Evaluation question 4

1. Evaluation Question 4: 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. These
have developed from the beginning of my AS
coursework to the end of my A2 coursework.

6. 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.

7. Here are examples of the
test shots I took during
the research and
planning stages. Click
on the link for the blog
post.
https://advancedportfolio3106.blogspot.co.uk/2017/11/planni
ng-test-shots.html
Click on the link to my
contact sheet.
https://advancedportfolio3106.blogspot.co.uk/2017/10/ed
it-second-contact-sheet.html
Camera

8. 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.

9.  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.
Click on the link to my planning and
organisation.
https://advancedportfolio3106.blogspot.co.uk/2017/10/
planning-organisation-for-second-set.html
Click on the link to audience feedback through
means of a phone.
https://advancedportfolio3106.blogspot.co.uk/2017/11/production-advert-
image-feedback.html

10. Technological convergence
Technological convergence has especially
helped improve my coursework with the use of a
smartphone as all the applications available to
use are available on one device. This includes
the use of the camera in the construction stage,
the way in which to communicate for the planning
and the ability to access the internet in the
research stage. This has made the process
easier and quicker to make my products.

11. 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.

12.  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 blog posts 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.
Blogger

13. 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.

14. Click on the link to the blog post of how I applied
QuickTime Player to my own production.
https://advancedportfolio3106.blogspot.co.uk/2017/10/editing-using-quick-time-player.html
Quick Time Player

15. Computer
 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.

16. Computer
 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.

17. Photoshop
 I used Photoshop in the production stage. This
was to edit the images of my ancillary images
and the title for my documentary. I was able to
apply the different effects to be aesthetically
pleasing.

18. 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.

19. InDesign
Click on the links to a blog post showcasing my
TV Listings editing progress with InDesign.
https://advancedportfolio3106.blogspot.co.uk/2017/11/listings-editing.html

20. 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.

21. iMovie
I learned how to use the different features of iMovie when we made a
short film named ‘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.

22. 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.

23. Word
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.

24. 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
textually analyse of existing documentary and my evaluation
questions.

25. 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.

26. Google forms
 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.

27. 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.

28. 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.

29. 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.

30. YouTube videos
 Here are the screenshots of how I used the
YouTube video to help me and what the
outcome of this looked like.

31. In conclusion...
I used a range of different technologies throughout
my learning journey to result in making my
products look effective and professional. These
included a camera, a phone, a computer,
Blogger, Quick Time Player, KeepVid, InDesign,
Photoshop, iMovie, Word, Powerpoint, Google
forms, WhatsApp and YouTube.