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

• New technology has dramatically changed the way in which I’ve been able to plan, construct and evaluate my product. It has made my team and I more efficient and has helped us to create an exciting and far more exhilarating and effective product. Whether the technology used was through social media for communication and practical reasons through to the technology used for the actual design and creation of our product.

• One of the primary new media technologies we used was instant messaging. Firstly we harnessed the power of social media within our production company to ensure the team was organised and up to date with our product. Additionally, instant messaging was also helpful for the organisation of our cast. It was imperative we could communicate with our cast in a variety of different ways to ensure they remained happy and continued to want to take part.

• We created a messaging link with our all of actors to ensure they could film. We made it clear to them that despite the fact we were in charge, it was there decision as to when to film. We had to adapt in order to work around them as we needed to find a time which was most suited to them. We were able to discuss optimal times that could be used for filming as well what costumes and props that were necessary for the day of shooting. Through the huge change in technology, particularly on social media, we were made more accessible to our actors which was hugely beneficial and effective. Within our production company, we also made our own Facebook page. The Facebook page was private to just the four of us, so as that we could share what we had done with each other which was really useful as we were able to share digital work too. When shooting we also had to prepare for illness or lack of time for actor’s thus we needed stand in’s, which were then made permanent. For example, we originally planned for our main female part to go to a female outside of the school. We realised after one shooting session that this was only going to be inconvenient for both parties resulting in the team and I having to find someone more accessible. This was understandable and taken very well as, we as a team went the right way around telling the individual and she was very understanding. We were fortunate enough to let this actor know over text which showed how media technologies in the construction and planning stages of our production were used to great effect.

• This method was also carried over to the evaluation stage where I wanted to ask a focus group their opinions of the trailer. I uploaded my video onto YouTube and asked for some initial feedback from my friends. I then came up with a handful of questions that I was ready to ask my focus group in order to gain valuable information, criticism and positives from my product. Over social media, I was able to arrange a meeting time and place for this to take part. I feel that social media messaging was well utilised in the construction and research, planning and evaluation stages when creating my product and has been key to the success of my product.

• The other way I have utilised other media technologies in the different phases of my product is through the use of YouTube. With YouTube I have been able to watch other trailers, with similar to conventions of my own when planning my trailer. This included what text was going to be most appropriate as well as suitable actors needed. I looked at films such as Brick, a more dated neo-noir film and Batman, a far more modern neo-noir film for the construction of shot types. I was able to use the screen grab tool to use as images that I used to compare when finding perfect locations to film. This was beneficial during the planning stage as I was able to make my film look more convincing and professional purely by conforming to the most professional conventions used in other films of the similar genre. Video suggested, provided by YouTube also gave me a range and variety of other clips and films that I could watch that were of the same genre that I was looking to emulate, neo noir. I was able to learn from professional films which was hugely beneficial for not only myself but also my team as I was then able to share this with them. During the evaluation stage, YouTube has been really useful when finding out the audience demographics that have viewed the trailer, as well as what platform they are watching the trailer from, again through social networking sites.

• In addition, I also learnt and used a DSLR camera, with a variety of different lens’ that were going to be most appropriate when filming our trailer. With the aid of tutorials online as well as teaching myself, I was able to use the DSLR correctly when filming my trailer. This was important when constructing my trailer as I needed to film the correct shots, with a suitable aperture and ISO. This media technology was used to full affect when planning as we had to see how best to film, such as moving shots. We used the camera to film the entirety of our trailer as well as to take images for the trailer and magazine front cover during our construction stage too.

• Adobe Premiere and Sony Vegas were the two editing programmes we used to edit our trailer appropriately. We looked to match conventions of other trailers to make our trailer look as professional as possible. Having already had prior experience with Premiere we were able to easily construct a basic trailer. The further effects of Sony Vegas enabled us to secure a professional spin on the trailer by editing pace, colour and using strobe lighting effects. We used Premiere early in the year when constructing our own trailer from a ‘Film Noir’ film. This gave me valuable experience in the research and planning stages of my own trailer as well how to construct a trailer. It was also used during the evaluative stages as there were minor changes needed to be made so the two programmes were easily accessible to the group and I.

• Finally, when planning the trailer is was important to take into account the different variables that might occur and affect my trailer. Most importantly of which was the weather. Using a variety of weather apps I was able to ensure the day of filming had appropriate weather to what we were looking for. Despite this only being a minor piece of media technology used during constructing and planning, it was necessary as it could have had a big impact on the final product.

• In conclusion, I feel we have definitely used new media technologies to great effect during the construction and research, planning and evaluation stages as well as to create our products. We have used, learnt and developed the skills of different technologies that have made our trailer the best quality possible as well as to fit the criteria that was deemed necessary.