The student relied heavily on various media technologies throughout their coursework. They used their mobile phone to contact actors to arrange filming and take photos, and to upload ideas to Facebook. YouTube provided inspiration by allowing the student to view folk musicians. Blogger allowed the student to document their research and ideas in one place by uploading photos, Prezis, and PowerPoints. Photoshop was used to edit photos for ancillary tasks like airbrushing models. The student learned to use their Canon camera by watching tutorials on YouTube. Facebook enabled communication with actors, focus groups, and bands. Prezi helped with presenting research and ideas. Final Cut Pro was used to edit footage after tutorials, allowing effects and precise editing.

1. How did you use media technologies
in the construction and research,
planning and evaluation stages?
Justine Mason

2. Mobile Phone
Throughout my coursework, I relied heavily on my mobile
phone. For instance, I used it to contact my actors so we
could arrange when to film the music video and take
photos for the ancillary tasks. I also used it to keep in
contact with my group for organisational purposes. My
mobile phone also allowed me to upload ideas onto
Facebook for my focus group to respond to, which made
it much easier to contact them when a computer wasn’t
accessible. In addition, some of the photos taken when
we were location scouting were taken via a mobile
phone, as it was much easier to use this camera than
carry around a professional one.

3. YouTube
During the research and planning stages, YouTube
enabled me to look up different folk musicians and
bands which I could analyse and use as inspiration
for my own music video. Also, I found tutorial
videos on YouTube that taught me how to use a
Canon camera, as well as software such as Final Cut
Pro. Finally, I used YouTube to showcase our final
product as it broadcasts videos on a worldwide
scale which enables it to be easily accessible for a
wider audience.

4. Blogger
A key media technology I used throughout the
entire process was blogger.com. It enabled me
to see a progression through my work and
allowed me to reference back to previous ideas I
had posted. It was extremely easy to use which
made it easy to upload images, Prezis and
PowerPoints so I could keep all my research in
one place.

5. Photoshop
I felt Photoshop would be the best software to
use when creating my ancillary tasks, due to the
wide scale of tools available which would allow
me to effectively edit and adjust my photos. I
used the programme to airbrush my models and
add the layering/merging effect on the digipak
cover.

6. Canon 500D
I initially found it hard to adjust to the features
of the Canon 500D camera, as I had no previous
experience of making films before. After
watching tutorials on YouTube, I learned how to
adjust certain features such as the ISO which
increased/decreased the light intensity which
was helpful in both the ancillary tasks and main
task; when taking photos and filming.

7. Facebook
I used Facebook to contact my focus group as
well as my main actors and the other group
member because it is a quick and easy way to
send messages as well as photos and videos. In
addition, Facebook enabled us to contact the
band to ask if we could use their song in our
media project.

8. Prezi
I made multiple Prezis for my blog in the research
and planning stage, as well as my evaluation. I
found it an easy and useful way to present research
and ideas in creative and visually appealing ways. It
was also very easy to upload the Prezis to my blog
by copying and pasting the embed code.
In addition, many other former media studies
students have used Prezis to present their own
information which are easily accessible and clear to
read, further helping me with my research.

9. Final Cut Pro
I chose to use Final Cut Pro to edit the footage
we had filmed, and although it was initially quite
difficult to use, after watching tutorials on
YouTube I found it the best programme to edit
on. I liked the wide use of effects available that
you can add to your footage, for instance the
black and white effect we used in our final
production. In addition, it allowed me to zoom
into a specific part of the video to edit it more
sharply and effectively.