Ellen Brooking used various media technologies throughout her research, planning, construction, and evaluation stages. During research, she relied heavily on internet resources like websites and her Wordpress blog. In pre-production, she used tools like Google Maps, emails, PowerPoint, and Photoshop. During construction and post-production, she learned skills like filming with HD cameras and editing with Final Cut Pro and Photoshop to bring her ideas to life. For evaluation, she created documents with PowerPoint and Wordpress to focus on specific areas and discuss topics in depth.

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

2. Research & Planning
Throughout the production of my main task and my ancillary tasks I have
tried to incorporate a variety of different technologies to ensure there is a
variety of different styles to my work as well as expanding my knowledge
of different programs and different equipment. By using these new
technologies I was able to increase the standard of my work as well as
making my idea’s into real tangible sources.
During my research section the equipment I used was extremely internet
based as it allowed me to look at different sources and theories that
people have created that I could apply to my own work. The internet also
allowed me to collect a variety of secondary research as well as pieces that
I could use for my primary research such as the pictures to use in
questionnaire and other research parts. My wordpress blog became a vital
part of my project as it allowed me to keep up to date and reference back
to my work throughout the project. The use of the blog has also allowed
me to assess myself to see what I can improve whilst keeping up to date
with my targets. PowerPoint and other word documents were extremely
helpful in creating documents that had a clear and easy to read format
which I could easily refer back to.

3. Pre Production
In my pre production stages the internet was vital again as it allowed me to research
my locations as well as how to contact the locations to get consent. As my location was
far away the use of the internet and google maps allowed me to look at my locations
and assess them. This was extremely helpful in my location scouts and my site plans as
it allowed me to look in depth at the area without the cost of travel. Through the use of
emails and phone calls I was able to contact the peopled I needed to plan and discuss
when it would be okay to film. The use of emails allowed me to contact my artist who
lives in another country so I was able to lower my cost and have a visual record of the
artist giving his consent. I used PowerPoint and work documents a lot which allowed
me again to create concise plan of what I had done as well as what I needed to do
allowing my creative points to flow better.
During this part of the project I also used a Bamboo drawing tool to help
me create my storyboard. I wanted to try a new technology and increase
the standard of my creative work however I found it extremely hard to use
so once I had completed a single page I decided to revert back to hand
drawing the images as it was to difficult and to time consuming. However, it
did teach me a new skill that I will be able to use in future projects as well
as how to draw directly to the computer. I also used Photoshop through this
part of the project to create my mock ups and skeletons which really helped
me to envisage what I wanted to create in a visual way whilst also allowing
me to try out different styles and themes within my work.

4. Construction & Post Production
I used the most technologies in this area of my project as this is where I
created the final pieces for my work. I learnt the how to use new software’s
which allowed the overall standard of my work to increase which really
helped to bring my idea’s to life. The main programs that I used in this part of
the project were creative software's such as Photoshop and Final Cut Pro as
well as equipment such as HD Video Camera’s and Photographic Camera’s. By
using these programs I was able to create what I envisaged which was
extremely important to the creative process.
One of the main process that I had focus on was the use of the camera’s to
capture what I needed for my main project as well as what I needed for my
ancillary tasks. I began by going to my location and setting up the camera’s
and learning what shot types and angles would work best then beginning
filming to capture what I wanted from the piece. I really enjoyed working with
the camera as it allowed me to bring all my planning and idea’s to life in to a
format that I could later adapt into a final piece. I was able to gain a good
understanding of how the camera works which then allowed my shots to
increase in standard throughout the day. I also did the photo shoot for my
ancillary tasks at the same time as it allowed me to create a connection
between all the pieces. By having portable camera’s I was really able to
capture the style and the idea’s that I wanted.

5. Construction & Post Production
Once filming was completed I began editing my footage on Final Cut Pro which
allowed me to cut and create the music video I wanted. I had used Final Cut
Pro before on other projects however on this project I was able to extend my
knowledge and learn new skills which allowed me to create a more
professional looking music video. I really enjoyed creating a project on this
format as well as learning how to create effects and different looks to the
footage. It also allowed me to edit shots and shot lengths really helping to
enhance the style and the pace of the music video. Final Cut Pro really allowed
me to create a smooth and well thought out video which I think I would have
been able to of created without the software.
I then began creating my ancillary tasks on Photoshop which allowed me to
manipulate and recreate images which really helped to draw my project into
each other. By using Photoshop I was able to create connections through
colour, font and spacing to help create a pieces that related to each other.
Photoshop also allowed me to create practical and realistic ancillary tasks
which I think has helped to really increase the overall standard of the project
By using these formats I am able to adapt and change my work whilst creating
a project which I think has really helped to make my project more
professional overall which is something I have really enjoyed within the
project.

6. Evaluation
In my evaluation I have used PowerPoint and Wordpress
to create my evaluation as these formats allow me to focus
on specific area’s for instance in this evaluation whilst also
discussing topics in depth which I think has really
contributed to creating a good evaluations. These formats
also allow me to look back at my work and create parallels
from different sections allowing me to reference back to
my work.