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

Blogger: 

The blog format that we used for our coursework was called blogger. Blogger helped me when I was trying to create my ideas for my music video, DIGIPAK and advert. It helped plan out what I was going to do with them in a clear structure. I could easily post my ideas and concepts and look back on them to help me when creating my product and ancillary texts. 

Photoshop: 

I used Photoshop to edit my DIGIPAK and advert, I had used Photoshop before for one of my other subjects but it was a year ago so I had forgotten how to do most things such as how to change the contrast and brightness, how to work the layers, how to give it an outer glow and how to use most of the tools. So at first I found it quite hard but then after using it and been shown how to use it I started to remember how it worked. Photoshop was very useful in creating our ancillary texts as it made it look more professional. Below there is me using Photoshop and the Photoshop layout: 

Final cut express 

I have also used final cut express before in my AS work therefore I was quite comfortable in using it however had forgotten some things but soon remembered how when shown. Having used it before made it a lot easier to use than last year as I knew how to cut footage and use all the effects such as dissolving in and out and fading in and out. I also knew how to insert the footage and insert the music I needed for my video. The only new thing I had to learn was how to lip sync, I found this very hard to do and looking at my video I can see I could of done it better, but it was not completely out of time. I also felt that I didn't shoot enough good footage for the length of the song therefore making it harder for me to cut out stuff out. 

YouTube

I used YouTube a lot when researching and planning for my music video. I used it to look up other music videos to see the conventions used in creating a music video, I also could see the R&B conventions used in making my music video so that it would appeal to my genre. I could see how the music videos had been edited and structured and then apply this to my own production.

Google

I also used Google a lot when researching and planning for my main product and ancillary texts. I could use it to look up the conventions of a DIGIPAK, my magazine advert and my music video. I could also look up pictures of what different artists DIGIPAK's and adverts where like so I could create mine similar to make it look more professional. I also used it to get pictures such as bar codes and iTunes logo to put on my ancillary texts. 

2. How effective is the combination of your main product and ancillary texts?

3. What have you learned from your audience feedback?

I held a focus group in order to gain target audience feedback, I interviewed them immediately after they had watched my music video and gained their views and opinions of my work. 

I have done a table showing the positives and negatives of my music video. 

 I also asked what genre they thought the music video portrayed and what music channel my music video would most likely be shown on. I've shown this through charts. 

I also asked their opinion on my DIGIPAK and magazine advert, and wrote their feedback onto mind maps. 

The feedback I mainly got was that the original images where good and that I stuck to a theme with my DIGIPAK and poster. But they said that it could be a bit plain. They also said I should have used more R&B conventions as through it you can not clearly see the genre. 

1. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media product? (DIGIPAK & magazine advert)

The advertisement i created for my DIGIPAK of artist followed various conventions of promotional posters, the central image of 'Agnes' sets the audiences focus and establishes the artist. I also made sure that the DIGIPAK and the advert had similarities so that people would recognise the album. I included a review from an institution of which I imagine the target audience of Agnes to value there opinion. I also used a hashtag which is another modern convention this is so I can promote my artist and also show her to be quite modern and up coming and this is often how R&B artists want to show off.  I challenged the conventions by using pastel colours which not be used in a typical R&B advert, I also did not show off her sexuality or have her showing off her body which most female R&B artists like to do.

I used a lot of pink in my DIGIPAK to represent femininity, I used pictures of the artist so that she is recognisable and a lot of female R&B artists usually include a lot of photos of themselves on their albums. I also used images to represent love which is what most female R&B artists use as a theme. I also put a bar code on my DIGIPAK which is a modern convention due to the modern technological way of selling artist's music today. I challenged the usual conventions by not making my artist where a limited amount of clothes and not portray her in a provocative way, I also did not represent wealth through jewellery and mise en scene but went for a more natural look which is not usual for female R&B artists.

1. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products (music video)

Reflection on my advert

I think my advert sold my brand well and related to my DIGIPAK well as it had the same colour theme, and the artist looked similar in the picture. I liked how it didn't just sell the album but also sold my artist. I thought it may have looked a bit plain and maybe i should of added more to it. But i thought the simplicity added to the brand and represented her innocence and also showed that it was all about her. I think it sold my artist well. I think the language I use on the advert such as the coming out date and the review from glamour magazine made it look more professional and more like an advert. I also used a hashtag to keep up with the new technology and also show that she was well known and people tweet about her and promote my artist. Having the DIGIPAK on my advert makes it sure people know what they are looking for and what album this advert is promoting.

Original Images for magazine advert

I used some of the images that I had already shot for my DIGIPAK as they where effective pictures. I also wanted my artist to look the same as she did in the DIGIPAK so that my advert would relate to it. I chose the second last photo as I thought the lighting was good, she also looked innocent and feminine and that's what image I wanted to sell