media

1. EVALUATION – QUESTION 4
HOW DID YOU USE NEW MEDIA TECHNOLOGIES IN
THE CONSTRUCTION AND RESEARCH, PLANNING
AND EVALUATION STAGES?

2. • Internet Technologies
 Wordpress.com
 Youtube.com
 Social Networking - Facebook and Twitter
 Channel4.com/4oD
 Online Software – Prezi, Infrogram, SlideShare
 Online Software – Email, SurveyMonkey, SoundCloud
• Other Technology Mediums
 Production Equipment – Camcorder, Tripod, Camera
 Pinnacle Studio
 Offline Software – Microsoft Powerpoint,

3. I believe that the blogging platform, wordpress.com is the perfect medium to support my production process. I was
initially drawn to WordPress as it was easy to use and could help me to develop a successful blog in that;
 It offers a wide variety of layouts and themes. I chose The Suits Theme, which is clear and professional which I
believe increases the quality of my blog. Similarly, it allowed me to create a menu, categorising the key aspects of
the production process. This helped me in every aspect of production as it helped me to remain organised,
identified any ‘gaps’ in relation to posts, and allowed me to link posts together which gives the viewer the ability
to explore the blog with ease. I feel that this too also improved the quality of the blog overall.
 Wordpress also allows many different mediums to be embedded and linked to the blog. This was particularly
useful for the research and planning stages as it allowed me to display the information in varied and interesting
ways, such as through the use of SlideShare or Prezi. This was also vital for the post-production stage for both the
main and ancillary tasks as I was able to easily embed YouTube videos to demonstrate the decision-making
process while editing. This also allowed me to reflect on my own work, develop and explain why I made certain
decisions and build on them as the process went on. I feel that I utilised these aspects of the website much more
so than in the Foundation Production as I really explored what different types of media could be incorporated to
improve the quality of the blog in creativity and varied in relation to digital technologies.
 Additionally, the website was essential in gaining feedback throughout the process. It allowed my teachers post
comments on individual blog posts to give comments on how to improve them, which I found very helpful. I was
also able to gather feedback from other media students on my production as well as the blog being public
allowing anyone to comment on my work.

4. YouTube, as a video-sharing platform was useful in each stage of production.
 I found it particularly useful when I was researching documentaries to gather information about it’s
form and conventions. I found that many famous and well renowned documentary films, such as
Nanook of the North and Dont Look Back had been uploaded onto YouTube, which meant that I could
easily access them allowing me to gain a much more varied understanding of many different
documentaries. This also meant that I could embed sections onto my blog to provide evidence for
analysis. I feel that this lead to improvement in the quality of my blog overall.
 I also felt that YouTube was vital when I was gathering audience feedback. The platform allowed me to
upload various edits from my documentary to gather comments on their effectiveness. I found this
useful during editing as it allowed me to reflect on these comments and build on my work during the
editing process. I feel that this played a key role in determining the success of my product and lead to
improved quality when compared with my Foundation Portfolio of which lacked public feedback. This
also gave easy access to a wide variety of comments from individuals on what I
achieved and what could have been improved upon seeing the final edit. I could
also share these comments on wordpress, which I felt also added to the media
variety on my blog.
 Additionally, I have used YouTube to upload some of my evaluation pieces to vary
each answer in form.

5. Social Networking
In addition to YouTube, other forms of social media took part in my production process. Particularly social
networking websites such as Facebook, Twitter and Google+.
 These websites are used heavily by Channel 4 to advertise and market their products, along with using
them as a platform to contact the public and create a bridge between the company and the viewer. These
platforms are also very social meaning that Channel 4 can use them to generate ‘buzz’. For example, the
use of the ‘trending hashtag’ is apparent with Twitter users and can help to advertise through ‘word-of-
mouth’, so to speak, which overall can increase the number of viewers watching certain programmes.
This was important to research to get an insightful understanding of Channel 4
as an institution to help me think about the real-world application of the
planning process. This meaning that I began to think about how I could use
these websites if I were to create my full-length documentary and their
importance in gaining viewership.
 I have used these websites in the evaluation stage to advertise both my
documentary and ancillary tasks in addition to inviting individuals to
comment on their quality. I felt that this was an easy and quick way of
gaining feedback from a large audience of people. Upon reflection of my
AS coursework, I feel that this research and application of social media
was missing which could have decreased the quality of the blog and
audience feedback. I feel that this has been greatly improved on in the
Advanced production work.

6. The channel 4 website was very useful when beginning my institutional research. I looked into C4’s remit of
programming, in addition to exploring their wide range of documentary programming on 4oD.
 This allowed me to understand the conventions of a channel 4 documentary and what made it different from
other broadcasters. The website had a large section of information dedicated to this, meaning that I could
begin the planning stage of production attempting to make it as ‘Channel 4-esque’ as possible. This was also
supported by the research and analysis of real C4 documentaries themselves, which I could take inspiration
from those that applied to my initial ideas. This was provided my 4oD, a video-hosting platform that has many
Channel 4 programmes online for viewing. I also found this a crucial digital technology for my research into
real documentaries which was important for my production work.
 I was also able to post my own comments on documentaries on 4oD, placing myself in the role of an audience
member to give feedback. I was also able to look at and analyse comments from others. I felt that this gave
me an insight into the mind of the audience which helped shape some decisions in post productions as I could
see what audiences enjoyed or disliked about certain productions. On 4oD, I also posted links to my products
and encouraged Channel 4 viewers to comment on my work. I felt that this was necessary for gaining valid
feedback as in real-world application, these types of viewers could be a part of my target audience,
particularly as they watched similar Channel 4 documentaries. This also allowed me to reflect on what I could
of improved based on viewers, how effective my products were and how well they link with Channel 4’s
programming.

7. Online Software – Prezi, Infrogram, SlideShare
I found online presenting software, such as the three examples above, very useful for my blog work. I thought that varying how
my written work was presented made the blog much more interesting to read, in particular as these types of software are very
modern and exciting to look at. I feel that these technologies really helped to improve the quality of my blog and overall mad
more professional overall. I also believe that this has advanced my coursework from the Foundation production as I have
developed many skills from online digital technologies and have applied them to my own work.
 Prezi, much like Microsoft Powerpoint, can create free interactive presentations that can be very informative and
aesthetically pleasing. I chose to use this software to present much of my research into the documentary genre as I felt that
it would improve the quality of my blog to have different types of posts. I also used this for creating a type of storyboard for
my production, planning out each section and including explanations for why I made certain decisions. I also used the
platform as a part of my evaluation and in post-production. I really enjoyed using Prezi,
particularly as you could embed videos and images into the presentation, create interesting
backgrounds and control the directions of the presentation to make clear but exciting
presentations that are relevant to the information.
 In addition to this, I used SlideShare, which is the platform for this presentation. It
allowed me to utilise the features of Microsoft Powerpoint and upload and embed
onto my blog. I found this an easy and simple way of creating varied digital media on
my blog. Much like Prezi, I chose to use this in the research and planning stages of my
documentary.
 I also used the online software, Infrogram. This is also a type of presentation software
but instead focuses on statistics. I chose to use this to present my questionnaire
findings in the audience feedback stage of my production to give a more interesting
and detailed response. I found that this software was perfect for presenting graphs
and population percentages, which was very useful. This can be found in my
evaluation question 3.

8. Online Software – Email, SurveyMonkey, SoundCloud
 I also used Gmail to contact others in regards to my production. Initially I emailed Nick Mirsky, Head of
Documentaries at Channel 4 about my task and my ideas on broadcasting. I also used email to contact different
cinema’s to inquire about filming opportunities within the cinema setting. Email was also useful in my
production to keep in contact with teachers for feedback and support at different stages of production. I also
utilised Gmail’s features to use as a quick and easy platform for transferring documents from one technology to
another. For example, when taking photos of notes I have made, it was easy to email them to myself and have
them on my computer to upload to the blog. Email was although may often be forgotten about as a digital
technology as it is such a big part of daily life, played vital part in the production of my blog.
 SoundCloud, a website that allows music to be shared, helped me find copyright – free music for possible
soundtracks for my main task and radio trailer. The media also allowed me to embed these tracks onto
wordpress.com which also added a more varied presentation for the viewer. I thought that this was very useful
for selecting the perfect track for my production.
 I used SurveyMonkey, a website that can help to create and platform online
questionnaires and surveys. I felt that this would be useful software to use to
gather audience feedback, along with gaining comments on social media. I
created two questionnaires; one regarding the main production and the other
regarding the two ancillary tasks. I was able to chose from a variety of question
types (multiple choice, textbox answers etc.) and even embed my productions
in to the surveys. This allowed the participants to immediately comment on the
products after viewing. This also allowed me to gather much more specific
responses to different aspects of the products which was vital for reflection on
what was successful and what could have been improved.

9. Production Equipment – Camcorder, Tripod, Camera
I used a Panasonic HD Camcorder to record footage for my production. I found this easy to use and provided high
quality footage, making my production seem more professional. I was fairly familiar with the type of camera as I
used the same one in the Foundation portfolio and therefore used the skills I learned last year. However I also
explored the features of the camera much more in this production, which I think has improved my production from
the AS task. For example, I learned that the camcorder could also take HD stills which were useful to provide
evidence of filming and screenshots to support my written work on the blog. I also used a tripod to film the
majority of my footage with the exception of purposeful ‘point-of-view’ shots which were handheld. I found that
filming my interviews could have improved with the use of two camcorders and two tripod to give more varied
shots, however as I worked entirely by myself, it was fairly difficult to attempt to operate two sets of equipment
and therefore I chose to focus on the one.
Unfortunately, I was unable to use professional microphones to record sound as there wasn’t any available to me. I
therefore had to use the camcorder’s mic for sound recording, which may have impacted the quality as a result.
This also meant that some of the sound levels were uneven and muffled which had to be corrected during post-
production. I also had to rely on the camcorder for recorded the ‘voice-of-God’ narration in my main and radio
advert task along with the soundbites. Overall I believe that sound is of satisfactory quality however could have
been improved with the use of professional microphones.
I used my own HD Camera to take the photograph for my poster ancillary task. I felt that this would provide a
higher quality image than the camcorder. I also used it to take photos of filming set up and footage to again support
my blog work and give evidence for filming and decision making. Although I did this at AS, I felt that in the
Advanced Production I expanded much more on why I chose to film in certain ways in addition to documenting the
experience in more detail.

10. I feel that Pinnacle Studio 16 was well-suited to the post-production aspects of my process as
it’s professional editing tools and software helped me to develop a strong documentary
opening. Although I had some troubles with Pinnacle, in that it would sometimes crash or not
allow me to save/export my work which held me back a little, I found the software easy to use
and appropriate for the type of production that I was making.
 For the AS production, I feel that I have developed my editing skills a great deal in that I
looked into what Pinnacle has to offer a lot more allowing me to expand on what I learned
last and create a product of much higher quality. In particular I discovered and utilised the
‘trimming tool’ to finish shots and ensure that the cut was smooth. I also expanded on my
knowledge of including titles; I learned how to overlap them on the actual footage rather
than against a plain background. This was particularly necessary as I needed to include on
screen titles to introduce my expert interviews. Similarly I explored the tools that I could
use to enhance the soundtrack and practised distorting some of my music and sound.

11. Offline Software – Microsoft Powerpoint, Photoshop, ScreenRecorder
I found offline software very useful during the production process, particularly to use to increase the quality
of my blog by varying content even more so.
 Powerpoint was useful during the research and planning stage to present my information in a more
interesting way. It is also a fairly interactive mode that allowed me to embed my presentation onto the
blog for the viewer to see. I felt that although Powerpoint was very easy to use and effective when on the
blog, Prezi had many more features which made the information even more exciting to view. Despite this,
Prezis as of yet can not be embedded onto a wordpress blog and therefore I had to use a link to take the
viewer to thee presentation. I found this unappealing as it wasn’t immediately on the blog making it
almost unseen.
 I used PhotoShop to edit my magazine advert ancillary task. I found the
software a little difficult to use as it has many complex tools. Although I am very
happy with the result of my image, if I were to improve on it I would have
looked into Photoshop more to explore what I could have done to make it of
higher quality.
 I also used ScreenRecorder; software that allowed me to film my computer
screen while recording my voiceover. I found this particularly useful when
presenting presentations and in my evaluation as I was able to elaborate on what I
had written and explain my view points.