The document discusses the various digital technologies and programs the author learned to use during their production process, including filming and editing software, online sharing platforms, and survey tools. They gained experience with Canon video cameras, Adobe Premiere, YouTube, Facebook, Blogger, and more. The author reflects on how using these programs helped improve their productivity, creativity, and overall product outcome.

1. Firstly I‟d like to begin by mentioning that through the process of constructing my product, I learnt a great deal
about technologies. For example, I used programmes that I have never used before such as: SoGo
Survey, Scribd, Prezi, slideshare and blogger. Additionally, I was completely new to the whole filming and
editing process so I learnt about how to use the Canon XL1s video camcorder, as well as editing on the
programme adobe premiere 2.0.
I also used programmes that I was familiar with beforehand such as YouTube, facebook and yahoo
messenger. All these products maximised my productivity, allowing me to develop my creativity and achieve
the best possible end product.

2.  I learnt a huge deal about digital technology during the filming process. For my pre-
production and post-production questionnaire Sogo survey was used. Through this
process, I learnt how to construct a questionnaire in order to receive efficient, valid
and valuable results. For instance, I learnt how to word a question, in order to not
make it a leading question. A leading question is designed to provoke a certain
response. I wanted to avoid leading questions because I felt that this would reduce
the validity of our data, as people would feel inclined to give a certain answer. Sogo
survey enabled me to write a variety of different style questions. Most of the
questions were open because I wanted to receive the feelings and opinions of our
audience, without restricting them to a set of options, which would reduce validity.
Open ended questions also allow our respondents to give detailed answers. One
question was “what are the characteristics of your main villain” which had a list of
options for the respondent to choose from, however one of the options was „other‟
so if our options didn‟t fit what they wished to say, they could suggest their own
opinion. The survey was useful because it gave me an idea of what majority of the
people wanted to see in their thriller and so it was useful because I could
accommodate for what my audience wished to see. I kept their opinions in mind
whilst filming and editing; however more importantly, I had to do what I thought was
best for my own thriller as well as considering external opinions. Finally, I shared
the survey link on facebook so all my friends could access it.

3. Canon XL1s video camcorder
 I had practice with the camera, a few months before we
started filming, so I become acquainted with the required
skills. I learnt how to set the white balance. We had to place
plain white paper in front of the camera lens and press a
specific button on the canon XL1s video camcorder. We had
to press this button until the paper looked pure white. This
ensured that our lighting was as normal as possible and
effective. Additionally, I learnt how to put the lens in focus.
There was a focus wheel at the front of the camera which
was possible to adjust. We could easily put something into
focus as well as blurring a character. We filmed our footage
onto a tape which we then captured our footage on the
editing software called adobe premiere pro 2.0.

4.  This programme was unfamiliar to me at the start. However, the more I used it the more
comfortable I felt with editing. I learnt how to add and edit titles, transitions, lighting effects as
well as adding other effects such as making some of my sequence black and white. I also learnt
how to make cuts in my footage by familiarising myself with the keys on the keyboard such as
the razor tool and selection tool. Zooming into the timeline made the editing process easier
because I could see what I was doing more clearly. I describe the editing process in more detail
in previous posts. To start, I put my footage in order before I began to make cuts. I did
encounter issues though. For instance, at times when I was deleting a transition, I also
accidently deleted the footage with it. However, luckily, you can get the work back by pressing
history and tracing back your steps.

5.  I was new to using these modern designing programmes but I enjoyed using them for
answering my evaluation questions because it allowed me to present my questions in a creative
format. My favourite programme was „prezi’ because it allows the reader to zoom in and out of
text and pictures, preventing the presentation from being dull and monotonous. Programmes
such as "Slideshare” and "Scribd” allowed me to upload PowerPoint presentations and
Microsoft word documents onto my blog by copying the code of the Prezi into the HTML in
blogger. These programmes were user friendly, quick and easier to navigate than prezi.
Although these programmes were more simplistic than prezi, I was still able to present my work
creatively through relevant pictures and colours.

6. • Blogger has allowed me to record my research as well as evaluating the filming and
editing process. It has allowed me to make numerous posts, which include videos
and images to illustrate my ideas. I enjoyed making posts because it allowed me to
see the vast progress I have made. Additionally, it shows all my individual steps in
preparation to my final product. By writing blogs, I also recognized how much hard
work and individual processes that go into making a film. The most significant though
is that my blog represents the learning process I went through from knowing nothing
to gaining a lot of valuable knowledge in the film industry. However, I did encounter
issues that delayed me. For instance, whilst I was in the middle of writing a post, I
pressed something by accident, which then deleted my whole post. Therefore I had
to re-do the post.

7. • I filmed the close-ups and extreme close-ups of the abused victim. I felt that this type of shot was important
in terms of capturing her beaten and worn out expression. Through the use of a close-up, she also looks
abused through the type of make-up we used. In many of these close-up shots, I placed her in the middle of
the frame to draw the audiences focus onto her. Additionally this shows, that she is the central focus of the
antagonist. Whenever I filmed close-ups of her face, I also ensured that some of the background shed items
would be apparent to establish setting and how she is isolated from the outside world. Whilst I was filming
these close-ups. I directed the young actress of how to perform her role. For example I would give her a
direction to tremble as if she was in fear, rock back and fourth, as well as how she should position her body
and where she had to face.
• I also filmed the medium close-ups of the girl so the bruise on her neck would be evident.
• I filmed the high angle of the footsteps of the antagonist. The frame only showed part of his legs as he was
walking. To film I used the hand held camera without a tripod because I had to track the antagonist‟s
footeps. For example, I had to move the camera along with his footsteps. I also used the red head light whilst
filming this shot, so there would be castings of this man‟s shadow. This creates a mystical and eerie feel, for
the audience want to find out about who this character is.
• I filmed the medium close-up of the writer opening her eyes after she snaps out of her imagination, placing
her in the middle of the frame to establish that she is one of the main characters of the story. The medium
close-up captures that the writer feels slightly confused and shaken by her imagination of the story she is
writing. This is an indicator that her imagination is so vivid.
• Another shot I filmed is a high angle of the author writing. I felt that this was an important angle to portray the
writer‟s vulnerable position, which adds to the sense of eeriness as it potentially gives a sense that something
bad is about to happen to this particular character. This shot shows her writing in a diary and her deep
focus, which in turn shows how unaware she is of her surroundings.
• These are only few of the shots that I filmed.

8.  One section that I edited was when the antagonist‟s footsteps where getting
closer and closer to the victim. I edited an eye line match. This showed the
victim looking at something towards her in a fearful manner, ( 2 seconds)
then we see a shot of footsteps ( 2 seconds). There is another fast paced
edit to her reaction, where she is looking down at the floor frightened. ( 2
seconds). Then I edited another shot of the man walking towards her. These
fast paced edits create tension and suspense because it shows that the
man is getting closer to the girl.
 Another section I edited was an eye line match which shows what the writer
was looking at. The first shot shows the writer looking in front of her. The
next shot shows a long shot of a man behind a grave. This creates mystery
as to who this man is and why she is so struck by it.
 These are only some of the footage I edited

9.  Eliana and I communicated via facebook and email the night before filming reminding
each other of what we had to bring for the following day,.
 Eliana and I handled the filming process quite well because we took an equal share in
filming. We both had our preference over what shots to film. Therefore, we first
comprised on what shots we were going to film. Before, filming both of us set the
camera equipment such as placing the camera on the dolly and inserting the tape into
the camera. We used the set of instructions to do this. When we were filming our
shots, we knew how to handle the camera quite well and became more and more
confident with each shot, especially because we had each other there for support.
Filming went well because before we started, we familiarised ourselves with the
different camera features such as the zooming in and focus wheel. I also learnt to pan
and tilt and made sure that we both knew what we were doing before we could move
on. We also tested each other on all these things beforehand. We filmed certain
scenes a few times from different angles so when it comes to editing we would be
able to choose our best shot. Whilst one of us was in charge of filming, we would both
give directions to the actor being filmed. Additionally, we filmed certain scenes a few
times, from different angles and distances so when it came to editing we could both
choose the best one. Whilst one of us was filming, the other would look after the
equipment.
 Eliana‟s dad‟s car was also parked near the graveyard location so it would be easy to
transfer back the equipment.
 In order to meet the deadlines, I set myself an ideal plan of when I had to meet the
deadline for different tasks through constructing a production schedule.

10.  A very useful programme that I used during my research stages was
YouTube. I researched opening sequences such as „Se7en‟, „Dexter‟, and
„Halloween‟. From viewing the clips of these films, I wrote down conventions
of a thriller which I would incorporate into my own opening titles.
 Using YouTube I also researched previous AS level media opening sequence
and evaluated them. This allowed me to prevent making the same errors as
previous students. For instance, I noticed in many works that the sound
quality wasn‟t at all professional because you could hear the wind.
Therefore, in my opening credits I blocked out all sound from the
video, hoping to add the sound separately in the audio section. For
example, I recorded my voice over separately, which I put in the audio
section of Adobe premiere. Another thing I noticed through watching past
videos is that many thrillers were about a crazy stalker, which in my opinion
lacked originality. Also in some opening sequence, it appeared that the main
character was killed, preventing further development into the story.

11.  A week before I started filming, I asked my actors to list everything they are
allergic to. For example, they might have been allergic to a particular kind of
make-up or product which irritated their skin. Therefore, we would know
beforehand what we could use and what we couldn‟t.
 Another safety hazard that was prevented was by removing the items in the
shed to prevent people from tripping over and hurting themselves.