Final Pieces

Main Task

Ancillary Tasks

Evaluation 4

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

Even before making the video, me and Katie relised how different the tools and equipment would be for making and editing the video and creating the digipak and poster compared to our AS Level task. We would be using Photoshop and Adobe Premiere Elements to create our tasks and even theough we had a little bit of knowledge from last year with Photoshop, we had not used Premiere before so this would be a new experience for the two of us.



We had alot of experience with Blogger we used in last year in AS Level. It was a very easy way to publish our ideas and research, with a full access to the internet, it made it easier for us to do work. It helped us keep a record from start to finish of how we produced everything construction, research and planning and we were able to use search engines to find out information.

For the filming, it was essential to have a camera (obviously!) For filming, we used a Canaon FS200 Camcorder to film everything. As Katie was starring in the video, I was the person to film everything so I became very familiar with it and filming the scenes bacame easier and we went on. When we had our first session of filming, the camera was moving quite a bit , so using the tripod made it alot easier to film.

Once we had filmed everything, we moved onto the next step and edited the video. For this, we used the software Adobe Premiere Elements. Me and Katie had never used this programme before so it was a new experience for both of us. However, Katie did have more experience with IT programmes than myself so she started of with the editing but I caught on so was able to edit myself. Whilst working Adobe Premiere, we were able to get screeen shots of the process in which we had to do to create our final cut.

The main part of our final cut was the change in colour throughout. When we showed memories of Katie and Matt we showed them in black and white, whereas we put the argument scenes in colour to show the present day.

For a number of scenes we used a cross dissolve filter to show the two of them apart but on in the same place. We believed this was the most natural way to show a transition and worked really well.

At the start of the video, we used a zoom in effect on Katie's boots as we thought it went well with the timing of the music and also a good way to transition to the next scene which was a memory scene.

Photoshop was essential within creating our ancillary tasks which was the digipak and poster. We had both used Photoshop last year with creating a magazine so we were both familiar with the programme. With using the programme, Me and Katie both used many different tools to create our final digipak and poster including:

• Filter Tool


• Gradient Tool
  
• Rectangle Marquee Tool
  
• Horizontal Type Tool


• Paint Bucket Tool


• Magnetic Lasso Tool

The filter that was used for the entire ancillary task was the 'Note Paper' tool which I used in making the poster and Katie used with making the Digipak. It gave the image a grey and white sketchy effect and was used to make it a theme.

There were a variety of different filters I could use and I was then able to change the image balance, graininess and relief.

I was then able to add text with information of the band and song.

From the beginning of the course, I have used many different tools and technologies to help create the entire tasks. I have learnt about many new skills and progressed in my IT to finish everything as a whole. Overall, I am really pleased with everything than me and Katie have created and the skills I have developed through the entire course.

Evaluation 3

What have you learnt from your audience feedback?
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Media Audience Feedback

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Feedback from the audience is essential for the process of the music video, to see what was our target audience liked and also what could be improved. For our rough cut, we recieved written feedback which was extremly helpful to help us improve for our final cut.



The overall feedback from the rough cut:

• How we kept returning to the bench shows the significance of what it portrayed to the couple and how its where they reminise


• The transitions and filters used to introduce the characters were effective


• The video showed a story narrative to the song


• The camera was not a very brilliant quality and was too pixilated

From the great feedback we recieved from the rough cut we decided not to change too much of the video. We were really pleased of how our audience reacted to our video.

For the final cut, we decided to use a different technique to gain feedback. We interviewed an audience to which we thought would watch our video as we thought this would be the most useful way to gain peoples opinions.

Evaluation 2

How effective is the combination of your main product and ancillary texts?

Evaluation 1

In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

Before creating our final products for the music video me and katie created, we had to first see the conventio0ns of real music videos. We researched different music videos that would relate to our inital idea of a love story gone wrong. After analysing two particular videos that show a relationship broken down, we were then able to focus want we wanted our final video should look like.



Craig Davis included in his article called 'Approach to Analysing Music Videos' conventions of a music video that could be seen in our final product:

Illustrating the lyrics Expressive lighting Lip SynchingInnovative effectsMise en sceneGenre/tone

Andrew Goodwin also made strong points about the conventions of a music video. The main points Goodwin identifies are that music videos are "based on repetition" of clips, scenes and images that create an expectation to establish a genre. He often shows that music videos often to do not have a closure or a definite ending. The video is designed to trigger enjoyment and pleasure to the audience which further promotes the song and video.
Andrew Goodwin argues that visuals are used to illustrate, amplify or contradict.



This information was helpful and important for me and Katie as we were able to see what to include in our own video. We needed to make sure we used the right conventions to make our video fit into the genre of the song effieciently.


Illustrating the lyrics and sound with creative interpretations

Me and Katie decided to create a love story when we listened to the song over and over again. We thought that this would be the best option for the music lyrics ecspecially with the main lyric "Don't let go. Never give up its such a wonderful life'. With this as the main lyric, we decided to have a couple going through a rocky patch throughout the video. We thought that it would be important to relate the video to the lyrics so it fitted in with the narrative and the story we would be telling. When the chorus kicked in with these words, it showed the couple both reminising what they had and lost and gave up on.

Another lyric that we used to act out is when it says 'So she throws him at the wall her kisses were like fire'. At this point of the video, Katie pushes Matt to the wall and kisses him.

Final Cut

Rough Cut Feedback

In our class, everyone watched eachothers videos to give audience feedback to what we thought was good and what needed improving. This is the feedback given to us: