How did you use media technologies in the construction and research, planning and evaluation stages?
QuestionFour
RESEARCH AND PLANNING
I conducted most of my planning through Microsoft software, more specially Microsoft Word. Through this technology, I was able to quickly design a template for my storyboards and draft many initial ideas that would later form the foundation of our trailer - the pitch. We used Microsoft Excel to quickly conduct a table that would form the basis of our whole text - the shooting script as it made the process of drawing up headings, like a shot description column, a rather stress free task.
Microsoft Powerpoint was used for most of my initial research posts. This included my postmodern trailer conventions research and my audience feedback analysis as this platform provided a quick and easy way to "drum up" my findings. I could include images and hyperlinks which meant that I could provide evidence for my points and assertions. As a result of using Powerpoint, I then used AuthorStream so that I was able to upload these Powerpoints online.
PREZI
I used Prezi as another way to visually present my research regarding film trailers. I made Prezi's with content about props, lighting, titles, genre and even music. Importantly, I found this a compelling media to use for presentations as each design was completely different and the animations and sub-topics that were used for catagorising the information could be personally made. This media technology is used by selecting a template online and adjusting its design for personal preference. I found that I like to add shapes and pathways to Prezi's as it presents a logical flow of argument - each one of my Prezi's used circle shapes as a new point of information for example. Prezi is an engaging media and therefore an effective way to gather and present research around a specific topic.
BLOGGER
In order for my research and planning to be accessed and stored, I set up an Eli Entertainment blog page. As admin of this page, I concluded the final design and particularly liked this media technology as it was compatible with other media. For instance, I was able to upload all Microsoft works, images, Prezi's and even embeds AuthorStream links, essentially all my research and planning posts, and later my final pieces.
Using Blogger meant that my work could be shared and reviewed so that I could discover areas of improvement by others. Additionally, allowing myself and Ella the opportunity to work closely with our research so that our trailer could be the best that it could possibly be as I was able to learn supplementary research found by Ella.
CONSTRUCTION
ADOBE SOFTWARE
Throughout the whole construction of my advanced portfolio, Adobe Programmes proved to be the most important media technology. Here is how each individual programme shaped my production:
PHOTOSHOP: In making my trailer, Photoshop was used to design the "Eli Entertainment" logo that features as the third shot in the final product. Most importantly, I used this technology to create my ancillary tasks, the magazine front cover and the film poster. I manipulated my images for visual effect and collated all the conventions on to a page. By using Photoshop, I feel as though as I was able to present my best work.
AFTER EFFECTS: After Effects was used to progress our moving image editing skills, since, through this media technology, we was able to include special effects for our final text. Comparing both the rough cut (no use of After Effects) to our final cut, it is clear to see how constructive the software was. The fantasy element was thoroughly emphasised, including shots of a lake changing colour as an example.
PREMIERE PRO: This software was used to bring together all our footage that had been filmed across different cameras and SD cards. We was able to trim each clip to the length that we wanted and position the clips in order of our shooting script.
GarageBand
Youtube
Sony Camera
The sound included in our trailer was made through the programme Garageband. This became a beneficent tool that allowed us to combine the loops of different musical instruments together to form our non-diegetic soundtrack.
The social media site Youtube was another technology that was used in the construction stages of my production. I used it to publicly upload both my final trailer and roughcut so that my audience could finally view the work.
GARAGEBAND RESEARCH
The final media technology that was used in the construction stages of our trailer was the Sony HDR series camera - producing HD moving image shots that brought our shooting script to life, with the help of an underwater camera too.
EVALUATION
WIXSITE
In the final stage of my advanced portfolio, the evaluation, I used Wixsite in order to organise my thoughts regarding my work. Here, I found it a relatively easy process, sectioning each question under a new tab that each had a slightly different way of presenting my ideas. This, I guess, made my work that little bit more engaging and provided the opportunity to include moving image so that my trailer could be used to evidence my points made.
VIMEO
In this question of my evaluation, I included a video recording of myself answering the task. Instead of publishing this on Youtube, I made the choice to upload it to Vimeo. This is because Vimeo is used to appeal to specific demographics interested in moving image, and since my video was topical of this I thought that it would work best on this platform.
GIPHY
I used this to create short replays of the clips used in my trailer for better evidencing of my assertions