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

I used many forms of media technologies in the construction and research of my music video project. At the start of this process I used the Internet to initially look at what genre of music I could do for my own media production. YouTube allowed me to look at various genres of music and to see what the ages of the target audience was. To find a target audience I decided to use social media to help me to see what ages of people most commonly listened to indie rock/acoustic.My statistic showed me that people of the ages of 15-25 listened to this genre on a regular basis, which led to me to create a case study of a specific audience member. To which I decided it would be an 18 year old female whom has a disposable income. Social media has allowed me to do all of my research for the construction of my music video.

After I had decided upon the type of music I wanted to use I decided to explore smaller bands/ solo artists that I could use for my production, YouTube allowed me to find bands that were just starting out and discovering their sound. I then began to email bands to get permission to use their songs. Social media and the internet allowed me to find an easier way of contacting band members, which sped up the process. I initially focused on House of fun by Madness as I was intrigued by their use of colour and unique, creative and fun camera shots. I began to study their work, as I wanted to incorporate the element of fun and creativity into my music video.

I then began to look at Evening/Morning by Bombay Bicycle Club; this band instantly caught my eye by their use of bright abstract colours. I also noticed that in their video they incorporated bright colours in dark, wet urban locations, which I thought showed a real contrast. I also noticed that having a dark location with people wearing bright clothes allowed the audience to only really focus on the main characters, which I felt was important in a music video. This is something that I used in my production. In IMovie I decided to enhance the brightness of some of the clips where the girl in the yellow coat was just to make her really stand out and really capture the audiences eye. The shot to the left shows a screen shot of Bombay Bicycle Club and the shit to the right is from my own footage.

My planning consisted of me using a wide range of media, as I wanted to develop my understanding of media technologies. I initially used PowerPoint to show a visual representation of what I wanted to achieve from my own music video. Word documents and PowerPoint allowed me to incorporate large amounts of detail into my research and planning. Such as in my planning I created two PowerPoint and two documents on other peoples music such as Bombay Bicycle Club as I wanted to pick out macro elements that could potentially benefit my own media product. In my planning I also created a YouTube video of a deconstruction of Ben Howards music video this allowed me to show more of a visual representation of all of the macro elements that I could use in my work or what I didnt want to use. This YouTube video involved me adding detailed notes which I had inked to each slide; this allowed me to demonstrate my understanding of different elements within a music video. My deconstructions helped me to use and develop my own ideas which was has helped to create my own media product and ancillary texts.

In order to film my music video I used a Nikon D3100 this was to ensure that I had the highest quality footage with little noise or grain. This DSLR camera also has a build in camera which meant that I didnt have to take a microphone around with me while I was filming this made it easier for both my actors and myself. The DSLR allowed me to have more control of my filming, this control allowed me to create more stylistic and artistic shots. An example of this is where I pulled in and out of focus such as when the train was coming into the station; this allowed me to create a normal rule of thirds shot more interesting. The use of rule of thirds also allows the viewers to really get a real sense of where they are.

This camera has allowed me to develop and improve the quality of my shots. I have frequently used depth of field to help emphasise the main focus within the footage. Depth of field also helps to attract younger audiences as its a unique interesting shot that stands out.

However, I also had many problems with filming, as I didnt have access to professional equipment. Although my camera was of a high quality it still had some downfalls such as the ability to get the colours a bright as they were on the day was hard when filming. Which lead to me having to enhance the brightness of each clip in imovie. Occasionally the footage appeared somewhat grainy which created more of an eerie atmosphere which is something that I didnt want in my production.

On one of my filming days I was filming when there was an eclipse, due to the fact that I was already past my deadline on filming meant that I had to film on that day. Due to the camera only focusing properly on an auto setting mean that I had an over powering glare of light which managed to wash out the buskers face.

In Imovie I had to decrease the brightness to try and make the footage look less washed out. However, I personally think that the desideration (black and white) of the image has allowed it to look less noticeable which meant that I didnt have to re-film this footage.

For the planning I also decided to upload my progress in the form of media pod casts and personal evaluations of my progress this allowed me to demonstrate what action has been taken place and how I have achieved it. I did my pod casts in the form of talking in front of the camera. I also did personal evaluations by recording my voice over the top of my video this allowed me to show my work and progress in a more visual manner, this also allowed me to demonstrate my creativity and my understanding to different forms of media techniques.

I also used small clips from my own footage to which I analysed them into great detail, by using three different forms of media, a microphone, web cam and also writing as all three helped me to create a detailed analysed personal evaluation.

When I had finished my music video I decided to share my music video on Facebook (social media site) my initial thoughts behind this was to get feedback from my target audience (15-25 year olds). However, I discovered that my product was far from done which was positive as it meant that I received constructive criticism that allowed me to make my music video better and more appropriate for my target audience. I had many comments stating that I needed to matchup the link sync better, which is what I decided to do. I also received other comments suggesting that I should decrease the brightness more in the black and white shots of Tom. This I felt would help my product look more like a real media product. Using IMovie on one of the apple Macs I was able to tweak all of the issues that were pointed put to me by my target audience.

In the construction of my evaluation questions I decided to use a verity of media, such as for this one I have decided to do a detail analysis in the form of a written document to ensure that I have included as much detail that I need. Whereas , for one of my evaluation questions I decided to do an analysis over my media product to show what I have used, developed and challenged from other media products this allowed me to show what I have done visually so that it would be more clear and understandable. For my third evaluation I decided to do a pod cast which meant that I was talking to a camera and explaining how my ancillary texts have worked together and was effective.

Overall I have used many different forms of media that have helped me to demonstrate my understanding of how to create a real media product.