media a2 evaluation question 4

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

2. HARDWARE

3. Camera
To begin, the most paramount piece of technology we used was a camera. This piece of
hardware allowed us to capture our footage and began the entire process. This was due
to the camera allowing us to construct our initial research. For example, from using a
camera it enabled us to construct location recee research. As a result of this task our
creative ideas were expanded as it lead us to discover multiple filming shots.
Furthermore, the use of a camera enabled us to gauge diverse shots. For example, we
had a mini tour around the college and were inspired by different buildings. On the
whole we found the camera significant as it is essentially the core technical device for
our main product, being the documentary. In addition, the camera was easy to navigate
which played to our advantage as it avoided us wasting time and instead gave us the
opportunity to try different camera shots, angles and movements out. Overall, I believe
my group and I used the camera during our research and construction stage effectively
by experimenting with it and using it to its full advantage. Moreover, I feel the use o a
camera was extremely beneficial to our work.

4. Tripod
Moreover, the tripod was an essential piece of hardware that we felt was
extremely necessary to use as it ensured our footage would be steady and
‘correct’. This is because the tripod allows you to set the camera in a stiff positon of
your chose. Once the camera is locked in place you can use the handles, which tilt
the camera to an angle of your choice. Furthermore, we found this very useful
especially when constructing background footage of students walking as the tripod
simply allowed us to just tilt the camera rather than having to re-lock in in place-
however on a different position. On the whole I believe the tripod worked to our
advantage as it made certain that the footage we were obtaining was still and
steady – not wobbly or slanted.

5. Microphone
Firstly, we used a boom mic in order to capture our
sound. We initially found this piece of technology
extremely useful as it was capable of picking up good
sound levels – even if they were far away. For example,
when shooting our background footage; when
watching this back we realised how strong the boom
mic was in terms of capturing sound as minor
background noise could be heard very clearly. Overall,
the boom mic was used throughout the construction
process during our vox pops and background footage
as it was capable of picking up good sound levels even
over immense background noise. Therefore this is why
we choose to use this piece of technology during our
vox pops as we knew there was going to be a lot of
background noise due to the fact we were shooting
within a canteen. Overall, this piece of technology as
extremly helpful as it allowed us to grasp significant
sound levels that added to the effectiveness of our
documentary overall.
However, when constructing our expert interviews we
changed the technology in terms of how we collected
sound. Instead we used a clip-on mic to do this. One
reason to why we made this decision was because we
thought the clip on mic looked far more professional
and therefore connoted the mood of the interview.
Also, because we only wanted to capture what the
interviewee was saying, we had no intention of
grasping what the interviewer/presenter was asking.
This was because as a group we had already discussed
that we would edit parts of the interview into our
documentary and use a voiceover to introduce it.
Overall I believe the clip on mic’s were useful and
effective as they were barely noticeable yet picking up
immense sound that sounded extremely efficient and
professional once played back.
During the construction process we used two different types of microphones.

6. Apple MAC
Throughout the entire process we have been given the opportunity to use the MAC
computers which have benefitted us immensely due to them being so technically
advanced. For example, during the research stage I believe our group was
supported through this piece of technology being available as they are super fast
and easy to navigate. Therefore we were able to complete research such as
research into other documentaries within a suitable time. Additionally from using
the Apple Mac’s we were able to demonstrate our time management skills as we
were not hindered by the computer taking time to load due to Apple Mac’s being
so advanced. Moreover, the software's embedded within apple macs were
tremendously helpful as they enabled us to create our own music for example,
which only added to our creative ideas.

7. SOFTWARE

8. Blogger
Blogger has played a massive role in terms of all stages of this unit as it has allowed
me to document and report all of my work. As a result of this I can easily access
previous work and see my progress throughout the entire process. Later on in this
course I will massively benefit from Blogger as it will allow me to identify strengths
and weaknesses of my coursework as all of the work will be organized on this
software. Overall, blogger made a positive impact to my coursework as it brought
organization and structure to my work.

9. SlideShare
This particular software was useful through both the planning and evaluation
stages to the process as it allowed me to upload work onto blogger. For example,
work that was produced through software's such as Microsoft Word and
PowerPoint do not have an embedded code attached with them, preventing me
from uploading them straight to blogger. Therefore in order to display them on
their I had to use slide share to do so. In addition, once I had uploaded my
documents onto slide share I was obtained with a embedded code, which then
allowed to me upload the work on to my blog. From this I was organized an
structured throughout the process.

10. Premier Pro
This was a paramount software that essentially created my main media product,
being the documentary, “Social media: life online”. Premier pro had a wide range
of tools implemented within it that allowed us to; trim, edit sound levels, add
transactions, add video effects and many more in order to cerate the best
documentary possible. We used this software during the construction stage of the
process and spent an excessive amount of time editing our documentary in order
for it to look professional and appealing to viewers. For example, we created a
whole montage through the use of premier pro, which now looks aesthetically
pleasing after the work we spent on it as a group.

11. Sound cloud
Furthermore, we used sound cloud during the research, planning and construction
stages of our coursework so that we could display voice clips and our radio trailer
on our blog. Furthermore, Sound cloud provides you with an embedded code
which therefore enables you to upload the piece onto your blog. I believe sound
cloud was an extremely useful piece of technology that we used throughout the
process as it permitted sound on to our blog and therefore made it more
advanced. Likewise, it also added to the range of sources/technologies I was
complying with.

12. Indesign
InDesign was the software we used to create our double page spread. This
software was extremely useful as it included a range of tools and features that
reflected codes and conventions we needed to follow. For example, InDesign has a
specific tool that grants you with columns of which are completely equal. We found
this very appealing and helpful as as a group we were all certain on the idea that
our columns needed to be equal to another. One reason behind this was that our
double page spread could look professional and presentable, so that it could
achieve. Overall InDesign was a very efficient piece of software that we used as it
helped us to manipulate our main image in order to make it appear more
ascetically pleasing.

13. Photoshop
We used Photoshop during the construction part of the process to manipulate the
main image to our double page spread. We found this task fairly easy as we were
already familiar with the software due to the basis of our AS coursework last year.
Therefore this task was not time consuming or extremely difficult as we were
already aware of the navigation of the software, which worked it our benefit as it
meant we could adapt the colours to the image in an efficient amount of time.
Overall, this software allowed us to manipulate our image so that it would look
more ascetically pleasing and appealing to the eye, only attracting the audience
further.

14. Powerpoint
PowerPoint was a further software we used for presenting information or data
collected. I feel this was a good software to use to display detailed information or
analyses as it gives you options to write lots and isn't overly complicated in terms
of transactions or spacing like some software's are. Furthermore, PowerPoint gave
us the option to select different designs, from doing so it limited the chance of our
blog from looking repetitive, as we have used it regularly due to it being so quick
and easy to use and later upload. Overall, PowerPoint was used throughout all
stages to display progression or analyses.

15. Prezi
Prezi was a software I used both this year and last year for my AS portfolio.
Therefore I was already aware on how to navigate the site and later upload it onto
my blog. From this it was immensely beneficially as it prevented me from wasting
time as I already had the knowledge of the tools worked. Furthermore, Prezi was
useful as it allowed me to present findings from my research and planning as well
as my evaluation process. Overall, Prezi was a software which came into use on
both my research stage and my evaluation stage as it enabled me to present
findings and data.

16. Emaze
Moving forward, a further software I used to help me display data and my findings
was emaze. I similarly had used emaze previously last year therefore I was again
already knowledgeable on how to use and navigate the tools/features. In addition
I used this software to present findings from my research and planning as I found it
simple and easy to use, therefore decreasing the chances of it being time
consuming.

17. Youtube
This piece of software was used mainly throughout the research and planning
stage as we used it to distribute our focus group and our official documentary once
it was finished. Furthermore, we felt inclined into using videos throughout our
research and planning as it highlighted our creative ideas as it was visually
something different for the viewer. In addition, from posting our documentary onto
the internet which is accessible by the entire world we opened our audience up to
many cultures and ages for example. Therefore we were capable of receiving more
feedback through YouTube comments and likes.

18. Microsoft word
Microsoft word was a main software we used throughout the research and
planning stage as we took many notes on it due to it being so simple to use. This
was efficient to take notes on as it was a quick and easy process, meaning we
wasn’t wasting time. For example, our script for our documentary and radio trailer
required us to piece together a script. In order to do this we had to create plans
and drafts, therefore we used word to do this as it was a simple software to use.

19. How did you use media technologies in the
construction and research, planning and
evaluation stages?
Overall, I believe as a group we have used a wide range of media
technologies throughout the process of our A2 coursework to help us in
all stages : research and planning, construction and evaluation. I believe
from us using so many different technologies we have made our blog
appear far more advanced as well as developing our media skills as our
knowledge has massively increased. To conclude I believe the wide
range of technologies used has also helped to demonstrate our
creativeness.