During the whole process of constructing my A2 media studies coursework I have used various different programmes, software and media technologies. These include:
• Blogger
• Scribd social publishing
• iMovie 09
• GarageBand 09
• Word 2011
• Photoshop
• Photo FX Ultra
• YouTube
• Search Engines
• DV Camcorder – SD Filming
• SLR Digital Camera
• Photo Mess
• Mac Computer
• MacBook Pro
• Apple iPad
To play host to all of our media coursework we used a well-known site called Blogger. This website allowed me to create my very own blog/ web page where I could upload and share with the web my production process. Blogger allowed me to do various things. Firstly I had to create my blog which means fully understanding the website and how to create a new blog. I added a theme and personalised my blog to make it easier to read and understand. After I had created my own blog I then began blogging my production process. There are various ways in which I did this. Mainly I typed a new blog entry, edit the font and style and then post it to my site. Also I uploaded images and videos to my blog showing I understand how to use all the tools available from blogger. In conjunction with blogger I also used Scribd to publish my word 2011 documents. Scribd is a website that converts simple word documents to a URL encoder. This then allowed me to imbed my documents into a new post. By doing this is shows that I can incorporate two new media technologies together effectively.
Another media technique that I used was the use of search engines such as Google, IMDB.com and Wikipedia. This technique was mainly used within the research phase of production as it allowed me to gain insight into existing horror media products. I found out about horror directors, casts and marketing strategies, all of which directly helped in developing my own trailer and ancillary text. I found using these search engines quick and easy to use. I was able to access information a lot quicker than using paper material like books. Through these search engines I used various different websites to help also. One of these websites was the video sharing sight YouTube. This site is home to thousands of different horror movie trailers which can be viewed simply and quickly. I used YouTube to evaluate existing media products in the research phase of my production. The ease I which I could do this meant I could complete my research process without it taking too much time.
The main media software that I used to construct my movie trailer was iMovie 09 which is software loaded on an Apple MacBook pro. IMovie is perfect for video editing and construction. Before we could upload our footage we needed to film it and to do this we used Sony DV camcorders. These cameras are light and versatile to enable filming in any circumstances. When filming I also adjusted camera settings as some points to change focus or zoom to make sure we gained the required shot. One example of when I used this effect was within the candle shot of my trailer. I adjusted the focus of the camera to make sure that the candle was blurred whilst the rest of the room was clear to see. When filming was completed we then transferred the footage from the SD card compatible cameras onto iMovie. This process was made simple and quick by the advanced technologies of iMovie. When we had transferred the footage we then set about editing it. Within the software we arranged and clipped the shots to gain an initial time line. After that we then carefully edited each clip. iMovie allowed us to add clip effects , manipulate lighting and add titles . To add a soundtrack we opened the application GarageBand which is also a programme on a MacBook. GarageBand allowed me to create my trailers soundtrack quickly and simply. Through the programme I could mix and adjust the volume of songs, stingers and sound effects. For example through garage band I was able to add the heartbeat effect to my trailer and furthermore adjust its tempo and volume to mirror the similar change in shot transitions and clip size.
To help with the construction of my two ancillary texts I used two main programmes. These are Photoshop and Photo FX ultra. Firstly to take the images for our poster and magazine I used a SLR advanced digital camera which allowed me to take professional photos at the press of a button. The camera also supported a SD memory card which meant I could transfer the images from the camera to the MacBook and iPad easily. Firstly for image editing I used an application called Photo FX ultra on the iPad. This application allowed me to edit my photos and add various effects to them. It was on this programme that I affect for my poster and magazine front cover where added. When I had successfully edited the image I then used Photoshop to add text to the ancillary text. This was easily done gave our poster and magazine front cover the professional touch it required.
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