How did you use media technologies in the construction and research, planning

and evaluation stages?

Evaluation Question 4

TechnologiesThroughout these stages, I have used a variety of different media technologies. I have developed skilled in ones that I have used before, particularly Photoshop and also used new technologies such as iMovie. Due to using most of these technologies last year and in my preliminary task, I had great ease with them and was able to benefit from them all.

SoftwareThe two main softwares that I used in the construction stage were iMovie and Photoshop.

iMovie - This was the editing software that I used on the Mac to allow me to import the footage that I had filmed from the camera following which I could cut, import sound, add special effects, adjust colour, add transitions and add titles. Last year I used Final Cut Express however, I wanted to increase my skills with editing and decided to use this different editing software to create my main product. This did not take me too long to get the hang of, and also because I had used it when doing my preliminary task I knew the basics. It was very straightforward to use. However, the only disadvantage of using this software is that I could not create my own original titles as it only had a collection of titles for me to choose from with certain effects. Also, I couldn’t use LiveType to import my own titles. Therefore, I think my title could have been better if I had used Final Cut Express and LiveType.

SoftwarePhotoshop - This was the editing software that I used on the Mac to allow me to import my photo to edit for my ancillary products, the film poster and magazine cover. I had only used Photoshop once before which was last year when doing a post for my evaluation, but this was the first time I had used it to produce an actual product as such, I found it the most difficult to use and quite complicated at first, however once I practiced I got the hang of how to use it properly. This is a very good piece of software as it allowed me to edit the things that I wanted to edit. I was able to adapt the lighting of the image, the exposure, I was able to make my actors look flawless by using the tool which made spots disappear. I was also able to create text to then put on top of the background image and even download a font called ‘Steel Tongs’ which is a stereotypical font used on film posters, and import that into my image and use that. Overall, this software was very good and enabled me to produce a quality piece of work.

Software

Pixlr Editor - I used this software as it is the software on my Chromebook. Chromebooks can only install certain editing softwares, for example, Photoshop is not supported on Chromebooks. Therefore I used this software to edit images for my evaluation question number 1. This allowed me to import an image and like photoshop edit it. In this instance I only wanted to put text on top of the image, as a label. I then incorporated these images into my evaluation presentation in Prezi. This was a bit confusing to use at first, but because it was so similar to Photoshop and I had used Photoshop so much recently, I got the hang of it pretty quickly.

Hardware

Throughout this process, I have used a variety of hardware to help me produce my products, plan and evaluate. I have used a Mac computer, and an SD card in particular.Mac - I do not own a Mac or Apple device however, having used a Mac last year I was familiar with the way they operated and the differences between a Windows operated device. The Mac allowed me to use the softwares, Photoshop when editing my ancillary product and iMovie when editing my main product. Macs frequently save files onto the desktop and so it was very important for me to always use the same Mac when I was doing my work. This was sometimes annoying, as there were times where other students were on my Mac but I had to make sure I booked that specific Mac in the future. They are very easy to use and quick, for example I didn’t have to wait for things to load.

Hardware

SD Card - The other hardware I used was an SD Card. This was essential in producing my main product, the film trailer. I used this to store my film footage safely before then transferring these videos onto the Mac. This Card had a lot of storage space for me to film as much as I needed which was important.

WebsitesWebsites such as Slideshare, Youtube, Prezi and Blogger were an important part of the evaluation stage of this process and presenting my work.

Youtube - This site allowed me to watch and upload videos. As I have used this site many times before I knew how to navigate around it and upload videos. I used this site to analyse romantic film trailers for the planning stage and to upload my rough cuts of my trailer in my production and evaluation stage.Incompetech - This website is a royalty-free music site. This was a very good site and very beneficial as it allowed me to search and listen to lots of different music that was copyright free. I could then use this music in my film trailer. Slideshare - I had used this website last year, and so I was familiar with how to use it. It is very straightforward and enabled me to upload my powerpoint presentations onto it and then embed it into my blog.

WebsitesBlogger - As I blog personally, I am very familiar with blogging. I use Wordpress which is different but very similar to Blogger and as I used Blogger last year I was very well used to it. I used blogger to present the work that I produced through each stage and the processes. I was able to embed/insert images, video and audio. Soundcloud - This website is just like Slideshare but it allows me to upload and share sound as opposed to powerpoint presentations. I used this when i downloaded the music i chose from Incompetch. I then uploaded the music to Soundcloud and then embedded it into my blog. As you can see, these websites work hand in hand.Prezi - I used this site to create presentations. Particularly for my evaluation question 1. This brings a new element to presentations that powerpoint does not. It consists of animations and is more engaging. It is very easy to use and I enjoyed being able to present my work in a different and clear way.

Equipment

The equipment I used was especially vital in filming. The two main piece of equipment were the Panasonic HD Camera and the tripod.

Panasonic HD Camera - I chose to use this camera because it produced film to a high quality which is what I wanted to achieve for my film. It is always a challenge for me to get the hang of how to use a camera properly because I don’t use camera at all apart from the camera on my phone. I was able however to develop new skills with the camera for example, doing white balance and filming manually on some occasions. But I tended to just film automatically as it was easier I got me better results.

Equipment

Tripod - This equipment was essential in keeping my still shots stable and not shaky. It also helped me to do effective pans and tilts. I could use the tripod well and at appropriate times. For example, there were times when I didn’t use the tripod because I wanted to do a handheld shot or at some times my actor was too tall for me to use the tripod which was the only problem I had with the tripod I used.

Mobile phone - To take stills whilst filming my film to then use for my magazine and poster, I used the camera that was on my phone. It is a high quality camera and it was less hassle to use as I didn’t have to go and borrow a camera from school The poster and magazine that I produced are of a high quality and so I think it was an effective piece of equipment.

Equipment

Microphone - I used a microphone in order for the voices in my trailer to be heard better. This was in the case of my female character saying ‘Just leave me alone’ and I used this to also emphasise the slamming of the door. This was very easy to do as I simply had to plug it into the camera and switch it on. However, I had to make sure that the microphone was in the shot that I was taking.

ConclusionTo conclude, all of these media technologies that I have used in the construction and research, planning and evaluation stages have been very effective in increasing the success of my final products and the presentation of the process and progress I made throughout. These technologies all helped in their own ways, but are only effective when brought together and used together.