Project Evaluation

GIBS REFLECTION CYCLE

I started the project "Music Video" at the start of UAL creative media production & technology level 3 in September. I was addressed to begin a start on researching on how to create my music video using methods by practical and theoretical research qualities. I needed a starting point of beginning my research; and by that It was firstly deciding 3 artists and researching into every demographic about them in order to gather an idea for myself to inspire making 1 music video from a singular artist/band. Very much getting into the artists perspective of their audiences, USP, formed/history and music competitor's, to understand what I'm working with and getting a better idea of the outcome for this music video project. Afterwards, I had to analysis between my upcoming music video production and the artist I had chosen music video - for this, I had to analysis and write up a summary to how my music video will be related towards the The Black Keys. Next, which would be written after post-production; reflect upon my completed my music video and explain the useful elements imported into my re-created video from what I had selected from The Black Keys music band. Forwardly, I had to pick. watch and choose 3 music videos to analyse and compare them to each other with their own differences to get a better understanding of music videos and their concepts; it's a visualisation of how to prepare myself into making one. 

The second part of the research making, analysis and reflection comes into part when I had to dive straight into the music industry; compiling of music video purposes, what is a music video, histories of music videos, construction of image, incomes, label strategies, exposure, synergy, producer strategies, music competitors & socio-economics. All of which were theoretically introduced and explained to me by my tutors. The pre-production part of the project, like in previous creative media projects in the years before and will be in ones the next project; consist of practical doings including production proposal, shot list, risk assessment & storyboard etc. are more of a visualisation into what I want my music video to look like and how I'm going to achieve doing it successfully whilst in preparation. However, I had to go into Adobe premiere pro/Adobe after affects practical tutorials to learn new techniques especially designed to import into my music videos/examples that are already in music videos themselves. So I'm prepared on how to make my production look like a well designed starter official music video. 

This happened during September-towards early October. The demographic in November-December. So overall, it took entirely over the course of how long this project had from start to finish - which isn't bad as some research needs to be analysed and reflected upon near completion. The starting point of the research, and including future research was mostly completed all independently under explanation of tutors in order to do the research thoroughly into completion. I had to do all the research sufficient. At the end of the project, my entire blog had to be checked for pre-grade marking evaluation; for feedback, I had to focus on adding a couple of music video examples and completing the frame rate of music videos/editing technique in adobe software's. That's the only help I had with the research of another person. My feelings of the entirety of the research was that it went well on the terms that I knew what I was doing with the music video, because I had already had an idea that I was going to do The Black Keys, but not particularly sure what song choice I was aiming for. This didn't affect research analysis; I needed an idea before pre-production and then picking 1 out of the 3 artists and later comparing artist demographics. After production and research & practical editing, I believe this project was successful in quality of getting it written, prepared, visualized, spoken out towards others and completed within reasonable time. My emotion is mixed from this project, glad that It went well but with reasons to believe it could've gone differently (will mention in evaluation

I believe the part that was great about this project was the public work section of my blog (practical editing/techniques) Doing practical work editing was a great chance of me learning new editing styles and becoming more aware with adobe software in media. It helps me memorize new skills for a career in media. for this project and the eventual outcome of my music video despite difference in plans. I really loved the output of seeing my music video completed because it was supposed to go a whole different route as I needed people to play the guitar and do the vocals/drums for this project, it didn't happen - but i managed to maintain and think of a plan B needed for diversion and to make it still good. So I created the concept that I was on stage in an underground night club, performing in front of a crowd of a couple hundred people; keeping the lighting moderate/mild/orange and full of warmth will a hint of 'moody' atmosphere, and a new visualisation of me at home preforming the song relating towards the lyrics to create the sense that it's happening to somebody. The production turned out great and still with full relation in concept towards the original artist demographics. 

The bad difficult /experience or I would say challenging part was changing my idea into something completely new at a later time during the project, I was supposed to get a couple of musicians to perform my music video 'The Black Keys: Just Got to Be' but it ended up as a no show, it was difficult at first in order to find an alternate route that would also work with this project, so I decided to self-film the entire project in 2 locations: 1 at the college greenscreen room with the stage lights and other half at home. At first I didn't like the archive footage of me in the greenscreen room just self-recording, so I decided to add some variety and do it at home like I said. In a way it also relates to The Black Keys, because they are an independent band that self performs by themselves and used to produce music videos in their homes and underground clubs; it was a big benefit for my demographic. 

The things that went wrong were because needing people to perform for a music video, which will need a real amount of time to practice especially with instruments beforehand, is a big ask and needed preparation. I could've responded differently and thought about this beforehand that could've avoided a difficult time ahead for filming, but luckily I managed to think of a plan for a second amount of filming to be done to still fir the artists standards although it won't look like the original music video in some comparison. I think my knowledge of this project and how i can do better with it's experiences was a turning point for preparation for me, I need to see more into outcomes and how they can change unexpectedly or without enough thought into it. So it will be a good learning curve for my future career in media and it's projects here. I've never experienced a turning point like this especially in production before. Preparation is now what I can do better because as I'm doing my pre-production work I can dive into outcomes more openly to present my project and how it would look if a situation like this fails again, looking into a second option/plan is very important and checking for any flaws that could happen e.g. no volunteering, a change of place to record etc so it gives an idea that if it wouldn't work for those reasons, it's time to change up the project 

General and specific opinions

For the production part of the project, I want to improve on presenting myself in the video better, because in my music video I had some lip-syncing flaws, which I tries my best to fix during editing; because at that time it was too late to re-record. I have learnt a lot with this project, with preparing myself to not take a blind eye to potential flaws in project production and using thinking skills for new ideas on how to fix those flaws which worked in the end. I taught me how things will never go the way you think they will but that doesn't necessarily mean it's good or bad. 

I want to use my new experience on a pathway to media, in a career, in the future, especially new skills learnt in practical editing tutorial's and use the pre-production research in order to prepare and present myself for ideas as it's very beneficial for creative media because it helps me take a step forward towards completion and understand how I'm going to achieve the final result. I want to use the new editing tutorial's i've learnt to be a memory to keep myself familiar with adobe software so I don't forget in the nearby future if I ever need those skills again for a career. If i have a choice like this again what I want do differently is present myself more confidently in front of production and use thinking capability to identify if there would be a future problem, by using pre-production and presentation pitching.