Evaluation.

In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

When comparing my music video and ancillary task to real media artefacts, I can see similarities and differences. For example, when comparing my music video to We Are The In Crowd's video for Never Be What You Want and Young Guns' video for Stitches, there is an obvious element of close ups and extreme close ups, which help convey passion and intensity. These shots also help us feel 'up close and personal' with the artist. The audience often finds this attractive, and therefore is an important element of all music videos, no matter what genre of music they cover. My photographs of my artist were also close ups and extreme close ups to help represent how important the artist is and to sell her as an icon/powerful artist. This is done on most album covers and album release posters.

Another similarity is the editing technique of placing cuts where there is a strong beat, or to edit cuts together to fit the rhythm of an important part of the song, perhaps where the pace changes to create intensity and atmosphere. Furthermore, the use of the same shots over and over again creates a repetitive but memorable video. This is done in mainly rock music videos that I've looked at.

Ways in which my product develops the forms and conventions of real media products are that my product takes the idea of changing the colour balance within in the music video to create a dark atmosphere. However, I changed mine so that the shadows were blue and the midtones were yellow, creating a more interesting video visually, but preserving the neutral nature of the song. I made sure that when the song did get more intense, the shadows got darker and I bumped up the contrast of each shot.

I challenged the forms and conventions of real media products mainly in my digipack design. Other digipacks I looked at didn't have lyrics in the sleeve (an example I looked at was Young Guns' All Our Kings Are Dead), I wanted to do this, to show that Say What You Want is the 'main' song on the album. I also used photographs from the shoot in Swinley Forsest that link directly back to the single Say What You Want. This created an obvious theme and made sure that the music video linked in effectively with the digipack design.


How effective is the combination of main product and ancillary text?

I think that the combination of main product and ancillary text works really well personally. My audience feedback also suggests that they link together very well too. I think that the colours, use of close ups and use of the same setting throughout the digipack and music video work together particularly well. Looking at my real media products and how my products conform, challenge and develop the forms and conventions made me see that as a package, everything makes sense and link well together and therefore would help promote the artist and sell records effectively.


What have you learned from your audience feedback?

From my audience feedback, I've learnt that I need to improve my intergration of text with image. Some people found that the font I used for the album release poster and digipack didn't fit the rock genre and upbeat tempo of the track. Others said that I could improve by simplifying the digipack a little bit more, as the images I used were nice,but not always necessary. I agree with this, and think that if I were to change anything, I'd simplify the inside covers of the digipack by using a blank colour or logo like Twin Atlantic's debut album 'Free' as their design is simple and effective but links in with their genre of music still.

Positive points that came up about my music video and digipack were the contunuity of colour styles, the same fonts and similar images from the music video on the digipack and album release poster.


How did you use media technologies in the construction and research, planning and evaluation stages?

I used many technologies in my research, planning and construction that helped me learn more about making a music video and also how to get effective audience feedback. Technologies included a prime lens, this created the shallow depth of field that's seen in the music video. I did this because a lot of music videos I've looked at have this shallow depth of field. I used final cut pro to create my short part of my evaluation and my music video, this program enabled me to render, adjust colour levels, put parts of film and photographs together, add sound, fades and transitions. Using Final Cut Pro was challenging, but I felt that I learned a lot and challenged myself as a Media student.

Technologies I used for my research and feedback included Microsoft Office to produce charts, tables, questionairres and analysis'. I used my Facebook profile and photography page, Myyearbook, Youtube and Blogger to get feedback from the internet from people that I didn't know, people I did know and people in the music and/or media industry. I gained mixed responses, and also some responses from the band that I borrowed the song for for this project - they were impressed with the work I had done and would like me to work with them in the future.

Technologies I used for filming and uploading on the go included a Nikon D700 for professional photographs, a flashgun to add extra light when it was getting dark quickly, a Nikon D5000 to film my video in HD with the prime lens, an iPad to upload bits and pieces to blogger on the go, a dolly and tripod for smooth 360 shots and my mobile internet to keep checking my audience feedback responses.

Dolby

A comprehensive list here! Ensure you are saying how you used them at ALL stages of the coursework, not just construction and maybe group the technologies to show that you know in what way they have helped,and what skills you've developed e.g. communication, adapting/editing, creativity etc...

Technologies and equipment used

Nikon D700 - for photographs on manual mode
Nikon D5000 - for filming
Nikon 50mm f/1.8 lens
Nikon speedlight SB-700 flashgun
2 soft box lights
Garageband to cut bits of the song out that I didn't want
iMac to put the video and song together
Final cut pro to put the video together and create my evaluation
Serif to create some of my ancillary
Photoshop CS5 & CS4 to make most of my ancillary
Youtube to share my video and embed the code into my blog
Facebook profile to share my video and gain feedback
Facebook page to share my video with other music photographers and videographers
Myyearbook to share my video and gain feedback
Microsoft office to create questionnaires, graphs and charts
iPad to share my video on the go and update my blog on the go
Myspace to search about my chosen band more
Mobile internet to play the song and review my progress so far when out filming
Photobucket to research my RMA's
Blogger to post my research, planning and construction
Tagging to make sure people can find my video on youtube easily
Polaroid camera to try out other effects with photographs
Adobe bridge to batch process my images and convert RAW images to JPEG
www.musicphotographers.co.uk to share my video with the music industry
Email to ask permission from labels, bands and actresses
Skype to ask people to take a look at my video and give me feedback
MSN messenger to ask people to take a look at my video and give me feedback
Facebook chat to ask people to take a look at my video and give me feedback
iMovie to edit small parts of my music video that I couldn't do on Final Cut Pro
Dolly & tripod for smooth 360 shots
Bandpage to listen to my chosen band's songs and write the lyrics down

Draft evaluation

Final draft music promo

Final draft ancillary

Mrs D

I agree with Dolby. You need to look at the end as there are some gaps. You also need to put some links in to your ancillary as they don't seem to work together. Think what you are saying about your artist and how you are promoting her across all 3 products. Come and speak to me if you want some advice.

Dolby

Some great work here Ashleigh. In terms of the main construction, I would make the ending more powerful as the end does cut out.

This is my feedback after 10 minutes or so.

Feedback

I turned to Facebook for some feedback!
I posted it on my own personal profile, so I could ask my friends, family and contacts in the photography, music and media industry. As well as this, I posted it on my photography page that has 400+ followers.
I hope to get some feedback soon, and will upload a prinshot of the feedback when I get some.
I will also upload the video to Flickr, so my contacts can see it there.

Digipack 3rd draft

-Say what you want second draft

Despite having some issues with the Apple software and Youtube this evening, I've managed to reach my deadline for my second draft of my music promo video.

My ancillary printwork is also completed as a 3rd draft, but I'd like to add a little more to one of the inside panes, as it's plain. I would like to make this a lyric page for Hayley Stark's debut single 'Say what you want' or a logo.

Mrs D

Wow Ashleigh. These look brilliant. The images and effects are impressive. The integration of text and image is coming along well too. I would just suggest moving some of the text at the bottom of the advert up slighlty as it may bleed off the page. Well done - this fits the genre well.

I'd really like to see more footage please as we need to feedback how it links with the ancillary tasks and comes together as a package. When are you uploading- you've missed deadline for first draft.

I used old pictures frm a photography project to play around with how images affect the impression of genre, with the idea of a human puppet. 'Say what you want' is a song about being controlled and breaking free. I have therefore called the album 'Breaking Free' as my previous design seemed like a single. I've added more track listings, a barcode and details about the record company. I used dark colours to demonstrate the genre of music and also the mood and meaning of some of the songs. I have named my new colo artist 'Hayley Stark' as I think this sounds like a female rockstar name.

Mrs D

I realy like your images and your layout designs. As we haven't seen any of your new music promo yet it's diffiuclt to coment as to whether the image/font and layout work for a promotional package. Update your storyboard with your new ideas and keep in mind the whole project.

Filming.

I am re-filming on Sunday, replacing all of the live footage in my music promo so far.
The filming will take place at Swinley Forest with Kate, who is also the character in the music video. This is similarly done in Paramore's video for 'Misery Business' and Avril Lavigne's video for 'Girlfriend'.

Costume:
Dress as seen in the digipack work, black cardigan and tights, converse style shoes. Makeup similar to the parts of the video I've already filmed and put together. Hair should be down, with the fringe loose against her face because this is stereotypical of this genre of music.

The footage will be of Kate lip syncing the words, walking through Swinley.

This is the layout of my album so far, I will need to add more tracks to the back of the album ande also an inside cover and spine design. I am also thinking about changing the front cover so that Kate's eyes are open, perhaps with a smirk like the final cut at the end of the music promo.

BLANK POST FOR FIRST DRAFT VIDEO.

I've decided that my live footage isn't good enough quality, and there isn't enough of it to finish the video, so I've decided to create my actress into the artist too (similarly done in Avril Lavigne's Girlfriend and Paramore's Misery Business video).

I'll have my artist lipsyncing, and this will be set at Swinley Forest, where my ancillary photos were taken. These shots will take the place of the live footage cuts and will make up most of my music video.

Single front and back cover complete 1st drafts

Single back cover draft

Single release poster draft

Some practice footage from the narrative

Single release poster drafts

Original images

Mrs D

The black and white is effective and the use of the disolve works well for the start of the track. I look forward to seeing some more footage soon.

Small part of edited footage

Mrs D

The storyboard is a good first draft and it's nice to see some performance in there. You need to think about your transitions and camera movement. Look at egs from other people and check the level 4 criteria. I look forward to seeing another draft soon.

Say what you want - 1

This is my fist lot of footage of the song for my narrative.
I will take shot clips of this video and combine it with other short clips from the narrative part of the video and the second live part of the video as planned.
I have covered quite a lot of the angles and shots I needed for my music video in this lot of footage.

Mrs D

Ashliegh, where is your storyboard? You are doing so well, but must upload your storyboard asap to protect your R and P marks. Don't get too bogged down with the ancillary tasks, whilst obviously important, they are only worth 10 marks each - the promo is worth 40!

Font colour ideas for album cover & poster - band name

Font ideas for album cover & poster - band name

Mrs D

This is coming along nicely Ashleigh. I look forward to seeing a storyboard soon. The images and preparation looks good and should help considerably when constructing.

Final casting and filming days

Band:
Hollie, Robbie, Simon, Zak, Joe.

Mean girl:
Sophie Stafford

Main character in the narrative:
Kate Goodenough

Live footage filming:
1st October - Reading Face Bar
16th October - Bracknell Cellar Bar

Narrative filming around Crowthorne:
8 th & 9th October

Magazine advert layout - drafts

Digipack side panel layout - drafts

Digipack back cover layout - drafts

Digipack front cover layout - drafts

Storyboard

Mise En Scene choices

Clothing:
Kate: Baggy hoodie/jumper, preferably grey or brown, showing the vulnerablility of her personality. Skinny jeans, typical of the artists and fans of this genre/style of music. Converse trainers - simple and don't draw attention away from the lyrics/storyline.

Hollie and the boys: They can wear whatever their usual performing clothes on the day, I'm not going to style a band that already fit in well with their genre of music. They usually wear basic/printed shirts, skinny jeans and trainers. I'd like them to wear different outfits for the 2 different gigs to make the divide from the 2 gigs obvious.

Setting:
Face Bar - Reading
Cellar Bar - Bracknell
Kates house - Crowthorne
Broadmoor field - Crowthorne
Edgbarrow school & sixth form buildings - Crowthorne (need to get letter of acceptance for filming done)

Props needed:
Mirror and dressing table
Makeup/books for the dressing table
Hairbrush
Makeup
Computer
Mobile phone
School desk
Diary & pen

Make up:
Kate: Basic, natural makeup, with one line of liquid eyeliner on the top lid of the eye because this is common amongst teenagers that are into this genre of music. I don't want her to wear lipstick or bright colours, because this will imply that she's confident at the start of the story, which is the opposite of what I want to portray

Hollie: Hollie usually wears neutral makeup which I think will fit in with their music, as their personalities are down to earth. They often describe themselves as 'regular people'.

Sophie: Bright, in your face colours - blues, pinks and reds, similar to the character in the Misery Business video that's portrayed as the 'villain'. This shows that the character is confident, cocky and thinks she is above everyone else. Makeup will also indicate a strong divide between the two narrative characters.

Setting

This is a photo I took of my friend Leah in the field where I'll be doing some of the storyline filming at sunset with a prime lens and backlighting from the sun.

This photo was taken by Tim Easton at Thhe Cellar Bar where some of the live footage will be filmed.

This photo was taken by me at Face Bar, where some of the live footage will be filmed

Other places I will be filming:
Backstage with the band
In the actress' bedroom
At the actress' dresser

Lyrics, timings and cuts

Intro music (26 seconds)
Shot of Hollie at the mic (5 seconds)
Shot o drummer snare drum (10 seconds)
Shot of the camera circling the actress (10 seconds)
Shot back to Hollie at the mic (7 seconds)

0:27
The past doesn’t comfort me.
Close up of Hollie's lips (2 seconds)
My trusted failure’s my legacy.
Medium close up shot of Hollie (7 seconds)
Don’t watch me fall again.
0:38
It’s just a slip of the tongue.
Backing vocals singer close up (2 seconds)
You know, you just let down everyone.
Cuts to actress looking at her text 'you just let down everyone' (3 seconds)

(Everyone.)
Close up of eyes crying (2 seconds)
Cuts to actress throwing everything off of her desk 0:52 (2 seconds)

Close up of drums hitting 0:52
(CHORUS)
0:53
Say what you want. (7 seconds)
Checking Facebook messages - bullying/threatening messages (12 seconds)
I’ve heard it all before, I know that you…
Say what you want. (7 seconds)
At the table at school, girl comes up to her and throws her stuff everywhere and laughs (10 seconds)
You want.
I know what you want.

I know what you want.
Writing in her diary 'they want to see me cry' (11 seconds)

1:32
My past has been playing me, my second mistakes are mistakes in me.
Girl ripping up photographs of herself and throwing them in the fire
(Mistakes in me)
Better make them all again.
Doing makeup in the mirror
It’s just a slip of the tongue.
Guitar rythm close up
You don’t realise you’re threatening the only one.
Close up smirk
Close up of Hollie's lips

You don’t fire this loaded gun.
Long shot of the whole band playing
It’s anyone.

Rapid drum beat close up
(CHORUS)
Say what you want. (7 seconds)
Crosses out previous diary extract and writes 'Say what you want'

I’ve heard it all before, I know that you…
Say what you want. (7 seconds)
You want.
I know what you want.
Over the shoulder shot 'I know what you want'
I know what you want.
Various shots of the band playing
Simon guitar close up
Hollie close up
Medium long shot of Hollie
Medium long shot of drummer
Close up of drumsticks hitting drum skin

Guitar solo
Guitar solo close up
(26 seconds)

3:03
It’s just a slip of the tongue,.
It’s just a slip of the tongue.
It’s just a slip of the tongue
It’s just a slip of the tongue
Crowd clapping in rhythm

IT’S JUST A SLIP OF THE TONGUE
Medium shots of band headbanging, spinning and thrashing
You know, you’re not fooling anyone.
Girl shouting 'You're not fooling anyone' at the other girl
Girl backs the other girl up at lockers, shouting
It’s just a slip of the tongue
You’re not fooling anyone
Say what you want. (7 seconds)
Medium close up of Hollie
I’ve heard it all before. I know that you…
Say what you want. (7 seconds)
Pushes the girl against the lockers, close up of the reaction of the bully
I know what you want.
Saying this to the girl
I know what you want.
Saying this to the camera - close up, smile on face at the end and looks down

TOTAL SONG TIME - 4:20

Mrs D

I like the choice of tracks and it's good to see someone who has gone for an unsigned band. I can see that you have some good ideas about your music promo. I would recommend getting some audience feedback as to which one you should chose as they could both work.

Pitch

The song I have chosen is Say What You Want by We Caught The Castle, a local band from Reading. I have all of the permission I need from the band, actress and venues to film, so this won't be a problem.

Say What You Want is a song about not judging people on their past. The band are telling the people that put them down that they can 'saywhat they want' because they're happy with their lives and are successfull musicians. 'You just let down everyone' is something that critics say to them. 'Trusted failure' 'Watch my fall again' and 'I've heard it all before' are all key lyrics to the song and show the attitude of the band. These lyrics are important and should be linked in with the live footage I plan on shooting. There are several references to the past, and idea I have is to have a scene where the actress is ripping up photos of people that have never had faith in her. Guitar solos should be linked in with live footage. I'd like to include slow motion clips of the girl smashing things around, frustrated with what people say to her.
At the beginning I'd like to film her walking toward the camera in the woods, the camera focused on her feet, slowly tilting up to her face to introduce the character. Other scenes I'd like to include are the girl doing her makeup and getting dressed - a symbolism of pride and also texting someone saying 'say what you want'. The end clip will be a close up of the girl smiling, content with who she is.

Ancillary planning

We Caught The Castle want me to do a photoshoot of them in their Valencourt clothing they won in a competition. I thought it'd be good to use these images as my artwork for my poster and album cover/digipak.

My main image will be composed similar to the photograph of Lower Than Atlantis, with all band members stood closely together but Hollie (the lead singer) slightly infront of the rest of the band to demonstrate importance. The long shot enables the whole band to be seen, showing that they're perhaps fashion icons and that the clothes they wear are important to their overall image as a band.

The band will be dressed in their Valencourt tops and hoodies and skinny jeans. Clothing brands are often sponsors of bands and their clothes are often featured in band promos.