The student used various media technologies at different stages of their project. In the planning stage, they used WhatsApp and Skype to communicate ideas and share work efficiently. In the research stage, they searched online sources like Google to find examples and inspiration. YouTube tutorials helped them learn Photoshop skills for constructing print work. iMovie allowed them to edit video and receive feedback. Prezi helped organize research ideas. A PC tablet was used to handwrite the film title for the poster.

1. Question 4- How did you use media
technologies in the construction
and research, planning and
evaluation stages?

2. Planning
WhatsApp – Mobile phone application, this was extremely helpful for our group. We
created a conference group and spoke about ideas, updates and tasks which needed to
be completed. We also sent images, trailers, audio notes and production work to each
other. Due to our clashing timetables within school, WhatsApp made it easier for us to
communicate as a group and share our ideas.
Skype – We used Skype for important discussions. Similar
to WhatsApp we shared our ideas and thoughts about our
production work and research. This was extremely helpful
as we saved time in our production timetable and could
focus on producing and filming our product rather than
planning and researching.

3. Research
• Internet and search engine sites – Search engines such as Google and Yahoo
allowed us to access a wide range of media texts for our product research. It also
helped us gain ideas for our own print work. Using the interest was fast and
accessible. While researching we could access a range of media texts from my IPod
or mobile phone, this made is easier for me to share my ideas and compare them
with other media products.

4. Constructing our product

5. YouTube
YouTube was extremely helpful in researching
and constructing our product. We searched
trailers and movie clips on YouTube and
embedded them on our blog and product
research. YouTube also helped greatly with our
print work. Due to my occasional use of
Photoshop, I wasn’t very confident in
constructing our print work. Issues such as
using the quick selection tool were solved
through YouTube Photoshop tutorials. While
watching a variety of tutorials I gained a greater
understanding of Hue and Saturation effects
which allowed me to change the colour of my
main image from brown to green. This was
significantly important as while planning we
found it difficult to find a distinctive eye colour
for our main image.

6. iMovie
iMovie 11 played a significant part in the construction of
our product. iMovie was easy and simple to use, the
new software presented us with a variety of transitions
and editing options. While constructing our trailer we
used to upload different versions onto YouTube and
shared it with our friends, family and teachers in order to
receive detailed feedback, iMovie made this easy and
simple for us to upload. Initially we created our voice
over on Garage band but weren’t pleased with the
outcome as the script didn’t correspond with the scenes
within our trailer. The ‘mike’ button on iMovie allowed us
to record our voice-over while our trailer played, which
allowed us to match the script with the action in the
scenes.

7. Prezi
Prezi – I used this to construct my product research, it was easy, reliable and
fun. It allowed me to brainstorm my ideas and add hyperlinks and images. A
great advantage of using Prezi is the route creation which allowed my ideas
to link together. While filming our product Prezi was easily accessible and
allowed my group and myself to look back on conventions of horror movies
and implement them within our own work.
PC Tablet
PC Tablet – The
typography of our film was
inspired by the Uninvited
film poster. We used a PC
tablet to handwrite our
title. Although tricky to use
at first, we were able to
create the perfect
typography for our film
poster.

8. Photoshop
• Photoshop – Initially I was nervous about using Photoshop to construct our print
work, as I found it extremely complicated. The issues I encountered were with
regards to the different layers and how to access, lock and change layers. I also
found it difficult to fade and certain images into background images. However, with
the help of YouTube videos and internet sites I gradually gained a better
understanding of how to sue the tools and functions on the software.