Rough Cut

Rough Cut

In order to improve our rough cut of our music video, feedback from our audience played an essential role. Strengths and weaknesses are highlighted in the feedback stage which is vital for further improvement of the production. Feedback allows our group to gain an insight to a second opinion where  slight or major mistakes/corrections that need improving can be seen which we are oblivious to due to re-watching our product so many times which could result in a dramatic change of the product from slight alterations. This also beneficial because audience can also suggest additional changes which can be applied to the music video in order to improve our product further. We received audience feedback from various screenings of our production. Firstly, our media class viewed our entire production and gave us feedback immediately afterwards. However, we also uploaded our production to YouTube and social media in which our audience commented and left both constructive and positive feedback. Other ways in which we received feedback was through questionnaires asking varied questions in order to see what the audience thought of our video and how we could improve. Feedback is vital to the production as it allows a second opinion to suggest changes and improvements which can be made to make the final product something the audience will want to see. Minor or major changes can be adjusted which makes the music video more stereotypical to the genre and something which the target audience are engaged in watching. This is beneficial to the music industry because the product is improved due to feedback from the rough cut and improve the product into something which targets their specific audience and can overall mean that there is an increase in sales which results in a higher profit for the music industry. 

The feedback which we received from our audience was from both, screenings of our production during class time but also from comments on social media and YouTube. The feedback which we did receive was a mix of both negative feedback which is constructive for the improvement of our production. Yet also positive feedback, which shows us what our target audience are engaged by and like to see in our music video in which we shouldn't change. One positive comment which we received on our music video through YouTube is the editing techniques that are used. More specifically the audience has commented on the use of the overlapping technique which has been used throughout our music video frequently. This gives the video a unique feel which has not been used in many music videos of the soul genre before. Overlapping is interesting for the audience to see instead of an ordinary filter added on top which may not be as engaging for the audience to watch. The audience may also begin to think of connotations used with the overlapping of the shots and could be inferred as the overwhelming amount of emotions the artist is displaying  through the lyrics. This may engage the audience further as they could possibly relate to how the artist is feeling. Furthermore, another piece of positive audience feedback we received was that the use of cinematography is of a high standard and have used multiple shots to make the music video more interesting to watch. Some of these shots which have been mentioned by audience members in our media class are the point of view shot at the beginning of the video which slowly comes into focus. Not many music videos include this, and the audience feel as though they are watching the artist perform in person which is a unique feel to the video and can help to build a relationship between audience and artist as they are able to see them from a closer perspective. Other cinematography elements which have been mentioned are the panning shots which are included of the candle panning over to the memory pictures of the artist when she was younger. This shot is favoured by the audience as it helps to reiterate to the audience the narrative of how the artist is reminiscing on her past before she found fame. Furthermore, another piece of positive feedback which we received was how the audience enjoyed the different paces throughout the music video, as some scenes where slower whilst some scenes had an increased pace. One audience member mentioned that this engaged them as it suggested that it was almost like the artist was watching the world go by, which is often what happens when detaching themselves from all emotion and aspects of the 'real world'. This suggests to the audience and reiterates how lonely the artist is feeling. In turn, making the audience sympathise for the audience yet also seeing her as down to earth as she is showing her true emotion for everybody to see. Lastly, audience members mentioned that one piece of the music video that they enjoyed was the fact it was filmed in several different locations. An example of this is how we filmed specific scenes in London. This made a positive impact for the audience as it helped to show how the artist was reminiscing on the past and where she came from. This also engages the audience further as for most, London is a recognisable place in which they feel that they have something in common with the artist and as though they are beginning to get to know them.

Negative comments which are constructive and beneficial to our music video is that we could add additional scenes which would make the overall narrative clearer for the audience. Suggestions of which scenes we could add are the artist leaving or having an argument with her friends which could then show why she is reminiscing on past times as she has left them to find fame. When watching our music video back we did realise that the narrative may be unclear for those who did not know what the narrative was beforehand. So including these additional scenes may make it clearer for the audience to understand and follow along easily in order to sustain the audiences attention throughout the entire video. Another comment which has been made about our music video is how effects can be added to the product in order to make the overall narrative much clearer for the audience. An example of how we can improve this is to add a black and white filter onto the scenes which are meant to be memories. The black and white filter is stereotypically known for representing a memory, which is what we want to create to show the audience that this is what the artist is reminiscing on. Another negative comment we received which was constructive in order for our music video to improve was the fact that the performance scenes were included too many times and became too repetitive for the audience to watch. To improve this we could film more scenes of the artist performing, however in different scenery such as a piano room so the audience does not become disengaged. +Furthermore, the filter used will also be able to help express and represent the artist further. The black helps to show the depressive state the artist is currently in, whilst the white helps to show the vulnerability she is feeling as she is alone. The two combined are not a desirable emotion which further helps the audience to sympathise for her. 

Examples of feedback which we received:

To improve on our music video we will try to incorporate suggestions that have been made to us through the feedback we received. Firstly, we are aiming to film additional scenes to include in our music video to make the narrative more clear for the audience. Scenes which we aim to film are the friends arguing around the artist leaving and becoming famous. This will help the audience to understand the rest of the narrative how the artist is reminiscing on the past, when she wasn't lonely and show the audience why she is feeling this way. Another piece of feedback which we have taken on board and aim to improve is adding further editing techniques to the music video to again, help the narrative become more clear.  An example of an editing technique which we will include is adding black and white filters onto the scenes with the friends before the artist was famous, enjoying themselves. This will help to reiterate to the audience that this is a memory the artist is reminiscing on, and again how lonely and vulnerable she is now. Not only does this help to show the narrative more clearly, but also helps to represent the artist and builds a relationship between as they begin to sympathise for her.