James Newman
Candidate No. : 4391
Centre No.: 51319
Thursday, 31 March 2011
Evaluation: Part IV
How did you use media technologies in the construction and research, planning and evaluation stages?
We used the blogging site called 'Blogger' for our blog, this is quite a difficult site to use as it is quite slow and takes a long period of time to upload a video to the site, this is why many YouTube videos are embedded into our blog. Although it's easy to navigate there way around the site, but hard to find other blogs from searching. Another Website we used was YouTube, this was a useful reference tool; as we got our inspiration from watching other music videos on the site, as well as finding tutorials of how to use some of the other technology we've used for example: we used a tutorial of who to get a blood splatter on the camera and the muzzle flash by downloading footage and integrating it into the original music video.
We Filmed on a Sony Handicam, this was a grainy and poor quality clarity, we would've been better off using a SLR camera that uses video; it's HD quality and had the capability of using depth of field which make the picture look more cinematic and and more tension to the scene, however we had done well with the quality we were given, although the HD SLR would've made it look more professional. We had to shoot with having playback as there was a risk of recording over the film and loosing material and wasting time. The advantage of doing a music video is that you don't need spoken word as the microphone on the Sony Handicam is poor and crackly which would've effected the film as taken away from it. To get the camera steady we used a tripod, the tripod was a good tool as it made the shots look more professional by making it steady. We also were going to use a fish eye cover for the camera for the police at the door to make it look like as if it the audience were looking through a peep hole, but we forgot to use it. We uploaded it through a firewire as this is faster than a normal USB. I also used my iPhone to record minual videos such as the interviews and the storyboard explained. It's easy to use and download to the computer and other people can use it as they used to the 'iPod/iPhone lay out as they would've used one in the past.
For the post-production we used Apple Mac's to edit the music video as these are more reliable than PC's and have better resualation than a PC, MAC's are specialised in using design, photo and video software where as PC's are mostly for documents. On the Mac we used the video editing software Imovie as this was the only software available and was the easiest to use from previous experiences. We used the 09' version which was effective put restrained us as you can only do limited tasks on the software. However the most complicated task we needed to do was inserting the muzzel flash and blood splatter which were CGI. Also for editing the pictures for the ancillary task I used Photoshop Element 4.0; this is a very good software to use as i'm very experienced in using this, and it gives you creative freedom as you can do many things on the programme to get an effective finish.
We used the blogging site called 'Blogger' for our blog, this is quite a difficult site to use as it is quite slow and takes a long period of time to upload a video to the site, this is why many YouTube videos are embedded into our blog. Although it's easy to navigate there way around the site, but hard to find other blogs from searching. Another Website we used was YouTube, this was a useful reference tool; as we got our inspiration from watching other music videos on the site, as well as finding tutorials of how to use some of the other technology we've used for example: we used a tutorial of who to get a blood splatter on the camera and the muzzle flash by downloading footage and integrating it into the original music video.
We Filmed on a Sony Handicam, this was a grainy and poor quality clarity, we would've been better off using a SLR camera that uses video; it's HD quality and had the capability of using depth of field which make the picture look more cinematic and and more tension to the scene, however we had done well with the quality we were given, although the HD SLR would've made it look more professional. We had to shoot with having playback as there was a risk of recording over the film and loosing material and wasting time. The advantage of doing a music video is that you don't need spoken word as the microphone on the Sony Handicam is poor and crackly which would've effected the film as taken away from it. To get the camera steady we used a tripod, the tripod was a good tool as it made the shots look more professional by making it steady. We also were going to use a fish eye cover for the camera for the police at the door to make it look like as if it the audience were looking through a peep hole, but we forgot to use it. We uploaded it through a firewire as this is faster than a normal USB. I also used my iPhone to record minual videos such as the interviews and the storyboard explained. It's easy to use and download to the computer and other people can use it as they used to the 'iPod/iPhone lay out as they would've used one in the past.
For the post-production we used Apple Mac's to edit the music video as these are more reliable than PC's and have better resualation than a PC, MAC's are specialised in using design, photo and video software where as PC's are mostly for documents. On the Mac we used the video editing software Imovie as this was the only software available and was the easiest to use from previous experiences. We used the 09' version which was effective put restrained us as you can only do limited tasks on the software. However the most complicated task we needed to do was inserting the muzzel flash and blood splatter which were CGI. Also for editing the pictures for the ancillary task I used Photoshop Element 4.0; this is a very good software to use as i'm very experienced in using this, and it gives you creative freedom as you can do many things on the programme to get an effective finish.
Evaluation: Part III
What have you learned from your audience feedback?
We used many mediums of getting feedback on our products such as: Questionnaires, posting and getting audience feedback on social networking sites and doing one-to-one interviews.
For questionnaires we sent out 100 questionnaires and then collected the information to put in some graphs, we found out what age range used were into each different genre of music, and if they watch music videos and where they view them. We found that 24% of the people we asked were mostly into Drum & Bass and we would compose a short-list of suitable Drum & Bass songs to feature in our music video.We then found that the age range that tests well with drum and bass demographic are the 17-19 age range, this was taken into consideration of what had to cater for this demographic. We then found the ideal length for the music video, the mode for the 17-19 age range is around 3 minutes of there attention which they could spare watching a music video. Then there was finding what the content would be influenced by the audiences decisions, then the outcome was they would prefer a comedic narrative, as this is the most entertaining genre for a short period of time. The out come was that we were going to make a music video that contained a Drum & Bass song for 17-19 year olds that was 3 minuets long and have a comedic narrative.
we also posted our video on the popular social networking Facebook, It received 8 likes, and comment to follow that followed were ' This is jokes! epically when matt falls off the bed you can see ed laughing!' this was a mistake in the filming production but was picked up on, however it would be more helpful if the feedback was more constructive. 'O and strobe is sick booii!' which means that he enjoyed the strobe part of the music video. And another person wrote 'absolute genius' which may be a bit of a overreaction but it's feedback none the less. The problem may be that audiences are not that critical when you're in a platonic relation of fear of causing offence. We also took feed back off the Youtube where the video is posted, it contains 4 'likes' 0 'dislikes' and which also contained the comment 'Newman (me) and Adam (media partner) as cops, Brilliant'.Overall the feedback off comments and off social networking sites are very positive, however could of been more critical.
In our one-to-one interviews that are here, these were more progressive than the social media pages that were more appraisal than criticizing. All these interviewees fit the demographic of the music video, Cameron says that he's impressed with the music choice as it's upbeat and will go well with the chase scenes.He also enjoys the idea of the zombie, zombies tested well with the demographic. However he is concerned with the violence as he doesn't approve of it; however in the narrative it's a matter of survival which justify s the violence in the music video.Mark has similar feelings about the zombie, but has concerns about the idea of it being a joke at the end; that would ruin the comic relief at the end and would not have the pull back and reveal effect on the story. however this was indeed cut out in post production, this was due to a poor delivery of the lines from the actors and the footage was an anti-climax. Beccy has conflicting feedback with the other interviews by saying she likes the ending, but she doesn't like the fact that you couldn't hear the conversations between the characters, although there is very little dialogue in the music video this was a good suggestion to think about if we should integrated the dialogue with the music, but this would've taken the attention away for the music and not have been as effective as before. This may have been because she was not entirely happy with the song choice, which has conflicted with other peoples interests.
We have learnt that audience feedback and conflict as the audience are inderviduals and have different preferences, and that getting feed back from friends may not of as constructive than a demographic sample interviewee.
We used many mediums of getting feedback on our products such as: Questionnaires, posting and getting audience feedback on social networking sites and doing one-to-one interviews.
For questionnaires we sent out 100 questionnaires and then collected the information to put in some graphs, we found out what age range used were into each different genre of music, and if they watch music videos and where they view them. We found that 24% of the people we asked were mostly into Drum & Bass and we would compose a short-list of suitable Drum & Bass songs to feature in our music video.We then found that the age range that tests well with drum and bass demographic are the 17-19 age range, this was taken into consideration of what had to cater for this demographic. We then found the ideal length for the music video, the mode for the 17-19 age range is around 3 minutes of there attention which they could spare watching a music video. Then there was finding what the content would be influenced by the audiences decisions, then the outcome was they would prefer a comedic narrative, as this is the most entertaining genre for a short period of time. The out come was that we were going to make a music video that contained a Drum & Bass song for 17-19 year olds that was 3 minuets long and have a comedic narrative.
we also posted our video on the popular social networking Facebook, It received 8 likes, and comment to follow that followed were ' This is jokes! epically when matt falls off the bed you can see ed laughing!' this was a mistake in the filming production but was picked up on, however it would be more helpful if the feedback was more constructive. 'O and strobe is sick booii!' which means that he enjoyed the strobe part of the music video. And another person wrote 'absolute genius' which may be a bit of a overreaction but it's feedback none the less. The problem may be that audiences are not that critical when you're in a platonic relation of fear of causing offence. We also took feed back off the Youtube where the video is posted, it contains 4 'likes' 0 'dislikes' and which also contained the comment 'Newman (me) and Adam (media partner) as cops, Brilliant'.Overall the feedback off comments and off social networking sites are very positive, however could of been more critical.
In our one-to-one interviews that are here, these were more progressive than the social media pages that were more appraisal than criticizing. All these interviewees fit the demographic of the music video, Cameron says that he's impressed with the music choice as it's upbeat and will go well with the chase scenes.He also enjoys the idea of the zombie, zombies tested well with the demographic. However he is concerned with the violence as he doesn't approve of it; however in the narrative it's a matter of survival which justify s the violence in the music video.Mark has similar feelings about the zombie, but has concerns about the idea of it being a joke at the end; that would ruin the comic relief at the end and would not have the pull back and reveal effect on the story. however this was indeed cut out in post production, this was due to a poor delivery of the lines from the actors and the footage was an anti-climax. Beccy has conflicting feedback with the other interviews by saying she likes the ending, but she doesn't like the fact that you couldn't hear the conversations between the characters, although there is very little dialogue in the music video this was a good suggestion to think about if we should integrated the dialogue with the music, but this would've taken the attention away for the music and not have been as effective as before. This may have been because she was not entirely happy with the song choice, which has conflicted with other peoples interests.
We have learnt that audience feedback and conflict as the audience are inderviduals and have different preferences, and that getting feed back from friends may not of as constructive than a demographic sample interviewee.
Evaluation: Part II
How effective is the combination of you main product and ancillary task?
Our media products have a running theme, this is of course the 'zombie'. We did this for consistency and synergy within the products; this is becomes the emblem of the Pendulum brand. This association will have an effect on all the products such as the music video, poster and CD; as the poster is marketing and advertisement the audience will have taken this information in, this is called the hypodermic needle theory; this is where the audience has no control on what information is fed to them through the media. This then creates 'hype' around the media products as the 'synergy' suggests that now the CD and the Music video will now get publicity through this poster.
The theme of the media products do not keep up the consistancey of a house style, for example: the font is not the same all the way through the products. this is due to poor communication between me and my partner.The pallet of the products are mostly black white and purple; these are dark 'ominous' colours that have connotations of darkness and evil.
The CD front cover is a picture of a zombie with half of his face in the light and half in the shadows, this creates contrast. Contrast makes the picture stand out to the audience which grabs there attention. Where the darkness it on the actors face in the crevas of the actors left eye, as you cannot see his other eye this does not ensure the audience with trust for the character as you cannot see the full extent of his gaze, thus it gives the impression that he's hiding. The white eye was edited on in the post production stages of the CD cover, This was to alienate the audience from the character for you not to trust him as he's not quite human (which leads onto the uncanny valley ). We even made the actor wear contrasting clothing to get the full impact.
The back cover is mostly white which contrasts the front of the CD, this gives an overall impact on the product and makes it stand out to audiences. The picture is of an over the shoulder shot of a zombie and a man looking in the mirror and the man has just noticed that there is a zombie behind him just about to attack him. In the reflection of the mirror the zombie is in black and white, the man is in colour. However in the foreground the man is in black and white and the zombie is in colour. This is to get a sense of shock in the the man's mind of this is surreal encounter, as black and white has connotations of 'being out of place' as seen in the film 'The Wizard of OZ' As when in Kansas is black and white and 'Oz' being in colour. This also leaves an enigma in the audiences mind of 'will he survive or not?' which will draw the audience in to the visual story.
We used the same shade of purple as we used as the colour of make-up on our actor around his eye's, this shade of purple is being radiated off the light bulb, which is black; this subverts the audiences expectations as the norm of glowing light bulbs is a glowing white light, as we chose black it contrasts to the audiences perceptions. The writing in this poster is not the same as the other products as said earlier, it's due to poor communication's.The writing in the poster has connotations of the military as this is the font they use on military weapons and also the font they use in the popular 80's T.V show 'The A-Team'.
The combination of the ancillary task and the main product is effective with synergy of a symbol, this is repetitions of association. That the exposure of on product is benicial for all with synergy as they are kinetic promotion.
Friday, 18 March 2011
Monday, 8 November 2010
Target Audience for Pendulum
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