Georgina Rees

Q4. HOW DID YOU USE MEDIA TECHNOLOGIES IN THE CONSTRUCTION

AND RESEARCH, PLANNING AND

EVALUATION STAGES?

Throughout the production of my documentary, I used a wide range of technologies to ensure my products would reach their full potential and the correct target audience. iMovie was one of the programs which I used most throughout the process of my production to create the documentary. I used iMovie to import my footage, edit my footage, add transitions and sound and simply put the whole documentary together. I had briefl y used iMovie in my AS production but not to the standard I needed for A2. I used tutorials and websites to help gain greater understanding of this program. I was able to export the footage to other sources such as YouTube which I used in my audience feedback. I also discovered that by turning on 'Advanced Features' in the properties section, I was able to use many more tools, which I felt enhanced my overall appearance of the documentary extract. I found the most challenging aspect of iMovie was adding, editing and cutting the footage. However, after practicing and watching tutorials online, this become far more easier.

IMOVIE

Photoshop was the other main software I used in my production process. However, I had previous experience with Photoshop from using this program in AS media. I used Photoshop for my ancillary product which was a double page spread magazine TV listings and a poster to support my main product which was a documentary. It was also used in parts of my documentary where I edited and imported an image into iMovie to use. I have further enhanced and developed my Photoshop skills from this production. I personally think Photoshop was great for creating my ancillary products, as it has advanced tools which I was able to take full advantage of in giving my products the most professional look. I think the best feature of Photoshop that I used was the magic wand eraser as it simply picks up surrounding areas which you want to erase. This is a great time saver tool, although I learnt you had to be patient when using it!

PHOTOSHOP

I used the Sony HXR-MC2000E camcorder to fi lm my documentary. This is a very high and expensive piece of equipment which I was lucky enough to use. This camera contributed to the professional feel of my documentary. I didn't have any previous experience with fi lming at all or with this camcorder, however, I was quickly able to learn how to use this camera.

SONY HXR-MC2000E

I used the Canon 1000D camera to take images for my ancillary products. I've had plenty of experience using digital SLR cameras from AS media production. This allowed me to use the eff ects on the camera to produce suitable, eff ective images for the products.

CANON 1000D

iPhoto was an Apple software I used to store my photos and to view the photos and sort the ones I thought would be suitable for my ancillary products. To import photos onto iMovie, I had to fi rstly put them onto iPhoto.

IPHOTO

YouTube is a video sharing website which is free for all. I used YouTube in my planning and research process to watch other documentaries in order to complete textual analysis. I was also able to find tutorial videos to help me use new software such as certain tools on Photoshop. I also used YouTube through my production process, as I uploaded my unfinished documentary which enabled my peers to complete an audience feedback survey to express their opinions on the documentary.

YOUTUBE

Blogger is a blog-publishing service. I used Blogger to show my journey and progress throughout the production process, collecting my research and planning, production and evaluation process. After using Blogger to show my journey and progress in my AS production, I was extremely confident in using this website. I find Blogger very easy to use and navigate. It is a great website for displaying my work, especially as it is dated so therefore acts like a diary.

BLOGGER

I used SlideRocket to display my PowerPoints in an aesthetically pleasing manor, making it more enjoyable for the audience. I also used SlideRocket in my AS production so was familiar with this website. However, SlideRocket is unfortunately closing down. Another website I used to present my PowerPoints was SlideShare which was also very useful and simple to use. I simply uploaded my PowerPoints onto Blogger through an embedded code which the website produced for me.

SLIDEROCKET

Prezi was another slideshow tool I used on my blog when presenting my work. Prezi has very stylish zooms and fast animations which makes it aesthetically pleasing for the audience. However, I personally do not like Prezi as I find it diffi cult to use and takes considerable amounts of time to create the final, finished product.

PREZI

I used Google Docs to create my audience feedback survey. Google Docs is a free and useful tool. I was easily able to create a document which allowed me to undertake my research into the audience much more eff ectively.

GOOGLE DOCS

FLIPSNACK

Flipsnack is a tool which presents documents in a magazine style. I personally really like Flipsnack as it is easy to use and is aesthetically pleasing.

All these media technologies have enabled me to present my work on the blog more eff ectively. Each of the platforms allowed me to make a realistic, more professional product. However, each of these mediums have limitations. For example, if I was producing a documentary for a large institution, they would have an extremely large budget which would enable them to have more technical and eff ective features to create the best possible products. However, the software which is available to all, free of charge, is extremely useful and enabled me to incorporate the codes and conventions of a documentary.

OVERALL