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

2. Research and Planning Stage
In the research and planning stage I used Google, YouTube and Blogger
throughout. I used YouTube to research existing videos in our chosen genre to
gain a knowledge of the existing codes and conventions of indie alternative
videos. This was helpful as we could study the codes and conventions so we
could use them in our video to make sure we stuck to our chosen genre. I used
Google throughout my planning and research stage, mainly to look for software to
use which I found Xtranormal used in my evaluation stage. This was helpful
because I had access to a search engine at all times to look for new, innovative
software's to use. Blogger was my main software I used as I was constantly going
back to it to post my findings on as this was the main hub for the group to put what
we had done on there so we could add and know what to do for the blog work. To
upload pictures from our filming sessions I used photobucket as this was a
suitable way to present the photos as the software allows you to put them in a
slideshow and this is easy to import to the blog.

3. Construction
During the construction stage I mainly used these four software’s. We used Final
Cut to edit our footage as it was easily available on the Mac’s and once you know
how to use it, it is a good platform to use which produces good results. Adobe
Photoshop also easily available on the Mac was used to create the Digi Pack as it
created a high quality product and allowed us to edit things out of pictures that we
did not want there for example. When creating the website, WIX was found to be
the best software as it was free to sign up and had many tutorials and help pages
which was very helpful. It had many tools and components which allowed us to
create a high quality website for Jake Black. Finally for the majority of the footage
shot we used a Sony HD camcorder as it was a high quality camera which picked
up sound well and allowed us to import into the computer easily, we also used a
Flip Cam throughout to record smaller parts of footage.

4. Evaluation
In the final stage, the evaluation I again used Blogger as well as Slideshare,
Xtranormal and Prezi. Blogger was the main hub where I posted my evaluation
questions and using blogger allowed me to use different software’s to present
my findings and import them easily. Slideshare and Prezi were used to present
two of my evaluation questions, Slideshare allowed me to import my powerpoint
presentations and Prezi is a software which you input what you want and it
presents it in an interesting way. Finally I found out about Xtranormal which is a
software I had never used before, it involves a character and a setting which you
type your text in and the character speaks this. It is an innovative and interesting
way to present your questions as I personally have never seen it before and
enjoyed using it.