Evaluation Question 4 Draft - Sanj

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

Researching and Planning

Blogger:
Having used Blogger during my AS coursework and in my spare time, I have felt confident with its use and functions for updating and publishing my work.
It has allowed all stages of the project to be stored in a single place, with a navigation panel showing the work that has completed during the creation of the music video and ancillary products. This, in my opinion is the best way for our project to be presented  as the website is accessible via the internet, this has meant that there are constant opportunities for improvements, additional work and its history to be found be all users.
Blogger has put at ease the way that the work would be presented. The website supports images, videos, texts and embedded documents that have proved crucial for evidence of planning, thoughts and research across the process of the project, this gives both I and others looking at the work a clear understanding of what needs to be done and the overall image that is going to be created through the products.
In addition, the website can be shared via a range of communication methods; social networks have been a primary example. Having a simple URL means that it can be accessed by anyone ensuring that there is constant feedback to help make the work  the best possible standard, it also shows how well the project is going and any changes or problems that would potentially occur.

Animoto:
When producing the twenty-five word pitch, a short video featuring text and images was most suitable for those watching. Having a restricted time and frame limit, it meant that the words and images has to form a clear representation of what our main project was. With set templates, it meant that a large task could be done quickly and easily, ensuring that work was productive and time was managed effectively.

Twitter:
The use of social networks have been very important as a communication method for both peers and our target market.
Twitter, allowed me to communicate with teachers and peers for when advice was needed. This was used during the filming stage, where I was able to ask for guidance with the type of work and camera angles that would be efficient for the video's appearance. Its quick responses meant that the work at the time would be changed and it would be better suited after the changes had been made from the advice given.
Creating a twitter profile for our singer helped to create a fanbase for Billie White/ Katie Jones and the type of music that she was producing. Under a alias I was able to tweet and post pictures of photoshoots and filming locations in a hope to create a sense of realism of the people that 'followed' her. Having created it through the mobile app, responses that would be needed would be 24/7 and on the go, this helped to create a refine a fanbase to only those that would be interested to see or her the new music that was being released.

Flickr:
When conducting the first and second photoshoot, Flickr helped to ensure that they could be accessed in one single place. Having them uploaded on a photosharing website had meant that the photos taken where available to use for anyone looking in the album. This website came into primarily use during the ancillary products, where the difference in designs meant that different images of our singer had to be used.
The photo's uploaded on the website could be shared on the coursework blog and other websites, such as social media. This meant that there was enough people to suggest photos that could be used as well as approving the mise en scene of the artist. It allowed a small market to be created, providing a clear indication of what looked good on camera.

Scribd:
An alternative way of uploading word documents, it was a back up in case that some software was unavailable while allowing certain features not available on other programmes to be displayed ie. a table.

Photoshop:
An alternative way of publishing documents that may contain images and text. Photoshop was a programme that I had already mastered in the previous years coursework and proved easy to use. With the experience I had gained, I was able to create basic moodboards and visual journeys that showed the progress I made in a professional format.
The products I created on photoshop would often be posted on the coursework blog, adding to the work that had already been created.

Microsoft Office Word:
Microsoft word is has been a alternative way of producing work that could be published in a text post. Embedding the documents via Scribd, I was able to publish work that prove beneficial for the journey made during the music video processes.

Paint:
Paint was a piece of software that allowed me to print-screen comments, save them as a image and ultimately publish them on the coursework blog. This was effective when publishing the comments that I had made on other people's work and the comments that where made on my work. Showing the comments made proved to be useful when looking at the input that I was given and the way that I had acted on the response. This could be elements such as changing a image on a ancillary product or ensuring that the twenty-five word pitch was short and refined.
In addition, I was also able to publish the work that I had created on separate pieces of software and post them as images. Documents such as the 'visual digipak journey' where made on documents that where not restricted in their use, as a result the work of Paint allowed me to show others the progress that I had created in a image format.
The use of screenshots and Paint was useful for especially for blogger. It allowed me to add to the work that I had already created, providing aid and refinement for the work that I was producing.

Filming

HD Camera:
Primary recording equipment, on loan from the collage - the footage gathered from the video was filmed through it. Its HD display and wide range of uses helped to ensure that the best footage was caught in every clip that was made.

Lighting Equipment:
Provided by the filming studio, light boxes where provided. With access to three sets of lights the video was set with an equal balance of 'natural' lighting to help convey a sense of realism for the viewer. It also helped to create a visual link between the name of the song and what featured in the video, helping to create a hidden meaning - something that the target audience would be interested in.
The light ensured that everybody looked professional and enjoyable to watch, during the filming stage lights where used to manipulate shadows and help to ensure that the narrative of the story was effective throughout.

Speaker:
Through the Iphone the speaker amplified the pre-recorded song that our artist had lip-sync'd to. The music was loud enough to make sure that Katie did not feel embarrassed and was therefore able to carry out a confident performance. In addition, it helped others involved know the song in case they where needed (which happened to the female dancer) it made sure that people worked at the same time and the overall appearance appeared successful.

Iphone:
The Iphone was used to remain our singer the lyrics of Standing in the Way of The Light. Having downloaded a copy, the dancers where able to practise their routine with the song in mind, while our singer was able to match her voice to the pre-recorded song. This meant that editing the video was easy, as much of the song we needed was appropriate and suited the entrity of the song.
The phone as also used to access social networks sites, helping to make sure that the work we had been prepared to do was logged and approved by others.
The Iphone as also used to take photos of the model in the initial photoshoot, this was basic equipment and something that was sorted before the creation of ancillary products.

Post Production:

Mac's:
With the editing software only programmed to Mac's it meant that the music video would be edited from there. Being restricted to computer use only, I had little knowledge of the software of the computer itself. Through peer support and classroom activities I can say that my skills have advanced to a better stage. I have been able to successfully aid my group member in editing the video in a framed deadline as well as providing advice and opinions about its design. The software itself is not technical, but practise has allowed me to excel.

Final Cut Pro 10:
Software only available on Mac's and used by professional people within the media industry. Having little knowledge of experience of final cut I have advanced my knowledge during the music video project. Its ability to cut and add effects has been particularity effective for the video that we/I have created and has ensured that it stands out from others of the same genre. With pre-lim tasks I have been able to confidently use this software to much to a stage where I can produce a four minuet long song.

Youtube:
Posting the final music video on Youtube was a way to share the work to internet users. As a platform for music videos, people searching for music would likely to find the video and leave feedback, this will  help with evaluation processes as it will provide a clear indication of the target market, those that prefer the video and the changes that could have been made to ensure that it was at a higher standard. Posting on Youtube means that the video is accessible for  all constantly, encouraging the much needed criticism and response.

Social Networks:
Where used to broadcast the news of the completed  music video, both mine and my partner's Facebook and Twitter featured the URL to the website, encouraging people to watch it and to leave feedback and responses. This was a quick and efficent way to market both my main and anciallry product and social networks have become a depednacny and quick way of communcation for people today.