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

Before creating my music video, I researched real music videos in order to gain inspiration for my own work. I did this via youtube and watching music channels on the TV. I watched a range of variety of music videos from pop type videos with a narrative and rock videos with a band playing. Even though, it seemed impossible to create a music video at a 'real' music video level, I did my best and gained ideas from how shots were used etc. An example of this, was when I watched Ed Sheeran's A team music video, this video was quite simple and showed various shots of a homeless girl, I thought this video was really good on an emotional level and tried to re create something simliar in my own video. Researching music videos helped me to develop my own ideas further for my product.

The use of varying shots throughout my video helped to make my music video look like a real one. This can be seen in my video when I zoomed into the actor's eyes when she is holding the baby, which looked effective. I also used close up shots when she was in the kitchen and also with the baby scans. I then used long shots when filming outside and the traffic scene.

I also used a narrative in my music video instead of a band playing. Narrative is used in many real music videos within the industry and I think it is the most effective type of video as it allows the audience to feel engaged. I also chose a narrative storyline which would fit in well with the lyrics, this is seen in many music videos such as Pink's song 'perfect'. However in a way this does challenge forms and conventions of real media products as in the modern music industry the videos tend to not be linked as much with the lyrics.

Another way in which I challenged the forms and conventions of real media products, was by using a teenage girl who is pregnant. Some viewers may be outraged by the idea of a teenage girl being pregnant, with no father around and living off benefits. However, I think it is good that I challenged the boundaries of a normal music video storyline and portrayed a more sympathetic view to young 'mums' who have to deal with everyday life. I also think that challenging the conventions of media products is more interesting and doesn't just stick to the boundaries and use typical videos such as those filmed at house parties. I also dressed the actor in more normal clothes such as an old black coat at the start and end scenes then normal dressing throughtout the 'dream'. This also challenges the forms and conventions of real media products as many actors in music videos are represnted in a more of a glamorous style.

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

I used many media technologies in the contruction, research and planning of my products. The internet was one of the main sources I used for research for my music video and ancillary tasks. I was able to via google research to look up different digipaks and music advertisements. I also went on youtube and watched other music videos in order to gain inspiration for my own.


Throughout my media work, I have used http://www.blogger.com/ to save all my posts, pictures and videos. Using the blog online is a much easier way to record my work, rather than writing on paper and saving my videos elsewhere. Using the blog is also good in that you can look at your peers blogs in order to comment on their work and give constructive critisicm.

For my digipak and album advertisement, I used the programme photoshop a lot. I was able to upload my saved images on there and then change the effects. This was good in that, I could make the photo lighter or darker to suit the 'song'. I then could add text to the photo such as on the advertisement I wrote the release date and title etc.
When filiming my music video, I used an HD video camera. This was the main source for constructing my music video. The fact that it was HD made the quality of the video look much better. I was able to take pictures on the camera as well, which helped me to create my digipak and advertisement. I could also change the brightness etc on the camera to suit what I wanted.

Another media technology I used in the creation of my music video was imovie. This enabled me to change the effects on my music video enormously. I was able to cut down the video clips to the right time lengths in order to fit with the song lyrics. I then changed some of the clips to black and white which represented the actor's 'bad life' and add dream effects to when the song shows when she is in a dream. Using imovie I could also slow down a clip or speed it up and use transition effects such as 'cross blur', using this definatley made my video look more effective.

For a couple of clips in my music video, I used the programme after effects. After effects let me change the dimensions of my music video and rotate the clip so that it fitted the screen propelly.

Without using these different media technologies, I would never have made my video look that effective. The programmes have helped me to create my video into the way I wanted it to look.

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

In the real music industry, I think that the combination of your main product with the ancillary tasks is vital in making your product look effective. It allows the audience to get a grasp on what the album is all about, and the key themes expressed throughout the video. It also makes the poster, digipak and video more poignant and makes the viewer want to buy the product. This is much better than having no combination of your tasks and the  product and ancillary tasks being completely random. It is also important that all the tasks look visualy similar, such as the use of black and white effects then the natural images.

The black and white scene filters through from the video to my digipak. This represents her 'bad life' and allows the audience get an insight into what the video is going to show. I think the image of her on the kitchen floor is effective and will stay in people's minds.

On the advertisement poster the image of her at night looking at the houses is then reflected in the video. This works well as it shows her in the 'dream' state in both the video and advertisement.

The front cover of the digipak, is the main character holding her baby. This image is very striking as it 'plays with the heart strings'. It is also taken in a natural environment which is in her living room. The same clip is then shown in the video where they lyrics are 'and you've got the sweetest eyes I've ever seen'. This again is quite emotive and draws the audience in.

On the digipak I also used similar images which combined well with the video. The back cover of the digipak is an image of a walking path outside. This is quite a natural image and resonates well with the natural ideology of having a baby. The image outside is also quite idealistic, and works well with the video as her 'dream' is also quite idealistic. There are also many other natural clips used throughout my video, such as the clips of the sky and sun.

What have you learned from your audience feedback?

(medium shot- interviewer)

Sway Calloway: 'Welcome back guys, today we have Sophie Coxon the director of your song music video'.

'Are you happy with the outcome of the video?'

(medium shot- director)

Sophie: 'Yes, I'm very happy with the video and glad that I decided to take a different approach to the storyline rather than having a typical party type video'.

(medium shot- interviewer)

Sway: 'Yeah, many of the viewers have phoned in and commented on the fact that the storyline works well with the video, after hearing some feedback is there anything you would change in the video?'

(medium shot- director)

Sophie: 'From hearing the feedback, I would change some things to the video, yeah. Many have said that the clips went on for too long, if I had a chance I would have added in some different clips to make it more interesting. I have also heard that a few people didn't quite understand the storyline. If I had known this before, I would have added more clips in with the woman and the baby, to make the storyline more clear.'

(medium shot- interviewer)

Sway: 'We now have Anna on the phone from Cornwall who wants to ask you a couple of questions..'

(phone)

Anna: 'I really like your video, and as a young mum myself, it was good to see that you took a sympathetic view. The black and white works well so you are able to tell when she is in the dream. After hearing feedback, do you think your next videos will follow a similar type storyline or something different?'

(medium shot- director)

Sophie: 'I think I will carry on with the emotional storylines as they seem to work well. Perhaps I might have some clips of Ellie Goulding herself sinigng in my next video.'

(phone)

Anna: 'Yeah I prefer emotional videos. Was nice talking to you, bye guys'.

(medium shot- interviewer)

Sway: 'Well this sounds promising, do you reckon we will see one of your videos soon then sophie?'

(medium shot- director)

Sophie: 'Yes, definately, Ellie has a single coming out soon and has already given me some ideas for the video.'

(medium shot- interviewer)

Sway: 'Good! Thanks for your time Sophie. Now back to MTV news'.

Ancillary task 2

I think my magazine advertisement is effective and would stand out. I took the photo of the girl standing looking at her house when it was dark outside, however, I used photoshop to make the girl stand out and also the lighting on the house. This works well as it can be interpretated in anyway and can give a hidden message to let the audience decode the meaning themselves. I also matched the writing with the colours on the girl. I kept the writing simple so that the advertisement would not look too busy.

Ancillary task 2

Ancillary task 1

I think that the most effective part of the digipak is the frontcover. It 'sums' up the whole album and especially 'your song' as it displays a young woman holding a baby. I also had her placed in front in of a floral wallpaper in order for some kind of decoration. I then changed the effects so it looked a bit more different. Th backcover also works well as I took a photo of a nice scenery outside, and thought it would look nice for a backcover. The inside cover is very different from the rest. It is an image I took of her in the kitchen before she was in her 'dream'. This gives the buyers of the album an insight into what type of song it will be. I then out a line of the lyrics underneath to empahsis this. The fact that they all use similar colour themes works well.

Ancillary task 1

Ed Sheeran - The A Team

This video influenced my ideas for my music video. The video is set in black and white, and represents the girl and how 'bad' her life is. I thought this was a good idea, and tried to capture something similar by using black and white effects in my video. The 'A' team is also quite a slow song, and the depressing nature of this video fits in well with this. In my video, the song is also quite slow but a more happy one, so in my video although we used ideas from this video, I tried to make my video capture the idea that her life would get better, whereas in this video her life ends. In this video, shots are taken from above, which gives a birdseye view and looks effective in various scenes.

Cheryl Cole Advertisement:

Although, this advertisement is pretty simple, I think that the image works and is different. The lighting used  on Cheryl makes her look glowing, and the red tones in her hair contrasts well with her eyes and the writing. She is also wearing a plain colour top, so that the focus is more on her face. I think this advertisment looks good.

Ellie Goulding Album Cover:

This is Ellie Goulding's original album cover. I prefer this to pink's album cover, as the colours used are more neutral. The way her hair is done in the air, is very effective and instead of her looking directly at the camera, her eyes are closed looking in the other direction. It gives a more hidden meaning, which would make people want to buy the album. The effect of the 'lights' just make it that more vibrant and prettier!

Notes for actor:

Stand in kitchen against cupboards, looking sad and seem to be in a depressed state.
Wearing a coat, rummage through pockets and pull out an empty cigarette packet. Tip the cigarette packet upside down with a panic look on face. Next, pull out a few coins from pocket and drop them on kitchen floor, focus eyes on the coins to make a dramatic start. After that, put head in hands, look like about to cry and slide down to the floor against cupboard, but knock head whilst sliding down. Drop your head as if unconscious. In living room, sit on the sofa with baby cuddling him with a smiley face, and do it a little blink for an effect.

Then go into the 'dream' state. Stand outside at night, looking at the house.

 Actor then sit on her sofa, holding the baby smiling.

Round friends house, main actor and friends sit on sofa, watching main actor opening presents, while balloons being thrown in air. All look happy and laughing and looking at main actor.

Then for the main actor to be sitting on her bed, looking at her baby scan. Body language to be calm and happy.

Main actor to have her back to the camera, while watching her friends putting up a picture in her new house.

Actor then outside at night, looking at house but the turn to look at the camera.

In the kitchen again, actor wake up from the dream, take the baby scan out of pocket and smile looking at it.

Katy Perry Advertisement:

I think that this advertisement is really striking as although the background is dark, the colours from Katy and the firework are so vibrant and attractive. The fact that Katy is all in blue makes her really stand out against the firework, and would definately catch someones eye.

Pink-albumcover:

This albumcover is very striking, and has a good colour pallet (red, pink and yellow). Pink is also positoned well, in order to attract attention. The cover is definately not boring, however, the flowers and the birds may be a bit too much and look too photoshopped.

Research Katy Perry Firework music video

I like Katy Perry's video firework, as it tries to represent the 'hopeful' moments in life. I think this creates a very moving video, and something I would like to capture in mine. In this video it shows someone who has cancer and someone who is not happy with thei size, but thinks positive, due to looking at fireworks. This is similar to mine, where she thinks positive because of her dream and her being pregnant. Alot of scenes in this video is shot at night time, I think this looks good as the lighting, e.g. the fireworks really stand out. I also like the fact, that in the video it cuts to various different scenes which makes it much more interesting!

Shooting list for my video:

The 1st and 2nd verse:   (All shot in black and white) Pregnant girl, in her kitchen wearing bland clothes and make-up is a mess from crying. She is searching through her pockets and only finds an empty ciggarette packet, she then searches through her purse, and there is little money there. She empties the money onto the floor and throws her purse. In a 'depressed' state she holds her head in her hands and slides to the floor down the cabinet, she then hits her head and falls unconscious.

The 3rd and 4th verse:  (Shot in colour)A close up is then shot of her eyes closed and a dream like image appears of a sunny sky and then a big house to follow. The girl is then in the baby to be new room. She is putting the hand knitted clothes on the baby to be teddys bear and places it in his ready made cot. Possible close up of teddys eyes to go with the lyrics.

The 5th verse:  (Shot in colour) Girl round her friend's house having a baby shower which has been planned as a suprise for her. Everyone is happy and the girl opens presents for the baby while the friends are sitting around with balloons and happy faces. The next shot is the girl sitting on her bed looking at the baby scan and smiling, just a simple natural shot.

The 6th verse: (Shot in colour) Girl putting up picture in her house, possibly with a friend. The next shot is then of her walking along the wall, and looking back at the camera and smiling. The next shot then focuses on the girl sitting on the grass singing and she then falls back onto the ground and shoot a birdseye view of her lating down, with the camera making a spinning effect.

The 7th verse:  (Shot in colour at the start) Girl then standing on bridge looking at all the cars going by. Then edit it to make the cars go by in a fast motion. The girl then turns round slowly and the camera focuses on her face (perhaps lighting getter darker). The next shot is of her face when she is lying down in the kitchen. She then wakes up and gains consciousness, finishing with a little smile on her face. (Final bit shot in black and white, then perhaps when she smiles shot in colour).

Narrative/storyline of my music video:

The storyline is based around a girl who is pregnant and is having money troubles and feelings of depression. Her life seems to not be going anywhere and doesn't know how she will carry on looking after herself, let alone when the baby comes. The video shows her in her kitchen at the start, searching in her pockets for ciggarettes, but only finds an empty packet. She then empties her purse, which doesn't have much inside. She holds her head in her hands, while sliding to the ground she hits her head on the cupboard, and falls unconscious. She then experiences a dream of what her life would be like if she had more money and was happier. At the end of the story, it goes back to her lying on the kitchen floor, where she has gained consciousness.

Timed question:

“Media texts rely on cultural experiences in order for audiences to easily make sense of narratives”. Explain how you used conventional and / or experimental narrative approaches in one of your production pieces.

In my A2 production work, I have tried to incorporate both conventional and experimental narrative. Todorov suggested that there was five clear stages in narrative structure which helps to construct a story. The first he suggested was a state of equilibrium, where any opposing forces are in balance. I tried this in my film, where the girl is shown to be unhappy with her life. Todorov then suggested that in the middle stages there is some kind of disruption, this is clearly presented in my music video as the girl's 'bad life' is in a sense disrupted when she goes into a dream of what a good life would be like. The last stage by Todorov is where a conclusion is drawn and the equilibrium is again presented. This applies to my video when the girl wakes up from the dream, and smiles as she is happy and realises she has the baby to look forward to. I have also tried to use experimental narrative into my A2 production work. The goal of experimental narrative is to create a more thoughtful relationship to the film. In my video I have used various effects in order to help create a more active narrative. At the start of the film and at the end, I have used black and white effects in order to present her life as being unhappy. I then use more colour when she she goes into her 'dream' state, which gives a more clear view to the audience what is happening. Another effect I have used in my video is slow motion I have done this as I believe it looks more like fantasy. I also added in some blurring effects which makes the video look more like a dream. In some parts of my production work, I have tried to link the lyrics in well with what is happening in the video, to make a more clear view of the narrative being expressed. The expression on the girls face in my video is also important as it defines her emotional state. In the beginning she is shown to look depressed, whereas in the video she is smiling.

Ideas:

Before:
* In kitchen looking for cigarettes.
* Looks like been crying.
* Has no money.
* Falls to ground.

Dream:
 *Image of big house.
* Girl looking at her bump, focus in on bump.
* Sitting in a field/grass smiling and happy.
* Girl with friends at baby shower.
* Looking at cars on bridge.
* Walking along brick wall happy.
* In the baby to be new room.
* Girl looking at baby scan.

Ellie Goulding- Your Song Original Video:

I really like this video, it is so simple but very effective. The lighting used is also natural and very warm which fits in well with the song. There isn't really any high-tec effects used, just her and showing clips from everyday life. This is something we want to incorprate in our video as I think it would be something different to the typical 'party' videos.

Change of song choice:

After a long decision, we have come to the conclusion that we should change our song for the music video. The song originally was Bohemian Like You by The Dandy Warhols. Originally, we thought that this would be a good idea as we could put a 'vintage' type style to the video and incorporate pop art images. However, we have now decided that our song is going to be Your Song by Ellie Goulding. The reason for changing the song is because Bohmian Like You was going to be far too complicated and it would have been difficult for the actors to do 'driving' scenes and to get an actual band to play. Using Your Song is far more better as it is much more realted to real life issues such as the lyrics 'how wonderful life is'. We can play on the lyrics of how many people want a 'wonderful life'. I also have much more motivation for creating our music video with this song as I think the song is really warm and unique. The video is also going to be alot more easier to create as we want the video to be natural and therefore, the actors wont have to do that much to make the video look effective.

Setting at Elm Hill video:

We went out to film at Elm Hill, this was a good experience as it allowed us to get an insight into the kind of environment we would like to film in. The area has a very 'natural' feel to it. The cobbles and bricks are quite unique and different, something which would bring creativity to the music video. At Elm Hill there is also a river, which could be another possible place to do some filming as it has a bridge in which an actor/actors could look over and this could look really effective especially if the sun is shining. In the settings video of Elm Hill there is a shot of an rachway covered in leaves, this could look quite magical if effects were used as well. Unfortunately, when we were filming it was bad weather and it was raining, but I think that Elm Hill would be a really good setting especially if the sun was shining, or even if it was snowing. The area is fairly old as well and it was where they filmed some of the movie 'Stardust'. Different camera angles would also define some of the great aspects of that street.

Digital technology.

 How has digital technology helped you to capture your ideas for media production?

Digital technology has helped me to capture my ideas for media production as I was able to create voxpops with the camera, and therefore able to capture more ideas from the audience.

 What benefits do digital technologies offer? Are there any disadvantages?

There are many advantages of digital technology such as the effects you can use to final pieces, digital technology can also make the production of your work more quicker and easier. I suppose one disadvantage could be that if you have all your work saved on one piece of technology and it broke, that would be a disaster.

 How did digital technology influence your work in post-production – for example in the creation of video effects, or the manipulation of images.

Digital technology has influenced my post-production work alot. The programme photoshop helped me to edit all my photos to make them look professional.

 How have your skills with digital technology developed, and how has this influenced your productions?

My skills have developed in the past year with digital technology. For example, the skills to work a video camera and the skills to edit the piece of work. This has influenced my production because I was able to edit my work successfully.