Discussing the types of media technologies I have used throughout my A2 coursework

1. Evaluation Q4
By Olivia Doherty

2. Main/Basic technology
• The main media technology used in all aspects of my work was the internet. I used this to research
everything I wrote on my blog, I used google images to get photos to accompany my text and help to
explain or demonstrate any points made. Specific pages;
• Wikipedia for my genre research where I had to look at the definitions of certain genres
along with conventions of their music and videos and examples of this.
• Youtube to look up existing music video’s to research conventions. Also to go through certain
theory’s e.g Todorov’s theory of narrative. We also used youtube to look up Taylor Swift and then
pause and screenshot so we could record angles used in the video and what impact this had. I also
used this to upload my final version of my music video for audience feedback, as well as clips of
filming for evidence purposes.

3. Main/Basic Technology
• For research in class we used Microsoft word to record information before uploading it to our blogs.
We used this also when looking at Taylor Swifts music video and inserting screenshots of specific
parts of the video to analyse.
• I used my phone to take photos of the editing process as well as filming. This provided the blog with
evidence and therefore backed up my work.
• Wordpress was the blog site we used which I was familiar with from last years work. I used this
constantly throughout the year to update my progression on my coursework to help create the sense
of a journey.

4. Presenting work
• I used a website called “Makebeliefscomix” in order to create comic strips to explain theories such as Levi
Strauss Theory of Binary Opposition. This allowed me to insert small amounts of text with a select image
which the website provided. I then downloaded a few comic strips to insert into my work. This helped me to
break up the text and explain the theories better.
• I used slideshare to help display power points on my blog such as
“Representation in music video’s” where I researched different
representations and used current music video examples to highlight
them. It also allowed me to find another way of displaying my work
and therefore helped me to break up the text.
• “Zooburst” was a website in which you could create 3D pop-up books. I have never used this before and
therefore it was tricky to navigate at first. You could add clip art as well as your own downloaded images to
the book, which helped me to demonstrate and explain things better by using examples. I used this a
couple of times, however in my research I used it to display “Audience theory”.

5. Presenting work• Glogster was a website where I could make a poster displaying certain things. I used it to organise
my poster research. I inserted text adding clip art and images and made the work more fun to read
and nicer to look at.
• Prezi was used a number of times throughout my work from planning to evaluation. It allows me to
mind map my work and explain it in heavy detail by use of movement and ability to insert pictures and
videos. This was useful for research e.g into both versions of Justin Biebers album - acoustic and
ordinary. I did this in order to understand the differences and therefore the different conventions
needed to target an acoustic audience but still with a pop artist.
• I used an app on my phone called “Keek”which allowed me to upload small clips I had taken of editing
a clip by adding an effect to it. This allowed me to show the evidence of some editing and went
alongside text to explain what we had done. I had to go on the online website and log in to upload it to
my blog where the video can be seen by clicking on the link.

6. Construction of Video
• I used two video camera’s from school as well as two tripods to film the music video with. Me and
Jess operated the camera’s together, talking about angles, lighting and positioning of the camera
which can be seen on one of our evidence videos. The camera’s were easy to operate and we never
really used many of the features except “zoom” as we didn’t need it for the video we were filming
• I used Adobe Premier Elements to edit the music video. We added in the MP3 file of the song before
adding all the clips we had at the time and using “set in” and “set out” buttons to crop the clips.
Towards the end of the editing session we used effects like “Dissolve” and “Fade to Black” to show
changes in the day or setting. This allowed us to make our video look more professional and made
the storyline clearer to the audience.

7. Construction of Ancillary
Tasks• I used one photography camera from school to take both my photos for the digipak and poster. I used the flash
once or twice but when I took the photo’s it was quite light outside and I knew I was going to turn the photos black
and white anyway so I wasn’t completely bothered by lighting issues.
• Photoshop was used to edit my photos. I turned them black and white as well as elongating one of my photos so I
would have more room and also so it would fit better into the Quark template. Photoshop is very technical and
difficult to use so I stuck to the few things I knew how to do like using the “blur” and “eraser” buttons to merge two
photos together.
• I used Quark to put together my digipak and poster. I downloaded the fonts off “DaFont.com” and inserted the text
onto my Quark template. I added the images, the black box at the bottom of the poster and the spine on the
digipak which all contributed to making my products look more professional.

8. How has this benefited your
products?
- I have used a wide range of technologies throughout the process of my coursework. This
has allowed me to create work to a high standard and make it look more realistic,
professional and something that would actually appeal to my target audience.
- The range of internet based software where I have created presentations, comic strips,
books, videos, e.t.c has allowed me to demonstrate my work in a variety of ways. This is
important as it helps me to explain things better, it makes my work look more organised and
overall just looks better which makes me happier with the work I have created and the
products that I have produced.
- Overall I think the technology has benefited my media products as its allowed me to make
them the best they can be and use the best of my abilities to produce something that fits the
criteria. All of the software has allowed my products to look better and to compete with
already existing products.