Q6.

What have you learnt about technologies from the process of

constructing this product?

Recording coursework electronically

My AS Media coursework was recorded electronically on ‘BlogSpot’, which I found to be an extremely effective way of keeping an up- to- date portfolio of research and planning into the thriller genre. Not only did it allow me to safely store my work, as it is digital rather than physical, but it also allowed for ease of access, with me, the rest of my group members and my teacher being able to see my ideas at any given time. This experience has given me an insight into the great value that such process’ can have when collaborating as a group. When planning elements of our thriller opening ‘Homeless’, we were able to quickly share thoughts and ideas, as a result of being able to digitally submit planning, a process which would have been made far more complex with a physical paper folder. For example, our group was able to scan our storyboards directly onto our blogs, meaning that work could be compared and errors were quickly rectified, something which would have taken longer or would not have happened with individual physical coursework folders; teaching me that technologies allow for a more efficient process in the construction of a group project.

As well as allowing for flexibility, the electronic recording of coursework also has taught me of the benefits that technology can have when trying to present your research and findings. For example, when conducting research into the thriller genre, I found that services such as ‘Scribd’, ‘Slideshare’ and ‘Issuu’ were useful tools in providing me with a way of annotating images and screenshots in order to engage in close analysis. For example, when constructing a case study on ‘The Third Man’, the ability to upload a presentation with annotated screenshots of the film to my coursework portfolio meant that I could analyse minor details in regard to mise en scene, which was very valuable for future reference. As well as this, the use of embedding clips from video sharing platforms such as ‘YouTube’ gives me the opportunity to provide evidence which supports the points I make. For example, following my analysis of the fight scene in ‘The Bourne Identity’, I uploaded the very clip of that particular scene to my blog, which not only acted as good evidence to support my case study, but was also useful when returning to this post for inspiration for our own thriller opening; something which would have been more difficult if produced in a physical format. As a result, I have learnt that the use of recording coursework digitally on a blog allows for the process to be simplified greatly. An electronic blog allows for better organisation, as all of our work is found in one place. ‘YouTube’ clips which we use as evidence cannot possibly be stored in physical files, which means that we would either miss out on the opportunity to use them, or we would have to provide a written web URL link, which would become complicated, causing us to be less time efficient.

Conducting Research

Throughout the stages of constructing our thriller opening ‘Homeless’, technologies have been of great use in conducting research on the thriller genre, with internet sites such as ‘YouTube’ and ‘IMDb’ being of significantly great use in finding reliable information on thriller texts.

‘IMDb’ was a useful tool in allowing me to analyse films of the thriller genre, with access to general information on the plot line, names of cast members, reviews and audience demographics. For example, when analysing ‘The Interpreter’ I was able to provide information such as awards that the film had won in order to display my ability to engage in independent research, and as well as this I was even able to provide a quote from a user review to develop my analysis skills. From this experience, I am far greater aware of the large bank of information that internet sites such as ‘IMDb’ provide us with, which without, I would have been unable to engage in the case studies in as much depth as I did.

Planning

The use of technologies during the planning of our thriller production ‘Homeless’ allowed me to easily update my coursework portfolio regularly; for example, with the use of a digital camera, I was able to take shots of possible locations or practise camera angles ahead of shooting, and then upload them to my blog immediately afterwards. Digital cameras were of huge use to our group during the construction of our product, as it meant that stills could be rapidly shared with each other during the planning stages of our production, whereas the ability to upload them instantly to our coursework blogs allowed for quick feedback from our teacher in regard to whether our locations and proposed camera angles and shots were suitable, enabling efficient communication.

Collaborating with group members

During the stages of shooting our thriller opening, we ensured that all group members were easy to contact, in case of sudden changes to proposed plans. For example, we used mobile phones to contact one another on days of the shoot, and this proved useful when there were sudden changes to our meeting arrangements on our full day shoot. Due to the fact that we were easily contacted, any errors were avoided and we were unaffected by unforeseen circumstances. As well as this, we used the social media platform ‘Facebook’ to arrange shoots. The use of ‘Facebook’ was a useful tool in arranging dates and times with other group members as it allows us to be flexible in communicating with each other. For example, we were able to send each other messages via the site in our own time, opposed to meeting each other face to face, which involves prior arrangement and is very time consuming. Furthermore, ‘Facebook’ allows group members to update others in the case of a change in arrangements. For example, when one of our actors was unavailable for shooting, advising others of this change through ‘Facebook’ meant that the message was circulated quickly and any problems were avoided. As a result, I have learnt that the use of technology to contact others is vital when collaborating with a group of many members and in working as part of a team.

The Shoot

During the shoot, the use of a digital camera was vital to the success of our production. Recording our footage digitally meant that it could be easily reviewed, enabling us to effectively plan for future shoots, with the knowledge of the footage that we already had. For example, when shooting our cliff-hanger where Norma attacks Sam, the ability to review our footage soon after it had been taken allowed us to perfect a complicated scene. Furthermore, raw footage could then be passed on to our teacher, who was able to advise us further, meaning that on future shoots we had a good idea on what we should focus our time on, meaning that we were more time effective. From this, I have learnt that the use of digital recording equipment greatly contributes to the success of the shooting of a complex media product.

Editing

During editing of our thriller opening, we used ‘Premiere Pro’ editing software, a technology which assisted us greatly in the construction of our product. This editing programme allowed us to add numerous effects to our thriller opening, which in turn allowed us to emphasise the genre of our production. For example, the ability to use a cross fade between the clips of Sam finding somewhere to settle and Norma planning her attack allowed us to create tension and suspense in order to achieve a thrilling opening sequence, teaching me of the importance that an editing program plays in the construction of a media product. Furthermore, I found that the use of digital editing software when constructing our thriller opening held many advantages in the process of receiving peer and tutor feedback; a rough cut of our edit could be easily uploaded to our coursework blog, which made the process of evaluating and assessing our progress simple and time effective. For example, when we had roughly put together our thriller opening, I was able to identify the products weaknesses and put together a plan of what we were to do to combat these. For example, I felt that our chosen soundtrack did not suit the film’s gritty nature, and so in order to improve it’s appeal I noted that it should be replaced with the more suitable ‘Red Letter’. Without the use of such technology, we would not have been able to combat our weaknesses during the process in this way, and so our thriller opening may have failed to attract it’s target audience as a result, teaching me of the significance of such technologies during the editing process.