Evaluation: Question 1

1. Question 1
IN WHAT WAYS DOES YOUR MEDIA PRODUCT USE, DEVELOP OR
CHALLENGE FORMS AND CONVENTIONS OF REAL MEDIA PRODUCTS?
- Chloe Hardwick

2. Reverse Technique
 The main focus to our music video was the reverse effect. To achieve this
technique, we had to record the lip syncing in reverse, so when we edited the
footage the outcome would look like he was singing it normally to the song,
however his movements and everything else around him would be going
backwards apart from his lip syncing. Before proceeding to film this technique we
found inspiration from other music videos such as ‘The Scientist’ by Coldplay. This
music video helped us see the outcome of creating this reverse effect.
To the left is a still from our music video. This is a
medium shot that was filmed in London outside
of King’s Cross Train Station. In this part of the
video, Michael was walking and lip syncing
backwards through a busy crowd while the rest
of the people are walking in reverse. This
created such a quirky and effective look; I
personally really like this shot because I feel it
keeps the viewer engaged because they want
to know what other interesting techniques are
going to be used.

3. Transitions
 For our music video to flow well and accordingly we added in transitions
and filters to give a professional and creative vibe. We used fade in and
out transitions as well a jump cuts.
Above are three stills from our music video. They go in order starting from left to right. I placed
them out In this position because I wanted to show the process and the similarities between the
images. The image on the left is a close-up shot; this is the first scene where we see Michael lip
syncing. After this small scene, the shot then fades into a long shot of him running in reverse, it then
fades out and into a medium shot of Michael lip syncing again; these shots and techniques used
are often used in ‘Indie Rock’ music videos, this shows that our media product has a professional
look. The middle sequence of him running is appropriate for this scene because it breaks up the
lyrics being sung and it has added an effective and creative look with the use of the transitions.

4. Time Lapse
As we were incorporating a lot of
movement with editing in our music
video, we thought that we should use
time lapse as an editing technique. Time
lapse fits in with the rock genre as other
bands/artists use this creative effect. To
the left there are two stills that are
opposite to each other but have the
same setting and dreamy atmosphere.
To the left is another example of time lapse from our
music video. Here we filmed Michael standing still in the
same position for a couple of minutes while the public
were walking and moving around them. I liked the
differences between the movements and the stillness. I
feel that the time lapse effect is very popular and
common in most professional music videos and that this
short sequence is very well edited and planned out.

5. This image to the left is a photograph I took mainly for the
magazine advert or Digipack. Our music video is located
in very simple places but it creates an abstract effect. This
is a long shot, and I feel that this shot type with him at the
bottom right corner is quite different compared to a
normal centred shot. We decided this was for the
magazine advert and that the brick wall very appropriate
as it meant we could have space to add text. Below I
have added a still from our music video where Michael is
again standing against a brick wall. I wanted to create a
visual link between our theme so that the magazine
advert and our music video would have a significant and
well put together link.

6.  Throughout our video the objects used to add
effect ourselves were leaves and flowers. I find that
the use of nature automatically creates a sense of
the ‘Indie rock’ style. It’s very relaxed and calming
and the bright and dreamy colours from the nature
is very artistic and creative. Here we have an
image of pink roses lying on orange and brown
leaves; this still is very dreamy and that vibe fits in
with the motif of ‘memory’ and the sense that
memory can be quite vague and dreamlike.
This image was also included in the series of
photographs I took for the Magazine cover
and digipack. Here again we see nature
surrounding Michael which makes him the
focal point of this image. We thought this
would be better for the Digipack Front Cover
as it has a interesting look because of the
bright green leaves and the branches
crawling over the brick wall. This image fits in
with the video as it has visual links between
nature and colour.

7.  Our music video and ancillary tasks have a variety of codes and
conventions involved that challenges professional and real media
products. We have used a range of visual techniques and methods
such as, a reverse technique, time lapse, slow motion, photography
and interesting shot types. I feel that the Magazine Advert, Digipack
and the Music Video itself all have a similar feel and atmosphere which
is dreamy but also very strong and abstract.
 Below I have added the Magazine Advert and Digipack Cover to show
the editing difference from the raw and original images I analysed
before.
Now that I have
put the Front
Cover and
Magazine Advert
together you can
see the links
between them, like
the nature and the
mise-en-scene.