Evaluation Question 4

How did you use new technologies in the construction and research,

planning and evaluation?

ConstructionThe camera we used to shoot our music video “fire” was a DSLR (Canon EOS 650D). We were familiar with these cameras as we used them previously to shoot our thriller, therefore we were able to use our knowledge and learnt techniques such as capturing different angles (high angles, mid close ups, extreme close ups, mid shots). However over the course of this

year we were able to learn new techniques in controlling the camera more, such as, manually focusing and adjusting the exposure and brightness. This helped us have more control over the quality of the image and allow us to achieve our desired, more professional, look for the video. We were also able to use stills from our footage for our photos for on our digipak and

poster.

Construction

In post-production we used the programme FinalCutPro on the iMac to edit our music video. With this programme we were able to cut and merge clips together to allow us to edit on the

beat and make our video look professional. For example in the beginning of the video we matched the visuals of the artists banging a drum to the drum beat of the song. Furthermore, we created short montage clips of jump cuts that were edited to the fast drum beat before the chorus, which I feel was a very strong element to our video. We were also able to make the

lip syncing in time with the music and in my opinion I think this is the most important part of editing a music video because lip syncing in the wrong timing is easily noticeable and looks

very unprofessional.

ConstructionFor both the digipak and the magazine advert we used still images from our footage, we made the main theme of the images related to the smoke grenade. Using stills from the footage for both created synergy

within all three products. To edit the photos for our digipak I used the programme photoshop, and InDesign on the iMac. I began by editing each of the 6 photos for the digipak on photoshop. I found this

programme quite challenging as I had very little experience using it, however it was very helpful in making the photos look professional as there are many tools on the programme I used to manipulate the

photo such as air brushing my skin, sharpening and softening certain areas of the image and changing the settings of the contrast, saturation and temperature. I was also able to add text suitable on the images as it offers us a large catalogue of fonts. We used a simple, bold, white font for the cover as we felt it have a contemporary feel, and an elegant, italic font for the back as it matched well with the calm image of the

sky. To add all 6 images together as a digipak I downloaded a template from google and using InDesign, I was able to fit each image onto the template. As for the magazine advert, we used photoshop and using the same techniques as used for the digipak we were able to create a strong cover as well as layering images

onto it such as the barcode and social icons.

Research•The main search engine we used for our initial research was

Google, however this helped lead us to more informative websites for research into each product. We searched for

ideas on digipaks and posters through google images to get an idea of what they look like.

•We began looking for ideas we could adapt on by viewing various pop videos on YouTube. This helped us get an idea of

what conventions we could use.•We then looked for an unsigned artist on soundcloud simply

by searching “unsigned”. We were given a list of different artists which led us to Willemijn May’s account.

•After listening to all her songs, as a group we decided we wanted to make a video for her song “Fire”. Soundcloud also has a messaging service so we were able to contact Willemijn

through this to ask permission to use her song.•After gaining consent we wanted to get more information on our artist so we could get a better idea of what find of video to produce so it could match her personality and music. Through

the links you can add on your soundcloud account we were able to find Willemijn May’s personal website, twitter and

facebook and gain further information.

ResearchWe have used many different sites and programmes to construct our research:

Research•We used new technologies to construct our audience research as we filmed us questioning them on the flip camera.

•The USB connected on the flip camera allowed us to swiftly convert the footage onto the iMac. We then edited the footage of their reaction and comments on our video on FinalCutpro

•Using YouTube we uploaded the final edit so we were able to post it onto our blog

Planning•We used the use of new technologies to plan the construction of our music video. I

created a mood board by gathering found still images that related to our envision of our video on Google images

•We then created an animatic to experiment with the combination of images and our song track. This helped us in planning as it was able to give us a rough idea of what out video

will entail

PlanningAs for our digipak and magazine advert we began planning for them by searching for possible ideas and inspiration on google. For the digipak we had to find a 6panel template to help construct the album. For both we used photoshop to experiment on the different effects we could use to manipulate the image and plan what different effects and fonts we want to add.

Evaluation•For QUESTION 1 I directly posted my evaluation onto blogger.com, however I added many different technologies combines onto it.

•I added GIFs onto the post to show the different conventions of pop video’s which I was made access through by google. I thought this was a good way to show them, rather than stills as it makes it look more interesting and eye catching

•I then used powerpoint to create a slideshow of the different conventions we used in our own video, which included found stills of similar videos and stills of our own video. Using slideshare I was able to upload the presentation and embed it onto the blog.

•Finally, I embeded YouTube clips of professional music videos that used similar conventions as ours.

Evaluation•Question 2: For this question I created a presentation

on prezi. This website is a different, unique way of making presentation, and in my opinion looks more

professional and interesting than standard PowerPoint presentations. I was then able to embed my presentation

onto my blog.

•Question 4: I conducted a presentation on powerpoint to answer this question. I was able to include found still

images to support the text and print screen stills from our music video to show the relations. To present this

on my blog I uploaded the presentation onto slideshare, which provided a code which I could then embed.

•Question 3: My group and I answered this question together by recording a video on the

iMac through photo booth. We then edited the video on FinalCutPro, adding pictures to illustrate what we are discussing about. We

uploaded the final edit onto YouTube and we were then able to embed this onto our blog.