The document provides an evaluation of a media project that included a music video, website, and CD cover. It discusses the use of conventions in each product. The music video used lyrics, lighting, and props consistent with R&B music videos. Shots showed different locations and camera techniques. The website and CD cover used consistent fonts and colors, and featured the artist's name and music. Feedback was received on the products from classmates and online. Media technologies like cameras, editing software, and the internet were used at all stages of the project for construction, research, and evaluation.
2. Q1: In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products? MUSIC VIDEO CD COVER WEBSITE
3. MUSIC VIDEO Shot 1 shows a link between the lyrics and the music video. Shot 2 shows the use of lighting within the music video. Shot 3 shows the use of props to conform to R&B conventions. The lyrics quote ‘you don’t feel the cold breeze go by in the night when your alone’. Thus the shot shows a snowy night where a strong wind is blowing, which we thought was cleverly relevant. The use of lighting makes the artist appear more special as the spot lights are positioned directly behind him, making the artist appear more superior. In addition this is conventional to the themes of R&B music videos, as a lot of strobe lights are used. However I would have liked to have had more lights, to make the effect more epic. The use of props i.e. Mirrors illustrates the level of self reflection within the meaning of the song. We did this to conform to the conventions of R&B music videos as they regularly use mirrors and water reflections. Shot 4 shows the use of mise en scene This shot shows our use of mise en scene . The balcony is very masterful which is emphasised due to it being captured in a long shot. Illustrating our combination of two video elements, mise en scene and camerawork to make a better shot. Continued…
4. Shot 6 shows a slow ending Shot 5 shows our variety of locations Shot 7 shows our camera work techniques This shot shows our diversity of locations. From the hotel in London to the ferry to France. However some feedback commented on this being suddenly random, whereas others liked it. For the last shot we made it last much longer (11 seconds) than all our pervious shots in the video, accompanied by a fade out Thus to give a subdued ending to the music video keeping with the smooth tone of R&B music. This camera work technique is similar to other R&B music video shots, however I feel our attempt wasn’t as successful as professional videos, the distinction between the two focus changes could’ve been greater.
5. WEBSITE My website uses conventions of a real media product of other artists. The artist name being the banner of the page. The artist’s music single video posted on the age itself, being the centrepiece. Having a ‘listen now’ play list so fans can immediately sample the artist’s music.
7. Q2: How effective is the combination of your main product (music video) and ancillary texts (the website & digipack)? MUSIC VIDEO CD COVER WEBSITE
8. DIGIPACK WEBSITE MUSIC VIDEO Both use the colour palette of black, white and red. Both my website and digipack use the same fonts, keeping them consistent. Both the website and digipack are simplistic. However I feel my website and digipack are more alike than the music video. I believe this may be because of the absence of red in the video, making it seem slightly distant compared to other products. Perhaps a hint of red would’ve changed this, or it could’ve been an overuse of the pallette, exhausting the theme.
9. Q3: What have you learned from your audience feedback? Some comments from Youtube Most of my target audience really liked my video. A lot liked the choice of settings from a London hotel to a ferry from France. However some said the quick location change to the ferry was ‘random’, however I feel if we introduced the shot any earlier it would have appeared forced just to fit in. However since the video was also posted on facebook, a social networking site, most of the audience feedback isn’t that constructive seeing as it’s more informal, mainly likes. Some of my classmates liked my Digipack . One classmate said she liked the simplicity of my front cover. However a passing teacher also said a should consider have the artists picture included would allow me to present my higher skills at editing. Still I like my front as it is, on the other hand I would have liked to have made a more complex interesting inside cover as I feel they are oversimplified.
10. Q4: How did you use media technologies in the construction and research, planning and evaluation stages? Media technologies were used at every stage of this project. To begin with the HD camera’s allowed us to capture a high quality video, and our ability to transfer Camera cassettes to digital formats to be edited on Final Cut Pro( and editing program on the Mac computers). If not for the Mac computer we would not have been able to edit whilst occasionally watching R&B videos for ideas. Final Cut Pro allowed us to uses a variety of effects and precise cuts with ease. In addition, to thanks to media technologies on the Mac computer we were able to shorten the music video soundtrack. Allowing us to make a shorter video than intended, and adjusting the peak levels of the track to avoid distortion. This audio recording equipment was used to record an audio clip for my evaluation , thus allowing me to present my evaluation in a variety of engaging formats.
11. The internet Here is a screengrab of Wordpress. This blog site allowed us to store and present all of our research & planning and construction all in one place for quick access, in an easy-going, media savvy format. In addition to this Wordpress allowed us all to view each others progress easily at anytime, as opposed to if our works were just on individual user areas. Facebook allowed us to capitalise on the social networking buzz and upload our video for friends and family to see and comment. By doing this we took our music video to the audience instead of them having to go out of their way searching for it. Facebook also allowed us to easily carry out questionnaire survey on friends online, helping our research & planning segment. In addition to this facebook helped us quickly get audience feedback. Thanks to Youtube we had quick & easy access to official music videos. This helped us research similar music videos of the R&B genre. Also it helped my group generate ideas of what we liked and didn’t like. Even during the construction stage we constantly referred to Youtube in between editing, to get new ideas and inspiration from the newest and latest music videos. Youtube allowed us to see music videos so new that they hadn’t even appeared on official music channels yet like MTV & KISS. Also thanks to the comment feature of Youtube we were able to receive audience feedback from our music video that we uploaded for our evaluation.
