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

Research Stage• The majority of my research began with Google. It enabled me to search for everything I

needed; from artists to album covers it allowed me to find exactly what I needed quickly and selectively. I also used it to select location options, Google images allowed me to find the perfect scenery for each shot.

• YouTube was also a significant program in the research stage of my production; it allow me to understand conventions of pop/indie music videos (similar to Mausi) and gave me access to millions of professional and independent music videos.

• Itube is a music related iPhone app that gives suggestions based on artists that you have saved into your playlists. For example, after adding Mausi to my playlist it suggested that I listen to Kyla La Grange who followed a similar quirky theme as Mausi. I looked at her website and Instagram for image inspiration.

• I also used a lot of Microsoft Office programs throughout the research stage of my production. Microsoft Excel was used to create my production calendar, which gave my group and I a firm time scale to stick to, and Microsoft Word was used to create our audience questionnaire which we used to influence many aspects of our production. For example, my group and I gained a better understanding of what appeals to different age groups within a music video.

Planning Stage• Blogger has been my biggest help throughout research planning, construction and

evaluation. It has allowed me to store all my information in one place as well as publicise my work and track my progression through the A2 course.

• When planning, I created my production pitches using Microsoft PowerPoint, which was useful in helping me easily display ideas. I then uploaded these onto my blog using a website called Scribd.

Planning Stage• I also used Microsoft Excel and Word to create scene breakdowns, shot-lists

and schedules in order to organize my time effectively and know exactly what needed to be achieved in what time space.

• I have also used Word to make templates of storyboards so I could visualize the variety of shots I wanted.

• I used the camera on my iPhone to capture some location ideas as I passed through local grounds and pretty scenery, this was a helpful tool that I could communicate with to rest of my group.

• My group and I also used Facebook in order to contact Masui asking for their permission to use ‘Sol’ to eliminate any copyright issues.

Construction: Filming• My group and I used two different camera’s for our production; the main one we used

was a Flip Mino HD Camera as it was simplistic but produced good quality footage. It also fitted perfectly onto a Vivitar Tripod, which we used to steady and level all of our shots.

• Additionally, some shots were filmed on iPhone cameras, for example, our cloud shot

was filmed as Aine went to Ireland during the holidays.

Construction: Editing

• The main editing software that my group and I used was Serif Movie Plus. We decided to use this program because it’s what we used for our AS production and as a result we have a great understanding of its vast features. Serif Movie Plus enabled my group and I to: trim, speed up, slowdown, add treatment/effects, overlay, add transitions, readjust lighting and reorder shots.

• I also used Photoshop when it came to editing my own imagery that I have

used for both of my ancillary texts. I considered using the iPhone app Squaready but felt it lacked some features and didn't provide such a professional outcome.

• I also used ITunes to download my music track in good quality so I could upload it onto Serif.

Construction: Ancillary Texts• I used Wix to create my website (http://megansulley97.wix.com/mausi) because I felt

that it produce a sophisticated outcome and it was relatively simple and quick to understand all of it’s features.

• I created the images for both of my ancillary texts using my iPhone and then Photoshop to edit the exposure and effect on each image individually.

• I used Microsoft Word when making my DVD Cover as it’s an easy program to use and I could drag pictures and text onto the templates that I created very easily.

Evaluation • I have used PowerPoint, as you can see, which means I will also be using

Scribd again to upload this onto my blog.

• The main editing program that I have used for my evaluation questions is iMovie. iMovie has loads of great features such as the ability to record audio during the editing process, it has a detailed ‘trimming’ app and also allows you to add a variety of text, themes and effects over your shots.

• Furthermore, as a filming device I used the Photo Booth app on my MacBook as well as it easily linked up to iMovie when it came to editing.

• I also used Microsoft Word to create the Poll for my evaluation question 3.