EVALUATION QUESTION 4How did you use media technologies in the construction

and research, planning and evaluation stages?

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PRE-DIGITAL AGEBefore digital technology was fully developed and available to the masses, the overall production process of a film would use analogue technology. Some examples of these processes are:

•Filming and cutting using physical film; expensive as it required special equipment such as a Moviola, therefore limited only to production companies.

•Exhibition was also limited, films were limited as to which cinemas they could be exhibited due to large distribution costs and limited film.

•‘Heritage Marketing’ was used to advertise films, using analogue advertisements such as posters, or television adverts, unable to market on a global scale.

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INTRODUCTION• Thanks to advancements in digital technology, the entire process

creating of my advanced portfolio has been made much easier.

• Digital technologies have played a major role in the research, planning, production and post-production of my main product and ancillary texts.

• Advancements such as Web 2.0 have allowed me to easily distribute and exhibit the work I have produced for free and on a global scale.

• I have used various software and internet programs which have been extremely useful for the various stages of my coursework.

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STAGE 1: RESEARCHFor the research section of my coursework, I primarily used presentation software to display my research in a more visually interesting way than just plain text. The software I used was:

•Prezi (Internet presentation software)

•Keynote (Presentation software)

•Grab (Screenshot software)

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RESEARCH: PREZIWhat is Prezi? - Prezi is an internet programme used to create presentations. Prezi uses animations to move between areas of information and images, rather than conventional

slides.How did I use Prezi? - I used Prezi as a way of presenting my research. I used Prezi’s unique layout tools to display my information in a logical layout, and used the animations to switch between different topics. Below is an image of the overall presentation layout. The software changes the view to different areas of the presentation in a specified order. I also used it a later on in post-production, as its layout tools and features were suitable for making a post-

production workflow/pipeline.

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RESEARCH: PREZIEvaluation of

Prezi is a great way to present information, as its interesting layout presets and unique animations can be used to present information efficiently and keep the interest of the viewer. Its intuitive interface makes it easy to learn how to use,

and it provides a great variety of preset presentations. It also takes advantage of being an website based programme, as it allows the user to access their presentations on any computer with an internet connection. This is a key

improvement on software based presentation programmes, which require a file in order to edit or view a presentation. It also allows me to embed the

presentation onto my blog for viewing. Prezi does, however, take more time than usual to create presentations.

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RESEARCH: KEYNOTEWhat is Keynote? - Keynote is a piece of presentation creation software

exclusively for apple computers, essentially the apple equivalent of Microsoft Powerpoint. It uses the conventional slide-by-slide presentation model.

How did I use Keynote? - I used Keynote as another way of presenting my research. I chose keynote over other similar softwares because I preferred the more simplistic and professional presentation designs, plus the advanced design tools located in the ‘inspector tab’. This allowed me to layout my information in a way thats easy to digest. Keynote also has a record function, where you can record you presentation, with or without a voice over, and export it as a video.

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RESEARCH: KEYNOTEEvaluation of Keynote

Keynote provides some unique presentation features and a good selection of well designed presets. Its record function provides a great

way of presenting information using a video and voiceover. Unfortunately keynote does lack some basic features such as text

wrap, and is only available on apple computers. On top of this, it uses its own presentation file format which is not compatible with other

softwares. However, it can read the majority of other presentation file types, and created presentations can be exported in more compatible

file types.

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RESEARCH: GRABWhat is Grab? - Grab is a piece of free apple software which can be used to

take screenshots of whatever is on your screen.

How did I use Grab? - I used grab to take screenshots of various video clips on youtube that I was analyzing as part of my research. I used the ‘selection’ function

to specifically capture only the video box on the youtube website page the video was located on. I did this so that I could upload the images and integrate

them into my analysis, to give evidence to my points I made in the analysis.

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RESEARCH: GRABEvaluation of Grab

Grab is a highly useful piece of software for taking all kinds of screenshots. It might be lacking a UI, however its simplicity is what makes it user friendly, and it provides enough options to get the right kind of screenshot. It

does, however, not have enough preferences to change settings like resolution or image quality, requiring some

images to be edited after being taken.

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STAGE 2: PRE-PRODUCTIONThe pre-production section of my coursework mostly consisted of creating documents such as shot-lists, storyboard, scripts etc. In this section I conveyed my initial concept and created visual representations of the outcome of my film. I also created various organizational documents in order to make the production section of the coursework run smoothly. I did this by primarily using two digital softwares:

•Pages (word processor)

•Scribd (document uploader)

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PRE-PRODUCTION: PAGESWhat is Pages? - Pages is a word processor software, exclusively for apple computers. Pages provides lots of features, guidelines and presets to create

professional looking documents, wether it be a CV or subject report.

How did I use Pages? - I used pages to create all of my pre-production documents; scripts, shot-lists, call sheets, prop list and risk assessment. I used

pages instead of other similar softwares because it came with some easy to use presets of different documents used in filmmaking, such as a screenplay preset.

The presets had built in paragraph and character styles based on the document I was creating. For example, this would allow me to switch between writing an

action paragraph to a character name paragraph in my screenplay with the click of a button, without having to capitalize or center the text. I could also create my own paragraph style presets, so that when I was making various shot-lists each

one had the same layout and style.

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PRE-PRODUCTION: PAGES

1. Using paragraph styles function. 2. Using the inspector to create custom tables for my shot list.

How did I use Pages? - Example functions

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PRE-PRODUCTION: PAGESEvaluation of Pages

I found pages a great piece of software to design and create my pre-production documents. The software provides a number of excellent features implemented to help design my

documents. It also was compatible with all types of word processing documents. I found the paragraph style’s feature particularly useful as it meant I didn't have to keep changing small

setting such as font or character size; I could input my own presets into the program to save time. I also found the screenplay preset very useful, as it allowed to me to produce a fairly

accurate screenplay without any prior knowledge to their layout. I did find some of the more useful and creative functions of the program were not easy to find, as the main user interface was fairly minimalistic and only displayed the essentials. This meant I had to learn my way around the software before using it, making it not as user friendly as other similar

softwares.

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PRE-PRODUCTION: SCRIBDWhat is Scribd? - Scribd is an online program which allows the user to upload and organise various word processing documents, as well as embed them onto

other websites.

How did I use Scribd? - I used Scribd to not only upload my pre-production documents onto my blog, but to distribute them to my group members and actors. This is an example of how digital technologies have changed the film

making process. Originally documents such as scripts and shot lists would have to be printed and distributed physically to all members of a film crew. With

scribd, I can distribute my documents to my crew without with ease using the internet. I also used scribd sometimes when on set, to bring up a shot list on my

smartphone instead of printing it off. Scribd also allows me to embed my documents onto my blog.

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PRE-PRODUCTION: SCRIBD

1.My Scribd library, where my uploaded documents are organised. 2. An embedded Scribd document

on my blog.

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PRE-PRODUCTION: SCRIBDEvaluation of

Scribd is a great online tool for uploading and distributing word process documents. It was easy to use and free, requiring only a login. It made

distributing documents amongst my team much easier and saved wasting time printing or doing things by hand. I did find two issues with

the service though. Firstly, when uploading word documents it can sometimes automatically change the layout and fonts of the text. This can be solved by uploading the file in the PDF format. The embedder

can also sometimes be faulty, occasionally failing to display the document. Overall, the online software was very useful and made the

process of pre-production much simpler.

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STAGE 3: PRODUCTIONFor the production section of the coursework, I mainly used media technology in the form of hardware. I used a digital SLR (DSLR for short) to capture my film in a digital format, saving it onto an SD card. Using a DSLR was useful as it allowed me to get a professional look on a tight budget, due to its large sensor and interchangeable lenses.

By using a digital format I could easily move the video files between storage devices, and easily import them into editing softwares.

Digital filmmaking has allowed independent filmmakers like me to be able to create professional looking films without the need of expensive equipment such as film reels and film cameras.

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STAGE 4: POST-PRODUCTIONThe post-production section of my coursework consisted of two parts; editing, and distributing. For this I primarily used software and web 2.0. The media technologies I used were:

•Final Cut (editing software)

•Adobe After Effects (compositing software)

•Youtube (video sharing website)

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POST PRODUCTION: FINAL CUT

What is Final Cut? - Final cut is an industry standard film editing software, exclusive to apple computers. Unlike most editing softwares, final cut offers variety of advanced tools for both video and audio editing

How did I use Final Cut? - I used final cut as my primary editor for the video and audio in my film. I used it the software to:•Organise my footage•Edit my footage•Colour correct my footage•Edit my audio•Add sound effects•Export my edited footage as a final film

I chose Final Cut because it has a user friendly interface, and provides all the tools I need to edit my film. Functions such as the ‘match colour’ were extremely useful in making the cinematography and colour of my film consistent throughout. The sound editing tools were also very useful in cleaning up my sound and syncing any sound effects to the action on screen.

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In the industry, sound editing and colour correction would usually be edited in a separate program, however, since our film was an independent film and I was the only one editing the film, using Final Cut to perform these tasks was a more efficient and easy way of editing the film.

Digital softwares such as Final Cut have replaced the former analogue technology for editing film, now that digital filmmaking has been developed. This has allowed independent filmmakers like me to be able to get professional results without needing expensive equipment.

POST PRODUCTION: FINAL CUT

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POST PRODUCTION: FINAL CUT

Evaluation of Final Cut

Final cut has been vital to the editing process of this film, and has helped improve the quality of the outcome. It has a user friendly interface and intuitive design so that even the more advanced

features are easy to find and implement. The software does however crash a lot, and can be very slow when dealing with large amounts of

footage, resulting the editing stage being longer than it could have been. Overall Final Cut is probably the most important software I

have used throughout the coursework; it has a great range of features, and it has helped improve the audio from its original state.

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POST PRODUCTION: ADOBE AFTER EFFECTS

What is Adobe After Effects? - Adobe after effects is a professional VFX software. It has a huge number of effects plugins (both built in and third party)

and is used primarily for compositing.

How did I use Adobe After Effects? - I used Adobe After Effects to composite my footage with other keyed assets, such as muzzle flashes. I also used it with a third part plugin to create the CGI Planes in the third scene. I used Adobe After

Effects because I had the most previous experience with the program above other similar softwares. Visual effects have become a vital part of production in

modern films, opening up the possibilities of what can be achieved in filmmaking. VFX are not as conventional to be used in a short film because of

low budgets, however due to advancements in digital technology, programs and learning tutorials have been made accessible by anyone with an internet

connection.

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POST PRODUCTION: ADOBE AFTER EFFECTS

Evaluation of Adobe After Effects

Adobe after effects is a great, well designed program capable of a lot of different effect solutions. The software can be very complicated,

however there are lots of online tutorials to help you to learn the program. It has a great range of output resolutions and codecs, and in my case was easy and quick to use when adding pre-keyed footage on

to my film.

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POST PRODUCTION: YOUTUBE

What is Youtube? -Youtube is a online video hosting and sharing website, which allows the user to upload their video content to be displayed worldwide.

How did I use Youtube? - I used youtube to upload and distribute my rough cut and final film. Using youtube I can upload and organise my videos, add details and adjust settings, distribute my world wide and receive feedback from the comments section. Youtube is a great example of how the film industry has changed, nowadays filmmakers can use websites like youtube to distribute their films worldwide for free.

I also used youtube for target audience research. Youtube allows users to look at what percentage of various demographics make up their film’s views. This way I can see what age group is watching my video and judge if the film is attracting the desired audience.

I also used Youtube's comment section for feedback, by allowing users to comment on the video with their opinions and critique.

I used Youtube's annotation feature for my evaluation section, as It provided me with the tools to effectively communicate with the viewer through both text and visuals.

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POST PRODUCTION: YOUTUBE

Youtube is a very easy to use, with an intuitive design and simple well laid-out features. It is very easy for anyone to

upload and distribute their content worldwide for free, and allows users to make their video private if they wish to do so. The uploader does take a long time, and can sometimes fail to upload due to an unspecified error. Whilst Youtube does allow HD uploading, it still reduces the quality of the

uploaded video in order to optimise online playback. Overall, Youtube provides an excellent service and a

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STAGE 5: ANCILLARY PRODUCTS

For making my ancillary products I mainly used photos editing software and the internet to sourced images and assets I needed to create my poster and magazine. The main software I used was:

•Adobe Photoshop (Photo editing software)

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ANCILLARY PRODUCTS: PHOTOSHOP

What is Adobe Photoshop? - Adobe Photoshop is a graphics editing program, which allows users to create, manipulate and transform images and graphic

designs. It is used in the professional industry to create all sorts of products, such as feature film posters or company logos.

How did I use Adobe Photoshop? - I used Adobe photoshop to adjust my photo’s and screenshot’s, and composite various images and elements to create my Final Poster and Magazine design. I used all sorts of tools to bring together

my compositions, from the ‘magic lasso tool’ for selecting areas of photos to the ‘Curves’ colour correction adjuster. I imported font typed of the internet, and used the assortment of character and paragraph settings to alter the titles and text to my liking. Overall I created two professional looking ancillary texts by

utilizing the vast range of tools the program has to offer.

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ANCILLARY PRODUCTS: PHOTOSHOPOverview of Photoshop

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ANCILLARY PRODUCTS: PHOTOSHOP

Evaluation of Photoshop

Photoshop is a well designed software capable of creating complex designs and fantastic photos. At first it can be complicated to use, but easy to pick up thanks to online tutorials. The software runs on both OS X and Windows, so projects can be switched between both without any difficulty. The program

was particularly useful in clearing up and correcting problems with my images and screenshots. Another benefit for me was that the program offered lots of options for organising all my various layers on my poster project, which increased the efficiency and speed of my work. Overall

Photoshop is a fantastic program, and when fully utilised can have some amazing outcomes.

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STAGE 6: EVALUATIONWhen completing the evaluation section of my coursework, I used most of the same presentation software I had previously used in the research section of my blog. I tried to use as much variety of digital medias to effectively communicate my answers. The softwares I used were:

•Slideshare (presentation hosting website)

•Keynote (Presentation Software

•Prezi (Internet Presentation Sofware

•Youtube (video sharing website)

Since I have already evaluated three of the four technologies I used, I will only be evaluating Slideshare.

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EVALUATION: SLIDESHAREWhat is Slideshare? - Slideshare is a internet software service which allows users

to upload presentations onto the website to then be viewed online either publicly or privately.

How did I use Slideshare? - I used Slideshare to upload my presentations (created using keynote) and distribute my research online. I chose

Slideshare because it was the most used internet service of its kind and required only a short time

to create an account. Using Slideshare is very simple and allows me to share my presentation with my group and embed them in my blog. Like

youtube, it allows me to distribute content worldwide. It has a uploads page that help

organise and tag your presentations that have been uploaded.

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EVALUATION: SLIDESHAREEvaluation of

Slideshare is a very useful tool for uploading my presentations onto the internet and display them on my blog. However, it only works with a

limited amount of presentation file types, the most common being pdf and ppt. It is not compatible with the Keynote presentation file,

requiring a conversion which can alter the presentation itself. I found that by exporting the presentation as a pdf I could get around this

issue, but I think Slideshare needs to compatible with more file types. On the whole, the service Slideshare provide is excellent, and provided

an easy way to distribute my content on my blog.

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