Media Stadies - Evaluation question 1 In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products? Comparisons of the media products we have produced with the existing media products of the same or similar genre to ours.

1. In what ways does your media product use, develop or
challenge forms and conventions of real media product s?
Stacey Simonova

2. Music videos are created for a range of reasons
including building a star image of the artist,
promoting soundtrack as well as record sales,
merchandise and tours.
Forms and conventions are followed in order to
insure the product is successful . However,
sometimes, the conventions might be
challenged.

3. James Blake - Overgrown
The use of CLOSE UPS and BEAUTY SHOTS creates the direct camera address. In
the video “Overgrown” by James Blake there are many close ups of his face which
clearly shows his emotions when singing.We also filmed our artist closely.This
helped us to clarify how sensitive he is about his own lyrics.This all makes the
audience to focus on the his look and also provides an impression of direct
interaction with the star.

4. The use of PROPS: this veil in the clip shows
the connections between those people, their
highly sensitive touches. Something that is
happening under the veil and not revealed to
the audience directly.
This fits the emotional tone of the
soundtrack.The body language in both
videos is also emphasised through
silhouetted lighting.
In our clip we use the membrane to show
the emotions and feelings hidden from the
viewer on that side of the membrane and
trying to get out. Although Alt-J’s idea
represents the connection between the two,
whereas ours connotes personal feeling, the
ways emotions are shown are pretty similar.
This also matches the emotional song and
sensitive voice of the artist .
Alt-J - 3WW

5. The XX - Crystallised
The LIGHTING in both videos is quite flashing and “dappled” and reflects on the face of the
artist and the background .This again highlights the mood of the soundtrack. However, our
lighting is more of a blue colour which makes the video more stylised and suggest more of a
pop genre.

6. Direct reference to lyrics of the song. In the
clip “Broken” by PatrickWatson, when he
sings lines “broken”, faces of people are
filmed through the train window.This creates
an impression of faced being “destroyed” by
something.This represents the feelings and
emotions of these people.We also wanted to
link lyrics of our soundtrack with what was
happening in the video.
In our clip on the lines “Tell me it gets easier”
we’re filming the artist singing in broken
mirrors pieces which connotes the internal
conflict or struggle occurring in the
character’s mind. Artist of this genre do often
have a transparent transition from the video
to lyrics of the soundtrack.
PatrickWatson - Broken

7. Niall Horan -Too much to ask
Niall Horan wears a whiteT-shirt in the video “Too much to ask” .This might be done in order
to attract audience’s attention and pose him as the main character in the video, and also singer
songwriters usually wear simple clothes. In our clip artist also wears white clothes which
crates a more stylised look. It also connotes that he is pure and innocent .

8. How we challenged the genre conventions
The crop effect we is quite atypical for this
genre especially for slow emotional songs
such as ours, because it creates a more
digital look.
However, we thought it would give the
right look of emotional background of the
soundtrack and lyrics .

9. James Blake –The Colour in Anything
On the James’s Blake digipak there
is a WATERCOLOR art work kept in
the same colour scheme: blue and
grey. This is done in order to
represent the mood of the album.
In our digipak we used an element
of watercolour painting which
represents his feeling and emotions
that can’t be hidden any longer and
want to break through.We also kept
the digipak in the same colour
palette – pink.
Moreover both digipaks have
handwritten font for the name of
the album and the name of the
artist.This again highlights that
both artists are sensitive and
emotional.The handmade artwork
also emphasises his creativity.

10. Niall Horan’s album cover has a CLOSE UP of his face.This is quite typical for pop genre, but
also it is a direct address to the audience as he is looking in the camera. We also used the shot
of our artist’s face, however, we made it a mid shot in order to have space above his head for
the watercolour splashes. Featuring the artist clearly on the front cover, which will be seen on
the shelf in record stores, helps to build up recognition , which is vital to establish the image if
the new artist. Both backgrounds are simplistic.This is made to make the audience’s attention
focus on their faces . Moreover, we also used a brick wall as a background for our album cover.
Niall Horan - Flicker

11. Niall’s Horan website is kept in pale
colours.This creates a soft look and
also suggests the sensitivity of the
artist.
We also decided to make our website
pink to highlight that out artist is
sensitive and emotional.
Moreover, both websites are very
minimalist with not many details and
really easy to use.
Also, both websites have a digipak
cover on the homepage in order to
promote the latest album of the
artist.