The document discusses the various media technologies used by Sam Stapleton during the research, planning, construction, and evaluation stages of their documentary project. During research, Sam used SurveyMonkey to conduct online surveys and advertised the surveys on social media. Microsoft PowerPoint was used to present research findings. During planning, Microsoft Excel helped with audience research and Celtx was used for scriptwriting. Equipment like an SLR camera and software like Adobe Photoshop, Garageband, and Final Cut Pro were pivotal during the construction stage. For evaluation, Final Cut Pro, Popplet, and self-designed website using HTML and CSS ensured diverse media forms were utilized.

1. How did you use media technologies in the
research, planning, construction and
evaluation stages?
Sam Stapleton
Research Planning
Construction Evaluation

2. • During my research phase, I opted to use the website
surveymonkey.com in order to obtain quantative
research about what individuals think about
documentary in general. I advertised the survey on
social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter
in order to get a wider range of results. I took
screenshots of the provided charts that show the
information and placed them into my blog.
• Another important aspect was the use of the software
Microsoft Powerpoint. A large amount of the research
was obtained through reading information found on
the internet, however Powerpoint acted as the
medium for presenting this information. I then
uploaded my presentations to Google Drive and used
the embed code in order to place them onto my
website.
• I also placed a couple of images onto my research
page in order to provide a wider range of media forms
rather than make it predominantly text-based.This
allows readers to view the information in a more eye-
pleasing manner.
Research
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3. Planning
• An important software that I used
during my planning stages was
Microsoft Excel, which allowed
me to conduct research into what
my target audience would like
from my product.
• Another was Celtx, which I used
in order to write my scripts (with
the exception of my final script,
where I used Movie Magic
Screenwriter). This is efficient
scriptwriting software that allows
you to develop the narrative with
relative ease, as well as allowing
conversation to PDF, making it
simple to embed into my website.
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4. Construction
• The first important aspect in the construction of my main product
was the equipment. I used an SLR camera to film the interviews and
large amounts of other footage, which ensured a high-quality,
professional look, as well as allowing for use of manual focus. The
camera was predominantly placed on a tripod and for some shots a
dolly was also used to ensure shots involving movement were more
steady. However, this did not always work due to the rough ground
at my filming location.
• A key use of technology that I used when designing and creating my
newspaper advert was Adobe Photoshop, where I used many
different techniques to ensure a high-quality production. This
included use of clipping masks, lowering of opacity/changing to soft
light filters, gradient maps/photo filters to change lighting and the
blur tool on the background so that the badge became the focal
point.
• Other important equipment was the use of the professional set-up
used to record voice-overs for my radio trailer and documentary in
the Leaf Campus Radio Room, notably the microphone which
allowed for clear and concise recording. This worked in conjunction
with the use of Garageband, which I used to construct my radio
trailer together. This software allowed me to split and place audio
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5. Construction
• The most important software used in constructing my main piece is Final Cut Pro. While
the basics of this software were learned during the creation of my foundation portfolio, my
ability has improved over time. Examples of this include the super-imposing of the AFC
Bournemouth badge onto the jumper of Craig Dennett (this was achieved by obtaining an
image of the Bournemouth badge with a transparent background, placing it into Final Cut,
placing it above the video clip and lowering the opacity of the image). Another was the
change of lighting in some shots in order to reflect the mood of the piece at that time,
such as when administration is the topic.
• Another technique used was the creation of the legends as interviews with experts are
used, which introduces the interviewee to the audience who may not know who the
person is without this. I also opted to place the AFC Bournemouth badge on the legend to
ensure continuity.
• YouTube was also important as it allowed me to upload my video clips and place the
video onto my website rather than using text-based links to other video providers.
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6. Evaluation
• I also used Final Cut Pro during the creation
of my evaluation. For example, during the
first question I opted to record a video of
myself answering the question and place it
in the corner of my documentary.
• Popplet was also optimised when answering
my evaluation questions, as I decided to
create a mind-map rather than large
amounts of my evaluation being text-based.
This more pictorial approach removes any
'walls of text' that look unsavoury on my
website.
• The decision to use HTML and CSS
language codes in order to design a website
rather than use a generated blog site is
something that I believe shows diversity in
my ability with media technologies. This was
particularly effective during my evaluation
stage as it meant that I had no issues in
placing everything together and ensuring my
evaluation showed many different forms of
media overall.
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7. Evaluation
• I also used Final Cut Pro during the creation
of my evaluation. For example, during the
first question I opted to record a video of
myself answering the question and place it
in the corner of my documentary.
• Popplet was also optimised when answering
my evaluation questions, as I decided to
create a mind-map rather than large
amounts of my evaluation being text-based.
This more pictorial approach removes any
'walls of text' that look unsavoury on my
website.
• The decision to use HTML and CSS
language codes in order to design a website
rather than use a generated blog site is
something that I believe shows diversity in
my ability with media technologies. This was
particularly effective during my evaluation
stage as it meant that I had no issues in
placing everything together and ensuring my
evaluation showed many different forms of
media overall.
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