1. In order to develop my finishing product, the key aspects which helped me complete the tasks were the social networking site of YouTube. Whilst using and creating YouTube, I realised that many successful artists promote their music using YouTube. Artists which are signed to record labels use the Vevo channel which is attached to YouTube. However, as my artists are not signed to a label we used our YouTube account to make this song accessible to our viewers. We realised that whilst using YouTube we were using the D.I.Y (do it yourself) method. By using our research we realised that artists such as Justin Beiber who began as an independent artist, got scouted on YouTube by Usher’s record label (RCA Records) and now he is part of a major label (universal). We chose to promote our music video on YouTube; because as we had no funds it was the cheapest way to market our artists. I used YouTube whilst doing my case studies which was to analyse music videos which related to our genre. YouTube not only allowed us to promote our music but allowed us to research different artists. We also inserted into our YouTube page our feedback which we obtained in class. YouTube allowed our work to look more professional as when we watched the footage on YouTube we were able to place the moving work in ‘HD’. This also allowed the followers of our YouTube account to see our working progress. YouTube allowed us to gain audience feedback on what the viewer’s thought of our finishing product. The skills which I obtained from this were how to download footage through YouTube and how quick and accessible this could be to the viewers. I also learnt that this social networking site was important for artists to promote their music, especially D.I.Y artists who don’t have sufficient funds to market their music.
2. I used the software of Word to write out my case studies and evaluations. As I like to write in an essay form it was important to write my work as a document. Microsoft word allowed me to copy and paste my essays onto blogger. By using this software it allowed me to spell check my work in order to make sure my spelling was accurate and clear to read. I used Google along with Microsoft word in order to copy a picture onto Microsoft word. For example I used the images of music videos on my case studies of music videos with similar genres which relevant to my product. Google allowed me to obtain research. For example I was able to realise that on my front cover I was able to use a fake name for Nicolas. This was because Jay-Z original name was 'Shaun Carter'. Blogger was originally connected to YouTube and Google; therefore it was simple to input information onto my blogger. As I was struggling with the name of the camera which was used to shot the music video, I used Google to realise which type of camera was used. The type of camera which was used was the DLSR cameA. I never learnt many skills from Google and Microsoft word as I had previously used this software’s before. However, I do know that Microsoft word increases my origination skills and allows my spelling to be accurate for the examiner. Google allowed me to learn that if I need to obtain any information, I can find out anything by using Google. Blogger also promoted me to use Google as in order to sign onto Blogger I had to sign in by using a Google account.
3. Youtube
4. Word and Google
5. In order to make our filming and overall success, we needed to be familiar with the DLSR camera and Final Cut Pro. We spent two days using the DLSR camera, working in groups to create footage. From this I learnt how to record and zoom; there were certain effects, which were the blur effect which I didn’t think existed on the camera. Secondly, in regards to Final Cut Pro, for a week we familiarised ourselves with the software by re- attaching a film together. I learnt how to cut, and how to cut out music. We were able to amend the lighting in order to make our work appear professional. Whilst using the DLSR camera the negatives were that there was much to carry. I had to carry the tripod, the DLSR camera and a light panel. From carrying these equipment’s I was able to know what each equipment did to impact my filming. The DLSR camera helped us to film and record, the tripod allowed our filming to be straight and also allowed us to do high angle shots. Finally, the light panel was used when the lighting did not look professional enough. For example, in Walthamstow when my group was performing, it got dark. However, the light allowed the filming to appear as though the footage was shot in the daylight. We used the same camera to take pictures in the studio when filming Nicolas and Tyrell. In the studio we attempted to use the multi disk light reflector. This equipment gave the artist a glow effect to their faces. However, we chose to use the light CFL and umbrellas as this brought out a more natural effect to the artists faces. From using Final Cut Pro I learn how producers make their music video and how to cut and add effects. Final Cut Pro allowed me and my group to work as a team as we were able to give advice on what effects to put in our music video. For example the dialogue at the begging of the song, which reinforced a narrative base to my music video. The DLSR camera allowed me to learn how to use an everyday technology. I learnt that it’s interesting to film and how simple various types of footage can turn into something as extraordinary as a music video or a short film.
6. In order to input documents onto my Blogger I had to use a scanner which was placed in my college. Before doing this task, I did not know how to use a scanner. But I realised it was fairly simple, I just had to print out a document, place it in a scanner and press scan. This was a useful resource throughout using blogger. I used the scanner to input my documents, such as the risk assessment which I done individually. The script, talent releases and recee was also scanned in order to make the documents look professional once viewed by anyone looking at my blog. I used the scanner for the initial logo which was drawn by my friend. We scanned the initial image and placed it on Photoshop. From this, we realised that this image did not look professional enough. The scanner allowed us to make the image darker or lighter. From this, we experimented different shades. The finishing logo was produced on logo maker, this software was free. We created the finishing logo by firstly entering the logo text, then choosing a design (which was the crown), then we customized the crown into how we wanted the logo to look and saved and downloaded it onto blogger. By using the scanner and the logo maker I was able to learn that some software’s may appear hard but once you use them they are fairly simple. The logo maker allowed me to create my finishing logo and made it original and the scanner allowed me to produce documents onto my blogger.
7. Logo maker and Scanner
8. DLSR Camera, Studio Equipment & Final Cut Pro
9. Survey Monkey, Photoshop and Prezi
9.1. My group signed up to Survey Monkey, this particular software was free. In a way, I would describe this as a social networking site as I was able to upload my work onto this site and retain feedback on how to improve my work. As a group we had to come up with ten questions, which should be asked to our target audience of a different media class. The questions were subject to their views on our music video, our advertising poster and our CD digipack. This site taught me that if you place your work onto a survey site, you are able to gain feedback by other people using this particular site. From this I realised that the internet is more viral and it is easy to gain feedback by using online sites that specialise in giving out feedback. Secondly I used Photoshop to design the back cover of the CD. This was very hard as at this point I had not used this software since last year. However, our teacher gave us tasks to produce our own CD cover layout. This allowed me to become more familiarised with using Photoshop. The difficulties I faced when designing the back cover was placing Nicolas’s face onto the cover. This was fairly difficult and took several attempts until my cover looked professional. In order to do this I had to play with the back colour, by changing the shading to a darker grey. I used Google to look at different case studies, such as ‘Omarian ft. Bow Wow- Face off’ as a model whilst creating my product. This helped as I was able to follow the conventions of professional back covers by using a barcode and the name titles. Finally, I used the software of Prezi to complete my research and planning work. This site was important as I was able to write documents with spelling corrector. Therefore, this site had similarities with Microsoft word. I was also able to insert videos and YouTube videos onto my work and this also had similarities with blogger. Therefore, I quickly became familiar with this software and produced this evaluation by using Prezi. This site allowed me to realise that in the future I don’t have to use common software’s like Microsoft publisher to promote my ideas but there are free online sites which can easily do this too.
10. I individually used my Blogger as a diary to write down my progress throughout making the music video. Whilst using this technology I was able to transfer videos and pictures onto my blogger. This was fairly simple however, to begin with I struggled with how to use this software but as I used it on a daily basis it became easy. This site was able to access YouTube and place videos from their onto my blogger, this was important when it came to writing my case studies of different songs of similar genres. I obtained images from Google, when looking at locations in regards to film. This benefited my recee, as i was able to take images of Westfield from Google and discuss the camera angles i would use whilst filming. Blogger allowed me to learn how to blog my working progress and was a large input into keeping me organized and helping me complete deadlines on time. Last year, the work was produced on Wix. I prefer Blogger as it shows my working progress and it’s easy to input other work onto this software. The skills which I learnt from Blogger was how to organize my work and how to keep up to date by completing deadlines on time.
