Evaluation Question 4

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

First of all, through the use of blogger, this enabled me to clearly state, plan and execute my intentions of my documentary. This media platform was utilised throughout the production (pre and post) as I created various blogs regarding my documentary; ranging from analysis’ and audience research to storyboarding and scripting. Take a look:

http://pariscowleya2media2016.blogspot.co.uk/2016/10/analysis-of-documentary_31.html
http://pariscowleya2media2016.blogspot.co.uk/2016/10/tribes-script-finished-product.html

The blogging was also a form of continuously updating my progress in order to maintain maximum efficiency and keep track of all the work and organisation required.

Throughout the planning and research stage of this process blogger was the main focus and body of pre – production. It encouraged me to thoroughly plan for my documentary. The purpose of the planning stage was to take on board ideas and concepts of real documentaries and apply that new knowledge to your documentary. I feel the most important research blog was everything completed regarding conventions, generic conventions and conventional aspects.

This gave me an incredible insight into what makes a good, relatable and purposeful documentary. As a result, this enabled me to construct the documentary to the best of my ability and receive an A grade for my hard work and dedication to the cause. An example of where generic conventions were implemented and embedded within the narrative of my documentary was: the Vox Pop element.

via GIPHY

Not only that but the conduction of interviews and interview techniques that came with it.

Consequently, from this research, the desire to learn more increased and encouraged me to research into audiences and what audiences expect. I concluded the research I must conduct must be in the form of a description of my target audience in order to provide this demographic with what they want. Here is just one aspect of the description of my particular target audience:

Podcast.

Another purpose for the media technology usage of blogger was in the form of planning for my documentary. These types of blogs included, shot lists, location recces, equipment lists etc. This planning stage of my coursework demonstrated through blogger and blogging played a crucial part in the construction of my documentary because without it, there would be no sense of direction or clarity in relation to my documentary.  

Therefore, through utilising the media technological platform of blogger, this enabled me to create a success of my overall documentary. In addition, blogger allowed me to express not only my good news but also my concerns throughout the production stage of this process. During the production of this vigorous process, blogger enabled me to blog regular updates regarding the situation of my documentary. These updates aided me in my quest to either amend the concerns or strengthen the positive aspects. The reason for this is because my very patient teacher gave me suggestions to fix the problem or encourage success – through the use of blogger.

Podcast.

Furthermore, blogger is being utilised for the evaluation of my documentary as well, as I will be uploading this question to my blogger. In a way, this is indeed a blog in itself! Thus, blogger was a significant use of media technology that in actual fact, it was the foundation and cornerstone for my entire documentary.

Another form of digital media technology that I used for the planning and evaluation stages was a website known as ‘Scribd’. Scribd, as a media technological platform enabled me to upload various documents to my blog and therefore was an important part of the research & planning and evaluation stages. It allowed me to upload documents such as, shooting schedule for the planning stage and for the evaluation stage.  Also, during the planning stage ‘Scribd’ enabled me to upload a PowerPoint to my blog. This was helpful as PowerPoint’s are a good way to illustrate clearly what you have to say. Therefore, another media technology I utilised was Scribd, which allowed unlocking the key for variation in my presentation of work.

One unconventional form of media technology that you wouldn’t necessarily expect to see when creating a documentary is the use of mobile phones. An example of when I used my phone in terms of the production of the actual documentary was when I recorded sound with it. The audio from the interviews was recorded on my mobile phone with headphones connected to gain a clearer and better sound quality. Although this wasn’t ideal, I used my initiative and created the best outcome out of a bad situation. Furthermore, my mobile phone was used throughout the planning stage as well. When blogging, I took high-resolution photos with my iPhone as it has an 8 megapixel lens which is just about good enough for a clear, good quality photo. Therefore, I used this piece of media technology in the planning and production stage of this process to such an extent it became crucial in the smooth running of things. Not only that but this mobile device was utilised in my evaluation questions too.

More devices that were the centre point of this process were Apple Macs. This physical form of media technology enabled me to execute my documentary to an extremely high standard. The Apple Macs at school came in handy throughout this process during my lessons, in which research was conducted and planning commenced. Without the Macs at school the pre – production stage would have been slacking in terms of organisation and planning for the production of the creation of my documentary. In addition, I own a MacBook Air myself and this was another essential element to the overall production process. Especially, during post – production, in fact all the editing was done on this Mac instead of the Macs at school, as I believed it would encourage efficiency and concentration.
As a result, the editing aspect is flawless; bringing the narrative to a smooth running and completion of the documentary executed to the highest possible standard expected of me.

Moreover, my MacBook Air was utilised as well for the ancillary tasks. The reason for this being the software and programmes on my Mac are, in my opinion, more professional and easier to use. Why wouldn’t I take advantage of this? Thus why Macs were utilised throughout the entire process and these media technologies were and still are an essential aspect – as I am sitting here typing on a Mac at this very moment in time!

Another form of media technology that I used in this process was a digital camera. The digital camera that was at our disposal was a Canon EOS 600D, a digital SLR compact system type of camera.
It is a very sophisticated device with class-leading 18-megapixel resolution, user friendly design and can be connected to a range of special, specified lenses if needed. This piece of technology was utilised throughout the production stage of our documentary, capturing everything with its high quality lens – shot majority by myself. This usage of the camera managed to keep the high paced camera movement steady and to a clear – cut standard of quality. In particular, the camera shots captured from the fast – moving Chelsea game were incredible. Especially when the mis-en-scene is moving at such a pace, that this media technology managed to stay parallel with the camera techniques used such as, pans and pull focuses in order to follow and keep up with the game! Therefore, through the utilisation of this piece of media technology allowed me to construct the production stage of this process.

via GIPHY

Once again, another form of media technology that was used throughout this process was the editing side of things.  This editing programme was not only exhausted in the post – production stage but believe it or not, in the pre – production stage as well.

This is indeed a form of media technology as the software exercised is known as Premier Pro.

Firstly, during the post – production stage of this process, this editing software was put to good use. I spent days using this software editing my documentary as I had the skills to do so. Take my use of the combination of an action match and a cross dissolve all in one motion as an example. I have created a GIF down below.  The aim of these techniques was to create a sense of atmosphere for the target audience and become engaged within that very moment of the documentary. As it doesn’t cut quickly it is plausible that it represents the past and that is exactly what it does represent! This is due to the fact that I was connoting Tribalism from a long time ago to help the demographic gain an insight into what the documentary was about.  

via GIPHY

Secondly, another time me and my group had used this form of media technology was during the pre – production period of the process. To be more precise, it occurred when conducting audience research during the research and planning stage of this process. We set up focus groups in order to act and apply that feedback to our documentary and as this was a type of blog it had to be edited. Again, it was edited on Premier Pro by me resulting in a nice looking focus group. Therefore, throughout the key stages of this production, this editing software – in terms of a media technology – was used.

Another form of media technology that was used throughout this process was digital photo manipulation programmes like Photoshop. I used this programme when I created my print advertisement poster regarding the promotion of my documentary. This ancillary task was hard enough as it was but through the utilisation of media technology, this enabled me to execute my print ad to a good standard. This was indeed part of the production stage of this process and this particular media technology was put to good use.

One form of media technology that I have used throughout this process but particularly during the research and planning was the search engine ‘Google’. This Internet site was predominately where I did my second hand research for my documentary, for instance: the ‘Research into the Documentary Process’. This form of media technology was essential to the research stage of this process.

Finally, another form of media technologies that were utilised throughout this process was social networking. The main platform of social media that I used was YouTube. I created a YouTube channel purely for this purpose in order to share videos related to this documentary and of course the documentary itself!
Therefore, this media technology was utilised to provide the documentary with potential to go viral! This in itself created plausibility to create a vortex of publicity for the documentary. Also, a FaceBook page was formed to accompany and aid this possibility. As a result, social networking is a crucial part to the production of my documentary.