Evaluation Question 4: How did you use media technologies in the construction and research, planning and evaluation stages?

During pre-production I was told that all research and construction work was to be placed on my personal blogger profile. This benefited me in a sense that all my work would be organised and well presented. Plus, I was able to create my posts with a wide range of pictures and videos, therefore increasing my variety of media formats.

 


Upon gathering my ideas and inspirations for my music video, I consistently used Google as my priority search engine. This enabled me to discover many websites based on an R&B concept, such as *insert website for unsigned artists*, leading me to successfully find an artist who gave me permission to use her song. I was also able to search images that I formed into a mood board.

After listening to my chosen song, I began to accumulate ways in which I would present the artist and how the lyrics would be interpreted. I used Youtube to find music videos of mainstream R&B artists such as Mariah Carey, Jennifer Hudson and Brandy, this was an effective way to analyse these videos how and when I wanted to.

I used a still camera to take some tests shots of the locations and people I wanted to film, this gave me more inspiration as I was able to find great angles of London iconography that would be great within my music video, I was able to take in concepts of lighting and mise-en-scene. The still camera also helped me to create a detailed storyboard. I used a Canon Legria video camera to film footage for my music video, this device was very easy to use and adjust, especially because I had used it last year for my AS media portfolio. 

   

   
The Mac was extremely useful to me as it was the gateway to so many devices, such as the print screen shots and easy to apply data; the fact that I personally have a Mac at home, made this media technology easier for me to use, however, this did not prevent me from learning more skills. Compared to an ordinary PC, the Mac performs 50% faster, enabling me to produce more work in a short space of time.

Final Cut Express was the programme that I used to edit all of my footage. It involves many accessories that provide special effects and transitions, this came to be extremely helpful when putting my shots together. I had previously used Final Cut therefore I was familiar with some of the techniques I was required to use. I used Adobe Photoshop to create and edit my ancillary texts; there was a wide range range of colours and effects to make the finished products look professional. This was a software I had never used before, so I felt like I had been through a new experience and learned new skills that would come useful on a media basis. Once I had successfully completed both my music video and ancillary texts, I had used a social network called Twitter, in which I promoted my finished product to get feedback from a wide range of people. This was useful, as it contributed to my target group and how it had on impact on the audience.
  
Overall, I feel as if all the media products I have used had led me to complete my project as effectively as possible. I am happy that I have been able to improve my knowledge upon these devices.