Evaluation
In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
There are a variety of ways in which our media use, develop and challenges forms and conventions of real media products. These ways involve our mise en scene, camera, editing and sound involved in our finished media product.
To begin with, there were a couple of videos that we were influenced by. For instance, we were influenced by the use of editing a video called ‘emotions’ by destiny’s child. This is because they used a 3-way split screen showing what 3 characters were doing at the same time. The reason we were influenced by this was because we wanted to use the 3 way split frames to show the central character getting dressed to go out partying at the same time, we wanted to show extreme close ups of girl’s putting their bangles and their boots without actually revealing who they were to create suspense.
Another music video which influenced us was a video called ‘make her say’ by kid cudi. We liked the way this video was edited using a different type of split frame. Instead of a 3 way split frame, they used a horizontal 2 way split frame which we thought would be interesting to put in to our video as it would look different and challenge a lot of other ‘funky house’ music videos, yet still fit the genre. However, we were not able to complete our plan of using a horizontal split frame as we the time we had to edit our video was very limited therefore, we had to leave out our idea as it would have been time consuming leaving us no time to edit the rest of the video.
As a group, we did not want to challenge the conventions of the genre of video too much as we felt that it would have been extremely difficult to challenge it. This is because, the genre ‘funky house’ was still new to many people in the UK as it hasn’t been introduced for a long period of time therefore people were just getting the know the music of the genre. This meant that, if we were to challenge the conventions of ‘funky house’ it would have been very difficult for us to do and we didn’t really have our own ideas of how to challenge it therefore, we decided to try and follow the conventions of real ‘funky house’ videos.
To show this, the DigiPaks we created were very much influenced and followed by the ‘funky house’ genre. I did this by, ensuring that the digipaks were bright and colourful as funky house as majorly based on colourful club lights making it look ‘funky’ and outrageously fun! To help me create my digipak I did a research and looked at existing ‘funky house’ albums to view the conventional styles of a funky house CD. I have seen a variety of funky house albums that pretty much followed the same type of styles. For instance, the entire funky house CDs I have viewed over the internet as party of my research reveals that they were all very colourful using colours such as pink, blue and green. I also noticed that most funky house CDs had girls at the front of the CDs. This emphasises the ‘male gaze’ as boys would be attracted by the girls on the CD and girls would want to be like the girls on the CD therefore they would purchase it to enjoy the music which represents partying and club life.
Because of this, we have decided as a group that we would have some house style rules for our digipaks and poster even though every body’s would be an individual piece of work. We have decided to all use the Bauhaus font as the letters appeared quite chunky making it stand out. As well as this, we agreed that we would use only bright colours on our poster such as, green, pink, blue, yellow and white. As a result, I also have decided to have a picture of me and Solone on the front of the digipak as we were smiling in the picture, which was taken from the video shoot. This makes the CD look fun and attractive being influenced by other funky house CDs.
For the poster to promote my Digipak I also made a research on what funky house posters looked like. I found out that, all posters, which promote the actual album, have particular elements of the digipak cover in the poster in order to make it recognisable to the consumers for which album the poster is promoting. For instance, the poster of the album should have preferably the same image used as the cover of the digipak with some additional information about the album.
In my poster, I used a capture shot of the image, which I used and edited for the front of the digipak. The reason I did not try to re-create the effects and designs I put around the image I have used for the front of my digipak was because it would too difficult as well as time consuming. This meant that, I decided to use the same image I used on my digipak of me and Solone, which would still make it easy to recognise for the audience without putting the additional designs. To make my poster look typical of other funky house posters, I used the same colourful fonts that I have used in my digipak to make my poster stand out and look bright. I have also, added in the name of the record label as well as the artist’s website with some information about where to purchase the CD from.
How effective is the combination of your main product (video) and the ancillary texts (digipak and advertisement)?
The combination of my main product and ancillary product is very effective. This is because I have made clear visual links between both the ancillary product as well as the main product. For instance, my promotional package all follow a particular house style. This is shown in the digipak as I have used the font called Bauhaus which I have also used in my advertisement poster. As well as this, the image I used in my poster is exactly the same image which is the front of my digipak. However, the front image of my digipak has an effect on it from photoshop and designs around it which is also from photoshop. I did not re-create the effects and the designs as it may have looked different. This is because, I attempted to re-create the image and add in the designs unfortunately, when I printed out my advertisement poster to see how it appears, the image looks very pixelated therefore, I decided to use a capture shot of the image rather than putting effects on it again.
My audience would recognise them as linked products as all the colours used in the front of the digipak is exactly the same as the poster as well as the way the title of the digipak is presented, they are presented in the same font and position as the poster. I think that my main and ancillary texts are quite successful. This is because, we followed the conventions of real ‘funky house’ videos without completely challenging it and we kept it the same the whole way through the video. We did not attempt to mix the ‘funky house’ style with any other genres, as it would have been too difficult and confusing to challenge this genre. The ancillary texts would also be rather successful as they have a very clear visual link with the main product as they follow the same styles of fonts, colours and images.
I believe that my target audience would be attracted to the main product and as well as the ancillary texts. This is because the main target audience for the ‘funky house’ genre would mainly consist of teenagers and adults who like to have fun and go clubbing. This is because; ‘funky house’ is an upbeat type of music, which a mixture of house and UK grime. The reason we would associate it with teenagers is because, grime was originated by teenagers producing their own music and lyrics and mixing it with house music turned it into a new music genre called ‘funky house’. The reason that our target audience would be attracted to our products is because; we involve conventional forms of ‘funky house’ such as, bright clothing, party life, and girls in tight clothes. Boys would be attracted to this because, the song and the video reveals guys going out to have fun at a club, and looking at girls and dancing with them, which is typical of a young adult’s and teenager’s party life on the weekend. As well as this, girls would be attracted to this because, they would be influenced by the way the girls are wearing their clothes and dancing in the video getting attention from people. Girls would be attracted as they would want to have nights out and impress guys whereas boys would be attracted as they would want to also go out with their friends, have a drink and dance with girls.
How did you use media technologies in the construction and research, planning and evaluation stages?
We used media technologies in the construction and research, planning and evaluation stages in various ways.
To begin with, we were introduced to a brand new state of the art video camera which uses memory cards rather than tape. This was very new to us as, last year we were using an older version of video cameras of which we had to carry around tapes for recording our video clips. However, the memory cards this year were able to store all our video clips which was much more convenient for us as all we had to do was put our memory cards into the apple Macs in order to upload our video clips. This was much easier as we were also provided with two different memory cards named A and B in case we ran out of space on one memory card.
Evaluation Deadline
The final deadline for your evaluation (final final final version - no editing allowed after you've posted it) will be in your second Media Studies lesson this week (week commencing 25th January). After this date, your teachers will look at the work and make a note of who met the deadline. Students who post their work after this deadline will have marks deducted.
If you are having technical difficulties posting blogs it is your responsibility to inform your teachers before this deadline.
If you are having technical difficulties posting blogs it is your responsibility to inform your teachers before this deadline.
Video Deadlines
ROUGH CUT DEADLINE: midway through week of 30th November.
FINAL DEADLINE FOR VIDEO: Friday 11th December@4.30pm
FINAL DEADLINE FOR VIDEO: Friday 11th December@4.30pm
How to make a pitch
Making a Pitch
Once an artist has recorded a song, it is handed out to a variety of different pop video directors who will work in consultation with the artist on ideas for a video. This is called a ‘pitch’ and is presented to a creative team who will be responsible for marketing and promoting the video upon release.
Each director will talk through his or her ideas with the creative team, and will aim to make their video concept so incredibly exciting that the artist and creative team would be fools to listen to anyone else’s ideas!
Task
Before you can film your video, your group must first pitch your ideas to your teachers and class (creative team). This 10-15 minute pitch will be marked by your teacher, and these marks will be used as part of the planning allocation for your coursework.
There are several key areas that must be covered in the pitch. They are:
1. Start with a ‘concept’ for the video in one sentence (“a yacht cutting through the Ionian sea with the Greek islands as a back drop”; “A group of rebellious teenage girls taking over the gym at high school”).
2. Who would your artist be signed to? Would it be a big label or an Independent? Internet only download?
3. A brief outline of the video’s narrative (or content if not narrative based).
4. Setting and locations to be used. This should be relevant to the concept, but needs to be specific citing exact locations: e.g. setting might be a beach house – locations within which might be pine-clad attic study.
5. Costume. Clearly must be related to the concept. E.g. lead singer and supporting dancers will be wearing school uniform – navy skirts, white shirts, etc.
6. Some discussion around specific shots and other technical codes. It is essential that the director talks through how they would film an artist, describing the mise-en-scene, how the shots will be lit, how the camera will move, etc. Are you using any special effects or equipment?
7. Audience – who is the video aimed at? This must be specific – it’s not just about age and gender – think back to the task you completed on audience a few weeks ago.
8. Where do you envisage it being shown and when? Internet, music channels?
9. Describe the visual style and graphics of your digipak and advertisement. Will you produce a 4, 6 or 8 panel digipak? What will it contain? How will it meet the needs of your target audience? Have some initial sketched ideas to show. Explain the link between the video and the artwork.
10. Storyboard – you must show a completed storyboard for your video.
11. Production schedule – you must have a completed production schedule.
12. You must conduct a risk assessment for filming off site – listing the potential hazards you might encounter and what you can do to avoid these risks.
Section 1A of the exam
Please write a paragraph on each of the following 3 questions and be prepared to answer questions during your pitch on them:
13. How do you plan to use digital technology in the production of your 3 products? Be specific about this – think about the packages and equipment you will use, as well as how you intend to use the internet (blog and vimeo!).
14. How have you used conventions from real media text in your planning? Think about all 3 products for this question – reference real media texts and draw comparisons and ideas.
15. What have you learned about research and planning a production, compared to AS?
What do you do next?
Allocate tasks to each group member. Each group member must prepare a short presentation on their designated tasks.
You may use music, visual aids, demonstration or even audience participation if you wish!
Remember to put your contribution to the pitch on the blog.
Once an artist has recorded a song, it is handed out to a variety of different pop video directors who will work in consultation with the artist on ideas for a video. This is called a ‘pitch’ and is presented to a creative team who will be responsible for marketing and promoting the video upon release.
Each director will talk through his or her ideas with the creative team, and will aim to make their video concept so incredibly exciting that the artist and creative team would be fools to listen to anyone else’s ideas!
Task
Before you can film your video, your group must first pitch your ideas to your teachers and class (creative team). This 10-15 minute pitch will be marked by your teacher, and these marks will be used as part of the planning allocation for your coursework.
There are several key areas that must be covered in the pitch. They are:
1. Start with a ‘concept’ for the video in one sentence (“a yacht cutting through the Ionian sea with the Greek islands as a back drop”; “A group of rebellious teenage girls taking over the gym at high school”).
2. Who would your artist be signed to? Would it be a big label or an Independent? Internet only download?
3. A brief outline of the video’s narrative (or content if not narrative based).
4. Setting and locations to be used. This should be relevant to the concept, but needs to be specific citing exact locations: e.g. setting might be a beach house – locations within which might be pine-clad attic study.
5. Costume. Clearly must be related to the concept. E.g. lead singer and supporting dancers will be wearing school uniform – navy skirts, white shirts, etc.
6. Some discussion around specific shots and other technical codes. It is essential that the director talks through how they would film an artist, describing the mise-en-scene, how the shots will be lit, how the camera will move, etc. Are you using any special effects or equipment?
7. Audience – who is the video aimed at? This must be specific – it’s not just about age and gender – think back to the task you completed on audience a few weeks ago.
8. Where do you envisage it being shown and when? Internet, music channels?
9. Describe the visual style and graphics of your digipak and advertisement. Will you produce a 4, 6 or 8 panel digipak? What will it contain? How will it meet the needs of your target audience? Have some initial sketched ideas to show. Explain the link between the video and the artwork.
10. Storyboard – you must show a completed storyboard for your video.
11. Production schedule – you must have a completed production schedule.
12. You must conduct a risk assessment for filming off site – listing the potential hazards you might encounter and what you can do to avoid these risks.
Section 1A of the exam
Please write a paragraph on each of the following 3 questions and be prepared to answer questions during your pitch on them:
13. How do you plan to use digital technology in the production of your 3 products? Be specific about this – think about the packages and equipment you will use, as well as how you intend to use the internet (blog and vimeo!).
14. How have you used conventions from real media text in your planning? Think about all 3 products for this question – reference real media texts and draw comparisons and ideas.
15. What have you learned about research and planning a production, compared to AS?
What do you do next?
Allocate tasks to each group member. Each group member must prepare a short presentation on their designated tasks.
You may use music, visual aids, demonstration or even audience participation if you wish!
Remember to put your contribution to the pitch on the blog.
How to produce a digipak
Ancillary Product Planning
Individually you will make the following:
~ A digipak for the release of the album that your music video is taken from.
~ A magazine advertisement for the album, which may include an image of the digipak
What is a digipak?
It’s a modern approach to CD/DVD packaging, usually made of thick cardboard, and allowing the possibility of including a lot more information on the band/artist in the form of a small stapled booklet that is inserted into a small pocket in the digipak.. They are visually pleasing, allowing sophisticated graphics that can run across all of the panels establishing a graphic theme. They can come with 4, 6 or 8 panels that fold outwards. They allow the possibility of including more than one disc, perhaps in the form of DVD extras or additional recordings, that accompanies the release of a song, album or DVD.
What should your Digipak contain and look like?
You will need to plan a minimum of 4 panels (sometimes referred to as ‘panes’) for your digipak that will need to include the necessary information about the album release that it is for. Depending on how many panels you decide to produce (remembering that it is minimum of 4) will depend on how you layout your design and information. You should research digipaks on your blog.
Planning your digipak
Digipaks often include some or all of the following information (this will definitely depend on how many panels you choose to produce). Through your research into digipaks you should decide what should be included on yours. You should start your research by focusing on your target audience and their expectations of what should be inside a digipak – what would they like to see? It could include:
¸ Name of band
¸ Name of album
¸ Track listings for the album
¸ Production information, including copyright and company details
¸ A few thank yous
¸ Collage of photographs of the band during the filming of a video or rehearsal for a tour
¸ Snippets of lyrics from the songs
¸ Behind the scenes information on the making of the album
You could also choose to produce the small stapled booklet containing other information about the band that many artists/groups choose to produce now, and that fits inside a neat pocket on the inside cover, but we certainly don’t expect you to do this!!
Colour scheme and graphic layout for digipak and advertisement
You will need to carefully plan the style and look of your print ancillary products, choosing a colour scheme, font and graphics to feature on the digipak and the advertisement so that a clear visual link is made between these two products. You could choose to use some images from your music video; you could choose to use the same or similar images across the digipak and the advertisement.
To help you with planning your digipak have a look at some that are on the wall in 323 to give you an idea of what they can look like. You can be as creative as you like but remember that it must link visually in some way to your artist/band image.
Preparation for submission:
For submission purposes you will produce your digipak to CD size pages (12cm x 12 cm) using Photoshop and will upload them to your blog, clearly labelling which panel is which. We will also ask you to print out a colour hard copy for us to send off to the moderator, along with your advertisement and promo video. You can, if you wish, attach your colour hard copy to some cardboard to produce an actual mock-up of a real digipak.
Your advertisement must be produced to A4 size and printed out in hard copy. It can then be reduced in size for uploading to the blog.
Individually you will make the following:
~ A digipak for the release of the album that your music video is taken from.
~ A magazine advertisement for the album, which may include an image of the digipak
What is a digipak?
It’s a modern approach to CD/DVD packaging, usually made of thick cardboard, and allowing the possibility of including a lot more information on the band/artist in the form of a small stapled booklet that is inserted into a small pocket in the digipak.. They are visually pleasing, allowing sophisticated graphics that can run across all of the panels establishing a graphic theme. They can come with 4, 6 or 8 panels that fold outwards. They allow the possibility of including more than one disc, perhaps in the form of DVD extras or additional recordings, that accompanies the release of a song, album or DVD.
What should your Digipak contain and look like?
You will need to plan a minimum of 4 panels (sometimes referred to as ‘panes’) for your digipak that will need to include the necessary information about the album release that it is for. Depending on how many panels you decide to produce (remembering that it is minimum of 4) will depend on how you layout your design and information. You should research digipaks on your blog.
Planning your digipak
Digipaks often include some or all of the following information (this will definitely depend on how many panels you choose to produce). Through your research into digipaks you should decide what should be included on yours. You should start your research by focusing on your target audience and their expectations of what should be inside a digipak – what would they like to see? It could include:
¸ Name of band
¸ Name of album
¸ Track listings for the album
¸ Production information, including copyright and company details
¸ A few thank yous
¸ Collage of photographs of the band during the filming of a video or rehearsal for a tour
¸ Snippets of lyrics from the songs
¸ Behind the scenes information on the making of the album
You could also choose to produce the small stapled booklet containing other information about the band that many artists/groups choose to produce now, and that fits inside a neat pocket on the inside cover, but we certainly don’t expect you to do this!!
Colour scheme and graphic layout for digipak and advertisement
You will need to carefully plan the style and look of your print ancillary products, choosing a colour scheme, font and graphics to feature on the digipak and the advertisement so that a clear visual link is made between these two products. You could choose to use some images from your music video; you could choose to use the same or similar images across the digipak and the advertisement.
To help you with planning your digipak have a look at some that are on the wall in 323 to give you an idea of what they can look like. You can be as creative as you like but remember that it must link visually in some way to your artist/band image.
Preparation for submission:
For submission purposes you will produce your digipak to CD size pages (12cm x 12 cm) using Photoshop and will upload them to your blog, clearly labelling which panel is which. We will also ask you to print out a colour hard copy for us to send off to the moderator, along with your advertisement and promo video. You can, if you wish, attach your colour hard copy to some cardboard to produce an actual mock-up of a real digipak.
Your advertisement must be produced to A4 size and printed out in hard copy. It can then be reduced in size for uploading to the blog.
Have you paid your fiver??
Don't forget to pay your £5 course fee. This covers your memory cards, all your colour copying, your trip to the cinema and the DVD of all the work from the A2 year. Take your £5 to Micky or Marisa in room 340 by Friday 9th October.
Keep up the blogging!
Remember to date and tick the blogs off your check list as you post them. If you've lost the check list that was given out to you in the first media class in September then you will find spare copies in the cardboard filing unit in the A2 Media Studies classroom (room 333) - help yourself.
Your teachers will be reading and commenting on your blogs each week, so it's important that you keep up to date.
We will be selecting a blog of the fortnight, nominated by teachers - watch this space to see who will be first.
Your teachers will be reading and commenting on your blogs each week, so it's important that you keep up to date.
We will be selecting a blog of the fortnight, nominated by teachers - watch this space to see who will be first.
Proforma for obtaining copyright
Your full address and postcode
Date
Record company/band
Full address and postcode
Dear (insert name of copyright holder – record company/individual or ‘Sir/Madam’ if you do not know the name)
Request for Copyright Permission to use part or whole of: (name of song by name of artist)
I am a student of A Level Media Studies and for my Advanced Portfolio I will be working in a group to produce a promotional package for the release of a new album track. I would like to request permission to use the above track for this project.
The finished project will not be made available publicly and will be used solely for coursework purposes. The holder of the original copyright will be fully acknowledge in the finished project.
If you do not hold the rights for this song I should be grateful if you could forward this request to the appropriate person, or return it to me with the contact details in order that I might approach the copyright holder directly.
Yours faithfully
Your signature
Your name printed
Summer work 2009
AS-A2 Summer Work
Researching a Promotional Package for the Release of a Single & Seeking Copyright Clearance for a British Song Release
Your summer work will prepare you for the first unit on the A2 course that starts in September – the Advanced Portfolio in Media. The brief that you will follow is: A promotional package for the release of an album, to include a music promo video, together with a CD cover and magazine advertisement.
The FIRST part of your summer work is to research the promotional package for the release of a single. Select a single from a British artist of your choice and collect together information about the promotion of this single. You should aim to include, amongst other things:
¸ Magazine or Newspaper articles covering the release, including reviews;
¸ Magazine or other print advertisements;
¸ A press release;
¸ Information on the record label;
¸ A note of where and when you see any other promotional material (such as moving image advertisement, interviews with the singer on television, etc);
¸ Information on how the Internet is used in the promotion of new songs.
Your materials should be arranged on a piece of A3 paper that can be displayed in the A2 Media Room in September. You can collect A3 paper or sugar paper from your teacher before the end of term.
Production work on the A Level Media Studies course is subject to copyright laws, which means that you cannot use songs from well known artists without seeking the permission from their record company first*. The SECOND part of your summer work requires you to seek copyright permission for a song from a British Artist. Firstly, indentify an artist and song, then establish who owns the copyright. The easiest and old-fashioned way of doing this is to look on the back of the Album/CD case, or it is possible to source this information from the band/artist’s official website. Use the proforma on the reverse of this sheet as a guide and send your request off to the relevant person/people. You will need to bring a copy of your letter, plus the reply (if you receive it in time!) to the first lesson back in September.
Deadline
You will be required to informally talk through your campaign to your class during the first lesson back in September. Your A3 ‘collage’ will be taken in by your teacher and marked, and will form part of the planning mark for your A2 coursework. You should also bring your copyright letters with you to this lesson.
Failure to complete the summer task will result in marks being deducted from your coursework.
* You could decide to select an unsigned band from Myspace – in this case you would write to the band directly and ask their permission to use the track. This may be more likely to result in permission being granted and they may love your music video so much that they decide to use it!!
Researching a Promotional Package for the Release of a Single & Seeking Copyright Clearance for a British Song Release
Your summer work will prepare you for the first unit on the A2 course that starts in September – the Advanced Portfolio in Media. The brief that you will follow is: A promotional package for the release of an album, to include a music promo video, together with a CD cover and magazine advertisement.
The FIRST part of your summer work is to research the promotional package for the release of a single. Select a single from a British artist of your choice and collect together information about the promotion of this single. You should aim to include, amongst other things:
¸ Magazine or Newspaper articles covering the release, including reviews;
¸ Magazine or other print advertisements;
¸ A press release;
¸ Information on the record label;
¸ A note of where and when you see any other promotional material (such as moving image advertisement, interviews with the singer on television, etc);
¸ Information on how the Internet is used in the promotion of new songs.
Your materials should be arranged on a piece of A3 paper that can be displayed in the A2 Media Room in September. You can collect A3 paper or sugar paper from your teacher before the end of term.
Production work on the A Level Media Studies course is subject to copyright laws, which means that you cannot use songs from well known artists without seeking the permission from their record company first*. The SECOND part of your summer work requires you to seek copyright permission for a song from a British Artist. Firstly, indentify an artist and song, then establish who owns the copyright. The easiest and old-fashioned way of doing this is to look on the back of the Album/CD case, or it is possible to source this information from the band/artist’s official website. Use the proforma on the reverse of this sheet as a guide and send your request off to the relevant person/people. You will need to bring a copy of your letter, plus the reply (if you receive it in time!) to the first lesson back in September.
Deadline
You will be required to informally talk through your campaign to your class during the first lesson back in September. Your A3 ‘collage’ will be taken in by your teacher and marked, and will form part of the planning mark for your A2 coursework. You should also bring your copyright letters with you to this lesson.
Failure to complete the summer task will result in marks being deducted from your coursework.
* You could decide to select an unsigned band from Myspace – in this case you would write to the band directly and ask their permission to use the track. This may be more likely to result in permission being granted and they may love your music video so much that they decide to use it!!
Thursday, January 14, 2010
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