Evaluation - Connor Edmonds

Task 1

Connor's task 1 from connoredmonds


Task 2

Task 3




Task 4

(Xtanormal not fully complete as limited number of characters could be used but full script at bottom)

Robotz Movie
by: connoredmonds

Hello, today I’m here to talk about how we used new media technologies in the construction and research, planning and evaluation stages.

 In the research we used an apple mac desktop computer. This was significantly helpful as it allowed us to research conventional ideas in our genre and let us be able to look at similar music videos for ideas for our own. At home I had a Dell Inspiron which I used to do home research.

On the computer I used Google search engine a lot to find the information I needed. This was helpful as Google brings up the best links with the correct information.

I also used youtube to look at the music videos this was very helpful as youtube has a vastly big database full of different music videos to get ideas from.

The planning was mainly done with pen and paper using shot lists and shot frame boxes. We then after completing these tasks used the macbook’s web cam to take photos of the sheets to upload on the blog. We used Apple’s photo booth program to take the photos of the work and then uploaded them to our blog on blogger.

In the construction we used a Sony hand held flip HD camcorder to film the whole music video. In the music video shooting we also used torches for lighting in the night scenes. We used a MacBook air to play ‘ain’t no party’ so Dan could lip-sync the words.

To edit we used final cut on the mac which allows you to cut clips, add text, add transitions and a line the shot sequence correctly.

In the digipak and magazine advert we used Photoshop. This allowed us to edit photos to give them a more professional look. In the magazine advert we used techniques such as ‘overlay’ and ‘hard light’ which proved very effective.

For the evaluation I used power point to analyze pictures. Prezi to present task three of the evaluation. camcorder to vox pox and slide share to show my power points. I also embedded all of these into the blog. 

Evaluation - Dan Synowiec

Task 1

Task 2

Task 3

Task 4

Evaluation - Danny Frattasi

Task 1 -

Task 1 - Media Evaluation from dannyfrattasi

Task 2 -

How Effective is the Combination of Your Main Product and Ancillary Texts? on Prezi

Task 3 -

Task 4 - 

Question 4

by: dfrattasi

Question 4 Script

Before we created our music video, we planned what we were going to do on "blogger.com". This was a really quick and simple way of transferring our thoughts and ideas "onto paper". All we had to do was create a new post and upload it so it was really simple to use. To make our blog more interesting and more detailed, we added photos along the way. For this, we used Flickr, which is a photo sharing network. We created an account on the website, which allowed us to upload our photos on to our page. From this, we just copy and pasted the embedding code onto our blog and it would appear.

For the music video, we filmed the footage using a Sony HD video recorder. The camera was really easy to use. We also used the effects tools on the camera such as the "exposure tool" whilst filming in the dark, which made the visibility 10x better. Also, when we used the camera, we used a tripod and dolly, which helped us when we wanted to create different shots and angles for the video. Those technologies weren't digital, but they proved vital in creating better shots for us.

Once we had filmed the music video, we transferred the footage onto "FinalCut express". This is the technology we used the most as this programme is what we used to edit our music video. After adding the videos to the sequence, we watched them back to see what clips were good, and what clips were bad. We then put them all into our timeline and started cutting them and matching the lip syncing to the vocals. At first, it was slightly complicated because we wanted to use more advanced effects for our video, but as we progressed, the programme was really easy to use and very effective. For example, in our music video, we used a split screen where all 4 of the characters appeared in a box in the shot. We had 4 individual shots at first and we placed them all on top of each other on the timeline. Then we used the image and wireframe tool to reduce the size of the image, and place it where we wanted. We did this for all 4 shots so that they would appear at the same time, in one shot.

Once we had finished our video, we converted it and uploaded it to YouTube. The process for this was really simple as YouTube had a step by step guide on what you had to do so it was really straightforward. We then created our ancillary texts which were our digipak and the magazine advert. For both of these tasks, we used photoshop; which is a programme used for editing and creating images. Photoshop is widely used around the world but is only really used properly by professionals. It took some time trying to work out what each tool does and how to achieve your desired effect, so Id recommend that before using photoshop, that you should see how it works. For the ancillary texts, we took photos which we thought would link to our music video and our genre. We then added them to our canvas' and began to work on the images. For example, we changed the lighting on some of the photos to create a more dark and mysterious effect. We selected the image we wanted to change, and used the brightness/contrast tool on the adjustments toolbar and adjusted the levels to what we wanted. We used the same text which we downloaded from dafont.com. Again, this was really easy to use and only required a simple download from the website. Once we were happy with all of our final products, we then uploaded them to our blog through flickr and youtube.

In summary, the main technologies that we used were all digital, which helped us greatly! We learnt to use the programs effectively and independently. However, the non-digital technologies such as the tripod, dolly and even our media exercise books were just as good in helping us to plan and construct our music video.

Vox Pops For Question 3

For question 3, we used vox pop interviews at the end of our sequence. We did this by getting people around college to watch our video, and then asking them all the same questions to gain feedback. This is a good way of getting feedback as we are reaching out to our target audience and listening to what they think of the video.

Question 3 - What We Did

For question 3, we created a directors commentary explaining how we received our feedback, and how it helped us. We spoke directly into the camera and used our ancillary texts and our music video within the commentary, to make it more interesting. We used final cut express to produce this commentary, which allowed us to put the track for our music video over the top of our commentary. This makes the commentary less boring, but more interactive. We also conducted vox pop interviews to get feedback from other people who are our target audience.

Script For Question 3

Along the way to creating our music video (BING! clip of music video), Magazine Advert (BING!) And Digipak (BING!), We received various feedback from different groups and people.
We first started our music video with a pitch to our class of our ideas. Nothing had been produced so we open to constructive criticism which we welcomed. We decided upon a narrative based music video which we began to plan and put together straight away. With a rough out line of our vide, we submitted a rough cut version to which we received qualitative data from our teacher. She mentioned different aspects of the video such as narrative, cuts, timing and angles. This gave us a new perspective to make a more polished professional looking video. We then spent hours refilming and editing aspects of our rough-cut video until we ended up wit the final version. We decided to post our music video on facebook and got feedback as well (BING!). We encountered various problems on the way but due to the feedback we'd received, we are all very happy with the final version. After this, our class analyzed our video, and we did the same for theirs. We were all given an analysis sheet to evaluate certain parts of each others music videos and this proofed to be very useful. For example, some feedback we received was 'Enthusiastic performance' 'appropriate material was filmed' we also received some constructive criticism for example, 'Editing was too slow' and 'not enough editing on the beat'. What have we learn't? Id say alot. The whole process of creating a music video has been very challenging but also hugely rewarding. Because of the feedback we received, we have been able to correct certain parts of our video, both general eg narrative change, and detailed eg correcting lighting during outside scenes.

Ancillary Feedback - Q1-21

Magazine Advert

We love the Orson logo. It definitely matches the genre characteristics, and makes the magazine advert quite eye catching. The information given is clear, and is positioned well.

Digipak

Front cover is by far very interesting. The inside covers too are eye catching in a way.

Ancillary Feedback - Q1 23

Hello group Q1 20, we are group Q1 23 (the group across the room) and we are commenting on your Ancillary project.

Firstly the positives. We thought that the effects used on the magazine advert, with the second image of the main artist emerged into the top right had corner of the magazine, very effective as it gives another dimension to the picture and keeps it interesting and not plain.
Also the picture which was used for the inside of the digi pak was very good. It was clever how they decided to use the picture cut up through all three spaces with a continuos picture. Also the idea of using alcohol bottles was good as it linked to the theme of the song. But i would have used empty bottles as it could give a better picture, and linking with the song more shown how much of a good party it was.
The way the have used the bottles picture and edited was very creative and gave another look onto the digi pak of not just normal unedited photo's.
I thought the way they used white coloured writing on the black background enhanced the visibility so it can stand out and been seen easily and affectively. Also with he subject of the information they included all the needed information for a digi pak including the songs and places the public can purchase the product.

Negatives. I thought the pictures were too dark for a happy and upbeat song. The pictures and editing would be one seen for a rock song or sad song. So although what they did was good, i thought that it was with the wrong theme and genre.
Also the picture of the front of the digi pak looked like the artist was dead and yet again, does not link with the genre of the song.

Ancillary Feedback - Q1-19

We thought that the digipak had a nice flowing image as the back cover. It fitted with the characteristics of your music video. We though that the colour scheme flowed throughout and gave it a more professional look and feel. it was good that you included the connection with the main artist throughout all 3 of your products. Our only piece of constructive criticism is that we thought the inside covers didn't flow as well, but it still looked good because of the connection with the main artist.

With the magazine advert we think that the main picture you used of the artist looked pixelated and streched so it didn't look as professional we also think that the font doesn't work as well with the theme of the advert. But we liked how you matched the colours and they stood out more.

Ancillary Feedback - Q1-24

Positive Feedback:

• The layout looks professional - and we liked the decision to use the bottom 3 as one image works really well (unique)
• We like the use of different colours - a good balance. With the black and white theme on top, and then the comic book like effect on the bottom.
• The picture of the drink associates with the song and the them, and we like how you've emphasized the drink labels with the colour effect.
• The simplicity of the font and the colour of it works really well.
• Used the space well for the writing on the back.

Negative Feeback:

• No disc templates to show where the CD's would go

We can't think of any more negative things about your digipak!

Positive Feedback (Magazine)

• How your created the font 'orson' looks pretty awesome
• You've included quotes form several music sources
• The overlay of the two images works well
• The dots work well as when you'd see if you where drunk

Negative Feedback (Magazine)

• Looks unorganized, not sure where to read first
• The photos don't look professional 
• The filter effect makes the image look darker