How did you use new mediatechnologies in the

construction,research, planning and

evaluation?

RESEARCH!In order to fully understand the concept of creating a music video, I had to do extensive research to enable me to create my own project and digipack. For this, I used the internet to my advantage!

I mainly used video streaming sites such as Vimeo and YouTube – popular sites which also allow for open comments and users to create their own homepage allowing them to share videos they like, upload their own and discuss with other users. This would enable me to gather audience feedback when my video was eventually complete and posted on YouTube. The web 2.0 site was constantly used over the research, planning and construction of my music video. It enabled me to listen to the music, analyse different pop videos in detail and imitate the conventions of a pop music video.

YouTube is popular video streaming site used worldwide. This opportunity enabled me to be a global media producer as once my music video was completed, I can simply upload my video to the site which the publishes it – available for a worldwide audience.

As a class, we were briefed about the typical conventions of a music video at the beginning of the course. However, to develop my independent understanding and gain a wider perspective I mainly used the internet and the popular encyclopaedia website www.wikipedia.org This website enabled me to find out facts about the history of music video and how they eventually reached the high standard they are today. For my research to look creative and colourful, I used the search engine website www.google.com and Google images which, when given a certain word i.e. ‘books’ loads thousands of images taken from around the world which were available for me to copy and paste onto my research and use. When analysing specific artists I also used their official websites, which gives a more personal reflection of the artist rather than just facts and figures. For example, www.ladygaga.com and www.kattyperry.com I also used the information given by record label’s websites. www.sonymusic.com, www.universalmusic.com and www.warnermusic.com

In order to get to grips with the various technologies I was going to use, I tried to expand my knowledge of the hardware and software in several ways. Firstly by recording footage on a Panasonic SDR-H81 Video Camera, to record minimal footage such as lip sinking and a panning shot of the locations I intended to use. I then uploaded the short video clips onto the Mac computers and began to edit the clips together on IMovie – a video editing programme available on the mac computers.

This enabled me learn how to use the latest version of IMovie, as I had only used an old and dated version when completing previous projects. I then uploaded the finished edited clips to YouTube which I could then post onto my blog – www.charlotterichardsona2blog.blogspot.co.uk and blog about my different stages of research.

After my research I had decided which song I wanted to use, so I purchased the single ‘Abracadabra’ By Jessie J on ITunes. This was convenient as I was able to transfer the song from my ITunes to the Mac computers at college rather than buying the single on a physical CD format, which would cost more and take slightly longer to convert onto a computer.

PLANNING!For my planning, I used minimal technologies as all I really needed was pen and paper in order to express my ideas clearly and creatively. However, to aid my initial ideas I did use the Google search engine so that I could analyse images of the pop genre print work, for example artists posters and digipacks. This helped me when deciding where to place different features of my print work such as the framing of the artist, the small print, the titles and official record labels.

For my blog I took pictures of my initial planning work such as story boards, mood boards and spider diagrams by using a Olympus SP-800UZ Digital Camera I uploaded the pictures onto the computer, cropped and edited them and then posted the pictures onto my blog at www.blogger.com

Some images I took at home as part a part of further planning in order to meet specific deadlines. I used a couple of ways to transfer the images from my camera at home to the computers at school. I firstly uploaded the pictures via USB from the camera to my personal laptop, then sent the images through e-mail via www.hotmail.co.uk or the alternative college e-mail system Learning VLE. I then accessed the email websites and downloaded the images onto a specific computer (which I used to complete all my work) and downloaded the images onto that computer. I also used a USB memory stick to transfer the images from one computer to another.

CONSTRUCTIONI firstly completed the music video, so then I could analyse it and the digipack could be made so that the conventions of the pop genre and the iconography used throughout remained the same. For example, the use of flowers specifically roses – which can been seen in the music video and in my print work.

I used the Panasonic SDR-H81 Video Camera available from college by the media department in order to film my footage for the final project. I filmed each clip in my house with the assistance of my mother and sister who helped with props and acting in the video. Once I had the clips I needed, I transferred each clip from the camera to the mac computers at college. I then uploaded the clips onto the programme IMovie which I was familiar with using thanks to my research and planning tasks, so this was easily done. I was then able edit each clip perfectly so that the lip sinking and continuity was evident. The updated version of IMovie 11 allowed me to crop the lengths of the clips and physically crop the images so if there were any errors for example, the tripod visible in the clip, I was able to cut it out. I used the single ‘Abracadabra’ by Jessie J which I already purchased from ITunes, as ITunes and IMovie are both produced by the corporate company Apple – the programmes were compatible with one another, so transferring the music onto the programme was done by simply dragging the item from one tab to another.

As this was the first time I was able to use IMovie 11 properly, I struggled to get to grips with new layout and differences. However, once I found out how to really use the programme I was able to edit my video to the high standard I wanted it to be.

Within my music video I also had still images which I took when filming and some I took a still image from a clip which I then added to my video to fill in the spaces when pauses were too long.

When creating my print products I used my mobile phone – Galaxy s 3, with an 8 mega pixel camera – to take photos of my artist. I then sent the photos from my phone to the mac computers at college via Bluetooth. This is a great example of convergence. The photographs were compatible with the software on the computer, therefore they were easily transferred.

To edit the photographs I used the Apple software IPhoto which was also compatible with all the software and programmes so transferring the images would be simple.

EVALUATION For our evaluation questions we were given the task to complete each question by using a range of media formats to present them. I wanted to find ways in which I could present the questions differently, although I have only completed one evaluation question so far whilst writing this I had many ideas. For this question I used Microsoft Word PowerPoint 2010, the programme enabled me to present my answer along with images and transitions to make the answer visually stand out. In order to post this onto my blog, I would also need to use Slide Share – a website which I can upload my presentation on to, which then converts the presentation so that’s it compatible with the software I would need to post the PowerPoint successfully onto my blog. The programme was also compatible with my computer at home, so I was able to put more effort into the answer, layout and design.

For my other questions I wanted to use Wordle, a website which allows you to enter several words which then mixes the words into a collage, which again would visually stand out. I also planned to create a short video in which I use a directors commentary style voiceover when playing certain clips of my video which match what I am describing. I would need to use IMovie and YouTube to complete this successfully.

I also want to answer a question by presenting audience feedback that I have gathered, either by a slide show or some form of presentation so that the audience of my blog will be able to view the feedback, and for the pages to turn automatically. By adding to this answer, I could then film myself interviewing peoples feedback and either show the film as a visual or present the voice over different peoples feedback forms, so that the feedback forms were being read to my audience.