Evaluation Question 4 (Final) // Nathan Beard

Evaluation Question 4- Final

Evaluation question 4

More presentations from Ben Wakeford

Evaluation Question 4

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

Research and Planning.

Technology was heavily used during this stage, and in many ways was one of the most used tools. I used a MacBook Pro with Retina Display and a Windows PC (Lenovo X1 Carbon and generic desktop) to carry out most of the secondary research on areas such as clothing, video techniques, existing media products amongst many others. The way I got to the answers I was looking for varied and usually included Google (used to search for results about the topic that I was researching, including the images platform), Tumblr (for finding images and posts relating to various topics), Wikipedia (For looking up aspects of my research usually filming techniques or narrative theorists and such like), UK Tribes (This was essential in determining our target market), YouTube (another essential piece of software for looking into existing media products). I then used Keynote/Pages and PowerPoint/Word (to present the research). Blogger was also used to publish my research on the internet so that it could be assessed and to make it easier to look through. The web browsers I used were Google Chrome, Safari and Firefox

Ancillary Tasks production
Photoshop CC (and CS6 at school) was used primarily to create my digipak and magazine advert as this software makes it easy to move items and create visuals. I used disk wizards to download a template so that I find need to add all the measurements in. I also used an online barcode generator to make a custom barcode so that my digipak was more professional. All of this software was run on a MacBook Pro Retina, Windows PC (Lenovo X1 Carbon and generic desktop) and iMac and when a web browser was required Safari, Google Chrome, Firefox or Microsoft Edge was used. Other software such as Keynote, PowerPoint, Word, Pages, Preview and few others were used in passing. As with the R&P section Blogger was used throughout this section.

Construction
Pre-production
For the pre production element of the video we used a range of iPhones (5,5s,6s Plus) to develop the storyboard and test the shots, we also used the phones to create images of the storyboards we created in oder to post them on Blogger so that they could easily be found and referred back to. In addition to this the iPhone 6s Plus was used to create an 'animatic' for both the storyboards in order to give a closer representation of what the video would look like. To edit these videos, we used Final Cut Pro X and Adobe Premiere Pro CC as well as iMove, the software was run on a range of computers, MacBook Pro Retina, Windows PC (Lenovo X1 Carbon) and iMac. These 'animatic' videos were then uploaded to youtube and embedded into a blogger post.

Production
During the production phase, we used a variety of technologies the most important of which was the iPhone 6s Plus we used for filming, our entire video was shot on this device using a mix of the standard Apple camera application, and FiLMiC Pro (a professional camera application allowing manual controls for aspects such as focus and exposure), this application allowed us to create the fade in shots and lock the exposure so that it wouldn't auto just in the video. The application makes the video form the iPhone 6s Plus DSLR quality. I then used a Microsoft Surface, an Apple iPad or a MacBook Pro Retina to review the footage and ensure the quality of what we were taking. We also used a battery operated LED light in order to better the lighting (a tool that was crucial, given that we were filming during the dark). A further technology we used was Apple Music (or Spotify) to stream the song so that the actors could sing to they music (this also made it easier to edit as I was able to match the music to the sound on the editing software in post production). We used an iPhone 4 and 5 for this part, in some cases paired to a speaker. Blogger was also used

Post Production
This phase required a high amount of technology, due to the nature of what it entails, firstly we used Final Cut Pro X in combination with Adobe Premiere Pro CC (for some effects) to edit the video, using iMovie to import the raw footage (or directly into Adobe Premiere Pro CC on PC) from the iPhone 6s Plus it was taken on. The editing software was run on a MacBook Pro Retina, Windows PC (Lenovo X1 Carbon), iMac and Mac Pro. These machines were chosen due to the fact that they could provide enough performance to edit efficiently. We used the combination of the software with the hardware we chose in order to make our video visually exciting, and make it as close to established media products as we could. Other technologies we used during post production was Apple iTunes, this was essential as we needed to purchase the song in order to use it in our video. I also made use of Bang & Olufsen BeoPlay H8 headphones to tune the audio of the video.

Support Technologies And Evaluation
We also used other technologies that supported the categories above such as Twitter, this was used to Tweet as the band in order to create a more authentic feel, Vimeo, a video platform that we aloud posted our video to, bing (in order to search for some items), Adobe Lightroom CC (in order to edit photos for the blog and twitter) and Squarespace for the logo.
For my evaluation I used a range of different presentation services and products, such as Adobe Photoshop, Infogram, Word/Scribd and PowerPoint/Slideshare.

Evaluation Question 4

Evaluation Question 4

As a group, we frequented on YouTube in order to find the common conventions in existing indie music videos. It was also helpful in all aspects in giving us ideas for set locations, shot lengths, shot ideas and the type if video we wished to try and create. Our main source if inspiration was "Undercover Martyn" by Two Door Cinema Club.  After collecting ideas we made a storyboard which enabled to to see visually the direction we wished to take our video. It was also useful in letting us find out what equipment we were going take need and if our video was feesable. An animatic was also created in order to help the group be able to visualise the final video and see the development of what we had already created.


All members of our group found that Blogger was a useful tool in acquiring feedback from our audience. It also meant we were able to post the continued progress of creative journey. At any point we were able to go back and change or develop our blog posts if we had altered or thought of something new. Our audience were able to post any concerns or feedback they had thought of from viewing our post about the development of our product. As previously discussed this feedback was vital in creating a successful finished video.
For the filming we used the camera from an iPhone 6s Plus which shoots at 4k resolution also we used an app called FiLMiC Pro which gave us manual control for exposure and focus and other aspects of effects. Then few tools the app posed were no match for some of the cameras the other groups were using but we thought that this may actually give our video an edge over others. Other groups may be tempted to use all of the features at their disposal which could lead to them over complicating their video and end up with a confusing or clustered music video. From the reap search, these are very much things you want to avoid when trying to appeal to music audiences especially those in the indie genre. Whilst filling in the dark the LED light we were using was very helpful in lighting the set and allowing us to create the right mind and vibe for each shit that we desired. The additional lighting was also good when filming close-ups, the fact that the audience can clearly see the band members facial expressions is vital in creating the sense of intimacy between them and the band which can help emote certain feelings in the viewer.  Final Cut Pro X helped us to edit the video and get the best finish for the video and create the look we were attempting to re-create in other videos we had seen. Spotify was used to stream the song whilst we were filming so that those performing were able to hear it and sing in time. it also proved useful when getting an idea of shot lengths for each part of our video. Nathan was then able to match the music to our footage whilst editing the video which made the post-production phase slightly easier.


The photoshop software on the Windows PC I was using was the only tool I used whilst creating both my digipaks and magazine advert. This software possessed all elements I needed during this process. Most notably the cut tool, which enabled me to edit images I had taken or found to my desired effect. The colour wheel was useful whilst searching for the colour i was going to use on my digipak. It offered me countless variation of all colours to use; this was an important decision because I had to consider my bands representation. using the wrong colour could mislead audiences that my band is something that it isn't and may deter certain people from listening/viewing/purchasing the album. Both the vertical and horizontal text boxes were also very useful when creating the layout of my album cover. It was especially important to my product as the text is the centrepiece of the product and is the main attraction to audiences/passers by. The macbooks were also useful to me during my evaluation process so that i was able to write up my questions. I used other presentation formats available to me on the computer in order to bring my evaluation together. These formats included: Prezi, Youtube and Scribd. The aim was to provide and original and differing way of presenting my work to not only make it interesting to read, but to also show-off my media skills.
Overall, I feel that the technology I used during this creative process were central to the finished products. Without these pieces of software or programmes I wouldn't have been able to develop my ideas in the way I did and to create these products without these technologies would have been virtually impossible. 

Creative Journey

1)      The idea I started with was having a picture of a Small Ruin in a forest.

2)      Then I had an idea of having just a picture of a forest or the idea of having the front cover based on nature.

3)      Having a trippy image on the front cover was one of my ideas.

4)      I decided to not do a nature or trippy image and copy a very simplistic idea of having the band members on the front of the magazine. I have taken Ideas from the Album cover of mystery by Brent McCollough with the black and white colour scheme and the simplicity of just having the artist with the name of the album and the name of the artist on it.

5)      For my digipak I was going to use the three pictures of band members on it. This is important because it gives the band members so kind of identity.

6)      Where some of my ideas came from was the album cover to the Pet shop boys, please. The simplicity and the gap between the picture and the writing of the name of the band and album.

7)      Another of my main helpers and tips came from the Pet Shop Boys album, actually. This is because of the simplistic nature of the piece and the way that the two members of the band have been cut out and placed against a white background.

8)      Jay-z’s ‘the black album’ was something I used for the font types and the idea of having the album name below the name of the group or artist.

9)      The two Weezer album covers have been very influential because of the simplicity of the two pieces. The idea of having just the band members on the cover is one I took and I was also interested in the way that they had the same kind of font for both the albums and that they use it in a good way.

10)   ACDC highway to hell I used as an example for the way the name of the band and album is set out. I was contemplating having the name of the album below the image and the name of the band above the image.

11)   The backstreet boys album cover is one I like because of the simplicity but also it has the band members and then the name of the band above it. I took the idea of the band members onto my digipak.

12)   The razorlight album cover is one of my main influences; this is because it is very simplistic. Having the band with the white background behind it was very appealing just like the Pet shop boys albums. I was contemplating having the band name in large like on the Razorlight album but that would have made it too close to it so I went against that idea. 

13)   The ‘Our Last Night’ album was going to be used as inspiration as I was contemplating using the black or white background but with then the band members on the strips with a different colour.

14)   This is the image I have used for the front cover of the band members. What I did was cut each member out one by one and added them to a white background.

15)   The white line which I am going to use as part of the album title, as a separator between the name of the band and the album.

16)   The different fonts I could have used for the name and title of the band and album respectively.

17)   The colour panel I used for the album. Very basic and simplistic as this is the kind of feel I wanted for my album.

18)   The finished Digipak. 

Creative journey // Nathan Beard

Responding to Feedback- Ben Wakeford Digipak

Front cover, Picture was just of the lead singer and the text was slanted across the top of the singer’s head.  On my new front cover I changed the picture to accommodate the whole band. The band are cut out with the lasso tool on Photoshop.  I used the rectangle tool in order to get a white background on the front cover then used the colour overlay in order to make the background look the whitest it can be. I also changed the name of the album to make it sound better; I changed it from the Undercover Martyn to Expensive Sound. This is because Expensive sound is one of the names of the songs and I thought it sounded better to me. I changed the Font type to Calibri because this is a simpler font and it is easier to read than the slanted font over the artist.

Back, on my first draft the back cover was a black background which I did using the rectangle tool on the back cover. I then used text boxes in order to make the song names. On my new digipak I changed the back cover to not have the numbers down the side and just have the names of the songs; this makes it easier to read. I also took the ‘Small Ruin’ away from the top of the list because people would already know the band is called that. The back is now very simplistic like the rest of the digipak.

Tray disk, On the first tray disc I had one of the Small Ruin logo’s. I changed this from the disc because it was just a bit too much for the viewers to take so I changed it to a plain white background using the rectangle tool. On top of the white background I had the address to the Facebook, Twitter and online pages.

On the extra panel, I had that the it was the Small Ruin debut album. I also had a few reviews from people and magazines in music. On the new digipak I scrapped the extra panel and just had four panels.     

Inside left, On the inside left of my old digipak I had the name of the Band and the names of all the band members. Also I had a message from the band, I decided to take these off because the message was a bit ‘cringy’ and wasn’t needed. This is one of the sides that I took off because of the needlessness of the panel.

Inside Centre, On the inside centre of my old digipak there was a picture of the band. I decided to take this out on my new digipak because of the picture of the whole band being on the front cover. 

Pull Out For Digipak Draft 1 // Nathan Beard

Magazine Advert Draft 1 // Nathan Beard

Digipak Draft 1 // Nathan Beard

Digipak Ideas // Nathan Beard

I have gathered some digipak layouts that I feel would be good to use for my own. I think that I would like to use a digipak that has more than 4 panels, as I think that it adds to the experience

4 Panel Digipak

The 4 panel digipak is probably the most used and therefore may come across as a bit mainstream and dull, this is not the image I want form y digipak and therefore it rules out the 4 panel design slightly, however it is versatile and could be used in a different way to make it seem different.

6 Panel Digipak

This is a traditional 6 panel digipak and is a layout that I am considering using, because it gives more space for me to use to create an image for the band, it also gives space to put a booklet, however I personally don't think I will use one.

Digipak Style ideas

This first digipak design is a simple two-panel design. There is no insert but there are lyrics printed on an image in the inside cover. Although, what really drew me to this design is the cut out style on the CD holder. It's something different and adds good effect to the design.

This six-panel design show consistency by keeping the same colour pattern and design across all six panels. This consistency makes the cover look professional and finished to a good standard. The disk also features a design relating the artist/album cover and adds an extra effect to the digipak. the printed lyrics on one panel and some notes from the band's lead singer on another give an added bonus to the album. It may also entice fans to buy it because they are interested to read what they have to say about the album.

The piano image consistent across all 3 panels provide a good effect to this digipak. What also appeals tome is the sleeve insert on the first panel. This provides the opportunity to add something extra to the album, maybe a poster or some notes from the band themselves. 

Digipak Ideas

I like the idea of having this kind of picture of a desolate and relaxed area of forest as the front cover for the Digipak. This is because if the band is a relaxed and chilled out kind of music vibe then this would be more realistic and better for the representation of the band Digipak.

I like this picture because it shows a different vibe of the band because Indie/ alternative music could be associated towards smoking and this represented in the photo. The butterfly flying out of the pipe shows that it is chilled out and represents peace and a chilled group of people. People would like this picture and would draw them in.  

This photo is intersting and is trippy. It would be good because it would draw people into the digipak and they would read the band cover and who the band are. 

I like this image because it shows the countryside and the peaceful nature of it. It is nice and colourful and this would draw people into the Digipak and this would make it more likely to get sales.

Digipak - Initial Ideas And Inspiration // Nathan Beard

This is the powerpoint presentation with my initial ideas and inspiration for my digipak cover art.