Lucy-Anne Richardson

Throughout the research and planning process, I have encountered

many different media technologies that have allowed me to make

my work and products look professional as well as gaining

information for research. By using computers or MACs, I have

been able to access the internet which has been largely the basis

of my work in this stage. The internet has allowed me to do

research into institutions and logistics (as seen in previous

presentations) which has helped me form ideas about my work.

Also, I have been able to look at secondary research such as

example of film posters, when it comes to thinking about

conventional methods of application. The internet has then led me

to use Wordpress which has allowed me to not only post my work,

but to also be able to look back on work (to keep up to date with

the production schedule for example) . The production logs also

help to keep up to dater and advance my ideas further.

The individual target shown throughout the entire process on the

blogs has also helped improve my work through looking at ‘wider

reading’ more such as theories and books; rather than solely the

internet. I have been able to use a digital camera for the location

scouting stage which has not only shown where the trailer will be

taking place but also allows me to gather ideas from this throughout

the script and storyboard.

Traditional programmes such as Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and

Excel have also been widely used to show my work such as the

budget in which I used Excel. This software enabled the budget to

add the total by itself through the use of formulas for example. All of

the media technologies I have used have helped me gain access to

the ideas that now exist through my final products. By using a

variety of different methods such as the above, I have not only

shown my work ion a productive and professional manner, but I

have also been able to learn new programmes which can be used

in the future.

The construction stages of this process have introduced more technologies that I have

not had the chance to use before. The internet is still largely used, as well as the

blog so I can update the new findings and products. The use of mobile phones has

been effective as I can keep in contact with the actors within the trailer

(location, what time and date, in case of emergency etc.) as well as calling and

texting the location owner for approval and consent to use the location for that

certain set period of time.

Photoshop has been a huge part of the construction when creating the ancillary tasks. I

have used this programme for not only the final poster and magazine cover, but also

for the designs leading up to them such as the mock up designs and skeleton

layouts. Using this programme has helped me to make these creations look

effective and professional. As I have used Photoshop previously (such as AS work) I

was able to use this knowledge and advance it further. Photoshop has not only

helped make the product more professional, it has also helped overcome certain

problems such as the main image being too bright. By using different

colours, saturation etc, I was able to darken the image to fit the poster and genre.

For the main product, the trailer was shot using a video camera and boom microphone

as I had audio within it. Some of the shooting was quite challenging as I had to

apply knowledge such as camera angles and different techniques such as panning

and tilting which I have not applied previously (with regard to filming on a video

camera). However, I feel I have used a variety of shots, angles and effects to make

The use of the boom mic has also increased the professionalism

compared to the inbuilt microphone on the camera which would

sound amateur. The placement of the boom mic and the person who

hols it was also quite challenging and in some ways restricting. The

location (inside) was quite small so it was difficult to hide the person

holding the boom mic. Throughout the edit decision list, I did not

include some shots due to this.

Final Cut Pro was the main programme I used for the construction

and editing of the trailer. I found it quite difficult at first as I had not

had much practise with using certain tools and transitions. However,

through using online tutorials that other people have put on sites

such as YouTube and Wordpress, I was able to expand my

knowledge and learn new tools that have helped me such as the

title safe which allowed me to place my text correctly and different

audio/video transitions. Editing through Final Cut Pro also made it

look more professional and helped me overcome certain obstacles.

For example, I wanted to change the speed of certain clips in order

to show emphasis and even elongate them as they were to short

originally.

I also encountered Soundtrack Pro which I have never used

before. Thus, with the guidance of my tutor, I was able to

download and use many different sound effects and background

music that has allowed the trailer to create suspense and tension

within the audience. I was able to match these effects with certain

actions in the trailer which assisted the overall effect and look. I

can now use all of the above when doing another similar project.

This programme has also helped solve particular issues with

regard to importing music. When I initially imported the main

sound which runs through the majority of the trailer, it had a fuzzy,

buzzing sound as it played. By using this it would seem amateur

and unprofessional. However, using Soundtrack Pro, I was able to

turn this down, leaving the main original music behind. This

helped with the overall look of the trailer and made it more

effective.

The technology used for the evaluation process was

computer/MAC based. I wanted to use a range of different

programmes so that I could show my ideas in an easier,

more professional format. I did not want it to be in essay

form or all on one blog post as it would be dull to read.

Firstly, I used a programme name ‘Prezi’ which I used

through an internet website. As I had never used one

before, I found it slightly difficult to use. However, after

watching a short tutorial, it was much easier to input the

information whilst having a creative and fun edge to the

presentation. I felt using Wordpress for the second question

was best as I could lay it out in an easy, simple manner so I

could explain my ideas fully. I also included different

images that mirrored my points.

Within the AS evaluation, I used a voice recording which I

felt was effective, so I decided to use this to explain the

findings for question 3. As this answer was showing the

audience feedback, I thought it was easier to explain it

rather than in full sentences. I still wanted to include pictures

of my findings and the questionnaire I used so I have written

up the script I used to answer the question underneath and

have inserted the images also.

Lastly, PowerPoint was another easy method to use and I

could separate categories on different slides such as

‘Research and Planning’, ‘Construction’ and ‘Evaluation’.

Overall, the varieties of programmes has expanded my

knowledge that I could possibly use in the future. It has also

created a basis for my work to be shown and is the sole

reason I was able to create all of these products.