WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNT ABOUT TECHNOLOGIES FROM THE PROCESS OF CONSTRUCTING THIS PRODUCT?

Question 6
AUDIO RESPONSE
From studying media, and especially in relation to the construction that I produced, there were many new media technologies that I came across.
These included:
- Apple Macs (and the software included)
- Tripods
- Digital Video Camera
- Digital Camera
Familiar Technology
Some of the above equipment I was familiar with using. This was primarily the digital camera and the digital video camera. However, until I had to construct 'The Visitor' myself, I did not realise the importance of holding a digital video camera steady. Therefore with this particular piece of technology, I do feel I learnt and progressed a lot. Furthermore, this taught me that the quality of a film can only reach the highest level if a clear picture is portrayed through a steady and direct camera.
New Technology
When initially using the Apple Mac to construct and edit the film, there was an awful lot I had to learn in order to meet certain demands. At home, my family and I have only ever used Windows PCs so therefore the software and layout was a lot for me to get used to. In regards to this, it meant that I had to quickly adapt to the computer services and differences and I am now able to say that I can thoroughly operate and use the software which is presented on Apple Mac computers. The software which as an individual I now feel comfortable using includes:
- iMovie HD
- 'Grab' (in addition to print screen on Windows)
Secondly, along with learning how to use a digital video camera effectively, I learnt that using a tripod improved the quality of panning shots and even still close ups. It made the effect of the shot look a lot smoother which resulted in a more professional capture on screen. Along with this, the tripod's built in spirit monitor allowed us to make sure that every shot we used it for, was in direct proportion to what would be seen on screen.
Alternative Technologies and Software Used:
In addition to the major technologies that used to construct 'The Visitor', I also learnt a lot about certain websites and software that was located on the computers.
In order for our editing to be successful, we had to make sure that as a group we were happy with the font that the titling would be displayed in.
This led to us using sites such as www.DaFont.com where we were able to see what type of font best suited our film and the storyline.
I also learnt how to use SlideShare as a conversion site which allowed me to upload many pieces of my typed and powerpoint project work.
Another major website that has helped me to both create and upload videos is Youtube. Before starting my media project, I did not have a Youtube account so was unaware of the software that was installed within it. By uploading videos, it meant that I was able to take screen grabs to produce work of a higher quality.
Overall
Overall, from producing the opening two minutes of a film, I feel that my knowledge surrounding the different media technologies has greatly improved alongside learning the true nature of many social network sites and ways in which I was able to convert my work into an appropriate format.