Question 4 Media Portfolio A2 Evaluation

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

Introduction• For our A2 portfolio we decided to create a music video, digi-pack

and website based around the original band ‘The Shalala Vines’. We chose to create all of our products around their latest EP called ‘Sunnyside’ as well as choosing the headlining track from the EP also called ‘Sunnyside’.

• Throughout our A2 media project we have had to use many different types of software, programs and websites/apps to help create our portfolio. For example for the website alone we used Wix to create the site as a whole and linked to different technologies such as YouTube, social media links to sites like, Facebook, Twitter and Soundcloud etc.

• By doing so we have shown that we are able to use and advanced range of tech to present our findings and our products.

Research• First of all we created our blog on Blogger. We found that this site

was too primitive and lacked the creative edge and control we were looking for. For example on Blogger a typical post would usually be a block of text and a single image at the end of the post. Due to these issues we later moved to Weebly another online blog site.

• Weebly offered a lot more control over the way we wanted our blog to look right off the bat and also had a lot more mechanics concerning the posts themselves. There were a lot more applications with could be implemented into the posts such as, slideshows with multiple images, video links, social media links etc.

• Here’s an example of the two sites contrasted:

Research (Weebly)

Research (Blogger)

Research• During the research process itself we mainly used the internet and sites such as

YouTube and Google images. On each blog post per research topic we made sure we had current examples of the clip/image we were analysing, whether that be a video link or a website URL.

• For example when analysing the music video ‘Still Into You’ by ‘Paramore’ we took screenshots of the video and linked them into the analysis that was taking place.

• The internet was the best resource we used throughout the project as each site we looked into was completely up to date and helped us evaluate the sort of audiences that we should appeal to. We also had no choice but to use the internet for research due to all of our work being digital. Digi-packs can be physical, but we found it hard to find physical copies which were easily available to us.

• We presented these findings using a few different techniques such as Slideshare, Prezi, Powtoon and Survey Monkey. As well as using external applications Weebly also offered a lot of the apps we needed to create an exciting blog. It allowed you to embed videos from YouTube as well as add your own files to the site whether it be audio, video or just still images.

Production• Across the three tasks we used a lot of

different technologies that took us out of our comfort zone. We used methods that we hadn't necessarily used before throughout Media Studies as a whole.

• For example for each part of the portfolio we created surveys on Survey Monkey to appeal to our target audience, get an audience opinion etc.

Production (Website)• To create the website we used a site called Wix. • At first we tried to create our website from scratch and

add in all the different sections ourselves, however in the end we chose to use one of Wix’s templates which made the website feel a lot more vibrant and professional.

• As well as offering templates Wix is completely customisable and allowed you to use many different apps within it. For example on the ‘Music’ page we linked all of ‘The Shalala Vines’’ social media sites as well as put the ‘Sunnyside’ EP on the webpage through the use of Soundcloud.

Production (Website)• Here is a few examples from the finished

website:

Production (Website)

Production (Digi-pack)• For the majority of the Digi-pack we used Photoshop and

Illustrator to create the main effects of the ink and silhouettes.

• Throughout the Digi-pack production, Photoshop was heavily used. The first step was to create the silhouettes and ink images. These images were captured using a HD Senheisser still camera and later manipulated in Photoshop.

• Secondly Photoshop was used the create the silhouettes and to layer all the images on top of one another.

• The images themselves were manipulated using the saturation tool, magic wand tool, crop tool etc.

Production (Music Video)• For the music video we used the most varied collection of technology across the

entire portfolio. Our initial idea was to create a very colourful video filled with excitement and enthusiasm to reflect the nature of the chosen track.

• To record and capture the video we used a HD Senheisser video camera and to document the filming we used a HD Senheisser still camera. To edit the video we used Adobe Premier as well as blue screen.

• While recording the music video two methods were used the first used a blue screen (green screen but blue) to create the silhouettes and the recorded normally on a white background with a model.

• The reason we decided to use the blue screen and create the silhouettes were for a number of reasons. The idea initially came from the song itself. The song is based around someone hiding their true identity in the real world. The silhouettes represent this exactly. We also used the blue screen to explore new ways of being creative as ‘The Shalala Vines’ themselves strive to be different and unique.

• On the next few slides there are some screenshots from the video:

Production (Music Video)

Production (Music Video)

Production (Music Video)

Evaluation• During the evaluation process we answered our questions

using, a video, Prezi, Slideshare and a word document. • By using all of these different sites and methods we were

able to present our conclusions and our work in a systematic and professional way. We also continued to follow the themes of the ‘Sunnyside’ EP by using similar colour schemes to present our work in.

• By using a variety of technologies we were able to demonstrate just how we’ve grown as media students and how we are able to use many different methods to convey our ideas and creativity.