QUESTION 4- HOW DID YOU USE MEDIA TECHNOLOGIES IN THE CONSTRUCTION, RESEARCH AND PLANNING AND EVA...

1. Whilst creating my trailer I used various platforms to present my filming and editing stages. I created a rejected footage video which showed footage I deselected because of the poor sound and shaky cam. The video was edited on iMovie and was uploaded via a website using VidMe which was helpful. I needed to upload the video to a platform to be able to show my skills and to be able to learn how other softwares work. Last year for my AS work, I used a flip camera and used iMovie a lot and this year I have progressed by using less of iMovie and more of Final Cut Pro. My final trailer was edited using Final Cut Pro. Final Cut Pro is more professional and is used in the media industry. It has a lot of tools and allows more flexibility in what you want to create. I could add my own music from anywhere from the internet, iTunes or Garage Band. I could create my own titles and when I add my own clips in the timeline I could crop it and move the clips in different angles and change the timing of it. Using filters such as the 'letterbox' filter gave my trailer a professional film look to it. I also used a Canon this year which provided HD quality and made my trailer look more professional. Using this better quality camera (Canon 700D) provides a better viewing experience for the audience and keeps them engaged. I could also adjust the camera settings on the camera and make the filming more flexible to how I want it. I also used settings like 'aperture' to focus more on the foreground.

2. CONSTRUCTION STAGES

2.1. I also used Prezi to upload my idents and ident research as it allowed me to upload my work in a step by step manner and let me import my own media such as my YouTube videos and images I had found whilst researching. Prezi had non linear ways to present work and I could personalise and create my work how I wanted to. It had bright themes and I could create mind maps and make my work more interactive and interesting than for example using Powerpoint.

2.2. I created a Zoho presentation to upload the construction process of my trailer and it allowed me to organise my work, add text and my own images whilst it being easy to use and interactive. I used this to show how I added clips in Final Cut Pro, how I added effects, sound and titles.

2.3. I used YouTube to upload my idents and my draft trailer as it allowed me to share my work publicly and allowed me to create a video after editing it on Final Cut Pro. This was helpful as I could use this to embed in other media platforms and because my target audience commented on my video to give me feedback. I also used imgur which allowed me to create a slideshow of the feedback I received from the target audience from GoogleClassroom, YouTube and iMessage. Receiving the feedback on here was helpful as it meant the answers were not lost and were organised in one place, I could always go back to see where it was. It creates awareness for others to also comment and attracts wider audiences as many people use these platforms. The slideshow let me add as many images as I wanted and allowed me to connect with others. My final theatrical trailer was also uploaded on Youtube to attract many audiences as possible and because it is a common platform for people to use nowadays. YouTube was a very helpful tool to use because I could search, research and analyse many different trailers to help me with the planning of my own trailer. I could upload my own work on there and distribute my trailer on there so thousands of audiences could see my work. It gave me an easy access to share my work and connect with audiences and the comments allowed me to see what audiences thought of my work. This was particularly helpful with the draft of my trailer as I uploaded it on there and my focus group replied on there. I could also embed my YouTube video on Weebly which was helpful as I could present my trailer. YouTube is a very popular site where thousands of trailers are uploaded so I could see many trailers as part of my research and most were uploaded by secure accounts such as 'Sony Pictures' who upload monthly so I knew they were real. With using YouTube I could see what audiences thought of existing trailers with having the comment section and I could see how the trailer was received. I could see if there were things I should include in my trailer and what things I should stay away from including that could be controversial as audiences were showing me what was good and what was not. I used YouTube to gain a better insight into existing trailers and could understand the forms and conventions and what music was typical and what idents looked like. I found my music from YouTube and without this I would have had to make my own soundtrack or found it from another website. I managed to find copyright free music easily by typing it in the search engine quite simply and could easily contact the author. Once my trailer was on YouTube it could be shared with many people as it was online and it meant that audiences could access it on their phone, laptops and tablets if they wanted to, giving them extra options and also meant they could share the link to others they knew by message and by social media like Twitter and Facebook.

2.4. I also used Flickr to upload my images about the improvements I made on my trailer and I uploaded several of my screenshots which showed this. Using this photo uploader was helpful as I needed a platform to upload several of my images and the website was easy to use and upload and I could create as many albums as I needed.

2.5. For my ancillary tasks, I used Adobe Photoshop to edit my images, although this was a challenge sometimes I found this useful as it edited my images the way I needed it to and made my images look professional. This is a professional software that most people use and most professional companies use too. I learnt there were many tools on Photoshop which helped enhance my images such as the 'spot healing brush' tool and the 'levels' filter. Using this software I could create real products that looked professional. It was not easy to use at first but as I went on and created my poster I got used to the main tools. Most professional images are edited using Photoshop and so it gave me a real insight as to what and how real products are made.

2.6. For my test shots for my magazine and poster I used SmugMug and Photosnack to upload various images that I tried to edit, I uploaded my contact sheets, images that didn't work and layouts that I had tested and designed.

2.7. I used TubeSnack and PicCollage to upload my construction and editing processes of my magazine and poster. I used PicCollage which was easy to use which allowed me to upload my screenshots and add text with it. TubeSnack allowed me to create my own videos and upload them using it's software.

2.8. I used PollEverywhere and SurveyMaker to create questionnaires for audiences to choose my final poster and magazine. Without this, I wouldn't have been able to have had a final decision audiences would like. The surveys allowed me to send them to anyone, anywhere.

3. EVALUATION STAGES

3.1. During my evaluation stages, I used MindMeister (to create a brainstorm of all the different ideas), Animoto, Glogster and Slides. Slides was a unique way to present my ideas and allowed me to import media. Animoto allowed me to create a slideshow of my ideas to evaluation question two and allowed me to present my work in a fun and interesting way. Mindmeister was helpful because I got to present my question in a visually appealing way and it was different to other platforms I have used because it allowed me to create my own brainstorm in freeform. I only used Glogster once throughout my blog and this has been effective as using this once meant that I could use and try out other platforms that are available instead of using the same one again and again. I stretched myself to use more platforms and to learn how to use different platforms as they are not all the same. I could present my work in different layouts, I could present it in a survey, mind map, as a video or presentation.

4. During my coursework, I used many different media platforms which helped me develop skills with online platforms I wasn't familiar with and allowed me to present my work creatively. For example, using platforms such as YouTube and SurveyMonkey was vital in order to reach audiences and so the products I had created work efficiently. Using the platforms was helpful to present my work visually and to present my findings in a unique way. I have progressed from AS as I only used to use platforms like Prezi, Emaze, SurveyMonkey and Glogster but now have found there are a variety of platforms similar to them. I have used more platforms which I am now familiar with and have seen there are so many different types of platforms for mind maps, videos, photos and surveys and how these can be utilised.

5. RESEARCH AND PLANNING STAGES

5.1. During my research and planning for my ancillary and main tasks I used various media technologies such as Surveymonkey, Easel.ly, Pinterest, Canva, Piktochart, Padlet, Emaze, Prezi, Powtoon, Vimeo, Slides, SlideSnack, Genial.ly, SimpleBooklet, Visme, HaikuDeck, Slideshare, FlipSnack, Pixton and Joomag. SurveyMonkey was used to create questionnaires about my ancillary and main task and was helpful as it meant I could ask many questions to audiences and could send the link anywhere. Easel.ly allowed me to analyse my data and use different infographics. Pinterest was helpful as I could choose many clothes and create a moodboard easily. Canva, Piktochart, Emaze, SimpleBooklet, SlideSnack, Joomag, SlideShare, HaikuDeck, Powtoon, Slides, Prezi, Swipe and Flipsnack allowed me to create videos, presentations and posters so I could present my work in a creative way. Padlet was helpful in order to receive feedback from audiences and allowed them to collaborate. I created a storyboard on Pixton which allowed me to demonstrate what my trailer would look like and I could add colours and different costumes to see what it would visually look like. I used Twitter and Facebook to send my surveys out to attract wider audiences. I used Sutori to create a timeline of trailers and this was useful as I could add my research and images in to see how it has developed overtime. Using different platforms has allowed me to use different ways to present my work and is helpful if I need to use it later. The software online on these websites are similar to softwares that can be downloaded onto computers. Using these platforms I could use moving image and use different layouts instead of using paragraphs and paragraphs of writing from Powerpoint which would be more dull.

6. Using Weebly as the website for my blog was helpful because it was clear and easy to use. It was easy to put my work into stages and in order and I could later move my work up or down the blog later if I needed to. I liked how if I needed to view my blog on my phone I could as it allows people to use it on different platforms. I could also create headings to keep my work organised and put my different stages such as evaluation and research and planning in clear headers and in different sections. Adding writing to add to my work from my presentation was simple and is clear to read. If I needed to add something I just had to drag and drop it into the area I wanted. I was able to embed using this website which was beneficial as I had created loads and loads of presentations and other work using various media platforms and so I could express my work clearly and creatively. I am more confident using the blog this year after having used it also at AS level to keep a log of my work and what I had completed.

7. Using SurveyMonkey helped me keep in touch with audiences as most things are online and so audiences for my trailer, poster and magazine are online and my target audience is teenagers who would be online a lot. The survey had easy navigation for audiences and was easy to use as the boxes and layouts were already ready to use. I could also send out my survey easily as it could be accessed on most platforms. Creating an online survey allowed me to share it on social media to a wider audience and the participants of my survey could also send out the survey to people they knew.