Use of media technologies during production process

Music Video/ Digi-pak/ Web homepage

Construction StagesThis stage involved the use many different media technologies, some of these technologies I had worked with before and some were new to me.

This meant I had to do my research on the media technologies and find out the best and most effective way for me to use them. At first some of the software interfaces appear very intimidating, however after a few tutorials, I was soon clued up on the basic skills. I could then develop specific skills and techniques in order create the specific desired effect.

Iphone 4

I used my Iphone 4 and a home made tripod adapter to film all of my media production. This was because it had HD technologies and a 32gb capacity, meaning I’m far more less likely to run out of memory space and it would produce higher quality images, with deeper stronger colours.

This is the tripod adapter I made using an Iphone 4 case, a metal bracket and some putty that goes rock hard. I had to do this because I couldn’t find any appropriate tripod adapters for the Iphone 4 available at the time.

Final Cut Express 4This was a key piece of software in the development of my main production (music video). I learned how to use many different tools, for example the ‘motion keyframe’ tool.

This tool allowed me to add interesting, creative and ambitious effects to my music video, making it stand out to the audience fitting with the conventions and stereotypes of an Indie music video.

These screen shots illustrate the ‘motion keyframe’ effect I used in my music video, to make the footage track to the right and change the dimensions of footage.

Adobe DreamweaverThis piece of software was vital in preparing my webpage to be viewed live in Safari. I used Dreamweaver to add hyperlinks, embed my music video and centre the webpage.

At first the interface of the software was very intimidating and left me pondering whether I would be able to complete this task. However after learning the basics through the use of tutorials and advice from our media technician I was soon on my way.

Video Embedded Illustrations Hyperlinks

Adobe Photoshop

This was a key piece of software in the production of both my web homepage and digi-pak. For my Digi-pak, I used tools such ‘opacity’ to

blend three layers together to create one image. In this image I particularly wanted the image to fade out at the bottom and so I used the eraser tool with a heavily feathered edge to erase the bottom. I also used the magic

wand and magnetic lasso tools a lot, to select specific areas of an image I wished to cut out. The refine edge tool then added fine detail to the edges of the image.

In Photoshop I feel its important to keep your layers organised in different files, as with a large project such as a web page, there can be a large amount of layers so it can get confusing and take a long time to find the specific layer you want to edit.

I used Photoshop to create my webpage imagery, basically everything apart from the hyperlinks and the embedded video.

I used a green screen to take some photographs for my digi-pak and web homepage and filmed some footage for my music video. So I could then use the chroma key tool, to key out the green leaving me with a black background.

Research Stages

YouTube was a powerful tool in the research stages of my production, as it allowed me access to millions of music video, professionally produce and amateur music videos.This allowed me to research different genre’s ,styles and techniques for music videos. This also gave me the inspiration for many of the ideas I used in my music video. I used YouTube to perform textual analysis’ on similar media texts.I was able to research independent artists that had done cover’s of my chosen song.

This piece of software was useful in the research stages as it allowed me to create a mind map, illustrating all the different areas I had to consider. I displays the information in a clear and colourful manor, making it easy and clear to understand.

Safari as a web browser played an important role, allowing me to access an archive of information and tools; allowing me to access the blog (wordpress); allowing me to access YouTube and Google.

Using Safari I was able to access band websites, for textual analysis and inspiration into the design of my web page.

The Google search engine allowed me to search the web using ‘Google images’ for band digi-pak’, for both textual analysis and inspiration . It allowed me to search for genre related websites and blogs, in order to find information on the genre, target audience and stereotypical conventions.

I used Final Cut Express in the research stages to produce an ‘animatic remake’ of a similar media production. This was important to me as it highlighted important issues, such as ‘quick cutting’. The Indie genre have very quick cutting music videos that follow the pace of the song. This prevents tedium.

Planning stages Microsoft Excel and Word were important for the planning stages. The use of this basic software meant I was able to produce charts and tables.

The charts would clearly show the results of my audience research.

The tables were used for the planning of my schedule.

Evaluation stagesIn this stage I used media technologies to evaluate and illustrate the stages of my production and what I could have changed to produce a better production.

This website allowed me to upload PowerPoint presentations and embed them using the URL onto the blog. This made for a different more interesting presentation of information.

iShowU HD is an application that allows you to produce a live screen shot essentially. This means you can record your every movement on the computer on video, then adding a voice over, this can act as a good tutorial or be used to evaluate your work, showing how you constructed it.

I used YouTube in the evaluation stages to receive audience feedback, from a wide variety of people. This was done through the comments section, located under the video.

I used Windows Paint in my planning stages to create floor plans, this aided m planning in illustrating where the actors, props and characters will be positioned on set.

The use of his website was vital as it allowed me to check the weather updates for my filming dates, to make sure the weather was appropriate.