1)
Our media product both use and challenges
conventions of real media products. We have done this in many different ways.
Due to some of the videos we looked at for research inspiring us, some of our
work is similar to it however not the same E.G august burns red video for white
washed inspired us with the open scene a quick flash of shots. We used
something similar in our work at the beginning where we had at the very start
of the video a quick flash montage of all our locations, establishing shots as
such. Due to the research we did into digipaks of bands of a similar style and
nature, we were able to pick out key techniques and styles used throughout. The
most prominent theme we found was the use of dark colours like black and red.
Using this information we based opted for darker colours throughout our own
digipak. With our digipak we decided to include the lyrics like many other
bands do, we made the style and colour of the lyrics to fit in with the overall
dark and slightly eerie theme associated with metal. We feel we developed ideas
on the digipak by having band profile shots next to the lyrics with one for
each, along with having a centre page spread a whole band profile shot. I feel
we developed these ideas well as we took the photos on location, so it could
coincide with the video and single/album release. We developed the idea of
keeping the same theme throughout when it came to our advert as well. With the
advert we kept to a very similar colour theme and style of writing. We took
inspiration from various adverts we had looked at previously, E.G the way it is
laid out and how the words where written. We took on board these ideas and
themes and decided to develop them into our own ideas. We used tour dates and
release date along with a picture that was very similar to one featured in the
digipak and then where to find out more about the band or purchase the release,
E.G Facebook and YouTube links along with a link to their website. A lot of
elements of our video do conform to audience expectation however here is also a
lot that challenges them as well. The parts which conform to audience
expectation are most likely to be the use of band performance and the use of
fast cuts and editing, along with our setting. It was set in the woods to
create and sustain and eerie dark atmosphere, which we feel is necessary in
metal of this type. The woods we filmed in was the perfect backdrop for our use
of band performance along with the multiple stalker, creepy scenes, where each band
member in turn is part of and witnesses strange goings on, each involving
creepy characters with heavy dark sinister make up. However the elements most
likely to challenge expectations are some of the slower paced scenes and also
certain editing techniques we used. We decided to use some slower paced editing
and scenes to add to the mystery and tension element. Some editing techniques
we used where original and creative or at least we had never seen before, like
where we have a shot of a girl flashing from one place to another but faded in
the background is the band performing. We felt this worked really well with the
genre and feel and theme of the overall product.
2)
I feel the effect of our main product the film,
combined with the ancillary products the digipak and advert is very effective,
as they have kept to similar themes and styles so coincide with each other
excellently. The use of dark and essentially eerie and creepy colours was a
prominent theme across the board on all of our products. We felt this was
appropriate to have the darkness and creepiness as it lends its self perfectly
to the metal genre. We also though that having a recurring theme and style
throughout would help to establish the bands style, along with become
distinctive and recognisable as this band across all products. We where trying
to make it very atmospheric but in a dark creepy sense. We felt the use of dark
colours helped us achieve this. We managed to create this even more so through
the use of saturation on our video, giving it a darker more gritty feeling. The
advert, the digipak and the video its self all worked well together to
compliment one another sharing similar themes between them along with
developing them. The themes that where developed across them was the photos as
they all where taken on location where we filmed but not taken from the actual
film itself, so each was different and allowing us to expand on and enhance our
use of the woods setting. The woods setting was a main factor in ensuring that
the atmosphere was dark and eerie and ideal for tension building. Due to how we
saturated the film it appears almost as if its night time and a lot darker out.
This was intentional to create the dark atmosphere which is commonly associated
with metal. The fact that it appeared a lot darker in the woods is not
essential but helped a lot to maintain the atmosphere. The use of dark woods is
a convention of the thriller horror genre, we decided to use certain elements that relate to them genres, as we
felt heavy metal music lends it self
perfectly to the genres. We drew a fair bit of inspiration for themes
and messages along with style from horrors or thrillers that we had previously
seen. Our video although a music video, would or could easily be placed under
the category of horror or thriller not just because of the woods used but also
certain other techniques and scenes we had or used. The use of heavy dark make
up could be identified as a characteristic similar to that of thriller or
horror. The use of jump cuts and extreme close ups is something that a lot of
videos of the horror thriller genre use to create tension, which is why we
decided to include a variety of these on our video E.G a close up of me hiding
in a tree whilst dressed in all black and wearing a heavy use of dark creepy
make up /face paint, or the jump cuts when Hannah is stalking a band member and
appearing in different places all of sudden.
3)
Through audience feedback we have learnt a lot
about our film and what people liked or disliked about it, also we were able to
undergo a few changes to our film to in order improve it. Every time we had a
screening of our film to our classmate’s friends or family, we handed out
questionnaires. With these questionnaires we aimed to get audience response and
their thoughts on the film and the elements and techniques of it. We asked
quite specific questions as well as the more general ones. The idea was to find
out what they liked or disliked and what worked well, and how we could improve
it. Some of the questions asked things like what worked better our narrative or
our per formative and other asked are there any elements that didn’t work that
well or could be improved upon, along with do you think this video suits the
metal genre. With each screening and lot of questionnaires we received back we
recorded the information in order to improve our product. Through the
information we found at our first screening where it was a very rough cut we
realised that most people thought the pace needed to be quickened and some of
the performance didn’t match the music as the lip syncing was slightly out. We
took this information on board and cut down the length of some shots to quicken
pace, along with this we paid extra detail to attention to ensure that the
music matched up. Getting the music to match up exactly proved extremely
difficult as when we had filmed them in the woods, the singe was slightly out
on several pieces. So as a result of this we had to cut to different shots and
use a lot more band close ups of individuals, or cut away at certain pints
where he was out. We then had a nearly finished version and screened it,
through this screening we found out that people liked the pace a bit more but
still thought it needed to be quickened a tiny bit. We also found that there
was very minimal mistakes when it came to matching music to performance,
however a few shots where pointed out. With the shots pointed out we made note
of them and set about fixing them. To quicken the pace that slight bit more we
decided we needed quicker and more cuts. As we didn’t have any footage that
would be adequate for it we went back to our location with a camera. Once there
we filmed various short random things E.G close up boots walking through
puddle, someone licking a leaf, a river flowing, barbed wire. With this footage
we cut it down and sped it up and placed in various shot sin our film to sped
things up. The shots we got helped add an eerie dark atmosphere and helped the
film flow a lot faster and at a more suited pace. We then had a final showing and
from the audience feedback we got we found that on a whole people enjoyed our
video and couldn’t pick out anything major to change or improve. Everyone
seemed to like the changes we had made and thought that they were sufficient
enough.
4)
During the construction and research and
planning and evaluation stages we used several means of media technology.
Through out the whole process of our constructing our product we uploaded to a
blog. Using the blog was helpful as it kept all our work for this product in
one place and in the order of which we did them. This was helpful to refer back
to when planning. The blog was also a good idea as it meant we also had a
digital copy and also back up of all our work. That was very important in case
it accidently got deleted off the computer its still there on the blog. With
the blog we were also able to see when we submitted some work. However there
was one downside to the blog and that was it would often take ages to upload to
it and pictures where sometimes tricky to insert where you wanted them. But on
when work was on the blog, it made it a lot easier for the teacher to view.
Normally the teacher would need you to print it off or write it up and hand it
in, but with the blog as long as they know your blog name or URL then they can
access all the work you have done for this product from anywhere as well. When
constructing our film we used final cut pro software. This software enabled us
to upload and edit our filmed footage. Final cut pro had a lot more to it, it
had a lot of software that allowed you to edit your film in certain ways E.G
adding filters, suturing colours adding text, layering multiple clips. Due to
this we where able to use a vast variety of techniques that helped us define
our style and theme of darkness and tension/mystery. As well as all these
advanced flashy techniques it allows you to do the simple task of cutting clips
and putting them together in the required order. Through out are film we used
the saturation techniques to great effect to make it more dark and gritty and
add to the whole dark atmosphere. The saturation we used was to take out light
and lower the colour and add darkness. Without the use of this technique
although subtle our film may not have seemed as atmospheric and dark. Another
technique we where able to due because of final cut pro was over laying clips.
We did this to show the band playing and also at the same time the narrative of
a girl stalking one of the band members. When creating the band logo which we
would go onto place onto and use on the advert and digipak, we used Photoshop.
We put three crescent shapes together to create a metal looking symbol which we
used as the logo. Photoshop was also used to edit the photos we had taken that
where to be used for the digipak. The photos where edited to be made to appear
darker, as well as cropping and cutting out certain bits that where unwanted.
Photoshop was also key to creating the advert as it enabled us to place the
pictures and words where we wanted and also add in websites logos.
