Question 6: What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this project?

In order to produce my project, I had to learn a range of different technologies which would help me during the pre-production, production and post-production phases of the process:




Blogger: 

I had to comprehend how to use the media blog, having had no previous experience, including understanding:

• how to create and publish posts
• import and upload photos
• embed video clips
• include links to other websites/resources

However, I could also create and publish posts using alternative methods, such as presenting my posts in prezi's. 

Blogging is an easier and much more practical method of detailing and preparing my coursework. It eliminated the need for folders and hand outs etc.

Internet:

I relied heavily on the internet during the pre-production phase. Search engines such as Google proved an imperative part in conducting research. In addition, websites such as Youtube were used to help during the planning stage.

For example, I used Youtube to help with the research into casting; I searched a clip of a famous actress's audition tape.

During the post-production stage when it came to editing my footage together, I used Freesound in order to accumulate the necessary sounds and music that we would include in our horror movie opening.

Freesound is a website where you can download sounds and music composed by other users for free, which we utilised greatly. Every sound and piece of music used in our opening was downloaded from Freesound.






Shooting and Cameras


During the preliminary task, we filmed using an iPad. However, we shot our project using a digital Canon Legria camera. Although we had a basic knowledge of using digital cameras, we still struggled with some aspects. For example, changing the focus and the lighting proved a challenge at times.





In addition, we also had a tripod to position the camera on top of and use. A problem we faced was constantly having to adjust the height of the tripod to each individual shot. Tracking shots could also not be achieved with the camera attached to the tripod, and the quality of a hand-held tracking shot was very poor.

Benefits of using a digital camera:

• can instantly re-watch footage that has just been recorded.
• better quality.
• wider range of features.

Editing Software

In order to effectively edit together and organise our footage, we used the editing software Adobe Premiere Pro. During the preliminary task, I edited using iMovie and only had limited experience with Premiere Pro where I had practice editing together a few pieces of footage, filmed by somebody else. 

Due to my lack of knowledge and understanding regarding the usage of the software, I learnt many new useful skills. For example, there were many effects and transitions that could be utilised such as fade to black.






We also learnt how to insert titles, including putting text over our existing footage and opening titles.









Overall, the different mediums and forms of technology that we learnt about during this process meant we established a greater connection and understanding of the film business. We are now aware of the extensive process necessary in order to make a film and have grasped how to use equipment used at each stage e.g. cameras and editing software.