Evaluation Question no.4

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

Research:

In the research stages of my portfolio I used basic modes of new media technologies, such as, the internet and internet based websites like google and youtube in order to look  deeper into the genre of my song choice. As google is the largest online database I took full advantage of the information that it had to offer, filtering out the irrelevant information from the integral information. I decided to use other sites like wikipedia in order to use what people who are also deeply interested in my chosen genre had to say and to develop their information into my own conclusions and ideas. I accessed all of the information via platforms including various different apple devices and mobile phones. This is testament to how technological convergence has aided my portfolio and furthered my opportunities for research.

I used Spotify Premium to finalise my song choice decision once I had selected three songs of which to choose from.  Although this wasn't a vital part of my process as I could have used youtube, iTunes or sound cloud, I feel it did help as I was familiar with the software and it has a huge database of songs and offers information about genre, artists and albums.

Planning:

Throughout the planning process I started to introduce some software, such as, photoshop for my photographic storyboard and Final Cut Pro for different feedback and blogposts. This is where technology really started to kick for me, having the option to choose between software like photoshop over fireworks and being able to differ between different levels of software helped to advance my use and understanding of them in preparation for the construction of my final product. I used photoshop to touch different shots for my photographic story board then compile them into a single .jpeg to upload onto blogger, the same applies for Final Cut Pro. I stuck to FCPX because I am comfortable with it and know how to resolve any problems which I may have encountered during the planning and construction processes. Again I used the internet and survey websites like Survey Monkey to gain feedback on my planning and also to compare my plans to previously created products of the same genre, all the while using my smart phone to update Blogger on the move, again showing how technological convergence and an always on connection has helped to aid my portfolio.

                                                      

Construction:

This is possibly the stage of my portfolio where technology aided me the most and all of the different software was used together. My main product and previous cuts were all edited on Final Cut Pro, as I have previously said, I am more confident with FCPX than other software like Adobe After Effects and Premier Pro, so although these platforms may be more commonly used in the professional industry I decided to stick to what I know where I know I could produce a solid product as far as editing goes. Adobe Photoshop was the basis of my entire ancillary pack, I know that other people used fireworks and struggles when it came to touching images, so I decided to use PS and I feel that it paid off, giving me an easy experience as I have some prior knowledge of the software which came into play. Again I used up to three Apple macs of different kinds and in different places, but advances in technology allowed me to carry my project on a hard drive and upload it to which ever workstation I was working at. This prevented me from being constricted to working purely at college and allowed to carry my work at home which was incredibly helpful, I may not have finished my project if I didn't have this option due to my time constraints with switching songs three quarters of the way through my allocated time. 

Evaluation Question four planning.

For the last of the evaluation question I am going to write a short essay with pictorial support as i think this is the best way to get the content and information about new media technologies across. Other formats may not allow me to put as much detail as I require into my response including different figurations, such as lists and comparisons.

Evaluation Question 3.

Evaluation Question three thoughts.

I feel that prezi would be appropriate for this question as it moves in stages, like feedback does. Also it a more entertaining and energetic way of conveying information accurately and concisely.

Evaluation Question no.2

Evaluation Question two thoughts.

For this question I will use glogster, purely so that I can add screenshots of my video on one side and my ancillary on the other, allowing the viewer to cross examine the two, clearly showing the links as I explain them.

Evaluation Question No.1

Evaluation question one thoughts.

For the first evaluation question, I have been asked to talk about how I challenged, developed and stuck to certain conventions within my music video. I will create a piktochart comprising of three main sections which contain the three subheadings and a few different ways in which I achieved what was asked.

Finished digipack

Finished album advert

This is the final version of the advert for the album. I decided to carry the font across from the digipack along with the representations of social decay and entrapment, which are denoted here by the visual of a cold grey concrete wall, commonly associated with very intimidating looking places. The black bars across the wall show how everyone must conform to society and are trapped by this. This add features a QR code with a link to my blog and music video which can be scanned in using all QR scanner apps. It also features the record label's watermark, artists mark and the parental advisory mark as all of the songs feature strong language on this album (as is a convention of genre).

Final product - explicit

Warning contains explicit lyrics, unfortunately no radio edit was available.

Final product - First cut

Warning contains explicit lyrics, unfortunately no radio edit was available.

Film day

I have just returned home after filming the whole product. Filming went much more smoothly than in past experiences and recent attempts to film, the new actor was very natural on screen and easy to work with which is the opposite to what I had anticipated, the weather worked very well for us (being bleak in the morning and developing into a glorious afternoon). The only setback which we encountered was on my behalf as I forgot the extra weights for the steady cam and had to use a cam-caddy instead leaving some less stable shots, which actually worked in our favour for the first half of the video in the bleak weather.

If I were to re-film this video I would change very few things about it if anything. If I had to change something though, it would be my preparation of the equipment as the steady cam would have been nice later on in the day.

I expect to have my first cut up by Monday, and second cut finished later that day but published by Tuesday.

Film day planning

Above is the list of items which I will require during my film day. The camera includes spare batteries and standard kit lens 18-55mm. I don't believe that much than this shall be required and don't see the point in taking a lot of extra things which will just be dead weight as the video which I am filming could include some random inspired shots which are not planned and its much easier to keep the camera on and in hand in order to capture these shots, rather than fumbling around with sliders and things which I don't require. I also will be taking a bag pack to store all of the above objects and keep it tight to my back so that I can move freely with the camera.

The beginning of the album magazine promotion

This, as with the digipack, is an initial mock up/ trial of the magazine aspect of the ancillary pack.

Creating continuity within the video.

In the video, the actor looks down at his phone and the song (Xscape) is playing, in order to keep continuity I did not video the old albumn/single cover, but instead uploaded my own albumn cover to iTunes.

Paper folded digipack minus leaflet

This rudimentary folded digipack just gives me an idea of what the completed item will look like and helps to achieve better feedback as viewers get a hands on look at the design of the digipack.

I have already received some initial feedback, saying that it looks professional and interesting, some negatives are that the text is a little bit too dark (which I have rectified), but was also complimented as it fits into the main song of the albumn (Xscape) which is my song for the assignment.

Initial mock up of my digipack for the albumn L.O.R.D.

This is the rudimentary mock up of my digipack ideas. I intend to change the images, add a leaflet for the inside left, a pocket to house the leaflet and possibly a dick design.

A$AP Mob - Xscape (Explicit) ft. A$AP Twelvyy

Warning contains explicit lyrics, unfortunately no radio edit was available.

[Verse 1: A$AP Twelvyy]
I'm feelin' like Puff back in '98
Bad Boy here, boost the crime rate
My hand good but the nine great
F*** the law, n***a, crime pays
Can't tax dirty money
Thank the Lord for dirty money
Man, I used to be dead broke
Now my bank full of dead folks
Get the Benjis for my brothers
Grants for the bills and the Jacksons to my mother
Momma love kept me so clean
And I got it with the d*** fiends
Now I'm tryna get my dough clean
Hoes scream when they get a glimpse of the whole team
In that Velour VLONE
A Nutcracker at the kingdom
"Work" banging on my ringtone
Whole team getting dough, she ain't even know
It's the year of that A$AP
N****s slept on us now it's time for that payback

[Hook 2x: A$AP Twelvyy]
It's mad stress round here
Got my bulletproof vest and my Tec round here
I just wanna get away
But I can't get away

[Verse 2: A$AP Twelvyy]
It's like my back's against the wall
See a n***a want it all, run the game with my dogs
See they praying that I fall
Another mural on the wall, front page of the Source
A blood stain on the floor
Another black boy lost, left slain in the Porsche
Man, they killed my n***a Stack B
I'm yelling, free my n***a Max B
Man, they killed that boy Trayvon
I got the right to carry firearms
Bill of Rights, I know my s**t
Bunch of books and some loaded clips, tell the law, "Suck my d**k"
Free my n***a S-1
And Remy too, for them 2? I'm a wreck, son
Light somethin', know a n***a stressed
Know a nigga blessed, gotta get this shit up off my chest
F**k the rest, cause when sun is set
I'mma burnin' that then kill some clowns with my loaded Tec
Trigger happy, n***a nappy head peasy\

These lyrics talk explicitly about one mans social entrapment and how he feels about different aspects of life. My video will include a boy riding his bike, which is a symbol of freedom to a lot people, and he keeps trying to land a trick which he particularly wants to do but one thing after another shoots him down, time and time again.

Motherfucker, be easy motherfucker, ha

[Hook]

Artist research + Album research