Diary entry 7/3/14

Over all I am very pleased with the products that I have created.

I feel that the research and planning tasks I carried out before creating my actual products helped me a lot in figuring out the codes and conventions of a music video and also allowed me to be more creative in creating it too. Over the past few months I have changed my ideas a lot of times which I felt has had a positive impact in my final creations. In scraping my first ideas and changing my song completely I was able to more imaginative about the narrative of my music video, creating a narrative that was original and that I could say I came up with it. Also the fact that I was doing a music video to a song of my favourite genre i.e. Drum and Bass I was more motivated to complete the task. Also as I had watched plenty of drum and bass and also dance music videos I understood what made them successful and then applied it to my own creation.

In terms of the software's that I have used throughout the creation of products I felt that the one that taught me new skills was Premiere. I had never used Premiere before and found it really hard to get to grips with. However, as time went on I started to understand how to use it, and in persevering I feel that I have gained a new skill in a great software that is used throughout the media today.

In making a music video, magazine advert and digipak I have also developed a better understanding in the theory behind it all. Blumler and Katz Uses and Gratifications theory has propped up throughout my products and in having to discuss them consistently I have realised that the we do use the media for a range of different things, whether it be just for entertainment or even for identity. Moreover, I have also got to grips with the Reception theory and how it different from Effect Theories, i.e. the reception theory proposes the audience are active in what they take from a media product whereas an effect theory such as the Hypodermic Needle Model suggest that the audience is passive and allows the media to be 'done to them'.

I am very happy with the way my coursework has turned out and am pleased that I have gained some new skills that I can take away from this process. I felt that creating a music video was one of the hardest things I have done but I am glad that I preserved as the final outcome has been pleasing. I also feel that my knowledge about the media has expanded through the application of theories and also through the research and planning tasks.

My advert superimposed on a bus stop

Today I found some spare time have attempted to superimpose my magazine advert onto a bus stop in London. This would be a prime example of where I would place my advert. London is a very busy place which attracts lots of people, meaning that if I was to place it on a bus stop in London it would attract multiple people and maybe even interest my secondary audience (AD and E). Also public transport is regularly used by thousands who travel in and around London. This means that my poster could attract the attention of those waiting for the bus and also those who are on the bus due to its bright bold purple colour in contrast the the dull white/gray bus stop.

I would also place my advert/poster on sides of buildings in london, im music magazine such as KMAG and MIXMAG which are drum and bass/dance music magazines and also in other clubs such as Fabric and Ministry of Sound. Placing my advertisement in clubs which attract my target audience would mean that I could gain more interest in my music video. Also, as I know that most of my target audience go to clubs like these, meaning that my efforts will not be wasted in trying to address them.

Actor release form and why we need them

Actor release form and laws from emmacalder123


I realise that I should of produced an actor release form before I published my music video, however I felt it important that I discussed why we need an actor release form along with Hannah Windsors release form. As I have been busy with my products and evaluations I have only had time to do so now. In discussing the reasons why I need an actor release form i.e. health reasons, credits etc I have recognised the importance of an actor release.

Diary entry 4/3/14

Audience feedback

 

Here is some audience feedback I received on all of my products from a 20 year old male. The fact that they liked the narrative of my music video and that was what made them watch it until the end illustrates that my music video has been successful in that aspect. I chose to have a narrative as I felt it more appropriate as it is a drum and bass music videos. Drum and bass and even Dance music videos normally just include a narrative based music video and as they are successful I felt it important to conform.

 

In terms of my magazine advert I received mainly positive feedback, however I have received some constructive criticism which was 'to change the stars' which demonstrate the rating that the music magazines give the song. I have taken this on board and partially agree with it, however as this is the only negative feedback I have received on the star  I have used, I feel it unnecessary to change it.

 

Over all this feedback has been helpful to me as it has let me know that not having any performance aspects in my music video has not been a mistake and that the audience have enjoyed it and this has been the reason why the have watched it the whole way through.  

Audience feedback on all products - 16 year old female

 

 

 

I have received some feedback on all of my products from a girl aged 16. It could be argued that 16 is too young of an age for someone to understand what being drunk feels like or to understand the emotions of my protagonist, however in todays society where drinking in young people is a very big problem it is clear to see that many 16 year olds do in fact drink. This piece of audience feedback from this 16 year old girl proves that someone in the lower band of the ages of my target audience still likes my products and understands them and the message they are trying to put across.

 

Not only this, it is positive to see some feedback on my ancillary tasks as even though I have received some verbally and have spoken about them in some constructive evidence and planning posts I have not documented them as much on my blog. The fact that this person is also able to understand that all three products were together and used to promote each other due to the main image illustrates how important it is to include an image on my magazine advert. Also it has proved that in breaking conventions of drum and bass adverts and digipaks by placing an image on them has actually brought success to my products.

 

I feel that as my music video follows the Reception Theory rather than an Effects theory such as the hypodermic needle model, it has allowed the different age ranges interpret the music video and the messages in a way that is suitable to their age group. For example, a 16 year old may not understand or have ever drunk because they have been lonely, meaning they interpret that the protagonist is drinking to have fun but it has just gone wrong. Someone who is 20+ however, would of had more life experience and may have gone through more problems such as relationships meaning that they have dealt with these issues via drinking, allowing them to understand the more prominent message of drinking because you are lonely. This is a positive thing as it means that my target audience will be able to identify with the protagonist is the way that they decode the message. If there was a set message that was clear cut it would maybe mean that a younger audience would not understand the feeling of loneliness, thus meaning they would not be able to relate of emphasize with the protagonist.

 

 

 

Diary entry 21/2/14