1. HOW DID YOU USE NEW MEDIA
TECHNOLOGIES IN THE
CONSTRUCTION AND RESEARCH,
PLANNING AND EVALUATION STAGES?
EVALUATION: QUESTION 4
2. RESEARCH AND PLANNING
Blogger - Blogger has been
the one of the most essential
tools for my planning stage. It
has allowed me to keep track
of everything to keep me
organized with my schedule. It
also enabled me to keep
checking back at my story
board and shot list. As well as
my risk assessment and
locations.
Blogger is easy to use and
accessible from any smart
phone so even when I was out
filming, I was able to use the
internet and get on Blogger to
check I was collecting the
correct footage.
YouTube - YouTube has
allowed me to look at other film
trailers and take ideas from
them to use in my own trailer.
For example I've been able to
view other documentary films
based on sport and note what
features are used throughout
and what made the trailers
successful . I have also been
able to look at other A2 Media
students trailers, looking at
what got the best marks making
sure I have met all of the
criteria in order for me to
achieve a high level overall. I
have also been able to
research music for my
soundtrack well as work out
which soundtracks work best
Sound cloud- I mostly
used sound cloud to find
and discover new and
copyright free music.
This was a helpful site as
it was easy to find related
genre music, and it even
suggested songs based
on my recent listening
habits. It was also easy
to download my chosen
tracks onto my mac and
then import into my
editing software.
3. Google - This was a key tool in helping me increase my awareness for
and knowledge of sport doping. Using Google it was quick and easy to
find relevant articles and videos on different aspects of doping, for
example the difference between hard drugs and blood doping. Google
Images also allowed me to look up lots of information, such as magazine
covers, film posters etc. Google has been a massive necessity for me as
it has allowed me to do so much of my research which has been
necessary for creating my film trailer and the ancillary tasks.
Google Maps - As basic as this may be, this is definitely a new media
technology which helped me in the research and planning stages. By
using Google Maps, I was able to find my way to places like the race
track in Marlborough, which I had never been to before. The street view
option enabled me to have a close up look at the location to see if it was
suitable and safe to get to.
Google Maps also acts as a SatNav meaning allowing me to reach my
locations such as Swindon link center with ease as I had the app on my
phone and it told me where to go.
Facebook Messenger - Facebook Messenger played crucial roles in the
planning of my film trailer, poster and magazine cover. These two apps
allowed me to get hold of any actors who I was using in my project, let
them know what times and dates I needed them and allowed me to keep
in constant contact with them. This allowed me to stay organised at all
times and gave me the opportunity to be able to rearrange.
4. THE CREATION OF
THE FILM TRAILER
Camera – The camera was the most necessary and
crucial part of creating my film trailer. My canon 700
D camera was perfect for the job as it recorded
footage in 1080p HD which was enough to get
decent quality filming. I was already well adverse in
the workings of my camera as a keen photographer
I knew the settings well, the use of manual focus
was vital to achieve intresting shifts of focus. As well
as this another key feature is its flip screen which
was helpful for shots filmed at difficult angles such
as looking down or up at my actors, I was able to
hold the camera in the right place and flip the
screen to clearly see what I was filming make sure I
had the right angle which was very useful! I also
used a Rode microphone to record a higher quality
of sound, however more important than this was the
lens hood at the end of my lens as this prevented
harsh glare from the sun or inside lights affecting
the the footage, however on most occasions the
light wasn’t bright enough to of had much of an
effect anyway.
Tripod - Throughout the filming of my trailer, it would
be fair to admit I hardly used a tripod. I used a tripod
for all of my footage that I shot with the main
protagonist sat in a dark room and some at the
swimming event because I wanted these shots to be
slick, sharp and professional-looking. However, I
decided that for many of the other shots, I wanted
them to feel more hand held, as this is a key
convention of documentary films. This gave me shots
a sense of realism which was my ultimate aim.
However I had trouble keeping up with the pace of my
cycling shots and therefore tired filming from the back
of my mums car while she drove this allowed me to
get a smooth tracking shot which I felt was some of
my favorite shots in my trailer, as it appears smooth
and professional.
5. Son Vegas Pro - Whilst creating my AS Media Film Opening, I was using iMovie. I was very
well adapted to it, knew all of the ins and outs and little tricks to make my media products
successful. However, when it came to editing my A2 Film Trailer I knew that imovie would
not be sufficient for the effects I wanted to achieve in post production therefore I started
using a newer and more professional editing software which was much more advanced. I
didn’t know much about the program when I started therefore had a little help to get to learn
what I required from someone who had previously used the program. I also spent time
watching YouTube tutorials on how to edit clips, add soundtracks, merge clips, speed up
clips, slow down clips, add in text etc. This helped me get to grips with this program very
quickly so I could get down to editing as quickly as possible. Using Vegas Pro, I was able to
edit my film trailer fluidly and make sure all of my timings were correct and in time with my
soundtrack which I was able to make sure it rhythmically matched the trailer in terms of clip
changes, blackouts and titles. I think it looks a lot more professional when the shots change
on the beat of the music. A key tool I used was the colour correction, to adjust the hue in the
shot of the protagonist in the dark room. The colour of his face was much too orange but
after looked more natural and pale to give him a look of ill-health which I wanted to portray
as he had been taking performance enhancing drugs.
I figured out also that I could layer shots over the top of other shots, I used this at the end of
my trailer as I felt it was creative and unique. Without this program I would not have been
able to achieve the professional and sleek trailer I had envisioned therefore I am glad I used
this software.
6. THE CREATION OF THE
ANCILLARY TASKS
Camera - For my ancillary tasks, I used my
Canon 700 D to take my photos. the photo I
used for my magazine cover while was taken
while filming rugby with Sam in the school
grounds, it is a profile image taken outside
therefore I had to adjust the ISO to make sure
the image had the correct lighting. The lighting
had to be perfect to make sure I had a very clear,
professional looking photo and I think it was
successful.
Photoshop- This was a piece of software that was
vital for my magazine and poster creation. I was
able to edit my images and create exciting digitally
manipulated images which is becoming more and
more popular convention for posters and magazine
covers particularly of the indie genre, as it quickly
grabs the audiences attention. This software is
difficult to use however I have used it many times
before, therefore I knew the tools I required to follow
the general conventions of posters and magazine
covers. It is also possible to add and rearrange text
which makes it ideal.
7. THE EVALUATION STAGE
PowerPoint - Using PowerPoint was a way of using different technologies on my
blog instead of just having lots of text, different uses of media make my blog more
visually appealing and easy to navigate. PowerPoint allows people to easily create
professional looking presentations. It has a very basic, simple format and makes it
easy for anyone to use. By using it in my evaluation, it has helped me expand my
presentation abilities and has allowed me to showcase my evaluation in a
sophisticated and organized way.
Blogger - By doing my evaluation using Blogger, I have again been able to keep
to stay organised and on track. It also allows be to edit all of my work easily, with
the use of spell check, which easily allows me to adjust mistakes. I have been
able to embed links and YouTube videos onto my blog to make it easier for
examiners to use and know what I am talking about when referring to different
film trailers without them having to search for the trailer themselves. I have also
been able to add additional information where needed without making my work
untidy. Keeping my blog was easy and fun and allows me to keep all my course
work in one place.
YouTube - YouTube allowed me to find examples of comparisons of trailers
with features I had been discussing in the question. For example, if I was to
talk about how my film trailer used a very powerful soundtrack with lots of
suspense and build and I wanted to show an example of another trailer which
used the same technique, I could search up the trailer for and post the link
and this easily shows the examiner what I am talking about.
