Evaluation Question 4: How did you use media technologies in the construction and research, planning and evaluation stages?

For my A2 coursework i have used several different media technologies in order to present and create my coursework. The main technology that was essential for recording our research, planning and production was the site blogspot. Due to previously having experience with the website for AS coursework i had no problems with using it and was able to use the features of the software to it's full potential. By having an internet based coursework folder, it enabled the teachers to easily track progress we were making and give us helpful feedback.

Youtube was also an important piece of technology that was essential to look closely at existing trailers and analyse them for research. Youtube is very helpful enabling access to a wide range of different videos therefore enhancing our knowledge and understanding of what makes a successful trailer. When finding a video we had to use the embed code in order to transform in to our blog, which again was a very simple process.

To begin filming our footage needed for production, we had to use a HD camera which me and my group member were not familiar with. When first using the camera i found it very difficult to use without facilities such as a tripod as the footage was mainly shaky and appeared very unprofessional. Also where i was not used to the technology i found that when filming in the dark the footage was very unclear and therefore we filmed most of the trailer in the day time. However despite finding it tricky to begin with, like mainly all new technologies i got used to it and managed to use it to a good standard. Also the fact the camera was HD provided me and my group member with high quality footage.

The other new technology that we had to use in order to edit the footage and make it into our trailer, was Adobe Premiere Pro. I particularly found this very difficult to being with due to the fact i had never used it before. When first uploading the footage to the software in regards to cutting and dragging the shots in the editing bar i found this very easy. However as we began to experiment with effects this was much more difficult and took a while to get used to.

For the production of my film poster and magazine cover i used a canon camera to take the pictures and Adobe Photoshop to compose both. With previously using both technologies for production of AS work it was not a problem despite taking a little while to reacquaint myself with the software of photoshop, and the effects what the different tools created.