1. Question 4 Media Portfolio A2
Evaluation
How did you use media technologies
in the construction and research,
planning and evaluation stages?

2. Introduction
• For our A2 portfolio we decided to create a music video,
digi-pack and website based around the original band ‘The
Shalala Vines’. We chose to create all of our products
around their latest EP called ‘Sunnyside’ as well as choosing
the headlining track from the EP also called ‘Sunnyside’.
• Throughout our A2 media project we have had to use many
different types of software, programs and websites/apps to
help create our portfolio. For example for the website alone
we used Wix to create the site as a whole and linked to
different technologies such as YouTube, social media links
to sites like, Facebook, Twitter and Soundcloud etc.
• By doing so we have shown that we are able to use and
advanced range of tech to present our findings and our
products.

3. Research
• First of all we created our blog on Blogger. We found that
this site was too primitive and lacked the creative edge and
control we were looking for. For example on Blogger a
typical post would usually be a block of text and a single
image at the end of the post. Due to these issues we later
moved to Weebly another online blog site.
• Weebly offered a lot more control over the way we wanted
our blog to look right off the bat and also had a lot more
mechanics concerning the posts themselves. There were a
lot more applications with could be implemented into the
posts such as, slideshows with multiple images, video links,
social media links etc.
• Here’s an example of the two sites contrasted:

4. Research (Weebly)

5. Research (Blogger)

6. Research
• During the research process itself we mainly used the internet and sites
such as YouTube and Google images. On each blog post per research topic
we made sure we had current examples of the clip/image we were
analysing, whether that be a video link or a website URL.
• For example when analysing the music video ‘Still Into You’ by ‘Paramore’
we took screenshots of the video and linked them into the analysis that
was taking place.
• The internet was the best resource we used throughout the project as
each site we looked into was completely up to date and helped us
evaluate the sort of audiences that we should appeal to. We also had no
choice but to use the internet for research due to all of our work being
digital. Digi-packs can be physical, but we found it hard to find physical
copies which were easily available to us.
• We presented these findings using a few different techniques such as
Slideshare, Prezi, Powtoon and Survey Monkey. As well as using external
applications Weebly also offered a lot of the apps we needed to create an
exciting blog. It allowed you to embed videos from YouTube as well as add
your own files to the site whether it be audio, video or just still images.

7. Production
• Across the three tasks we used a lot of
different technologies that took us out of our
comfort zone. We used methods that we
hadn't necessarily used before throughout
Media Studies as a whole.
• For example for each part of the portfolio we
created surveys on Survey Monkey to appeal
to our target audience, get an audience
opinion etc.

8. Production (Website)
• To create the website we used a site called Wix.
• At first we tried to create our website from scratch and
add in all the different sections ourselves, however in
the end we chose to use one of Wix’s templates which
made the website feel a lot more vibrant and
professional.
• As well as offering templates Wix is completely
customisable and allowed you to use many different
apps within it. For example on the ‘Music’ page we
linked all of ‘The Shalala Vines’’ social media sites as
well as put the ‘Sunnyside’ EP on the webpage through
the use of Soundcloud.

9. Production (Website)
• Here is a few examples from the finished
website:

10. Production (Website)

11. Production (Digi-pack)
• For the majority of the Digi-pack we used Photoshop
and Illustrator to create the main effects of the ink and
silhouettes.
• Throughout the Digi-pack production, Photoshop was
heavily used. The first step was to create the
silhouettes and ink images. These images were
captured using a HD Senheisser still camera and later
manipulated in Photoshop.
• Secondly Photoshop was used the create the
silhouettes and to layer all the images on top of one
another.
• The images themselves were manipulated using the
saturation tool, magic wand tool, crop tool etc.

12. Production (Music Video)
• For the music video we used the most varied collection of technology
across the entire portfolio. Our initial idea was to create a very colourful
video filled with excitement and enthusiasm to reflect the nature of the
chosen track.
• To record and capture the video we used a HD Senheisser video camera
and to document the filming we used a HD Senheisser still camera. To edit
the video we used Adobe Premier as well as blue screen.
• While recording the music video two methods were used the first used a
blue screen (green screen but blue) to create the silhouettes and the
recorded normally on a white background with a model.
• The reason we decided to use the blue screen and create the silhouettes
were for a number of reasons. The idea initially came from the song itself.
The song is based around someone hiding their true identity in the real
world. The silhouettes represent this exactly. We also used the blue screen
to explore new ways of being creative as ‘The Shalala Vines’ themselves
strive to be different and unique.
• On the next few slides there are some screenshots from the video:

13. Production (Music Video)

14. Production (Music Video)

15. Production (Music Video)

16. Evaluation
• During the evaluation process we answered our
questions using, a video, Prezi, Slideshare and a word
document.
• By using all of these different sites and methods we
were able to present our conclusions and our work in a
systematic and professional way. We also continued to
follow the themes of the ‘Sunnyside’ EP by using
similar colour schemes to present our work in.
• By using a variety of technologies we were able to
demonstrate just how we’ve grown as media students
and how we are able to use many different methods to
convey our ideas and creativity.