Third evaluation question

1. Evaluation Question 3: How did you
use media technologies in the
construction and research, planning
and evaluation stages?
By Katie Pearl

2. Throughout the construction and research,
planning and evaluation stages, I have used a
variety of media technologies to help me to
complete and improve my media products.

3. Camera
A camera was vital to enable me to gain the images needed for
my ancillary products. I used a Canon 10D to take the images
of London for my documentary advert image and of Leigh
houses for my magazine listings. I took some test shots with
the camera which allowed me to use try out the different
settings to get the desired effect such as changing the
aperture, shutter speed and iso. I used different angles to take
the images as the image for my documentary was a low angled
shot making the landmark appear grander and more striking.

4. Phone
The use of a phone was very helpful for me during my advanced portfolio.
After testing out both my iPhone 6s and camera, canon 10D, I concluded that
the phone was more suitable for filming the documentary on. It was easier to
transport to shoot cutaways and achieve different angles and the quality was
excellent to film on. My phone was also useful during the planning stage as it
enabled me to message my presenter and interviewee’s to organise when and
where to film and including what they should wear and what they should bring.
I also used my phone to keep in contact with my focus group frequently asking
their opinions, asking how I could improve both my documentary and ancillary
products and asking for their general feedback.

5. Blogger
From the beginning to the end of my media learning journey I kept a blog on Blogger.com. I was
able to upload my progress from all the stages of research, planning and production and easily
see the progress I was making and how to build on it and constantly move forward. I signposted
each post with a heading of ‘Planning’, ‘Audience Research’, ‘Generic Research’, ‘Production’
and ‘Editing’ which helps to navigate through the blog posts. On blogger I was able to link
websites in blog posts by embedding hyperlinks and I was able to paste the HTML to embed
powerpoints in blogsposts too on Slideshare, EMAZE, Prezi and Flipsnack. As my progress is
all online on my blog, I was able to send my blog to audiences and my focus group for feedback
on my production and ancillary products.

6. Quick Time Player
I used Quick Time Player to make screen
recordings which I edited into my documentary.
Quick Time Player is very simple to use and I
used a blog post stating how I used this to record
the footage. I used the screen recordings to film a
shot of scrolling through Twitter detailing a rising
house prices graph which helped to reinforce the
voiceover at the time.

7. Computer
A computer was one of the most important media technologies during my advanced portfolio. I was able to post on
Blogger using the computer as well as conduct all the research into the genre, the products and target audience. On
the computer I was able to collate information on Word, Powerpoint, on my blog and on online powerpoint platforms.
The use of a computer also enabled me to edit my documentary on iMovie and edit my ancillary products on
InDesign. I also uploaded all the production footage onto the computer which was easier to see which shots and
footage to use and which material to discard. I used a computer to access the Internet to research theorists such as
John Grierson and was able to find out historic information which includes the first documentary made (The Nanook
of the North). This also helped me to find out important information which I could apply to my ancillary products such
as the font used by Channel 4 which I otherwise would not have been able to find out.

8. InDesign
I used InDesign for both the ancillary products, my
documentary advert and magazine listings. This
helped me to establish the layout for both
products and used the different effects available. I
was able to use six columns as a template for my
double page spread and use a variety of different
features.

9. iMovie
I used iMovie to edit my documentary on, I was able to upload all the footage from my phone to the computer and from there
I imported the suitable footage to iMovie and began editing them. I cut some of the shots and placed them together, ensuring
the pace of the documentary was suitable. I added cutaways over the top of interviews to make them more interesting and
for the same reason I added background music over voiceovers, also to adhere to the generic conventions. I was able to add
text over some of the shots which I used to outline statistics and hashtags and I was able to add transitions between scenes
to make it more engaging and appealing. I added images to the documentary to adhere to documentary conventions and I
added screen recordings of social media to the documentary. I learned how to use the different features of iMovie when we
made a short film named ‘The Phone Call’. We created this film during class before we started planning and research our
own documentaries as it was a helpful exercise to learn about different shots, using a tripod and how to edit on iMovie.

10. Word
I was able to use word on my computer which I used to bring together information. I
was able to create tables on word which was useful for my risk assessment and I
also used tables to analyse different shots from existing documentaries such as A
Very British Hotel. I used word to analyse the feedback received from my
questionnaires and in the planning stage for my documentary ideas proposal. I
wrote the script of my documentary on Word and the questions which my presenter
needed to ask the coffee shop owner and I wrote out the article of my double page
spread on word first to ensure the spelling and punctuation was perfect and that the
content suited the documentary as it is easier to read and edit on Word.

11. Powerpoint
A variety of powerpoint websites was useful throughout
my learning journey as I was able to present my work in a
nicer and more engaging format. These include; Prezi,
Emaze, Flipsnack and Slideshare as they are more
appealing to read and are different. Each site has
different formats which took a little while to learn how to
use each one although the finish product looks more
creative and aesthetically pleasing. I used these for both
textual analyse of existing documentary and my
evaluation questions.

12. Google forms
I used google forms multiple times throughout the coursework as I
used it to make questionnaires to send to my focus group and target
audience to receive their feedback, opinions and ideas. Google
forms was easy to use as you could present the question as a
multiple choice questions, short answer and long answer questions.
These questionnaires were easily sent out through email or text
messages with the web link and once they had been answered,
Google forms arranges the information into pie charts making the
information very clear to read and evaluate.

13. KeepVid
Keepvid allows you to copy an existing video so
you can add it to your own work. I used KeepVid
so I could have the actual Channel 4 titles to
begin my documentary, this was for continuity and
brand identity in my documentary. This made my
documentary look more professional and effective
and I edited my own documentary title and
starting time onto the front.

14. WhatsApp and Text messages
I used my phone to access text messages during
the planning and feedback stage. This made my
work more effective as it is quicker and easier
accessible to get the information. Due to the
target audience being digitally native, it is an
appropriate mode of communication with my
documentary subjects and audience. It also
enables a longer answer response for a more
detailed and helpful response.

15. YouTube videos
During the research and production stages, I
watched YouTube videos to improve my work
and learn how to learn new techniques. For the
main title of my documentary I learned how to
cut lettering out of a white box to see the image
behind to look aesthetically pleasing and
effective. I tried a few different designs and this
design was the most suitable from the audience
feedback and look.