Question 4 - How did you use new media technologies in the

construction and research, planning and evaluation stages?

USE OF TECHNOLOGY WITHIN THE PORTOFOLIOThrough the process of this portfolio I believe that my knowledge and skills required for the media industry has improved significantly, since last year when producing my thriller opening. Creating my own music video allowed me to explore my creativity and ability to create and direct the music video as well as consider the performance, themes and create an artist who was appealing to our intended audience and genre music. Throughout the process, I was heavily reliant on various technology as it supported me in making my work more effective and professional. The support of technology also made my work of a higher quality as the quality of camera in our equipment this year enable me to capture better footage, hence creating a better music video.

RESEARCH AND PLANNING

• Blogger• YouTube• Google• Microsoft

BLOGGER

I have used Blogger during all stages of my production in order to complete posts on my learning and collect research and planning that I completed. During my research, I found various theorist associated with the music industry and adopted their theories to my music video to create meaning and make it more advanced as well as successful. With the planning stage, I uploaded all my work to blogger to ensure it was getting marked so I could improve my music video idea. As a duo, we also ensured that we were completing our planning continuously out of lessons. From this, I learnt how to store my work online on a safe platform allowing me to access my work from different locations, so I was able to update it regularly; improving my work to make it a high standard. It was also a good platform for me and my group to share our ideas.

YOUTUBE

I have used YouTube to watch existing music videos as part of my research in order to gain idea helping me to make my music video of a higher quality and professional standard. I looked at how intertextual reference, star image, conventions etc. was used in these music videos and how I could adapt it to my own idea. As a result, I was successful in finding similarities associated with my Alternative/Jazz genre, idea and song, allowing me to plan my video in detail considering all aspects.

I used Google as my resource engine to collect my research accurately. I have investigated into theorists, allowing me to find accurate and established information that were useful in making my music video more successful and appealing to a mainstream audience. From this, I have learnt how to choose appropriate material for my blogs, ensuring that I am selective without choosing irrelevant information which can be repetitive or create confusion. This ensured that I was precise when selecting information. Also, using Google allowed me to differentiate between credible and non credible sources, to make a informative and comprehensive research blog.

MICROSOFT

I used Microsoft in order to create my primary research like my questionnaire and result which I created in the form of graphs on excel and transferred onto Microsoft after receiving feedback from my target audience regarding music video ideas and the Alternative/Jazz genre. Using these software taught me how to present my work in a neat and professional manner, as well as allowing me to present my findings to prove research and make clear decisions.

CONSTRUCTION

• Camera• Tripod• SD Card• Final Cut Pro X• Photoshop• YouTube• 1001 Fonts

CAMERA

I used the camera to film my music video and to capture various shots of my artist, allowing me to portray her in a certain way, evoking particular emotions and reactions from the viewers. As a result of last year, this year I had a clearer understanding of how to focus shots and film enough footage. Not only I used the camera to portray my artist as a ‘star’ enhancing her public image, but also to take picture of our female artist for the advert and digipak. This allowed me to take numerous images in different locations and lighting, making the images more effective and professional.I have learnt how to use the camera more professionally and confidently, filming freely without always having the support of the tripod. This allowed me capture more effective shots of different sizes and from different angle such as medium shot, tilt shot and zooming-in. Moreover, I have also learnt how to use the focus function as well as considering lighting and framing when trying to take a professional looking photo.

TRIPODI have used a tripod to support me and to make camera movement look smoother and professional while filming. This allowed me to capture clear and various shot in different angles that I would not have been able to film if I held the camera. This year I learnt that I was more capable of using the tripod more effectively as I was more familiar on how to open it and adjust the length more efficiently.

SD CARDI used the SD Card to store all my footage on, as this was the most secure method to prevent my footage from being deleted or getting lost. In comparison to last year, this year, we used a SD card with more space which allowed us to film more footage, without having to worry about space on the card. Our SD Card also had a higher class available which permitted me to film good quality footage with good resolution and definition, making my video more effective.

FINAL CUT PRO X

To edit our music video we used Final Cut Pro X to the best of our ability, adding effects to make it look like a professional and established music video. This programme allowed us to explore our creativity, as we discovered different transition and movements to improve our video. From this I learnt to use different and more advanced techniques in comparison to last year. This year we used less effects to match our music genre as well as making it look more proficient.

PHOTOSHOP & YOUTUBE

I used Photoshop for the creation of my Digipak and advert, as I edited my images effectively, making the advert and digipak look more appealing and eye catching for the audience. It also encouraged to enhance the star image, as I was able to portray my artist in a particular and unique way that fits her persona, where the audience can also relate to. I was only able to this by following YouTube tutorials that thought me how to create certain effects and make the image look more proficient.By using Photoshop I learnt how to edit professional pictures as well as adding effects such as colours, blurs and add writings to it. The software was beneficial to use because it allowed me to produce a realistic looking advert and digipak through the use of tools available in Photoshop.

1001 FONTS

I used 1001 Fonts during the stage when I was creating my ancillary products. I used it for the fonts of the text of my advert and digipak, as this website included numerous fonts and different style, allowing me to chose the correct fonts which suited the advert and digipak. This website was vital for me because it allowed me to demonstrate different aspect an mood through my digipak and advert as well as make it more appealing to attract a wider audience. 1001 Fonts allowed me to identify the strengths and weaknesses associated with the different fonts, enabling me to narrow it down to specific fonts that were appropriate for my ancillary products.

EVALUATION

• Windows Movie Maker• Prezi• Souncloud• Youtube• SlideShare

MOVIE MAKER

I used Windows Movie Maker to present my work in the form of a timeline, in which I uploaded images and summed up what I learnt about new technologies. From this I learnt how to present my work in a more creative way and visual manner. Also last year I was limited with characters when creating my work on Windows Movie Maker 2.6, however, this year I used PowerPoint to create my work allowing more space to discuss. After I finished creating the PowerPoint I saved it as a JPEG and imported into Windows Movie Maker.

SOCIAL MEDIAI used Social Media to present my media production to the public, allowing the viewers to observe and review it, which provided me with feedback and opinions as well. This encouraged people to react, identify advantages and disadvantages associated with filming and editing stages of my music . This was beneficial because it thought me what the audience wanted to see from an Alternative/Jazz music. Not only this was helpful to develop the weaknesses of my music video, but also it helped me on making my music video more successful and appealing to a mainstream audience. After this process, I identified that social media can also be used for educational purposes as well, allowing me to share my work with friends and families.

PREZI

I used Prezi to create a presentation demonstrating how developed my ancillary products after receiving criticism to make it look realistic. This was beneficial because it allowed me to share my ideas and work in a creative manner using different platforms. Here I learnt to present my work more amusingly by combining both images and text, to make my work more visually appealing. I was also able to analyse my ancillary products as well as identify Richard Dyer’s theory of star image throughout my digipak, advert and music video.

SOUNDCLOUD

I used SoundCloud to record feedbacks from members involved in my focus group who commented on my music video, providing me with positives and negatives criticism that they identified. This allowed me to measure the success of my music video. From this, I learnt how to record voices appropriately ensuring it was heard properly. This permitted me to identify which parts of my music video were successful and which parts needed improving. As a result, I was able to work on my music video and make it more successful as possible.

YouTube

After completing my music video, I used YouTube as a platform to share my final product on. This allowed me to gain reviews and criticism from the mass public and my target audience in which I would be able to use in future productions. From this, I learnt how to upload my work on a public platform, where random members of the public would be able to leave comments regarding my production. This was useful as I was able to share my work to a mainstream audience ad YouTube is commonly used by a global audience.

I used SlideShare in order to create question 1 which consisted of me identifying the micro-elements that were evident in my music video, allowing me to see the ways in which I conformed the conventions, but also how I challenged and developed them. This process thought me how to analyse my music video in depth, identifying the changes that were made over the process and the reasons for these choices. I also learnt how to create my work on PowerPoint and then upload it on to SlideShare publicly allowing members of the audience to view my work.

DIFFICULTIES I ENCOUNTERED AND HOW I OVERCOME THEM

One difficulty I encountered included using 0Photoshop, which was due to me not having previous experience regarding the software. Therefore, as it was completely new to me, it was difficult to me to work with. I overcome this problem by getting familiar with the software as well as following tutorial on YouTube on how to use different tools and effects. This was hugely beneficial because it allowed me to create a successful and professional ancillary products.

Another difficulty I encountered during the production stage was matching the lip sync with the image when editing, which was quite challenging as it made the music video lack professionalism and made it look less legitimate. However, I overcome this issues by using different editing techniques, effects and transition which prevented the audience from noticing the artist lip syncing not being in time with the music as we ensured they were distracted by these techniques.

I final difficulty I encountered was creating the digipak and ensuring that it fitted printing purposes. I also found difficult making each cover look similar, portraying the same themes. In order to overcome this, I asked my peers for help as well as looking for measurement in internet. Not only I looked for other tutorials on YouTube, but also I made sure that the theme we used were consistent to create a professional and successful product.

Overall, I believe that my use of technology has allowed me to develop my skills as an advanced media student. This year I have learnt how to use new software and technology, such as Photoshop and a camera to film; which I was unable to use effectively before. I am more confident in how to incorporate technology as part of my educational skill set and this is something I hope to continue in future.