Evaluation

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

Conventions Used:
Instruments:
The first convention of real media products that we used in our music video was the use of instruments (guitar and drums in our video) this was a key convention for. The reason as to why this was a key convention for us to use in our video was that from carrying out research into indie music videos, we discovered that is every video that we looked at we saw the inclusion of instruments, often through a band performance. This is because seeing the band playing their instruments creates the impression of realism and that they are able to perform live, which is a big factor in indie music.
Also, we felt that we needed to include a band performance

Just one example of where you are able to see a band playing their instruments are the Sex Pistols in their song Holiday In The Sun.






Lip Sync is the second convention that we used. This conventions relates back to the idea of the use of instruments in our video, as for as much as the indie audience wants to see the band members playing instruments, they also want to see them singing.
The lip syncing also helped us and the musician/band to tell a story and display the bands emotions, whilst making the song more personal to them as it shows a connection.

An example of where lip sync was used was Oasis's Champagne Supernova. Lip syncing is used when the lead singer is laying on his back, looking up at the camera singing towards it. This allows him to expressive his emotions through his expressions making it more personal to him. We tried and hopefully did create a moment like this in our video where we had the lead singer singing directly into the camera on his own and also towards the female in the video as well as the camera.

Both of these conventions, we have learnt, are vital for a good indie music video as the indie audience expect the band to be able to perform the songs that they are listening to.


Conventions Developed:
Narrative:

One convention that we used in our music video and then developed was narrative. We used a narrative as the main basis of our music video, creating the story of someone trying to win back their partner, using the lyrics of the song to tell the story. The main themes of our narrative were trying to win someone back and then comedy, both of which we were able to incorporate through the lyrics. We took the storyline of a break up and then trying to win back his partner from the lyrics in the song and the title 'Start Again'. But then we developed this more to appeal to our target audience by introducing an aspect of comedy into the video. Another music video that's narrative/storyline involves a comedy theme is U2's 'Sweetest Thing', which shares a very similar storyline/narrative to our music video, as in both videos, the lead singer can be seen trying to win back a girl, the only difference is that in U2's video, we see the lead singer being much more extravagant and has more success.
However, our narrative has more of a link to the lyrics of the song, which increases the connection between the band and the music video and song, which is an important factor in the indie genre.


Camera - Close Ups:

Another convention that we developed was close ups. Close ups are often seen in indie music videos as the audience expects to see the artist perform, whether it is singing, a close up on the singers face, or play an instrument, a close up on a band member playing. This close up can help show the audience the connection between the band and their song/music as it can show the singers emotion through their facial expressions which is a big factor in indie.

Just one example of where the close up is used is Jungle Giants 'I am what you want me to be' music video. In the video, there are a variety of shots where you see a close up of the band members playing their instruments.
During our video, we show close ups of the guitar and drums being played, as well as the lead singer singing. However, we developed this by adding a transparent close up overlay of the lead singer over over shots of the video, allowing us to build even more of a connection between the artist and the video.

Conventions Challenged:
Band Performance in Narrative:

The first convention that we developed and made an important part of the music video was the incorporation of band performance during the narrative of the video. This again helped to show the ability of the band members and that they can do a live performance, but it also allowed us to add to the comedy and romance of the music video as we could integrate the band into the video having them to try and help the lead singer out to try and win back the girl, for example the guitarist spraying him with deodorant. Furthermore, at the end of the video, we see the band playing together, but the story still continues throughout their performance as the girl walks in and goes over to the lead singer. This adds to the narrative of the video whilst adding additional performance.
By doing this, it also enabled us to make the band performance more engaging, rather than just having the band play, like in many indie music videos such as The Clash's 'London's Calling' Where we just see the band standing together, playing on the barge, which is not very appealing.















2. How effective is the combination of your main product and ancillary text?
            
3. How have you learnt from your audience feedback?
What was your favourite part of the music video?

                           

What could be better about our video?

                           

What didn't you like about our video?

                           

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

                        

Final Front and Back Album Cover

                                           


                                             

The Roscoes Start Again, Final Video - Audience Research

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The Roscoes 'Start Again' - Youtube Video

Unfortunately, due to how the video uploads to Youtube from Final Cut, the picture is not completely in sink with the music. This has resulted in any moments where we have lip sink or playing of instruments it is not in time.

The Roscoes 'Start Again'

Today we finished our music video and uploaded it to Youtube.

Editing Update 18/12/13

Today we finally finished editing our music video for The Roscoes Start Again.

Editing Update 17/12/13 Third Draft

We have now very almost finished all of our video, with all the footage in and transitions.
We only now need to sort out very few timing issues and then increase the brightness of the argument at the beginning of the video and of me playing the guitar.

Editing Update 15/12/13 Second Draft

Here is our second draft of our music video so far.



The video at this point is about 95% completed and just requiring some alterations and tweaks such as lip sinking and transitions. Also, at the end there is no singing in the song even though Richard is singing.

Final Magazine Advert

Editing Day 12/12/13

Now that we have finished all of our filming for our music video, we are having a whole day of editing so that we can finish our video.
Here is a draft as to what we have done so far.



We are around 90% complete at this stage, as we have most of the footage in the correct places. We still need to add transitions and get the timings are right as we possibly can.

Filming Update 11/12/13

Today we finally finished our filming after completing our band performance. This means that we can now try to finish out editing tomorrow during our editing day.

Filming Updates 05/12/13

Today we finished the majority of our filming, with just a bit left to film of us doing a band performance which we are planning to do next week, most probably on Wednesday.
Also, after looking back at the footage we have so far, it is easy to see how much more footage we need compared to what we thought would be enough, this could mean that we may also have to get some other shots next Wednesday.

Album Cover Ideas

Record Label

Today we started discussing our album cover and realised that we will probably need a record label and production company.
We initially thought that it would be a good and an easy idea to use the same production company that we used for our AS media; Royale Productions. However, for this to work, we have changed it from simply a film production group to a conglomerate called Royale Media Group. To the right is the logo that we used last year. We feel that this logo needs to be updated.

For our new logo (as seen to the left) we kept the idea of having a crown in the logo to continue the theme of 'royal'. Also, the lion represents England as well so with the company being English we felt it was suitable.
We have chosen to make the logo colourful, as we will for out album cover, as we found it was common with indie bands and music.

Risk Assessment

New Location Research

As I said in a previous post, we have changed our location to Saffron Walden and Robs house. Below are the locations that we are now using for our music video.

The Common in Saffron Walden




Swan Meadow in Saffron Walden




Robs House in Widdington

Filming Update 24/11/13

We have had another location change. We are now no longer using Aimee's house for the argument scenes but have now changed to using Robs house. We have decided this because it is closer and easier for us to all get to, especially with instruments.

Filming Update 22/11/13

Yesterday we did our first bit of filming in Cambridge and managed to films a few shots, realising it was going to be harder than we thought.
We also realised that it would be easier for us to film in Saffron Walden, due to it being closer and less busy with quieter streets, as we had to wait for the flow of people to slow down for certain shots, making it difficult for us to get the necessary shots in a shot time period.

We are now planning on filming again on Sunday in Saffron Walden.

Practise Filming

Filming Update 14/11/13

Unfortunately, due to Rob's car malfunctioning, we have been unable to film as we have no other way of getting to Aimee's house.
Hopefully his car will be fixed in the next couple of days, otherwise we may need to find another mode of transport to use.
We are hoping to now do these shots on Sunday.

Filming Update 13/11/13

Tomorrow we are planning on doing the first scenes of our music video.
We have changed our location for these shots from Richards house to Aimee's house as we feel that it will be more suitable due to its location.

Calendar; Filming Dates

Storyline

The story of the video is that the lead singer of the band has and argument with his girlfriend. She tells him to leave and throws him out of the house as well as throwing his things out. The band are outside the house waiting for him and try to cheer him up. The next day they drive to Cambridge to find his girlfriend and try to dramatically win her back with the help of the band members, by giving him things to give to her such as flowers. He then tries to get her to take him back and he does this by making her laugh and making romantic gestures. He fails that day and then on the next he gives her a ticket to a 'private' concert which she goes to and then falls for the boy again.

Story Board

Beneath is a photo of our final story board. These photos show that we have moved away from our initial idea which included domestic violence which the Roscoes were unsettled with. It shows that our new idea includes scenes in Cambridge where the guy is trying to win back the girl by 'wooing' her and then at the end he performs for her. 

Storyline - Fast Forwarding

Originally our initial plan was to have our story rewind to reveal something to the audience, however, we have now decided that we will fast forward through a part of the story so that you can see what has happened, but so that it takes up less time of the video.