Evaluation

 

The feedback I received from my product was very positive and came from my family, they thought that the video was well done and that the music suited the video very well and thought it did a good job of providing a nice atmosphere but also allowing for the educational part to fit in, not to mention how it suited for the video. Overall, I have received positive feedback for my product, and I am most happy to have.

The shot sizes mainly used are close ups, and medium close ups as I wanted to provide the best coverage and views for the audience due to the nature of the video being a tutorial, therefore teaching methods must be clearly displayed, therefore we cannot allow views to be disrupted if they interfere with the teaching aspect. I made sure to follow the brief, along with my previous comments made in regards to maintaining static shots used within the video as a whole, using equipment such as tripods for the main perspective to prevent shakiness within the camera. The camera itself used was the Canon 1200D, which was beneficial as I have prior knowledge and familiarity within using it, therefore I was able to make sure the recording process was more smoother. 

The camera angles predominantly featured were eye level as it suited the tutorial nature and helped the viewers be able to see the cut more clearly, although I made sure to add a variety of shots, such as over the shoulder and a bit of a high angle too, which helped provide a more visually appealing aspect whilst still preventing any disruption of the educational tutorial. 

I made sure to keep to my time frame, making the video practically 3 minutes, which also helped in making the video fast paced, keeping the attention of the youth audience that has been prioritised as the target demographic of between 16-18 year old audience of level 2 and 3 barbers or potential barbers. 

The video itself makes prominent note within the intro that is in relation to Sunderland college, with the use of the college logo. I feel this was a good usage as it highlights the appropriate featuring of the college, to fit the location of where the video will be held, within the Sunderland college website, making it feel on brand with the rest of the website and not out of place. 

The fonts used within the video were Hiragino Sans GB and Seravek, these fonts were very helpful in expressing a professional look, whilst also allowing for readability, preventing any possible mistakes within the clarity of the instructions. These are both sans serif fonts, the usage of such was to make it more readable, providing a wider audience as if the font used was hard to read, the tutorial wouldn't be very reliable and therefore lose its popularity, along with such font preventing the actual tutorial from being very instructional. However, I've chose these fonts as although they're readable, they still provide a professional and unique look rather than looking too bland, it helps the video stand out not seem boring, the appeal of the font really helps tie the tutorial together, and the omission of such would really prevent the popularity towards the target audience. The use of the colour white really helped it stand out from the video and attract the audio to it, making the use of such specifying the importance of such instructions to the video and really blending the two as a whole.  It helped add to the brand identity fitting the colour theme of Sunderland college and their colour scheme of white and blue, so it was also able to benefit within that aspect as well. Not to mention its key relation to the house style aspect, really keeping it consistent and blending it well.

In terms of Media theory, you can easily relate it quite well to semiotics, through the usage of indexes, such as the scissors and haircutting mannequin, which heavily relates to the process of haircutting. The symbol of the Sunderland College log, which is built through brand identity. The icon of the scissors cutting hair is another one to mention as it clearly displays the process. However you could also relate the tutorial to Todorov's theory of narratology. The three act structure of the Equilibrium, that being the initial beginning with no changes made to the haircut. The disequilibrium being the haircutting process as it brings change to the hairstyle. Lastly the partial restoration of the equilibrium, which would be the finished haircut, as although we have reached the end, the change brought by the haircut is there, bringing a narrative to the tutorial itself, and the new equilibrium is formed. Even genre theory can be mentioned here, through the tutorial and through the college itself highly relating to education, placing this video in an educational genre.  

I also made sure to keep my work to a professional standard with things such as a production diary, detailing the dates and what I did throughout the work process.Not to mention things such as a risk assessment, shooting schedule, equipment list, etc... I felt overall this really helped benefit my workflow and displays my awareness of having such material in, to provide detailed information on the process that I've went through, along with meeting the professional standard that is required for such projects and within jobs surrounding media. 

  

 

The feedback I received within my rationale was also beneficial as it helped show the recognition of my skills, in particular the use of the cutaways within the video as a whole, along with the transitions and the lighting used within it. Although I did receive some feedback within my google forms survey that was rather strange, as all the points mentioned were easily unnecessary and failed to recognise it as a dry run about cutaways, giving the impression that they watched a completely different video for particular points. 

In particular, in relation to the feedback, I believe there to be some noteworthy things to mention in terms of what I received. The first part here mentions the addition of the college logo, which is one thing I could consider, however for this in particular, it was supposed to be a dry run going through the typical codes and conventions of a barbering video, along with editing techniques, in particular shot types and camera angles, therefore the addition of such a logo, wouldn’t serve any purpose unless in regards to the actual final product, which would make sense, as it is in relation to the client. As in regards to the instructions, I fail to see how this would serve any purpose, as not only does it have no reaction to the video, which is specifically mentioned to be a cutaways project, listing the different motions, it would also be false advertising as not only do I have no barbering knowledge to take such actions to provide instructions, but also in relation to the actual final product which will be produced, the addition of Mark, the lecturer of the barbering course of Sunderland college, who also has over twenty years in the industry, will be there, who will actually be cutting hair, as opposed to fake cutting, I can’t give instructions with a lack of knowledge into such areas, not to mentions no actual footage of hair being cut, therefore the omission of such makes sense to me. Subtitles, for this I partially understand, however the necessity for having them there is not needed, as not only is this to be focusing on editing techniques, which although subtitles could be slightly considered involved in that, I have nothing to subtitle for, there is no voice over, therefore having such would feel rather useless, I provided text to do with minor details, which is in relation to codes and conventions of barbering, however subtitles aren’t particular used within it, in particular the video Mark brought to us as an example featured no subtitles, therefore greatly highlighting my point. Therefore more subtitles seems unnecessary since I have nothing to work with. For the final piece of feedback for this topic, I’d like to highlight the fact that the individual mustn't have watched the video, as nowhere in such a video does it mention it being a barbering tutorial, yes it’s a dry run, one that involves features heavily used within a barbering tutorial, the main focus is editing and codes and conventions of a barbering tutorial, not necessarily to make one, not only that but he brings up the mentions of tools needed, which is not my area of expertise, nor am I told I should need these things, that is for the client to tell me, however since this is a dry run, it doesn’t feature his involvement. I haven’t specified which haircut “your” even doing, when I have no knowledge of what haircut to mention, not only that but there is not any haircutting being performed. The only valid criticism I can see within this is the type of fonts used, asides from “textbooks” which I can assure you where not present, nor necessary for the barbering project. However, I feel for the font, it made sense, I was trying to fit a theme, and calling them bland, dull, and lifeless seems a bit unnecessary, and a little overkill, since although I understand it was white, which made sense as it was the most visually appealing and most clear for the video, not only that but as previously stated within my blog, it shouldn’t disrupt the audience’s focus, with the main focus being centred around the movements of the hand and “cutting” therefore although using an “eye-catching” font would give the exact opposite intention I’d have in mind and therefore ruin the video. As for the catch phrases, I don’t really see how that fits into the codes and conventions of a barbering video, maybe for a possible intro in relation to the brand? Although such feedback feels a little vague.  

Some recent additions to the feedback were both very valid, an intro would be appropriate, although the omission was due to mostly focusing on editing and codes and conventions as a whole, however I can see how an intro could fit into the codes and conventions, as for the other camera steadiness is something I should consider, although I am slightly unsure of the transition mentioned to be used for the equipment, I can understand it having a presence there, and I did mention wanting to implement it to some degree, so I understand this. Another thing camera steadiness is definitely something I feel is imperative and vital due to it being mentioned in the brief being a still shot, I was unable to use a tripod at the time, however if I could I would’ve, also the footage was shot mostly by me, however some shots were not done by me and therefore I feel that although we weren't allowed, I need to be aware if I allow someone else to shoot that they are also aware of such requirements to fit the brief. 

One thing I’ll definitely make sure to correct is the camera steadiness, it something that should be corrected, although as previously mentioned alerting others to such a correction is imperative, asides from that more of a intro would definitely be valuable, although as a whole, I was already aware of this, similarly to the college logo feedback, it didn’t feel too necessary for the dry run that was mostly focusing on the editing techniques, along with the codes and conventions, HOWEVER unlike the college logo feedback, I do understand how to a certain extent why an intro could fit into the codes and conventions, although such an addition to the final product was already a given, I appreciate the feedback. 

From my finished product, I feel it is evident that I have taken into consideration the previous feedback I received in relation to the cutaways project I did, such as the addition of the Sunderland college logo, which although wasn't really relevant to the actual video the feedback was in relation to, I still used it. Once again, I used more of a intro within my finished product, however similarly to my previous point, the absence of such in the video the feedback was referring to was justified. Camera steadiness was something I made sure played a vital role of improvement for my final piece, I made sure as previously stated to aware the other camera operator of the production day of such an importance, I also made sure to place importance of this for myself within the operation of the camera that was done by myself.  Along with instructions, which similarly to beforehand were not necessary, and would only lead to negative impacts for the video they were giving for feedback for, I did make sure to add them to the finished product for my tutorial. I feel from this, it is evident that I have clearly taken into consideration previous feedback given and worked on it to lead to my tutorial video being successful. 

Overall, I feel in relation to the brief I have definitely hit the criteria for the product requirements, producing a barbering tutorial which closely follows the instructions and the process of the haircut as a whole. I also believe that my client brief really helps summarise how I intended to cater to my audience, really helping push the brand identity for the college. My research into existing products helped me pick up on the codes and conventions of a tutorial, which really helped in terms of giving me a more detailed understanding for the process of making my final product. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEDndTCyGgU

Taking a look at this existing product here really helps show it, as I bring in the visual component alongside valuate information in order to complete the process. However you can also see where I differ in certain aspects, as I try to provide more informative instructions and tips which contrasts due to the nature of the tutorial, one being a haircutting process the other being a food tutorial, which helps show the diversity amongst it. It was also in relation to my tutorial being related to the College therefore I really wanted to land that educational component to it, so that it felt appropriate for the college, as leaving instructions vague and not really giving those tips doesn't really reflect well as a proper haircutting tutorial. 

https://web.microsoftstream.com/video/77ed41d0-7aaa-4723-b815-816d9c38f9f5?list=user&userId=caf89963-33f2-48d7-ab6b-4d088758f3ad

Furthering my point, I'd also like to take a look at a haircutting tutorial, as you can see the way my camera really gives a variety of shots whilst still maintaining that key frame of a static video is also provided, matching the codes and conventions specifically of a haircutting tutorial, however we can also see that in differs in aspects such as the voice over taking centre stage for this tutorial, originally within the brief we would've matched this as Mark specifically mentioned himself doing a voice over however he opted against this later on, I feel I've managed to provide a educational and informative approach that this barbering tutorial has brought within mine, whilst also maintaining the text outlook, with some nice music to match it that the cooking tutorial has, providing a unique approach that I believe helps set itself apart from others. I feel I've also been able to really provide that mise-en-scene that was sorely lacked within the existing product barbering tutorial, through the usage of key equipment, barbering kits, haircutting doll heads, set on the table, not to mention Mark himself, which also adds to the atmosphere as you really get that visual atmosphere of it feeling like a barbering video since the presence of the barber is far more involved, along with the scenery beyond the haircut, plus the presence of Mark being more involved allows for a better demonstration of the the haircut and its process. 

To bring this to a conclusion, I feel that this project as a whole was a success, minor problems surfaced such as mac issues, not to anyone's fault, however I believe I was able to overcome them as a whole, as although it did use up time, the loss of any of my documents was not there, as my careful planning made sure that any interferences of the sort would not be to severe in the damage it would cause to my workflow, one other issue would be the sudden change from it originally going to be a narrated piece, narrated by Mark, however the decision by him to opt out of such did make me have to rethink things, however I feel I managed to overcome such a change, and maintain a very informative product, in terms of instructions whilst still maintaining a visually appearing process of the haircut, balancing them out rather well.  I am happy with the way it turned out as a whole, and I believe all challenges faced were overcome to make a successful finished product.