Final Video

Media technologies in the construction, research, planning and evaluation.

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

In the research stages, we used the internet to find out the forms and conventions of real media products. We used sights such as Youtube to watch various videos of the same genre so we could analyse them to look at shot types, lighting, settings and costumes. When we were planning our video we made storyboards by taking photos of shot types we wanted and then put them together.
 During the filming we learnt to use various new technologies such as using the video camera on the dolly, we didn't end up using this technique but we tested it through out the filming. We also learnt to use the tripod to create different shot types, depending on where and how it was placed. We looked into the shots that other female pop artists used in their videos and developed these shots in our own work using the tripod and the camera, placing at different heights, distances and angles.
Below are screen shots whilst editing our video in 'iMovie' and 'Final Cut Express'.

The image above is a screen shot of editing whilst using 'iMovie'.  As you can see, we can only use one track so it is harder to edit and create match on action as we cant cut between two or more tracks. 

This image is of editing whilst in 'Final Cut Express'. It shows the multiple tracks that are used. This makes it easier to
cut between the tracks and is similar to the software that would be used to professionally create a real media product.

When we put our video together, we originally uploaded our filming to a program called 'iMovie'. In this program, we put parts of our video together to check we used shot types that fit well together. When we had completed our filming and had some audience feedback on the short sequences that we had done by putting them on 'Facebook', we transferred our filming to a different program called 'Final Cut Express'. We transferred our work to 'Final Cut Express' because we could then use multiple tracks so would be able to create the 'firework' effect where we gave the 'firework' layer a higher level of opacity and put it over other tracks in our video. This program was harder to use but had a bigger range of tools available so we used books to help us get the most out of this program. We quickly learnt how to cut the shots and put them together, but when it came to putting the firework effect on, we used a book to help guide us through it.

When we had completely finished our video we learnt how to export it so we could upload it to our 'Facebook' page for audience feedback.
For our ancillary products, we learnt a variety of ways to use the camera for different shots and how to use lighting to its best potential. For each photo, we looked at other posters, cd covers and cd packs so we could see what photos we wanted to use and develop from real media products. When we took all the photos we edited them using 'Adobe Photoshop'. Again, I had to spend time looking through each tool to be able to use the program to its full potential.
Below are screen shots from 'Adobe Photoshop' whilst creating the ancillary products.

With this image, I only moved the image of myself to the left side and adjusted the
brightness levels. I then used an image of a firework for the background and used
the blur tool to blur my hair and the firework in together. After feedback I put a
drop shadow on the text to make it show up more against a background with similar
colours.

This is a screen shot showing use of the blur tool I used in this image. I used
it to blend in the hair of the image of the firework in together.

With this image, i simply adjusted the brightness and contrast levels of the image
and used a black background on the other side with white text on to contrast against
the dark background. 

Once I had taken and edited the images, adjusting the light brightness and
contrast, I used the idea of using a grid reference and kept the images in line
with eachother and included the text within this grid reference.

In this image I used a black and white tool across the image and then used a gradient
tool of black to white from right to left. For the 'Katy Perry' text I simply typed it in black
and then in white and doubled them up.  To make sure the text showed up well against the
back ground I used a colour that contrasted against the background colour. On the white
background I used black text and on the black background I used whit text.

During the evaluation and audience feedback, we used 'Facebook' to upload our work to a page that we created. We added many people to the group who would listen to Katy Perry as they are our target audience. This is where we uploaded scenes from our video and the ancillary projects so people could comment on them. I also created a questionnaire using a website called 'www.surveymonkey.com' and set up a link to my 'Facebook' page so people could click on to this and complete it.
Whilst creating my blog, I learnt to use other websites such as 'www.Scribd.com' to upload my work to and transfer on to my blog. I also used sites such as 'Youtube' to transfer our final video to my blog and collect audience feedback.