what did you learn from your audience feedback ? 

From my audience feedback which was created via a questionnaire which I then put to a small group, I learnt that in my music video there were a number of items I could improve on, these items consisted of my editing. It was identified by a number of feedback answers that my editing wasn't smooth enough a couple of suggestions to improve this was to create more frames this would then make it slicker. When I was creating my video I didn't do as many frames as I liked because of the timing issue, therefore i've learnt if i were to create a professional music video I would spend more time and take more frames to override this issue. I also learnt another issue of song choice, although many said this wasn't a huge problem they said it was a personal choice and if it was up to them they would of done a different song. However, they said what I did with the song worked well and therefore this wasn't a huge problem. Consequently, I have learnt if I were to rectify this then choosing a song that fit everybody's taste would be impossible therefore I did the best I could with the material I had and know next time to consider people's song choice. From my music video another issue that cropped up was the editing of the song as I couldn't edit the song properly to fit the editing of the video it became hard to match and bits of the song were cut off. I learnt that this confused a couple of people as they didn't know what happend but there was nothing I could change to rectify this as it could take days I found out I would probably need more time to complete this and that putting the whole song in meant people would understand the narrative properly. As well as my music video I also got feedback from my Cd cover and advert, a couple of people said that there was a problem with the image not being big enough filling the space with just white making it not as professional looking as it could be, therefore I learnt that to change this I would have to edit the image to a bigger size to make others happy and fulfil the criteria in a cd cover. The advert was said to be improved by having more emphasis all over as it was a bit confusing where to look. However I learnt that the image i used meant you could link the three products I created together. 

On the other hand I also learnt some positive things from my audience feedback, there were a number of compliments with my idea of Lego stop motion saying that my idea was really good and very imaginative. As a result I've learnt I am capable of coming up with ideas and able to create a successful product. Other compliments came from some scenes that I created specifically such as the snow scene where I created realism with the snow scene they said this was very effective and from this I have learned I am capable of creating a decent stop motion. In my music video audience feedback also showed me my aim of matching the editing to the lyrics this then showed me that I have fulfilled my aim and been able to produce a half successful video by selling the artist with his lyrics. As well in my Advert and music cd i people found a link and connection between the products and could relate them together meaning people were able to understand the concept from this I have learnt that showing cultural links and connections are important to convey a message and understanding the audience. People said that the whole concept was overall sweet and they enjoyed watching video which in my opinion is successful and therefore overall I have learnt my product needs a few changes but was successful if I were to re-do this product with a longer time length I could hugely improve this product.  

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

 For my planning and research of my music video, digipak and advert I used google and google images to find images and shots of past music video's and so on. I used this to compare past videos and shots and how ideas will help mine. I learn from using this new media technology a huge variety of images and things I never knew before which I was then able to use to plan and adapt into my product an example of this would be finding Ed Sheeran's past cd cover. This helped me to compare and make sure I didn't have any copyright involved in my products but also I could see connections between his genre with other artists meaning I was able to establish my chosen artist. 

As well as google, I was able to use technology such as youtube, where I could research past music video's look at directors commentary and compare and initiate ideas for my music video. This is how I created my first idead by using new media technologies to research and plan. I learnt from using this technology how easy it was but also a=how developed technology is and able to help prepare for my music video.

After planning and researching it was essential that I started my filming, this was created by using a video camera at first which was a sony camera especially used for stop motion pictures. However, I found it hard to use this as I was in cramped conditions and the moving around and taking of frames took time and wasted precious space therefore I then was able to use my own digital camera meaning I could take continuos frames this was easier as it was cheaper with filming but easier also to do. While filming i used my Iphone to have as a video as a tv for them to watch showing intertextual references in my video this was a massive help from my phone, meaning i could increase peoples perceptions of my video.

I also used Windows movie maker for my filming instead of Final Cut express as this for me was long and fiddly as I had over 4000 photos to put into a video therefore knowing the ins and outs of Windows movie maker I was able to create a finished successful product. 

To constantly update and keep track of my information I used the website www.blogger.com  as I kept a diary for every movement and development I made. I liked using this as I was able to keep progress of my products online and able to promote them to others.

Finally in my Evaluation pages I used the voice over of a talk text to writer a directors commentary over my video this was used with narrate on windows movie maker meaning I didn't have to use my own voice or do a boring written feedback evaluation therefore showing the new technology giving new and interesting ways to present my evaluation I enjoyed this as I learnt more about the programme. 

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

The combination of my main product and ancillary texts has come from a number of elements. Firstly, via the aspect of colour we constantly see a link between the three products, this is from my research and planning I concluded with the theme of orange and black and showing less colour has more of an effect on appealing to the audience. I then used this research to develop my product in to making it effectively enjoyable by the audience. I set out a couple of designs to enhance this as seen below showing that orange as background and outlines was better as the black was bold and recognizable to any person. The colour orange is seen as being someone who has enthusiasm, warmth; whose vibrant, expansive, and also flamboyant. Where as the contrast of black brings the idea of power,  formality, elegance, wealth and mystery. This then disempowers the flamboyance of the orange and blends the two colours in, with the feelings of wealth and mystery the black also is a statement of selling the artist. The colours provide a message as if to say buy tickets for the tour, buy the cd and you can learn more about the artists music. I feel this then effectively promoted the artist and meant that the combination of the three products appealed to most people via the link and its recognizable of the products sold by that artist. 

As well as colour we also see the theme of typography being consistently shown throughout the products which sells the artist and people are able to identify him. The use of Courier New was used by myself on all three of the products and no other font meaning there was a link that could be easily identified. The use of courier new was one that could distinguish the artist between others, this was also identified in my research of other artists providing the same font throughout their products. There were seen in different shapes and sizes such as something as important as enhancing sales and selling the artist having his name Ed Sheeran in this font was important to make the key features come across to the audience, other things such as dates from the tour were in small fonts Cardiff June 12th so people could catch on what I was aiming to sell (tickets) . I feel I accomplished this successfully via the finished product and had an effect on appealing to the right audiences as even though it is I who created the product, it would appeal to me. Next the layout of my products worked well as a package as there was minimal design meaning there wasn't too much going on in your face, this was done by having two set colour themes laying out all headers and footers above and below; small titles being put to the side but still identifiable; making images the central focus to sell the artist. I feel I did this effectively via the combination of the three products using layout to have a theme set out of less is more and making the colour and images more of low key factor. These then are combined to communicate a specific selling point of the artist and thats his one of a kind look, he's something new, fresh and different in this world showing this through the layout was done to publish the main different ideas before the predictable ones of an artist. 

Finally the mise en scene which was a big part of my three products. Was seen with the images on the Cd cover, video and advert all having the lego which in its self is fully mise en scene. The Cd cover was able to illustrate a representation of the artist with the scenes I produced in my video meaning people could relate the two together. The advert showed mise en scene with an indication of what is to come with his music with the lego character being a central focus. The video its self meant I could focus on selling the artists lyrics and his music.  I feel the effect that using mise en scene in my three products and using it the way I did, it meant that the person could relate to the three products in being of the same bandwidth.

My final Evaluation-writing form

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

In a music video there are certain codes and conventions involved, there are a number of guidelines seen in order to produce a successful product. To take this further people use these conventions in unique ways to make their product as successful as possible. For example when I began to create my music video in accordance to my chosen genre of singer/songwriter I decided I had to make the lyrics an important feature in my video. My idea came from analysing loads of music videos from different genres as well as my chosen genre. Other genres such as rock had a tendency to highlight the band and their performance, a video where this is seen as such would be the calling ‘wherever you will go’ .  

However, focusing on my genre I focused on selling the artist’s music and lyrics, this idea came from me choosing my song ‘Lego House’ as drawing up ideas came up with me concluding to use a Lego stop motion as by using this idea, I constantly related the audio to the visuals therefore making the lyrics ones of the key features. By doing this I aimed to produce a video to a target audience which meant I had limited my codes and conventions so I could get this right. This meant I couldn’t for example show the artist or this could fall into a rock genre. I feel this was successful as the artist in my video was shown in a different way therefore developing conventions of real media products, the Lego character of Ed Sheeran meant people could follow the lyrics like an artist whose in the singer/songwriter genre normally does. To help show ways in which my media product develops and challenges forms, the theory of Andrew Goodwin can be looked at. He has recognised a number of key features from which we can identify the music video as a form: A relationship between the lyrics and the visuals; A relationship between the music and the visuals; Genres characteristics; There are likely to be inter-textual references; Selling the artist and the The notion of looking. In response to Goodwin's theory I am able to provide examples of challenging and developing forms and conventions in my media product. We see in my music video the relationship to lyrics and the visuals where such lyrics as 'Build a Lego house' occurs at the beginning of the video, and I used stop motion for the Lego character to build a Lego house. This meant the audience would be able to focus on the lyrics as they could follow the movements and scenes in relation to the lyrics. This in my opinion is what made the video successful as people were able to identify a narrative of some sort as well as being able to fulfil the criteria of being a real media product. The second criteria in Goodwin's theory is linking the audio to the visuals, I did this by the use of editing this meant I could time the two different forms together to create a successful product, I feel I made this successful via such as in a scene where the music has a long note and I did this with the use of the Lego character opening the door fitting in with the movement. Another one of his Dimensions in developing a media product comes from selling the artist; I did this through although not showing the artist himself but a replica and fitting all movements, visuals about Ed Sheeran. I also showed videos at the beginning and end of the artist himself introducing his video therefore people being able to relate to him. I felt this was important as its a theme he uses in a majority of his videos and I wanted to continue this but without copying it. I feel I achieved this through the character of Lego Sheeran and making him a main feature throughout.

In relation to last year and my media coursework in the task of having to create a music magazine the conventions were different in which I challenged and developed them to create a successful product. Last time there had to be a set criteria of choosing a specific genre relating it to the magazine and as well as this making the colour,font and layout follow this. In hindsight of creating both task's one being of AS music magazine and another my A2 music video, I can recognize the huge importants of establishing the genre to then follow the other forms set up by Goodwin. With the genre being identified you are then able to set out what you set out to do in making a successful product via another one of Goodwin's dimensions being the link between the music and the visuals. This dimension helped me to improve my product from last year in developing those conventions as we see in the other products involved in my a2 coursework.  As well as this I also used Goodwin's theory to set conventions in my advert and digipak. This was seen where the main feature was to sell the artist and his music. This was done through many different routes, firstly via taking a shot of the video with the most favorite scene by many and making it my Cd cover. People were then able to link the two products together, showing a running theme and abiding to the forms and conventions. As well as that I sold the artist my continuing his running theme of the colour orange and black and making it a main statement in my products.

My feedback Evaluation Answers for my cd and advert

By a peer here is an Evaluation of my cd cover and advert, these answer the questions below
1) Very clear and well Matched
2) Putting your own take on it enhanced your advert/cd cover considerably
3) strong points- images, colour its well contrasted
4) too much white showing on front cover, image should be larger
5) Yes, I noticed this more after looking at his work
6)The album art works well with his album as it is a good close up on his face.

My feedback Evaluation questions for My Cd cover and advert

My feedback Evaluation answers for music video

A Selection of Written responses ...

1)   Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes – Good relationship works well

2)   Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

3)   All strong points- good effort, imagination, use of stop motion

4)   Filming a bit jaunty

5)   Use of editing make it smoother and lighting

My full response as a Video...

My Feedback Evaluation For my Music Video

Further part of Evaluation consisted of me getting feedback from an audience therefore in front of my class peers I am going to show my music video and Digi pack and get them to fill in this made question. This will help me to conclude my music package.

My Evaluation Commentary

As Part of my evaluation I have looked back on my music video and analysed it with commentary on points in what went right what went wrong why I did why I did and and how I could improve my Video.

My Final Advert

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Advert ideas

Advert Ideas

My idea for my advert has come from comparing two different adverts, Example’s tour dates and the selling Red Hot Chilli peppers Cd into a poster. From looking at these I have decided to make a tour dates advert, as this is really good at selling the artist with his music as well as promoting the artist’s image. It was also clear to see the intention of the artist in appealing to a wide audience by giving arena tours in places such as Manchester and Dublin rather than a poster just showing a genre of rock music and not much more. By deciding this I have decided to create a couple of ideas as seen in the following with an explained reason why.                                                 

 Idea 1

For my first idea, I have continued to use the idea of a colour theme throughout my digipack. This is because it represents Ed Sheeran with his ginger hair and its what he uses to promote himself. As well as this I have continued also to use the typography with Black making it bold and recognizable. The image involved is to promote the artist so I have used an image of Ed sheeran and to make him centre focus of this advert. Surrounded by him are the dates with the biggest arena being London 02 Arena as in the performing industry its the biggest arena out there and creates a landmark in their career. I have also added lego bricks surrounding as a border. This is showing a theme between the cd, video and advertisement. As well as promoting the tour I have also made a chance to promote the artist's album by naming the tour after his album as well as detailed information at the bottom in small print. I have also put in the necessary detail at the bottom such as where to buy tickets and find the artsits latest news.

Idea 2 For my second advert idea it is almost the same idea and concept I have gone for as in my first one, but this time I have changed the image from the artist to the personnel in my video, the lego version of Ed sheeran, this would make more sense as it connects throughout the other elements in the digipack especially with the video. I also edited the image to make it in black to fit in the with the rest of the colour theme. The image also has been edited with soft edges to blend the image with the background instead of making it to in your face therefore becoming a focus but not overtaking any other sections on the advert. 

After researching and planning I have decided to come up with my second idea as it makes more sense and with all the elements of the promoting the artist, album, tour and my music video I feel it will be successful, to improve this design I shall edit it further to gain the perfect advert. 

Advert analysis

Genre: Red Hot chili Peppers are fitted into the genre of Rock music, this advert represents the era of when rock music was popular by using the theme of bright colours.  Rock music is also presented to the audience via the idea of the image of a symbol from a drum kit this is positioned in the central focus of the advert, this makes it the initial understanding of what the advert is selling the artist and rock music. 

Typography: The typography in this advert is where the large title the header is in a bold font, and continuously in capital letters, this is followed by the rest of the name of the band in a simple white outlined black font. Not making a distraction from the rest of the advert but instead blending in. 

Selling the artist: Is seen throughout this advert with the main 4 artists being on the focus of the advert with them all in different colours, you also see the image being a posed shot making it easier for the artists to direct           themselves at the audience. It presents a direct culture link to the audience.  

                                                                                Tour and gigs advert

Genre: This genre consists of a vaierty of music as we can see Example being dubstep, pop, dance music and alternative. This is resembled in his advert for a tour where we see three colours emerging from this advert representing each style of music. The yellow presents dance music with its luminous colours, its bold and familiar. The black presents dubstep as we hear heavy beats, the music becomes dark like the colour of black. The third colour of white brings simplicity and the genre of pop

Typography: The typography in this  tour advert is in a couple of different sizes due to the importance of each section. The words don't have to be so big as the colour makes most of the writing noticeable, its in a simple font and his artist name 'Example' is in his recognizable font distinguishing him from everyone else. 

Selling the artist:  he artist as you can see is the main feature of the advert this helps sell the artist.This is as well as his name making himself the center focus of this advert. 

Advert mood board

As part of my research and planning into advert's I created a mood board to look and be able to then analyse a variety of adverts to help me contribute to my own creation. I shall then further analyse 2 different adverts one consisting of a tour and gig with dates advert then a second for a cd advert this can help me choose my final product.

My digipack- analysis of album cover

My digipack - The album Cover

My digipack analysis and planning Ed sheeran + my ideas

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Cd Analysis of genre

This Cd cover of Damien Rice's cannonball is a simple yet effect cover as through a number of Damien Rice's Cd's we see a theme of animals being used this presenting a message between them. There are two uses of colour only Brown and White, one being a pure clean colour another presenting  dirt and blandness. We see these colours then making the Cd cover recognizable due to this in effect bought by thousands. As well as this the genre generically seen are ones with simple covers where you can establish the artist and you are able to sell their music.  Typography here is jagged and small not taking the focus away from the rest of the cover but still easy to see.

This Cd cover by John Mayer is from the singer/songwriter genre the cover sells the artist as well as his music as we are provided with an indication of tranquility as well as an atmosphere. The typography is in white and in a strange font to get people's attention it also fits in with the rest of the Cd cover. The cover is in black and white and grey with a tinge of blue making it a finished looking Cd cover. Other covers by this artist also like Damien Rice's present an animal but also images of himself in different settings. 

Breakdown of Scenes

In my music video I want to have a set narrative and therefore by doing this making it easier for the audience to receive what the video or song is about. The narrative I have chosen is the common narrative termed as classic which is seen to tell a story and supported by the narrative that is motivated by cause and effect. It has order-disorder and a set meaning with a benefited ending. It also has a beginning middle and end making it a closed narrative.The narrative I have chosen is seen to somewhat follow the lyrics sometimes. As well as a narrative the figures follow the lyrics making it a mixed variety music video appealing to all kinds of audiences. Constantly as Ed sheeran and other artists do you want to sell the artist therefore a number of times I have shown an approach to this. 

Scene 1- The initial scene, is an important one as it gives a first impression the audience. In this scene I have used the idea that Ed Sheeran uses in his video of a break from the music video its self, so away from the use of lego although the two characters are there we also see human behaviour. The scene begins with the opening image of the two lego characters sitting in their lego house on their lego sofa's watching TV here I have been clever and used this to sell the artist. Ed Sheeran himself is introducing his music and song . The narrative is then first set as the lego characters are watching a movie in their house as a couple, the action then begins as the movie is in fact there life.

Scene 2,3,4- Here, we see the next group of scenes following the lyrics ' I'm gonna pick up the pieces and build a lego house and if things go wrong we can knock it down' This isn't as such have a narrative but presents a message that 'if anything goes wrong i'm here and i'll do anything for you'


Scene 5,6,7 basically once again follows the lyrics as the characters actions follow what is said for example 'there's one thing on my mind' Shows one character standing alone and it zooming into the mind of the character then using editing skills transition on to the next scene 'its all for you' showing that everything he does is for him/her.


Scenes 8,9,10.  Are the scenes of snow, where the narrative message is when times are tough i'll be here you which relates to the lyrics 'when your stuck in a cold december' 


Scenes 10,11,12 the next couple of scenes follow the lyrics of ' I'm out of sight, i'm out of mind, i'll pick you up when your getting down' here we see not the narrative but the reference of visuals to audio. The lego character is going through a number of challenges to get to the other character representing the theory of love. 


Scenes 13,14,15' I'm out of love, i'll do it for you in time' Shows a montage of scenes with the same sort of idea where the characters are getting closer together this also represents the idea of the original video where we see Rupert Grint walking through the countryside, rivers in London.Also the use of the car driving by shows the theme of moving time as the characters are still there together as time moves on. 


Scenes 16,17,18  The next couple of scenes are iconic as it shows the transformation of black and white film grain to following the lyrics of 'i'm gonna paint you by numbers and colour you in' this makes the scene show full colour, the next bits also have the audio linking to the visuals.


Scenes 19,20, 21 

My finished Music Video.

Ideas with editing...

Using the software of Final cut express I shall edit my filmed music video. In my video I want the editing to represent the rhythm of the music linking audio with visuals, this is because in the video of Lego House it is difficult to identify a narrative so therefore although I have created a narrative attached is the use of editing to follow the music, for the audience to find attach a meaning to the video. This shall be done in many ways for example, when linking scene the lyrics its all "for you...'mhmm' when you're" at the time of 0.30 I will use the editing effect of a spin to use as a transition from one scene to another it follows the rhythm exactly. Other ideas that I hold are the hold of the first verse and chorus shall be in 'film grain and old film looking' creating a film like presence, until the lyric of 'I'm gonna colour you in' comes then the whole video shall appear in colour following my idea of audio connecting to visuals.

Other ideas consist of such as length of each frame shot will be at different lengths to fit in with the music so a lyrics is corresponding with the right action such as ' im gonna pick you up when your getting down' I will show an action of the lego figure somehow being picked up.

Half way through my editing I have chosen to swap software to windows movie maker as doing a stop motion it was easier to link all the images together for timing and editing above is an image of what my first edit looked like for verse 1 this is 27 seconds long 

This is then a snippet of my rough cut editing to show my progress so far...

This is an edit without the music, its a rough cut and my original idea...

 Scene 1 is the lego character being introduced into the video, walking from the self named lego house the edit I have done is ghost the first scene into the second

Scene 2 consists of a stop motion lego house being built brick by brick hiding the character. This editing also does a ghosting into the next scene

Scene 3 where the car is being driven into the house shows the editing fitting in with the lyrics and then connecting to the next scene with a sweep pan 

Scene 4 is ghosted into scene 5

Scene 5 has the use of a mosaic to illustrate the lyrics of there is one thing on my mind

Scene 6 has the transition of rotating following the lyrics and rhythm of 'mhmm'.

contact for permission from record company

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Filming Locations and mise en scene

                          When it comes to my music video, I have many different filming locations that I have used in my set of Lego. The whole production in my music video is mise-en-scene as its all about props, colour, settings and locations. My first Location is where the lego figure used as Ed sheeran is seen walking out of a Lego House this immediately introduced the character to the audience. The mise-en-scene of this scene consists of a lego house which resembles what the song is about it is in a variety of colours as lego is. There are also items of trees using a natural landscape setting we see the trees presenting realism towards the audience through the medium of mise-en-scene. In this seen there is also a road and grass this also fits in with idea of house setting. The second scene we see is the beginning of a Lego house being built, this as planned is a scene that is going to be a basis of the video where we see the narrative begin. Then we see the next scene of the house being knocked down as resembled in the lyrics, here the props of a car is used with of course the Lego bricks.Next we see the filming location of the first scene being a snow setting this follows the lyrics in the scene, here I    have a snowy grey sky with white bricks presenting a real looking background also added would be props as flour for snow making it again effective looking. The fifth scene is a setting with the mise en scene of a blue sky and clouds made out of Lego with a surrounding of trees, this location is where the character goes to find himself it also resembles the original video of Lego House by Ed Sheeran only a Lego version presenting a theme throughout   the videos.

In the next filming location we see the use of a plain white background and grass showing a natural but unnatural location

which creates irony as it made out of lego but it makes a natural setting of a grassy verge. The snowy scene is revisited for the next scene. The next couple of scenes have the same location as it has a recognizable blue sky with clouds with a ground of grass 

For the other locations they mainly contain of having a white clear background as it makes the audience focus on the characters and the music rather than the whole location distracting them from the selling the artist. The other locations consist of having props such as the massive red heart resembling the idea of love, making it the bigger the better. The house and bricks as walls are also hugely used in my other scene locations making it simple but effective. 


We also see the continuation of the set narrative with a scene location of a wedding used with props such as other characters an alter, and a priest. Snow is also used as with lego its impossible to just have white characters so the snow gives the idea of it being a wedding. 


The last final location is like the first scene where the lego characters began. Sitting on the sofa watching tv ironically going to be showing a video of Ed Sheeran to sell the artist. This is also seen as a thing to happen in the music video Ed Sheeran produced where the two characters are in a spoof ending I have set the  location of this last scene to reiterate that.

 

initial ideas for Scenes 

Personnel

Character 1:  Lego Ed Sheeran

Character 2:  Lego Fan

In the original Ed Sheeran Lego House video, we see the idea of Rupert Grint impersonating him, therefore I have tried to convey the same sort of idea but not copying it. The song talks about love but in the world of Lego there are no female characters that are easy identify if they are female, as they have no hair but just red lips. With this problem I have decided that in my video I will bring the idea of irony and comedy into the video using the idea of the crazed impersonating fan that has fallen in love with Ed Sheeran. The Lego figure I have of Ed Sheeran is an exact resemblance with the ginger hair I have tried to provide a character that looks most like him.  The mise en scene of the clothes are plain blue simple look that he tends to present himself with when it comes to image.  The second character is the obsessive fan who is wearing primary colours.