2. HOW DID YOU USE NEW
DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES
IN THE CONSTRUCTION,
RESEARCH, PLANNING
AND EVALUATION STAGES?
3. DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY
Throughout my two years as a Media studies student I quickly realised that digital technologies and
my ability to use and show off with them to their full extent has proved to be a huge part of my course,
an essential element in completing my work. Whilst my media coursework let me develop and build
upon the knowledge I previously had with certain software, it also opened up a whole new world of
technologies that I hadn’t used before. Programmes such as Animoto, Prezie, and Padlet were crucial in
the forming and shaping of my final products throughout my media. Also, as a result of using different
software’s over a long period of time such as Photoshop, I was constantly learning new things and
processes, broadening my knowledge and benefiting my other A-levels as well. I has opened up new ways
for me to experiment as an Art student, creating more digital graphic work than traditional, inspiring my
rotoscoped final piece. As well as this I am also creating my own animation short for Moving Image
Arts, based on the full storyline for my Media coursework.
4. MOOD BOARDS AND
BRAINSTORMING
Creating mood-boards and diagrams through digital technologies such as Animoto
and Prezi became imperative in the research and planning stages of my coursework,
allowing me to explore a range of possibilities for the magazine and subsequently,
develop concrete ideas to take forward. Using Prezi, a dynamic online brainstorming tool
where-by you can design the colour scheme, choose fonts and include shapes to present
your thoughts. In creating my Animoto I was able to gain a great understanding on what
really needed to be focused on, the mood and tone I was hoping my magazine would
reflect. Prezi and Animoto were forms of digital technology which I found helpful once
again during the research and planning stages of my A2 unit, both were very simple and
easy to operate.
5. A CRUCIAL ELEMENT IN
PLANNING
Digital technologies was crucial in producing my coursework to a high standard as utilising
the blog meant once again that my classmates an peers were able to view my work as I added it to
the blog and leave feedback in the comments section. Yet before I could consider target audience
feedback or indeed begin to construct my products, I needed to develop a clear understanding of
the codes and conventions of animation teaser trailers. To do this I researched on Youtube many
animated teaser trailers, eventually focusing and analysing Frozen (2013). I went through the
trailer with great detail, writing down every shot type to get a clear understanding of the
structure. I knew it was key to carry out more in depth research into this section of the film
industry that I had done in AS for music magazine as my A2 portfolio required much more
attention to detail.
6. CONSTRUCTING MY
TEASER TRAILER
Unsurprisingly digital technology was essential in the creating of my teaser trailer, as
initially through research I had been inspired to Rotoscope part of my film. This means
that I used a digital camera to record footage and then take the result of the footage on to
my laptop and edit it, whilst drawing over the top of it on my graphics tablet using
Photoshop CC 2015. This was easier for me as it meant less time in my trailer was spent
free handing the animation and I could follow a clear structure. Also, because I was
creating the shots as I went along, there was no editing in the actual trailers shots.
Although I have previous experience with Final cut Pro I only had to import my footage
into it at the end to add in sound and music with Audio network.
7. CONCLUSION
In conclusion, it is clear using new and fresh technology in my A2 portfolio has
been absolutely crucial. Digital technology, such as the internet, allowed me to
research the industries within my own genre choice, as well as understand the
characteristics of them. I was able to use this knowledge to create my own and
make them as authentic as possible. Digital technology, such as computer software
was also very beneficial, as I would not have been able to make my teaser trailer
without the use of Adobe Photoshop, my graphics tablet, final cut pro and audio
network. Not forgetting Survey Monkey which allowed me to collect and gather
target audience feedback from a range of people, helping form and create my ideas.
