Evaluation - Question 6

Q6. What have you learnt about the technology from the process of constructing this product?

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Whilst participating in the preliminary task and creating my opening thriller I used a variety of technology. This included software such as Final Cut Express, After Effects, Garage Band, Slideshare and others. I used this software to create various sections of my thriller opening such as music and titles.

I used Final Cut Express to edit my thriller opening footage. I found this software easy to use and found editing a success. However, I found it difficult at times, when trying to put them in a timeline as my footage would often get cut without intention. The advantage of using Final Cut Express is that I was able to put my edited footage, soundtrack and also titles together to create my thriller opening. I learnt cut my footage when creating my thriller opening. I used this technique when cutting my footage to make it come together correctly; this technique was useful because it enabled me to cut out footage I didn’t want and then join it to other footage for it to come together well.  I also learnt how to edit my audio as I was able to turn off sound that was made during my footage, so when I added my music track, the music only was heard. I added effects such as ‘dissolve’ to parts of my footage. I used this pieces of footage were put together with a dissolve effect, which made them connect together so the film footage would run smoothly.

I used After Effects to produce my titles. I used After Effects instead of Final Cut Pro because this software consisted of motion graphics and visual effects; also this software is more suited for editing, and consists of many/various tools which enabled me to carry out tasks when producing my thriller opening. It was also easier to use After Effects because it hid/displayed the layers well, in a way which made it easier for me to get from one layer to another.

I found creating these an easy procedure and enjoyed adding ‘effects and presets’ to my text to make it move or even look different. An advantage of using this software is that I could add and use a variety of different effects to my text which helped me create a sense of drama and tension to help me explore the thriller conventions. A disadvantage of this software is that I found getting the right timing for my effects to begin and finish difficult. An advantage of using this software is that I could copy my titles then add a new composition and paste it; this made the procedure of creating my titles quicker and simpler.

I used Garage Band to create my music. I found this process fun, enjoyable and really easy. The layout of the software enabled me to navigate around the programme easily and choose my genres and instruments easily, therefore this was an advantage. Another advantage is that it was easy to lengthen my music tabs, instead of having to add more. Keeping my music repetitive was an advantage because it would enable my audience to acknowledge the mood of my media product, and therefore gain a sense of the genre of my thriller opening. A disadvantage of this software is that I found it hard to see the length of my music track as it didn’t show timing (in seconds or minutes) but measured bars and beats instead.

I used Slideshare to upload my presentations such as my proposal and get the embed code so I could put it on to my blog. A disadvantage of this software is that I found it difficult to find how I could upload the presentation and then get the embed code. However, and advantage of using this software is that it uploaded the presentation very quickly and of good quality.

In the beginning I was unable to use a Mac computer, however now I am very aware of the different and variety of software’s it consists of and how they work. As the Macs were different from computers I usually use. I found it difficult at first to use and navigate around the software. However, now I am quite confident when using the Macs. I found that they were very useful when producing my thriller opening. I used a Mac to create my media product rather than a PC because the Mac’s had more software and programme’s which were useful to me, such as; Final Cut Pro, Garage Band and After Effects. The Mac was more useful then PC’s because the quality of it enabled me to see my thriller opening in high quality along with the high quality cameras. This source of technology also allowed me to put as much footage as I wanted on the Mac computer, as it held a lot because of its storage, also when uploading my footage it didn’t take a long time to load.

Physically producing my thriller opening, I used two video recorders, a tripod, a white backdrop and studio spot lights, and I found that they were both good quality. The first video recorder I used when shooting outside using the daylight as light. I found this camera easy to handle as it was small and simple. However, the second video recorder was of higher quality and I used this camera when shooting in the studio with the white backdrop and spot lights. I found it made much of a difference and also added a sense of professional filming to my thriller opening as the lights and white backdrop together made it look better than the natural daylight. The lights in the studio enabled me to emphasise my female character’s feelings and emotions by exaggerating and using the lights to emphasise her face.

I used Google to research the location of my thriller opening, along with Youtube which I used to upload my thriller opening and also research on other thriller openings. Also, I used Blogger to contain my coursework along the way of producing my media product.