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1. BLOGGER
I used Blogger as a diary that was used throughout the planning, research, production and development of my soap trailer. Each blog post was used for us and our teachers to evaulate the progression. I used blogger for my AS project, so I was aware how to use it properly. As a group we would draft any work that was uncompleted to ensure we did not forget to complete it at a later date. We did not experience any issues with Blogger apart from the school computers running slowly.
2. PHOTOSHOP
Photoshop is an application that I had only used breifly before this year. I had minimal experience on how to edit photographs. However my group members had used Photoshop before which allowed me to gain knowledge on how to use it, as it was important to use Photoshop to produce my television guide cover along with images for our soap website. After gaining knowledge from group members I was able to create my cover successfully, along with editing images of characters for the website. I have now some confidence in Photoshop, I feel I could now create some successful images, however I need more practice to be able to create effects on pictures, as I am only aware on how to crop, resize, fill and add different text and colours onto an image.
3. YOUTUBE
Youtube was used in a large way during the planning and research of our soap trailer. We used Youtube to search for the Eastenders and Coronation street trailers which we then evaluated to decide what works well and what could have been improved. This research allowed us to make some important decisions regarding our own soap trailer. We also researched the Eastenders title sequence along with snipts from the Soap, to give us an idea of what narratives we can expect to see in a normal episode of a soap. We also used Youtube to upload our video onto in order to gain feedback on what worked well and what could be improved. Youtube was also used to add annotations regarding our final trailer, this proved difficult as we had not used the annotations feature successfully in AS. We had to watch some tutorials before beginning to use the function.
4. IMOVIE
iMovie was used to edit our trailer. At the start of the editing process, Sinthuja (editing manager) had some problems getting the hold of how the application worked. After taking out some research on the Mac website and tutiorals she was able to understand how to perform the basic tasks. However by the end of the editing process, Sinthuja had become a pro at using all the functions as was able to add transitions, sound, effects and images into our trailer. She also taught myself and Tamika how to use the program for future projects.
5. FACEBOOK
Facebook was very effective for us as a group as we were able to receive the maximum amount of feedback regarding our trailer from all facebook accounts. We all posted the video onto our account and recorded the feedback receive regarding our final trailer. We also found some images required for our television guide covers and websites. We were able to collect real images as opposed to false posed ones. Facebook was effective as the feedback receive will help us in the future when producing something. The only issues we faced was that Facebook is blocked from our school computers which meant that all feedback could only be collected after school hours.
6. JVC
A JVC camera was used to film the full trailer. We had use a JVC camera in our AS projects so we were able to understand how to use the camera well and its all functions. We liked this camera because it is small and adaptable to all different locations. We only experienced one issue with the camera which was that the sound microphone was faulty on the camera. However the sound still recorded, it just did not play through the camera but was fine on iMovie.
7. DIGITAL CAMERA
A digital camera was used by myself during the production stages of our trailer. A camera was taken onto set when filming and I was in charge of taking photographs during filming. The camera was also used to take images of all the cast and characters along with for the episode page on our website. The only issue I experienced with using a digital camera was that I could have taken more photographs than I did. I got carried away with directing the filming that at times I neglected taking photos.
8. TWITTER
Twitter was used to promote and advertise our trailer as well as receiving feedback on thoughts and feelings. I posted the trailer onto twitter and waited for any @ responses regarding the success or improvements that could be made. Using Twitter was a good idea because it allowed us to reach out to a different audience than on Facebook, as it is a different type of social network. Twitter is blocked at school which meant that any work on twitter had to be done at home or away from the school computers.
9. USB WIRE
A USB wire/fire wire was used to covert our video from the JVC camera onto the MAC computers. The wire also allowed us to convert images and videos recorded on the digital camera and iFlip. As we used the wire last year we did not experience any problems, which was good because we had great difficulty last year.
10. IFLIP
An iFlip camera was used to film our focus group meeting at the end of production. We decided to use an iFlip instead of the JVC camera as the iFlip cameras are small and good for quick filming as they can be uploaded very quickly onto the Mac computers. However after filming one focus group interview the camera failed which meant we lost the filming so we had to re-shoot the focus group interview before uploading it onto the Mac.
11. IWEB
iWeb is an application on Mac when I used to create our website for our soap. As my main home computer is a Mac, I have great knowledge on short-cuts and using basic designing material. I had no issues creating hyperlinks, uploading images, videos or adding tax into all the different pages. The production of our website went smoothly and was done at quite a quick speed. Although I had not used iWeb before, I picked up on it very quickly. The only issue I faced was adding games onto a page. I had no idea how to add games, however after taking out extensive research on the internet and watching tutorials I was able to finally add 3 games into the games page.
12. MONOPOD
A monopod was used whilst filming, the camera was put onto the monopod during certain parts of the filming. The monopod allowed Sinthuja to tilt the camera upwards. However we wanted a tripod instead but our media department was out of tripods. After watching some filming back which identified that the monopod made some of the shots stiff which resulted in us cutting some of these scenes out.
13. SOUNDJAY
Finding the correct music for our trailer was quite easy. Tamika was put in charge in finding the correct music. We used the London Grid For Learning last year which was good, however we find out very hard to use this year as the layout had changed. We used SoundJay as it was expressed as a copyright free music site. Tamika found the music relatively quickly. An issue was faced the time it took to find a copyright site. Tamika searched through many sites to find a real copyright free site.
14. WINDOWS
Within school most of the computers are use Microsoft Windows software, this allows myself and my group members to use the Windows software effectively as we are very familiar with it. We used the software to access our blogs, which we would regularly update in class after having group meetings and discussions. Issues that we faced would be that the Windows computers are quite slow compared to the macs which resulted in us taking slightly longer to make a post. All social networking sites are also blocked which meant all other research had to be done away from the Windows computers.
15. GOGGLE
Google was used throughout all research, planning and production for the trailer. Google was used to search for images for the evaluation task 1 along with the images for this task. It was used to locate icon images which I then added to the collage above. I also used Google when conducting my secondary research on Eastenders and other soap websites. This helped me when planning for our own website. I also screenshot images for the websites to stay in my memory. I have been using Google for many years and it is not blocked at school which lead to why I experienced no issues with it.
16. VIMEO
Vimeo was used to upload our video. We decided to upload our video onto Vimeo in order for audiences to view our new project. Vimeo took some time to upload the video which would be the only disadvantage for using this application.
To conclude, as a group we used many different media technologies whilst constructing, researching and planning our soap opera trailer. I was able to learn how to use new software and technology that I had no previous experience in. My knowledge on these software programs has progressed and I will take these skills on with me in the future to ensure that I can produce the best project in the future. I have gained many new skills which I am very happy about, I also have take into account all the issues that we faced as a group and I hope if I was to use this technology again that I would not experience such problems.
The image below shows how we used he different filming technology kit that was used throughout the filming process.
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IMAGE 1
This shows how Tamika used the storyboard produced by Sinthuja whilst filming. It was important for her to understand what shoots will be used as she had to film Sinthuja's scene. The storyboard explained to her what shots she needed to make in the particular scenes.
IMAGE 2
This picture shows myself looking at the storyboard before filming. I had to look at the storyboard before filming as I had to look in depth as where I should be framed. The storyboard explained to me where I would be in my scene and in what way I had to act. However looking back I would have prefered to analyse the storyboard before filming as it would have saved time if I was already fully aware of what I had to do before hand.
IMAGE 3
Next It was Sinthujas turn to have a double look at the storyboard that she produced as she had to familiarise herself with the shots and movements she must use throughout the filming process. However she also felt to improve she could have carefully looked through the storyboard before approaching the set as it would have saved them at allowed us to have extra time to film.
IMAGES 4 and 5
The next image represents Sinthuja's filming on the second day. She used a camera and a monopod to shoot the scenes outside and up high. However when shooting the scene of myself she did not require a monopod as the shot was still. Looking back we all understood that using a tripod would have been more useful as the monopod made some shots quite stiff which came apparent to us when looking back at our filming.
IMAGES 6 and 7
These images represent myself holding the camera equipment during the filming process. Although I did not film any of the final product, I experimented with the camera to see what the shots looked like. I filmed a short scene which enabled us to realise that my filming would be the best for our soap. However if we was to produce another project I would have ensured I had practice in filming to make sure I could film in the future.
IMAGES 8 and 9
These images show Tamikas contribution to the filming process of Lopen Road. Tamika shot a scene outside Michael's house before filming the whole of Sinthuja's scene inside. Tamika set up the camera outside as you can see from the images above. Tamika also felt she would have liked some extra practice in filming before filming the final product.
To conclude, we feel as a group we were very successful in filming the final product, we were also able to understand the success of the filming produced from our audience feedback regarding the final product. However as a group we discussed if we had the chance to film our trailer again we would have anaylsed our storyboard and production schedules well before entering the set to ensure we were all aware what we must produce in order to save time and give us addtional time to film. We also concluded that myself and Tamika would have needed extra experience and practise in using the camera equipment. The following post will access our final overall evaluation of our research, planning and production of trailer and the work relating the trailer.
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