The document summarizes how various media technologies were used at different stages of creating a documentary about music gigs. Research was conducted using YouTube to find documentary characteristics and sound clips. Adobe Premiere Pro was used for editing, and effects like transitions and audio adjustments were applied. Sony HXR cameras captured footage which was imported to a Dell computer for editing. Microsoft Word and charts were used to record audience feedback. Email was used to plan interviews.

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

2.  When researching previous documentaries about gigs, I used software such as Internet Explorer – using YouTube, and
then watched to find the characteristics of a documentary. YouTube was a huge part of the documentary as we found the
characteristics of documentaries, but we also used it to find relevant sound beds. We aimed for a song which had a long
introduction – therefore we could play our documentary intro with no vocals. After research, we found ‘Artbreaker – Kids
In Glass Houses’. This song was perfect as it had the rock theme, which we aimed to include throughout our documentary.
Also, the vocals did not start until 00.38 seconds – therefore allowing our montage at the beginning. We then aimed to
download the track, therefore used Mozilla Firefox. After we found the track, we then used the add-on ‘Easy YouTube
Video Downloader 6.7’ From there, we chose which format we wanted to download the track – mp3 – then saved it and
imported it onto our documentary.
 Within our documentary, we also used wanted to utilise professional archive footage. This meant we were
able to use footage from venues and gigs which we were not able to attend. We could also use more intimate
shots of different band members, and establishing master shots from larger venues. We accessed and
downloaded footage via the same format as the sound beds – however downloaded them as MP4.
 We also used Microsoft Word to record our findings from our questionnaires – before and after our
documentary - to find out what our audience wanted, and what they thought of it, once it had been
produced. We used Word as we could type our questions and make questionnaires, as well as produce graphs
to record our findings. We did this by Insert>Chart>Pie>Ok. It would then come up with a mock up
graph, where we could then enter our results, and a chart would be made.

3.  Before filming our documentary, we had to plan and prepare gathering some of our footage and interviews. We did this by
emailing the management companies of Tyler Hilton, Alex Clare and Imagine Dragons. We achieved this by accessing
Facebook to gather their email addresses. We then went on to Outlook.com and then emailed the relevant addresses.
Fortunately, all of which replied with positive results, and Tyler Hilton’s support act – Dion Roy – also wanted to be filmed.
Within our email, we chose to
include what standard of quality
we will use. We chose use the
Sony HXR cameras as they are
the best we could achieve, and
therefore could impress those
who we emailed.

4. For filming our documentary, we filmed on Sony HXR-MC200E cameras. Which we borrowed from college. These cameras are
1080p quality & solid state therefore, they were the best cameras we could use. For our filming of the gigs, we emailed the
managers vowing to use this standard of camera as they would produce a professional style quality. The Sony cameras allowed
us to use various microphones for recording. This varied from the clip on mics – primarily used for interviews – and boom mics.
We used the clip on microphones for interviews with Alex Clare, Tyler Hilton, Alex Clare, Dion Roy and especially our vox pop. It
was vital we used this microphone when recording her voice as we were in the gig venue, and if we had used the boom mic, it
wouldn’t have heard her and would have just recorded the ambience.
However we did use the boom microphones whilst recording our gigs. We chose this because we could then capture the
audience reactions, the instruments as well as the singer, therefore include the entire gig experience. Whilst recording, we used
headphones to ensure the appropriate sound was being recorded.
For our gigs footage, and for the interviews, we used a Manfrotto tripod due to its stability. By using a tripod it meant that we
could have a balanced camera, which would also have steady and reliant footage.
Whilst planning our documentary, we always intended for it to be played on MTV LIVE HD. Therefore filming our documentary
on a HD camera was vital to ensure it would use the best standard and quality that we could achieve.
In order to make our documentary as professional as possible, we practised
prior to the ‘official’ filming to ensure we knew what to do, and how to use
the cameras. This included actions such as record, slow zoom, fast zoom and
checking our footage recorded.
By doing this, we then made our documentary as professional looking as we
could, by having steady camera work, appropriate zooms and eye level
interviews.
This camera also allowed the grid to be shown on the screen when filming.
This allowed us to correctly position the interview within rule thirds – to
therefore make it more professional.

5.  We used the Sony HXR cameras for the interviews and professional footage as it was the best standard to use and gave a
professional outlook upon the documentary. This, however, was only part of the filming we chose to do. We also wanted to
grasp the audience aspect, and therefore used the smaller camera of Panasonic Lumix FZ45. By using this camera, we
could enter gigs and film shots from the ‘audience perspective’. Shots such as this were recorded on this camera as it was
handheld, and could have been used in any aspect.
 Because our documentary included the audience aspect also, we chose to record shots such like this due to them showing
the crowds reactions. The Panasonic Lumix camera is still an HD camera so carried our continuity of HD resolution
throughout. Whilst filming, this camera also had the opportunity to zoom whilst recording. This helped us with our footage
as we could use different shots from the same video and it still have a different look (e.g. Singer view as opposed to an
entire crowd in front.)
Not only have we used the camera for crowd shots, but we also
used it for filming B-Roll of outside venues, recording listings and
filming CD stacks in shops like That’s Entertainment.
Once we had gathered our footage, we then imported it onto our
computer. All of editing and research was done on an XPS Dell
Computer. This PC was able to hold all of our files, as well as the
software we needed. Due to the work being in a group, it also allowed
us to put the work on a shared drive, so we were all able to access it.
The computer also has USB ports, which was essential as we always
needed to import footage via the USB cable.
The USB cable was a vital part of putting the
footage onto the computer. We entered it into both
camera and computer then would access the
footage, copy it to the computer, then disconnect.

6.  In order to make our documentary, we had to use numerous amounts of software, on a XPS Dell Computer. The most
important software we used was Adobe Premiere Pro CS5, which we used to edit our documentary. This software gave our
documentary a professional look, and also provided us with effects, transitions and audio adjustments.
Fill left
These included fill left - to ensure sound is heard in both headphones (mainly used for voiceovers and interviews) and
transitions such as fade to black. We would do this by effects>audio effects>stereo>fill left. Once it had been edited, the
clip would be underlined by purple. This shown that we had edited already, therefore was needed to be done again.
Dip to Black
 More transitions we included was ‘Dip to Black’ if the two clips contrasted greatly. We did this by going to Effects>video
transitions>dissolve>dip to black. By doing this, it inferred a professional look and therefore made it a better quality. This
also allowed the two clips to be blended together. The use of the colour black instead of white was used as it could be
dimmed, and would then reinforce the idea of ‘gigs’

7. Dither Dissolve.
 We used transitions to move clips to other clips on Adobe Premiere Pro CS5. Some of the examples included Dither
Dissolve. This transition was quirky and different, and made the move between both clips, smooth. We accessed this
transition by clicking effects>video transitions>dither dissolve. It also made the clips appear to be dotted, and filled in
gradually, which is helpful, due to the clip appearing from a black background. We also chose different transitions
throughout, however did not want to use the same one – hence why we chose to use numerous ones.
Additive Dissolve.
 When adding titles for names on slides, we wanted the names to fade in gradually. The black background and text would
fade in gradually, then have an opaque background, then fade out once more. We did this via effects>video
transitions>additive dissolve. This effect was often found within other professional documentary's, therefore it could
imply ours looked professional too. This idea was enforced as we didn’t want it to be on the screen for the entire interview
as it would have looked less professional.

8. Cross Zoom
 When we wanted to show information in a visual manner, we saved an image of information about Ticketmaster. We then
wanted to enter the picture in the documentary. We allowed this by using the transition ‘Cross Zoom’ we achieved this via
Video Transitions>Zoom>Cross Zoom. This then scrolled down the page to show the audience the entire page.
Fill left
 After we had recorded the sounds of voiceovers and interviews, we then needed to change the sound
control. During the sound recordings, only the sound could be heard in one headphone. We adjusted
this by using “Fill left” on under stereo. (Audio effects>Stereo>Fill left.) This then allowed the sound to
be heard in both headphones, and therefore more professional.
Volume Editing
 As we used a sound bed throughout, we had to continuously edit the volume so it didn’t overpower any interviews or
voiceovers. We did this by pressing Ctrl then clicking on the place in the clip where we wanted to change it. We then chose
where it would end the change, and press Ctrl again. We then dragged the volume level down or up, to fit the appropriate
level.

10. Magic Wand tool. Overlay
 We also used another aspect of Adobe – Photoshop – to make  Once added the Alex Clare photo, we wanted to add an
our advertisement. This was also professional, and therefore overlay to ensure a more exciting and relevant poster. We
allowed our poster to be created like we had planned. We used then took a Bitmap image from our Alex Clare master shot
tools such as the Magic Wand Tool which we used to remove then added that upon the image. We did this by adding
large parts of the MTV logo. another layer, then positioning the image lights onto the
picture. We moved it in numerous areas on the page,
before deciding in the mid shot. This added colour and
reinforced the idea of gigs. We then changed the opacity of
Polygonal lasso tool the image, as we did want it overwhelming, however we
wanted it to be seen. We edited this by changing the
 We also used tools such as the Polygonal lasso tool. This
opacity on the left hand side of the page. LIGHTEN
allowed us to carefully outline the image parts which we did
not want, and then to delete it. This was most used when we
removed the inner parts of the logo and to remove the
background in particular places.
Fill bucket
 Within our poster, we carried a colour scheme of yellow.
Therefore we wanted to add some colour to our MTV logo
to carry the themes, and to make it bright. For this, we
used ‘fill bucket’ on the left hand side panel - which filled
certain parts of the logo, into the colour we wanted.