Media technology

1. What have you learned
about technologies from
the process of
constructing your media
product?
By Taylor Kyte

2. The beginning
I started off using basic technology such as google to
research into similar existing topics in order to inspire myself
and get ideas for my opening, I also continued to use google
throughout my development of my idea in order to find out
the key conventions and other things regarding my product
and gain more knowledge on what my genre requires and
the sub genres that also exist relating to my product. I also
used Microsoft word to write down any initial research my
time plan and the different ways in which I was going to
complete my tasks and research. Although these were the
most basic programme and I already knew how to use them,
using them really helped me throughout my production and
planning of my product and showed me that there was lots
of possibilities within these programmes.

3. What did I use to construct
my Work?
The main technology I used to create my coursework in the first place was
Blogger, I needed to document and construct all of my ideas and record all of my
work. As I had never used the website or technology before it was a challenge
for me because I had no clue whatsoever on how to create posts, add pictures
or links to other websites such as Prezi or Slideshare. However after I had come
to terms and begun to understand it a bit more it became a lot easier to use and
document on. Towards the end of using my blog I also discovered how to create
headings on my blog to show the different sections I has completed work in for
example the heading ‘Planning’ then had links to my planning posts that I had
created. Although I came to grips with using Blogger I also ran into a few
problems along the way, for example when I was creating certain posts the
pictures weren’t successfully inserting on to the correct places but I researched
into how to correct it and extended my knowledge further.

4. What did I use to
construct my research?
Throughout my media blog we also had to use a variation of
presentation methods/technology to show what work and research we
had done per section. I found using Slideshare was incredibly helpful
because I could simple create a normal PowerPoint and then simply
drag and upload it to slideshare and it would create an interactive
PowerPoint that I could place on my blog. However when I first started
using this website I wasn’t aware that I could upload from powerpoint, I
ran into the problem that I couldn’t write as much as I wanted to per
slide this then restricted me on what I writing. To resolve this I asked my
peers that were also using this website how they overcame any
problems that then ran into that were similar to mine. Apart from these
minor setbacks I would say that getting to grips with the technology
was fairly easy.

5. How did I construct my
research?
For my research I used a website called survey monkey, this
allowed me to create a survey for my target audience research
and to distribute it to my peers via email and get anonymous
responses quickly. I used survey monkey to find out what
attracts my audience and what they most prefer in a film in my
genre. This was definitely beneficial because I got and equal
amount of responses from my target age, I could also find out
what they dislike and not include it in my film. I had previous
knowledge of using survey monkey before which therefore
helped me create and distribute my surveys quickly and to make
sure it was done right.

6. Planning
For my media coursework I had to create a
preliminary task and then a final two minute
opening. This required me to get to grips with a lot
of different technologies and programmes. I used
the Sony Handy-cam to film my preliminary task
but then decided that I was going to use my own
camera for my actual two minute opening this was
because I ran into a variety of issues during filming
my preliminary which mainly revolved around the
situation of everyone needing the cameras at the
same time so it was more rushed to film whereas
when I used my own camera for filming I found it
flowed a lot better because I had more time to think
about how each shot was going to flow into the
next which allowed me to create better continuity.
Using two different cameras allowed me to
understand how to use both of the effectively, I also
used the knowledge I gathered from using the
Sony camera and applied it when I was using my
own camera, this helped as I already had
knowledge from using my personal camera so it
didn’t take long to get used to.
As I only knew the basics of putting
together small clips on iMovie, I
learned new skills when I moved on
to using final cut pro, this was
definitely something that increased
my understanding and knowledge
although it took a while to get to
grips with and use confidently. Final
cut pro allowed me to make my
product look as professional as
possible and to further my
knowledge. With the use of final cut
pro I was able to trim and cut the
clips to create better continuity and
to make it smooth running, I found
that using advanced technology like
final cut pro was more effective
than the use of iMovie.

7. Planning
To get my storyboard on my blog I
decided to use a scanner/printer that I
had easy access to, I decided to do this
instead of taking a photo and adding it
because it came out clearer and was
easier to see, it also made it look more
professional in comparison. However I
had to make sure everything was set up
correctly because the first time this
happened I ran into a couple of problems
as it wouldn’t link to the computer
therefore I couldn’t get my work and lost
time setting it up.

8. Production
In production I used a camera to
shoot my short film opening. I wanted
to use my own camera because it is
higher quality and will look more
professional in the long run. I used
my camera which was a canon
450D.
Another website I used to help
with my production was epidemic
sound, this allowed me to browse
royalty free music and download
it in order to add it to my short
film. I was going to add music
from Youtube but I was unaware
of copyright issues.
I used Final cut pro to edit my media product, I
used this software because it is very high end and
professional and had many techniques that helped
me make my two minute opening look as good as
possible. It had many sections that allowed me to
create an effective final piece such as sound,
transitions and credits and titles.

9. Production
In order to convert my media product onto my blog and
YouTube I used a memory stick, however this was
unsuccessful and I used another technique instead. I
uploaded my short opening to my Copleston Frog account
and then uploaded it to YouTube from there, this was a
much faster process and means that I had access to it
whenever I needed it. Uploading it to YouTube was also
fairly easy because I simply had to upload it from my files.
To then get it onto my blog I simply embedded it into the
html on my blog which made it appear on my blog. As I had
never posted on youTube before uploading it was a whole
new experience for me.

10. Use of a digital camera
Throughout my production of my media product, I have learned a lot about
the use of my own camera. It taught me how to effectively film and use the
features of my camera like the manual zoom and focus to my own
advantage. My first experience filming was in my preliminary task and I
used a Sony handy-cam, however whilst editing I didn’t like the way the
footage looked and wanted it to be higher quality, therefore for my two
minute opening I used my own camera which was a Canon 450D and this
created a higher quality product. When creating my final product I had
learnt from creating my preliminary that having necessary equipment such
as a tripod was extremely important to stop the camera from shaking and
creating a smooth running sequence of clips, I did not use one for my
preliminary and you can see the camera slightly shaking, however this
helped to suit the genre of my two minute opening and a lot of the
movements were handheld apart from the last half of the it which was
filmed in the house. At first I struggled mainly to create a smooth
panning/tracking movement as the camera was shaky but I overcame this
when I used a tripod as it helped me get a steady frame as well as a
consistent pace whilst doing the movement, you can see the difference
from the starting shots in my opening compared to when she’s walking
through the house. Overall the use of a digital camera for me was very
easy to get to grips with and in my opinion very effective in helping me
create my final piece and making it look as professional as possible.

11. Experience of final cut pro
To edit my final piece I used a Mac computer and the programme Final Cut Pro. This
software allowed me to create a high quality piece and use many different techniques.
Previously the only editing software I had used before was iMovie which was very
simplistic, however the difference between both of the programmes is clear. For example
with iMovie there were many restrictions, you could only simply cut and trim the shots
and add a transition and some text, in comparison to final cut pro you can add effects,
sounds, voice overs and effects on top of text, it shows how complex final cut pro is and
how more professional it would make the piece in the end.
Final cut pro opened up a new world of editing and techniques because I had never used
it before therefore I had to learn a lot of new skills and how to work the programmes. Use
of transitions, trimming, cutting and editing the speed allowed to me create a more
professional looking piece and to demonstrate my skills more. Within the production
stage I also used the software to help play on the conventions of a typical film of my
genre, for example, shaky handheld movements and slow motion editing. I also added an
effect to my production logo in order to make it fit my genre.
I also cut unnecessary frames from my film and trimmed out the bits that I didn’t need,
this really helped me when looking at continuity because it allowed me to smoothly
transition into the next clip. At first I found it fairly complex and hard to get a grip of but
after a while I found it easier when I started to understand how to use it more.

12. Enhanced creativity or
technology
Looking back on the task I feel I have improved massively
and technology has shown me a different side to media I
wasn’t so aware of before especially when it comes to
technology. Its allowed me to feel more comfortable using
different technologies and made me go out of my comfort
zone. I would aslo say creating a storyline from nothing has
enchaced my creativitiyy as