1) When researching music genres, the author used various media technologies like Blogger, YouTube, annotations, Slide Rocket, Prezi, and screen grabs to make the research visually attractive and easy to understand. 2) In planning stages, the author used Blogger to describe evolving concepts for a music video and album cover. Initial plans included challenging conventions with an eye close-up or combining characters, but focusing on the main artist was decided to be more effective. 3) Construction required booking equipment, using a fig rig for steady shots, importing into editing software, using DaFont for titles/fonts, and Photoshop to assemble elements. Audience feedback was also sought throughout.

1. Q4) How did you use media
terminologies in the construction
and research, planning and
evaluation stages?
By Fiona Grafen

2. Research

3. When researching various music genres and videos, as I used a
number of different media technologies such as
Blogger, YouTube, YouTube annotations, Slide Rocket, Prezi and screen
grabs.
Here are examples of each of them:
Screen grabs from
Youtube

4. I have made use of media technologies in conducting my research so
as to make it visually attractive and easy for the viewer to understand.
The technologies I have found particularly useful are Prezi and Slide
Rocket:
• Prezi allows information to be structured in a simple way so that I
can describe the research I have carried out in the different areas of
this project and the viewer can follow the structure easily by
moving between the arrows.
• Slide Rocket is a sophisticated way of presenting work, and, since
the slides can be put together online, is also more efficient than
uploading powerpoint .

5. Planning

6. When planning our media video and ancillary task we used Blogger to describe the
planning stages for our concepts as they progressed towards the final pieces.
Digi Pack:
The Digi Pack below illustrates our initial ideas when we were planning the album
cover and considering what connections we might make between our music genre
and our artist’s appearance, and sketching out which panels to fit.
At first we thought about challenging the conventions of a Disco Pop genre by
using an extreme close up of an eye: the idea came to us because our piece is
based around emotions and emotions are most clearly expressed in a person’s eyes
.

7. In the initial planning phase for the Digi pack and
the advert, we considered creating scenes which
combined some different characters in different
scenarios. The main actor would represent
someone living a life of freedom from hassle and
stress, of someone not giving in to pressures. The
other characters would provide the contrast.
With this in mind when we came to create the
plan for our advert design, we thought about
including all the characters in our piece, and using
Photoshop as a tool to bring it all together.
However, after researching media adverts, when
we came to creating our advert, we decided it
would look arresting and more professional if we
based it on the main artist instead of on
everyone.

8. Our initial draft plan was to have been constructed as follows:
This advert will be created using Photoshop. It will consist of 8 layers as follows:
• Background layer ( Fence)
• Layer 1 ( Main actor- Scott Wells)
• Layer 2 ( Interrogation character)
• Layer 3 ( Work character)
• Layer 4 ( Dancer 1)
• Layer 5 (Dancer 2)
• Layer 6 ( Punch bag and fist ( Opacity to be lowered))
• Layer 7 (black background to the writing)
• Layer 8 ( Text layer " FRAMES,NOT GIVING IN SINGLE OUT JULY 2013")
This advert design was intended to include all the characters, but whilst the main
actor would be highlighted prominently in colour, the supporting characters would
be in black and white. The fence as the background layer represented the way in
which all the supporting characters were sitting on the fence, undecided whether to
give in to pressure, or resist.
Subsequently, we decided to focus the advert cover on the main artist instead of
using the other characters. We think that this will be more effective in drawing
attention to him and placing importance on the freedom he epitomises.

9. In the planning phase, we also considered
locations, costumes, and tools, such as
Photoshop, Green Screen, track permission letters
animatic, song detail plus lyric
annotation, concept, image annotation, roles and story
board. We were aware whilst experimenting with
different approaches, that our media concept would
evolve from our original ideas.

10. Construction

11. We knew that when it came to constructing our music video and ancillary
task we would have to make sure we had all equipment booked out for the
day we needed to film.
Clearly, we had also to keep in mind that a still shot looks better than a
jumpy one. To solve this problem we used a fig rig to hold the shot steady.
When editing we used final cut and Imovie to import. However, when
importing images we used Iphoto to install all the images on to the
computer. We used Da font to pick out titles and fonts for our album
cover, and Photoshop to pull it all together.
When we wanted to use a ‘slow shutter speed’ we required a tripod to hold
the camera steady. This was particularly important when attempting to
capture the movement of the Poi. Poi are performance art equipment of
Maori origin, consisting of small tethered light balls that change colour and
when moved about using slow shutter speed they create interesting
patterns and colours.
As well as guidance from the teacher, we sought audience feedback
throughout to get an idea of what a wider group thought of our media work.

12. Development time line of the Digi pack
from first draft through to final draft:

13. Development time line of the Advert Cover
from first draft through to final draft.

14. Evaluation

15. The technique I have used most to make this super
visual is screen capture. I also found it helpful to
compare our text to real media text. In doing so as a
group we came to challenge some of the concepts, and
were influenced by others.
In my blog I have used Slide rocket and screen grabs to
make the presentation attractive and easy to follow.
Throughout the project, I have used a range of mediums:
I have learned new techniques, and I have also applied
some techniques I was already familiar with from my
basic portfolio work. I have even brought to bear skills
from other subjects such as photography to enhance
this project.