2.  I decided to use both the college computers and my home laptop when
researching our production and relevant images and videos of real life examples of
psychological thriller teaser trailers, film posters and magazine covers. The computer
and laptop allowed me to use Google to research and collect information that would help
me to develop my research.
 The use of a computer/laptop and phone has also allowed me to use certain applications
such as Word, PowerPoint and through the use of Google, YouTube and the
internet I could access software/sites such as Prezi and Emaze which enabled me to
develop a more visual form presentation when communicating my ideas and research
through the use of images and videos. The use of Laptops and computers at college
also allowed me to access software such as Photoshop, Final Cut pro and Adobe
Illustrator which was useful when creating the final three productions (in post-production)
but also when creating rough cuts and practise posters and magazine covers
independently before creating the final group ones. Along with these applications, whilst
in the post-production stages of the project we also used applications such as
GarageBand, OneDrive and Free Sound which allowed us to transfer and discover a
variety of conventional sound to use in our teaser trailer.

3.  I also used my iPhone at times to use the Google
application which again allowed me to progress
within the development of my research into
psychological thrillers, film posters, magazine covers
and teaser trailer conventions.
 Both the use of a phone and a computer/laptop
allowed me to resolve any questions or problems I
had as I could search on Google if I had any
unanswered questions or needed to compare teaser
trailers when researching for example. This is one of
the most rewarding features of having access to
these devices as they enabled me to explore a range
of topics concerning the research of psychological
thriller teaser trailers, film posters and magazine
covers. This therefore enabled my overall journal to
develop to a more advanced level which I found to be
a great strength of these devices.

4.  I used the application called Prezi a few times within my research as I found it to be a visually effective
when communicating my ideas and collected information in a more unique and innovative way. The use of
visual effects with creative transitions between the slides makes the progressions within the presentation
appear more understandable and informative way which the reader will appreciate in a more effective way.
Prezi also enables me to use themed backgrounds which appears relevant yet aesthetic. I find this
application very useful when wanting to present my findings and collected information in an informative way
whilst maintaining a visually effective look to intrigue the reader. Prezi also allowed me to add images and
videos from online sources which I found very useful when wanting to visually support my ideas. I used this
application within my “Audience Research”, “Shot Composition” and “Genre Research” of which I found to
be very useful when dividing and separating large amounts of information into different sections, supported
by visual features to communicate my idea more clearly.
 Here are the Prezi presentations I mad within my research. They include “Genre Research”, “Shot
Composition” and “Audience Research”:

5. I used PowerPoint presentation application throughout my research several
times. I found this to be a very reliable and useful application to use when
recording information and illustrating it with images. PowerPoint allowed me to
display a variety of different layouts within my research journal which therefore
displayed my consideration for the layout and appearance of my work.
I found it hard to add videos on
PowerPoint as it appeared
disjoined and out of place, so I
decided to add only images and
text as they balanced each other
well. However, within my research
I found this application to be one
of the most consistently successful
when displaying and presenting
my work.

6. I collected all the PowerPoint
presentations I created within
my research journal to
displays that I use this
application several times
within my work:

9. I consider Word to be a very useful and effective application as I am able to record
all my collected information whilst maintaining an organised and regimented layout
which enables the reader to work through the text in a more effective form. This
application also enables me to add images as well as text which creates a balance
between the two. Within Word I am also able to manipulate the titles and font style
which transforms my work and displays my consideration for the appearance if my
work as I develop within my research. However, the disadvantages of Word is that
videos cannot be added and when adding images I find it harder to manipulate and
resize etc. them easily. Here are some examples of when I have used Word within
my journal for research and planning word. These documents (titled “Call Sheet”,
“Script”, “Filming Risk Assessment” and “Shot List”) are mainly text based
and so worked well on Word:

10. Whilst filming we used a digital camera to film our footage. The camera was a
Canon 80D. This camera is a very advanced high quality camera which we
found to be transportable ad easy to use after learning the different functions
an effects. We were able to adjust the many settings on the camera including
the shutter speed and aperture. The shutter speed controls the amount of time
the image is exposed for and the adjustment of the aperture enables us to
change the amount of light that is being exposed to the camera. After using this
camera on filming day I felt more advanced when using a filming camera of this
model. This camera has multiple settings and adjustments and so enabled me
to learn more about the camera technically, for example its uses and how they
can effect the shot. We also used this camera when photographing for the film
poster and magazine cover which displays the multiple functions and uses this
camera has when using it for filming a moving image and when shooting a
photoshoot/photograph.

12. We used the websites “Steel Tongs” and “Da font” when importing text/font ono our
magazine cover, film poster and teaser trailer. I had used these font websites before when
creating the billing block on y film poster draft previously on my journal. However, we used
a variety of font websites for the production of our three products. I found these websites
very easy to access and they had a
variety of choices when choosing a font style to
follow the conventions of the product. They were
also very easy to import onto different mediums
such as Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator and Final
Cut.
This enabled us to
maintain continuity
throughout our
three products.

13. At the end of our teaser
trailer:
Within the our film poster
billing block:
For the film title on our film poster:

14. We used Final Cut Pro X when editing our footage after filming or teaser trailer. Whilst
post-production we began by creating a new file and then imported all our footage/shots
onto Final Cut Pro X. We then chose our favourite shots and added them to the timeline
and began to pit them in order. After organising the order of shots we then used the
effects on tis application such as the transitions, colour grading options, text adding etc.
I found this application to be very advanced and effective when manipulating and
editing footage. I enabled us to solve any problems by adapting the footage through the
adjustment options within Final Cut Pro X. The most challenging part when using this
application was when cutting the footage to size. However, we solved this difficulty by
zooming into the timeline making the individual hots easier to edit/resize. However,
when using this application I learnt the function of features I did not know before, for
example the use of colour grading in a more effective yet subtle way to create both
intensity and realism to the teaser trailer. We also used Final Cut Pro X to create our
Company Ident.
By using this application we were able to easily create our teaser trailer in an advance
way. There were minimal disadvantages or weaknesses to using Final Cut Pro X as it is
has several applications and adjustments which can transform the footage to however
we wish it to look in relation to the genre of the film.

16.  Within our teaser trailer we used some sounds that we found on Final Cut
Pro, such as the subtle heart beat sound. However, we used “Free Sound”
website for the sound both diegetic and non-diegetic throughout our teaser
trailer. I found this website to be very useful as we were able to transfer
specific sound we had searched for and then was able to adjust the
volume and gradient at the beginning and end of the clip of sound. We
were then able to layer sounds within Final Cut Pro with the use of “Free
Sound” music. The manipulation of volume and layering of sounds was the
most rewarding part of the sound editing as it is responsible for the
intensity and suspense created within the appropriate sections of the
teaser trailer.
 We explored the sound application “Garage Band” when layering diegetic
and non-diegetic sound which could create a more dense and intense
layering of sound. However, after researching different sounds we found
more effective and appropriate sound on “Free Sound” website.
 We used OneDrive to transfer sound fro one place to another which was
easily accessible and reliable when moving I from one computer to
another.

18. We used Adobe Illustrator when creating our film poster. I fond this application to be very
advanced and useful when enabling us to manipulate images and transform the appearance
of our photographs. We used the shape tool along with a varying opacity and colour
manipulation. We also overlapped one image of “Jane’s” character over an extreme close up
of “John’s” character. I found the “Black and White” application to be very effective when
transforming specific layers. The “Levels” application was also very effective as it applies
tonal contrast to the image in the most simplistic yet effective way. We were also able to add
text and a billing block which was imported. This displays the advanced format allowing us to
import other texts fro a different source which was very useful. Due to the advance functions
of different tools on Photoshop we were able to adapt or manipulate any problems we faced
as there is a range of applications that gave us the power to find a creative solution. The
most challenging part to using Adobe Illustrator would be the use f the “Magic Eraser” tool as
tis can sometimes become difficult when cropping and editing the details around the image.
However, the most rewarding and interesting part to using Adobe Illustrator when creating
our film poster would be the use of colour through the image to create an abstract and
visually effective composition of black and white, colour and a bright red strip though the
centre. I used Adobe Illustrator when creating my draft magazine cover. Now by using it
again in a more advance way it displays my development within the specific application and
how I have learnt the different uses and functions of tools to create a more advanced and
conventionally appropriate piece.

20. I used Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator when creating our magazine cover. I used Photoshop
to edit the basic shape and layering of the image. However, I used Adobe Illustrator for the
rest of the magazine cover creation. I began by editing the image by transforming it into
“Black and White” then manipulating the tonal density and contrast within the main image. I
then added a clock face image in the background and began adding text. This included cover
lines, strapline, mast head, film title etc. This application was not only very useful when adding
visual effects to the image but also when using complex styles with the different fonts to follow
the conventions of a typical “Total Film” magazine cover. I was also able to add shapes such
as rectangles and circles onto the magazine cover which I found to be visually effective. I was
able to adjust and adapt the text and image within this application very easily as each
section/feature was on its own layer which made the editing much easier. I found the most
rewarding and significant part of this process to be the choice of different font styles, colour
and sizing in certain places across the magazine cover. This enabled me to improve my skills
when considering the typical layout conventions of a “Total Film” magazine cover. However,
The editing and layering of the images was also very interesting enabling me to gain a more
detailed insight into the design side of film magazine covers. I also used Adobe Illustrator
during my planning and research when creating my film poster and magazine cover draft. This
enabled me to familiarise myself with the basic tools and their uses when editing and adding
text/images. This therefore enabled me to display my transformation an improvement from
then to now as my skills improved and advanced over time with practise.

21. Photoshop used to overlap
images and add basic effects
Adobe Illustrator
used for colour
manipulation,
brightness and
contrast/tonal
contrast and
choice of
text/font styleAfter adding effects,
graphic features and
text on Adobe
Illustrator

24.  I used an application called Emaze which creates a similar effect as Prezi that it presents
information, images and videos in a creative and visual way by the use of unique and
innovative backgrounds. However, the format and background choices are slightly different to
the Prezi application. I also found this application to be very effective when using it within one
of my evaluation tasks. I used this application within my evaluation for Task 2. I decided to use
Emaze as I found it to have the same strengths as Prezi without being exactly the same. The
appearance (background images) of the slides and the transitions between them appears very
visual and creates an abstract yet informative composition of visual elements balanced with
information/text. Emaze allowed me to add not only text but images and videos as well which I
found to be very effective when supporting my ideas and viewpoints with visual features such
as screen grabs, teaser trailers etc. I had only used this specific application a few times before
and so found the use of this presentation application to be a very useful process as it informed
me on the advantages and disadvantages of using a range of presentation applications and
formats to present my ideas and findings.