QUESTION 3: What have you learned from your audience questionnaire?

I learned that the exploration of different ides in a relationship between the two characters shows more diversity and applies to a greater amount of audience and isn’t exclusive to a niche audience but involves both ‘mainstream’ heterosexual relationships where the two girls can be friends or in a homosexual relationship. As Shannon said the “narrative is effective as it shows 2 possible perspectives” this leads on to the theory of Stuart Hall, allowing the audience to have a ‘negotiated reading’ of the media text rather than us, the producers, have the audience think in a ‘dominant reading.’

However, Ryan B suggested that there could be “maybe use less narrative as there was a lot in comparison to the cutaway and performance”. But since our narrative and the story we proposed to our audience was our main focus for the audience to interpret, I wouldn’t necessarily agree with his view. Although, there could be more performance from the artist to allow the targeted audience to get to know the performer a bit more which could help build on the personal relationship through the central and close up positioning of the artist exposing a lot of negative space which purposely brings all the attention to the artist making it feel like they are speaking directly at the audience.

Ryan F and Brandon both suggested that we clearly presented a clear structure of ‘Todorov’s Theory’ through the clear representation of the narrative as Ryan F said that the “narrative did tell a good story” although we began with a ‘disruption’ showing the two friends not being able to communicate effectively with each other rather than an equilibrium as we proposed to challenge our audience. Finally ending with a ‘new equilibrium’ where the friends are beginning a ‘new life’ without each other. Brandon commented that the music video “had a constructed beginning and end” which presents that our narrative was structured in a clear and logistic way for our audience to understand a simple but effective narrative.

For our mise-en-scene Shannon commented, “the use of different lighting to show the two different moods”, this has been interpreted that the lighting that was used was reflective of the characters state of being not just their non- verbal communication but through the visual change of lighting. Their acting also reflects the physical editing change on the screen. Followed with Ryan B’s judgement that the “lighting helped set scene”.

Our motif of flowers was taken in well and clearly noticed by our audience since both Ryan F and Chelsea commented on it. Ryan F said, “the mise-en-scene of the flowers dying to represent to passing of time was really effective and appropriately used”, the delicate dissolve transitions allowed us to represent the change over time of the flowers, the same way the friends change over time. Symbolism allowed Chelsea to interpret and helped me to understand that this can be an important aspect of the whole video even though the flowers scene lasted about 5 seconds, it brings everything together. She said, “the roses which showed the relationship was dying”, the flowers can be like a ‘character’ to the sequence being personified to fulfil a narrative of ‘symbolism’ where clear symbolism is reflected on the video.

Another motif that we decided to use throughout the video were ‘real life’ photos that represented the time the two friends were together but Brandon thought that, that gave it a “depressing feel” and he also thought it was “overused”. We wanted to use that to express the good times, where even if you end on bad terms with another person you remember the ‘happy’ times that you spent

Klaudia Gil

with them. Shannon had agreed with our thought, “the use of photos added substance and style to the video and narrative.” We thought that this would be convenience for the audience as well as us the producers because we were showing something that could be expectant by the audience, John Fiske. It was meant to match the targeted audience’s expectations but this made me learn that sometimes it’s not good ‘overdoing’ things to express a simple message which can be overwhelming for the audience to interpret.

We tried to create a variety with different angle shots like a long shot in the park or a middle shot to represent the friends sitting down, which was noticed by Shannon, Ryan F and Maclean who had different opinions to each other. Shannon said “some shots lower quality than others”, we acknowledged that some of our shots quality wasn’t as good as others. This is due to equipment since one filming day we didn’t have a good quality camera, so we had to go with what we had, unfortunately our actress was unavailable another day which resulted in us not being able to re-shoot the shot with the lower quality. The bad quality added to the ‘realism’ to the video, that real life isn’t ‘perfect’. But she also managed to give a positive comment “the range of shots and angles used” was effective alongside Ryan F, “variety of shots throughout, starting with a long shot and there were several close-ups” and “the variety really added to the video”. Close-up’s allowed the audience to see the details in facial non-verbal communication enabling them to create a personal relationship, which they have likely experienced themselves. Although Maclean thought that there could have been “more shots could have been used, i.e over the shoulder”, we used different types of shots which were repetitive, next time if we did this again we would take his comment into acknowledgement and would try to create more of a variety.

The editing was “visually striking” – Shannon, I learned that these features were noticeable and eye capturing, Ryan F “lots of filters and transitions”, Maclean “slow motion is the best”. We wanted to ‘capture the moment’ through slowing down the scene. It allowed us to pay great attention to non-verbal communication as well as make the moment ‘last longer’, it’s as if the friends were stopped in the moment. Not only does it help the audience create personal identity, it’s a way of escapism and entertainment. Chelsea, “I liked when it re-wined backwards”.

We fulfilled the conventions of a pop music video, “upbeat track” – Shannon. This has meant that we had to have more footage compared to other groups for the visuals to match the soundtrack and the editing. It involved the performance and narrative that both acted as entertainment. We had included a commercial feature of the genre, Jason Mittel, conveying the idea of “love/friendship” – Maclean, to have that as an idea/dream that most people go forward to reach and achieve.

Klaudia Gil