1. How did you use media
technologies in the construction,
research, planning and evaluation
stages?
The process of constructing our products, including our
music video and ancillary tasks, involved us using a variety
of programmes, some of which were new to us and required
us to practise and play with the programme. My use of
variety, in terms of media technologies is also reflected in
my evaluations questions as I have presented them using
different media technologies.
By Zainab Oyenuga
2. RESEARCH
YouTube
One of our most used sources for research for our music video was YouTube. This is because, being the most popular video-sharing website, it
had the advantage of unlimited access to music video’s. Therefore, I was able to access wide-ranging videos as well as specific videos with
similar themes to what we intended to portray. Another advantage of YouTube is that it had a suggestions bar which was significant and useful in
provided us with more videos based on the genre we were initially researching, therefore, exposing us to videos that we initially would not have
recognized ,whilst expanding our knowledge on media conventions. However, despite this, our access to YouTube was limited based on the fact
that student user were not permitted to use this website. In addition, at times, it was difficult for us to research music video’s as a group and
effectively conduct our research, as we were forced to carryout this research at home. Yet, most times we were able to overcome this issue via the
YouTube account which was set up by our schools technicians , allowing us to effectively access YouTube. This programme also helped me
understand and observe how to make video flow smoothly and make sense through the use of editing.
Google
Our most used website for carrying out our research was Google- the most popular search engine. This source was particularly more useful for
carryout out my ancillary task research as gave me a broad selection of music digi-paks and posters, at the same time it allowed me to broaden
my research by looking closely at specific artists and their inspirations for their products. I also had the advantage of researching how makeup
artists achieved different looks to reflect different moods and persona’s, also the way they dressed protagonist to achieve a certain look. However,
like YouTube, we were prevented from accessing to some Google sites, therefore, restricting from working effectively as a team through direct
communication as we had to carryout research independently, and combine which was a lot more time consuming.
An alternative forms of media technology that I chose to use was the Television, through
sky which provides a huge channel of music from MTV to channel AKA. This came to
use for my music video as I was able to input ideas based on what I viewed on TV, also
different music channels provided different genres making my process of research easier.
Music magazines also came into use for our research such as Q magazine, as their focus
was music, allowing us to familiarise with different media conventions in music. At the
same time normal music magazines also helped as we could observe general conventions
and examine clothing style and makeup.
3. Constructing our music video
To construct our music video we used the Lumix Fz48 which was a lot more convenient compared to using the schools
camera as it was owned by a member of our group. This meant that the camera was more accessible giving us time and
some to help the rest of us to familiarise ourselves with it, which was more time productive. The quality of this camera
was also better than the schools, making our film better quality and its size made it easy to carry around. After quickly
familiarising ourselves the camera was easy to operate and we were able to take full advantage of it attributes such as
filming in black and white and changing the exposure levels, which was particularly useful for when we were filming the
night scenes, as changing the exposure levels helped block out the daylight. However, this camera did not have the
advantage of a fold our screen meaning that we were limited in terms of shots from various angles and it was difficult to
hold the camera for a long time- preventing a strong focus in shot. Yet, we to an extent, were able to solve this problem
by using a tripod, which, allowed us to capture various shots and keep the camera focused, however , it was heavy and
hard to carry around.
4. Editing the film
In order to edit our film, we used Serif MoviePlus X3. This allowed us cut clips, link clips, add effects, include
transitions and add music; all of which were conventional elements that make music videos look more professional and
attract their target audiences.
Prior to my A2 coursework, I had no experience using this programme, or creating a video in general. I therefore, put my
self up for a challenge and used the programme to create my own, personal first draft music video. This experience
certainly benefitted me later on in the year when it came to creating our final music video as I was then familiar with
effective use of cutting and inserting transitions. This programme became easier to use the more I familiarised myself
with it and its tools, however, the only problem with it was the quality of the videos once uploading on this programme,
which took a while to improve because the programme was pretty slow.
When an issue occurred, or I did not know how to do something, I had the benefit of the help button which was very
useful and specific- helping me overcome my problems. Yet, it was unable to help us rewind the clip which we wanted as
one of the aspects in our music video, but were unable to accomplish.
5. Constructing our ancillary tasks
We used a professional camera, a form of technology, in order to construct our
ancillary products. This was for our various photo shoot’s as we decided to use a
photo of our protagonist in our music video for the digi-pak products.
The camera we used for our photo shoot was the same camera we used for our music
video which was good quality and could capture quality and un-pixelated photos.
I mainly learnt how to control the exposure levels and use the zoom ring to capture
the photos I wanted and the different effects. We also took photos with the camera in
black and white mode, highlighting a clear connection between our ancillary products
and our music video. We found that the flash on the camera was not always effective,
with it sometime running the quality of the photo, and learnt that two lamps were
better as they were not directly effecting the picture. However, we decided that one
lamp was better than two as it effectively captured an picture with contrasting
shadows, an effect that we all liked as it created mystery in the picture, whilst
emphasising the models features as too much lights, as experienced, made the models
features a blur.
6. Following the photo shoots we carried out, another form of technology we used was Adobe Photoshop . My experience using
Photoshop for my AS coursework made me familiar with the programme and its attributes. We used this programme for all
our ancillary products, due to the fact that we could insert duplicate layers and lock them to prevent anything from happening
to our original copy. Of our photos.
I mainly used the programme to make our models face more flawless, using the clone stamp tool and the healing tool to get
rid of any blemishes and dark circles on the models face and generally increase the quality of the photo as a whole. The
software also allowed us to place in texts, barcodes and icons which make our product look more professional, this meant that
we could edit any alternative images such as the barcode, to match what we wanted.
I could of used Adobe illustrator to change the filters of the photos, however, because I was not familiar with the software, I
found it difficult to use, and therefore chose to stick with what I knew, which was also time productive as I was familiar with
Photoshop.
A problem I encountered was locating the picture history in order to go back to my last edit. Although, I tried to use my
initiative to solve the problem, I found that I was wasting time and therefore had to seek help from the ICT technicians.
Furthermore, after playing with the exposure levels, although, the colour of the picture was one I liked, a section of the photo
was too dark and therefore removed the emphasise of the models features. To overcome this problem, I decided to change the
contrast of the picture until I was satisfied.
7. Presenting my construction, research, planning and
evaluation stages
Blogger was a vital programme as I used it to present and store my entire process of
construction, research , planning and evaluation stages .
If I had the opportunity to do this work again, I would use this programme again as I found
it easy to use especially as I became familiar with it due to my AS coursework, specifically
its different features, enabling me to use to programme effectively.
A disadvantage of the programme was that I had to make the pictures smaller in order for it
fit properly onto my blog and it was difficult to move pictures around, I therefore had to use
alternative software's like Microsoft word, making the entire process longer. I also had to
upload videos vie YouTube before placing them onto my blog. Yet, using other programmes
made my blog more diverse and therefore interesting.
8. In order to present and store my process of construction, research, planning and evaluation
stages on blogger in a simple and understandable way I used alternative programmes such as,
windows movie maker, Microsoft PowerPoint and word.
Both windows movie maker and Microsoft PowerPoint were programmes that I was already
familiar with and I was able to use them effectively. I mainly used them to create slideshows
presenting my evaluation questions as it divides my work and makes it more organised and
easy to read. I could also present and layout my work the way I wanted to. However, I could
not directly upload my PowerPoint to my blog, I therefore had to use slide share to do this.
I also used PowerPoint to paste images and save them as pictures, also to crop photos, before
placing them onto my blog. This process was less time consuming than trying to directly place
pictures onto blogger as I could lay pictures out in any way, also blogger did not have the
advantage of cropping pictures.
I used Microsoft word to create spider diagrams and combine pictures together whilst
analysing them, using shapes, such as arrows and circles, to make my process of constructing
my products clear- highlighting the process of the stages of my products .
9. I used slide share to upload the presentations that I made on Microsoft PowerPoint, as it
allowed me to directly upload it to my blog. This programme also had more options in
terms of presentation styles, giving me the opportunity present my work in different ways,
making my blog more interesting. However, accessing the programme involved me
asking the technicians to log into the schools YouTube account which was often a long
process as they tended to be busy.
I used Picasion a lot to present my pictures. The fact that it created an animation made it
more creative and simplistic with its transition device, as opposed to uploading a range of
pictures which make my blog look unorganised and difficult to read.
However, the software was limited in the sense that it had a limited amount of pictures that
could be uploaded, and some of the photo’s I uploaded lost their quality as it made them
more pixelated. Also the programme could not be used to effectively annotate pictures. I
therefore, used the programme for pictures that were slightly less significant.
I used voki to present parts of my evaluation questions as it was an alternative way to
present my response, other than writing. Voki also made my blog look more diverse and
creative as I was able to create my own character and give them an identity to read out part
of my response. However, this programme only had a limited amount of words that the
character, I created, could say. I therefore had to use my voki to mention brief elements of
my evaluation question.
10. In order to present part of my evaluation question one I used Glogster as it allowed me to
effectively analyse one of my ancillary products, using arrows, pictures and textboxes.
A disadvantage of Glogster which I encountered was that it did not have a spell check. I therefore
had to type all my comments on to Microsoft Word, before copy and pasting it onto Glogster. Yet,
considering it was my first time using this programme, it was quite easy to use. I particularly liked it
as it had various gadgets and many icons and aspects- making my work look creative and
interesting.
11. Our main source of indirect communication was via phone, email and popplet
allowing us to share ideas effectively which was very productive especially when
considering the fact that we all had different timetables.
I used my Yahoo account mainly to share and send documents to my team members,
ensuring that we all had access to the same files, such as research and the construction
process. This form of web 2.0 was particular useful as it meant that files were
instantly saved in our inboxes- allowing us unlimited access to documents. Also, the
fact that we each undertook different roles and different time made this programme
useful as we were not all directly involved in every process of construction. Therefore
Yahoo allowed us to communicate more and share files.
Popplet was another form of technology that we took advantage of as it we could all
access one popplet allowing us to share ideas and research. This allowed us to use our
time wisely and work more effectively as a team
My main source for indirect communication was via phone. Through my phone I was
able to text and call members of my groups to arrange meetings and inform them of
decisions and ideas. I also used my phone to show, through picture messages, some of
the products that Lalita and myself had created for our ancillary products to receive
their opinions.
12. Receiving feedback from audiences (Evaluation question 3)
In order to receive non-biased audience feedback I decided to post our music video onto
Padlet, previously known as wallwisher. This programme contains a virtual wall which
allows you present particular topic or item, like a music video, and receive the thoughts and
opinions of the public. This was helping in allowing me to receive non-biased feedback.
Another form of social media or Web 2.0 that we used to present our product (music video)
to audiences and receive their feedback was twitter. The fact that it is social networking site
meant that our product could be seen by a broader audience, particularly those who fitted in
to the category of our target audience, as teenagers, are more active with this form of Web
2.0. Due to the fact that I do not own a twitter account we poster our video onto Lalita’s
twitter account, therefore, we had a limited audience and an audience who were likely to be
unreliable as they were Lalita’s friends. This highlights the significance and usefulness of
programmes such as Padlet which were open to the general public.
13. Another form of web 2.0 that we
used to receive audience feedback
was YouTube. Like Padlet,
YouTube was useful for receiving
reliable and no-biased feedback as
it is also open to the general public.
Also, YouTube is site that has easy
access, for example , it can be
accessed through mobile phones,
(some phones, like IPhone have
already stored YouTube) therefore,
giving audiences more options of
where they can view our music
video.
Web 2.0 technology was hugely significant in our process of research. Through Web 2.0 we could engage
with our target audience in the interactivity . YouTube was the main form of Web 2.0 that I used in my
process of constructing my music video and receiving feedback from the audience. Using YouTube
allowed me to receive feedback from a broad audience , making the feedback I received reliable as it was
open to the public rather than just my friends. Whereas, using a form of Web 2.0 such as FaceBook , to
receive feedback, would be pointless as my FaceBook friends would be less critical.
