We used a variety of media technologies at each stage of planning, creating, and evaluating our film. During research, we used the internet on phones and computers to research similar films and understand audience expectations. Microsoft Word and phones helped plan the film through scripts, schedules, and actor communication. To film, we used cameras, iMacs for editing software, and Bluetooth to share files. Evaluation included surveys, audience feedback recordings, and online sharing to assess our film's success.

1. HOW DID YOU USE MEDIA
TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PLANNING,
RESEARCH, CONSTRUCTION AND
EVALUATION STAGES?
Jahannara Ali
http://cfgsjahannara.blogspot.co.uk/

2. During the course of making our film, we
engaged in using a range of different media
products , platforms and software.

3. RESEARCH

4. Internet – We used the By using the internet, I was able to access
internet to research about many websites such as the BBC Film
different drama films. It was Network which I used to watch shot drama
a huge advantage because films similar to our story and reviewed it. This
we were able to understand was an excellent tool because I learned what
our genre and it gave us conventions /elements of a drama film was
more knowledge on how our needed for it to be successful.
film should be as a drama
film. Other websites included Rotten Tomatoes,
IMDB & Youtube which were most useful
because I watched different trailers of drama
films such as ‘The Descendant’ and read
comments from different critics. This in turn
made me acknowledge what people want
from a drama film also, it told me what is
typically expected in a trailer for a drama
film.
However, challenges I faced often with
Youtube and IMDB were that it was blocked
so I could only do this research at home.
However, after talking to my teacher, he got
the websites authorised so it was accessible.

5. Using the iPhone I was able to Using my Nokia (C3) I took the
access websites such as Youtube at initiative to illustrate camera shots
any time for research about our by taking pictures of my nieces
film. This was good because I could using shots such as headroom, lead
do research outside of school room etc. This was a good tool
whilst I was travelling. It was also because it made the learning
effecient. process of camera shots much more
interesting and interactive. Below
are example of the shot, headroom
and how it should be used.

6. We used Survey Monkey to create a an Using my Facebook and email, I
audience survey where we came up with was able to post the audience
different questions in order to gain knowledge survey up for various people to
of what the audience expect in a drama film. give feedback on. By doing this
We had about 12 – 13 questions .This was an we managed to get fast
extremely useful website as we were able to responses as many people are a
ask the audience what they want so we could part of a Facebook and for them,
make our drama film as good as possible. completing a questionnaire in
this form was more engaging
than other forms such as a paper
version.

7. PLANNING

8. Using Microsoft Word we created We not only used our phones,
our film scripts, radio trailer scripts, Facebook and email for research but
contracts, consent forms and also to communicate with each other
timetables allowing us be at any time of the day and, to contact
competent in doing these jobs and out actors quickly. For example, when
actually allowing it to happen. For we decided to re-film a scene again
example, without the script we we used our phones and email to
would not have been able to make contact the actors and ask them if
the film. they were able to film on the same
day.
The problem with Facebook and
Hotmail was that it was blocked and
it could not be authorised by the
school at all, so we had no choice but
to access Facebook at home and
sometimes on our phone.

9. CONSTRUCTION

10. We used a Cannon We used the iMac computer
camera to shoot our to access various software's.
film However, problems we often
faced were that the iMac
computer was operating very
slow at times especially were
there were different
software's open at the same
time. However if there was an
activity that didn’t need to be
done on the same computer
one of us would complete it
using another so it we did not
waste time.
Bluetooth – we used Bluetooth on
both our phones and the imac’s to
send and receive pictures of us whilst
we were filming. This was needed for
our blog.

11. The software we used to edit our film I was in charge of creating the title for
was Final Cut Pro . It was an excellent our film and the credits. I used Livetype
software because we were able to use for the title and iMovie for the credits.
the razorblade tool to cut certain parts Livetype was extremely useful because
of a scene if we didn’t like it or to copy it there were a range of different fonts for
somewhere else. It also had a range of me to choose from the most appropriate
effects such as the fade in and out type for our film. I used ‘spotlight’ font
which we used a lot in to make our film to created the title for our company and
more dramatic and effective. One of the it came in an indigo colour which was
most useful things we did was slow perfect for our film.
down the pace and camera work of a
particular scene to try and blend a To edit our radio trailer used Audacity. This
mistake in a camera shot in. Not only did was a brilliant software because we were
it do this but it also added en emotional able to create a radio trailer in a quick space
and effective essence to the scene. of time. The trim tool was most useful
because we could efficiently trim parts of an
audio which we didn’t need.

12. To create our poster we used Photoshop
on the iMac. With this software we were To collect poignant music for
able to create the poster we wanted as it out radio trailer and film, we
allowed us to import significant pictures used the internet to download
and place them where we want. We were ‘Royalty Free Sounds’ and
also be able to create a split (four boxes) music. This was good because it
which we wanted to reflect the political allowed us to look at a range of
ideology in our film which was very different sounds/music clips to
important. pick the best one.

13. EVALUATION

14. I used Microsoft PowerPoint to illustrate the audience
I used blogger to record
feedback from the questionnaire. It was an excellent
every step of my research,
evaluating tool as I was able to make many graphs or
planning and construction of
tables to show what the audience wanted.
the film. I uploaded
PowerPoint, wrote reviews
and much more. It was very
good because it allowed me
to upload anything such as a
podcast or video.
I used an mp3 recorder to record some
feedback on our film from other class
members and friends. It was good as it
allowed us to engage with different
technologies and really get a feel of what the
audience want.

15. We used a video camera to film our audience
feedback to the film ‘During the Riots’. We To gather more feedback on our
recorded the audience’s reaction to the film film, we posted the film up on
and later engaged in a discussion with them Facebook, Blogger and YouTube.
about the things that worked in our film and This allowed us to get a range of
those that did not. We also asked them responses . However, there were
questions. They gave a very detailed difficulties trying to paste the
response but the video camera was most ‘embed’ code onto the blogger
effective because it showed the audience’s website. However, after a little help
genuine reaction to the film in which we this problem was solved.
used to conclude the success of our film.
To reflect upon how we
used, challenged or
developed conventions, we
used a HTC phone to record
our discussion.