Thursday, 7 February 2013
Evaluation Task 4
How did you use new media technologies in the construction, research, planning and evaluation stages?
I used most of the major media technologies in my construction. During the construction of my trailer, with used the Panasonic HDC ST80 camera's, and this gave us a clear image which helped us achieve the shots needed, which are shown in my Shot List. The tripod we used also helped with this, as it made the images steady and got the camera height to perfection. The footage was made a lot easier to capture than last years media production, as they were both better quality, and in my opinion easier to use. I also used the camera when I was taking the picture of my characters for my other media products. As a group, we also used the cameras to get location shots, which comes under the planning category. The tripod enabled us to get a smooth, clear shot so they soap conventions could be portrayed, and the storylines and characters would be easily understood.
The other media products I created were a Billboard poster and a TV Listings magazine, and they were both created on Adobe Photoshop. I also used the software last year, but because of the experience I have had, I believe the outcome was far better, and I ended up created media products I was proud of, and that went with the Soap genre, with could also show synergy. The hardest part of using this project was making the background transparent so that it would look appropriate for a magazine cover, but I ended up using the magnet tool, which helped me get the whole of the picture without cutting any of it out. I used the software to create my media products, and it also enabled me to get the best possible design I could have achieved through certain options and tools, such as the magnet tool, and the layers also enabled me to place my characters where I wanted them in my Billboard poster.
To edit my trailer, I used the software 'Final Cut Pro X' on the Mac computers. This was a lot more useful than 'Adobe Premiere Pro' that I used last year, and there was a lot more options and techniques to edit my trailer. Without this software, I do not think we would have came out with result we did, as it is a far better editing software, and the icons were easy to locate and use appropriately. I ensured that the music would go with the editing pace so that it would match the target audience and Soap genre. I used the software to edit my trailer, and also makes changes when I received my feedback.
Throughout the process of my media productions, I used a number of new media technologies in order to get the best results.
During my research, I used a lot of internet sources in order to gain information. I also used YouTube, BBC iPlayer, 4oD etc. so that I could watch other Soap trailers, like the Emmerdale 40 year anniversary. This enabled me to see how soap trailers work and the main conventions associated with them. I also used YouTube to attempt to gain some extra feedback from other users.
I used most of the major media technologies in my construction. During the construction of my trailer, with used the Panasonic HDC ST80 camera's, and this gave us a clear image which helped us achieve the shots needed, which are shown in my Shot List. The tripod we used also helped with this, as it made the images steady and got the camera height to perfection. The footage was made a lot easier to capture than last years media production, as they were both better quality, and in my opinion easier to use. I also used the camera when I was taking the picture of my characters for my other media products. As a group, we also used the cameras to get location shots, which comes under the planning category. The tripod enabled us to get a smooth, clear shot so they soap conventions could be portrayed, and the storylines and characters would be easily understood. 
The other media products I created were a Billboard poster and a TV Listings magazine, and they were both created on Adobe Photoshop. I also used the software last year, but because of the experience I have had, I believe the outcome was far better, and I ended up created media products I was proud of, and that went with the Soap genre, with could also show synergy. The hardest part of using this project was making the background transparent so that it would look appropriate for a magazine cover, but I ended up using the magnet tool, which helped me get the whole of the picture without cutting any of it out. I used the software to create my media products, and it also enabled me to get the best possible design I could have achieved through certain options and tools, such as the magnet tool, and the layers also enabled me to place my characters where I wanted them in my Billboard poster. To edit my trailer, I used the software 'Final Cut Pro X' on the Mac computers. This was a lot more useful than 'Adobe Premiere Pro' that I used last year, and there was a lot more options and techniques to edit my trailer. Without this software, I do not think we would have came out with result we did, as it is a far better editing software, and the icons were easy to locate and use appropriately. I ensured that the music would go with the editing pace so that it would match the target audience and Soap genre. I used the software to edit my trailer, and also makes changes when I received my feedback.
The evaluations that I completed after my planning, research and construction was finished, was done on Blogger, so that I could get all of the information and overview it in my Blog.Blogger was also useful for noting down ideas, so that further on in my production I could look back at the initial ideas, and decide what would work best, and this was mainly taking from my research, as the Soap needed to match the genre. I used the software as a storage place, and a online tracker, so that everything I did and needed was in it to look back on and use.
Evaluation Task 3
What have you learnt from your audience feedback?
Once our group completed our first draft, we showed it around and got some
feedback. We asked a number of questions based on their opinions, including things they liked, things that could have been improved and we also asked about some of the feedback we got from other people that watched the Soap, and put them in the questions, which are stated below.
These results show that the most popular options were the ages 15-20 and 21-30, and our target audience was the ages 15-30, which shows that we have achieved our target audience.
Once our group completed our first draft, we showed it around and got some
feedback. We asked a number of questions based on their opinions, including things they liked, things that could have been improved and we also asked about some of the feedback we got from other people that watched the Soap, and put them in the questions, which are stated below.
- Is the text message readable?
- Should there be a steady shot of the road sign at the end of the trailer?
- Is the journey of the car confusing?
- Are the voices clear and understandable in the proposal scene?
- What age is the Soap appropriate for?
The final questions we asked was 'What age is the Soap appropriate for?' The reason behind this question was to see whether or not the audience felt our Soap met the needs of our target audience. We gave them a number of different options, including; 0-14, 15-20, 21-30, 31-50, 51+. Below are the results we received.
These results show that the most popular options were the ages 15-20 and 21-30, and our target audience was the ages 15-30, which shows that we have achieved our target audience.
Wednesday, 6 February 2013
Evaluation Task 1
In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
1. The Title - We decided to use the title 'Ferrars Avenue'. The reasons behind this choice are because it is the street name of the area we filmed at, and we thought that naming the soap after the road is common, and another example of this is Coronation Street. The title is also short and easy to remember. The title also sounds modern and keeps in place with our target audience.
2. Camera-work & Editing - The reason I have chosen this frame for camerawork and editing, as in the actual trailer the camera zooms into the window, and there is a fade to black, which ends up in the pub. We attempted to get a feel that the camera was traveling through the window into another storyline, and with this effect we were able to establish this feeling as well as introduce new characters to the scene. We also used this to show that the pub will be one of the popular locations, as it is in other Soaps like Emmerdale.
3. Use of logo - We used the channel 4 logo in the top right-hand corner of the whole trailer, to show our institutional information, as Channel 4 broadcasts our Soap, so we felt it to be important. This also re-minds the audience what Channel to view our Soap on, and the same technique is used by our rival soap, Hollyoaks, and this technique is commonly used in other Soap trailers.
4. Props - The prop that the male character is holding in Frame 6 is flour in a food bag, and we represented it as the drug cocaine. The money is also an important prop in this frame as it gives the audience a clear understanding of what is happening, and it is important because it is a common social issue in teenage life. This prop is vital as it is commonly used by young adults so it is suitable and modern, which matches our target audience, and this prop also plays vital roles in other Soaps, such as Eastenders. The phone could also emphasize secrecy, which is appropriate for the chosen storyline.
5. Special Effects - We increased the length of this text shot, before using a quick cut to the next scene. We did this so that the text message was on screen for a lot longer, so that the information would have been retrieved by the audience, and could help them to understand the problem that is going on, which is an affair.
6. Costumes - Frame six shows one of the characters in the drugs scene, and he is clearly in a hooded jumper. The trousers that he is wearing is dark black trousers, and white trainers. The costume relates to the role he plays, and it is a stereotypical outfit for a drug dealer to wear, and the dark trousers connote that something is not quite right. This costume would be instantly recognizable, and the darkness of the outfits could convey a hidden approach, and connote the fact that something bad is about to happen.
7. Setting & Location - This frame shows the pub that we used for filming. The reason we chose a pub for our proposal scene is because in all of the favorite soaps there is a pub, such as Eastenders with the Queen Victoria, and Corontation Street with the Rovers, and Emmerdale with the Woolpack. In all of them 3 soaps, many different events take place, such as fights, murders, arguments etc. so we thought it would be useful to include. We needed to thoroughly convey this convention, so we wanted the audience to recognize the main settings and get across the point that it is a community, with a standard, local pub.
8. Storylines & Plot - This frame expresses the fact that the two male characters are in a homosexual relationship, as it shows a kiss goodbye. However, the character 'Paul' is facing away from his homosexual partner, which connotes the fact he is not happy in the relationship, and this happens in soaps like Eastenders, when the character Max hugs Tanya, and as soon as it ends, his emotion changes from happy to sad. This frame could also connote the feeling of guiltiness and the characters showing that by not being able to face his partner.
9. Title Font & Style - This frame shows the title of our soap, and how it is at the end of our trailer. The font we have chosen is 'Goudy Old Style', and the reason for this is that we thought it looked like a road sign, and therefore shows synergy. The font & style is also clear to read, and the font size makes it easily visible, and therefore the title we be easily remembered, as the audience get a clear view.
1. The Title - We decided to use the title 'Ferrars Avenue'. The reasons behind this choice are because it is the street name of the area we filmed at, and we thought that naming the soap after the road is common, and another example of this is Coronation Street. The title is also short and easy to remember. The title also sounds modern and keeps in place with our target audience.
2. Camera-work & Editing - The reason I have chosen this frame for camerawork and editing, as in the actual trailer the camera zooms into the window, and there is a fade to black, which ends up in the pub. We attempted to get a feel that the camera was traveling through the window into another storyline, and with this effect we were able to establish this feeling as well as introduce new characters to the scene. We also used this to show that the pub will be one of the popular locations, as it is in other Soaps like Emmerdale.
3. Use of logo - We used the channel 4 logo in the top right-hand corner of the whole trailer, to show our institutional information, as Channel 4 broadcasts our Soap, so we felt it to be important. This also re-minds the audience what Channel to view our Soap on, and the same technique is used by our rival soap, Hollyoaks, and this technique is commonly used in other Soap trailers.
4. Props - The prop that the male character is holding in Frame 6 is flour in a food bag, and we represented it as the drug cocaine. The money is also an important prop in this frame as it gives the audience a clear understanding of what is happening, and it is important because it is a common social issue in teenage life. This prop is vital as it is commonly used by young adults so it is suitable and modern, which matches our target audience, and this prop also plays vital roles in other Soaps, such as Eastenders. The phone could also emphasize secrecy, which is appropriate for the chosen storyline.
5. Special Effects - We increased the length of this text shot, before using a quick cut to the next scene. We did this so that the text message was on screen for a lot longer, so that the information would have been retrieved by the audience, and could help them to understand the problem that is going on, which is an affair.
6. Costumes - Frame six shows one of the characters in the drugs scene, and he is clearly in a hooded jumper. The trousers that he is wearing is dark black trousers, and white trainers. The costume relates to the role he plays, and it is a stereotypical outfit for a drug dealer to wear, and the dark trousers connote that something is not quite right. This costume would be instantly recognizable, and the darkness of the outfits could convey a hidden approach, and connote the fact that something bad is about to happen.
8. Storylines & Plot - This frame expresses the fact that the two male characters are in a homosexual relationship, as it shows a kiss goodbye. However, the character 'Paul' is facing away from his homosexual partner, which connotes the fact he is not happy in the relationship, and this happens in soaps like Eastenders, when the character Max hugs Tanya, and as soon as it ends, his emotion changes from happy to sad. This frame could also connote the feeling of guiltiness and the characters showing that by not being able to face his partner.
9. Title Font & Style - This frame shows the title of our soap, and how it is at the end of our trailer. The font we have chosen is 'Goudy Old Style', and the reason for this is that we thought it looked like a road sign, and therefore shows synergy. The font & style is also clear to read, and the font size makes it easily visible, and therefore the title we be easily remembered, as the audience get a clear view.
Tuesday, 5 February 2013
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