The document discusses how various media technologies were used at different stages of creating a film trailer project. Social media like instant messaging and Facebook were used for communication and organization between the production team and actors. YouTube was used for research purposes like watching other trailers to learn conventions and find locations. A DSLR camera was used to film shots for the trailer after learning camera techniques online. Adobe Premiere and Sony Vegas were used to edit the trailer, applying effects to make it look professional. Weather apps also helped with planning filming dates. Overall, new media technologies helped improve efficiency, quality, and success at all stages of the project.

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

2. • New technology has dramatically changed the
way in which I’ve been able to plan, construct
and evaluate my product. It has made my
team and I more efficient and has helped us to
create an exciting and far more exhilarating
and effective product. Whether the
technology used was through social media for
communication and practical reasons through
to the technology used for the actual design
and creation of our product.

3. • One of the primary new media technologies we
used was instant messaging. Firstly we harnessed
the power of social media within our production
company to ensure the team was organised and
up to date with our product. Additionally, instant
messaging was also helpful for the organisation
of our cast. It was imperative we could
communicate with our cast in a variety of
different ways to ensure they remained happy
and continued to want to take part.

4. We created a messaging link with our all of actors to
ensure they could film. We made it clear to them that
despite the fact we were in charge, it was there
decision as to when to film. We had to adapt in order to
work around them as we needed to find a time which
was most suited to them. We were able to discuss
optimal times that could be used for filming as well
what costumes and props that were necessary for the
day of shooting. Through the huge change in
technology, particularly on social media, we were made
more accessible to our actors which was hugely
beneficial and effective. Within our production
company, we also made our own Facebook page. The
Facebook page was private to just the four of us, so as
that we could share what we had done with each other
which was really useful as we were able to share digital
work too. When shooting we also had to prepare for
illness or lack of time for actor’s thus we needed stand
in’s, which were then made permanent. For example,
we originally planned for our main female part to go to
a female outside of the school. We realised after one
shooting session that this was only going to be
inconvenient for both parties resulting in the team and
I having to find someone more accessible. This was
understandable and taken very well as, we as a team
went the right way around telling the individual and she
was very understanding. We were fortunate enough to
let this actor know over text which showed how media
technologies in the construction and planning stages of
our production were used to great effect.

6. • This method was also carried over to the evaluation
stage where I wanted to ask a focus group their
opinions of the trailer. I uploaded my video onto
YouTube and asked for some initial feedback from my
friends. I then came up with a handful of questions
that I was ready to ask my focus group in order to gain
valuable information, criticism and positives from my
product. Over social media, I was able to arrange a
meeting time and place for this to take part. I feel that
social media messaging was well utilised in the
construction and research, planning and evaluation
stages when creating my product and has been key to
the success of my product.

7. • The other way I have utilised other media technologies in the different
phases of my product is through the use of YouTube. With YouTube I have
been able to watch other trailers, with similar to conventions of my own
when planning my trailer. This included what text was going to be most
appropriate as well as suitable actors needed. I looked at films such as
Brick, a more dated neo-noir film and Batman, a far more modern neo-
noir film for the construction of shot types. I was able to use the screen
grab tool to use as images that I used to compare when finding perfect
locations to film. This was beneficial during the planning stage as I was
able to make my film look more convincing and professional purely by
conforming to the most professional conventions used in other films of
the similar genre. Video suggested, provided by YouTube also gave me a
range and variety of other clips and films that I could watch that were of
the same genre that I was looking to emulate, neo noir. I was able to learn
from professional films which was hugely beneficial for not only myself but
also my team as I was then able to share this with them. During the
evaluation stage, YouTube has been really useful when finding out the
audience demographics that have viewed the trailer, as well as what
platform they are watching the trailer from, again through social
networking sites.

9. • In addition, I also learnt and used a DSLR
camera, with a variety of different lens’
that were going to be most appropriate
when filming our trailer. With the aid of
tutorials online as well as teaching
myself, I was able to use the DSLR
correctly when filming my trailer. This
was important when constructing my
trailer as I needed to film the correct
shots, with a suitable aperture and ISO.
This media technology was used to full
affect when planning as we had to see
how best to film, such as moving shots.
We used the camera to film the entirety
of our trailer as well as to take images for
the trailer and magazine front cover
during our construction stage too.

10. • Adobe Premiere and Sony Vegas were
the two editing programmes we used
to edit our trailer appropriately. We
looked to match conventions of other
trailers to make our trailer look as
professional as possible. Having
already had prior experience with
Premiere we were able to easily
construct a basic trailer. The further
effects of Sony Vegas enabled us to
secure a professional spin on the
trailer by editing pace, colour and
using strobe lighting effects. We used
Premiere early in the year when
constructing our own trailer from a
‘Film Noir’ film. This gave me valuable
experience in the research and
planning stages of my own trailer as
well how to construct a trailer. It was
also used during the evaluative stages
as there were minor changes needed
to be made so the two programmes
were easily accessible to the group and
I.

11. • Finally, when planning the trailer is was important
to take into account the different variables that
might occur and affect my trailer. Most
importantly of which was the weather. Using a
variety of weather apps I was able to ensure the
day of filming had appropriate weather to what
we were looking for. Despite this only being a
minor piece of media technology used during
constructing and planning, it was necessary as it
could have had a big impact on the final product.

12. • In conclusion, I feel we have definitely used
new media technologies to great effect during
the construction and research, planning and
evaluation stages as well as to create our
products. We have used, learnt and developed
the skills of different technologies that have
made our trailer the best quality possible as
well as to fit the criteria that was deemed
necessary.