Hello!

Welcome to our A2 Media Studies Blog, holding the entire process of the development of our music video. We created a music video for the song "Titanium" by DJ Guetta, ft. Sia. Alongside this, we created two ancillary products each. We created a star persona named DJ Soto, who was the face of our products.

Here is our music video:

Titanium - DJ Soto (Final Cut 2) from Shadow Inc. on Vimeo.

To allow all members of 'Shadow Inc.' to contribute to our final product, we came up with "official" job roles for each member to allow equal contribution. However, we ensured that each member tried out every role to contribute more broadly.

OFFICIALLY:

Sonali: Cinematographer

DIGIPAK: https://shadowinc222.blogspot.co.uk/2018/02/digipak-final-sonali.html
WEBSITE: https://shadowinc289.wixsite.com/djsoto2 

As the cinematographer, I had the responsibility of ensuring all the camera equipment was in good conditions and was available for us on the two shooting days. In order, to ensure our music video was done to a good standard and we had a clear vision of what shots we needed to film at each location I created a shot list and this prevented any problems from occurring.

Zeel: Editor
DIGIPAK: http://shadowinc222.blogspot.co.uk/2018/02/digipak-final-draft.html
WEBSITE: https://sanaz002304.wixsite.com/djsoto

As the editor of the music video, my role consisted of editing the entire music video. Throughout this process I had to learn a variety of different editing techniques not used before for example, the scribble effect. During the scribble effect, I had to draw on every single frame of the music video whilst incorporating movement. Furthermore, I also had the role of assistant cinematographer whereby I had filmed a variety of shots during the final shoot.

Kanaiya: Director

DIGIPAK: https://shadowinc222.blogspot.co.uk/2018/02/digipak-draft-5-kanaiya-final.html
WEBSITE: https://lakhk013304.wixsite.com/djsoto

As the director, I had the responsibility of ensuring that the cast and my team members were working together cohesively and everything went smoothly. For this, I created a production schedule and a letter for the actor to ensure that there were no miscommunications. I controlled the artistic and dramatic aspects of the music video as a co-editor, and I also satisfied this role by editing several video tasks that we had completed. This had taken place whilst visualising the screenplay and guiding the actor to fulfil the vision that we had.

We hope you enjoy our music video and blog :)

Final Cut v1 - Titanium: DJ Soto

Here is v1 for the final cut for our music video.
 
Titanium - DJ Soto (Final Cut) from Shadow Inc. on Vimeo.

Refer to post titled 'Hello!' for the final cut of the music video.

Ancillary Task 2- Final Website

This is the link of my final website: 

https://sanaz002304.wixsite.com/djsoto

Evaluation Question 4: Sonali

Evaluation Question 3: Sonali

Evaluation Question 2: Sonali

Evaluation Question 1: Sonali

Evaluation Question 4: Kanaiya

What have you learned from your audience feedback?

Q4: Blogger

Link to Blogger: Click Me

Evaluation Question 3: Kanaiya

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

Q3: Flipbook

Evaluation Question 2: Kanaiya

How effective is the combination of your main product and ancillary texts?

Q2: Filmed Presentation



Major changes have been made on the digipak, website and music video, but the examples of synergy shown above are still resonant.

We removed the colour correction and colour graded the chorus instead to make it come across as warmer and more professional. However, the colours, magenta and teal, were still used on the music video through the scribble effect, as shown in the screenshot above.

The front cover was also changed on the digipak to make the audience relate more with our star persona. However, synergy was utilised because of the mid shot in the music video and in the main images in the homepage. This was used to allow audience to relate to audience emotions.

A reduction of childlike symbols had also been utilised because when talking to older members of our target audience, I realised that it did not appeal well to them. This was put into action by getting rid of the card symbols on the digipak because it down scaled the artist and made him appear quite small. As a result, the fire, ice and skull symbol on the website had also been removed. This allowed me to appeal more to a broader target audience. For this, I also reduced the amount of text on the "thank you panel" because the older target audience would not have the time to read through the information.  I also removed the amount of text on my website, by removing "your perception is not my reality".

As the record label and logo looked to cluttered across the products, I instead decided to just use the font of "DJ Soto" across my products and used a white coloured font to stand out in front of the dark background.

This is how my digipak looks now:

Evaluation Question 1: Kanaiya

In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

Q1: Multimodal Video



EDIT: In our final cut, we decided to use a different visual effect instead of the colour correction for the powder paint scene. Instead of colour correcting the whole scene with different colours, we colour graded the entire shot to make it warmer. This made the music video look more professional.

Website Draft 5: Kanaiya (FINAL)

Here is the final link to my website: https://lakhk013304.wixsite.com/djsoto

Website Development Process: Kanaiya

Here, I talk through the development of my website.



After I had finished filming, I showed this video to members of my target audience and asked them to give any final feedback.

I received two important pieces of feedback:

"In the about of the artist, I think it should be more personal so maybe make his panel in first person to make it more personal"

"Where will your music video go?"

As a result, I made these minor changes by changing the about panel to make it more personal, and I also allowed more space for the final cut to be placed. I also made small changes to the "contact" page to make it more conventional and representative of EDM websites.

In this mini podcast, I talk through the final changes I have made for my website, and I pinpint my choice of typography:

Here, I have also written down a brief insight into each page of the website:

Some minor changes were further made in the final draft of the website.

Website Final - Sonali

Please click on the link below to view my website:

https://shadowinc289.wixsite.com/djsoto2

Digipak Final - Sonali

Here is my final digipak:

Without template:

With template 

Rotated version:

Feedback - Website Draft Four: Kanaiya

To look for ways into improving my final product, I created a focus group in which my target audience were freely able to surf through my website and give feedback. I also asked each individual member of the focus group to briefly summarise what had been discussed.

Evaluation Question 3- Zeel

Evaluation Question 1- Zeel

Evaluation Question 2- Zeel

https://www.emaze.com/@AOLOIFRTF/breaking-news

Evaluation Question 4- Zeel

Typography Poll

Digipak Draft 5: Kanaiya (FINAL)

Before I posted the final draft, I went around to people who fit the older side of our target audience (16-24). They provided me with very useful feedback as there were some parts which couldn't be seen clearly. I was also able to realise that there were lots of things going on in the front cover so I decided to simplify it. This is because I wanted the digipak to be representative of the entire target audience and not just those who are 16-18 - who I had been asking beforehand. I also fixed some format issues on the digipak and made it look more professional.

Here is the fifth and final draft of my digipak. The first image shows the digipak with its template. The second image shows the digipak without a template. The third image is a rotated version of image two.

Digipak Development Process: Kanaiya

Here, I talk you through the process that I went through for the development of my digipak.

Digipak: Final Draft Options

For the final draft of my digipak, I found it difficult to decide what the background should be. As a result, I created this document which was passed around along with a sheet with their options, and I asked the target audience to choose which one they preferred.

Here is the document that I printed.

Options for Final Draft by KanLak on Scribd

Here are the results that I gained:

However, I decided to choose option three because it seemed to synergise better with my website. It was also the second most popular result, so I knew that the target audience would like it. 

Feedback - Website Draft Three: Kanaiya

To collect feedback for draft 3 of my website, I asked a sample of ten people to watch the video below, and then complete a questionnaire. This allowed me to gain very useful feedback for my website.

I sent this message out to the sample.

Here is the video that my target audience watched:




Here is the feedback I gained:



On average, editing of images had been rated 8 out of 10.
Accessibility of the website was rated 9 out of 10.
Usage of images in the gallery had been rated 6 out of 10, which evidences that the gallery is something I will have to consider.
Correlation of digipak with the website had been rated 8 out of 10.
The majority of participants were able to understand that the website was for the EDM genre, with 3 out of 10 feeling slightly confused. As a result, I will consider the way in which images have been placed as well as the colours used.


UPDATE: 19/02/18
 Here are the some of the major changes I made as a result of the feedback.

Website draft three: Feedback

I gathered feedback from my target audience, they gave me verbal feedback and analysed WWW and EBI. I will take their feedback aboard when making my final website.

Gathering feedback from my target audience is very important because it will ensure my product grabs the audience's attention, and therefore these are the changes I will be making from the feedback I received:
- I will add more information to "ABOUT ME"
- Gallery page: I will take pictures of Alex in different locations, and incorporate it into my gallery page

Website: Production Process (Draft three)

I took screenshots of my process when making changes to my website

Website Draft Three

Below I took screenshots of my website.

FEEDBACK: Effects Cut v2

For our target audience feedback, another class from the younger demographic watched our music video and gave us feedback.


On average, editing had been rated 8 out of 10. The use of camerawork had been rated 7 out of 10.

(Website)Layout/Format- Target Audience Feedback

Here are some personal notes I have created based on having verbal feedback from my target audience about which format suits my website the most and will be the most effective.

Digipack-Initial Plan

This is just the original plans and ideas I had at first which I jotted down and annotated on a piece of paper as you can see these images were my initial images until the editing process for this ancillary task commenced. It still has a long way to go when actually executing the digipak itself. 

(Digipack)Typography- Target Audience

• I had conducted a questionnaire to ensure that my target audience were happy with the font and that it also matched the digipak images. Therefore, the  audience had finalised the fourth font. this font was immediately pleasing to the eye and suited the digipak perfectly. 
• Furthermore, throughout this process the audience had given a variety of verbal feedback. which I had taken on board. an example, of this would be the yin and yang sign that had been a reoccurring theme within the video. 
• In addition to this, I have also been asking my secondary target audience for feedback as it ws essential to have critical and self reflection/evaluative points. 

Digipak Final Draft- Target Audience Feedback

Digipak Task 1- Final Draft

Target Audience Feedback I have taken into consideration and acted upon:  

1. Colour graded the images so that none of them look too out of place
2. Ensured all important text/parts of the image are kept within the "bleed line" of the digipack guideline template. 
3. The name of the DJ is now at the front of the digipack rather than the back.
4. I added the yin and yang sign on the front cover as the iconography for this matches the album/single perfectly. 
5. I added to the spine of the digipack making sure it was not plain and unflattering. 
6. instead of the thank you message I added an effective quote. 

Digipak Draft (2)- Target Audience Feedback

10 peers had completed my online survey which was my target audience feedback. This was significant in ensuring that my digipak could be made to a professional and high standard. After this I could critically evaluate my own work and ensure that i have the final desired product at the end of this product that also takes my target audience into consideration.  

Digipak Draft(2)

Here is draft 2 of my digipak, through critical evaluation this draft has the most significant change. 

Target Audience Feedback I have taken into consideration and acted upon: 

1. Special effects have been added in increase the awareness and match the codes and conventions of the EDM genre. 
2. The font is more aesthetically pleasing and readable. 
3. The colour scheme matches the genre and the music video itself, including the re-occurrence of the RGB colours.
4. A more professional way of adding to the digipak due to adding a bar code and external organisation supporters.
5. The colour grading is much more saturated. 
6. The images used have been changed and so there is a variety of shots and shot types. 

Digipack Draft(1)Target Audience Feedback

Feedback - Website Draft Two: Kanaiya

Here is feedback for the second draft of my website. I asked people to write what they would like to change after viewing the website anonymously and then I collected and read them, making changes accordingly.

Digipack Draft(1)

Stop Motion Attempts

As a way to reduce the amount of time of the powder paint scene, I tried out some stop motion shots.

Effects Cut v2

Here is the second version of our effects cut. In this version, we completed the scribble effect and looked into ways of reducing the visual impact of the powder paint shot in the first chorus. We are still looking into this further.


Effects Cut v2 from Shadow Inc. on Vimeo.

Website Mock Up- Ancillary

Here Is a mock up of my website on a variety of different websites to check if my work is responsive on different devices. As our target audience is within the age ranges of 16-24 they are more likely to use their phones to view the website and other devices apart from a computer.

Ancillary(Website) Production Process

Here I take you through my process of using WIX to create my artist website.

Website ancillary editing process from Zeel Sanatkumar

Feedback - Digipak Draft Four: Kanaiya

In order to look for final ways to improve the product, I decided to collect target audience feedback. I filmed members of our target audience and ask them to give me their opinions on the digipak, for which I printed a prototype to give to people.




Changes I will be making as a result of this feedback: 

 - Making font size smaller on the back cover
- Ensuring final product is of a high quality and will perhaps look at ways of improving font on artist panel
- Removing the colour around the hands in one of the extra panels.
- Flipping one of the images so it correlates with the rest of the digipak

Digipak Draft Four: Kanaiya

Here is the fourth draft of my digipak. The first image shows the digipak with its template. The second image shows a digipak without a template. The third digipak is a rotated version of image two.

Viusal Effects Tutorials-Playlist

Here are the following video clips I used to learn a variety of different specila visual effects including:

• The scribble effect 

• The RGB effect

• The glitch effect 

• The ghost effect 

• The Ultra Key effect

EDM poster

Feedback - Website Draft One: Kanaiya

Here is the feedback I collected for draft one of my website. 


Changes I will be implementing: 

- Centering "SOTO WORLD TOUR 2018"
- Adding news articles.
- Change tour dates so they are not spaced apart.

Feedback - Digipak Draft Three: Kanaiya

In order to look at ways of improving my digipak, I collected target audience feedback. I spoke with the majority of the people who gave me feedback on my first draft, so this worked well as a follow up to look for ways to improve based on the dignified target audience. I typed what they said whilst I received their verbal feedback.

Improvements I will be making on my fourth draft as a result of this feedback:

- Removing title and name of artist from the back cover as there is a lot going on.
- Changing the corner image by editing over it.
- Adding some colours to relate to the house style.