2. For our different products and our research
and planning, I relied on different
technologies in order to put things on our
blog, edit our products and generally do
research. Therefore we used different types
of software and hardware to help us
complete these tasks. We used a range of
software including Adobe Premiere Pro,
PhotoShop, Indesign and more. We also
used a range of hardware including
cameras, tripods, and iMacs.
3. Research and Planning
To begin our research and planning, we came up with ideas on
a PowerPoint presentation, so even from the start of our
process we were using technology and it was a key part when
we were discussing our documentary ideas.
For our research and planning, we used products such as
Blogger. Blogger allowed us to embed codes onto our blog and
upload presentations. It was the blog website that we used to
upload research, images, our final radio trailer and magazine
product. We all had access to this and could upload at any
time, which was good as we could do work at home also. We
could clearly order our work and create titles so we know what
is included in every post. It was a good website to use
because it was easy to use and we could do everything that
we wanted to. The only difficulty with this was that a Blogger
account is a Google account and therefore everything is done
on one account, so to access my personal Google account, I
had to keep logging back in and out, but this was not
something that prevented work from being completed.
4. In order to upload presentations, word documents and more, we
used SlideShare. It was a simple way to put our presentations on our
blog. This is a website that we used to upload our work and then it
created an embed code that I could put into a blog post. If we
wanted to upload multiple slides of a word or powerpoint documents,
it created arrows to navigate to different pages and had a full screen
button to view it larger. This was the only way we could do this and
therefore it was successful.
PowerPoint and Word were used frequently during our research and
planning, as they were relatively simple to use. We created different
themes to make our work look more attractive. Our PowerPoints
could then be uploaded to our blog via SlideShare. I already knew
how to use PowerPoint previously and so this was not a challenge.
The main web browser that I used was Google Chrome, as some
websites that I wanted to access did not work with the Safari
browser on the iMacs. Therefore this is the main one that I used. I
also used this do all my research and access websites that I needed
to use. To do my topic research, I could type in my topic or add
quotation marks to find something specific, this meant the research
could be done more effectively. One issue I encountered when doing
the research at college, was that some websites such as blogs were
blocked and did not allow me to access them so I had to view them
from home.
5. Additionally, I used Prezi which is an online presentation
software that had different themes and it is also interactive when
we embed it into our blog. I combined this with PowerPoint and
Word to have different effects. With Prezi, it features a path that
the different slides take and that is the interactive section. It
allowed us to provide information in a more creative way. The
fact that we could embed this into our blog made it a good
website to use. There were no downfalls to this website that we
noticed so we used this.
The audio website that we used to upload audio clips to was
Sound Cloud, I had used this website before in AS Media. We
recorded our audio clips either on a phone or voice recorder and
then we uploaded them to SoundCloud, if we had more than one
clip, it would automatically become a playlist. We could then
embed this on our blog, and we enjoyed to do this was different
to written work. There was a simple play button that would come
up on the blog post we embedded the code to, this means it was
simple to listen to it.
We used text messages and Facebook messenger to stay in
contact to arrange when we were going to come into college to
do extra work or finish things that needed a group opinion such
as the documentary.
6. Movie Maker and YouTube
YouTube allowed us to do research on existing
products, to find inspiration. We also uploaded
videos for our audience feedback. To upload, we
used chrome and uploaded the files from the
camera format. We could then title it what we
wanted and then publish it. Once it was published
we could then embed it into the blog. This added a
different type of media in the format of a video
which looked good on our blog as we used a
different technology. It was simple to understand
how to do this. I used Windows Movie Maker to
illustrate the questions I wanted to ask my target
audience for our audience feedback. I decided to
do this because I wanted to add more detail to the
points I was trying to make, so this seemed like an
effective way to do this. I added the image for the
background and then narrated over it using the
script that I had made in Word. Then, I uploaded it
to YouTube and then embedded on the blog. It
would have been easier if Blogger had a feature
that allowed files and videos to be uploaded easier
however, we have YouTube and SlideShare to help
us with this.
Focus group YouTube video
Movie Maker video
7. Constructio
n: The hardware that we used for research and planning was the
iMac computer at college, this took a while to get used to using
because it was different to what I had used previously at AS. I
was quick to learn how to use this efficiently.
Sometimes however, we did not use technologies during all the
planning stages of our documentary. Such as our storyboard,
plans and first drafts were written and drawn. We then used
technology to scan the papers by using the printer which
emailed us the scanned copy, and then uploaded to
SlideShare and embedded into the blog. The scanner was
fairly simple to use and I liked the effect of having hand written
plans on an online blog. We also used the scanner to scan the
evaluation of the documentary ‘Supersize Me’ by Morgan
Spurlock that we watched in lesson.
8. We used our phones to take images of things that we wanted to upload
to our blog. We used the camera app on our iPhones to take images and
then email to then transfer it to the computer to then put it on the blog.
We did this frequently as it was simple to do. We could take images of
our location for the location recce on the blog and emailing was an
effective way to do this. We found that emailing the images was a
quicker way to get it on the computer rather an use a USB to lightening
cable and connecting our phones.
We used our college’s online messaging and information website ‘Tyber’ to
message teachers to arrange our interviews. We could access this from our phones
or computer and it allowed us to message regarding the time and place of where
our interviews were being held.
9. Hardware
To record our voice clips, we used a voice recorder and then
used a USB cable to import the clips into the computer. For
example, we used the voice recorder to record our script and
our verbal meetings, we did this in a separate room to allow us
to have the least amount of background noise as possible.
When the cable was plugged into the mac, we could drag the
clips into our folder and then they could either be put straight
onto SoundCloud or edited on Garage Band. I edited our brand
identity meeting discussion on this software as we made
mistakes whilst recording our audio. In garage band, all I did
was import the clips from the voice recorder we used, then cut
clips and move them together. I did this using the cut tool which
was Command and then ‘T’. I then exported the file and
uploaded it to SoundCloud.
10. The camera that we used was a video recording camera. We either had a
Canon or Panasonic camera each time we filmed. The cameras had mostly
the same functions, and we used a tripod to set the camera up using the
base plate that screwed into the bottom of the camera. We had to make sure
that the spirit level on the tripod was level so that the camera was not wonky.
Using the tripod, we could easily make smooth pan shots by using the
handle for the base plate of the camera, which was very helpful.
Furthermore, we used a direct (shotgun) microphone, we plugged this in via
the microphone port on each of the cameras. We had to make sure that the
microphone was pointing at the person who was speaking otherwise the
audio would not be as loud or clear. We used headphones that we put in the
headphone port of the camera. We could hear the audio through this and we
could tell whether we needed to bring the microphone closer or not. After we
were finished each time we filmed footage, we uploaded it to our computer
via a USB cable and put it in our own folder which was dated to make the
clip selection process easier.
Tripod
Microphone
Camera
11. Documentary Editing .
We imported our footage from the folder we saved our clips, and then they
came up on the left side of screen in Premiere. We could then drag it into
the timeline to start editing them. We could do it systematically because
we had a log to see what clips would come first, so this helped.
We used Adobe Premiere Pro to edit our
documentary, we imported our clips from the different
folders that we made with the different dates on so we
knew what we wanted to start with.
Time line Clips
12. Using the razor tool, we could cut our clips by clicking where we wanted it to be cut.
We could also do this by dragging the pointer across the timeline. We changed
between the select tool and the razor tool to get our clips where we wanted them. The
timeline consists of our video files, our titles, audio and background audio which are all
on different levels. This made it easier to add or change things.
Razor tool
Selection tool
14. To add titles we went to the
title menu at the top of the
screen and clicked add title,
and then default still. This
allowed us to add text on
top of our video, and we did
this for our interviews, to
add the name and title of
the interviewee.
Furthermore, we did this
because wanted to have the
questions we asked during
interviews and vox pops on
the screen.
We could change the different fonts and
size by holding down the command key,
we kept the same font for all our titles.
15. We blurred the screen by using the
video effects tool, we changed the
blurriness to suit our needs.
We decided to do this because then the
audience could focus on the question.
We liked this effect because the
movement of the interviewee can still be
seen behind. It also shows a change of
question, we could adjust the
percentage of the blur, if it was too
blurry, it might have hurt the audience’s
eyes and we did not want that.
16. We added different video
transitions at the end of some of
our video clips in the documentary.
We did this because it would help
our videos to flow better.
We did this by clicking on video
transitions and then dragging them
on the relevant clip. We frequently
used the ‘fade to black’ video
transition to show the end of a
scene or change of location.
Sometimes we left it as a jump cut
as that if the effect that we wanted.
We could elongate the effect to
make it the same length as the
video clip if we wanted to.
17. This is the pen tool that we used to correct our sound levels,
through this, we could use the bars on the sound clip to make it
louder or quieter. Using this tool, we could move the bar up and
down to adjust the audio. We did this frequently during the whole
documentary because we wanted to make the music audio quieter
when somebody was speaking so that they would be able to be
heard. The diegetic sound is the audio of things we want to be
heard in the clip. The non diegetic sound is the narration and the
music beat underlying. After we had completed the documentary,
we exported it to the best resolution so that it would be in the best
quality.
Music Voice over
Sound from documentary
18. Radio Trailer
The radio trailer was also done on Adobe Premiere Pro, we did it on this software because we
had become familiar with it. We got the same effects and could use the same functions in
Premiere Pro as another audio editing software such as ‘Garage band’ so it made sense to do
the documentary in this programme. This meant we could drag the audio clips from the
documentary that we were using in the radio trailer directly across, likewise with the voice over
audio from the voice recorder. It did not take too long to do this, but adjusting sound levels was
a key part to ensure we made a successful radio trailer. We had a timeline like our documentary
that we could scroll along to certain parts of the trailer.
19. The pen tool is what is mainly used as it
enabled us to move the sound levels up and
down to make it louder and quieter. We had
different vox pops in the radio trailer, along with
the music beat audio we used in the
documentary. Then we had the narration of the
presenter giving facts and therefore it was
important to change it according to the
loudness of the clip. The interview/vox pop
audios were generally quieter so they needed
adjusting.
The radio trailer also has
different levels, and the
bottom level is the music
beat, and then the top
two are the narration and
additional interview clips.
The razor tool was also essential for the radio
trailer because it meant that the clips could be
cut.
20. As we did our radio trailer on the same software,
Adobe Premiere Pro, we added a new sequence
which allowed us to create the radio trailer on the
same file.
These different waves show the audio clip
volume, when selecting the pen tool, it allowed us
to move the volume up and down. The different
black lines are where the clips have been cut. It is
the same for our documentary.
Documentary
Radio trailer
21. Blur tool (PhotoShop)
We did our magazine in the software InDesign, but to
add the background that we wanted we had to use
PhotoShop. We edited the image on PhotoShop to make
it brighter and blur the writing, as if we did not blur the
writing, the text would not have been easy to read. To do
this we could adjust the hardness of the blur by dragging
the bar with the mouse which would increase the
percentage. Then, to get the image across the software
to Indesign, it had to be exported and imported into
InDesign.
Magazine
22. To adjust the brightness of the image, we used the
brightness/contrast tool. It was essential to do this
to our background image because it was dull and
would not have been appealing as the background
of our magazine double page spread. This meant
that we could then put black text over the top of it
and it would be more prominent.
Before adjusting the
brightness
After adjusting the
brightness
23. Magazine
For our magazine double page spread, we used InDesign. This was a software that we
used in AS. To start off with, we made the page size that we wanted, as we wanted a
double page spread. Then I made a rectangle covering the entire box to cover both
pages. For this I went on the square icon and then held it down to get the additional
screen to come up. The rectangle tool allowed me to draw out where I wanted the box
to go. This created a background to work on. I also used this tool to create the
background of the images and then added short lines to give a ‘stitched’ effect.
Rectangle tool (InDesign)
24. To change the colour of text or images, this tool was useful as it was a
way to choose colours and it would apply them instantly.
This tool allowed us to make the text go around the
images or boxes made. This was useful when we put
our pull quotes and other images in the middle of text
as the text would form and shape around the image. I
wanted to make sure that the pull quotes stood out so I
made them in bold and italics. I also made the actual
wording of the quote fairly ambiguous by not saying
who said the quote, so that the reader would be
tempted to read the article.
25. To select text or images, the top black tool was useful as
it enabled me to do this. The bottom tool was used for
selecting parts inside an image as it was a direct tool.
The text tool was used frequently in order to create text
boxes, we used this to put the main text in, which I wrote
in Word and then copied and pasted into the text box in
InDesign, I did this because then I could use the spell
check to make sure that all the spelling and grammar was
correct. This text tool was also used for smaller text
boxes such as the page numbers and bylines.
26. If there was a colour that we wanted to make but was
not on the standard colours that were standard. We
could use this tool to select a colour and then make it
darker or lighter or have parts of another colour in it.
To put images on our double page spread, for example our
interview images, we clicked file, place and then chose the
image. Through doing this, the images could be saved on to
InDesign, when they were copied and pasted, the files may be
missing once we closed down the software.
I researched what font Channel 4 used and applied
the same font to our byline.
Documentary font
Channel 4 font Documentary font
27. Text/font
The tool was to make the drop cap for the beginning of the article. This is
something that is a code and convention for all articles and it marks the
beginning. To make the first letter bigger the increase button was used.
28. Evaluation
For my evaluation I have
decided to do the Q1 on
‘emaze’ then I put my work
into iMovie which will allow me
to add images and create a
short video. I had not used
iMovie before, but it was fairly
simple to use by importing
images and then dragging
them on the timeline, much
like Adobe Premiere Pro. My
question 2 is on a simple word
document. Questions 3 and 4
will be a PowerPoint
presentation as this gives me
the best layout to use images,
text and arrows. To upload
them to the blog, I will have to
use SlideShare and then
embed them into a blog post
marked with my name.
iMovie
