The document provides details about the locations, props, costumes, camera work, editing, characters, genre, and special effects used in the media product. It discusses how these elements use and develop conventions of real media products. Feedback from an audience survey is also presented, noting that viewers preferred the point of view shots and flashbacks but suggested adding more eye contact and using rain. The effectiveness of combining the main product with ancillary texts is examined through their shared use of camera angles, editing techniques, and natural settings.

1. A2 Advanced Portfolio Evaluation
Bethany Everall
Lucy May – Set fire to the rain
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9pHZqsN0VI&context=C40ef899ADvjVQa1PpcFM42LcrbKXX0sKvgJGh1PadSJnGHfYLC
CQ

2. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and
conventions of real media products?
Settings and Locations
Dunham Massey Lucy’s Garage
Formby Beach
Lucy’s bedroom Laura's bedroom

3. Props/ costumes
Long Black Dress Floral Playsuit Lace top
Fire/ feathers Piano/ Pink lipstick Blue vest top/ mirror

4. Camera Work and Editing
Juxtaposing 2
images
Editing – slow
motion
Establishing shots
Long Shots
Close ups
Extreme close-ups

5. High angle
and low angle
shots

6. Conventional with a Fragmented narrative
Singing/ miming to the
camera
Walking across the
beach
Natural settings –
Dunham Massey
Reminiscing in the
bedroom – memories
Flashbacks
Dominance at the end

7. Character
Genre
Pop/ R&B – elements such as the narrative
focusing on a love story and female dominance
Costume – Feminine colours (pink lipstick) floral
playsuit
Setting – natural, romantic, relaxing

8. Special effects/ Image Manipulation
Sepia effects
2 images juxtaposed
Slow Motion effect
Character faded out with
image of mansion

9. Question 2: How effective is the combination of your main product and
ancillary texts?
For my ancillary task I wanted to show emotion through the This poster represents emotion
simplicity of a close up shot of her face. This displays a through her reminiscent
dominant artist/performer through a strong image. As the expression. I have used bolder text
song is a powerful emotive personally I feel the image and colour so that it is appealing
relates to the motive. I edited the image on Photoshop to the eye and clearly states the
changing the brightness and contrast and the colour name and dates. I also edited the
balance to achieve a bold classic look. Therefore black and image by changing the brightness
white was the perfect choice. Relating back to the simplicity and contrast and colour balance
due to the powerful song/voice the CD cover needs to to that it has a professional edge.
represent.

10. The target audience would
be towards the pop R&B
culture. It shows female
dominance and a narrative
that is focusing on love and
heartbreak. In comparison
to female artists such as
Beyonce and Adele which is
their main focal point.
When focusing on my
ancillary task I was drawn
to mainly female R&B
artists as it focuses on
emotions. The CD cover is a
clear indication to the
audience of who the artist
is, no distractions from the
music itself.

11. Discuss technical codes i.e. camera shots/mise en scene or design and layout
conventions
Research into other artists helped me generate a final idea for my ancillary
task. I wanted to portray dominance through the CD cover with a strong
image of Lucy May displaying power just like the meaning of the song. Sepia
and black/white effects create a classic look in keeping with the conventions
and motives that I want to portray, Lucy may looks naturally pretty and classy
which is similar to the Beyonce and Adele CD cover which is appealing to an
audience from the pop/R&B culture. The burnt orange colour is a connotation
of the fire in the title of the song I felt that introducing colour to the CD is a
quirky effect and creates meaning to the title. On the poster the colour helps
important information prominent and clear to see. The camera angles present
the rule of 3rds creating more interest in the image. The images taken were in
natural environments such as a woodland area which links to a romantic
setting. Lucy May isn't wearing a lot of make-up yet her dominance is
displayed through her stance. Shown on the back of the cover and front. The
universal logo is a worldwide company , the reason why I have decided to
include this on my ancillary is due to the popularity of this company and the
famous artists they have signed up, hopefully increasing sales.

12. Discuss technical codes
i.e. camera shots/mise en
scene or design and
layout conventions

13. Demonstrate how these conventions/technical codes translate to your main product

14. Demonstrate how these conventions/technical codes translate to your main product
When compared to the final product, I feel my ancillary task ties in with the music video. This is due to the
camera angles and effects used to create an effectual outcome. A main part of our music video stood out for
me, I felt it was personal and had a emotional quality, this being the hand held camera effect. As a group we
wanted to use this as a flashback into her happier memories with her ex partner therefore I wanted to
recreate a memorable image for my ancillary task, the front of CD cover is similar to this image as it Is a close
up shot of her however displays her feelings just by her expression. On my CD cover Lucy May is looking into
the distance, this pose sums up the narrative to the music video, she is reminiscing on past memories, the
good and the bad. Consequently the black and white effect is reminiscent into the past. I feel that both my
ancillary tasks and my group main product works well together as it tells a story presenting the advantages
and disadvantages of love, female dominance and past memories. When working on the main product I feel
the ancillary task helps create ideas such as effects and expressions that will be a main part of the music
video, when experimenting with different poses for the main images used for my ancillary task.
I also thought the establishing shots were effective as it displays the setting she is in, presenting romance
and other memories with her partner. The natural environment was the most effective setting for my image
for the back of the CD cover, as it ties in with the natural look of Lucy May on the front of my cover. I used a
sepia image for the back as it links back to our music video when she is at Dunham Massey, this was filmed in
sepia to create a sentimental view so it is more memorable. I love how Lucy May stands with confidence as
she is boldly stated through her silhouette, due to the light presented behind her. I edited the image to make
the exposure very light, so it is a faint image therefore the front of the CD cover with a close up of her face
stands out more.

15. Audience Feedback
Our audience feedback was collected through questionnaires from earlier staged of our production
and a forum on YouTube.
‘The whole video ‘Cut to different
‘The only shots to quickly’
should be in black
and white’ ‘ I think
thing id say is (walking in
‘Some of it
she should ‘Surely you is out of
you should use should use dress, sat on the
give more eye sand, dress sync’
candles’ ‘I liked the rain’
contact’ running, waves’
point of view
shots’

16. ‘The whole video should be in black and white’ ‘ I think you should use candles’ ‘I liked the
point of view shots’ – We were originally going to edit the video to make it all black and
white however we felt that using the black and white effect just for the flashbacks made it
more memorable and a clear idea of what they are. We experimented with different props
such as candles however fire was more powerful and effective when shown on camera as a
result candles wasn't appropriate for the theme of our music video, also the fire is mostly at
the end of the video to display the subject matter of dominance after her past with an ex
partner. We were really pleased that they liked the flashbacks as it is a positive review to our
music video.
‘The only thing id say is she should give more eye contact’ - We wanted the character at the
beginning of the video to look vulnerable and unable to show her emotions, therefore we
decided to include more eye contact at the end of the video when she is lay in bed and
playing the piano as it becomes more upbeat.
‘Surely you should use rain’ – We understand why this comment was made, we did
experiment with rain however it didn’t present a motive, we felt that it was bold enough
and didn't actually tie in with the rest of the locations and props used such as fire. Also it
looked to cliché, we wanted original ideas to present alternative music video.
‘Cut to different shots to quickly’ (walking in dress, sat on the sand, dress running, waves) –
We wanted the music video to stay interesting, when researching similar products we found
this was a popular effect in modern music videos so we decided to include this in our video.
‘Some of it is out of sync’ – When editing the video there was no problems with this it was
when uploaded it onto YouTube we experienced issues with the syncing.

17. When conducting research at the beginning of our
production it definitely helped us gain a retrospective of
how Lucy May should perform. The audience would
rather see the artist appear a lot in the video, so this
research gave us the final idea to have one main
character Lucy May performing the song rather than
different characters telling the story.
We asked what makes the artist attractive,
this was basically the same ratio therefore we
took on board what the audience felt were
right and decided to focus on her make up and
what she was wearing, creating a natural
feminine look to tie in with locations and the
meaning to the song. However small amounts
of colour such as the pink lipstick, blue vest
and floral playsuit.