2. RESEARCH
Throughout the research stage, I used sites such as YouTube, Google, Prezi.com
and Slideshare to gather and present my findings. I used YouTube and Google
effectively by using key words to find specific information or music videos to gather
my research. Also with Google you can filter your search by clicking on search
tools and then changing the different pre-set options. For example you can choose
to search the whole web or pages from the UK only as shown in the print screen
below. I used these filters to help me find information that was entirely relevant to
my artist, music labels and director research. With YouTube, I made sure that I
included ‘official video’ at the end of my search so that the stars official video
appeared at/near the top of the list, as if I hadn’t entered this YouTube would have
returned results of videos that aren’t related to the official video such as ones
created for the purpose of coursework, song covers and audio videos etc. I feel
that sites such as
Slideshare and Prezi.com allowed me to
create interesting ways to present my c
findings throughout my research, as I could
creatively use text, images and colour to
make my work more eye catching and
interesting to look at.

3. RESEARCH I used Prezi for
my artist
research so that
I could create a
timeline of Lana
Del Rey’s life as
I thought this
was a creative
way of
presenting my
findings.
I chose slide
share to present
some of my work
as they are easy
to create and
use, but also
allow me to use
text and pictures
to explain my
work.

4. PLANNING
Again I used Prezi.com and Slideshare for many of the posts during the planning
stage. This is because I felt that these were interesting and creative methods of
presenting my work.
I feel that Prezi.com was perfect for presenting my planning work, such as the
storyboard, brainstorming ideas, shooting schedule etc. as I felt this was the best way
to show my thought process and my journey I had taken because of the way Prezi
moves between each framed section of text or image. For the shooting schedule I
was able to create a timeline on Prezi which allowed me to clearly show the filming
process I planned to follow. For the Brainstorming Ideas section of planning, again
the way Prezi works allowed my thought process to be clearly presented, as well as
allowing me to create a digital mind map. I chose to use Slideshare because I felt that
this was another way to make a PowerPoint more interesting, but also allowed me to
clearly present my thoughts and ideas. I used different slide designs for each
Slideshare to make them stand out and used a mixture of colour, text and images to
clearly present my ideas to the viewer.
I feel that I used both of these form of presenting my work effectively to clearly
present and explain my thought process throughout the planning stage, through the
use of moving presentations.

5. PLANNING
For the shooting schedule I was able to
create a timeline so that the information could
be presented clearly and in a creative way
through using Prezi.com. I also use Prezi to
create my location planning (as shown on the
left) and when brainstorming my ideas as you
can create really interesting mind maps that
are aided by the movement of each slide to
show my thought process.

6. CONSTRUCTION - VIDEO
To film my video, I used my own Canon EOS 1100 D camera, as it enabled me to film in
HD. I feel that by using my own camera, I had a better understanding of the functions
which enabled me to film effectively. I also study photography, so use my camera on a
regular basis and I am constantly altering the settings to achieve different effects, so
therefore I was able to overcome any issues I faced whilst filming. I feel that my
knowledge around the camera and it functions allowed me to work effectively when
filming the footage. I played around with the exposure settings for some shots to allow
me to change the results of the footage, and often filmed one shot more than once so
that I had a variety to choose from during the editing process, enabling me to choose
the shots I felt worked or looked the best.
To edit and piece together the footage to create my video, I used the adobe premier pro
software. I feel that I had a better understanding of the software, its functions and ways
in which it can be used to alter footage and add effects. When I used the software
during AS Media, I only had a basic understanding of the different ways in which it can
be used to edit together the footage and add effects, whereas now I feel that I have
expanded the my knowledge to be able to correct any imperfections in the footage using
specific effects, add different effects to make the footage link more interestingly, use the
razor and
crop tools effectively etc. to be able to create a music video that
successfully reflected my initial ideas for the theme and meaning of
the song.

7. CONSTRUCTION - VIDEO
Some of my footage was filmed indoors and the rest was filmed outside. I found
that the lighting for the different shots was often different and some of the footage
had come out yellow due to the type of lighting I had used. I therefore used adobe
premiere pro to alter the white balance of most of the footage I had filmed indoors.
To do this I selected one of the pieces of footage and added the Fast Colour
Corrector, then used the little selector tool next to where it said white balance to
choose the whitest part of the image. In this case it was the highlighted bit above
my actors lip. This instantly stopped the clip from looking orange, so I then added
the same settings to each of the clips I had filmed indoors as this made the lighting
and colour of my actors skin look more natural. I felt that using the colour selection
tool made it easier to make the
image look more natural
rather than trying to choose a
colour from the square in
the box shown in the screen
shot.

8. CONSTRUCTION - VIDEO
I also decided to add a additive dissolve into my video as I felt that it could work
with two pieces of footage to amplify the lyrics ‘I got sent away’. I had filmed my
actor walking down the steps of the castle and then filmed the same shot without
my actor and combined these placing the 2 pieces of footage in the same place on
the timeline but one in the video 1 and the other in the video 2 part of the timeline.
I then added the additive dissolve towards the end of the clip in video 2, which
made this clip fade out to reveal the clip in video 1 and making my actor disappear.
I felt that this both illustrated and amplified the song lyrics but also looked
professional and effective. Overall I feel that I used the software to the best of my
ability to create a music video that reflected the themes and lyrics within the
song, following as many conventions as I possibly could.

9. CONSTRUCTION – DIGIPAK & ADVERT
To create my digipak and magazine advert, I used Adobe Photoshop. I feel that I was
able to use Photoshop effectively as I already use it on a weekly basis both at home
and in college due to me studying photography. I have used Photoshop for about 2
years so therefore understand most of the functions and capabilities of the
software, from the basic editing such as adding artistic effects, using the basic
tools, altering contrast/brightness and colour balance etc. to transforming
images, merging layers and so on. I feel that my experience with the software has
enabled me to build on my skills using certain tools such as the pen or lasso tools to
carefully and neatly select areas of images when merging them to create the finished
design.
I built all the sides of my digipak on separate canvases on Photoshop, but made sure
that they were all the correct sizes so that if put together they would match up
accurately. I also used Photoshop to create the record label logos that I have included
on both the digipak and the magazine advert, using the shape and text tools.
The same goes for the magazine advert. I feel that I was able to create a professional
looking advert as I was able to apply my skills and knowledge of the software to
effectively produce the final result. I chose not to use Adobe Fireworks even though it
would have been useful for the creating the record label logos. However as I have
very little knowledge on how to use the software and all of its functions I felt that this
would prevent me from making my ancillary texts as successful as possible.

10. CONSTRUCTION – DIGIPAK
From experience with Photoshop, I
created each individual piece of the
digipak on separate layers to ensure
that it was easier for me to piece
together and edit the individual aspects
of my digipak (shown by the screen
shots above).
I also used effects such as altering the
exposure to fade images and this
allowed me to make the lyrics once
added to the page stand out. Therefore
I feel that my knowledge of the
software allowed me to effectively
follow digipak conventions.

11. CONSTRUCTION –ADVERT
For the magazine advert I used tools such as the magic wand and lasso tool
to cut out different flowers and used colour balance to alter the colour of the
images. I feel that experience with Photoshop has enabled me to cut out the
images accurately and this has enabled me to produce a higher quality
advert, and also enabled me to effectively integrate the different aspects of
my advert together. I feel that I used the software to the best of my ability and
applied as much of my knowledge of Photoshop as possible to the production

12. EVALUATION
I feel that I have effectively used media technologies to express my thoughts and
feelings upon my work and progress in the style of an evaluation. Again I have chose to
use Slideshare, Prezi.com, Xtranormal and Sliderocket as I feel that these allow me to
clearly express my feelings and ideas when answering the evaluation questions. Again I
feel that they are also an interesting and creative way of presenting my work.
I used Prezi.com for the Evaluation question 1 as I felt this was the place where I could
write a detailed answer discussing the different conventions of music videos and
ancillary texts, as I felt that this question was quite detailed and I had a lot to write
about. I also felt this was an easy way to show my thoughts and combine the use of
text and images creatively to support my thoughts and opinions.
I chose to use Sliderocket for the evaluation questions 2 and 3 because I felt that the
themes available for use are interesting and would make my evaluation more
interesting to look at/read. I also felt that this was an easy ways to break down my
answer into sections to make sure I covered all of the points I needed to answer the
questions thoroughly, as well as being able to combine the use of text and images to
support my ideas.
I used Slideshare to answer this evaluation question as I felt that this was the most
appropriate form of presenting an answer that needs breaking down into a few
sections. I feel that through using this I was able to respond effectively to the question.