advanced portfolio in media studies

1. EVALUATION QUESTION 4

2. PRELIMINARY RESEARCH:
To keep all my work and research in one place, I used my experience from last year’s coursework and used Blogger. I was able
to differentiate between composing posts and using the HTML option in order to embed videos in certain posts. For example,
for my music video analysis I embedded the music video I was analysing in order to reference specific parts and examples. I
also knew from previous experience how to import JPEGS and alter the size and position of them on posts. Due to this, I
decided to complete my advanced portfolio on blogger instead of another blogging software such as wordpress. Blogger also
allowed me to save posts as drafts and edit them before I published them but more usefully, I learnt to change the time and
date of posts which meant I could set my posts in a logical order.
Other key softwares and hardware used in the preliminary research stage were world wide video hosting site Youtube,
international search engine Google and social media sites, in particular Facebook.
Youtube enabled us to conduct research into various different music videos, particularly from indie bands. The vast array of
videos on Youtube meant that we could conduct detailed research into many existing music videos, meaning we could
identify clear conventions for the genre.
Google enabled us to conduct research into the band itself, as we felt that understanding the background of our band may
help us create a more authentic product. Google also allowed us to research into the record label ‘Rough Trade’ and the
audience of The Libertines. I also used Google images to find existing digi-packs and magazine adverts as part of my
preliminary research.
Facebook was used as a means to communicate between members of the group, which was useful to discuss research and
organising filming days. I also used the Facebook messenger to share either my survey and products as a means to collect
audience feedback,

3. MARKET/AUDIENCE RESEARCH:
The first thing I did after my preliminary research was to research existing indie music videos and magazine adverts. To do this, I used Youtube
and Blogger again, but I also used Power point and hosting software SlideShare. This meant I could record my work in a different, more visual
way. I also used powerpoint hosting site Prezi as this meant my research was presented in a more varied way. I was also able to insert
powerpoint slides into the Prezi which meant that I could record more information in the otherwise small boxes. I used the Snipping Tool to
collect screenshots and saved them as JPEGs in order to be able to insert them into my presentations. I also embedded the HTML codes into
blogger in order to be able to access the music video directly from my blog.
I then began my audience research. To start, I posted a survey on survey hosting website Survey
Monkey. This allowed me to post an interactive survey and also showed me my results in a visual way
with pie charts and bar graphs. I also filmed an interview with a member of my class in order to
collect some more detailed feedback. This meant I had both quantitative and qualitative I then edited
it on premier after importing it by using the SD card and card reader. I then exporting the video and
saved it as a MPEG file and uploaded it to a Youtube channel. I then evaluated my audience research
using powerpoint and slideshare and could then see what we needed to include in order to appeal to
our target audience.

4. PLANNING
I then began the planning stage of my advanced portfolio. To start my planning, we decided to search for locations that we could use in our
music video. To do this I used the software Google Maps. This allowed us to enter the potential locations into the search bar and see satellite
images of the location using the street view function. Using the direction arrows meant that I could view the location from different angles. This
meant that we could come up with more informed ideas for the shots we were planning.
Although we did our storyboard, magazine advert and digi-pack plan by hand, we had to use
hardware in order to be able to upload it onto our blogs. To do this, we used the scanner in the
library as when we scanned them in, they were sent directly to my gmail account. I then forwarded
the documents to the other group members and we were then able to upload these onto our blogs.
Another software I used in the planning process was
Gmail. This allowed us to send pictures and
attachments to each other within the group, as well
as enabling us to contact people for permission, for
example the record label and the people in charge
of Olympia Leisure in Scarborough.
Another software that I used in my foundation
portfolio as well as this year was Microsoft Word. I
did not use this as much as Microsoft Powerpoint as
it is not as easy to upload to blogger. However, a
document can be uploaded as a JPEG by using the
Snipping tool and exporting it as a JPEG and then
uploading the images to blogger. This is what I did
in the planning stages to complete the risk
assessment. Word is an effective software to use
when creating longer documents.
We used Photoshop in a more varied and complex way when completing
our magazine advert and digi-pack in the construction stage, but I used
my basic knowledge of creating mock ups on photoshop to create the
poster used for the props. For this I simply inserted images and fonts and
layered them over one another. This is because the poster did not need to
as intricate as the advert or digi-pack and we didn’t need to edit any
photographs, so we used our basic knowledge in the planning stage to
quickly make up the poster.

5. CONSTRUCTION
The construction of our music video would not have been possible
without the use of hardware. For our filming, we used a Canon 600
DSLR and a tripod. Although my experience of using a camera is
limited, I was able to set it on the correct settings using my
experience from last year. I was able to swap between photo and
video mode. However, a member of our group had more knowledge
using a camera with her being a photography student. This meant
that she was able to change more complex settings. For example,
when we first got to Scarborough and went to film our panning,
establishing shot, we found that the natural light was too bright. This
meant that she adapted the ISO in order for the lighting to be a
more desirable level. We also encountered this problem when
filming in York as it was too dark, I then had a go at changing the
ISO to make sure the actors can be seen in the shots without
manipulating the light. The tripod allowed to use camera movement
such and panning or even still shots, without making the quality too
shaky and unprofessional.

6. To create the magazine and digi-pack, I
developed my skills that I gained using
Photoshop last year. The first stage was to edit
the levels of the image and change it to
greyscale, because my magazine cover was
black and white, it meant that I already knew
how to do this. I used most of the skills that I
gained last year to create the advert and digi-
pack, as the process is similar to creating a
magazine cover. For the digi-pack, I imported a
example digi-pack format and set it as the
background, meaning I could stick the the
correct measurements for an authentic digi-
pack. I used the font website DaFont to
download the fonts to use as the text on the
cover. I then used the software Run to be able
to use these in Photoshop.
CONSTRUCTION
To edit the music video, we used Premier. We the knowledge and skills from editing our
audience research videos, which meant we were able to import clips and cut them. However,
one thing we learnt through our use of Premier was how to adjust the level of brightness on
individual clips. This was extremely useful to us as we found in editing that some of our clips
were either too light or too dark.
We then uploaded the video onto Youtube and shared the link on our personal social media
sites, particularly Facebook Messenger in order for the video to reach a wider audience and
receive feedback.

7. EVALUATION
For my evaluation, I used the same
software that I have been using
throughout my coursework, Word,
Powerpoint and websites such as prezi or
slideshare. However, one software that I
did not used until the evaluation stage
was iMovie. This was used on my personal
laptop when filming videos for my
audience feedback. This is very different
to using Premier, meaning I often had to
use Google to research how to do things
such as cut in the middle of clips.
However, using iMovie meant that I was
able to present my audience feedback in a
more visual manner than just written text.
Clearly labelling my posts on Blogger
meant that it was simple to refer back to
previous posts.
To conclude, I feel that throughout my
advanced portfolio in media studies, I
have both used and enhanced my
technological skills. I feel that throughout
my coursework I have demonstrated my
skills in various softwares and hardwares.