2. In what ways does your media product use, develop or
challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
I believe my media products both challenge and conforms with the typical codes and conventions of real
media products.
My music video contains both traditional and unconventional methods which combine together to create
an original music video. It is split into two parts. One band performance and the other stop motion
animation.
My stop motion is unconventional for a Punk Rock music video. I made the decision to include this
animation in my music video so it appealed to a wider audience. For many people a whole 3 minutes of a
band performance can become quite boring to say the least, so by adding the stop motion animation it
increases interest and popularity while still keeping the traditional codes of a Punk Rock music video with a
shorter band performance.
I had always wanted a band performance in my video since I had chosen the track because
Punk Rock has always been about real music and live performances.
When researching music videos on YouTube I noticed how music sites such as Blank TV
and Everything Sucks TV had an animated production logo. So I created my own. I believe
my animated production logo rivals any professional logo.
I believe my product follows traditional codes and conventions with my band performance. I
made sure to make it as realistic as possible by instructing the actors where they should be
playing on the fret board with the guitar and bass.
I used straight cut transitions between the band performance clips. I also used a variety of
clips of short duration, this is very common in band performance music videos and it keeps
the viewer interested.
The following video is an example of an animated production logo – It is Everything Sucks
TV logo, who upload videos of live band performances in the South West London area.
3. How effective is the combination of your main product and
ancillary texts?
I think that there is an effective combination between my ancillary tasks and music video.
When creating my ancillaries I made sure to synergise between the two products, a magazine advert
and a website. For example using the same fonts. Although this only seems a small feature, it
become’s recognisable over time for the reader/viewer. All well Known products have recognisable
fonts. I also used similar colour schemes across both ancillaries.
Although there are similarities between my ancillary tasks I haven’t combined these with
my main product a great deal. I didn’t want my ancillaries to have the same theme/look as
my music video, I wanted new publications as viewers can get bored with the same look.
I think synergy is great for marketing and advertising strategies but there is synergy and
then there is unoriginality. I like it when bands create new logos or come out with a new
look. Otherwise if bands keep releasing similar looking products they can become
predictable and boring. For example My Chemical Romance change there look and style
very often and are a hugely successful Rock band.
2004 200 2010
6
4. Similarities between my ancillaries
Same
font
ELF TV Similar colour schemes
logo Same Picture
5. What have you learned from your
audience feedback
I gained my audience feedback through a website called survey monkey. I created my questionnaire
online then sent it to friends over Facebook.
Although my video went against the typical codes and conventions of a Punk Rock music video
everyone who filled out my questionnaire enjoyed it. They all said they would watch it more than
once and show it to a friend. This shows that new media products don’t always have to follow the
norm. Creativeness and originality appeals to everyone.
What Went Well
Original and creative
Easy to follow stop motion
Equal mix of stop motion and performance
Keeps audiences interest
Even Better If
The lighting remained the same in the scenes.
The stop motion aspect ratio was the same as the band performance – this was my only option
when converting it to MP4.
I also learnt that even the smallest glitches will be noticed by the viewer. For example the lighting. I
thought the viewer would not note the changes in lighting, but they did! Unfortunately this was not
something I could change but I don’t think it spoils the product.
6. How did you use new media technologies in the
construction and research, planning and evaluation
stages?
Throughout this process I have been constantly using new media technologies to create my products.
In the research and planning stages I used a new website called ‘band camp’ to listen and download the
track I used for my music video. It allows a band/artist to upload their music onto their self designed band
camp page where internet users can listen to their songs and share it with friends. The band/ artist can
charge people to download their track, ask for a donation or allow users to download it for free. It is a
revolutionary website in the music world as it allows any band/artist with an internet connection to make
money from their music. This means that bands and artists no longer have to be signed by or pay money in
order for their music to be published.
During my construction stage I used an editing program called Sony Vegas Pro to create my logo. This
program usually retails at around five hundred pounds, but I simply downloaded a free thirty day trial. This
was brilliant for two reasons, my logo would look very professional and it’s completely free.
My original logo was just a picture but with Sony Vegas it has become animated and now has a soundtrack.
As it’s free this allows anyone with an interest in film production to have ago at editing like a professional.
The following video is my production logo.
7. New Media Technologies continued
To film my band performance I used a digital Sony Handy cam, Last year I used a DV
tape video camera. The Sony Handy cam had a built in hard drive and touch screen
display. This allowed me to look view the footage I had just filmed, and if I wasn’t happy
with it I could delete it. This saved me a lot of time when it came to importing my clips
onto the Mac as I only had footage I was going to use on the camera.
The Sony Handy also offered great quality recordings. This became apparent when
editing my footage in full screen. Unfortunately there was a decline in quality once I had
exported my music video.
Another new media technology I used was a website called Slide share. This is how
you are viewing this PowerPoint now on my blog and my other documents such as my
storyboards. This website allows users to upload and share/host their documents for
free. SlideShare also provides users the ability to rate, comment on, and share the
uploaded content.
The following video is an introduction to slideshare.
