How did you use media technologies in the construction and research, planning and evaluation stages?
During the research and planning stages of the project, the use of technologies, such as the internet, was vital in establishing a clear target audience, finding example texts and gaining inspiration. Without access to the following technologies, the construction process would have also been virtually impossible; not only was the recording equipment a necessity, but the editing software available also acted as a crucial component in the creation of both my main product and the ancillary texts.
YouTube
Access to the internet, and YouTube in particular, helped shape my ideas during the research and planning stages. I began my research by scouring the site for music videos of all genres, so as to gain an insight into the typical conventions used, and then narrowed down the search to alternative rock videos only. I copied the embed codes of the videos I found the most interesting, and captured specific shots using TubeChop which I then pasted into blog posts that I could refer back to during further planning. I also presented my music video in the form of a YouTube upload, as this provided a professional platform to display my work, as well as making my product easily accessible to an audience, through YouTube itself, and by pasting the link into social networking sites and into Blogger to gain feedback.
Blogger
I used Blogger throughout the entirety of the project as a way of tracking my progress and projecting my ideas, whilst gaining feedback in the process and presenting my final products. As previously stated, the HTML section allows the user to embed codes from YouTube which then appear in video format when published, post Scribd documents or simply add text and images through the use of the "compose" tool. Comment boxes are present on each post, thus encouraging audience feedback, and I was also able to embed the band's Twitter feed directly onto the blog itself.
Twitter
I created a Twitter profile for "Electric Addiction" so as to further promote my artist and establish a clear brand name. Twitter was important during the establishment of Electric Addiction's identity, as I was able to directly reach an audience and further portray elements of branding, such as "retweeting" bands of a similar style and genre onto my profile and uploading pictures during my time in the studio - I was able to use the Twitter app to post photos directly from my iPhone, as well as being able to "tweet" whenever I wanted. The platform allowed me to post links which would appear on my followers' timelines, and so by sharing my final video via Twitter, I gained more views and received extra audience feedback.
Animoto
I briefly used Animoto during the planning stages of my work, and used it as a way of visually representing my initial ideas during the construction of my pitch to the class. I was able to add audio to a short presentation consisting of both text and images, which allowed my peers to get a feel for the genre of music I was focusing on, as well as determining whether the style of visuals would work well alongside my chosen song.
Samsung VP-L800U Camcorder
By using the Samsung VP-L800U Camcorder, I was able to create a grainy, noise effect without spending extra time editing the footage. I filmed using the black and white filter which was installed on the camcorder, and then played back the footage and viewed it on the LCD screen. The bulky size but lightweight feel of the camera made filming a lot easier, as I was able to hold and move the camera with both sturdiness and ease.
The downside to using the Samsung was that I couldn't transfer the footage to the iMacs or simply one of the computers. It was impossible to upload the video footage because there were no videos, simply recordings on a tape. I could have converted the tape footage to a disc, but this would have been costly and time-consuming, and so to overcome this problem, I re-shot the footage on the LCD screen using a Panasonic digital camcorder, which could then be transferred onto the iMac. The Panasonic was a useful piece of equipment as I could film each shot separately, gaining individual pieces of footage rather than one continuous shot, as was the case with the Samsung, which played each shot directly after the previous one. I used the tape to my advantage, however; by re-winding and pausing the footage whilst re-filming with the Panasonic, I was able to capture the full effects of an old camcorder whilst viewing the footage on the LCD screen. The new footage shot using the Panasonic displayed the recording time in the corner of the screen and captured the white noise effect of rewinding.
Panasonic HDC-SC80 Full HD Video Camera
The Panasonic digital camcorder I used was a vital piece of equipment during the construction process of my music video, as it captured all of the footage I shot and enabled me to upload this footage to the iMac, which I then edited using Final Cut Pro. The handheld size of the camera meant that I could easily shoot in any location and could create a shaky camera effect easily as it was lightweight and subject to my own movement, rather than being placed still on a tripod for example. The Panasonic enabled me to view each shot separately, thus helping me to distinguish between the good and bad footage before uploading, increasing productivity during the filming process. Both camcorders allowed me to zoom in and out effectively, focusing and framing the shot, and enabled me to add digital effects whilst filming. As well as being able to view the footage whilst it was being shot on the LCD screens, I could also use the flash on the Panasonic to capture well-lit footage regardless of exterior lighting. All in all, this camcorder took a lot of the pressure off my shoulders and allowed for great filming.
Final Cut Pro/Apple iMac
The Final Cut Pro software available on the iMacs at college was essential during the editing process of my music video. Although I had trouble connecting and uploading the footage I had shot using the Samsung camcorder, this problem was easily overcome as I re-shot my footage from the camcorder LCD screen using the Panasonic; I was then able to transfer all of my footage, from both the video camera and the camcorder (though taken also from the Panasonic), to one specific area. I could then view each shot before placing them accordingly in the video timeline, as well as being able to crop the footage to the length I wanted. The programme also allowed me to insert audio clips, and so I was able to place "Where Is My Mind" directly onto the timeline and have it play alongside the footage, thus allowing me to ensure that the lip syncing and performance was timed correctly, and that the visuals reflected the music. Final Cut Pro also enabled me to add a number of digital effects and transitions to my footage, creating smooth cuts between shots and establishing a professional look. The "static" transition, for example, was a recurring effect used throughout my video, as well as the "camcorder" effect which enhanced the aesthetic I'd already created using my own camcorder. The software became a vital editing tool whilst trying to achieve the final 30 seconds (more or less) of my video; in processing my storyboard, I had planned to incorporate a juxtaposition of a mirrored shot and a shot of the vocalist miming, constantly going back and forth and switching between the two, increasing the pace of the editing considerably. Final Cut Pro made the whole process a lot easier; each piece of footage was at hand as they were imported to the software's library, and I was able to use the "zoom" tool to perfectly match up each shot, making each cut precise and seeming to follow on from one another although there was a glitch in between. Prior to this, I used Final Cut Pro to create my animatic; a visual representation of my storyboard presented as a video, with each shot edited in time with the song.
iPhone/Video Star
During the filming process, I not only used camcorders, but also my iPhone, and specifically the app "Video Star". This footage is included towards the end of my video, and was used to further emphasise a state of disorientation as the song reaches its climax. The app allowed me to use a mirror effect which both reflected the image and enhanced the colour saturation, creating a psychedelic and surreal style. Having captured the footage, I was able to upload straight to YouTube from my iPhone. I then pasted the link into Blogger so as to gain audience feedback and present my work, and transferred this onto Final Cut Pro by accessing the link on the iMacs. I also used my iPhone to promote my artist, as previously stated, by uploading photos using the Twitter app.
Adobe Photoshop
I used Adobe Photoshop during the production of my ancillary texts. The editing software allowed me to create a design for my digipak, and, consequently, a magazine advert. First of all, I imported a digipak template into a blank document, thus setting up the outline for my design. I then viewed my "test shots" video and took screen grabs of certain shots I wanted to incorporate into my digipak. I saved them as pictures and imported them into Photoshop, within the guidelines of the template. Photoshop provided me with access to cropping tools and enabled me to add effects to the graphics, as well as altering the exposure, colour balance and hue/saturation, further enhancing the element of psychedelia throughout my work. Having used Photoshop during the AS course, I had previous knowledge of the programme and decided that it would be the best editing software to use in the construction of my ancillary texts. By creating different layers, both text and images are easy to place and edit, and can also be hidden if need be or deleted altogether without affecting the remaining layers. Having completed the digipak, I then began working on the magazine advert; I created a new document and imported the digipak front cover into the blank space, then added text using the "type" tool. All of the tools available, such as the "grid" tool, proved to be beneficial during the editing process - in this instance, the grid tool allowed me to align text and images, and helped me to establish rules of third and general space awareness. Without the use of this technology, my completed products would not look to such a high standard, and the professionalism of my work would be lost.
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