Evaluation: Question 6

What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

To create our film, I used specific technologies to enhance both the process, and the overall end product.
During the coursework process, I used multiple formats for displaying information - text documents, Prezi presentations, vlogs (video blogs), and powerpoint.
Text documents were used in majority for the simple fact, that it is easier to read the raw information in a simple format, as opposed to having to click about and running the risk of missing information.
The process behind them is also very simple - one just has to write, or copy and paste into the text box provided, when one creates a new document in Blogger, and press ‘Publish’.
Prezis were regularly used as well. This is because they are aesthetically pleasing, and information in a visually interesting display, is generally easier to remember.
The process behind this, is as follows; create, save and exit the Prezi. On the page of the Prezi, press ‘Embed’, and then ‘Copy code to clipboard’.
Next, on a new Blogger document, press ‘HTML’, and paste the code provided there. Press publish and after adding any necessary text around the embedded Prezi, and all is done.
Vlogs worked well, as information is often easier to memorise information when someone is reading it to you. Also, considering we are making a film, it seemed fitting to make extra informational films - allowing for practise with the editing software. They were also fun to make, and I found that the incentive of making and editing a film, made me write the information faster, and get the work done quickly and enjoyably.
First, film oneself reading the information, next open in your video editing software of choice; I use iMovie.
Cut any lengthy pauses to create jump cuts - a technique often seen in this genre of film making. Then add titles, clips of film etc.
When finished editing, export film. Upload the exported film to YouTube. Then, on the video’s YouTube page, press ‘Share’, followed by ‘Embed’, and copy the code to clipboard.
After that, in a new Blogger document, press ‘HTML’, then paste the embed code there, and after and adding any text around the embedded video, ‘Publish’.
The Powerpoint was very tricky for me to use, since Macintosh systems don’t come with the programme - hence why I only used this format once.
I had to use Microsoft’s very slow, clumpy online version, which simply takes forever to make anything on. The editing tools are limited, and it’s at first difficult to actually get the final powerpoint onto the blog.
Once I worked out how, it was a simple case of finding the embed link, and pasting it into the ‘HTML’ section of a new document on Blogger.
I decided to just stick with Prezis, considering that they are effectively a more sophisticated version of powerpoint presentations.
There is also a storyboard on the blog. Firstly this was drawn up on A3 paper. Then scanned into a computer and the final .JPG image uploaded to the blog.
To upload an image to a Blogger document, press the ‘Insert Image’ icon to the top middle/right of the document, followed by ‘Choose files’, and select the images you require. Once they have finished loading, highlight the image necessary, and press ‘Add selected’.
The internet played a very quintessential role in the research for my coursework; for example I used websites such as YouTube, Wikipedia and IMDB regularly for a magnitude of reasons.
YouTube, being a vast resource with a massively eclectic mix of videos, was my main, and potentially only viewing platform for viewing and analysing clips from other media texts. It has the footage itself from films, but there are also informational videos about said clips - often providing me with insights into the makings of the film, or an alternate readings of hidden meanings.
The website also helped me to find the music for my film; searching for ‘Royalty Free Piano Music’, and then ‘Royalty Free Horror Music’, I was able to find two pieces of music - the first being ‘Gymnopedie No. 3’ by Erik Satie, and next ‘The Prestige’ by YouTube user ‘JosephPage’.
By searching ‘Royalty Free Deathcore’, and searching around a bit, the song ‘It’s Just A Metaphor’ by For The Freedom came up, and provided a heavy soundtrack to the end of my film. A film which uses a similar idea for the music, would be
Wikipedia is also a massive knowledge base, and provides incredibly in-depth information regarding almost anything imaginable. This meant that I could gain an insight into the characters in the films, and also could find out more about the process behind development, production, distribution and the reception of said films.
IMDB is a film database, which provides review, ratings, actor information, awards etc.
These reviews gave me an idea as to how film critics, casual watchers and everyone in between felt about the films, and quotes from them all.
The camera used was a ‘’. Due to it being a digital camera, it allowed us to review footage on the camera itself, transfer as multiple film formats to a computer, and it’s touchscreen, made navigation of files fairly easy.
The files are saved onto an SD card, which is slotted into a panel in the side of the camera. Once the footage is recorded, one can take the SD card out. My laptop (a MacBook Pro) has an SD card slot in the side, so therefore I could transfer the footage to iMovie very easily.
I used specific editing techniques and effects to enhance the quality and creativity of my film.
Transitions used were; Fade to black, Cross Dissolve and Fade to white.
The Fade to blacks - least frequently used - marked the end of one of the flashbacks, acting as a satisfying conclusion to the action, and opening another shot.
The cross dissolves were the most frequently used, and were implemented so regularly because they connote a sense of dreaminess.
The fade to whites were put at the beginning of the flashbacks. They also connote dreaminess, and memories of one’s past.
Using transitions, also prevented the overuse of jump cuts, which would’ve made the production seem choppy and wouldn’t have flowed so well.
The (royalty free) music was downloaded from YouTube, using the website ‘YouTube2mp3’, which downloads YouTube videos, and converts them to an .mp3 format - thus sending the file to iTunes.
iMovie connects to iTunes, and the song or sound is taken directly from there.
I also had to colour correct some of the footage, by changing the white balance, therefore making the footage it’s true colour, as opposed to slightly tinted blue. The flashbacks were in black and white, thus showing that they occurred in the past.
Throughout the film, I only used 1 font - Avenir, and it’s variants (Light, Medium and Black). This is because  it is very simplistic, but also a clean, modern looking font.