Subtitle

QUESTION 4) HOW DID YOU USE MEDIA TECHNOLOGIES IN THE

CONSTRUCTION AND RESEARCH, PLANNING AND EVALUATION

STAGES?

HARDWARE

CANNON CAMERA EOS 550D AND TRIPOD

The tripod has a special handle in order for us to be able to produce smooth pan shots, Whilst filming. This came in handy when filming mark looking for charlotte. As we managed to produce an effective pan shot as a point of view shot from mark searching to highlight his panic at the time.As well as this the tripod also enables us to keep a steady shot at many different heights and angles. We can do this by extending the legs or shortening them. therefore it means by using this tripod all our shots are of a high quality as well as successfully helping us use a variety of different shots like high angles, low angles and Ariel shots. An example of this was within the bedroom scene with charlotte sitting at her desk. This helped in portraying the character as weak and innocent like we wanted

We used the camera canon EOS 550D to film our trailer ‘the final plea’. This enabled us to film in HD in order to create high quality shots we needed. We were able to make use of the specialist features like the depth of field. Having shallow focus to emphasise facial expression and deep focus for the audience to notice something significant in the background. however can also be used as a way to hide identity and create mystery. We were also able to zoom in and out the lenses to once again create a variety of different shot like extreme close- ups and long shots This helped our trailer overall look more professional. We also used the same camera when taking the pictures of the magazine cover and poster. We were able to focus it to give a high quality finish. For example by focusing the picture of dan for the magazine it gave a more sharper look

SOFTWARE

FINAL CUT EXPRESS

TOOL BAR

This is called the pointer tool. We used this tool in order to select footage and move it about. I think this is the most useful tool as we were constantly using it to move our chosen clips in the right order. Without this tool we can not construct our trailer

This is called the scissor tool. This is used when we wanted to split a clip. This tool is also very important as we used it a lot when trimming down clips to make the trailer flow more effectively.

Lastly this is called the pen tool. This allowed us to pin point moment on the clip which needed to be edited/ cut down. It helped us a lot when editing sound as we were able to mark in and out points. As well as change the level of sound, making something completely mute, or louder

BINS AND EDITING TECHNIQUESA vital type of software we used when constructing and editing our trial was ‘Final cut express’. We used this as firstly it allowed us to arrange our scenes by organising our shots into bins making all our shots more easier to access and avoiding confusion. It also enabled us to us detailed editing techniques for example slow motions, and colour correcting in order for our shots to look more realistic. And lastly it lets us alter the sounds within the shots (for example making them louder) but also add non diegetic music as well.

The main use for Final Cut Express was the ability to cut the shots in order to change the speed. For example cutting the shots more and more as the trailer progresses till the point the shots pace is so fast it creates a montage ( like the one we have at the end) to build tension and suspense making it conform to the horror genre. Another use of final cut express was the fact that we were able to modify the speed in order to highlight facial expressions and the atmosphere. For example when the family returned to see charlotte was missing. We alter the speed and slowed it down to 50% in order to emphasise the scare and panic which was in the mothers face.

Bins final cut

CHANGING OPACITY We chose to use within the montage we decided to use two shots on top of each other of the fathers reaction as well as the mother. We one this because it highlights there is a lack time and emphasises the panic and chaos as it is used within the middle of the montage We were able to do this by layering the shot of the mother on top of the shop of the father and altering the opacity of one of them. we done this by double clicking on the clip in the bins on the left had side, and then clicking on motions which allowed us to change the levels. I think this was extremely effective in highlighting the idea of time is running out and overall give is a professional feel

Within out trailer sound was very important. As we needed to get the right speed of pace, and the right volume. We decided to make our music fit with the shots, so as it started off slow so did the music(with quite volume. However when the trailer progressed and it got faster in speed so did the music ( with it getting louder). As well as this within the beginning we also used a voiceover, meaning we needed to ensure the music was quitter so it can be heard by the audience. We done this by altering the track using the pen in man different places of the trailer

We were able to use this software to change the legatos and stegatos of the sound throughout the trailer. This was done It to heighten the crucial moments like the montage at the end in order to keep the audience engaged. This was done by clicking on the mountain tool at the bottom, left of the page, and then clicking on the pen tool in order to mark points which then allowed us to move to make it louder or quitter at specific points. This way it also enabled us to edit the music so it faded out, by making each point lower and lower. This helped with the continuity and flow of the overall trailer.

CHANGING SOUND

ADOBE PHOTOSHOP ELEMENTS- TOOL BAR This is called the hand tool. This tool enables us to move the photos around. Which helped us with the overall constructing the poster and magazine cover as well as the titling for ‘the final plea’

This is the wand tool. This tool enables us to cut around an image and highlight it. This was very useful when editing out the clowns hair in the poster. As we need to cut it out as it was becoming problematic in making the writing next to it stand out

The T is the text tool. This is used to write text in. we used this with the titling, critical review, actors names. As well as all the information used on the magazine

The eraser tool is used with the wand tool. As when the wand tool has gone as neat and precise as planned, we used this tool in order to touch it up so it was perfect. This shows that we have an attention to detail which overall helped us create a high standard poster.

The background tool was very important within the magazine as this enabled us to change the background around the clown to black

The layer tool is placed at the bottom right hand side of Photoshop. It was extremely helpful in helping construct our magazine cover and poster as it enabled us to be able to precisely layer up the different elements needed. For example within the poster, the photograph was on layer the titles was another layer, the critical reviews were another layer and so on. In the same way for the magazine the photograph was known as our background layer which we were able to lock into place, so it was unable to move. This was called the lock layer. Then using the specific electric sheep logo was the second layer and so on.

LAYERS

POSTER

Regarding the poster, Photoshop helped us construct it. We wanted to depict the clown mask, we are and fright in the same way it is depicted in the

trailer and so it would also conform to the horror genre. Therefore Using the paint brush tool i was able to match the colours within the mask with the paint and colour over each bit in order to get a cartoony feel to it and to present the clown mask not as a photograph anymore but as a drawing cartoon. This created a sense of irony as clowns and cartoons is a form of child entertainment however it is used within this poster to create fright and fear.

. The gradient tool was able to darken the surroundings of the mask and making it seem as if the mask is fading into the black background. This was to make the mask almost seem 3d. 5. I then downloaded a text and enlarged it, placing it in the middle in order for the main focus to be on it. making it light grey in order for it to present bold and clear against the black background forming our main title of the final plea. We then placed out tag line text about the title, making it allot smaller reading “how far would you got to protect your family ?” making this red connoted a sense of danger as red as connotations of blood , the review and stars were also colour red and placed above the credit lines in bold in order to make it stand out. I placed the actors names at the top of the poster with the surnames appearing bigger and white in order to emphases importance and make them stand out and in order to utilize the space as we wanted no gaps on our poster. Lastly I placed further layers on top for example the film festival logos, the 15 age rating and the twitter and Facebook sign on by opening them as a new layer, selecting them with the wand, in-versing the bit selected and coping and pasting them on to the poster

POSTER

MAGAZINE

We used this software to create our magazine cover. This software has many editing techniques which enabled us to carry out the construction of the magazine to a high standard and so it conforms to the horror genre

Firstly the main effect we put on our image was the fact we were able to make it black and white and increase the sharpness and contrast. We done this because this to make Dans facial expression stand out more and be more exaggerated. As well as this it ensure that it conforms to the horror genre as we were able to use the dark bold colours; colours like black and white can be associated with elements like good and evil which is a main theme of the horror genre. Therefore through this software we were able to achieve this

We were able to use the electric sheep magazine titling through the use of this software. We done this by uploading another former magazine cover made by them, then cut and highlighted around it using the wand tool . After this we were able to copy and paste it over the top of the image of Dan covering his hair. By doing this we were able to conform t the style and presentation of the magazine, therefore looked very professional

MAGAZINE

WEB TECHNOLOGIES

the use of IMDB, helped largely with the research and planning and therefore has extremely influenced our final product of ‘The final When researching films and analysing them we used IMDB to analyse other media horror texts. For example official trailer and this website was useful in allowing us to obtain elements that our included in these products; director, film poster, actors, reviews, star rating and the official trailer. These were helpful as we were able to gain an idea as to what we wanted to achieve and how we are going to do it. Thus IMDB is very reliable in comparison to other websites such as YouTube. This is because IMDB has only the official, legitimate trailers, whereas YouTube has numerous of different versions of trailers for one film, meaning they are unofficial. these trailers are also effective in conforming to the horror genre, but do not interest us because we only want to evaluate legitimate trailer as by doing this we are able to gain knowledge on how the professionals are effectively using elements to build tension and scare within the audience . Therefore this helps us with the conventions and codes needed to make a horror trailer.As well as this it is also effective as we were able to see when the film was released and what actors were in it. this helped us as we were able to analyse the trailer in more detail on how the genre has developed and changed over a period of time. More over this was useful as we were then able to do further research into whether this actor has been in other horror films but also look at why they might have been casted for that particular role therefore this helped us with our casting, as we were able to acknowledge the certain characteristics that these horror films obtained

IMDB

Research- we used YouTube in order to help us with our research and planning. This was useful to us as we were able to search other trailers and see the ways they have used codes and conventions to conform to the horror genre. And also enabled us to search factors like music and titling , to give us ideas on what sort of music and titling we should be using. Thus , we used YouTube frequently not only as a viewer but also as a regular uploader, as we linked all our videos to our blog (WordPress) to keep them updated. YouTube gave us another method to present our work, therefore has been extremely useful .

Construction- YouTube also helped us with our construction as it help us with picking our institution we would use when it came to our horror . Like the particular text we would use. In also helped us to pick three tracks that independent individuals had uploaded and asked for permission to use for our trailer ( the first, second and third act).it was helpful as it enabled us to search different types of horror music with different pace and therefore we were able to pick three that fitted with the action of the shots. We had to get the permission to use the tracks for educational purposes, which was easy enough.

Evaluation- lastly YouTube helped us with the evaluation stage. As in order to gain audience feedback, we had to upload our trailer to YouTube. This helped appeal to a wider audience as a large variety of individuals (especially young)use YouTube worldwide, and therefore from the amount of views we got shows we were able to successfully do this. Also without uploaded our trailer to YouTube those that participated in our survey monkey would be unable to do so, as they wouldn't be able to see it.

YOUTUBE

Sbribd/google docs and WordPress were also used with the research and planning , the construction and the evaluation of our media .As they are used to upload and share all the presentations we have made regarding this. For example storyboards, screenplays, scripts even all the evaluation questions ect. Moreover the use of google docs and scribd allowed us to upload all our work in different methods, for example PowerPoint, word document ,instead of writing us long texts on a post. Therefore we used largely for presentation purposes.

WordPress enabled us to upload all our posts and present all the work we have done throughout the year, in a order which was clear for the examiner and teacher . Within editing we ae also able to change the dates of posts that are in the wrong place, which once again helped our blogs to be clear and organised .

Lastly WordPress was also used to upload the official trailers of films that we have analysed, in order to show clearly the trailer, when referred to in the post later, making analysis a lot more easier to understand.

SCRIBD/GOOGLE DOCS AND WORDPRESS

The use of google images helped greatly within for research and planning stage of the magazine and poster . This is because google images helps us get hold of many magazine covers and posters that have successfully conformed to the horror genre and take ideas from them in order to also conform to the horror genre. Without the use of google images we would not have found it very easy to find particular covers, and therefore would have struggled with our research into the horror genre but also found the next stage of construction hard.

google images also helped us look at a large variety of magazine covers and posters, we were then able to analysis them in depth and make comparisons of different covers that all conform to them horror genre .thus we were also able to see lots media packages,(the film, poster and magazine) this helped us create our own package with all three ancillary products being linked. Google images allowed us access to other packages which helped us plan ours

Also we used google images to find film festival logos and critical views, therefore this helped us with the construction of the poster. for example the use of the five stars for our poster. Google images allowed us to save the image and place it on our film poster, giving a more professional feel

a aspect that helped us with our evaluation was the web technology of survey monkey. This was used to receive audience feedback. we wrote up a set of questions for the audience to answer, based on opinions about our three products. we were able to put it on Facebook which enabled us to get a large sample of participants ( 50 participants). ]this also at the same time is promoting our film , as participants have to watch the trailer in order to answer the questions. This was a much easier method than printing off a questionnaire and actively asking people to participate. Which may annoy some as it being time consuming. This way it was quicker and easier. in addition by doing it online, there is no chance that our results would be faulty, or it would not be bias and individuals would be doing it by themselves, without anyone influencing their decision. In this way we were able to obtain accurate results, as the results are reliable and honest

Lastly another factor of how this helped us is that is was an effective way in filling out the surevey for the as they would feel more confident filling it out due to the confidentiality. But also gives us an accurate account on what they all truly felt this way. As well as this it was overall much easier for us to analyse as the website collects together all the results together so we can analyse easier.

GOOGLE IMAGES AND SURVEY MONKEY.

Instagram- Instagram was used in to promote and appeal to the wider audience. This website is an online mobile photo-sharing, video-sharing and social networking service that enables its users to take pictures and videos, and share them on a variety of social networking platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and Flickr. These are frequently used by our target market and therefore we were able to promote to them by uploading our poster to it in order to gain the most relevant feedback as possible . Moreover Instagram is also linked to other popular social media websites, such as Facebook, twitter, Tumblr and Flickr, this makes more viewers this once again enables us to promote to a wider range of people. we gained 46 likes and comments suggesting they would be willing to see our film , seeing as we are a independent low budget film this is shown to be an effective free way of advertising .

Twitter-we also used twitter by uploading our poster there as well. this is a very popular site that is used worldwide. This means that we are reaching out to the wider audience once again. Also is frequently used by young people which is our main target audience . By individuals retweets and favouring g the post, others are able to see it also, and they can also retweet. This means by every retweet our film is being promoted for free therefore is an effective use. this way we are able to get a large variety of individuals to see our post.. We managed to get 23 retweet and this means a large majority of people were able to see our production.

Facebook- lastly we also used Facebook by uploading our trailer to it and asking what everyone thought, we received over 130 likes and 30 comments which was shocking to us all as we did not expect this kind of response . Facebook is s a popular free social networking website that people upload photos and videos, send messages and keep in touch with friends. In this way we are able to reach the young generation effectively , yet the older, as well. This means we were able to promote are film to a variety of people of all ages use Facebook. In this way we were able to gain feedback from a large range of people.

INSTAGRAM, FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.