4

1. Question 4
How did you use media technologies in the construction and research?
In the research of our media product we
began by using YouTube to look at
different music videos within the indie
genre. YouTube allowed us to explore the
different conventions of the indie genre
which we could then apply to our own
music video. We studied three different artist; ‘High hopes’ Kodaline, ‘Summer’ Frank
Hamilton and ‘Bones’ Josh record. By using YouTube we were able to compare and contrast
the different conventions. To present the information we
used ‘Prezi’. We also used this research to form our
directors pitch, where we could take into account all of
our research into the genre
and then creatively form our
own idea for the production
of our video. When we stared to film our product, we stared by
using a video camera, however we found that the time of day in which we wanted to film
made the picture rather grainy as it is hard to film at night, so we use an IPhone 5 to film
some of the darker scenes which ensured that the quality of picture was better than the
video camera. However when it came to editing
our video we found the sizing was hard to match
between the video camera and the IPhone to
make the video consistent. To edit our video we
used iMovie on a Mac laptop.
This program was easy to use
and it allowed us to explore
different editing techniques, we were able to change the saturation and
contrasts of the picture as some of the shots on camera were quite dark,
we also were able to put shots in black and white like the dancing, and the
very beginning. This contrasted between the coloured scenes because the scenes that were
in colour are a sort of reflection to what has happened. The use of black and white intensifies
the emotions. We were able to use different transitions between scenes, however we
wanted to keep the video quite naturalistic therefore we used a lot of jump cuts and some
fading between scenes; the fading was used as a sort of thought insight to his mind for the
audience. By using fading between scenes in our video, it overlaid the dancer and our main
character, suggesting how they are fading away from each other. Also using IMovie we were
able to put the ending in reverse, we did this to show that he is rethinking everything that
happened and reflecting. It suggests a feel of regret which is why we have him stood at the
door before and after the reversed scenes begin. We also used Moviemaker in order to make
the compilations of the mother and son pictures, we did this to represent his thoughts. By
presenting these pictures through the projection on to his face it gave the suggestion that

2. the audience are looking into his thoughts which builds the connections between audience
and artist. In the indie genre this seems to be an important convention as they want to create
something that the audience can relate to. During the dance scenes we used a lighting desk
in order to get the right lighting to set the atmosphere for these particular shots. Also using
the lighting desk with the white background created a good balance of light which on camera
created a very clear picture, which we also added black and white to the dance scenes to add
to the effects of all these elements. To create our digipak and advertisement we used a
combination of Picmonkey and Photoshop. We used these programs to create the templates
for the digipak and to adjust the pictures. We adjusted the colours to become consistent with
the style of video that we went with. We did this to make a distinctive look for the artist so it
is consistent through the video, digipak and advertisement. To create these digipaks and
advertisements we looked into different artist and the conventions of the digipaks and
advertisements and then presented this information in slide share. Overall our use of
technology allowed us to create a music video that conformed to and challenged the
conventions of the indie genre. We also were able to use what we had learned throughout AS
and apply it to our final product at A2.