WHAT HAVE YOU WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED FROM LEARNED FROM AUDIENCE AUDIENCE FEEDBACK?FEEDBACK?

EVALUATION QUESTION 3EVALUATION QUESTION 3

ZARA MCDERMOTTZARA MCDERMOTT

What is the importance What is the importance of feedback?of feedback?Audience feedback is essential in the Audience feedback is essential in the formulation of a media product because it formulation of a media product because it indicates the needs of the audience and indicates the needs of the audience and allows you to manipulate your product (s) allows you to manipulate your product (s) in an attempt to gratify these needs. It also in an attempt to gratify these needs. It also allows you to see your product from and allows you to see your product from and different perspective and helps to make different perspective and helps to make improvements. In a corporate environment, improvements. In a corporate environment, this would increase revenue and success this would increase revenue and success of the product. of the product.

INITIAL STAGES.. INITIAL STAGES.. TREATMENTTREATMENT

Above are the sheets of paper which audience members to my presentation (my classmates Above are the sheets of paper which audience members to my presentation (my classmates and teacher) filled in about my treatment. There were three areas that my peers had to discuss and teacher) filled in about my treatment. There were three areas that my peers had to discuss regarding my ideas expressed in my treatment. First of all, they had to say something that they regarding my ideas expressed in my treatment. First of all, they had to say something that they agreedagreed with. Here are some of the things that people said: with. Here are some of the things that people said:

““I liked the way they it isn't focused on youth through the use of the older male”I liked the way they it isn't focused on youth through the use of the older male” ““I like the studio setting intertwined with the narrative”I like the studio setting intertwined with the narrative” ““I like how props are the focus”I like how props are the focus” ““I like how you have looked at the original video and how you want to change ti and make it a I like how you have looked at the original video and how you want to change ti and make it a

different theme”different theme” Secondly, my peers had to note something that they would want to Secondly, my peers had to note something that they would want to build upon. build upon. Here are a Here are a

few things they said:few things they said: ““Think not only about the character’s looks, but what character traits you want him to have not Think not only about the character’s looks, but what character traits you want him to have not

just aesthetics”just aesthetics” ““Could you build the cafe idea? Make the cafe in the studio?”Could you build the cafe idea? Make the cafe in the studio?” ““Narrative could be put into scenes set in a studio?”Narrative could be put into scenes set in a studio?” Lastly, my peers had to discuss something that they would Lastly, my peers had to discuss something that they would challenge:challenge: The most common theme was The most common theme was “a white backdrop could get boring” and also “think about “a white backdrop could get boring” and also “think about

camera movement”camera movement”

I remember being extremely pleased with my feedback I remember being extremely pleased with my feedback from my treatment. People noted how my idea was not from my treatment. People noted how my idea was not too extravagant but still had a unique element which too extravagant but still had a unique element which could easily be put into practice. Looking back, I did not could easily be put into practice. Looking back, I did not change my initial idea much at all; I knew a lot of change my initial idea much at all; I knew a lot of people in the class had to change their ideas because people in the class had to change their ideas because they thought too unrealistically about what they could they thought too unrealistically about what they could and couldn’t achieve with the potentially limited and couldn’t achieve with the potentially limited equipment that we had. I was fortunate enough to be equipment that we had. I was fortunate enough to be able to have a solid idea about how I wanted my video able to have a solid idea about how I wanted my video to look from the beginning and initial stages, so much to look from the beginning and initial stages, so much so that it only took tweaking and alterations in order to so that it only took tweaking and alterations in order to achieve what I set out to achieve. My peers were really achieve what I set out to achieve. My peers were really helpful with this because everyone was able to agree helpful with this because everyone was able to agree on what would work and what wouldn’t, so it wasn’t a on what would work and what wouldn’t, so it wasn’t a matter of conflicting opinions at any time. Also, having matter of conflicting opinions at any time. Also, having a past pupil in the class at the time helped because he a past pupil in the class at the time helped because he was able to hep me put into perspective what was was able to hep me put into perspective what was realistic for me to achieve on my own when filming as realistic for me to achieve on my own when filming as he had been through it all in the previous year. he had been through it all in the previous year.

IMPLEMENTING THESE CHANGES…IMPLEMENTING THESE CHANGES…

From my extensive feedback in my treatment, I remember setting out From my extensive feedback in my treatment, I remember setting out to do a number of things based on the improvements that both my to do a number of things based on the improvements that both my teacher and peers had given me in the feedback session: teacher and peers had given me in the feedback session:

As Mr Dunford suggested, I decided to combine the café setting As Mr Dunford suggested, I decided to combine the café setting and the studio setting into one by having a table and chairs in the and the studio setting into one by having a table and chairs in the studio. studio.

Many people has also highlighted the fact that the white backdrop Many people has also highlighted the fact that the white backdrop would be boring, so I had to ensure that once I started would be boring, so I had to ensure that once I started storyboarding, I was to include as much movement, colour and storyboarding, I was to include as much movement, colour and contrast as possible to ensure that this was not the case. Below is contrast as possible to ensure that this was not the case. Below is an example of how I used post it notes to indicate levels and an example of how I used post it notes to indicate levels and direction of movement which would ultimately be used during direction of movement which would ultimately be used during filming and editing. filming and editing.

ROUGH CUT ROUGH CUT FEEDBACKFEEDBACK

Before I showed my rough cut, I made a note of everyone’s names in the class Before I showed my rough cut, I made a note of everyone’s names in the class and left a few lines between them, so I could jot down what their ideas of and left a few lines between them, so I could jot down what their ideas of improvement were and incorporate them into the polishing of my final piece. improvement were and incorporate them into the polishing of my final piece. I wanted to know who said what so I could implement their ideas and show I wanted to know who said what so I could implement their ideas and show them after to see if they think it looks better or worse. them after to see if they think it looks better or worse.

For this, I thought that an opinions outside the media spectrum who are For this, I thought that an opinions outside the media spectrum who are unbiased and representative of the general audience were necessary. I unbiased and representative of the general audience were necessary. I asked 6 people of all different ages to anonymously fill in these asked 6 people of all different ages to anonymously fill in these questionnaires and I will use these pieces of advice to create my final cut.questionnaires and I will use these pieces of advice to create my final cut.

I was really happy with the way that people were not broad with their I was really happy with the way that people were not broad with their advice and improvements. Due to the way that people were very advice and improvements. Due to the way that people were very specific about where I needed to change things (and even keep specific about where I needed to change things (and even keep things), I was able to efficiently target my improvements to the things), I was able to efficiently target my improvements to the specific areas. People noted how I had worked extremely hard to specific areas. People noted how I had worked extremely hard to ensure that each of the shots were in time to the strong beat and ensure that each of the shots were in time to the strong beat and praised me for that, but also allowed for a virtually non existent praised me for that, but also allowed for a virtually non existent margin for error when it came to developing the last section, where margin for error when it came to developing the last section, where people said that my lip syncing was slightly out of time. Furthermore, people said that my lip syncing was slightly out of time. Furthermore, by writing down my peers’ names next to their comment, I was able to by writing down my peers’ names next to their comment, I was able to track down who said what and ensure that their comment had track down who said what and ensure that their comment had changed upon a second viewing when the changes had been changed upon a second viewing when the changes had been implemented. Also, by using a questionnaire for people to fill in (who implemented. Also, by using a questionnaire for people to fill in (who do not study Media) gave me the opportunity to see improvements do not study Media) gave me the opportunity to see improvements and peoples perspective from a different angle. Seeing as most and peoples perspective from a different angle. Seeing as most music video audiences do not have the ability nor experience to music video audiences do not have the ability nor experience to recreate such an extensive project themselves, I was able to get an recreate such an extensive project themselves, I was able to get an unbiased and representative perspective and gain insight into the unbiased and representative perspective and gain insight into the minds of the audience members, By taking advice from someone minds of the audience members, By taking advice from someone who was in the media industry, I was also able to gain more insight who was in the media industry, I was also able to gain more insight into how to develop my skills in the software I used too, and how to into how to develop my skills in the software I used too, and how to manipulate my knowledge more efficiently. manipulate my knowledge more efficiently.

IMPLEMENTING THESE CHANGES…IMPLEMENTING THESE CHANGES… Several people suggested that I change the ending sections. I Several people suggested that I change the ending sections. I

simply put together three sections which were repeated at points simply put together three sections which were repeated at points in the video, but upon inspection I agreed that them being in the video, but upon inspection I agreed that them being repeated three times at the end of the video became slightly repeated three times at the end of the video became slightly boring. I subsequently created an entire new section at the end boring. I subsequently created an entire new section at the end using unseen footage to add a new dynamic to my piece. using unseen footage to add a new dynamic to my piece.

As my cousin who works in the Media industry suggested, I As my cousin who works in the Media industry suggested, I replaced some close ups with mid-shots and also created more of replaced some close ups with mid-shots and also created more of a contrast between the scenes by manipulating the brightness of a contrast between the scenes by manipulating the brightness of the picture. (below you can see before and after trial shots). the picture. (below you can see before and after trial shots).

I also make sure I tightened up the lip synching at the end, but I also make sure I tightened up the lip synching at the end, but with the new section added this was not too much of a problem with the new section added this was not too much of a problem anyway. anyway.

DigiPak FeedbackDigiPak Feedback

I gained class feedback for my Digipak by calling them up individually I gained class feedback for my Digipak by calling them up individually and asking them what they thought, making notes of their opinions as and asking them what they thought, making notes of their opinions as I went. I decided to make my class feedback into a mind map which I went. I decided to make my class feedback into a mind map which would help me to filter the good from the bad, and and help me focus would help me to filter the good from the bad, and and help me focus on the improvments more than anything. I also took extensive advice on the improvments more than anything. I also took extensive advice from my teacher who helped me list some extra things that I could do from my teacher who helped me list some extra things that I could do to make my Digipak look better.to make my Digipak look better.

People seemed to comment most on how the colours were People seemed to comment most on how the colours were attractive, appealing and fitted well with the overall theme. attractive, appealing and fitted well with the overall theme. I was happy that the audience also understood the link I was happy that the audience also understood the link between the colours and the title “Misery”. I did not need between the colours and the title “Misery”. I did not need as much in-depth, extensive feedback for my Digipak and as much in-depth, extensive feedback for my Digipak and I drew inspiration from themes used before in previous I drew inspiration from themes used before in previous years and was able to decipher the general layout and years and was able to decipher the general layout and conventions of an Digipak from both these and the conventions of an Digipak from both these and the previous research which I had conducted on the pop previous research which I had conducted on the pop genre. I was sure that I did not use too much of an genre. I was sure that I did not use too much of an explicit, out-there font because I knew my theme was explicit, out-there font because I knew my theme was already complex and had no room for too much detail to already complex and had no room for too much detail to be added. I documented my progress on my blog and be added. I documented my progress on my blog and used my own opinion and research skills to find out which used my own opinion and research skills to find out which font fitted and which didn’t. The feedback from Mr font fitted and which didn’t. The feedback from Mr Dunford was helpful because it allowed me to make some Dunford was helpful because it allowed me to make some final tweaks to my Digipak before submitting it. Changing final tweaks to my Digipak before submitting it. Changing the colours of the social media icons helped the whole the colours of the social media icons helped the whole poster to look a lot more aesthetically pleasing as they poster to look a lot more aesthetically pleasing as they were slight eye-sores before due to their inability blend in were slight eye-sores before due to their inability blend in with their original colours. with their original colours.

IMPLEMENTING THESE CHANGES…IMPLEMENTING THESE CHANGES… After receiving my extensive feedback, I changed the font colour of the “Kian Gray”, After receiving my extensive feedback, I changed the font colour of the “Kian Gray”,

making the “Kian” orange and the “Gray” a much darker grey. making the “Kian” orange and the “Gray” a much darker grey. I also changed the colour of the stars and added a black border around them to I also changed the colour of the stars and added a black border around them to

make them stand out on the poster a lot more. make them stand out on the poster a lot more. By changing the colours of my logo to red and yellow, it blended in a lot better and By changing the colours of my logo to red and yellow, it blended in a lot better and

didn’t stand out and clash with any colours already on the page. didn’t stand out and clash with any colours already on the page. I also changed the “Available on iTunes” logo to being orange with a black border. I also changed the “Available on iTunes” logo to being orange with a black border.

Before (left)After (right)

Other Feedback Other Feedback I received this feedback after creating roughly I received this feedback after creating roughly

the first minute of my video. I was extremely the first minute of my video. I was extremely happy with how there were only a few happy with how there were only a few comments on improvements. I knew exactly comments on improvements. I knew exactly how to implement these changes also, and I how to implement these changes also, and I added a lot of movement to the shots that added a lot of movement to the shots that people said did not work in order to create a people said did not work in order to create a new dynamic. new dynamic.

This Wordle was created after I received feedback This Wordle was created after I received feedback from my animatic. I was extremely happy with how from my animatic. I was extremely happy with how people had perceived the message and everyone people had perceived the message and everyone seemed to understand the direction that my idea seemed to understand the direction that my idea was going in. In order to take on board the was going in. In order to take on board the feedback, I created a negative Wordle to help me feedback, I created a negative Wordle to help me target where improvements should be made. target where improvements should be made.