Audience feedback video #1

Codes and Conventions from different genres

The same codes and conventions feature in all areas:
·         Camerawork
·         Editing
·         Character
·         Narrative
·         Theme
·         Location
·         Mise-en-scene
·         Soundtrack
Theme – What is it about?:
·         Love
·         Crime

Camerawork and Editing:
Different genres usually have different technical conventions.
§  Sit coms and Soap Operas usually have a lot of medium shots.
§  Thrillers have a lot of jump cuts
§  Music videos have a lot of rhythmic editing-where the video is edited alongside the music.

Characters:

§  You always have stereotypical characters in every text.
§  Soap Operas-family’s, dumb blonde etc.
§  Music video-The artist, the performer-it doesn’t always have to follow typical stereotypes and conventions.For example RnB-Gangsta, cars, ‘bling’, and showing off what they’ve got.
§  Film Trailer-Good guy, the protagonist.

Narrative and theme:

§  Thrillers-conspiracy theory
§  The News-mise-en-scene = believable and a sense of authority.

Skills development essay

For my Foundation Portfolio I had to produce the front cover of a music magazine, its contents page and a double page spread; it had to be created for a specific genre so I began to research as many possible genres that I could find. To begin with I looked at existing music magazines from genres such as: ‘indie’, ‘pop’, ‘RnB’ and ‘Rock’. Once I started to analyse magazines such as ‘Mojo’ and ‘NME’ I found that they cater for people with interests in indie and alternative music and I then concluded after researching the genre’s further, that it was the genre I wanted to focus on for my own magazine. I then set about by looking at the various different ways in which each one of the different magazine publishers enforced their own layout style, whether it be ‘NME’ applying an intimidating, jagged and striking style or ‘Clash’ magazine producing a more simplistic and minimalistic front cover; both targeting contrasting  niche markets.

Before I started AS Media Studies, I’d only ever used Microsoft Publisher to produce vastly different projects to the foundation portfolio, such as: posters and school newspapers; looking back I now realise that Publisher is a very basic software programme and consequently so were my own editing skills. For example at School I was asked to produce a poster for English the only resources I had where Google images and Publisher therefore this effected the quality of the final product. When I came to Wyke and was given the initial task to produce a perfume advert using Photoshop I was a bit overwhelmed because I’d never used Photoshop before and I didn’t know where to start, I’d never edited a photo/image before so therefore I didn’t know how to cut the image or ‘perfect’ somebody’s skin. Another hurdle in which I had to overcome was using a camera, I had my own camera but again it was only basic and I had no idea about all the numerous different camera shots and angles that existed! Therefore I had to put a lot more effort into the initial task than I first thought and into anything similar that I’d produced before. When it came to producing my actual music magazine I knew I wanted to deepen my knowledge on certain tools within Photoshop, such as the cutting tool, smudging tool and also how to edit texts and fonts to make them look more professional and less forced. Likewise, I wanted to know how to use a camera correctly to give my final product a proficient appearance.

When producing my music magazine I completed several drafts (initially on Publisher to help me get the basic layout and then soon after on Photoshop) and got audience feedback on the majority, this helped me to understand and absorb what features looked bad and equally good too.

I also had to create a Blog, again something I’d never done before. This was so all of our work could be viewed and marked digitally. I really enjoyed the whole process of creating my blog and making it my own, via the creative online devices such as ‘Prezi’ and ‘Go Animate’ – which where presentation tools I’d never heard of before too.

To build on the audience feedback I began to explore more tools in Photoshop as I felt I wasn’t using it to its full potential, I proceeded into using the blur and smudge tool more so I could blend and merge the background and my main image creating an accomplished and skilled look, which is what I felt was primarily lacking each time I received the audience feedback. I soon proceeded into creating the contents page and double page spread for my magazine too; many of the original creative elements – such as the housestyle and the way in which I edited the images remained the same – this was because I wanted to keep a consistent approach and also, as my audience feedback was crucial I knew these where the type of fundamental elements needed. To develop my skills further though I had to research typical techniques and conventions used by the majority of magazine publishers, for example upon the double page spread I needed: the page number, the main image and the page divider- to name just a few- and upon the contents page I needed to feature some tease images to entice the audience and a layout that fitted in with my front page too. I knew that producing many drafts (of the contents page and double page spread) would work to my advantage so I proceeded into making 3 of each; editing them on Photoshop applying the new techniques I found when producing my front page and consequently enhancing their appearance; producing the final products.

Overall throughout the whole time of producing my Foundation Portfolio I believe I came a long way, considering I had never heard of Photoshop before, had only basic knowledge of the entire production process and a minimal amount of technical and creative skills too. After being told what I would be doing for my Foundation Portfolio I was a little overwhelmed but knew that I wanted to approach the task positively and to the best of my ability. After being taught the skills and tools needed to use Photoshop correctly; looking back I feel that the fact I continuously applied the skills helped me perfect them and therefore show what my strengths and weaknesses where. Even now I believe that I could have taken better pictures and possibly taken more too, therefore to give me a wider selection when choosing which ones to use on my final magazine. I now also realise that using presentation tools such as ‘Prezi’ are a great way of enticing the audience too, as I got to display my ideas and research in a more appealing and attractive way. I now hope that the skills in which I gained when producing my Foundation Portfolio will be applied in a useful and creative way when producing my Advanced Portfolio as well as attaining even more.

Influential texts and questions

As I have chosen the ‘alternative’ genre for my music video I require audience feedback, to do this it needs to be rich in data, facts and statistics; therefore I will ask questions that will produce lots of qualitative data alongside my chosen examples. This is because I want to know exactly what the audience think of my chosen genre and influential texts, as well as existing music videos, so I can gather a greater understanding of what I will need to do to reach my target audience’s expectations.

This is Eliza Doolittle’s video to her song ‘Pack Up’. I have chosen this as one of my influential texts/videos because it contains similar codes and conventions to what I want to feature in my own video – for example the beginning of the video it is set in a field, I want this convention to feature in mine because I like the way in which it looks once edited and pieced together.

This is a piece of art work by an artist called Sonia Delaunay. I really enjoy looking at her work, because it’s unique and entirely different to many other pieces of art work you usually see. I feel this is extremely influential for me as it provides me with a different type of inspiration other than a music video or song; I get to look at colours, style and presentation – for example the background used is only plain but a vast amount of bold colours have been used too, to make it stand out more. I feel these kinds of ‘alternative’ and ‘distinctive’ elements are what I would like to feature within my own music video.

This is the music video to Florence and The Machine’s song ‘Rabbit Heart’. Although the narrative running throughout the video is totally different to my chosen song, I believe many of the codes and conventions are similar and therefore have an influential effect on me; for example: the fact that there are many uses of close up shots and extreme close up shots, I like this aspect of filming as I believe you can get a clearer image of what the actor’s emotions are and what they’re thinking too through their facial expressions. Also I like the way in which there are ‘angel’ type characters featured throughout the video too, not only does this give an eerie aspect to the narrative and performance, but it adds a unique element only featured within the ‘alternative’ music genre and this is what I’d quite like to feature in my own music video too, proving this video’s influential character.

This is the film trailer to the 2010, Tim Burton adaptation of Alice in Wonderland. The mise-en-scene features within this trailer are somewhat similar to what I would like to include in my music video. For example the strange and wacky make-up; hairstyles and costumes all connote the alternative market in which I want to reach out to. I also like the way in which there are many hidden tricks and features that are not visible on first glance such as the patterns on the toadstools and the detailed amount of food on the dining table. Unfortunately I cannot use animation in the same way Burton has and therefore the props I use and other mise-en-scene attributes as well as editing and cinematography techniques too will add to the quality of my production.

 
Looking at each of these influential texts; I now need feedback of the audience’s thoughts and feelings about each of them by answering these questions:

1. What is most appealing about each of the texts you have seen?
2. Looking at the two music videos what are your thoughts about the editing techniques used, what about the quality?
3. Do your expectations meet what you first anticipated for the two music videos and the film trailer?
4. Looking at all of the texts would you change anything about any of them?
5. Do you prefer something with abstract, narrative, performance or animated connotations? You can choose however many you like, please elaborate which and why.
6. Do you think the ‘Alice in Wonderland’ film trailer is good influential text to use and base some of my music video ideas on?
7. What type of visuals do you see when you listen to my chosen song?

Key Audience terms

• Qualitative data is rich in information, such as peoples opinions or feelings.
• Quantitative data is number data, it's generic and simple. Giving the audience a scale of 1-10 to rate their feelings on, is a good example of this.
• Psychographics are peoples personal opinions, views and feelings.They describe an audience by looking at the behaviour and personality traits. It labels a particular type of person and makes an assessment about their individual spending and viewing habits. The categories are:

    Mainstreamers-They conform to traits and have conventional ways. Usually the largest group.

    Aspirers-Materialistic, Image and appearance is important. Typically the younger generation.

   Succeeders-Strong goals in life, they’re confident and organised. Usually professionals or managers.

   Resigned-Rigid. Interested in the past and the economy. Mostly older people.

   Explorers-They’re energetic, unique, adventurous and always the first to try new things out. Mostly younger people, e.g. students.

  Strugglers-Can be alienated and therefore disorganised. They rely on their physical skills. Tend to but alcohol, junk food and lottery tickets (as a general formation) typically from the D&E band of demographics.

  Reformers-Freedom of personal growth and restrictions. They have brilliant social awareness and independent judgement. Not very materialistic. Has attended higher education and has an eye for good quality products

· Demographics: these are the social groups in which people are categorised into; these are: A, B, C1, C2, D and E. Each of the groups are determined by your income; A is the highest earning profession, for example: A Doctor, Lawyer or Police Inspector, B would be a Teacher or Social Worker, C1 an Electrician or Plumber, C2 Semi-skilled workers, D Cleaners, Dock Workers, E OAP's, Students or the Unemployed.Producers of a media text need to know each of the demographic groups; this is so they can shape their text around the audience and their needs and wants. It’s based on the highest earner in the family so young people are not included.

Media triangle

Codes and conventions from my genre.

Codes and conventions of my chosen genre. on Prezi