media

1. How did you use media technologies in the construction
and research, planning and evaluation stages?
EVALUATION - QUESTION FOUR:

2. CONSTRUCTION
• The construction process consisted of the creation and development period of the following:
music video; poster advertisement and digipak. The technology we used to construct our
products essentially had a colossal role in it’s successful production. The technology was a key
aspect to the creation of our products; without the technology which we used, the production
would not have been successful and it would not have reached it’s current standard.
• I used my camera (EOS 600 D) to capture the desired images for our initial photo shoots to
convey genre and genre conventions, furthermore, to capture the narrative and performance
footage for our music video. We were able to achieve a high quality picture for our music video
with the camera which I used. The quality gathered from my Canon 600 D is substantially
advanced than the other cameras we experimented with; the 600 D was capable of shooting in
1080p, the other cameras we experimented with (flip cameras, lower Canon generations) were
not capable in capturing footage or images in 1080p. The performance of the music video
heavily relies on the device being used to record and process it, the frame rate and other
conceptions are affected by different technologies which can be used to capture images or
footage. We managed to experiment with a variety of devices to record our music video and to
capture our photographs. We made brilliant improvements by using more advanced pieces of
technology to gather the resources required for our production.

3. • The clarity of the photographs and footage was quite unsatisfactory when using other
cameras. My camera was able to capture the images and footage which we desired,
therefore, affecting the performance of our music video production and initially drastically
improved our product by using a more advanced camera. In addition, the camera was easy to
manoeuvre for the hand held, tripod, moving the camera to different areas (in between
ambience to gain a sense of surroundings). These are a few perspectives which allowed us to
do by using the versatile piece of technology (EOS 600 D) Using an advanced camera like this
allowed us to capture fast paced scenes in greater quality (running scenes). This is an
example of how technology affected the performance of our product my experimenting with
different cameras to gather a higher standard for our music video and photographs which we
essential for the process of constructing our finalised product amongst the planning and
development of our product.
• Another essential piece of technology which refers to the construction orientation was using
the Mac computer, it’s integral graphical standard interface seemed to be far more advanced
than using other PC models. The Mac essentially allowed us to use editing software’s to
create, develop and edit to articulate the segments of the footage. We used editing programs
like Photoshop to essentially initiate the creation of our digipak and poster which was required
to form an established connection/relationship with our chosen genre. The products which I
formed and developed by using Photoshop also correlate with music video. The poster and
digipak share some of the characteristics and conventions of the digipak in relation to the dark
colour scheme and other aspects.

4. • We used the Photoshop program to individually create a digipak, poster, font and logo. This is
a technology source which I consider to be positive asset in order to form my products. To
commence the construction of the listed ideologies; I articulated my digipak around a template
which I used to initiate the production process for it. I managed to manipulate the conceptions
which I previously mentioned by using the gradient and curve tool, as well as making change
to brightness and contrast to form a dark colour scheme to make everything relate together.
Unfortunately I did not use any of my initial photographs for my disc development, however, I
heavily manipulated the images I used for my discs by completing drastic change and
implementing the desired patterns I needed to relate it to my chosen genre.
• I embedded the colour scheme which I formed for my products and manipulated the
images by creating different layers of colour and eventually manifesting each layer
together to form one pattern. I managed to create an icy effect for my discs to make it
more relevant to the name of our band (Cold Liberty).

5. • To commence the process of the music video, editing software was required so we could
perform manipulation to the footage gathered by editing it and positioning it in
chronological periods. We managed to integrate the narrative and performance pieces of
footage together to successfully form our intended music video which followed the
conceptions of having a narrative and performance which link to the typical conventions
found in the alternative rock genre. After creating our first draft of our music video which
did not meet our desired expectations; I managed to successfully plan to reshoot
particular scenes of the music video (narrative and performance scenes) with my group.
• This gave us more footage to replace the unsatisfactory sectors of our music video, by
reshooting, this helped us develop and cause improvements to our overall music video
production process. We managed to include transitions to manipulate scenes in the
music video. We added fade in and fade out effects (we used a fadeout which worked
well with the ending of our music video) to combine scenes together by tying in narrative
and performance based pieces of footage together, making it more conventional to
music videos which I have researched which relate to our chosen genre. We used a
program called Final Cut Pro to edit the footage for our music video.

6. • Photoshop was an important aspect to successfully create my products on and proved to be
an asset for the production and construction process overall. This program was a useful
technology to essentially create the finalised digipak and poster; in addition, it was also
important to develop other ideologies like patterns, colour schemes and fonts. Photoshop was
an important asset for the technological construction of my items.

7. When using Final Cut Pro; we used a variety of tools to essentially alter/tamper with the footage
we put together on the software. I used tools to practically cut pieces of footage in smaller
segments to create faster paced scenes which corresponds with the genre and music being
played alongside the footage. An alternative rock song requires fast paced editing to relate to
the genre codes convention; typically, music videos with the same genre contains fast paced
editing to relate more with the music beat. If scenes are not cut into time with the melody, beat
of the music than it would not convey relevance to the genre. I combined the two elements
together (narrative and performance based footage) by integrating the two elements together; I
positioned each piece of footage in key areas to allow the consistent switch between narrative
and performance; making it more conventional for the genre. We had to consider the pace and
placements of certain footage to combine with the music which played along with the footage;
we had to ensure putting a piece of footage which would be synchronous to the display of
performance. For example, lip synching of the vocalist and other aspects like, close ups of the
instruments when they’re emphasised and clearly heard through the song.

8. Overall, technology was an important asset to the creation of my
products, without the technology which I managed to use; the products
would not be as successful as they are and would be less developed.
I incorporated colour change to the music video to make it respond more with
the genre by adding in a darker theme – I took away the naturalistic colour
and replaced it with a black and white effect. This made the music video more
suitable for our genre.

9. RESEARCH
• I used a variety of methods to research into conceptions which were required throughout the
production of our music video and the ancillary texts which also relate to it. Methods of
research was especially helpful for the beginning of the production when planning for the
genre conventions which would essentially be incorporated to our own music video and
ancillary texts which we individually formed. We used two surveys as a source of research to
gather information from other people to vote for the band name and song which we should use
for our music video. The band name with the most votes was ‘Cold Liberty’ and song choice
‘The Pretender – Foo Fighters’. Surveys helped us with the research stage by gathering
information from other people to consider for our further production. Other aspects like
YouTube were essential when researching into the main ideologies which were required for
our production: various bands; codes and conventions of the genre; styles of posters and
digipaks; text formatting; song choices which related to our chosen genre (to place into
surveys as well as gaining insight on music); music video structure and aspect ratio (narrative
and performance ratio).

10. PLANNING
• The planning speculation was essential to our production; we used the technologies
(Photoshop, Final Cut Pro) which we used for developing our music videos, digipaks and
posters. We also used them for our planning stage; we designed an animatic which shares
aspects as a storyboard. The animatic blueprints, displays how our music video will appear.
The animatic is played alongside the song which we chose and the drawings we incorporated
as well as the detail given (camera angles - cinematography, mise en scene, ambience,
scenery, sound, footage length and more). We used Final Cut Pro to manipulate the speed of
each page displayed on the screen. Making it relevant with the beat of the music. We had to
create presentations and incorporate the production planning, construction of products and
other key aspects as well as the animatic/storyboard. We used various technologies to
present to our class. Presentation programs were found online and on the computers we
used. The pitch we delivered to our class was formulated on software called ‘prezi’. We also
used other presentational software’s like Emaze and PowerPoint.

11. EVALUATION
• Media technologies were essential and played an important role in the
evaluation sector. I used a variety of formats to display the questions along with
my answers. The following are examples of media technology which I have
used for my production and evaluation section: presentational services
(PowerPoint, Emaze, Prezi and a green screen analysis which associated with
analysing digipaks and posters, this links to the research and construction
degree). To keep my work tidy and safely kept I used a blog to archive my entire
production line for the course. Technologies associated with media have been
incredibly essential in the areas of: construction, research, planning and
evaluation standards. The technologies proved to be an important asset by
allowing us to reach success in our production.