Question 4 – How did you use media technologies in the construction, research, planning and evaluation stages?

Research and Planning

Youtube

YouTube: YouTube was a platform I used consistently throughout. These were used to upload both my Music videos, pitch feedback and rough-cuts. Having a social networking site to distribute to the audience is a convenient and effective way to build on the audience. YouTube has allowed me to look at music videos that my artist has created via; sponsored by Vevo. As a big YouTube fan, I found it an effective way to gain feedback from the target audience. In addition this, the platform allowed criticism, compliments and general feedback on our music video. Last year, In AS media studies, I used YouTube for pitch feedback; however this year I feel as if I have become more comfortable using it. Being able to use the advanced settings and tags in YouTube, has also become a skill I have become more knowledgeable with, as it allowed me to direct and find my target audience. Lastly, I was able to search my music videos through the YouTube search engine and find related artists and songs. This also allowed me to watch the official music video and also hear the audio in high quality.

Blogger

Blogger: Blogger is a website connected to Google, and is an online blog. Blogger is used to post content, information, notes, videos and embedded links. In AS media, Blogger was used as our coursework format for posting all our work, and is also the coursework for A2. This feature has enabled me to embed links from other technologies and software’s, by copying a link and inserting this component as a “HTML”. Furthermore, when previewed, this would be displayed on the blog which would appear easily accessible for all viewers. This also helps improve the interaction between any technology posted and the viewer. From AS media to A2, I have become more accustomed to using blogger to an intermediate level, allowing me to improve on my organisational skills by changing the dates and time to structure my blog in chronological order. In addition to this, Blogger is also used to interact with other students who have blogs by commenting on their posts which allows the flow of constructive feedback and compliments between our blogs to help improve posts.

Moodle

Moodle: Moodle is a website that is only accessed by students and teachers. Moodle lists the current subjects you’re studying. This is relevant as Media is a course I’m currently studying and I can access files relating to media. Furthermore, Moodle allows resources and information to be retrieved from a source. This allows me to access course documents/guidelines which benefit my learning. It also improves organisational skills, as if I was to lose a physical copy of a handout sheet, I will be able to retrieve a digital copy and print off another physical copy.

Google

Google – Google is a search engine that has been used throughout my coursework. As it is a search engine, the feature allows me to type words that lead on to information and data that I am looking for. The ability to navigate through a variety of websites, images and the access to technologies/softwares is a prominent feature that has helped me throughout my A2 coursework. In addition to this, Google has advanced search settings and search parameters which allow for specific information to be retrieved and find results that are accurate and resourceful.

TimeToast

TimeToast: TimeToast is a software which allows you to create a timeline online. In addition to this, you create text boxes and allocate a date/time where the text will appear on the chosen date/time. In AS media studies, TimeToast was used at the beginning of the course and from this I was a beginner at using TimeToast because it was a piece of tech that I only started using frequently. Timetoast was used to help organise myself with the course deadlines and to also insert descriptions that would keep me on track throughout the course. In A2 Media Studies, TimeToast was a re-occurring piece of tech I have used as I inserted information and data of the assignment brief and tasks to complete for the coursework this year inside each note. This helped me become more organised compared to the year before, as I recorded each deadline and task objective.

Leyton Media Hub

Leyton Media Hub: ‘Leytonmediahub.blogspot.co.uk’ is a website created by the media department. It is a site that enlists all student blogs from previous and current years studying media. This is a helpful website as it allows us to see work of other students and is an easier platform for accessing student blogs to comment and check our own blogs. The website home page also has announcements and links to course documents which makes it beneficial for students such as myself, influencing us to use the facilities within the website.

Technologies / Software's / Programs

Prezi

Prezi – Prezi is a software which allows you to create an online presentation. This was a really helpful piece of tech which I have used. It permits the use of customising your own presentation by selecting a theme. Within the actual creation of the presentation you can control the font-style, font-size and colour to your liking. Alongside this, you have the option to create text boxes, add layers of slides and the insertion of images, audio and videos. Prezi has made me present my ideas in a more simplistic way when answering a question or while presenting for a pitch.

Slideshare/Powerpoint

Slideshare / PowerPoint: Slideshare is a useful website where you are able to upload a PowerPoint on to a digital PowerPoint. This is a convenient website as it also allows you to add a description/title and caption to the uploaded PowerPoint to present a clearer understanding to the audience when posted on the blog.

Emaze

Emaze – Emaze is a website which allows you to create an interactive presentation. There are a lot of editing sections and a variety of options to choose from with manipulating text, inserting videos and images and changing the front, size and colour of text. Having an interactive presentation is always engaging when shown or presenting to the target audience. Slides can be added to extend the interactive presentation.

WiX

Wix – Wix is a program where you’re able to create your own website. It is a really effective program as you are in control of choosing your layout, themes, font and colour. I think it’s professional in displaying work and helping the target audience to easily navigate through the website with a clear understanding. You’re able to add sections which help allocate the construction in a professional manner. Overall, I think Wix was a fun piece of tech due to the creation of your own website and having the prominent feature of interaction. However, I was quite confused when first fiddling around with this website because of being new to it.

Construction

DSLR/Filming

Canon DSLR – To create the music video we used a canon DSLR. This cannon camera was able to capture photographs and was also used to film and record the music video. Using the DSLR helped me improve my skills when taking photographs and filming in a higher quality. In addition to this, the DSLR was used to take photographs for my print products and photographs I used in the album I created. I improved the skills of using certain shot types and angles. Using a tripod was a beneficial experience while filming and taking photographs for print products, as it removed the shakiness as I held the camera in a stable way. Alongside, this I had some trouble with the setting when shooting. The lighting was appeared unusual on the cameras and thus, we had to edit some of the footage to make the lighting seem darker following our concept. From AS media we were able to use the DSLR and handheld camera to record footage whilst making a video prototype. However, in A2 these skills developed towards a higher level as we were allowed to explore and experiment with many different shot types, angles and advanced settings.

Editing

Final Cut Pro

Final cut pro – Final Cut Pro is a program on the Mac computer which we used to edit and construct the music video together. In AS media studies we used Photoshop and had a tutorial, although we had a tutorial for a lesson or two, it was quite through and helped me learn skills in editing and constructing, which allowed for me to finish all pieces of my media products. However, in A2 Media we used Photoshop consistently to edit photos, font and to construct the print products together. This year we looked more at the measurements of the documents rather than having them as an A4 pages, due to all pieces in the CD Digipack all being different measurements. With Final Cut Pro, we were allowed to edit and add filters to alter our music video. In addition to this we added fast cutting rates. Final cut pro was quite hard to use at first, as it was a new software, although we did have a tutorial on learning how to sync. Synching is when you merge the footage with the audio of the track in two layers so that they’re co-ordinated with one another. Lastly, we learnt shortcut buttons on how to synch and render the footage of the video. Rendering allows us to upload the footage in our music video, so it appears in better quality and also reduces the size of the overall file, helping for less time-consuming uploading of files. Overall, at the beginning of A2, when we made a short music video of Frozen, we have learnt a few skills. However, when filming and editing for our final product, my skills increased greatly in rendering, editing, adding effects, filters, visuals and also synching.

PhotoShop

Photoshop - Photoshop was a software I used consistently to construct my print products. Photoshop is a software where you’re able to edit and customise photographs, content, text and other conventions that were used in the print product. In AS media I was able to have knowledge of Photoshop due to this. However, this year Photoshop was a vital process when constructing our print products, as it allowed me to push my skills and knowledge of Photoshop to an intermediate level. I also incorporated more editing and experimenting with house style, and specific tools in the Photoshop menu such as dodging, burning and blurring. Although it took me time to adapt to the whole process of using Photoshop, I believe I’ve used it to a good extent.

InDesign

InDesign – InDesign is a program similar to Photoshop - however, it is more text-based and organisational. With this I was allowed to manipulate fonts and add text boxes. This wasn’t as vital compared to PhotoShop, but it did enhance my skills with the layout and the construction of specific text parts that were needed in my print products.

Illustrator

Illustrator - Illustrator is another program a part of the Adobe Collection. It is used to not only manipulate and enhance the fonts, but also to create your own font. This could be easily done with options such as changing the opacity, fill and adding certain effects that change the font. I used this for my title by adding shadings and shadows to make my font stand out.