2015A2Chiska

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

What have you learned from your audience feedback?

Initially, when I was planning my music video, I created a questionnaire to help with my initial ideas. This helped me to shape my music video ideas and define my target audience, before I really got started. This helped a lot as I managed to edit my narrative to make it better fitting for the song, due to suggestions on my questionnaire. Defining my target audience helped a lot as I was able to narrow down some ideas to ones that would be more appropriate for my viewers, meaning they'd be more likely to want to watch it.
I found out that in general, most people preferred a mix of both performance and narrative in videos and Illustration and Amplification of the lyrics were most popular. I took this into account and decided that I would do all of these things, therefore I have a band performing for part of the song, and my video shows elements of both illustration of the lyrics and amplification of the feel/ emotions the lyrics give. I think this helped to create a nice balance to my video.

I learnt from this research that the band I had chosen to use was not well known at all and did not fit in with the genre that most people listened to. However, many people did say that they liked the song I chose and thought the narrative was interesting. There were a few pointers on how I could make my narrative better and I took these into account when I created my final storyboard/ filmed my Music Video.

Music Video and Ancillary feedback-

From my feedback, I learnt that my video was mostly well liked by my viewers. They liked the variety of shots I had, the mise-en-scene in the video, the placement of the different band shots I got and the synchronisation of them to the music, the lighting and background were commented on as looking good and fitting in well. The jump-cut style of editing was also commented on, as being good, however there was mixed feedback about some of the band shots as some felt they needed more cuts during some of the longer band shots, whereas others thought they were all right and looked good.
Overall, this feedback helped me to get a good sense of what people liked and didn't like about my Music Video and it allowed me to go back and make some minor tweaks, such as filling up some of the longer band shots by spreading out other existing clips. After doing that, my audience felt that it 'flowed better' and 'was more entertaining to watch all the way through'. It also helped add some 'repeatability factor' as there weren't as many boring, extended shots.

In terms of my ancillaries, there weren't many criticisms made. The main ones were about little things, such as the size of the logos on my Mag Ad and making the logos stand out more, all of which I was able to change easily. The following comments were that the small changes made it look a lot more professional and neater.
My audience felt that my ancillaries had a nice continuous style and the fonts and photos both worked well with the genre of the band and the look I was trying to create. They felt the backgound (The brick wall) Was good as it was unique, to help the band and album stand out, it helped tie the two ancils together and it created an interesting background, without taking away from the rest of the Digipak/ Advert. They also felt that the photos really made them look like a proper band.

How effective is the combination of your main product and ancillary texts?

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

Photoshop

I used photoshop to create both of my ancillary tasks. I already had a lot of experience with photoshop, but to create the effects that I wanted, I still had to learn a lot of new skills to use in conjunction with my previous ones. I used photoshop, not only to create a look I wanted for my ancillaries, but also

Sony Vegas

I chose to use Sony Vegas to edit with, rather than Adobe Premier Pro as I already had a lot more experience with Vegas and felt it was better suited to my editing process as the programme is much less complicated to use, whilst still being able to create the same effects as Prem Pro.

Blogger

We used Blogger to present our work. Although formatting the pages to look how we want is extremely difficult, it is fairly easy to upload new things onto it.

Nikon D3100

I used the camera because it is one I own myself and I have a lot of experience with it. It also meant I could get up and shoot something whenever I had an idea, versus having to borrow one off school. The camera shoots high quality videos, which meant the music video itself would look a lot more professionally done. I also was able to play about with the zoom/ focus/ exposure etc. so I could get the right look for each of the shots I wanted.

Slideshare/ Powerpoint Online

I used Slideshare originally to upload PowerPoint presentations I had made, so they would be easier to look through. However, I later found out that when you create a PowerPoint on the online version of Microsoft Office, you can do the exact same thing as uploading them to SlideShare, but you can miss out a step, making sharing presentations much quicker and easier.

SoundCloud -Audience Feedback

I used SoundCloud to upload my Audience Feedback as it was an audio clip and SoundCloud enables you to upload audio clips without a video. It also gives people the ability to comment on the clip at certain points, so I can have feedback on my audience feedback.

Phone

I used my phone for part of the filming process. I chose to use it because it has a 41.0 mp camera and it much more portable and easy to use for certain shots. In the editing process, I realised the shots were also better quality than the ones I shot with my camera.

Prezi

I used Prezi to help display some of my evaluation questions. Prezi is useful as I can display both pictured and text at the same time, making it easier to be able to explain what I am talking about. It also also good as I am able to create a presentation that is more entertaining to look at than a standard powerpoint, but is just as easy to create.

Final Music Video

Music Video Draft 3

Music Video Draft 2

Music Video Draft 1

Final Digipak

Final Magazine Advert

Progress from my first draft to my final Advert:

Magazine Advert/ Digipak Draft 2

Magazine Advert/ Digipak Draft

I creates a draft edit of my final digipak, however I got some critique from my audience and they suggested I should re-think the photos so the digipak has a more stylised look. They did also say that they liked the style of the digipak overall as it suits the band and ties in well with the magazine advert.

I decided to use the same brick pattern on the background of my magazine advert, to help tie the album to the advert more.
I decided on using these photos as they fit with the layout I liked, with the four photos in the middle, they also suit the style of the band as it if fairly indie/ alternative style and the wall hanging they are posed against brings out that style.

My main problem with the advert like this is the lighting in the photos is different, despite taking all the photos a the same time, in the same light.
To save re-taking the photos, I will be adjusting the brightness of them until I find one that makes all three photos of similar brightness, whilst still looking natural.
I also need to take a photo of the wall hanging on its own to go behind the La Dispute logo in the last box.

Audience Research- Fonts

To help me decide between two different fonts for the Magazine Advert and Digipak, I asked a selection of people which they preferred from these:

7 people said they preferred the top font and 9 people said they preferred the bottom font. I did the fonts on both black and white as I still was not sure what colour I will be doing the background.

The results of this short questionnaire have helped me with choosing the font I will be going to use.

Magazine Advert Mock up 2

I created a digital version of my magazine mock up, so I could try out different fonts and styles to see what would look good.

Storyboard

Costume Planning

Brainstorming

Treatment

The main idea for my video is that the female in a couple has died, leaving her male partner behind.the video will follow him as he grieves and most importantly tries to move on. He spends time looking through memories of them together. He collects these objects up, from a variety of places and takes them to the living room floor, spreading them out. We watch him as time passes and he just sits there, looking at all the memories they shared together along with other random objects. (There will be multiple jump cuts, showing the passage of time both whilst he's placing the objects and whilst he's admiring them. This idea was taken from 'For Mayor in Splitsville' by the same band)
We then cut to the next day, where he is moving everything to another room, mindlessly, only to realise he's created a memorial to his late partner. (I will use jump cuts to show him both moving the objects from one room to another and adding stuff to create a memorial, once again to show the passage of time) Realising this, he feels embarrassed about it an decides to pack it up, in case anybody sees it, or as the song implies, to avoid the memories of better times they shared together.
He starts to pack things in boxes and thinks about what to do with them, whether to throw them away or to pack them into the loft and hide them away. (I will shoot clips of both of these 'decisions')
(Whilst he is packing stuff up, there will be close ups of seemingly random objects that he is packing away)
He then goes around the house, picking up objects that take him back to memories they shared, such as holidays together. He then adds these to the boxes of other stuff.
(Here is where I will add the photos from London, taking him into video 'memories' of their holiday there.)

[Possibly adding in, possibly not depending on if we can find a suitable location]
Between the memorial and the packing up, the song mentions a memory of passing a graveyard. I would like to get some shots of the 'couple' walking through a graveyard to add in where the song mentions one as I feel it would add a more obvious 'death' feel to the video.
If possible, I would also like to get a close up of a recent grave of a female, fitting the age bracket, to add to the end of the video. Though I know the chances of finding this are slim to none.

Actor/ Performer Decision

When I first mentioned the task of doing a music video, my brother immediately volunteered himself to be in it. Since he has been in music videos before (People's from previous years) and since I had used him in my Thriller video from last year, I decided that it would be easy to work with him as he has had experience doing this sort of thing and I knew his strengths and weaknesses when it comes to acting.
My brother is a musician, making him an easy choice to be in the band. I've decided to use him as the main male actor because it is much easier to work with somebody you know well rather than a stranger. I also decided to use my brother as I knew which band I wanted to do, and the band is fronted by a male, meaning I could use my brother for either role (Singer/ actor) or for both.

For the other members, I decided to use some of my brothers friends as they are also all musicians and have there own instruments. Also since they all live in the same house, it would make getting them together and filming the video, much easier. The look of the band is easy to manipulate as all they will have to do is wear casual clothing that is fairly 'hipstery'. This means that the look of the people themselves is not important as they don't need to suit a particular genre.

I decided I wanted to use a female in the performance too as I knew it would add a bit more realism/ depth to the video. I wanted to make her as a 'memory' walking around the house but not quite there. I will be able to make this effect in editing.
Once again, the female I will be using is one of my brothers friends. This works well as they are of a similar age, making the 'relationship' more believable. Also it means that I won't have to get somebody to come up with me to my brothers house in Leeds, as she will already be near there.

Props Preparation

For my video, I will need to make a 'memorial' of random objects/ mementos. To do this, I will be using random objects that I can find around my brothers house, as well as taking a few extra things up, such as ticket stubs, old books, postcards, letters etc. that suit the theme of the song.
I will also be taking some photos of 'memories' in London to add to the memorial. When the actor picks these 'memories' up, I will cut clips in, that I shot at the same time as the photos. This will make the video seem more realistic than if there was just a random selection of objects.
I will also be using some boxes to 'pack' the memorial away, as mentioned in the song.

The only other props I will be using will be things from around the house (Sofas, tables etc.) And instruments for the performance. Since all the actors I will be using are actually musicians, they will already have the instruments with them, meaning I won't need to borrow any to take up.

Risk Assessment

Since I will be shooting most of the video in a house, with natural lighting, there are not many risks to it.
When I shoot things in London, I will have to be aware of risks when shooting in a busy place as I may be in the way etc. But I will just have to be aware of my surroundings whilst I am doing this. I should also be aware of the risk of getting my phone (Which I will using to record whilst there) stolen. This will mean that I loose my footage. To avoid this, I will keep my phone at the bottom of my bag and on my at all times. This should help to reduce the risk of it getting stolen.

Shooting Scedule

I will be going to my brother's house from 3rd - 5th October to shoot the video.
I don't know at what time I will be shooting each individual sequence but the separate shots I will need to do will be:

A master shot of a 'performance'
Close ups of people playing instruments/ singing (to cut in at random parts)
Narrative shots
- Living room narrative of male
- Living room shot of female to overlay in editing
- Hallways narrative (Moving objects)
- Dining room/ kitchen table
- Shots of the 'memorial'
- Boxing up said memorial
- Random shots of the house (Empty of people)

I will also be going to London to shoot some of the clips I need. These will be inserted randomly throughout the video and I do not need the actors/ band to be in them.
I will need shots of 'memories' in London (Including the London Eye, Big Ben/ Parliament etc.)
I will also need printed photos of these places to use for props. (Or postcards of the places)

Track

The track I have chosen to use is 'Objects in Space' by La Dispute. This is from the album 'Rooms of the House'. The song was written about somebody moving on. La Dispute did an interview where they discussed the theme of the album and what the songs were written about.
One reason I chose this song is because there is a simple backing track, it makes it much easier to record a 'performance' than if there was a more complicated one. This is because a complicated track would make it much harder for people to act like they are playing the song, than having a simple, repeated beat to follow.
Another reason is because the song and the lyrics have a pretty obvious narrative that would be easy to create, but they are also very open to interpretation, meaning I could put my own spin on the song and really make it my own. It also means I'm not bound by specific ideas making it hard to create a narrative video. (Eg. talking about the seaside would make it hard to film as I'd have to travel there with everyone to film it.)

Lyrics for 'Objects in Space'

Yesterday alone I laid everything out on the carpet
Books, kitchen things, objects with specific purpose or none
Arranged them sideways in a grid on the floor there unmoored
Out of context and then considered it
First the whole picture, then everything individually
Humming along at the deadest pace imaginable
One object then another and then the next
And I wondered what they meant there
If they meant anything still

Found notes
Camping supplies
A book you bought in the desert
“Identifying Wildflowers”
Pictures from vacations
From parties
Kitschy gifts we bought from rest stops
On that road trip out West
Objects
Everything itself
And then memory

All of it laid out there
From the dining room
The living room
The hallway and the basement and the kitchen
From that room we called the office
But never used
Even the bathroom
Everything laid out there on the floor on the carpet out of context

And I sat there for hours

Today I moved everything from the floor to the table in the dining room
Placed each thing carefully without reason or at least without one I understood or could describe
There on the table together and when I was done and stepped back I realized what I had made
Keepsakes Pictures Letters Ordinary objects all collected there

A memorial

And I thought of ones on highways or set by gravestones
All the things you see there but don’t understand but still bring a remembered thing back vividly
Invoke someone’s reality when there together in that place in that way out of context
And I knew I had to take it down before anybody else saw
Tomorrow I plan to put them all somewhere
Those things
In boxes
Side of the road
Attic maybe
All these things that push and pull me through history
To places I once was, places I might’ve gone, places I ended up going

Postcards
Ticket stubs from one thing or another
A personalized coffee mug neither your name nor mine
Phone cards and old phones
A page from an old calendar I bought once at a thrift store and insisted on hanging
That cycles of the moon print
Photos
Old boots of mine

Put them in boxes

And I sat there for hours
In the living room first
Then in the dining room
Moving things around
Picking things up and seeing where they took me
To what place in history
What moment on our timeline
Where we were, where I was, where I thought we’d end up
In this house or on the highway
Driving somewhere near Christmas
In the desert or anywhere else

And I put them in boxes

Permission

The location I will be using for filming will be my brothers house. My brother has given me permission to film there, as have his room mates. We will not be going outside of filming anywhere else around there so extra permission is not necessary.
The actors I will be using are friends of my brothers who volunteered to be in the video, thus giving me permission to use them in it.

I plan to film some clips of 'touristy' places in London to use in the video. I will try and avoid filming people's faces, in order to avoid any problems this may cause.

Magazine Advert Mock Up

I took the idea for my magazine advert from the Mumford and Sons advert I looked at. I liked the idea of having multiple pictures on the advert, with different members in each picture. Since the album is called 'Rooms of the House' I decided that I could show the different members in different areas of the house. It also ties in well with the music video I will be doing (Though not directly)

I also liked the layout of the Mumford and Sons advert, making it very easy to read and quickly get the information from. I brought this idea into my own mock up.

I haven't decided the font for the advert yet as I need to choose one that suits the pictures, therefore I left the information in plain block capitals.

The logo underneath the picture is the logo of the band themselves. although it won't add to my marks for my advert, I thought it looked nice and helped to tie the band to the album more.

The record labels at the bottom are ones the ones that the album has been released on. Most of the adverts I've seen had logos from the record label.

This is just a rough sketch of my idea and there are some bits I didn't properly remove, so I will do a more accurate mock up after I have seen the photos I will be using for it.