Final Products

The quality of this video has been lowered for the blog

Evaluation

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

Normally, for this genre of music - pop/dance - we would want to create a very high gloss video, like the ones already officially released by the group(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0K46C82v9o). However, the song we have chosen is quite different from the ones they usually release, as it is less of a dance track and has a much slower tempo with a sentimental feel to the lyrics and style of singing. Due to this, and for cost reasons, we wanted to move away from some of the conventions of pop/R&B videos - high gloss: lots of jewellery, dancing and skimpy outfits - and create a video with a plot that our audience could relate to, i.e. a relationship that has complications.

As there is only one singer for this song, we decided to create a very strong-willed female character, as this is important to the understanding of the plot (He has cheated, but She's getting on with life). This is a common feature of music videos. The lead singer comes across as a strong figure, which is often potrayed through their actions in the video and through camera shots, movement and compositioning. To expand on this, the camera will usually be at eye level so that the audience can relate to the character; the camera will follow and focus on them throughout; and they will always be the main focus of the shots, usually evoking emotions that are put forward in the lyrics themselves. For example:

Taylor Swift - Picture to burn
Rihanna - HardPussycat Dolls - I don't need a man

Other shots that are used are low angle shots looking up at the artist. This is seen in quite a few music videos surrounding relationships as it shows that the female can be stronger, dominant and that they have the strength to be independant and don't need a man. For example:
Taylor Swift - Picture to burn

Kelly Clarkson - I do not hook up

In order to help us to portray the same idea we have used this research and tried to create similar shots in our own video.

We have followed many conventions on our ancillary texts. For example, from our research we discovered that many album covers follow a trend of having the artist as the main focus. We found that having close up images of the artist were popular so we decided to go along with this.
Our Finished Album Cover:

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

Our music video has been made to accompany the music of Melody Thornton, who is a 25 year-old R&B singer from the US. She has become well-known for her part in the pop group the Pussycat Dolls where she sings along side 5 other members. The song we chose, Space, was off their second album Doll Domination, which features a solo song from each group member, Space being Melody Thornton's. As a pop group, they appeal to a mostly female audience between the ages of fourteen and twenty-one. I think it would appeal to this age range and possibly older females as it is about a dysfunctional relationship that everyone goes through at some point in there life. The song may lead to women feeling empowered and that they can go on after such a relationship.

These feelings will be brought up through our use of camera angles, and shots of our singer in dominating positions on screen. This will also be backed up with the type of shots we used in our print products. We have chosen full on facial close-ups, where she is carrying a strong expression, which found a popular choice amongst real media products.

We have tried to create a similar atmosphere throughout our video and print work. We wanted our audience to connect with our singer, not only through the lyrics but through the look of the album. We thought this would be done best by giving the CD cover a personal feel - like a diary, which we did by using fonts that mimic handwriting and using an informal way of writing on the "Thank You" page. We also put kisses and love hearts on the pages, as we thought this was appeal to the females and younger teens in our audience. This is also why we chose the swirls to decorate our pages, as they created a doodle-like effect, that links back to our idea of personal diary. The swirls also helped to create a clear link between each page in our product and that to the advertising poster.

We have created a good link between the video and the print work, through the use of colour. Our singer is dressed in blues, pinks and purples in most shots, which are the main colours of the swirls and text in our print products. This is something we hope our audience will notice and appreciate.

3. What have you learned from your audience feedback?

Generally we were quite lucky with out audience feedback as it tendedto be of a postitive nature yet also procuded us with the constructive criticism that we were able to build upon and mutate our work around. A perfect example of this was Joel's criticism (see front cover and feedback blog). We agreed with this and changed it accordingly, leaving us with a better product due to his feedback.

The music video was also changed because of audience feedback. Which included shortening the first studio shot as it was too long. We also lost the box fade as our audience said it looked tacky and out of place, so we removed this.

We also found that our audience did not understand that the flashback scene was such and they found it quite confusing. As a response to this we made it black and white and found that this was much better as people understood the concept and meaning.

One general criticism we received was that the audience were not quite grasping what was going on in the video. This meant a thorough restructuring of the text and in addition more of the actual storyline and less studio shots.

All this came as a result of our audience feedback.

4. How did you use new media technologies in the construction and research, planning and evaluation stages?
Equipment Used:

Computer Programmes:

If any of these technologies were not available to us or were less developed we would not have been able to create our project to as high a standard as we have. If these technologies were not as advanced as they are our production process would have been very different and made much more difficult. For example:

- We would have had to have used an old editing style known as "crash editing". This process involves cutting and sticking from several reems of tape in order to create cuts and scenes. This would have been much more difficult as no mistakes could have been made and we would have been unable to experiment with different shots. It would also have been much more expensive.

- There could be no effects throughout the video, such as cross fades or colour editing. If this were the case it would have been difficult to create significance of certain scenes, objects and characters. For example, we have put "past" scenes in black and white in order to distinguish them from scenes set in the "present", as this has universal connotations that link to memories. We would have had to have found other ways of distinguishing these scenes that may have been less obvious to the audience, therefore decreasing the effect of our message.

Below are some screenshots of websites we have used during our project with explantations of what we used them for:

(screenshot - google album covers and digipaks)

(screenshot - myspace on melody thornton's page)

OTHER SCREENSHOTSYouTube was used to watch other music videos and gain ideas for plots, styles of film (including pace, camera movement and angles) etc.

Video editing process

For each setting that we filmed in we had multiple pieces of footage from different angles and levels to choose from. We had already decided on a rough order which is in our story board, and so the crucial part of the editing process was to choose the right shot for the right moment. Which meant cutting between the different footage. For example, we had 8 different studio segments including close ups, midshots and we experimented with shadow shots.
We have used fades to black and fades from white alongside cross fades to show passages of time and emotion. We have also used a black and white hue on part of our project to try to emphasise that it is from the past.
We altered settings and colour contrasts on multiple shots to improve the image quality.

Below are screen shots of transitions we have used:

Below is a screen shot of a colour change:

Below are just a few of the angles we used in the studio:

Filming Complications

Whilst editing our film we discovered that we needed to add more into the beginning along the lines of the guys cheating. As we thought this would help the story make more sense. We decided to film the girl finding evidence of this in the form of lipstick on her boyfriend's collar. We also thought it would be a good idea to have a small shot of the guy with another girl.

However, this has become impossible to due very limited time constraints and an inability to get everyone together. In order to get around this we have filmed a section of the girl finding a text message from another girl on his phone. This gets across the same idea of cheating as we wanted from the t-shirt shot.

Equipment and Prop List

Equipment:
Video Camera
Tripod
Computer
computer programmes include; Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator
Stills Camera

Props:
2 bowls
2 plates
2 glasses
1 bottle of wine
2 candles
1 photograph
1 bag
microphone
microphone stand
headphones
popshield
mobile phone

Settings:
park
house
studio
Derby Arms
The Brocket
For the above two places we had to ask permission to film here.
Bathroom

Printing complication

We have printed our 6 panels and our advertisement. However, the advertisement hasn't printed out well and is quite blotchy.
We are going to try and print again but the result may be the same.

Print Panels

Here is the double panel with the image we chose and the design that is used throughout the digipack.

We then added the above effect which is a called a 'threshold'. We aren't sure about this effect as it doesn't look very realistic.

Here we added some text in the form of a signature as we thought this would give a very personal feel. Below is the same as above but with the effect present. We are still unsure about this effect.

As we are unsure about the above effect we are going to try and get some feedback and see how we can improve it.

Here are all the panels for our digipak so far.

Rough Cut

Here is the rough cut for our music video.

General feedback from people in our class:

*The beginning studio shot seems a bit long.
*The shadow at the beginning does not seem to fit or really make sense.
*Alot of the audience didn't completely understand what was going on.
*Didn't like the box fade, seemed a bit cheesy and didn't fit.
*The flashback in the park wasn't clear that it was a flashback.

*Good fades and editing.
*Studio shots show powerful emotion.
*Timing of actions and lyrics work well together. Also, music is well matched up to the film.

Further print work

We made the changes that were suggested and here is what we have:

We have also started working on the other two panels. We had the idea to use one image across the two as a kind of mini poster. Here is what we have so far:



We took all of our images in the studio and above we have erased the background on Photoshop.
We decided that we didn't think that this image would work so we started to look for another. We also decided to work on the background for this:

We are also trying to find we will be able to film the last part of our work as it is becoming difficult for us all to get together due to other commitments.

front cover and feedback

We have not had to edit much on the front cover, we have made the complexion more even and have reduced the shine on the skin, we made the eyes more defined and have added text showing the name of the artist and the album title.



We have also done some more work on the digipak and have almost completed this too.



Now we are going to get some feedback from other students to see if there is anything else we need to change.

"I feel the front cover is very professional, I particularly like the font of Broken Hearted Girl with the outer stroke. The thanks page is a very good idea. However, the colour of the kisses was a pink instead of a red so this is an aspect that could be changed. The back page is well designed reflecting the genre of Sian's music. The cd page is good as it matches the theme running throughout with the swirls and spirals. The image on the poster however needs to be made bigger as it is dominated by the outer pattern. Apart from that great work." - Joel A2 Group 8

We made the slight changes that Joel suggested.

"I particularly like the swirls and patterns used and I am impressed with the fact that you created these yourself. The fonts convey a very personal, handwritten edge that makes it look like a diary. The colours used are very feminine and together with the fonts gives what I feel is a very feminine and slightly indie edge. I also like the glow on the "Sian Meadows" on the front cover. The image used is very effective and strong and shows that the artist is confident and very individual. the only criticism I have is that you need to finish the other panes." Greg (tutor)

Film Feedback -

"I feel the video has a very professional outlook to it. The studio shots in particular very impressed me as the lip syncing is spot on. However my advice is that some of the transitional edits need to be improved so as to fit in with the lyrics of the song. Apart from that a top music video." Cameron Butcher

We are going to act on this advice by adding in some cross disolves and fades to smoothen the transitional process.

" In my opinion the only flaw with the music video is that the plot is a bit undefined. I feel that the image of the main charachter being protrayed is a bit padantic and petty as she is flying off the handle at him for being late for tea. Obviously there is more to it than that but i feel you need to add in another small section showing this." Ben Morgan

We are currently acting on this advice by filming a shot were she finds a text message on his phone proving his infidelity.

front cover image

Above are just some of the photographs that we took that we thought could be possible contenders for the front cover. We decided on this image :

We chose this image as we thought it followed typical trends that we discovered during our research and planning. We decided to close in on the face to follow trends. The image below has been edited slightly but there is still more to do.