Media Question 4

1. HOW HAVE YOU USED NEW MEDIA TECHNOLOGY IN
THE CONSTRUCTION AND RESEARCH AND PLANNING
AND EVALUATION STAGES?
MARTHA DAVIS - EVALUATION QUESTION 4

2. NEW MEDIA TECHNOLOGY…
• New media technology is very important in any process when making and
producing a media product.
• Definition: “Most technologies described as "new media" are digital, often
having characteristics of being manipulated, networkable, dense,
compressible, and interactive. In that sense, new media refers to on-
demand access to content anytime, anywhere, on any digital device, as
well as interactive user feedback, and creative participation.” (Reference -
Wikipedia)
• We have used new media for specifically this reason, to research, plan,
inspire and develop.

3. RESEARCH AND PLANNING
• At the beginning of our research and planning we used Google to
access key information like example/ real media products and
background information in the thriller/mystery genre. The research
on Google that we did allowed us to access small parts of the
research and planning like genre storyboards and related texts
before starting and constructing the main products. Using Google
we also built upon our knowledge on terms and conventions of
media and ancillary/supporting texts to make the products as
realistic as possible.
• We have utilised the blogging site Blogger throughout the research
and planning and production processes to record and store our
media work. On this site we have sued features such as the
hyperlink field so that we can include files from sites like
Slideshare, Prezi and Emaze.

4. RESEARCH AND PLANNING
• Youtube was used extensively at the beginning to watch real media products
to base essays on.
• Not only did we use this program to research thriller/mystery film trailers and
to gather inspiration at the beginning of our coursework project we also used
to it to upload our final trailer for everyone to see. Once we had exported the
film trailer from Adobe Premier to our user area and working area we
uploaded it to youtube and used that site to embed the final video onto our
blog. We used the embed tool, copying the hyperlink to make sure everyone
could see it.
• We also used Youtube to check any faults in the trailer. For example once
we had uploaded the first version we discovered there was a clicking sound
on the music. We then rendered the work area using the render tool so
smoothen out the blips and this corrected the problem.
• Finally, we also used the Youtube link without film trailer on to ask for
feedback and advice. This was a good site to do this on as nearly everyone
can access it and it is very easy to use.

5. CONSTRUCTION
• Throughout the construction process we used photoshop elements to
make the magazine and poster. We used the different tools on this
program to distort, alter, add effects too and to change these images
• We used an online program called ‘MP3 Converter’ to convert our
downloaded CD tracks in to MP3 files that are compatible with the Adobe
Premier software.
• We also used another online music site called ‘Free Music Archive’ to
download copyright free music. There is a variety of genres, moods,
emotions and artists on the website so there was a lot to choose from.
We searched in the specific categories to make sure we had the right
track and settled with a piano piece that was repetitive and eerie. For our
coursework breif it explained that we can’t use copyrighted music as it
belongs to someone else and we do not have the rights to use it.

6. Adobe Premier
• We also used Adobe Premier to create the film trailer, adding special effects,
music, transitions and images.
• Once we had filmed different parts of the trailer with the actors we inputted the
clips in to Premier and shortened and cropped them to make them the right
length.
• After this we put inter titles in between to make sure the story was portrayed in
the correct way, including information about the characters and locations in which
the story unfolded.
• One of the last steps was to render the material we had created in Premier,
making the clips flow properly and smootly.

7. ADOBE PREMIER

8. ADOBE PHOTOSHOP
• Photoshop Elements was the main program that we used to edit our
magazine and poster. After creating drafts and mock ups we opened our
photos of our main actor in photoshop and started to build the magazine
around it, getting inspiration from existing magazines like Empire and Total
Film.
• At first we didn’t know how many effects Photoshop had but using our skills
from our AS coursework, watching tutorials on Youtube and getting advice from
our teachers we found new tools and effects. We used the brightness and
contrast tool and the lasso tool.
• We used effects such as black and white, hue and saturation and changed the
brighness and contrast to create the right feel for the genre we were working
with.

9. EVALUATION STAGES
In the evaluation stages of the coursework I used a mixture of conventional presentation
software like Keynote (powerpoint for Mac) and then more adventurous illustrative
software like Emaze.
Firstly for question 1 I recorded myself speaking about the ways in which our products
used and challenged media conventions. I then put this onto a online music and
recording site called Soundcloud. As well as this site being used for music streaming
but also for recording and storing sound bites.
For question 2 I explored the effectiveness of our three products together on the online
presentation site Prezi. I created an account and used the in-site features like image
insertion to make it creative.
Next I talked about what I’d learned from our audience feedback for question 3 by using
online creative site Emaze. Again I created an account and imputed my own ideas and
photos to make it my own.
Finally, I created this presentation on new media technology and how I have used it
throughout the production of our products on this program, Keynote. It is the mac
equivalent of Powerpoint and used my media skills to export this document into
Slideshare to upload to our coursework blog.