A Level Media StudiesThe Advanced Portfolio Evaluation

The following slides have tips on ways to answer the four evaluation questions.

You don’t have to write a thing!

Your evaluation can take the form of a Podcast or Director’s Commentary

You will get extra marks for presenting your evaluation in an interesting and creative way. A boring old Powerpoint (like this one) just doesn’t cut it at A2.

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

This question asks you to compare and contrast your music promo project with professional work. What ‘typical’ elements have you included in your music video, DVD Digipak and Print Advert that can also be found in professional work.

This requires some analysis of the key elements of your music video, DVD Digipak and Print Advert:

MUSIC VIDEO ANALYSIS• Use Diane Railton stuff about music video genres

(pseudo-documentary style, art music video etc.). What genre does your music video fall into? Why do you say this? Include screen grabs from your video to illustrate your point.

• Use the Andrew Goodwin stuff – what Andrew Goodwin points can you apply to your music video?

• Use the key theorists from the ‘Critical Responses to Music Videos’ presentation on the blog. Apply some of the theorist’s work to your video

Blog resources:

MUSIC VIDEO ANALYSIS (Cont’d)• State why you think your video is appropriate for the style

of the track, the image of the artist or band and the genre of music

• State how you have chosen to represent the band in the video. Why would this representation be appropriate for the genre of music and for the target audience? Include evidence of styling (hair/clothes) and youth culture bits from your youth culture mood board that illustrate the look you were after

• What were you hoping to achieve with the video – what were your inspirations?

DVD DIGIPAK and PRINT ADVERT ANALYSIS• What are the key elements of your DVD Digipak?

What have you included and why?• What inspired your DVD Digipak? Is it similar in any

way to existing Digipaks?• Is there anything unique about your DVD Digipak?

Ask the same questions about your Print Advert

Question 2:How effective is the combination of your main product and ancillary texts?

For this question you need to state that the music video’s main aim is to generate interest in the band. The music video is a piece of marketing and promotion.

The aim of the music video is to increase awareness of the band or artist; to encourage people to download their tracks; to increase web traffic to their site; to encourage people to share and like the videos on Facebook and You Tube

The music video, DVD Digipak and Print Advert together give the band a brand identity.

Is there a recognisable link between the three elements of your music promo project?

What are the similarities between the 3 elements in terms of:Imagery StylingTextTone/Mood

How do these technical elements reinforce the image of the band?

The DVD Digipak is specially designed to encourage people to buy a physical copy.

What elements have you included in your DVD Digipak that are not available online or in digital form – in other words – why would somebody buy your DVD Digipak?

Question 3:What have you learned from your audience feedback?

Present results and feedback and make comments.

Include:• Likes/comments on Facebook• Likes/comments on You Tube• Feedback from the artist/band• Survey Monkey responses• You can film a ‘vox-pop’ of people’s responses if you

want

Question 4:How did you use media technologies in the construction and research, planning and evaluation stages?

Participatory Cultures have been essential throughout the project.

PLANNINGYou Tube – researching professional music videos; online tutorialsJamendo MyspaceFacebookBlackberryAnimatic storyboards – to plan music videoInduction projects – to get used to using cameras and edit suite

CONSTRUCTIONAdobe Premier /After Effects/PhotoshopFinal Cut ProCreative CowVideo Co-PilotYou Tube tutorialsUploading first edits to You Tube for feedback

EVALUATIONYou Tube for comments/likes etcFacebook for comments/likes etc.Prezi – to present the evaluationSurvey MonkeyVideo-style presentation

FINAL COMMENTSState how the blogs have helped during the project.

Say if you accessed your blogs outside of class-time; Say if you accessed your blogs through a smart phone or tablet.