Evaluation Question 4

How did you use media technologies in construction and research, planning and

evaluation stages?

ResearchThe main method that I used to research bands to find common conventions that I could then use, develop or challenge in my video was through the use of Google and YouTube and using band sites. The most common band sites I used were the Kooks, Paramore and Artic Monkeys and these were the videos that I also watched on YouTube to research the type of narrative and get inspiration from performance shots and editing technique.

Planning In the planning stage the technologies that are contemporary but vital was the use of mobile phones and social networking sites such as Facebook to contact the band members and between Jess and I to make sure everyone knew where to be and to make sure that the procedure run smoothly. I also contacted the Kooks through the social networking site Twitter to ask permission to use their song as this seemed to be the most efficient and direct route to contact a band as social networking sites have become an increasing way for bands and fans to communicate.

ConstructionIn the construction stage the most important technologies in producing my product was the use of Final Cut Express, this enabled me to cut clips at the exact point that I wanted, add transitions such as fade in and fade outs and put clips onto the timeline so that I could produce a music video that had continuity which would then look professional. Final cut also allowed me to manipulate colour levels on different clips for example shots of the guitar we put the clips into sepia level then adjusted this level so that other colours came through as well so the clips weren’t solid sepia but added a warmer touch to video similar to that of common conventions in Indie music videos and I did the same to other instrumental clips but saturated the clips then lowered the levels so they weren’t just black and white other colours came through this added a colder feel to the video.

I also used the HD Cameras to film my actual footage; this use of the cameras improved the image quality, which made the video look more professional. Adobe Photoshop was a key part in producing my poster and digi-pack, the tools on Photoshop allowed me to create layers on my images, edit exposure and saturation levels so that I could chrome key the poster having a black and white background and in the foreground highlighting the red jumpers of some of the band members, it enabled me to fade the image at the top so that the text was easier to read.

I also was able to split up images on the digi pack to keep my product a whole and create links between them. During the construction stage after I had produced my rough cut I used the new media of YouTube to host my video so that I could engage and read audience feedback so that I could interpret the audiences comments and needs to improve my video further and then I again used YouTube to host my final draft of my music video and embed it into my blog so that it is visible on two sites to add ease and interest to my video.

Here is my post that I put on my blog of my final draft of my video

EvaluationIn the evaluation stage the media that I used was YouTube to host my video and this meant that my video was able to be seen by a large demographic, the advantage of hosting my video on YouTube was the benefits that the audience can comment on my video and I can see the amount of views that it received and have a basis on how my video was received by the audience. Another technology that I used to aid my evaluation was the social networking site Facebook my video was posted on my wall so that my friends – the target audience – were able to watch my video, like it and comment if they wanted all of this information let me interpret if my video was received positively or negatively. When filming my evaluation feedback I used the HD cameras however the camera equipment failed so to make sure that I had a large enough audience sample and hadn’t wasted my focus groups time I had to film the last two audience members on a mobile phone which was then linked to the computer and the file transferred.

Jess and I both tried to increase feedback by posting our video on the social networking site Facebook.

When filming my evaluation feedback I used the HD cameras however the camera equipment failed so to make sure that I had a large enough audience sample and hadn’t wasted my focus groups time I had to film the last two audience members on a mobile phone which was then linked to the computer and the file transferred.