Evaluation Question 4

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

Blogger

• Track our progress.
• Share all of our videos.
• Post video shoot updates.
• Post podcasts.
• Post vodcasts.
• Show our research into existing ancillary texts, the genre and the act.
• Links lists.
• RSS feeds from other websites.
• Hyperlinks within the text to external related links.
• Image captions.
• Embedding files.

YouTube

• Post rough cuts and final cut.
• Post vodcasts.
• Used for Evaluation Question 1.
• Annotations tool.
• Thumbs Up/Down (used for audience feedback).
• Comments (used for audience feedback).
• View other music videos to study conventions.
• Allows people to subscribe to us and us to subscribe to channels of interest.
• View count.
• Had individual YouTube channels and a company channel.

Twitter

• Follow Daft Punk and related 'tweeters'.
• Tweet our rough cuts and questionnaires for audience feedback.

Facebook

• Share rough cuts and final music video to allow friends to comment on the video with suggestions and comments.
• Communication with group members using Facebook Chat and Messaging.

Skype

• Used to communicate with group to organise dates and share research and planning.

HD Cameras

• Previously used mini-DV SD cameras but HD cameras offer many benefits.
• Uploads to Final Cut Pro X faster as SD cards are used.
• Respond better to light.
• Better at filming moving footage.
• Much better picture quality.
• Footage is already split up when uploaded.

Final Cut Pro X

• Used to edit our music video.
• Previously used iMovie and Final Cut Express but Final Cut Pro X offers many benefits.
• Automatically renders.
• Lots of tools and presets to help us achieve our desired effect.

GarageBand

• Used to record podcasts.

VideoBooth

• Used to record vodcasts with the built in iSight function.

DivShare

• Used to upload podcasts.
• Able to embed the podcasts to post on Blogger.

Scribd

• Used to embed word documents such as our treatment.

Adobe After Effects

• Used for creating some vodcasts.
• Used for a few of the viral campaign images.

Photoshop Elements 6

• Used to create the digipak.

Photoshop CS6

• Used to create the magazine advert.
• Used to create some of the viral campaign images.

Prezi

• Used to create an interactive and interesting powerpoint presentation, used in Evaluation Question  3.

This extensive combination of new media technologies were all essential to creating what we have now. In the past, it would have been very difficult to produce and share what we did, but with O'Reilly's Web 2.0 our role as a passive consumer has changed to being an active producer. Technologies such as Blogger, YouTube and Facebook have played a vital role in the distribution of our products and have helped us to receive feedback and responses to our media products.

TC - Daft Punk Final Cut Feedback

After screening our music video to a group of 25 male and female pupils aged 14 to 15 I gathered some responses and feedback and comments about the overall video and specific scenes/element.

• 75% of a class would have been encouraged to buy track after watching the video
• Different reading were to be expected but many of the group gave our preferred reading of, tickets being handed out for a gig or concert then showing the gig at the end.

We asked for some positive and negative point:

Positive: costume for the traveller was effective in setting him apart, The visual effects used really fitted the music video e.g the colour altering. Bike sequence was good the rewinding and jump cuts, not overusing the changing colour and effects. Layers, reflection shot, biker tricks was all good, tapping opening sequence and Live performance footage.Changing clothes was good but could have been improved if it were in another shop in charity shop.

Negative: Skateboard sequence didn't fit should have been filmed in a more open space, Bike sequence was confusing it was very fast.

Age appeal: Track choice was good, Skateboarding didn't fit or appeal to this age range, The SPFX were 'current' and appealed to us, the use of the car and public transport.


We asked about individual scene....

Charity shop scene 25 to 30% thought is was a good scene and fitted, a similare percentage were neutral in response and the remainder of the group disliked it.

WL - Revised Digipak Design

WL - Draft 4 Digipak

Here is the 4th draft of the digipak. This was going to be the final design but we tweaked it to incorporate performance footage.

WL - The Viral Competition

We are currently running a competition which binds the digipak poster and video. The competition asks for fans to photograph the poster in any location they choose for a chance for it to be featured in the music video ending sequence and in a 'Remix' version of the digipak to be released at a later date. The poster used viraly spreads and gains internet and world coverage through the fans themselves. The QR code on the posters are links to the competition post on Quack Cuts Blog explaining the competition and how to enter.

Audience Feedback from School Teachers

This feedback comes by email from school teachers, all within our upper secondary target audience age range:

"Classic piece of music to use and one which is sure to have a resurgence in popularity after their recent success. 

It was a good video, not quite as good as the original but very good nonetheless!

I liked the attempt and nod to the daft punk helmets and the variety of sort of story line that ran through it. Odd addition to go into Sue Ryder to collect some clothes but hey, it was pretty random and made me laugh. The fast paced pictures and action kept my interest to see what was coming up next and the mix of light, snow, 'nightclub' added different sides to the video. A great video all round I thought. 

I had no idea that Will Lennard was so good on a skateboard.

Hope this helps the lads. I thought it looked pretty professional so have no real criticisms."

"I think it's really good and enjoyed it a lot. I wish I had the vocab or skills to comment on it!

I enjoyed the variety of transitions and effects and thought it was very interesting to watch and that the narrative held together but the details of the music and genre are beyond my ken.

I liked the hand beat and cuts at the beginning!

I'll watch it again though and show my group."

"I watched yesterday and showed to tutees today.  So impressed by the work and professionalism, can't even imagine the hours that have gone into it. 

My favourite part - tapping gloved hand or possibly Hitchcockian fade from wheel to wheel.

least favourite (and apparently everyone says this) - skater boy - looks clumsy and out of place with the style of the rest of the piece."

(via Mr Burrowes) "I am in awe of your students. Well done!"

"Definitely catchy! I thought this was great - well done."

Evidence of Directing

A video to show the directing in the making of our music video.