How can we change up a video review such that it becomes something hybrid; something that explores the narratives and non-narratives of an online video?
One of the ways that we were suggested to use in order to come up with the main idea for Project Three, was to think of three topics of interest that have originated from our previous project. We only managed to come up with two – one of which would play around with the structure of an online review, one that and the other that would look at video reviews in a different context. We did come up with a third one that had to do with the effect on audiences, but later decided that it would not be as feasible. After proposing our ideas to Seth, we decided to have a good think about further expanding our second idea.
From there, Jia Jia and I thought of other ways in which a video review could be done, and after doing some poking around on YouTube, one of the things that stood out to us was vlogs. Vlogs can be done by anybody, anywhere; they are personal, and they contain feelings and real experiences. So we thought… Could we possibly combine vlogs and video reviews to make a vlog review?
We often read about cafés and restaurants on blogs or through apps like Urbanspoon. People review them so that others can come upon a decision as to whether they want to visit a certain place. But what about a review done in the form of a video on YouTube? We did try to search it up but only managed to stumble upon a number of odd results, none of which properly depicted what we were looking for in what we would call a vlog review.
We hope to further explore this idea by playing around with narrative and non-narrative structures, and testing its probability of being a hybrid sort of video.
In today’s studio class, we were encouraged to come up with something that is innovative and possibly hybrid. Upon receiving the brief for Project Three, Jia Jia and I began to discuss what we may be able to experiment with. What could we possibly do to create something different; something that has never been done before?
A video that was shown in class also talked about experimenting and playing around with ideas. The key is to not be afraid of trying new things, and to realise that mere silent thinking is insufficient. In order to create better work, we have to get out of our comfort zones and begin to look at different approaches. We have to look towards the goal we are trying to achieve, not limit ourselves to a rigid set of rules that we have to follow.
I’m quite glad that Project Three will allow us to produce sketches in various forms, from videos and drawings to diagrams and photographs. This would probably help Jia Jia and I further expand our thoughts and ideas. With less than two weeks to the deadline, hopefully we will be able to come upon a good clue as to what we will be doing to produce some well-structured sketches.
Form over content! That’s what we’ve been reminded to do.
It is natural to get so caught up with a video’s content such that we forget to first deconstruct it and think about it in a different manner, and from different perspectives.
As we were in class today watching the final few presentations for Project Two, I began to further look into online video and how it possesses many functions that we may not yet realise. For instance, one of the presentations talked about how Vines give people the opportunity to better their creativity by constraining videos within a six-second limitation.
I find it quite fascinating, how Vine has managed to receive such tremendous support over the years. I mean, it’s pretty challenging to create an entertaining video within six seconds! I’ve come to learn that established artists work in very constrained situations, and this produces interesting responses. Vine has proven itself effective as a social media platform and its constant upgrades just goes to show that it will stay around for a while longer.
Apart from that, I have also come to realise the important of background music. Yes, I have always found it an essential element in most videos, but now I’m really beginning to look at it as something that has the ability to change a video’s feel or cinematic atmosphere. It’s probably something that I might want to explore over the next project we work on.
Seth showed us a video on playful brainstorming and creative expression earlier this week, and the person in the video talked about how students in school are usually taught to get their first idea, and to focus on just that. Psychologists call it satisficing, which is “to accept the first plausible solution to a problem that comes along”. Satisficing is alright, but it is also proven that it “eliminates the possibility of significant creative accomplishment.”
I found this video very useful, especially when our goal is to work towards being a media practitioner with creative ideas and approaches. This would be a good reminder for all the sketches we will be coming up with.
Over the week, Jia Jia and I met up twice to get some filming for our sketches done. It’s great that we’ve been constantly working as team, coming up with ideas and making mutual decisions. We managed to refine the ideas for our sketches:
We want to explore how an informational video is made both interesting and appealing to watch. By focusing on the narrative/non-narrative structure of Marques Brownlee’s video review on the iPhone 6, we hope to achieve a better understanding of how video reviews are moulded and constructed.
In the case of Brownlee’s video review, one product is filmed against many different backgrounds, and from multiple angles.
Cinematics in the production stage play a role from post-production to promotion of the video on YouTube. Here we explore a viewer’s natural response to the attractiveness of a thumbnail on YouTube.
Video reviews have certainly evolved over the years. There are many differences between reviewing it using pictures found online, as compared to physically possessing the product.
From how we see it, personal opinions play an important role to ensuring a good video review. But what if it were done without it? What if the video only contained a whole lot of facts and information?
Conversely, what if there were ONLY personal opinions?
How is a video review constructed (from start to finish)? There should be a template. Eg. Physical aspects, internal specs, demonstration, comparisons and personal opinions.
The product being reviewed can be compared against a different brand in the market.
How does this work in terms of a viewer’s loyalty towards a certain brand, and in guiding a buyer’s decision-making process?
There is the inclusion of on-screen text to clarify certain information.
How far should the terminology used go? We can explore the types of people who would watch videos such as this.
As we were refining these sketches, a problem we encountered was coming up with more ideas to fit the list-of-ten criteria. We watched Brownlee’s review on the iPhone 6 a couple of times more, scanning through parts of the video that would be able to give us more ideas. I’d say that there is a lot to online video; that there is a more complex aspect to it rather than it just being a file uploaded to the Internet for others to watch. Despite that, it can be difficult to break things down when we are not naturally inclined to inspect all the little elements each time we see an online video – all we do, at least most of the time, is just sit back and watch.
It is interesting, however, to consider understanding how an online video works. What makes it what it is, and what makes it appealing to watch? I have personally worked on a few videos back in college, and I have been at points where my group mates and I would be dry on ideas. The conditions were different, however. Back in college, I had to come up with brand new ideas to promote projects I was working on; here, we unpack a specific video and explore its hybrid narrative/non-narrative forms. We take a step back and begin to really understand it as a whole.
Jia Jia and I began to broaden the ideas we already had, expanding them by looking at each one from different perspectives. We tried to source ideas from the world around us, reminding ourselves of things that had happened in the past. We also watched a couple of other videos just to freshen up, and even looked at a couple of other video reviews. By doing so, we were actually able to come up with ideas 3, 5, 8 and 10.
After seeing Seth’s post on the template for our concept statement and sketches, I’d say that Jia Jia and I are slowly getting on the right track. We began first with these few statements:
We want to explore how an informational video is made both interesting and appealing to watch. By focusing on the narrative/non-narrative structure of Marques Brownlee’s video review on the iPhone 6, we hope to achieve a better understanding of how video reviews are moulded and constructed.
Visual focus is on the product, and not the person.
Inclusion of on-screen text to clarify certain information.
Close-ups are important!
Choose an environment that is relatively easy on the eyes.
Research beforehand to know what you’re talking about.
Include personal opinions.
Good lighting makes the product more attractive.
Test out the product to show how it works.
Regular cuts from one scene to another makes it less boring.
Have a clear talking voice.
From there, we decided that we would further refine it in the days to come. We have a few days before our next class in the studio, so hopefully we’ll be able to get some sketches done over the week!
Yesterday, my group mate and I had a discussion for our second project. We took a look at the videos used for our case studies, and began to analyse it in terms of how it connected with its audiences. We then came up with a concept statement to guide the sketches for our second project:
Based on our case studies, we took a look at the feedback and comments received and found several aspects that make watching a video more memorable. Upon gaining a better idea of our audiences, we have noticed that people are more likely to participate when it comes to something that attracts or entertains. Hence, taking the elements of facts and humour to guide our concept, we plan to give viewers a fresh perspective on something that is not actively thought about.
However, after today’s consultation, we realised that we were too caught up with a video’s content, rather than the elements that make it unique. We now have a better idea of what to do in terms of our concept statement and sketches, and we will be re-discussing our ideas tomorrow. Hoping that all goes well!
Reflection upon reading the first chapter of ‘Understanding New Media’ by Eugenia Siapera:
People often misuse the terms ‘digital media’ and ‘online media’. They are in fact very different – digital media focuses more on the aspects related to the technology that made it possible, whereas online media refers more to the element of connectivity. What then is this ‘new media’ that is so talked about? According to Lev Manovich’s (2001) argument, it is the result of a convergence between the computational logic characteristic of the computers and the communicative logic characteristic of the media. Despite the many statements and arguments that have been made by various theorists and critics, there is one thing that’s for sure – media has always played an important role in the evolution of mankind since its beginning. It has brought up and influenced societal and psychological processes and practices, and will continue to do so. After dissecting the several theories and ideas surrounding this topic, it can be said that although new media is crucial in this discussion, we must also take into consideration how it influences cultural norms and perspectives, and also the many ways it takes part in society.
More presentations were done in the studio today, and interesting perspectives were brought up. For one, we discussed about what we felt was ‘online video’, in terms of audio and visual. Are both audio as well as moving graphics required in order to be deemed an online video?
As an example, let’s talk about songs uploaded to YouTube. A song could be in the form of an .mp3 but because YouTube isn’t accepting of that format, a stagnant picture of the album’s cover or a blank screen could be incorporated, simply so it can be uploaded to the Internet as a video. Would that be considered an online video then, when a user could listen to the audio without having to focus on the YouTube player itself?
After having discussed about it, we have found that it still is considered an online video, even if it lacked moving visuals. It may not carry the same purpose as, say, a music video in which viewers get to pay attention to what is going on, but that doesn’t change the fact that it is a video uploaded to the Internet.
Apart from that, we also got to see a case study on interactive online video, which was pretty interesting because it really gets the viewer involved. We were introduced to a documentary-like one called 89 Steps. Another form of interaction with its viewers would be when Wong Fu Productions created Away We Happened, a six-episode web series that invited fans and subscribers to vote for what would happen from one episode to the next. A case study on this was presented by another one of my classmates.
We also talked a little more about how the studio and its assessments will be run – that we will be more focused on what online video is compared to a video’s cinematic components. It’s not so much about the quality of the work; it’s the idea that’s informing the process, or the process that has emerged around it.
Our second project is due next week, and I am looking forward to seeing what my group mate and I will come up with. Take into consideration the production value and time invested, we were reminded. We might be confined to certain production constraints if we try something that’s difficult to do, so I hope that we would be able to come up with an idea or concept that is appealing, innovative and doable.
Looking back at the presentations that were done in class, I have come to notice the types of viewers of different online video practices. It was engaging to see what each student finds interest in. From comedy and tutorials to gaming and commercials, it is evident that the existence of online video is something that many rely on for both information and entertainment.
Doing this case study has further sparked my interest in the various online video practices that are made available to us. Its role in the media sphere is immense – it is a platform for people to share their thoughts and ideas; to publicise and advertise; to communicate with and even influence people all over the world. There is really so much more to what online video can do for people, and the fact that it has served such a great purpose over the past few years is simply overwhelming.
I’m beginning to see that online video is more than just a practice; it is an essential element to the world of technology. It is useful in so many aspects – think of the girls who look to online tutorials for makeup guidance; think of all the comedic videos that have made tiring days a little more bearable; think of how catch-up TV has made its way into busy schedules.
I’ve always had an interest in online video but never have I looked at it as such an important tool. It’s practically regarded as necessary.