Most of the research for the documentary was conducted online and through services like Netflix. Planning included creating a schedule and storyboard. Final Cut Express was used to edit footage, though exporting was sometimes problematic. InDesign allowed professional magazine layout but had a steep learning curve. Garageband was too simple for the radio trailer. Hardware like video cameras, microphones, and headphones were also needed.

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

2. Research and Planning
Most of the research we did was on the
internet, in books or on services such as
Netflix. After we had gained sufficient
audience research, topic research and
doing research into similar products, we
had to plan a schedule stating when we
wanted to film and when we were free to
do so. After that, we had to email
potential interviewees and await replies. We also
produced a storyboard so we knew exactly what kind of shots we
were looking for for the opening of the documentary.
Once we had everything sorted, we went out and began filming using a video camera,
directional microphone, tripod and headphones.
Then, we began editing all of the video footage into a rough edit of the final
documentary – adding in transitions and sound effects.
All of the research and planning we did has been kept in a log on our blog.

3. Tools: Documentary
This is the toolbar available in Final Cut Express, the software we had to use
for the production of our documentary. The main tool used is the razor blade
tool that allows you to cut anywhere you need in either the video or sound
clips.
Another tool used is the
text tool. This allows you
to put titles or credits on
your video, or allows you
to place captions.

4. Also in Final Cut Express, you can have a list
of all of the video clips showing so that
entering them into the final edit is easy.
You can rename them as you wish.
In one of the windows, there are
two blue lines. These allow you to
see where the framing sits, and
shows you where your image
should be placed for maximum
viewing quality.

5. Tools: Magazine
InDesign also
allows images to be
These are the toolbars available inserted from files.
on InDesign, the software we
used for creating our Magazine
article. It allows all sorts of This is the toolbar that
functions to be performed, such allows you to change
as wrapping text around an colours and views etc. It’s
image or enhancing an image, similar to the toolbar to the
adding text and changing the left, but allows you to do a
orientation of features. lot more with the
appearance of the product.
This toolbar allows
you to change the
colour of anything
within the document.

6. Tools: Radio
This is the sidebar that
allows you to separate the
tracks and add separate
effects on them, or
change the volume of
individual tracks.
For our radio trailer, we chose to use Garageband. This
Garageband allows you
software allows you look closely at any sound clips
to add effects onto your
entered and make changes. There is not a toolbar to
clips, which make them
use in Garageband, and you have to learn the keyboard
sound different. There
shortcuts to perform functions. For example, to cut a
are a wide range to
clip, you must hold down ‘Command’ with ‘T’.
choose from, from
different instrument
sounds to different
venues.

7. Technology used: Documentary

8. Technology used: Magazine

9. Technology used: Radio

10. I thought Final Cut Express was more than adequate for producing a high quality
documentary, and I was pleased with how easy it was to learn all of the commands.
The fades and transitions we implemented were professional, and the sound levels
were easy to play with to ensure they all matched the rest of the documentary.
The only problem I encountered was when trying to export the finished product, it
would often play up or export the wrong file.

11. I personally do not like InDesign at all because I find it difficult to learn your way around
and it often takes a long time to find the control to follow out a function when it should
be simple and done within seconds.
Although, saying that, if you know what you’re doing then it is very easy to produce a high
quality, professional looking magazine article, and so the work to learn it all pays off in the
end.

12. I was not a big fan of Garageband as I felt it was simple and didn’t really offer that many
choices in what you can do. It basically allowed us to put our clips in sequence and play
with the volume. The effects weren’t great as hardly any of them sounded believable, and
often just messed up the sounds.
I wouldn’t choose to use this software again, as I felt it could have gone a lot better. Even
though the commands were easy enough to learn, I would rather have learnt on a more
sophisticated software.

13. I do not like Prezi as I think it is quite complicated and long
winded for what it is, especially if you are in a rush. If you have
the time to sit and play with it, then it’s not too bad as you can
produce a good quality presentation, but I would personally not
use it by choice.
Blogger, however, I would recommend. I keep my own blog on Blogger,
and I think once you know how to navigate your way around it, it is very
simple and you can do a lot with it. It allows you to save your work as a
draft if you are not sure you are finished with it and ready to publish. As
well as that, it allows you to add text, images and videos, and also
allows you to embed documents/videos from all sorts of softwares.
As well technology on the computers/Macs, we had
to use hardware for certain things. We used a video
camera on a tripod to film, and had to use a
directional microphone to pick up sounds, such as
interviews. Directional microphones are better than
others as they let you point it where you need, and
therefore pick up less background noise. Also, we had
to use headphones to make sure we could hear
exactly what the microphone was hearing, and check
the sound levels were right.