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.

3. 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.

4. YouTube also allowed me to access online tutorials which helped to visual teach me
about the topic I was researching in a more effective, and communicative way. this gave
me access to research step by step tutorials when overcoming a problem or learning an
in depth understanding of a concept I am unfamiliar with, thus enabling me to develop
my skills and journal. Here are some examples of YouTube tutorials I used to help me
when developing my skills for specific topics, for example lighting, Adobe Illustrator
Final Cut Pro X advanced functions/effects, shot composition etc.

5. YouTube also enabled me to view
interviews for films when researching the
promotional strategies when marketing a
successful film. This access to these
videos enabled me to add a more in depth,
personal view on the topic:

6.  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.

7.  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.

8. Here are the Prezi presentations I mad
within my research. They include “Genre
Research”, “Shot Composition” and
“Audience Research”:

9. 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.

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

13. 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:

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. 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.

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

18. 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.

19. 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.

20.  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.

21. • 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.

22. 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.

23. 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.

24. 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.

25. 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 style

26. 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.
After adding effects,
graphic features and
text on Adobe
Illustrator

27. I found the presentation programme
“Visme” to be very useful and easy to
edit. I was able to add images and text
easily whilst maintaining a n aesthetic
appearance. I have never used “Visme
“ before ad so found this to be very
informative and useful when expanding
my knowledge on different personation
software's.

28. 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.

29. 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.