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

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

1, 2, 3- These three images show me using the video camera when filming my soap opera trailer.

4- Blogger- Blogger has been a very important bit of technology when creating my media products. Blogger has allowed me to develop my skills with organisation, as it has allowed me to have everything in one place, which is easy to access and can be accessed at anytime. It has help especially in research and planning, for example when researching other soap trailer I was able to copy and paste the URL’s onto my blog which meant I would quickly access anything I needed with out having to search the whole internet again. Blogger has allowed me to upload my videos, pictures, planning notes and my media products which mean I have had everything in one place at all times. This also means I am able to change, adapt and develop any posts.

5- Photoshop- This is the software which I have used for the construction for my ancillary texts; TV listings magazine and poster. I did not have much idea on how to work Photoshop, so my skills on this software have developed immensely as I have learnt that you can achieve anything through Photoshop. I have been able to manipulate images on both of these products, where I have used the magnetic lasso tool to cut the characters out accurately. From here I was able to put all the images of my characters on a blank canvas where I could move them around and arrange them how I liked.

For my TV listings magazines, Photoshop allowed me to use different shapes like on examples I had research of real existing magazines. I could then use all different types of fonts and colours to help create a bright magazine cover. For the writing, to help it stand out, I used inner and outer glows in blending option which gives the writing a coloured outline.

Photoshop also allowed my to manipulate the BBC Ones indent, where I was able to add my own text to suit my trailer. Photoshop also allowed me to find a font that looked familiar to the BBC’s own branded font. This helps to give a good finishing touch to my trailer as it looks realistic.

6- Paint- This has allowed to print screen, and take screen grabs of the editing software I have used, which has helped me within the evaluation stages. I was able to take the screen grabs, to help me when evaluating my media products to show and illustrate the specific effects used. For example, on Photoshop, I used blending options of outer and inner glow around round images, writing and shape to help make them eye catching.  

7- Canon Digital Video recorder- This is the camera I used to film my trailer, the camera is light and small which is an advantage when filming and constructing my trailer. I have learnt that by using a tripod effectively I am able use each frame with the rule of three thirds. By using a tripod with the camera I was able to accomplish conventional shots used by real media products. For example when filming a shot reverse shot, I was able to keep track of the exact positioning of the camera so the same shot can be achieved more than once.

8- Sony Digital still camera- The use of a still camera became an important use with planning because I was able to take different images of characters and locations to see what would work better. For example for the teenage drug scene, I needed something that was hidden away, stereotypical but still was light. As during stages of filming it got dark quickly, images of locations helps me to weigh out the advantages and disadvantages.

I also used the still camera when constructing my ancillary texts, as I was able to use my own images of my characters to represent them in specific ways to the audience. For example, I am able to stereotypical clothing, actions, body language and emotions that I think are important to convey to the audience.

9- Adobe Premiere Pro- this is the software I used for the construction of editing for my soap opera trailer.

My Media folder- I tried out 9 different music pieces within my soap trailer, as the music needs to be catch my target audiences attention, but it is also must become recognisable for the audience. I also have different BBC logos saved; I needed them so that I could use one running through my trailer which is located in bottom right corner. Also I needed the BBC indent for the end, which should be familiar to my audience.

After I cut everything was inappropriate and irrelevant for my soap trailer, I then cut certain parts down to make my trailer quick and snappy. After this I found three different tracks which I liked on http://www.freeplaymusic.com/, so I imported them into different audio bars, and cut the tracks so that they all come in at different times which deems effective because I felt they all complemented each other. There is also a gap in the music, to make a dramatic stop for dialogue; I think this an effective aspect because it will regain the audience’s attention.

I thought that the beginning part of my trailer; the drug dealing was too long and tedious, as it did not fit the fast pace of the rest of my trailer. However there was not much I could cut out because otherwise it would not make sense and may have seemed it was going to fast. However the zoom tool allowed me to zoom in a cut tiny parts of footage which I though made a huge impact on my trailer.

Another thing that I helped the pace of the beginning scene was by making the clips faster. By using speed duration tools, I could speed the clips up slightly and it helped to create a faster pace.

 

Adobe allowed me to construct a voice over with a BBC indent to match. I was able to fade the sound of my music by using music keys; this allowed me to change the sound of the music. After fading out my music, I was able to import a voiceover with my own manipulated BBC Ones indent, this helped to create realism and a suit of professionalism.

When I was filming my trailer, it got dark extremely quickly; this affected the light on my end footage. However Adobe video settings which contains brightness and contrast meant I could use this to change the light on given clips. 

10- Facebook- Facebook allowed communications between group members. It gave us the opportunity for quick communication. This meant that we were able to arrange meetings, ask questions ect.

11- Windows Live Mail- The use of Email allowed me and my group members to Email images, videos, URLS ect to each other. For example, because I took the photograph, when I uploaded them I was able to give my other group access to them through the use of Email.

Email also allowed me to work at sixth form and at home, as I was able to email work back and forth. This let me have two copies of my work, as a back up.

12- Voice Recorder- I used a voice recorder within the evaluation stages, as I was able to record myself talking about how successful the combination of my main product and ancillary texts are. After recording I was able to upload the recording on the computer through USB where I could import it into Adobe Premiere Pro.

13-  Internet – The internet permits me access to search engines like Google. Google has helped me with everything to do with my research. I have been able to research different characters had storylines which has then influenced me with my planning. I have been able to look at images of existing TV listings magazines and posters, where I have been able in analysis and evaluate which have helped me through the planning process of developing my own ideas.

The internet gives me access to http://www.freeplaymusic.com/ which is the website I got my music from for my trailer. I was able to open the files in Windows Media Player and listen to the music is a fast way. Therefore this helped me with the construction of my trailer as the music plays a big part, because it needs to be something that is catchy and my audience will be able to recognise.

14- YouTube- YouTube has allowed me to research into other soap trailers, from this I have been able to see what a conventional soap trailer looks like, what it contains and how it appeals to the audience.

15- Mobile Phones- This again allowed communication between group members, it meant that we were able to arrange meetings, ask questions and sort out anything like queries, worries ect.

16- This is image shows me on Adobe Premiere Pro editing software.