1. Immediate idea on what brief you would like to choose?

We have decided to create a music video for our A2 media piece. We believe we can best create this type of product as it is something we are all exposed to through the internet and other forms of social media. Music videos are crucial for supporting a bands music and I think it would be great to create our own media product. We will take influence from current music videos across a range of genres but also introduce our own creativity to the product.

Things to produce include:
A promotion package for the release of an album, to include a music promo video, together with the two following ancillary tasks: 
- a music video
- a digipak for the albums release;
- a magazine advertisement for the digipak.

2. Who are you looking at working with in your group? why? What skills can each person bring?

To produce the A2 music video I have decided to work with three other students in my media studies class. Their names are, Matt, Will, and Drew. Each of us bring a range of different skills and uses to the production of the piece making the entire process quicker but also to a higher degree of quality. For example, I am confident with editing techniques within programs such as Adobe premiere pro, after effects as well as creating posters and advertising campaigns including CD covers etc. However, Matt will focus on things such as the narrative of the music video, helping write blog posts as well assisting with filming. Both Will and Drew can drive which is an immediate help considering we can venture much further distances e.g. London. I think this will in turn create a more believable impression as we can really fit the locations into the storyline. Will and Drew will both help with filming the music video as well as setting up props and certain scenes. All of these skills combined together should mean are music video can reach a better standard. By working as a team as opposed to working on my own will mean I can really focus the creativity of the video but this also mirrors the real life development of how media products are created simultaneously involving editors, cinematographers, and script writers. Also I believe the fact that we are all confident with technology

3. From the examples you have researched, plus your planning, filming and editing experiences from the AS coursework, what are you hoping to achieve this year? What can you do better at? Do as well at? Want to do the same? Want to do completely different?

From last years AS work we have all learnt a significant amount in terms of how to produce successful media products not just practically but also in theory practise. We developed skills on how to film and how media works in industry. With this experience I am keen that we will be able to create an even better A2 media piece. I believe this first hand practise with cameras and digital technology will be key to developing our work throughout the next year. We have already started to plan ahead and have an idea of what are music video will be about. Collectively as a team I think everyone will work together well meaning we can purely focus on the creative aspect.

In terms of things we could do better this year:
 However, I think this time we need to plan ahead a little earlier to ensure that we reach deadlines
 and meet targets. If we manage to complete things like the blog work early it will mean we can focus on the media product. We must also account for editing time which always takes longer than expected. Furthermore, we are planning to use quite a lot of editing techniques in our music video meaning the filming editing time together will most likely take place over a matter of weeks, possibly months before the final cut is created.

Things we would like to do differently this year:
This year I would really like to experiment a little more with cinematography and filming techniques to a higher standard. What I mean by this is using techniques like: push/pull focus, rule of thirds as well as investing in better equipment to improve the quality of the video. I really want this music video to look as professional as possible so filming to a high resolution will certainly help with this and overall make the feel of the product that bit better.