Q4. How did you use media technologies in the
construction and research, planning and evaluation
stages?
Media technologies used in the construction and research, planning and
evaluation stages:
Blogger Google chrome
Photoshop
Final cut pro
WordPhotoshop
Excel
FacebookTwitter
Camera
Media technologies used for research
How I used Google Chrome
When initially researching for my coursework I used both Google Chrome and YouTube. Once I had established
that I wanted to base my coursework on the Indie Pop genre, I used google to research ‘what is the indie pop
genre?’ to which I used web searches and image searches to establish what the indie pop genre is. I then
created a document which stated what the formal conventions of a music video are and what the
conventions of an indie pop music video are, which are stated in the next slide:
These two documents were the first things I researched and created, this is so I knew what the genre was that I wanted to base my coursework on, so I had to complete
this before any of my planning.
Media technologies used for research
Conventions of the indie pop genre
Media technologies used for research
Formal conventions of music video
How I used YouTube
Media technologies used for research
When researching for my music video I used the web page YouTube. Once I had established the genre I wanted to use I made sure I searched for artists that are in this genre and listened to their music and watched their music videos on YouTube. This helped me to establish things like editing, cinematography and mise-en-scene of indie pop music
videos, which helped with all of the planning and creating of my ancillary text and music video.
I also used YouTube to upload my music video to. This meant that I could easily post my video to social media sites and
people were able to view them. The fact that YouTube counts the number of times the video has being viewed also helps
with my audience feedback.
How I used Blogger and Excel
Media technologies used for research
When researching my music video I decided to add a blog poll to my blogger website, in order to gain enough research and information about the indie
pop genre and music videos. Questions on my blog poll were those such as: are you male or female?,
how old are you?, do you watch music videos?, how do you watch music videos, what is your favourite genre of music?. When the questions on my blog poll where answered by members of the general
public, I entered the results into an excel document, then creating a pie chart to show the results. These
are the pie charts that were created from my results:
How I used Blogger
Media technologies used for research
I started using blogger when I first started the A2 course. Every piece of planning and research I have
done has been posted onto my blogger page (http://vickyharmana2.blogspot.co.uk/), I have posted
Prezi's, slide shares, videos etc. onto my blog. My blog has helped me a lot when conducting my music video. It has meant that I have easy, quick access to all of my research and planning, which made the production of my video a lot of easier as I was able to consider all of my research and planning. Posting my work to blogger also helped my teachers when marking and assessing
my work. They were able to view the posts that I uploaded almost immediately, meaning I was able to
make the recommended changes.
Media technologies used for research
How I used Facebook and Twitter
After completing my music video I uploaded it to social network sites in order to gain feedback. In terms of
Facebook I uploaded my video and asked people to ‘like’ the post if they liked the video, also leaving a comment
with feedback. When I uploaded my music video to Twitter I asked people to reply to the post with feedback.
This helped me when researching the feedback for my music video as the people that I am friends with on Facebook and who follow me on twitter are my age,
therefore my target audience. Because of this I am able to take their feedback into consideration and use it.
Media technologies used for planningHow I used Photoshop
One of the media technologies I used when planning for my music video and ancillary texts was the
programme Photoshop. When making my reader profile I used Photoshop to add my images together. I felt that by using this programme my reader profile looked a lot more professional, as I was able to use
the erase tool to erase the background of my images so the main background of my reader profile was able to stand out. The following slide shows my
reader profile:
Media technologies used for planning
When creating my reader profile I used images that I feel suit the indie pop genre (e.g. very bright, clothes, music, festivals, make up etc.). The information stated within my reader profile is fictional information, however information that I think
very much applies to the indie pop genre.
Media technologies used for planningHow I used Photoshop
Another way in which I used Photoshop during the planning of my music video would be when I was
planning the makeup for my music video. I did this in a very unique way. I found an image on google of a model with absolutely no makeup on, I then used
Photoshop tools to add makeup to the image of the model of which I wanted to do in my music video.
The following slides describe and explain the process by which I did this:
This helped me with the planning of my music video as I was able to plan the artists appearance in several different ways, meaning I was able to
visualise what the artist would look like and what would look best.
1 This is the image that I will be
using, the main focus of the image is the
models face and she is wearing no makeup, which makes applying makeup using
photo shop easier.
2The first thing I do is duplicate the layer that contains the
image of my model. I do this so there are two layers, altering the top
layer.
3
Secondly, I add a filter on the top layer, using the blur tool to add a
Gaussian blur at the radius of 20.5 pixels.
I then add a layer mask onto the top layer which is now currently blurred. This will make the square next to the
image on the layer copy appear, which I will then use the fill tool to make it
appear black, which will turn the image back to normal (non-blurred).
4
When my image is back to normal I will select the
brush tool in the colour white, with
the hardness percentage at
0%. Then lowering the capacity to
around 30 – 50 %.
65
Using the white brush tool to colour all of the skin visible it brings out the
blurred filter slightly, making the skin appear smoother.
From this To this
7
Finally when altering the skin, I will create a series of layers
using the paint tool of different skin tones to even out the tone of the models
skin.
8
Secondly I will alter the lips of my model, making it look like she is
wearing lipstick. I use the lasso tool to select the lips.
Once selected I add a filter to the lips, selecting artistic and
then plastic wrap. Which causes the effect on the right to appear
on the lips.
9 10
I then go to image and adjust the image, raising the brightness,
once this is done I move this layer behind its duplicate. 11
I then use the paint tool on a dark red colour and several
lighter colours to paint the lips on a separate layer, I then
lower the capacity of the layer to make it look more natural.
12
Thirdly, I will alter the eye colour of the model. I use the lasso tool
to select the pupil of the eye.
I then save this selection under the name of something like ‘right eye’ or ‘left eye’, then pressing
ok, I will then load the selection.
13 14
I will then alter the hue and lightness of the selected areas, which alters the colour of her pupils. Finally using the blur tool to make the alteration
appear natural.
15
Next I will alter the eye makeup/eye brows. I will use the eye drop tool to copy the colour of her hair, then using the paint brush tool to ‘paint’ on the eyebrows, making sure to
copy the original shape.
I then lower the opacity of the layer, in order for the colouring and filling of the eyebrows to
look more natural.
16
17
Finally using the paint brush tool to add additional shaping and filling of
different shades to the eyebrow.
When starting with the eye makeup I use the paint brush tool in the colour black
and add a layer to the bottom eye socket. Then lowering the opacity of this
layer to 40%.
18 Also further adding a black cat eye layer. I then use the same black paint brush
tool to add eye liner of
different shades of black and
opacities all around the
eye.
19
This is the final result once I have fully edited the image. I do not want my model to look this edited, I was
simply using this to practice my photo shop skills.
20
Media technologies used for planning
How I used Prezi
When planning for my music video I used the website Prezi, which is a cloud-based
presentation software and storytelling tool. I used Prezi to create presentations for things such as: the lyric analysis of my song, the
costume and makeup in the video, the history of music videos, the results of the blog poll, health and safety, the prop list and location list and the pictures taken
during the ancillary text photo shoot. When using Prezi I was able to establish a theme and colour scheme for my music video and
all research and planning. Prezi made planning easy as I was able to easily upload
images, YouTube videos, text, music, symbols and shapes.
Media technologies used for planning
How I used Slide Share and PowerPoint
I also used the web programme Slide Share to create presentations for the research and planning of my music
video. When creating slide shares you upload a PowerPoint presentation,
which meant I could personalise it to suit the planning. I used Slide Share
when creating my textual analysis 'and a detailed process of adding nail
varnish to my models pictures using Photoshop. I used this programme as
the presentation that was created was very easy to navigate for the audience,
and I was able to create the presentation that I wanted to as I know
how to use PowerPoint.
Media technologies used for construction
How I used Final Cut Pro
When constructing my music video I used the Apple programme Final Cut Pro. I used this
programme as I felt it was a simple programme that would give me the best results when
creating my music video. I found the process of constructing a video on Final Cut Pro very easy, from uploading my chosen song onto my Final
Cut Pro file, through to adding edits to my clips. Using this programme clearly helped me as it lead to the construction of my music video. I
added coloured effects on the top of my footage, also slowing down and speeding up footage,
reversing footage and adding glowing lights on top of my footage. This programme helped me
achieve the look I wanted when constructing my music video.
Media technologies used for construction
How I used Sony Handycam HD
To record my music video used the Sony Handycam HD camera, using a tripod to make
sure all of my shots were stable. We were taught the basics of using the Sony Handycam at the beginning of our A2 year, for example learning things such as in a long shot making sure the
feet are at the bottom of the shot and the head is at the top of the shot. It was very easy to film
when the camera is on the tripod, as the stableness the tripod created made the shots
steady and made the camera focus more. However when I tried to film without the tripod I found that the camera focused less and made
the shots look less professional. I also found that when the lighting was brighter, the camera
focused more, however when I shot things in my bedroom the lighting wasn’t as good and
therefore that reduced the quality, for example:
Good lighting Bad lighting