4) How did you use new media technologies in the construction

and research, planning and evaluation stages?

As the editor, the post-production process was the most enjoyable part of the task as
I was familiar with the editing software called Final Cut Pro. However, I was not
experienced in the construction of an expository style of documentary. Therefore, to
overcome this barrier, I carried out research on Bill Nichols modes of address found
in \Modes of Address.doc, which explained the framework to an expository mode of
documentary. This was then put into practice as I began to simply place footage on
the timeline cutting from agreed views and opposing opinions on the topic shown in
Figure 1. With this software of media technology, the construction of a documentary
in the expository mode of address was easy to create as it allowed me to follow the
stages of selection, rejection and interpretation effectively. Although this method of
trial and error was very time consuming, it then became easier to form an
argumentative structure with the support of the voice-over.

Figure 1

The voice-over, a necessity in this expository Figure 2

production, was recorded by the Andy
Popperwell, a Standard English using radio host in the radio suit and formatted as a
Wave Sound file. This enabled me to import the file to Final Cut Pro and treat it in
the same fashion as visual footage with the technique of selecting certain parts.
Furthermore, I feel as though Final Cut Pro has given me the opportunity to create
an effective production due to its range of effects shown in Figure 2 have allowed me
to improve the quality of interviews. For example, when filming Noel Otley, the
backlight was of a high key which reduced the quality of the visual framing.
Subsequently I had use the colour correction effect shown in Figure 3 to darken the
shot as something as simple as backlighting can be interpreted as the producers
admiration or favouritism toward the speaker. The result of this modification is clear
in Figure 4 of the interviewee, Noel Otley.

Figure 4
Figure 3
During the course of this production, I have learnt that the category of genre has a lot
of control over the cinematic and pre-production techniques. This is evident in the
comparison between my previously produced opening sequence to a thriller. Figure 5
shows a shot of the same lighting effect but used to convey evil characteristics.
Although I enjoyed the production of a
documentary, I feel as though it is a genre
where aspects such as special effects are
greatly limited as the use of them may
result in the imagination of the onlooker to
be distracted from the debate. Since this
production was created appropriate for the
BBC, these editing limitations were
acceptable. But as a creative person I found
it difficult to stay within the required Figure 5
boundaries that apply to the genres
conventional expectations.

The use of Final Cut Pro also assisted me in the production of my radio trailer
alongside the audio software called Soundtrack Pro. After recording the voice-over
for my ancillary task, I then had to edit it by selecting the most important parts such
as the announcement of our documentary’s topic, broadcasting information and
production details. As this medium of promotion solely relied on the audio quality to
deliver this information, my main responsibility as the creator of this text was the
sound. To do this I monitored both the diegetic and non-diegetic sound levels within
Final Cut Pro assuring that ranged between markers of -12 and -6. The reason for
this is because the breach of this technical necessity will cause pixilated sound
resulting in poor quality of the product. The sound monitoring window is shown in
Figure 6 along with the layout of Soundtrack Pro in Figure 7.

Figure 6
Figure 7

As I only used Soundtrack Pro to format my radio trailer a Wave Sound File, I did not
explore this software’s properties as much as I would have liked to. This is why in the
future; I will be taking more time to experiment with this software to find out what it
has to offer to improve the quality of my audio products. Still, the exporting of this
audio file onto the internet, introduced me to unfamiliar software of new media
called SoundCloud.

SoundCloud.com located at http://soundcloud.com/, is a website where people such

as musical artists are able to upload their files and distribute them to an immense
audience. This was the first step to importing the audio product to our blog and
website as uploading the file to this website creates a URL address and an embed
code for this product. After this transaction was complete, I was then able to follow
the systematic routine of creating a new post on my blog and simply inserting the
embed code as seen in Figure 8. Figure 9 shows the radio trailer posted on my
personal blog as well as Figure 10 showing the group’s radio trailers on the
documentary’s website.

Figure 9
Figure 8

Figure 10

During the stages of research, new media technologies were used to their advantage
by the constant use of the internet. For example, the production of a documentary
was completely new to me; therefore, I searched the internet for suggestions and key
information on ways to successfully deliver this genre of product. A website which I
found interesting in particular was called SlideShare.com which can be accessed at
http://www.slideshare.net/documentaries. This site features presentations on
various topics with this slideshow: Documentary Making 101, providing the most
help. Not only did this provide me with information on the essential aspects needed
in our documentary, it also informed me of the roles and approaches to producing a
documentary. Another presentation which I found helpful was at
http://www.slideshare.net/documentaries as it made me understand the concepts of
dominant and opposed readings. As our documentary was structured to inform the
audience of the financial anxieties of attending university, I realised that we were
heading the direction of a dominant reading. This is where the audience accept the
reading offered by the producer which is our aim of the documentary as we intend to
raise awareness on the topic that plays a part in current affairs. This website was
discovered through the use of the globally used search engine Google shown in
Figure 11.

In connection to the stages of research, throughout the

stages of planning, I had become comfortable with a
website called Scribed. Scribd.com facilitated the view
of brainstorms such as the diagram I created to help
me construct the footage gathered showed in Figure
12. I appreciated simplicity uploading files to this
website as it didn’t require me change the formats of
products like other sites do. I prime example of this is Figure 11
YouTube.com.

In order for our group to evaluate our documentary,

‘Is University Worth It?’ our sequence had to be
converted into a QuickTime file from Final Cut Pro so
that it could be recognised as a movie document on
YouTube. The process of uploading the documentary
was the most time consuming transaction due to the
size and quality of the product. However, by doing
this, we were able to carry out a practical evaluation
by having members of our target audience view the
footage and dive feedback on the product produced. Figure 12
Not only was this ultimate requirement, it also was
done to reach a global audience who can also give
feedback on the impact of the documentary as this
interactive website allows viewers to leave comments
as well as record the number of views sequence. Our
documentary can be viewed at;
http://www.youtube.com/Is University Worth It?,
which can be identified by the screenshot in Figure
13.

The more traditional technologies of new media Figure 13

involved in this project were the use of mobile
phones to contact other members of the group as well as arranging the interviews.
This was also supported by the frequent method of emailing each other information
about the group blog, website and steps to progress in the creation of our product.
Figure 14 shows an email which I received from the cameraman on the entry details
to our production blog.

Figure 14