The document discusses using various online tools and software to research, plan, construct, and evaluate a music video project. Prezi and Slideshare were used extensively during the research, planning, and evaluation stages to creatively present findings. Adobe Premiere Pro was used to edit video footage and add effects. Photoshop was used to design a digipak and magazine advert, leveraging the author's photography experience. Various tools in Photoshop, like layers and selection tools, helped produce high quality ancillary texts. Overall, the author felt online and design software allowed for interesting, organized presentation of work throughout the project.

2. RESEARCH
Throughout the research stage, I used sites such as YouTube, Google, Prezi.com
and Slideshare to gather and present my findings. I used YouTube and Google
effectively by using key words to find specific information or music videos to gather
my research. Also with Google you can filter your search by clicking on search
tools and then changing the different pre-set options. For example you can choose
to search the whole web or pages from the UK only as shown in the print screen
below. I used these filters to help me find information that was entirely relevant to
my artist, music labels and director research. With YouTube, I made sure that I
included ‘official video’ at the end of my search so that the stars official video
appeared at/near the top of the list, as if I hadn’t entered this YouTube would have
returned results of videos that aren’t related to the official video such as ones
created for the Purpose of coursework etc.
I feel that I used sites such as Slideshare and
Prezi.com to create interesting ways to
present my findings throughout my research,
as I could creatively use text, images and
colour to make my work more eye catching
and interesting to look at.

3. RESEARCH I used Prezi for
my artist
research so that
I could create a
timeline of Lana
Del Rey life as I
thought this was
a creative way of
presenting my
findings.
I chose slide
share to present
some of my work
as they are easy
to create and
use, but also
allow me to use
text and pictures
to explain my
work.

4. PLANNING
Again I used Prezi.com and Slideshare for many of the posts during the planning
stage. This is because I felt that these were interesting and creative methods of
presenting my work.
I feel that Prezi.com was perfect for presenting my planning work, such as the
storyboard, brainstorming ideas, shooting schedule etc. as I felt this was the best
way to show my thought process and my journey I had taken because of the way
Prezi moves between each framed section of text or image. For the shooting
schedule I was able to create a timeline on Prezi which allowed me to clearly show
the filming process I planned to follow. For the Brainstorming Ideas section of
planning, again the way Prezi works allowed my thought process to be clearly
presented.
I chose to use Slideshare because I felt that this was another way to make a
PowerPoint more interesting, but also allowed me to clearly present my thoughts
and ideas. I used different slide designs for each Slideshare to make them stand
out and used a mixture of colour, text and images to clearly present my ideas to
the viewer.

5. PLANNING
For the shooting schedule I was able to
create a timeline so that the information could
be presented clearly and in a creative way
through using Prezi.com. I also use Prezi to
create my location planning (as shown on the
left) and when brainstorming my ideas as you
can create really interesting mind maps that
are aided by the movement of each slide to
show my thought process.

6. CONSTRUCTION - VIDEO
To film my video, I used my own Canon EOS 1100 D camera, as it enabled me to
film in HD. I feel that because I was able to use my own camera, I had a better
understanding of the functions which enabled me to film effectively. I also study
photography, so use my camera on a regular basis constantly altering the settings
to achieve different effects, so therefore I was able to overcome any issues I faced
whilst filming.
To edit and piece together the footage to create my video, I used the adobe
premier pro software. I feel that I had a better understanding of the software, its
functions and ways in which it can be used to alter footage and add effects. When
I used the software at AS, I only had a basic understanding of the different ways in
which it can be used to edit together the footage and add effects, whereas now I
feel that I have expanded the my knowledge to be able to correct any
imperfections in the footage,
using specific effects etc. to be able to create a music video that
successfully reflected my initial ideas for the theme and
meaning of the song.

7. CONSTRUCTION - VIDEO
Some of my footage was filmed indoors and the rest was filmed outside. I found
that the lighting for the different shots was often different and some of the footage
had come out yellow do to the type of lighting I had used. I therefore used adobe
premiere pro to alter the white balance of most of the footage I had filmed indoors.
To do this I selected one of the pieces of footage and add the white balance
corrector, then used the little selector tool to choose the whitest part of the image.
In this case it was the highlighted bit above my actors lip. This instantly stopped
the clip from looking orange, so I then added the same settings to each of the clips
I had filmed indoors as this made the lighting and colour of my actors skin look
more natural. I felt that using the colour selection tool made
it easier to make the image
look more natural rather
than trying to choose a
colour from the square in
the box shown below.

8. CONSTRUCTION - VIDEO
I also decided to add a additive dissolve into my video as I felt that it could work
with two pieces of footage to amplify the lyrics ‘I got sent away’. I had filmed my
actor walking down the steps of the castle and then filmed the same shot without
my actor and combined these placing the 2 pieces of footage in the same on the
timeline but on in the video 1 and the other in the video 2 part of the timeline. I
then added the additive dissolve towards the end of the clip in video 2, which
made this clip fade out to reveal the clip in video 1 and making my actor disappear.
I felt that this both illustrated and amplified the song lyrics but also looked
professional and effective.

9. CONSTRUCTION – DIGIPAK & ADVERT
To create my digipak and magazine advert, I used Adobe Photoshop. I feel that I was
able to use Photoshop effectively as I already use it on a weekly basis both at home
and in college due to me studing photography. I have used Photoshop for about 2
years so therefore understand all of the functions and capabilities of the software,
from the basic editing such as adding artistic effects, using the basic tools, altering
contrast/brightness and colour balance etc. to transforming images, merging layers
and so on. I feel that my experience with the software has enabled me to build on my
skills using certain tools such as the pen or lasso tools to carefully and neatly select
areas of images when merging them to create the design.
I built all the sides of my digipak on separate canvases on Photoshop, but made sure
that they were all the correct sizes so that if put together they would match up
accurately. I also used Photoshop to create the record label logos that I have included
on both the digipak and the magazine advert, using the shape and text tools.
The same goes for the magazine advert. I feel that I was able to create a professional
looking advert as I was able to apply my skills and knowledge of the software to
effectively produce the final result. I chose not to use Adobe Fireworks as I have very
little knowledge on how to use the software so felt that this would prevent me from
making my ancillary texts as successful as possible.

10. CONSTRUCTION – DIGIPAK
From experience with Photoshop, I
created each individual piece of the
digipak on separate layers to ensure
that it was easier for me to piece
together and edit the individual aspects
of my digipak (shown by the screen
shots above).
I also used effects such as altering the
exposure to fade images and this
allowed me to make the lyrics once
added to the page stand out.

11. CONSTRUCTION –ADVERT
For the magazine advert I used tools such as the magic wand and lasso tool
to cut out different flowers and used colour balance to alter the colour of the
images. I feel that experience with Photoshop has enabled me to cut out the
images accurately and this has enabled me to produce a higher quality
advert.

12. EVALUATION
I feel that I have effectively used media technologies to express my thoughts and
feelings upon my work and progress in the style of an evaluation. Again I have
chose to use Slideshare, Prezi.com, Xtranormal and Sliderocket as I feel that
these allow me to clearly express my feelings and ideas when answering the
evaluation questions. Again I feel that they are also an interesting and creative way
of presenting a PowerPoint.
I used Prezi.com for the Evaluation question 1 as I felt this was the place where I
could write a detailed answer discussing the different conventions of music videos
and ancillary texts, as I felt that this question was quite detailed and I had a lot to
write about. I also felt this was an easy way to show my thoughts and combine the
use of text and images creatively to support my thoughts.
I chose to use Sliderocket for the evaluation questions 2 and 3because I felt that
the themes available for use are interesting and would make my evaluation more
interesting to look at/read. I also felt that this was an easy ways to break down my
answer into sections to make sure I covered all of the points I needed to answer
the questions thoroughly.
I used Slideshare to answer this evaluation question as I felt that this was the most
appropriate form of presenting an answer that needs breaking down into a few
sections. I feel that through using this I was able to respond effectively to the
question.