Question four

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

2. Construction stage
During the construction stage of making my media products I had to use different types of software to make sure
that I could develop a suitable media product. I had to use Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Premier
and the use of a Camera.
Within Adobe InDesign I had to create my magazine and poster layout. I was already familiar with the software
which I was using so designing the magazine and poster was a lot easier to do after a years worth of experience
with it last year. I was prepared to develop my workings by using the layers option and this helped me keep on
track of what I was using at what time. This also meant that if any information was overlapping then I could easily
select and move the information selected on a certain layer. InDesign was good as it had a wide range of fonts
which I was able to choose from which mean I was able to play about with all the design features which I wished
to choose. I Believe this software gave me extreme confidence when creating my promotional packages as I knew
it was previously successful from my work last year.
This year I had to use a still camera and a camcorder for the construction stage of my work. I was fully prepared
for the work with the still camera and was understanding of shots due to the work I completed last year, it gave
me a greater idea of what I needed to do to create a successful image. I had issues to start with the camcorder as
I realized sounds were easily attracted to the background of a clip meaning that it would overlap with speaking or
would cause a disturbance to the sound track. This was then dealt with when editing the clip as I was able to
mute certain bits of the sounds making the issue not present unless dialogue was being spoke.

3. Construction stage
I had used previous software within ICT such as MovieMaker which is similar to Adobe Premier
but Adobe Premier is a lot more advanced so it was quite difficult to get used to. I used Adobe
Premier to edit the film trailer together by selecting clips piece by piece and dropping them
within the timeline so you could view your footage.
Adobe photoshop is another software which I used last year constructing magazines. I used it
with creating the images for both my magazine and my poster. As it was something I had
previously used when I went back into the software I found it very easy to function as I knew
where to find the tools which enabled you to changed the brightness etc of the image. The
software was very helpful with getting the images I took to look as I wanted them too look.

4. Research and planning stage
When it come to research and planning I used a various means of ways of collecting and finding
information on my media products. Here are a few examples.
Blogger – Blogger is an online website which allows you to document your information on and keep a
running tab on what you have created and posted online. This was useful during my planning stage as
I was able to look at other blogs and look at key ideas which other successful media products have
done and try adapt the conventions they used and interpret them into mine. I used blogger during my
AS process so I was aware of how to use it and knew that it was a good online service for displaying
my information clear through things such as PowerPoints via Slideshare or Prezis or regular blog
posts.
YouTube – This was very important during my planning process as when I was looking to develop my
plot I looked into film trailers and lifted ideas which I feel could work within one. When looking to
create our film trailers it was important to take other trailers and compare them to our own to make
sure it looked professional and that the shots were equally as scary as the genre we choose. This is
also compatible with the blog meaning it is very effective when using it for my work. If I was to need
ideas for shots and motivation for an idea for the film trailer I would research on here examples and
as it has such a wide range of products you can never not find something useful each time you was
too look.

5. Research and planning stage
Google – This was a huge part to play with creating my film magazine and my poster as I was not
able to find suitable resources elsewhere where it could display multiple images of other
magazines and posters. This main search engine helped me seek inspiration of finding ideas and
making sure that I was not put off track it would always direct me to things that were relevant to
my search and would also recommend things which I may be interested in. Google is a main
network which allows minor websites such as YouTube and Blogger to all be linked together
within googles search engine. This means that I was able share what I had created on many
social media platform gaining views on what I had created and helping me develop with
audiences feedback.

6. Evaluation stage
During the evaluation stage I used different platforms of which I was able to put on my blog if compatible. I have
used regular blog posts, Prezi’s and SlideShare which allows you to show PowerPoint presentations online.
SlideShare/Powerpoint - SlideShare online service allowed me to publish online presentations which I had
created. I have used a PowerPoint on many of my evaluation schemes as I find that it is a successful way of
showing information in a clear set manor, it is very easy to use and is not complex to work when showing a
presentation to a group of people. When showing the development stages of my poster using a PowerPoint was
extremely effective as it does not limited you on an amount of images you can have on a presentation and does
not have a limitation of space so it is very practical for large pieces of work. I used this within my work last year so
I was familiar with the service it can provide and has been very helpful throughout this year too.
Prezi – This is an online website which allows you to create pieces of work through an online system which is
compatible with blogger. Prezi is very effective for showing off work in a presentation form, it is very similar to
PowerPoint but is a lot more advance and you are able to create different ways of getting around the page other
than a page by page presentation. It allows you to play around with templates giving you the power to be
productive with your own work. I had used this website before for developing presentations, I did this during my
AS year when creating my music magazine. This meant I was familiar with what I was doing and was able to use
the website a lot more efficiently than before. You are able to insert videos/texts/voiceovers so it is very good for
developing a wide range of presentation forms.