How did you use media technologies in the research and

planning, construction and evaluation stages?

By Harry

• During the planning and research stages of the coursework project many internet technologies were used to analyse and study the codes and conventions of music videos. Sites like YouTube allowed us to learn what we should reflect in our music video as watching the music videos helped build up an understanding of what is traditionally used in our chosen genre of folk. An example of this is when watching folk music videos like The Broadside Boys' Dingley Dell Song (picture 1)our group realised that rustic locations are common to the folk genre and we therefore decided to include one (picture 2). The internet was also used to help us present our ideas more efficiently and effectively. We did this by using Slide Share (picture 3) when presenting my treatment and overall plan for the coursework project. This allowed our audience and teachers to view our plan for the project via the internet. Using these internet technologies allowed me to learn how to effectively research and present my ideas. When planning, I sometimes used technologies from Microsoft Office like Word. This allowed me to present ideas, like our lighting plan, effectively as it was neat and could also be sent to my blog without the need to scan it.

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• While constructing my music video I used a range of technologies to film and edit my music video, digipack and magazine advert. When filming in the performance setting, the barn, I used a three point lighting system using two red head lights and a spotlight from the ceiling. This allowed to effectively present my artists as they stood out from their background. This allowed the audience to pay attention to them more than the setting. The Canon DSLR or the Nikon DSLR D30000 (pictures 2 and 3) were used in all filming to get a higher quality of film and pictures for our ancillary texts. This not only simplified shooting our video and taking our pictures as there was only one camera needed for both tasks, but this meant that there was less equipment that needed to be carried around. The fact that these cameras were high quality also allowed us to use the pulled focus effect (picture 4) which allowed us to be effective when filming as we were able to follow conventions of many music videos as this effect is commonly used.

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• When editing our ancillary texts a variety of software was used. When editing the magazine advert we used the Photoshop software which allowed us to add detail where we felt necessary and it allowed us to edit the photo used to give the advert more of a rustic feel that was conventional to the folk genre. When editing the digipack, Microsoft Publisher (picture 2) was used as it allowed us to use detail when putting text and images in the correct places. When editing the music video, the main software that was used was Final Cut Pro. This was used to match lip syncing with the actual music and changing shots to include rhythmic editing which is so conventional to music videos. Final Cut Pro was also used to saturate colour to outside shots where the colour looked dull (picture 3). This was done to add to the theme of joy that is conventional to the folk genre. It was also used to add camera movement to shots where there was none as this is gives the impression that the video is moving to a conclusion and is conventional to many music videos. Motion Plus was also used to add text to our music video and this enabled us to used the convention of introducing the artist through text.

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• When evaluating what we had done, a multitude of platforms were used. When doing question one, the audio commentary technique of presenting was used to display visually how we used, developed or challenged conventions of media products as well as while what was done was being narrated. The use of the camera for question 2 (picture 1) was used to present what had done in a simple and basic manner so that it was easy to understand. Prezzi was used to present what had been done in a more creative way as to make reading it more interesting (picture2).

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• I have learnt many things from using these technologies. I have learnt how to research effectively and how to present ideas on a different platform. I have learnt how to work my way around all sorts of different cameras and how to pack up lighting equipment correctly. I have learnt even more about how to use Final Cut Pro, as the creativity of the course has let me pick up on how to initiate camera movement in editing. I have also learnt how to use Prezzi and this will help me in presenting my ideas creatively.