TASK FOUR: HOW DID YOU USE NEW MEDIA TECHNOLOGIES IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND RESEARCH, PLANNING AND EVALUATION STAGES?

Alex:In order to discuss with a visual aid which digital technologies were used in the making of Intergalactic, Alex and I constructed a commentary script:

Steph: For the pre production stage of the pop promo, we continuously used the internet, especially Youtube to research other bands and songs that are similar to our chosen one. The Youtube site enables us to watch, listen and comment of a huge variety of songs which was really helpful. We also used the search engine; Google to research star images and music genre to improve the development of our own ideas of the pop-promo.

Alex: Another example of new media technologies used in the planning of the music video is using a Sony PD170 to film the storyboards. Once filmed we used final cut pro to produce an animatic. During the shoot day we used a Sony NX5s and shot the whole video in high definition giving which gave the video better quality and thus a more professional feel. When in the studio filming the video, a 42 inch Samsung monitor was used whilst the song was being played through a CD player. Steph and I used a blue screen in our pop video as we wanted to put in backgrounds like magazine covers and Simon Cowell to show the aliens rise to fame clearly.

Steph: After filming the music video, the rough cut was transferred onto a Mac G5 where we used final cut pro to edit the music video. The software used for after effects was called After FX, this was used to change the background from the blue screen to the images evident in the music video.

Alex: For the exhibition and distribution of our music video we uploaded it onto Youtube, facebook and Blogger. All of which method are via the internet and so they are new media technologies. Youtube allowed us to reach a mass audience of all ages, cultures and genders which was beneficial as feedback was very broad. On the other hand, facebook only promoted the promo to our friends and therefore to a more confined age group.

Steph: In conclusion, new media technology played a very consistent role in all areas of producing our media product, ultimately making the whole process more efficient and time effective. The most interesting new media technology we used was the after effects, especially as both Alex and I had never used the programme before.