So this is it. We have come to the end of the road, or shall i say last post.
I have learnt a lot of things this college year and i will take with me the skills i learnt on photoshop and finalcut to my grave! It has been an absolute pleasure studying media, (i will not get emotion!)....
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Special thanks to the 4 great girls in my group! We had our lovely ups and downs with all the disasters and successful filming moments. Our KFC feasts after every filming day..ah Tomi :')
Thank you to my two teachers Rebecca and Annabel. Both very funny and teach wonderfully! (give them a pay rise candi!!)
Anyway, thank you for taking the time to read through all my blogs, i hoped you enjoyed reading/ watching them as much as i did writing/filming them.
It was on a tuesday afternoon where all the A2 media students made there way to the Screen on Green cinema to watch there hard work being played in front of their fellow media student with great media knowledge...oh and the media teachers or course (they got reserved luxury seats)..Just Saying.
So what have I learnt from the feedback we got?...
Well firstly, lets take a look at what I recorded that day during the cinema screening of Group 34's music video.
Here are feedbacks from our rough cut of the music video:
The rough cut feedbacks helped me more than the final edit feedback as I had a ton of comments telling me what i should improve on, and what i love about it is that i can actually improve the music video because it was only a rough cut at the time. The improvement comments i got after making the final edit were pointless as it was too late to improve the video. I realised that we needed more variety of shots as we continues to use the same ones repeatedly.
Although one person comments, that they did not like the beginning and thought of it as pointless, in the final cut i still kept it in as it made me realise that it WAS necessary, especially as we managed to add sound to the cut away shots to reflect 'Time' and 'Reality'.
What im trying to say is that some of the feedbacks we took into consideration however if we felt something in our music video actually made sense then we would keep it..only if we were 100% positive. But i very much appreciate the comment i got from that person as they made me realise that if i wanted to get a concept across clearer to the audience i will have to find a way (either through more filming or more editing) to make sure this happens to actually IMPROVE my music video.
Media Student's Feedback outside the Screen on Green Cinema...
I would have to agree with Nathan at the end there, compared to the reactions i got last year, I definitely received a more positive reaction this year. As last year my group got hesitant claps (quite embarrassing) we did not manage to edit our thriller to the best of our ability which is why i feel there is a massive improvement with the amount of effort i put into the work this year - i do feel i completed the music video to the best of my ability especially with the amount of time we had left and the lack of amount of assistance i got from the group. (Just a taste of my own medicine from last year as I was the slacker who relaxed way too much)
In the feedback I realised that a lot of people noticed our choice of mise en scene: costume and editing, and i do feel those where our strongest technical aspects in the music video. No other music video consisted of using over the top costume like the dress. They also said that our difference in costume from casual everyday clothing to a big fancy dress was effective as it contrasts to how she felt before with the break up before and the dress representing her healing from it. (Which was exactly our idea of using it!) We were also told that "the scene on the bench where the male character then the artist disappear really reflects how emotional the artist actually is." People liked our variety of our black and white shots against the coloured ones as it made the story line clearer to the 'Time' in the video. (as in the b&w are the past and the colour ir the present)
I learnt that people enjoyed our music video, which makes me feel like all my editing has paid off. I have come into every single of of the editing days and I also am head editor, my fellow group are my opinionators (i know its not a word) - they would tell me what they think works and doesnt, on some occasions i get a pat on the back for my hard work :-) Many of those who watched the video, understood the concept which i was very happy about as we did not plan our editing out (having failed to upload an animatic) we pretty much improvised slight parts of it. I do feel though that if we planned our concept thoroughly the concept would've been much more effective plus we would've had much more clearer shots that would make the conventions more illustrated than it is disjunctured and amplified. We had some people saying we need more base tracks, which i also agree on, the fact that we lacked on them made us have to repeat the same clips again and again i.e mid shot on bench and close up on bench and dress in front of brick wall. Due to the lack of co-operation from some members of the group we did not manage to film as much as we'd hope to on each filming day. As some points i even had to take the JVC home to video myself (the scene where i am in bed) dues to the lack of availability to each member of the group, either they were working or had other plans.' I have put a lot of effort into the production of the main product and ancillary work that the positive amazing feedback I got for it all paid off! I am extremely proud of myself! I would like to thank my group for putting up with my commanding leadership...after all someone had to take control or no one else would've had the initiative to get started unless told to do so. My group still loves me :P
Ancillary Feedback:
After completing the production of my digipak and advertisement, i published them on Facebook to receive a fair amount feedbacks from my friends. Some comments were helpful towards giving advice on what i should improve on.
From the feedbacks i received from facebook about my ancillary products I feel even more confident with the production and there is only one thing i would change about it because of this comment i got from a friend which i 100% agree to (however there was a reason why i did which is explained on a separate blog)...
As to all the research i have done, it is important to put an image of the artist as the album cover in order for her face to be distinguished and promoted, however due to putting a sketch instead, i have lessened te chance for the artist to be distinguished by music audiences especially those who are not fans.
However, the sketch makes the album mysterious would could make audiences curious to who this artist may be. I guess either way they are advantages and disadvantages that level out the amount of promotion the artists gets. But if i had to improve it, then i would of definitely put an image of the artist on the front, and put the sketch in the inside panel instead. My friend Jessica made a very valid point here.
I had many feedback from a range of audiences, some where not media students which was good as they commented it without any knowledge on media terminology. This helps me to see how my target audience would appeal to my promotional products, as they are not particular media students who would recognise the links between the ancillary work and main media product (because they are professionals when it comes to media!) this does not give accurate reviews of my work and therefore a 'normal' audience is more appropriate.
I did not manage to film there feedback however i asked them to record there opinions down on my voice recorder...
Danielle said: "omg wow, this looks so god damn profession! I love it. You are such a talented artist making your own approach to the album cover. I saw other album covers and your front panel was the only one that has been drawn. You look stunning in the inside panel and the CD design looks soo realistic i honestly would've thought it was legit. I'd definitely approach Charlie Jayne's album if i saw it on the shelf in HMV. Charlene my friend...you did a great job"
(then she gave me a pat on the back haha)
Khristine: "this looks unbelievably real! You are very good with PhotoShop init. I like the format and how you presented it all, your sketch thing is nice. Its very feminin which goes with the type of music your artist produces. Aww I love it!!"
(although khristine had no knowledge on media, she pretty much understood the links between the ancillary product to the main music product, which got me thinking: do all the non media students i interview think this too? Its it a normal instinct to consider that my ancillary products could reflect off a certain genre?)
Ade: "yeah its really good, your fonts are simple yet sophisticated and bold, very easy to read from far...and i dont have good eye sight! Would be nice to have your pretty face on the front cover though, to distinguish the artist, after all Charlie Jayne is an emerging artist and needs all the promotion she can get. Although on your advertisement poster and image of you does appear on it which is good i guess"
(Ade had pretty much the same opinion as Jessica (great minds think alike) having studied media in AS, Ade knew how ancillary promotion works, if you are an emerging artist it is important to sell yourself to the public as much as you can)
Nathan: "dude you've always been good at these kind of things. This looks professional man, i can see it up on the billboards and music shelves already. I'd approach this in HMV you know and im a guy, haha. Good job Charlene, theres honestly nothing i can say you can improve on"
(i begged him to give me something to improve on, he then said...)
"ah okay erm, the barcode could be bigger?!" < HAHA :') thanks Nathan thats very helpful!
Apart from that i feel that my ancillary work has been great success, Im not usually the one to praise my own work however this time i really do feel like i did a great job. I had a majority or media students even media TEACHERS telling me that my ancillary work looks professional! It is a real pleasure to hear these compliments! :-)
Well it was fun while it lasted! Thank you to every single member of my group! You worked had and we finally made it to the end of blogging season! Thank you to Rebecca and Annabel! I'm apologise for my awkward and random moments (many in my talk to cameras haha) Thank you to everyone who watched the music video, gave me feedback and encouraged me when I needed it. This is Tomi, signing out of blogger for the last time. And I shall leave you with this GIF of me :)
What have you learned from your audience feedback?
On the 6th of December the whole media department went to the 'Screen on the Green' to watch the music videos we had all participated in. After watching all of the music videos we left the cinema to interview other members of the media department about what they thought about the music video.
A lot of the viewers said they like the acting in the music video, especially the parts of the flash backs. Some people said could feel the anger and the heat of the argument when the two actors were throwing clothes at each other and when the artist slaps her ''boyfriend''. They said that the music video was very clear and it was easy to distinguish from the ''past events'' because of the framing and the use of black and white editing.
Every time someone was interviewed they would mention the dress that the artist wore. Many people thought it was the best part of the music video (when she is singing in the field) and some people thought it was too much of a copy from 'Best Thing I Never Had' by Beyonce. And some people just didn't find the dress attract due to the colours.
This is what one person sent me after watching our music video via Vimeo (after I shared it on FaceBook). There is mostly good feedback and some constructive criticism (some I don't understand)
We did not get a lot of comments on the shots we had, so I wanted to share this.
Not a lot of music videos had a narrative to it, so many people commented on it,
[I apologise for my pale looking face, I have been really ill this week]
So I have finally completed all my blogs and have official finished my A2 media coursework. I have really enjoyed this part of my course and I am looking forward to completing the rest of my A2 media year. I would just like to thank my whole group as I think we have done an amazing job producing a music video, thank you all for having me in your group. I would also like to thank my media teachers Rebecca and Annabell who have helped me with throughout my coursework.. Also Mickey and Marissa who helped me when I needed help with final cut or soundtrack pro. Also to the media students who gave me feedback on my work which allowed me to complete my evaluation. And finally thank you to the media teachers that helpedme with my work during workshop at lunch times.
Thank You!!!
How did you use media technologies in the construction and research, planning and evaluation stages?
Throughout the process of creating our music video and our ancillary work I used many media products/technologies to help research and give me ideas, and also expand on them to make them my own.
When we first researched songs for our music video we used YouTube. We listened to many different songs on the site, looking for one that we could visualise making a music video to. The song we chose was Pixie Lott's cover of 'Use Somebody' by Kings of Leon, we later changed the song to 'Cry Me Out' by Pixie Lott.
Because I cold not find a contact email for Pixie Lott I contacted her via her YouTube page, but I did not get a response.
We also viewed many different music videos to help us expand our ideas, including 'Someone Like You' by Adele and 'Best Thing I Never Had' by Beyonce.In our classes we went on another video streaming
In our classes we went on another video streaming called Vimeo. We used this website to look at past student work and how it varied in style. We were also able to look at the hall of fame and the not so good work. Our final products were also posted on this website. This was good because our music videos were not made public and it did not breach any copyright laws.
The website I used most was of course Google. I used this web browser to find other/all the websites I was looking for and used it to help me find images that would inspire me with my digipak and advertisement. YouTube is also part of the Google family, which again helped me find music videos and song that inspired my work.
When it came to filming our music video we used a lot of equipment. We used:
Video Camera
Flip Camera
Digital Camera
SD Memory Cards
Video Camera Batteries
All of these were used to help film the raw videos that we used for our music video. Memory cards were where the footage was stored, video camera batteries to use the video camera. The digital camera was used to take BTS pictures and the flip cam was used to take BTS footage.
When we started editing our music video the main program we used was Final Cut Pro on the Mac computers. This software is used to make television shows, movies and music videos all over the world, and we used it last year. This software is easy to use once acquainted with it.
For the sound effects we had at the start of the music video we used Sound Track to create it and merge the sounds together, helping set the atmosphere for the song and the music video.
When we finished our music video we shared it on social networking sites to get feedback from our friends and all other viewers.
When it came to making our digipak and advertisements we used the software Photoshop Elements to edit the pictures that I took for my digipak/advertisement. I had no experience with Photoshop prior to this work, but it was something I got the hang of very soon and enjoyed using.
During the testing digipak that we created we used a software called 'Quark' to help with the font of the digipak. Before this exercise I had never even heard of Quark but it was interesting to try something new
