The document summarizes the use of various media technologies throughout the stages of planning, constructing, and evaluating a music video project. During planning, the creator used the internet to research conventions, find inspiration from other music videos on YouTube, and plan ideas using embedded videos and blog posts. A camcorder was used to film footage, which was then edited together using Final Cut Pro software on iMac computers. Additional footage was captured using a digital camera and iPhone app. Twitter, YouTube, and a blog were used to promote the work and gather feedback. Photoshop was used to design ancillary materials like a digital album cover and magazine ad.

1. How did you use media
technologies in the construction
and research, planning and
evaluation stages?

2. During the research and planning stages of the
project, the use of technologies, such as the
internet, was vital in establishing a clear target
audience, finding example texts and gaining
inspiration. Without access to the following
technologies, the construction process would
have also been virtually impossible; not only was
the recording equipment a necessity, but the
editing software available also acted as a crucial
component in the creation of both my main
product and the ancillary texts.

3. Access to the internet, and YouTube in particular, helped
shape my ideas during the research and planning stages. I
began my research by scouring the site for music videos of all
genres, so as to gain an insight into the typical conventions
used, and then narrowed down the search to alternative rock
videos only. I copied the embed codes of the videos I found
the most interesting, and captured specific shots using
TubeChop which I then pasted into blog posts that I could
refer back to during further planning. I also presented my
music video in the form of a YouTube upload, as this provided
a professional platform to display my work, as well as making
my product easily accessible to an audience, through YouTube
itself, and by pasting the link into social networking sites and
into Blogger to gain feedback.

4. I used Blogger throughout the entirety of the
project as a way of tracking my progress and
projecting my ideas, whilst gaining feedback in the
process and presenting my final products. As
previously stated, the HTML section allows the user
to embed codes from YouTube which then appear
in video format when published, post Scribd
documents or simply add text and images using the
"compose" tool. Comment boxes are present on
each post, thus encouraging audience feedback,
and I was also able to embed the band's Twitter
feed directly onto the blog itself.

5. I created a Twitter profile for "Electric Addiction" so as to
further promote my artist and establish a clear brand
name. Twitter was important during the establishment of
Electric Addiction's identity, as I was able to directly reach
an audience and further portray elements of branding,
such as "retweeting" bands of a similar style and genre
onto my profile and uploading pictures during my time in
the studio. I was also able to use the Twitter app to post
photos directly from my iPhone, as well as being able to
"tweet" whenever I wanted. The platform allowed me to
post links which would appear on my followers' timelines,
and so by sharing my final video via Twitter, I gained more
views and received extra audience feedback.

6. I briefly used Animoto during the planning
stages of my work, and used it as a way of
visually representing my initial ideas during my
pitch to the class. I was able to add audio to a
short presentation consisting of both text and
images, which allowed my peers to get a feel for
the genre of music I was focusing on, as well as
determining whether the style of visuals would
work well alongside my chosen song.

7. Samsung VP-L800U
Camcorder
By using the Samsung VP-L800U Camcorder, I was able to create a grainy, noise effect without
spending extra time editing the footage. I filmed using the black and white filter which was
installed on the camcorder, and then played back the footage and viewed it on the LCD screen.
The bulky size but lightweight feel of the camera made filming a lot easier, as I was able to hold
and move the camera with both sturdiness and ease.
The downside to using the Samsung was that I couldn't transfer the footage to the iMacs or
simply one of the computers. It was impossible to upload the video footage because there were
no videos, simply recordings on a tape. I could have converted the tape footage to a disc, but this
would have been costly and time-consuming, and so to overcome this problem, I re-shot the
footage on the LCD screen using a Panasonic digital camcorder, which could then be transferred
onto the iMac. The Panasonic was a useful piece of equipment as I could film each shot
separately, gaining individual pieces of footage rather than one continuous shot, as was the case
with the Samsung, which played each shot directly after the previous one. I used the tape to my
advantage, however; and by re-winding and pausing the footage whilst re-filming with the
Panasonic, I was able to capture the full effects of an old camcorder whilst viewing the footage on
the LCD screen. The new footage shot using the Panasonic displayed the recording time in the
corner of the screen and captured the white noise effect present when rewinding.

8. Panasonic HDC-SC80 Full
HD Video Camera
The Panasonic digital camcorder I used was a vital piece of equipment during
the construction process of my music video, as it captured all of the footage I
shot and enabled me to upload this footage to the iMac, which I then edited
using Final Cut Pro. The handheld size of the camera meant that I could easily
shoot in any location and could create a shaky camera effect easily as it was
lightweight and subject to my own movement, rather than being placed still
on a tripod for example. The Panasonic enabled me to view each shot
separately, thus helping me to distinguish between the good and bad footage
before uploading, increasing productivity during the filming process. Both
camcorders allowed me to zoom in and out effectively, focusing and framing
the shot, and enabled me to add digital effects whilst filming. As well as being
able to view the footage whilst it was being shot on the LCD screens, I could
also use the flash on the Panasonic to capture well-lit footage regardless of
exterior lighting. All in all, this camcorder took a lot of the pressure off my
shoulders and allowed for great filming.

9. Final Cut Pro
The Final Cut Pro software available on the iMacs at college was essential during the editing process
of my music video. Although I had trouble connecting and uploading the footage I had shot using
the Samsung camcorder, this problem was easily overcome as I re-shot my footage from the
camcorder LCD screen using the Panasonic; I was then able to transfer all of my footage, from both
the video camera and the camcorder (though taken also from the Panasonic), to one specific area. I
could then view each shot before placing them accordingly in the video timeline, as well as being
able to crop the footage to the length I wanted. The programme also allowed me to insert audio
clips, and so I was able to place "Where Is My Mind" directly onto the timeline and have it play
alongside the footage, thus allowing me to ensure that the lip syncing and performance was timed
correctly, and that the visuals reflected the music. Final Cut Pro also enabled me to add a number of
digital effects and transitions to my footage, creating smooth cuts between shots and producing a
professional looking video. The "static" transition, for example, was a recurring effect used
throughout my video, as well as the "camcorder" effect which enhanced the aesthetic I'd already
created using my own camcorder. The software became a vital editing tool whilst trying to achieve
the final 30 seconds (approx) of my video. In processing my storyboard, I had planned to incorporate
a juxtaposition of a mirrored effect and a shot of the vocalist miming, constantly going back and
forth and switching between the two, increasing the pace of the editing considerably. Final Cut Pro
made the whole process a lot easier; each piece of footage was at hand as they were imported to
the software's library, and I was able to use the "zoom" tool to perfectly match up each shot,
making each cut precise and seeming to follow on from one another although there was a glitch in
between. Prior to this, I used Final Cut Pro to create my animatic - a visual representation of my
storyboard presented as a video, with each shot edited in time with the song.

10. During the filming process, I not only used camcorders, but
also my iPhone, and specifically the app "Video Star". This
footage is featured towards the end of my video, and was
used to further emphasise a state of disorientation as the
song reaches its climax. The app allowed me to use a mirror
effect which both reflected the image and enhanced the
colour saturation, creating a psychedelic and surreal style.
Having captured the footage, I was able to upload straight to
YouTube from my iPhone. I then pasted the link into Blogger
so as to gain audience feedback and present my work, and
transferred this onto Final Cut Pro by accessing the link on the
iMacs. I also used my iPhone to promote my artist, as
previously stated, by uploading photos using the Twitter app.

11. Adobe Photoshop
I used Adobe Photoshop during the production of my ancillary texts. The editing software
allowed me to create a design for my digipak, and, consequently, a magazine advert. First of all, I
imported a digipak template into a blank document, thus setting up the outline for my design. I
then viewed my "test shots" video and took screen grabs of certain shots I wanted to incorporate
into my digipak. I saved them as pictures and imported them into Photoshop, within the
guidelines of the template. Photoshop provided me with access to cropping tools and enabled
me to add effects to the graphics, as well as altering the exposure, colour balance and
hue/saturation, further enhancing the element of psychedelia throughout my work. Having used
Photoshop during the AS course, I had previous knowledge of the programme and decided that it
would be the best editing software to use in the construction of my ancillary texts. By creating
different layers, both text and images were easy to place and edit, and could also be hidden if
need be, or deleted altogether without affecting the remaining layers. Having completed the
digipak, I then began working on the magazine advert; I created a new document and imported
the digipak front cover into the blank space, then added text using the "type" tool. All of the tools
available, such as the "grid" tool, proved to be beneficial during the editing process. In this
instance, the grid tool allowed me to align text and images, and helped me to establish rules of
third and general space awareness. Without the use of this technology, my completed products
would not look to such a high standard, and the professionalism of my work would be lost.