Question 6: What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this project? AUSTEN NUTTALL CNS SCHOOL AS LEVEL MEDIA STUDIES

1. Question 6:
What have you learnt about
technologies from the process of
constructing this project?
Austen Nuttall – CNS Sixth Form
Template from Microsoft PowerPoint 2007
Edited by Austen Nuttall:
Added 3D effects, transactions and images using PowerPoint 2007 and Clip Art

3. The Blog
I‟m not familiar with using and developing content for a
blog. I‟ve never even used a blog until now! I was just like
my Granddad, he would often say to me:
“What does a Blog even do?”
In time, I finally figured it out, and so did he.
To begin with, I‟ve found the process of learning how to
embed videos, text, and even PowerPoint's interesting by
using HTML codex. I have even explored the codex system
by using outside sources of HTML codex in my posts to
enable soundtracks and „spoiler bars‟ (click to show/hide
content). These have made my blog unique and far more
interesting then others.

4. The Blog - Soundtrack
codex
Soundtrack:
<embed flashvars="audioUrl=LINK_FOR_.MP3" height="27"
quality="best" src="http://www.google.com/reader/ui/3523697345-
audio-player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"
width="400"></embed>

5. The Blog - „Spoilers‟ codex
Spoiler Bar:
<div id="spoiler" style="display:none">
HIDDEN CONTENT HERE
</div>
<button title="Click to show/hide content" type="button"
onclick="if(document.getElementById('spoiler')
.style.display=='none') {document.getElementById('spoiler')
.style.display=''}else{document.getElementById('spoiler')
.style.display='none'}">BUTTON TEXT</button>
- River Song, Doctor Who

7. Cameras - Digital Cameras
During GCSE Media Studies, I learnt many aspects and
techniques on how to use a digital camera. I‟ve
developed and improved these skills throughout the A.S.
Media Studies course.
I‟ve become far more familiar with the interface of the
cameras which my group and I used during the
preliminary task and also the second task,
“Opening to a New Thriller Film”.

8. Cameras - Digital Cameras
During our second task – “Opening to a New Thriller Film” my group
and I used my camera to capture our footage. The camera used
was a Cannon 600D which has HD video recording, which was
originally bought for my Photography A-level course and future
usage.
As the camera was new to me, I didn‟t even know how to operate it.
I eventually began learning how to edit the settings within the
camera‟s interface with actuate outcomes. For example, enabling
the “rule of thirds” on the display panel whilst still being able to
record footage.
This helped both myself and James Kent (group member) capture
footage which would be more appealing and interesting towards the
audience as the scene used the rule of thirds.

10. Editing - Adobe Premier Elements
 I was fairly familiar with Adobe Premier Elements
as I have used a similar editing program in the
past which is called “Sony Vegas”.
 During the preliminary task, I learnt how to
„capture‟ raw footage from the camera onto a
computer using editing software called “Adobe
Premier Elements”.

11. Editing - Adobe Premier Elements
 During the second task, I learnt how to convert
.mov files from the Cannon 600D into .avi using a
program called “WinFF”. I had to do this because
then Adobe Premier Elements would recognise the
file format along with other media players.
 During the editing process I learnt how to change
my group‟s footage into black and white by „click
and drag‟ the “gray scale” button from the effects
tab onto the selected clips.

12. Editing - Adobe Premier Elements
 Because Animation is one of my A-level courses. I decided to
create an animatic to use as part of our titles during our
opening sequence as then it‟ll make my group‟s opening
unique and rather interesting which would catch the
audience‟s attention.
This was rather simple and affective. All I had to do was
create two title images with the same content and overlap
them in the timeline. This then created a transaction between
the two images creating the animatic title sequence.

14. Camera Angles – Dolly
Zoom
I came up with an inspiring idea while filming. This idea
was to use the Dolly Zoom. The reason behind this is
because the Dolly Zoom would strengthen the impact of
the victim‟s expression which would make a greater impact
towards the viewer.
Myself and James Kent both tried to use this camera
technique but James Kent had the best outcomes – He
was a natural!
We both learnt how to control the speed and how much
„zoom‟ needed to get the effect we needed. Overall, we
finally archived this difficult camera technique with great
success.

16. Distribution of our Film Opening
I‟ve been a member of YouTube since April 23rd, 2009.
From then, till now, I‟ve learnt how to upload videos
successfully and I am very confident in doing so.
Earlier in March 2012, (7th) YouTube changed the layout
and settings on their website. During the period of creating
our thriller opening, I have needed to learn this new
layout/settings to understand how it would affect who could
see my videos. I have needed to set our thriller clips to
“unlisted” (only people with the link can view). I have done
this so that my public profile is not filled with the A.S. level
work to the public eye. The videos are only then viewable
on mine and James Kent‟s (group member) blogs.
http://www.youtube.com/user/erestor629/featured - My username on YouTube
Look me up!!!

18. IMDb (Internet Movie Data
Base)
I have learnt to navigate successfully a site called Internet Movie
Data Base (IMDb) throughout the media course. IMDb was used
to research films, directors and cast for my G321 Research and
Planning. I did this so that the information would be correct as
IMDb is a worldwide recourses site, much like Wikipedia, but
IMDb is specifically for films.
IMDb also offers reviews, user ratings, budget figures, and
bibliographies on directors and producers as well as the cast of
the film.
I have used this specific information to strengthen my work
throughout the course, and also by embedding hyperlinks in my
posts which links it to IMDb.

20. Conclusion:
The use and development of technology which I have
explored during this course has greatly increased
throughout.
I‟ve learnt how to use a camera successfully and how to
edit the footage in Adobe Premier Elements in a number of
different ways. Adding slide transitions and adding a
soundtrack.
My blog was challenging to begin with, but when it was
finally setup correctly to the standards which I would of
liked, such as the choice of layout and gadgets, I could
then begin to progress with my work.