Evaluation Question 4: How did you use media technologies in the construction, research, planning and evaluation stages?

We used a wide array of new media technologies within the planning, construction and evaluation stages of our advanced portfolio of coursework. These technologies were made up of both hardware and software, and some required us to come up with innovative solutions to overcome the restrictions and challenges which they gave us.

In the planning stage, I used Blogger in order to organise all of my work. This was an incredibly important piece of software because it meant that my work was instantly accessible, saving me from having to carry around documents such as a storyboard and shotlist. It also made it easy to embed videos and images alongside of text, meaning that I could analyse other music videos and publish my

findings with a much greater deal of ease.

In the research stages, I used several internet websites to gain an insight into the current contemporary and previous media texts. My main source of research was YouTube. This allowed me to view current music videos, and analyse their pros and cons, key conventions and overall aspects, and apply them to the construction and planning of my media product.

Similarly, I used Google Images. This was to research current music videos, magazine adverts and digipaks. From this, I took on board what to include in my media product and ancillary texts, and why to do this.

Lastly, I used Blogger to promote and show my research. This is where I could refer back to when planning my product, and also show the journey of development I conducted throughout this course.

One of our group members using the
tripod in an identical way to how we
used it in the production of our music
video.

I used several media technologies in the construction stage of this course. Firstly, in order to capture the film itself, we used hardware before using software to perfect it. We used a HD camera to film the music video initially. This was so that we got a professional looking video, and would therefore make it more successful overall.

In the process of using this HD camera, we used a tripod to keep the camera static. This was so that our camera was held steady, and therefore looked better overall as the handling did not look unprofessional or tacky.

The software aspect of the construction played a large part in the course. iMovie was firstly used to compile the clips we filmed together, in order of our narrative. We also used this software program to sync our characters mouth movements with the lyrics. This made the lip sync aspect easy to produce, and added to the triumph of our piece.
We also used Final Cut to edit our piece further. We used this software to edit our clips, add in transitions, and include overall effects to our piece.

In the evaluation stages of this project, I used several media technologies. I used the internet to access the Blogger website. This was so that I could firstly review my coursework. I then wrote up my thoughts and overall evaluations, and formed them into separate posts.

Overall, I feel I used used media technologies, both hardware and software, very throughout the duration of this coursework. I have learnt a lot by using the filming equipment, as well as all of the software that was involved in all stages of production.

Evaluation Question 3: What have you learned from your audience feedback?

During this coursework, it was fundamental to receive audience feedback. We made sure we got feedback from our target audience, as well as other individuals, such as classmates and teachers. This was so that we could determine what was good about our piece, what we should keep, what was bad about our piece, and what we should get rid of. This all ensured we had a the most successful product as possible, and that it looked professional and well produced.

Throughout the construction of our media product, my group and I developed several rough cuts. This was so that we could show to our audience what we had roughly accomplished, and therefore could receive feedback from this.

After our first rough cut, we received audience feedback that was very beneficial to us. Firstly, our use of black and white effects was said to be used unknowingly, and it was confusing the audience as to why it was being put in place. Once we had received this, we changed our effects and used the black and white effects more purposefully, and tailored them to each individual clip, choosing carefully where we placed these effects.

Secondly, our audience feedback suggested that not enough locations were used. This was good to hear, as it meant that we had to film more in order to gain the higher marks. Once we had received this feedback, we filmed in several more locations, giving us a much wider variety to the amount of clips used, therefore extending the narrative further.

Additionally, probably the most significant change we made in our piece was the inclusion of another character towards the narrative. We decided our narrative would be clearer if we had another individual in the forest with our main character, luring him towards him. Due to the overall idea of the piece being to do with ghosts and paranormal occurrences, we decided to have the other character as a ghost, that was leading him inevitably to his death.


In terms of our ancillary products, the feedback we received from our primary drafts was hugely beneficial, as well as eye opening. Firstly, the most fundamental and apparent comments we received on our magazine advert was the lack of social networking icons. This meant that the audience had no idea whether the artist was on any social networking sites, which could potentially hinder the potential for a fan base to form, as this is the most functional way this occurs. In order to remedy this, we used images found from Google of the two most popular social networking icons, Twitter and Facebook, and altered their colours, shape and sizes very slightly. This ensured that it met the colour scheme we had in our magazine advert, which therefore made our entire piece look fluent and professional.

Advancing to our digipak, the feedback received was very simple. Overall, our digipak was a slightly different colour to our magazine. This was because several gradient maps were used to overlay the original image to give it a gritty and faded effect. This, combined with a custom nebula effect (to give the idea of a dream) gave the magazine a completely different feel, therefore making it seem a complete different product compared to the digipak. In order to fix this, we recreated the nebula effect and use similar gradient maps to the magazine to give them precise colour schemes that matched the initial house style the magazine advert possessed.

Overall, my group and I learned a vast amount from receiving audience feedback. We used our rough cuts and our storyboard ideas to show them what we had accomplished so far, and asked their opinions on where to go next, and what would be the most viable option.

Evaluation Question 2: How effective is the combination of your main product and your ancillary texts?

Evaluation Question 1: In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

To conclude, I feel that my group and I used, challenged and developed stereotypical conventions of the both real media products as a whole, as well as the electronic genre itself. This was beneficial as it allowed us to create a successful media product, as well as successful ancillary texts.