Rachel Allen used various media technologies throughout the construction, research, planning and evaluation stages of her project. She used YouTube to research film techniques and storylines. She created a blog to plan her trailer ideas. She learned to use a Canon video camera and digital camera to film shots and take photos. She imported the content onto an Apple computer to edit using iMovie, adding transitions, muting audio, and changing clip speeds. She also used Photoshop to edit photos, adding effects to create a movie poster and magazine cover, giving her trailer a professional quality.

1. Question 4
How did you use media
technologies in the construction
and research, planning and
evaluation stages?
Rachel Allen

2. Technologies I Have Used
In the construction and
research, planning and
evaluation stages I have
learnt and developed my
skills further when
operating new
technologies. This has
helped get my final piece
to the highest standard
and to make it look as
professional as possible.
• iPhone
• Blogger
• Apple Mac Computers
• Cannon Video Camera/Cannon Camera
• USB
• iMovie
• Photoshop
• Garage band
• YouTube
• Facebook

3. YouTube
YouTube is a website that anyone can upload and watch videos online.
This was the first application I used to do research on real media style models and
also past A-Level style models to get an idea on what camera angles, mise-en-
scene, editing and sounds were effective in this type of genre.
YouTube was really useful in the process of deciding on the storyline of what my
trailer was going to be about and it is really easy to use.
I looked at films such as: The Conjuring, The Call, The Pact, Annabelle, Insidious
and more.

4. Blogger
Firstly, I prepared a blog by
planning ideas of what my
trailer will be about. I used
the blogger website last year
for my AS work so I was
familiar with how it works
and what features it has.
As I blog about ideas
frequently, I
constantly use
devices such as Apple
Mac computers and
my iPhone when
needed.
This allows me to
quickly get down any
ideas I come up with so
that they’re all
included and not
forgotten.

5. Cannon Cameras
Once I had brainstormed a quick
draft of what my trailer would be
about, I requested a cannon
video camera. As I had not used
this particular camera before I
had to become familiar with the
settings and features it has to
make the video and the camera
shots the best quality. The more I
used this camera the easier it was
to produce a wide range of shots.
I also used a Cannon
digital camera, this was to
take photos of Ethan (the
stalker in my trailer) so
that I could Photoshop
them and add effects to
make the movie magazine
front cover and also the
poster how they are
today.
I used this type of camera last
year in media so I was familiar
with features it contains,
however, I still find this camera
tricky to use.

6. iMovie
After I had gathered all
the shots I wanted to
include in my trailer, I
imported the contents
onto the Apple Mac
computer using a USB. I
then opened it up in
iMovie, which is an
application on the Apple
Mac computers.
Once I had an idea on how
the application works and
became more familiar with
it, I started to put my trailer
together editing,
shortening and muting
clips. These techniques
were used a lot during the
time making my trailer to
make it seem as
professional and realistic as
possible.
I had not used this
particular application
before so in my spare
time I practised and got
used to its features and
how it generally works
by creating a storyboard
before I started editing
the actual contents I had
videoed.

7. iMovie
When putting my
movie together, I
muted the majority
of the clips to take
out any unwanted
background noise, so
that their was no
distortion in sound
over the sound track
I was placing into my
trailer.
I also inserted the
transition ‘Cross
Dissolve’ between
clips so that it ran
through smoothly
and gave it a
professional dynamic
when playing
through the trailer.
Another feature of iMovie I used
was editing the speed of clips
which I think worked really well at
the action parts I had filmed (such
as the capturing of the victim).
Slowing down the clip allows the
audience to observe the capturing
in more detail and magnifies the
struggle of the victim.
As well as this I added in black
background with white text which
is a big part in the trailer. I used
this instead of speech over the top
of my movie.

8. PhotoshopAnother application I
chose to use was
Photoshop. I had used
this application last year
when completing my AS
work so I had a familiar
idea on how it works and
developed my skills
further by exploring
different tools.
This contributed nicely
to my final piece as it
helped get it to a high
standard. I used
Photoshop when
completing my two
auxiliary tasks, making
a poster and making
the front cover of a
movie magazine.
I have also used it when
creating the opening
picture of the hooded
figure in my trailer. I feel
that without Photoshop,
my trailer would not have
as much as an effect on
the audience.

9. PhotoshopI used many tools when editing my auxiliary tasks on this application. Firstly, I
edited the photo I had took of Ethan so that there was no background and also no
text on his hoody at the front. I did this by using the ‘Magnetic Lasso Tool’.
I felt this picture without the low key lighting effect I have placed on it would not be
scary or effective enough resulting to it not matching the genre I picked for the film.
Therefore, I added a black and white effect as well as editing the brightness of the
photo to get the shadowed face effect.
Photoshop also allowed me to easily add text into the auxiliary tasks in different
fonts and sizes which I think helped me get a professional look to them.

10. Overall, the use of media technologies in the
construction and research, planning and
evaluation stages helped massively in the
build up to creating my trailer. Without these
technologies it would not be possible to
achieve high quality work.