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M A H A L I A H M E R I A L E S

RESEARCH - YOUTUBE

Understanding the music industry through research is crucial when constructing a music video. Materials such as music channels helped me understand the trends of todays music videos, where I identified that music videos that contained narratives where the most in depth videos that causes a link between the artist and the audience as well as the types of music that’s popular (pop). This was followed through further research using YouTube, by doing so researching songs that was based around our ideas of colour and relatability led us to the song ‘Acapella’ by Karmin. Suggested songs appeared when watching the video for Acapella for which, increased our choices though we stuck to the song instead.

‘Mirrorball’ being a documentary produced by ITV allowed me to research works by directors such as Chris Cunningham who is known to have directed Madonna’s Frozenwhere a basic layout of music videos can be seen throughout different directors. Through this research, I have also found out that many directors take ideas from others and further develop it into their own (increases the quality of their own music video than the one that they have based their ideas from).

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RESEARCH - MAGAZINES

Music magazines I have found to be the one of the most reliable sources in which, I have researched. This would be due to the fact that the magazines would feature aspects such as interviews in which, would allow me to understand constructing music videos further. The interview with Suzy Davis intrigued me where the lesson I have learnt from this would be that simplicity Is what causes success, this is what I have based my ideas from when planning my music video. Features such as ‘How to study music video’ by Peter Fraser was also useful as this would allow me to research other music videos and know how to deconstruct them in a way that would benefit me when planning where vital information such as authenticity and star image is key to the success of the video in terms of gaining the interest of the target audience as a tool.

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RESEARCH - WIKIPEDIA

Though not being the most reliable resources to use when researching, Wikipedia was used in order to provide an over all profile of the artist Karmin. I found that information such as background information about the artist allowed me to understand the artist further and not just by their style of music. Notable artists in which is said influenced Karmin in their works was also useful as it allowed me to interlink other profiles of other artists and see similarities in style through their works, this gave me a detailed spider diagram of links and ideas in which is widely used through many pop artists. Also, a positive about Wikipedia is that the website can be altered and alternations from fans is what is expected hence, information that is provided can be from fans in other words, our target audience also.

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RESEARCH – OFFICIAL WEBSITE

The official website was always the most reliable source to research about Karmin. The official website showcases the style and attitude of the artist shown through the layout of the website and graphics in which is included. Also, interviews that may not be included in other video sharing sites might be available in the website where I am able to gather information such as inspirations in creating the song as well as behind the scene footages of the music video. Behind the scene footages would allow me to identify how the music video was constructed together and how the effects were done.

Furthermore, the website also allowed HD images that can be used as a reference when designing our own logo. This would allow me to link my work as much to the artist where it would be of the same style in which, the target audience loves the most. Other information included in the website was tour dates and individual profiles of the artist, this can be used as reference when making the advert.

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PLANNING - SCHEDULES

With plans developing overtime, we decided to form meetings in order to discuss what ideas to use in the music video. We decided that planning lessons that are important can be done through lesson times where all members of the group is present as well as having the support of a teachers ideas. Though, at other meetings, we found that we had to find the best possible time where we were able to plan the music video itself.

Once the planning of how we were going to construct the video was sorted, filming schedules had to be planned. Learning from our AS work, we found that filming during school schedule was hard where long filming was needed. This led onto having to plan the filming after schools where school work was not a problem and that there would be no interruptions. Though, we found that once in a while we all were able to film at the same time where we decided to film footages based on our feedbacks and use people who were available at that time.

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PLANNING - BOOKING

The rare free schedules that allowed us to film meant that we needed a room in which, would cause less interruptions from people, we decided to use the school room booking system. By doing so, this abled our schedules to be booked beforehand therefore, the room cannot be used by others giving our group security when working, Also, the booking system allowed the group to identify rooms that were available and pick the room that would give us more advantages like rooms that are far from crowded areas in school (advantage: quietness) or close to the media department (advantage: easy access to technologies).

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PLANNING – WEATHER FORECAST

Filming outside of school especially in outdoor settings can have be easily cancelled through aspects that we cant control. This would include the weather where the weather can either be at our advantage or not. By using the Samsung weather app, this allowed a preview of what the weather may be like during the preferred days. Knowing the weather, we were able to move dates that would have rainy days or even re-schedule at a different time of the same day when the weather would be different to what it was a few hours ago (this would allow more footage to be filmed).

The weather app enhanced our time keeping management as a group as we were able to use applications that were not available a few years ago hence, using what we have as an advantage. Using the weather forecast meant we were able to film as much as we needed as well as pre-scheduling when filming days would be therefore, members were able to make schedules around the days.

M A H A L I A H M E R I A L E S

PLANNING – GOOGLE MAPS

Finding the right setting meant searching for one. We decided that areas around Peterborough that would fit the ideas that we had should be searched through Google Maps. By doing so, we were able to see how far the destination was as well as how safe it was. Places such as Orton were the ones we had in mind though, due to the lack of colorful graffiti shown in Google Maps when searching, we decided the place was not the best. Furthermore, identifying how far the destination allowed us to calculate how to travel there when using he public transport. Though in the end, we found that Google Maps was not reliable as the image shown can be from years past therefore, searching for places we know and have been to would be the best.

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CONSTRUCTION – MOBILE PHONES

Mobile phones were used regularly during our filming and planning where it was mostly used for test shots. We found that my phone was the best to capture the lighting as well as what it would look like as a setting overall as well as connecting to the internet quickly. My Samsung Note (later Note 3) was used to film the lip syncing task that allowed us to identify who was best for which part as well as the vital part of who was confortable in front of the camera.

The phone was also used for test shots when planning our digipak as it allowed us to explore through different settings and ideas that were easily accessible in school grounds. Also, through apps I was able to edit our first version of our possible digipak on my phone that day which meant, quick production work. However, the group decided to use other media technologies that gave a more professional finish to what we had on my phone.

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CONSTRUCTION – NIKON D300S

Filming was done mostly through my camera (Nikon D300S). The camera abled our group to be able to film our music video using the 30 mega pixels the camera provided. We found that the camera was fast when shooting where there was no signs of lagging. The camera produced a high contrasted footages in which, showcased the colours of the scene further. We found that the camera was easily hand held though at times, even though we had it on hand held, the result of the recording was too ‘still’ like it was on a tripod. With the camera being in my possession, this meant that the group was able to use the camera without having to borrow one from another source in which, can cause difficulties where the camera might not be available to use. After filming, we found that the footage can be uploaded in a 1080p HD quality in which, is what we were aiming for at the start. By doing so, we achieved a goal of having a professional like music video.

M A H A L I A H M E R I A L E S

CONSTRUCTION – NIKON D330

When preparing for our digipak and advert, we decided that a photo shoot would allow us to capture more of what we wanted instead of using a still image from our music video. Using my other camera, we decided to schedule the photo shoot where I was also able to provide a professional studio (easier to plan around when easily accessible to the group). We found that the 24 mega pixel camera allowed to capture an image that meant high quality. The high quality can easily be used through editing software's where the image would not turn pixelated once edited and processed.

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CONSTRUCTION – SAMSUNG NX1000

During my free time, I found that the ideas that I had in mind had to be tested in terms of how it would look like through the camera lens and not through my imagination. Using my other camera, the Samsung NX1000 was easier to take along with me when exploring through different lighting ranges and visually in terms of finding the right setting. The camera provides a natural lighting setting that allowed any scenes to look more alive and brighter. Though, we did not use this camera when filming as the brightness of the camera gave footages that suited other song genres such as acoustics hence, not adhering to the genre we had in mind.

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CONSTRUCTION – ADOBE FIREWORKS

In order to produce our digipak, we decided to use Adobe Fireworks for the first section of editing. This would be due to the fact that the software was a lot more forward when using hence, getting to know how to use it through tutorials was easy. Producing versions of the digipak through fireworks meant that we were able to explore through the software, however due to not knowing the software as much even though it was easy to use, secrets to producing high quality of work was hard hence, transporting our works such as the logo onto another software (Adobe Photoshop)

M A H A L I A H M E R I A L E S

CONSTRUCTION – ADOBE PHOTOSHOPAfter transporting to Adobe Photoshop, this was a software I

was familiar with where I was able to show skills in which, I was unable to when using Fireworks. Using Photoshop meant that we were able to explore through our ideas such as colour splashes onto our chosen image. Tools that weren't available in Fireworks included the blemish tool in which allowed us to click and select areas in which we wish to smooth out or disappear making our work more flawless. Also, with my knowledge on the software, I was able to play around with the tools where I found an idea that I favored when I first started using the software. The idea was that the image would be set to black and white through colour correction where making layers of the image meant that I was able to erase the black and white and have the lips red. In terms of the logo, Ruva and I were able to create a png. Image that meant we were able to overlap this image onto another without the background. With the popularity of the software where it is known to be used by many professional users, we were able to watch many tutorials in which, helped us find a easier way of accomplishing our ideas. Also, the software was available for me to use at home hence editing can be done at home and in school. Though, we found that once the image has been finalized, we were unable to go back and edit the image again hence, we ended up with many images of the stages of the final version.

M A H A L I A H M E R I A L E S

CONSTRUCTION – FINAL CUT PRO

When editing the music video, Final cut pro was the best software to use. The group was also aware of what the software was able to do due to using it in our AS work. Final cut abled editing to be done at different times unlike Photoshop where it allowed the group to edit the video in a more precise way as well as showcasing the video that abled us to judge whether or not it flowed smoothly. The blade tool was the most used where we would zoom into the footage and cut at the most precise time which, made our video cut when needed and in sync with the beat of the song. By doing so, the quality of the music video increases. Also, in other software's, tools that are only available in Final cut were used in our music video, This would include the tool of being able to reverse the footage back in order to create an interesting effect as well as changing the duration in which the footage played at. This was the most useful as it allowed to fit footages into the duration needed where the result would look as though it was sped up or slowed down on purpose. Many editing tools that increased the uniqueness of the music video meant that our group was adhering to John Fiske’s idea of ‘the signifier signified the foreground’ where if the music video looked cool rather than making sense, as long as the target audience is kept interested then the video achieves its purpose.

M A H A L I A H M E R I A L E S

EVALUATION

The most useful form of media technology that was the most useful to me was the media magazine. This would be due to the fact that if I had not come across Suzy Davis’ idea od simplicity, then I would have probably overly complicated meanings in my music video that it would lessen the chances of success. As well as identifying the style of the artist if they were featured in a page. This gave me an idea of what genre was mostly featured in the magazines. Other form of media technology was YouTube. YouTube is known as the most worldwide used video sharing site where it allowed me t broaden my research further afield to international artists that we may not heard off. This came along with ideas that have not been introduced to the British or American music industry in which, would gather interest from many people. Also, ideas and tutorials were based from many videos I have found from YouTube such as the idea of the water effect through watching Vogue photo shoots. Furthermore, uploading the video meant that other people was able to see our work and provide a feedback in which, we can reflect from.

The least useful media technology was Wikipedia. This would be due to the fact that the website is not as reliable as the official website hence, anyone can edit the information provided and provide facts that may not be true, this can cause my research to be false hence, creating a domino effect causing my planning and construction to be based on false research.