Evaluation - Question 1

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

Evaluation - Question 2

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

Directors commentary 
Describing my artist: fresh, unique and modernistic.

In relation to my music video

In relation to my music video, I believe that there were a variety of elements which contributed to the visuals and conventions of a Drum and Bass music video. Firstly, in my music video there are 3 different outfit changes from the artist in the video. The first outfit shows him quite rugged in a shirt and tie after a day at work. I use this outfit as I wanted to show him as having a hard day at work and then going straight out and partying. In most Drum and Bass videos, you do not usually see this, but I wanted to challenge this concept. The second outfit shows him quite dressed down and casual. The third outfit shows him the same, but with a bomber jacket in dark colours. I wanted dark colours for this as a from my research, there was a significant amount of videos where the artist was always shown in dark lighting and dark colours. Also, there is a vital reason in why there are a number of different outfit changes. This is due to the song being called 'Changes' so I wanted to convey a link between the title and what is in the video. The type of clothing I used was also to try and target my target audience too. I thought that the audience could possibly engage with the artist as they may have been in a similar scenario like him before. E.g. going straight out an partying after work.

The specific editing style that I used was important as during my research a number of editing styles came up continuously. This included slow motion, starting off with slow cuts and gradually getting faster cuts, close ups of the artist and also rewinding in some form. The use of close ups provided the audience to be engaged with the artist an familiarise themselves with him. It also showed the artists facial expressions clearly and efficiently. The colours represented in the video have a link between the digipak and magazine advert. Not only did the focus group help me to come up with ideas for both of my digipak and advert, but my music video had elements which linked in. For example, the use of the bright coloured balloons at the beginning was significant as it was one of the first things the audience sees. I portrayed the brightness from the balloons in some of the neon text which was used in my digipak and magazine advert. 

Digipak

With my digipak, I struggled to come up with ideas of what it could include and present. I was able to get some positive feedback through a focus group. This helped me to come up with a variety of different ideas and possibilities for my digipak. However, I wanted it to stay within the Drum and Bass genre and also fit in with the conventions of this particular genre and my music video. From the focus group, I was given a number of different colours to use in my digipak. People suggested I use the element of dark colours and also neon colours. Throughout my digipak I used the colour blue with a particular background, but edited it so it was different on each side. I used this same background for my magazine so it stayed in contrast with the digipak. I used the outline of a city on the back cover to represent nightlife which i wanted to correspond with my music video. On the sides which the artist it represented, he is faded into the background. I wanted to use this element to correspond with in the video where he is 'tripping'. The use of the neon colours were used in both my magazine advert and digipak. This is to fit in with the Drum and Bass genre. Also, with my research I found that a lot of albums from this particular genre use neon colours too. 

Magazine Advert

One particular aspect which I used throughout my digipak and magazine advert was the same background. I did this so that there was an effective combination between the two. I also used the same picture for my digipack front cover and my magazine advert. The picture of him is also very similar to a part of my video. I wanted to have a contrast and connection from my digipak, magazine advert and music video. The picture to the right is a screenshot from the video where the artist has a dark black shadow around him. With the magazine advert, I chose a neon colour to have as an outer glow because not only did I gain this information from my focus group, but I also thought that it could portray my artist as fresh, bright and new to the music industry. 

The colours, font and images have been consistent through both my digipaks and magazine advert. There has also been elements and ideas which I have taken from my music video, and included in the others too. The facial expression in which is shown in the magazine advert is very serious. However, I wanted it like this as I wanted the audience to engage with the artist and remember his face.  

Evaluation - Question 3

What have you learned from your audience feedback?

Once I had finally completed all three sections of my media production, it was vital that I received some feedback from what I had produced. The feedback was to ensure that all requirements of the Drum and Bass genre had been successfully met and if there could be any improvements that could be made.  

Questionnaire 

I produced a questionnaire to improve some feedback on each of my media productions. I decided to make the questions open so that people were able to give me as much feedback as I could get.  Each questionnaire had the following questions:

1. How old are you?

2. How often do you watch drum and bass based music videos?

3. Can you relate to anything in this media product?

4. What do you like about this media product?

5. What do you not like so much about this media product?

6. Is there anything that you are particularly drawn to in this media product? If so, why?

7. Are there any improvements that could be made in this media product? If so, what?

8. How do you think the artist is portrayed in this media product?

9. What is your overall concept of this media product?

10. If you could sum up this media product in 3 words what would they be?

Here is a pie chart for some of the results in which I gained.

Overall, I have gained an insight of what people think of all 3 of my media products. After showing a group all my media products one after the other, each person in the group came to a conclusion that there is a link between all 3. This was positive and constructive feedback for me. The age group of the group I used for my feedback were aged 17-20. The majority said that they could relate to my media product, whether that being through alcohol or partying for example. Others struggled to relate to my magazine advert but still thought there was a connection between the 3. When they summed up my media products, most people said that it was bright and very modern.

Although I got some positive feedback, there was still room for improvements. Most people said that my music video could have some smoother cuts throughout the video. However, the transitions were good and gave a party element to my video. Improvements wise on my digipak, most people said there was a really good combination of clouds and looked good overall. Some on the other hand said that my magazine advert could have had a little more time spent on it. Overall, if i could go back and do all media products again then I would take these improvements on board and all make some of my own. Firstly, I would try not to be so much of a perfectionist and get everything perfect. This was time consuming whilst I was trying to complete particular media products. I would also spend more time planning and researching too. 

Evaluation - Question 4

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

Throughout the whole of my coursework, there has been a variety of media technologies which I have had to use to to research, plan and create my final media productions. All of the media technologies which I have used have played an important role in the different stages and some were easier to use than others. 

Final Cut Express

Final Cut Express is an editing software suite which was created by Apple. I used this software to edit my music video production. It was not the first time which I had used the software, however I still found that I had to familiarise myself with this particular media technologies. The software helped me to construct my final music video which turned out to be an intensive time and learning curve for me. 

This particular media technology was one of the most important software which I used throughout the course. Without it I would not of been able to edit my music video. The way in which I learnt to use the software was through trial and error. I had to make mistakes to know where I went wrong. However, this was a positive part throughout editing the music video. I learnt a variety of different skills including how to cut different parts of film and add transitions to my music video.  Looking back on how I used the software there were probably some improvements which I could of made. Learning through trial and error meant that the editing took some time. If I could go back I would find a user guide on how to use the basics of Final Cut Express and also find some tutorials on YouTube on how to use the software.

Photoshop

Photoshop is a graphics editing program developed and published by Adobe Systems. I used Photoshop to create my digipak and magazine advert. I originally had a Photoshop tutorial where I learnt the basics on how to do a variety of different things on the software from fading to using the magic wand. Even though I had used Photoshop before in Media GCSE, I had forgotten how to use most things on the software. However, I was recently using the software Fireworks in a different subject which was similar to Photoshop. This meant that I was able to take my knowledge from Fireworks and apply it to Photoshop. 

At first using the software was tricky and likewise with Fireworks, it took some trial and error sessions for me to get things how I wanted. Creating the digipak was a quite quick compared to when creating the magazine advert. Overall, I was pleased with how both my digipak and magazine turned out. However, I found that I was a perfectionist and someone with an eye for detail which meant that they took longer than they needed to. Below is a screenshot with adapted detail of just some of the features mean on the software. 

Blogger

Blogger allowed me to make posts about my coursework throughout the year. Blogger also came with an app available to download which meant that I could transfer files easily from my phone. However, at times it did not work which meant that I was delayed when posting some parts onto the blog. It also allowed me to upload my research and findings in a variety of places, whether that being on the computer or from my phone.

YouTube and Google

I used YouTube a lot throughout my media production. Particularity when researching about my music video. It allowed me to view a variety of different music videos and see what were the conventions in them. Google provided me with the necessary tools to do my research on each of my productions. It provided a variety of websites for me to go into depth about my research.

Social Networking Sites

Social networking sites such as Facebook and Soundcloud played an important role in my media production. I was able to easily download my sound for the music video from Soundcloud and was also able to stream it easily too. Facebook allowed me to stay in contact with the artist and have good communication with him. Without these social networking sites I would not have been able to create any of my media productions.

Technology

Throughout the course I have had to use a variety of different technologies to help produce my media production. This included, a camera, computer, digital camera and my mobile phone. My mobile phone was particularly important as it allowed me to communicate easily, whether it being about booking out equipment or contacting the artist. The computer allowed me to find my research and also edit anything that needed to be edited.

Final Magazine Advert

Planning for a Magazine Advert

Conventions of the magazine advert form

1. What is a magazine advert and what is it's function?

Example of Magazine Advert

An advert comes from the word advertising, which is a form of communication used to encourage or persuade to buy a product or service. Within the music industry adverts have been mainly online but also use magazine like NME and fill the back pages. A magazine advert is an ad which is placed in a publication in an A4 size.

2. What do we usually find on advert? Does it differ between genres of music?

On an advert there are normally common conventions which are found. These conventions include:

• An image of the band or artist and a key logo.
• Image of the actual album/release item.
• Availability in store/online/price etc. 
• Special Features.
• Consistent image/font/colours from album.
• Record label.

Different genres of music may have different conventions and they have to appeal to their target audience. 

3. Does there need to be a connection between the digipak and the advert?

Yes, there does need to be some sort of connection with the digipak and advert. This can be done through colours for example.