Evaluation Part 4

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

In the construction, research and planning stages there were many technologies that I feel I used effectively such as YouTube - in looking at existing music videos, and also in publishing my first edit and then final product. I also used YouTube to upload videos including my location shots and possible props that I would use. For research, I used the internet a lot, and several music magazines in order to look at existing digipak advertisements. To research the digipaks themselves, I used ones that I owned myself, and that I could extract the generic conventions from. In constructing the video itself, I used the school's camera and tripod, then used the firewire to upload the video onto the Apple iMac onto Adobe Premiere Pro in order to edit.

For the evaluation section, I have been refering back to my coursework here on blogger and also recorded a feedback session with my peers immediately after showing them the video for the first time properly.

Evaluation Part 3

What have you learned from your evidence feedback?

The feedback that I have received from my product has been very encouraging. After my first draft, I found that my concepts and ideas that i had tried to get across, such as the use of the cutaway to the Lego Indiana Jones PS3 gameplay. I wanted to include this clip because it was quite an original way to put across the metaphor in the lyrics of 'when I'm down and my hands are tied' and this received positive feedback in the first draft which meant that I did not have to look for any alternative cutaway to use. The alignment of the clip transitions and the beats in the music was something that had been constructively suggested. When developing my video for my final edit, I was concentrating a lot on trying to get the timing better. I also added a lot more transitions between clips, in order to help the timings and make it more interesting towards the audience. ">

Evaluation Part 2

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

I think that my music video and my other products (my digipak and digipak advert) conform to a brand identity that I have created for the band, The Coral. For my digipak and digipak advert I chose a house style colour of an orangey yellow. I felt that these types of colours would be appropriate for the genre (indie/rock) and would reflect the band well. I kept this house style for the two print media pieces, but for the video I did not have the opportunity to put this colour in.

I think that it is important to create an identity to which printed products are going to be recognised by people. Music videos can be unique selling points, that differ from the printed media for the band. Both can be considered to be as equally effective in promoting the artist. I think that my music video provides a bit of realism to the generally quirky band, although I have included some quirky elements, such as the mirror sequence, and Lego Indiana Jones cutaway.

Together, all three of my products that I have created fit together quite nicely and seem to have worked out well from my initial ideas and concepts.

Evaluation Part 1

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


In my media product I developed conventions of real media products such as transitions between clips. There normally are transitions that aren't too flashy or cinematic. With my link to Lucasfilm through the Lego Indiana Jones clip, and my love for the Star Wars films, I wanted to include some Star Wars-styled swipe transitions. I also managed to get ones that enhanced my theme - a dream styled one, a page turning (from a book) one and also a quirky pushed down transition.

MY FINAL MUSIC VIDEO!!

My Digipak Advert

This is my digipak advertisement which would appear in magazines and maybe newspapers.

Digipak Advert Analysis 2

This digipak advert is for Snow Patrol, Fallen Empires. Again it uses a pretty basic colour scheme - grey, black and red. There is just the one image (which is the same as the digipak itself) and it covers half of the page. This immediately is where the reader's eye is drawn - due to the size and strikingness of the image. One feature of this advert is that all of the text is in capital letters which makes it bold and easy to read. The larger the size of the writing, the more important it is. Because of this the importance of the text from this advert is - the band name, the title, the release date, what's available for the product, and then the website and the production company.

Digipak Advert Analysis 1

This advert uses a basic colour scheme - black, with oranges and reds to provide contrast (due to the "Ashes & Fire" title to the album). In music magazines, the colour scheme tends to be black and white, so the adverts will look to break the mould and stand out more. I will look to use colours that will stand out and catch the attention of readers by being different. The writing is in bold font and the text is centralised, with the readers eye being drawn to the pictures and colour at the top, then in the middle for the writing. In the bottom left, there is a link to the vendor, HMV. Just from glancing at various music-related adverts, it is clear that having a big company helping to advertise alongside the artist, and they promote each other - a form of synergy. Another key feature of this advert is the quote - "His best record in a decade" from Q (I didn't even know John Cleese listened to this sort of music...) and this shows the album in a positive light.