Evaluation Question 1 - Conventions & Innovations

We've created a FlipBook to evaluate where our products fit in the media world, whether they use conventions or push boundaries.

To view at it's optimum size, hit the 'click to read' button.

To turn pages, click a corner and pull it with the mouse.

To zoom in, click on a page, and click again to zoom out.

Evaluation Question 2 - Three Product Combo

We've created a Prezi to evaluate the effectiveness of our products

when the three are combined.

To start, hit the play button on the bottom control bar.

To progress, use the ---> button on the control bar.

To rewind, use the <--- button on the control bar.

Evaluation Question 3, Part 1 - Comic Strip

Evaluation Question 3, Part 2 - Wordle Clouds

Have a read below of feedback we've collected and put into Wordle Clouds.

First up is the poster:

The general consensus was that the photo split worked very effectively. Most people confirmed that they would indeed be persuaded to tune into JOURNEY because of the poster. People also liked the tagline, as it involves the title of the documentary, and uses a personal pronoun ('we') to unite the audience.

Secondly, we showed our radio trailer to an audience:

The audience thought that the structure of our documentary worked exceedingly well. The slightly enigmatic opening was well received, and many people said they found it an effective persuasive device when Grace provided the broadcast info. Every person who watched it agreed that the radio trailer was thoroughly effective without any visuals.

Lastly, we premièred our documentary:

The documentary was highly regarded by those who watched it. Many commended the narrative of documentary, especially the inclusion of specialists and family members. They also said that it was interesting to watch, informative and that it was journey they were happy to have taken.

Evaluation Question 4, Part 1 - Hardware

To get our JOURNEY on the road, we needed to use technology to capture our raw data.

Take a look below to see what hardware we used, and how we utilised it in the construction stage:

Evaluation Question 4, Part 2 - Software

After acquiring our video, photos and audio using hardware, we then used the following software programmes to create our final products.

The first programme we used was Adobe Premiere. This was our chosen video editing software and below is a gadget to explain the effects we used on Premiere, and the results on our documentary.

To go forward, click the bottom half of the text. To rewind, click the top half of the text. Alternatively, you can use the buttons in the bottom-right corner, next to the full-screen button.

There are several benefits of using Premiere over it's competitors (ie, Movie Maker, iMovie).

+ It's professional software with features that are used in real media texts.

+ It has an intuitive user interface which makes the editing process more efficient.

+ It can export to a variety of formats.

+ Many basic and elaborate effects are included out of the box.

+ The two preview screens are particularly useful during editing.

For the editing of our audio for the radio trailer, we used Audacity. We've already done a post on editing with the software - click below to check it out.

Here are the positive points of the Audacity software:

+ It's free!

+ It can export to several formats.

+ You can edit on numerous timelines.

+ The effects process is simple and productive.

+ You can record directly onto the timeline.

Thirdly, we used PhotoShop as our DTP environment for our advertisement. We've already done a post on editing with the software - click below to check it out.

The are several benefits of using PhotoShop, such as:

+ The interface of the different layers is very useful

+ You can use many effects - from basic image adjustments to something that changes the image altogether.

+ You can save to so many image formats, including PhotoShop's own .PSD format, which still allows for further editing.

+ It allows the combination of images from several files - like in our final poster!

Evaluation Question 4, Part 3 - Internet

They say the internet is all around us, and that's true in the way that we've used it in all stages of our JOURNEY - research, planning, construction and evaluation.

The power of the web influenced the construction our poster design. For example, we included a website URL address to transfer new media technologies to an audience. Check it out:

Also, the internet has been hugely relevant during the remaining three stages. Check out the gadget below which highlights the 9 specific websites that we've used and what we've got out of them:

Final Documentary

Here's our final thoughts on our documentary:

+ Follows the interesting journey of Grace

+ Soundtrack really enhances on-screen narrative

+ Opening music links with radio music

+ Suitable length - doesn't drone on

+ Accessible level of detail + information

+ High Definition looks great!

Final Radio Trailer

Here are some notes we've made about our radio trailer:

+ Doesn't rely on visual content to be interesting.

+ Two-part structure works well.

+ Feedback followed: Grace herself now voices latter half of trailer.

+ All contextual information is conveyed.

+ Cross-platform cohesion: same tagline as poster, and same soundtrack as documentary opening sequence.

Final Advertisement

Here's some notes that we've discussed about our final advert:

+ It's quite a large update from it's earlier draft (besides the main image) which adheres to the conventions of Channel 4 advertisements.

+ Also, to link with idea of new media technologies, we've incorporated a link to the documentaries website.

+ We still think that the dual-sided photo works well and are happy at how seamlessly they're integrated.

Radio Trailer Editing

Flick through our gadget below to see what we've done on audio editing software, audacity, to create our radio trailer. To progress you can click the image you wish to see, or you can use the number thumbnails to flick through.

The full radio trailer will be uploaded soon, along with our poster and soon-to-be finished documentary!

Advertisement Editing

After capturing the raw image we hope to use for our advert, we will be editing it using DTP software Photoshop. As discussed in our Poster Flatplan post, we intend to combine two images to form an unnerving image of two halves.

Firstly, we want the 'anorexic' side of the advert to be washed out and faded (see right of picture).

This would signify the emotionless state of the condition, but also, the slightly grainy discolouring that makes the side look older may further highlight that the problem is in the past.

As we are aiming for an ambiguous ad, we had to take photo of grace and manipulate it to make her look thinner and increasingly

gaunt. To do this we used the smudge tool and other photoshop tricks to create the more hollow image on the right of this photo. This will help to visually show the audience the effect that the eating disorder had on grace's physical well-being.

To make the seam, erm, seamless, we used a page tear effect. This is visually striking as well as symbolic. It suggests that these two

sides of Grace are now completely different. This, along with the desaturation of the 'unhealthy' side could also denote that the happy and healthy side of grace is now prevalent.

After all this editing, we have produced a first draft. Please keep in mind that it's very much provisional. We're very happy with the photo background, but the text/logos are inevitably going to be replaced, and of course, we are still in the process of finalising the documentary title. Still, it's worth taking a look because it gives a good hint of what's to follow:

Planning: Poster Fonts

During our video and poster research, we've had a surprising amount of discussion as to the fonts we will use.

For the poster, we felt it was important to stick to Channel 4's brand identity. Therefore, we've selected the font below which is a bold sans-serif font similar to C4's typography.

For the subtitles on the video (including the information on the doctor/fact splitscreen) we wanted a unassuming sans-serif font. We observed this on the Human Planet in our research and we thought it worked great. Therefore we've selected this font below, as it is highly functional, clean and easily readable.

The two primary fonts we've selected will work well in our documentary. They've been considered thoughtfully, and ultimately they both fulfill the criteria we set out when we were deciding on our typography options.

Planning: Radio Script

This is the script we've drawn up for our radio trailer.

It will start off with a market salesman flogging apples to the public.

This will then be linked with subject of matter of the documentary.

Then a professional narrator will inform the audience when and where to tune in to watch the documentary.

Have a read:

Here's some positive notes we've recorded:

+ The juxtaposition of the market trader and the newsreader-sounding narrator work well to engage the listener.

+ All relevant information is include (time, channel etc).

+ Is interesting and thought-provoking without any visuals.

+ Also includes tagline we intend to use on poster.

Planning: Poster Layout

This is the flatplan we've created for our documentary poster.

It will feature a medium close-up of Grace, and we'll use photoshop to split the photograph into two. One half will be happy and healthy, while the other will be gaunt and lacklustre.

Take a look:

Have a read of some points that we've discussed:

+ The image split is interesting + visually illustrates that anorexia changed Grace both internally and externally.

+ The headline shouldn't necessarily be the title - it's more enigmatic to have a statement.

+ The conventions observed in our research are adhered too - this gives our poster authenticity.

UPDATE: The desk surface is only for illustrative purposes, as the white background of the flatplan didn't stand out!

Research: Radio Advertisements

Below you can listen to 5 radio adverts that we've collected as good examples. Although they're all varied, they feature some generic convention of adverts on the radio.

To select a track, click it's box when it's highlighted blue. To play the track, click the play symbol located on the right of the track that is selected.

Here's what we've observed from the playlist:

+ Music can be quite important in propelling an advert.

+ Enigmatic openings entice the audience.

+ Subject doesn't have to be initially obvious, but it must at the end.

+ Cannot rely on visuals to captivate - substance needed

Planning: Storyboard

Planning: Locations

Click on the image below and you'll then be able to move the polaroids around the worktop by clicking, holding and dragging.

To view a photo at a greater resolution, click it and it will expand. Click it again and it'll drop back onto the worktop.

Planning: Casting