A2 media advanced portfolio

In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge form and conventions or real media products?

The genre we worked with is Synthpop. The video uses the conventions of the genre like colour, to show that the genre of the video is Synthpop. The print products are the poster and digipak. The poster uses colours, fonts and images to represent the synthpop genre. The digipak also uses colours, fonts and images to display the conventions of the genre. The images used like the headphones and synthesizer was used to, so make a clear connection between the product and the genre. The images of the hands were used to emphasis the message of the song, and meaning behind it, being the idea of feeling close to someone. Our chosen artist is Calvin Harris, his conventions he typically used with his music productions we couldn’t apply to our video as they would of looked out of place, because Calvin Harris is a futuristic synthpop artist. We didn’t have a particular audience; it was anyone that has an interest in either the genre of the artist. Gender target wasn’t applicable as either male or female could choose to listen and watch the video. We decided to reject the idea of voyeurism, which is the objectification of women because it wouldn’t have fit in with the genre or artists convention. We applied the postmodernism theory to our music video, as Calvin Harris is a current synthpop artist who is influenced by Kraftwerk, an original synthpop artist. We used lip-syncing within our music video to make us feel more interested and part of the video.

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

Throughout the project all three areas of work we used the same theme to make sure that all of the work fits together. The font we used were how a digital clock displays time, it fits into the conventions of the genre. Calvin Harris on his albums uses the clock design of the font. We used four main colours throughout the three products: green, red, yellow and blue. Calvin Harris uses colours in his video acceptable in the 80’s. The images together help make a clear connection between the products and the genre. On the poster the same colours are used as the ones that are used on the video, as well as this there is an image of the font of the digipak cover.

What have you learnt from your audience feedback?

Quite a few of our peers commented on our use of green screen, they thought that it was used well and effectively, however they also said that the green t-shirt shouldn’t of been worn, as it didn’t stand out properly and an alternative colour should have been used. The camera angle and shots used were commented on and our peers thought that they were used well and effectively. They like the idea of the narrative behind the video, the message that everyone is close although they are different, and commented that this idea was communicated well by us. The lip-syncing they thought was good however it was a little out of sync in some parts. A few people thought that the work anagrams were good, and fitted well. Overall they commented on how the video was good, and fitted the genre well.

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

We used multiple technologies in our work to produce our final three products. We used the internet to research into the background of the genre and of our music artist. YouTube was used to allow us to watch and analysis our artist’s music videos and decide then how we would film ours and what content we would put in it. All of our research was uploaded onto our blog and helped us to further see what work we had to do and allowed our teacher to see what work we had done. With the research we embedded the music videos from the artists onto our blog. The still camera was used to allow us to capture images we needed for the digipak. The digital camera was used to capture the video itself, without this we wouldn’t of had a product. Photoshop was used to create the digipak and the poster; it helped shape the products. Finalcut was the program that was used to create the video. The reason for this particular programme was used was it allowed us to cut up the footage captured on the digital camera and time it up perfectly with the music to a great music video. We used a green screen in our music video to help when overlaying the images.

Overview

If we were to do this project again, we would better manage our time to ensure that the work is up to the best standard as possible, as well as this we would ensure that the colours of the props we used were suitable for the green screen. In terms of team effort we worked well together, although the workload could have been spread more equally. Overall we were impressed with the turn out of the project.

Good use of green-screen and shirt colour to show groups.
Friendship groups shown well, comedy value, easy going chilled out, like the music very fitting.

The happiness of the song is reflected in the video
the video is very informal and shows a group of people hanging out and having fun but i think it works with the songs theme.
I like the word anagrams
lip syncing was a little out in places but good in general
I liked the dancing at the beginning

like the idea of individuals and their life and at the end they are together
like the idea of the different colours, synthpop
camera work was good, verity of shots, editing good, combined all the shots worked together well

bright colours went well with the genre
good concept

good camera work
story/narrative is clear and fits well with the song
video fitted genre
good editing

good use of green-screen - footage behind the performer
fluent editing
liked the reversed/forwards - fit well
good narrative - clear 'everyone together'

I really like the idea of the video and the shots were good - though i felt they went on a little too long
I enjoyed the message and the simplicity
also the colours were good

good video, well edited, matched the song well
i like the idea, showing the three friends in their own environment worked well
green screen was good
Jenny shouldn't have worn green
overall very good