1. Evaluation Q6
We will investigate strategies for tackling
Question 6 and evaluate what constitutes and
top marked response.
2. What have you learned about technologies from
the process of constructing your thriller?
RULE NUMBER ONE
It is not just about the camera and the editing software.
RULE NUMBER TWO
Remember what you write – it could form a basis for your A2 exam
response.
3. Technology in context
You will notice that the technology in this room, good though it is for a
small sixth form college, is already very out of date – despite that fact
that it only dates back around 6 years.
Before tackling this question, you should remember that the media
industry is very different to what it was as little as 10 years ago, before
‘digital’ was the big buzzword and we rapidly moved from the days of
tapes and physical storage media to the completely solid state storage
that allows us to have things like UHD TVs, 4K cameras and IMAX.
4. Debates in technology
It is worth researching some of the current debates around digital
technology in the media and exploring, in your answer, how they apply
to your production.
For instance, there is a big debate in the film industry around shooting
films on old-fashioned physical film before moving into the digital area
for post-production. Many film-makers now film fully digitally,
recording direct to solid-state memory and going more directly from
camera lens to projector without any physical stage in between. Some
people disagree with this and believe physical film is the better
product. Having constructed your thriller opening fully digitally, how do
you feel it benefitted you?
5. DSLRs and the film debate
In the early 2000s, the latest must-have gadget was the digital still
camera. This was considered a revolution because would-be
photographers no longer needed to worry about focus or light
conditions because either the camera sorted it out or problems could
simply be fixed using computer software. Results were instant, and the
photo developing industry collapsed virtually overnight.
But once mobile phone cameras began to eclipse digital still cameras
for quality, consumers wanted to go back to being able to fine control
the focus and aperture, etc., to the DSLR camera came along. You are
the first year group at this school to shoot your constructions using
DSLRs. The benefits and advantages you found in doing this add
something to the debate mentioned on the previous slide.
6. Key stages
1. List the tech
Write a simple list of all the technology you have used besides the
camera, the computer and the editing software. Everything from the blog,
the presentation software, the tech used to conduct the research and
compile findings, the tech you are using the distribute your construction.
Anything you can think of.
2. Assess it
Write an evaluative comment for each thing – did you use it to its full
effectiveness? Did it benefit your project? Did it cause problems? How would
you use it better in future?
7. Key stages
3. Consider which media theories/concepts apply – for instance, how did
having the latest technology with which to express yourself make your
thriller better in terms of the use of media language.
4. Write the piece (first draft). Write carefully and critically about the way
your production has reached good marks and what part technology
played.
5. Remember the key word – which is easy to forget – is learn, so it is quite
a personal question you need to answer. What do you now understand
about either media technologies that you didn’t when your started.
6. What do you infer about the general impact of technology on producing
texts like yours – consider: consumer (audience) as producer, lower cost,
ease of use, speed, creative freedom?
