikon D1300, the different footage did was compact with each other in the editing program I was using. My own camera was especially for still images and high quality photography instead a filming, you could tell this by the grainy shots which I got out of using my own camera. This was a big problem I came across because I had filmed a large chunk of my music video using my own camera, it set me a bit behind but I mange to re film and come out with A lot better footage which was a positive.
Constructing and editing my music video I used Adobe Premiere Pro CS4, this is industry standard and is A professional software that allows manipulation to moving images, you worked across 2 screens which helped you view your footage you have shot and then build together clips to make your video. I added my song to the program so I could edit to the beat of my music. Using this certain program meant that the possibilities are endless, it has a number of different media techniques that you can use for example split screening and dissolve. This means it made it easier through the edits of the shots to make my music video complex. It also has the option of audio manipulation, for example fading in the audio in and out when you want it to. All these made me produce the best of my ability I could.
While researching and planning my music video I used You Tube to research and analyse different products. For example I did 3 textual analysis, this meant I researched 3 different music videos which I used you tube for. The use of you tube gives you the ability to stream music for free, which meant that it was useful when researching existing products.
Here shows where I have used You Tube to research different products, the videos I analysed was to my genre, this helped me when planning because I was able to follow the codes and conventions including in these different videos. I was able to print screen the different sections which I want to analyse.
Photo Shop was a very useful media technology while constructing my Ancillary Texts. I have shown how I produced my magazine poster step by step. Photo Shop is easy to use and is very useful when it comes to producing CD digi paks and Magazine posters. I have a very strong knowledge on using this because for AS we had to produce our own magazine front cover, double page spread and contents page. It gave me a good start because I know what to include and how to produce it. I also use photo shop in my other subjects, one including is photography. I was able to use my knowledge from this to produce good photographs and edit them to
to my best ability.
Photoshop
Web 2.0
I used Web 2.0 and 'Google' search engine mainly constructing my planning and research. I mainly used this one because Google caters for a mass audience across Web 2.0. If i was to search for an artist or existing products it would give me an answer in a matter of seconds. It has options of searching images for example I searched 'existing album magazine posters' I had a range of existing media products which I could pull out different codes and conventions. This helped me put together my research, for my research for my music magazine I used Prezi, this is on the internet which able's you to create fun and creative mind maps. I found this very useful to make quick easy research which helped me get the best outcomes of my work. There was a few problems when using prezis, difficulties of saving certain mind maps I produced but i over came this problem. I have also used prezi in my evaluation stages, as you can see it has been a very useful part of web 2.0 that i used.
Evaluation Stages
When constructing my final evaluation stages and creating my final ancillary texts my main media technology was my own camera which is a Nikon D3100, compared to when I was using it for my filming I found it was more useful using it for this part of my project. The reason for this was I was producing still image, and this is what my camera is especially used for. Created my magazine cover I used to studio to take my photographs, I thought it was best I took them whist in the process of filming, this helped because my characters where in the correct outfits and frame of mind. I used a range of different technologies to take them, for example I used two different soft boxes to create a nice light I connected my camera to one of the soft boxes so when I pressed my shutter down it flashed to create a nice light
Wednesday 26 March 2014
Shooting again/different location & second draft
After producing a first draft and collecting audience feedback I needed to collect some more footage. My aim to collect some footage from different locations my last location for shooting is Hornsea, which is the nearest beach too us. I wanted to create footage of my two characters on the beach together. The weather was very nice but very windy and cold. The outfits I chose for my characters was their original outfits which I had chose for my previous filming but I added jackets and scarfs this creates a different mise-en-scene for my characters. Having them both filming outside the studio. In my audience feedback from my first draft it says I should get more shots and develop to make it slightly more complex. By taking on this comment I have create different shots from different angles, for example shooting them both from behind at a low angle, but then taking a shot of both of them far away at a different angle. I have tried to show this through my video and developing my video to make it more advanced.
Second Draft
From filming again I have now got a second draft which is shown below, there is still some work that needs to be done for example some more edits/effects added to thr switch of different shots. But I am happy with this second draft after recieving all the footage I needed too. I will now concentrate on finishing my video to produce a final and the best music video to my ability.
Thursday 20 March 2014
Audience Feedback On Draft 1
After producing my first draft I have uploaded it too my blog. To develop my video and produce a second draft which shows a vast improvement I think gathering feed back is a very good idea. I asked a few people from my target audience to watch my video and assess the clips I have so far. Even though I still have a large number of blank spaced I think you can gather what my video is about. Below is my audience feedback:
Feedback 1:
The video is simple but effective. The narrative and layout is hazey but you can easily see the chemistry between the couple and the objective of the video. The song is fun, outgoing and cheerful which is also represented through the characters and their actions well. I believe that it is a good first draft however more shots could be developed here to make it slightly more complex. A little colour could be reflected in the video to represent certain parts of the relationship maybe? Overall a good first draft.
Feedback 2:
This music video has a good use of a exisiting media product convetions; There is the repetitive use of the scenes. I really like the last few scenes as they are a combination of different shots which connote the emotion between the two characters. I really like how the video is in black and white throughout, this creates continuity within your work which is following the conventions of this form.
Feedback 3:
I like the idea of the narrative being but I think it is effective. The black and white work really well with the style of the video and the genre. Sometimes the edits don't cut to the beat and I think this could be an improvement you could make. I really like the last few scenes which shows fast editing of the couple together. Your work shows good continuity, it shows a fun and happy environment.
From looking at this audience feedback I have decided to break it down in three sections for example I have looked at strengths, weaknesses and things to improve. By doing this I will be able to pick out what is good about my music video and what I should keep and what I need to change and improvement. Below shows the different sections and the different comments I have picked out.
Strengths:
Feedback 1:
The video is simple but effective. The narrative and layout is hazey but you can easily see the chemistry between the couple and the objective of the video. The song is fun, outgoing and cheerful which is also represented through the characters and their actions well. I believe that it is a good first draft however more shots could be developed here to make it slightly more complex. A little colour could be reflected in the video to represent certain parts of the relationship maybe? Overall a good first draft.
Feedback 2:
This music video has a good use of a exisiting media product convetions; There is the repetitive use of the scenes. I really like the last few scenes as they are a combination of different shots which connote the emotion between the two characters. I really like how the video is in black and white throughout, this creates continuity within your work which is following the conventions of this form.
Feedback 3:
I like the idea of the narrative being but I think it is effective. The black and white work really well with the style of the video and the genre. Sometimes the edits don't cut to the beat and I think this could be an improvement you could make. I really like the last few scenes which shows fast editing of the couple together. Your work shows good continuity, it shows a fun and happy environment.
From looking at this audience feedback I have decided to break it down in three sections for example I have looked at strengths, weaknesses and things to improve. By doing this I will be able to pick out what is good about my music video and what I should keep and what I need to change and improvement. Below shows the different sections and the different comments I have picked out.
Strengths:
- "The video is simple but effective"
- "Overall a good first draft"
- "This music video has a good use of a exisiting media product conventions"
- "I really like the last few scenes as they are a combination of different shots which connote the emotion between the two characters"
- "I really like how the video is in black and white throughout, this creates continuity within your work which is following the conventions of this form"
Weaknesses
- "The narrative and layout is hazey"
- "There is the repetetive use of the scenes"
- "Sometimes the edits don't cut to the beat"
Things to improve:
- "I believe that it is a good first draft however more shots could be developed here to make it slightly more complex"
- "A little colour could be reflected in the video to represent certain parts of the relationship maybe?"
In my next draft I will take these comments on board and improvement my work, for example making the narrative layout a more clearer, taking the repetitive scenes out and replacing them with new footage . I will cut my edits to the beat of the music and make it slightly more complex. I might add colour to my video but I don't want to break the continuity through my video but I will take the comment into consideration.
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