Evaluation (Question 4)

4) How did you use new media technologies in the construction and research, planning and evaluation stages?

 Media technologies are very important in the construction, research, planning and in evaluation stage. 

While making this documentary, I used different media technologies and websites like blogger, Scribd, soundcloud, Final cut Pro, itune, soundtrack Pro.

As being a part of As media student before, it was quite easy for me to use a software like soundcloud, scribd,  Final Cut Pro and a website like blogger.



Figure:1

This year my role in the group was of a sound person. Therefore,  Final Cut Pro has been used only to edit my radio trailer. As I have already used Final Cut Pro last year for my media film project, it was quite easy to use this programme. To make the sound high and low, I used a "Pen" from "Tool Palette" and made a mark on audio that allowed me to move the audio level up and down.While editing,  I noticed a red line on the "Playhead". In order to remove a red line, I pressed Apple R. I even made the level of my audio equal and kept on checking the Audio meters so that the sound would not get any lower or higher than needed.

Figure:2

After editing my radio trailer in Final Cut Pro, I changed the radio trailer into quick time movie format and exported it into the Soundtrack Pro. Then changed it's format into both mp3 and AIFF format. I had never used this programme "Soundtrak Pro" before. It was totally new for me but with my teacher's guidance, I learned to use it. It was quite similar to Final Cut Pro but in a audio way. As this medium helped us to make our radio trailer sounds better, it was worth to use.

Figure:3

After changing the format of my radio trailer from quick time movie to mp3 and AIFF. I uploaded it in Soundcloud ( http://soundcloud.com/) . As I had already used this website few times before, music was uploaded without any difficulty. Being a sound Person, I used a soundcloud.com a lot. I needed to post more soundtracks in it. This website made my life easier as it is easy and quick to upload tracks in it.

Figure:4

After uploading the radio trailer in soundcloud, I shared a track by clicking on share button. After clicking on a share button, I copied the 'embed code' of the track and pasted it on my blogger's post. Then, I posted it in my blog. I used blogger not only for publishing sound track but for the whole media's project. Being an old blog user, was   it was easy for me to change the wallpaper of my blog and choose the picture on my own. I overcame few changes in the format through my classmates and teacher's guidance.












Figure:5


I scribbled my plan after some brainstorming and elaborated it afterwards. It made  research easier and saved time to find the right sound for documentary. As I am not that familiar with Scribd it was quite hard for me to use it. While making a brainstorm for sound I couldn't find the speech bracket so, later I asked my friend to help me out who is quite familiar with this website, and she help me out. Later  I found out that this website is quite useful and I am happy that I learned to use it because I may need it in future.

Figure:6

I used Google for my research process. Reading newspaper advertisements and watching documentaries were my other source of research. Also, Google was of great help while doing research. Everything can be found in Google and saves time. However, we have to give our attention to few misinformation that we come across.

Figure:7


I used "Youtube" to upload our documentary and audience feedback.
As we all are familiar with "Youtube", it was easy for me to use this website. Youtube is more popular among any socio-economic people to any age group. In order to make it visible to all and to reach our target audiences from all over the world, we posted our documentary in Youtube. As people from different country can watch the video from Youtube, it is the right place to upload videos.

Figure:8

I used voice recorder to record my Question no. 2.

At first , I tried to get familiar with recorder. After couple of minutes, it's function began to make sense as it was similar to the function of voice recorder of our mobile phones. It was simple. First, we needed to press "ON" button and press the "RED" rec. We wait until the  numbers is displayed over the screen. Then, we can start talking. To stop recording, we just need to press the "Red"  rec sign again. By using the USB wire, we can transfer recorded material in the computer.

Figure:9

We even used a software like Photoshop to edit our newspaper advertisement. Photoshop made us easy to attach one picture with another and crop out the unnecessary part of picture. At the beginning, I had problem using this medium as there were many things to take account of.  However, I became more familiar with the medium as the time passed. Now, all I need is to focus while using it.

Getting used to all this technologies and software made me aware of it's importance. The more we use it, there will be more chances to excel it.

Radio Trailer

Radio trailer 1-2 (Sustika Limbu) by sayhitosusu

Radio Trailer (Draft)

Graffiti is still seen as vandalism in our society on the other hand if we look at history it has often carried significant symbol of its own or has emerging graffiti artists brought any changes to the meaning of graffiti.

HCTV explores the subject "Graffiti Art/ Vandalism or Political Free Speech" on 15th of March 2011 at 7 PM.

NEWSPAPER ADVERTISEMENT

NEWSPAPER ADVERTISEMENT (DRAFT)

Documentary analysis (Sustika and Anju)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/8701959.stm

Sound 
Non-diegetic sound of the classical North Korean music is played at the background and this connotes that the people in North Korea are more traditional, along with this non diegetic music we can hear a diegetic sound of a troops training and a voice over (non diegetic music). In most of the scene sound person has used both diegetic and non-diegetic sound (voice over) together. I have even noticed that When we hear voice over at the back of the scene the sound of the diegetic music becomes lower then the non diegetic music. 


Editing
Here in this documentary the editor has used lots of cuts from one scene to another.
Eye line match is also used in this documentary which helps the audience to understand the relationship between two characters or to show the audience what the character is looking at.

Cinematography

The documentary starts with the medium low angle of statue to show the statue superior and cuts to the medium long shot of other statue. The scene cuts back to the medium close up shot of the monk to show the facial details of the character and cuts back to the medium long shot of the image of the president to connote the importance of the character. The scene cuts to the extreme shot of the students assembling in the line to march in front of the important figures of North Korea to show the importance of culture to the audience. The scene cuts to the extreme long shot of women wearing army dresses to show the women dominating society. The scene cuts to 3 shot of the children dancing and singing to show that even the new generation is trying hard to preserve their culture. The long shot and tracking movement of the characters bowing in the occasion to show the perseverance of the culture. The close up shot of the officer is used to show the facial expression of the character and the rule of third is also used to show the interview .

Mise-en-scene 

The costume Black suit is used to convey the audience that the Korea is of 21st century. The yellow national dress is used to show the audience that the people in korea still preserves their culture. The uniform of the officer connotes the war. It shows that the war between North and South could start any time and the north koreans are ready for it.

The prop red flag is used which connotes patriotic whereas red connotes danger, death, blood. The prop flower is used to connote new life. The prop statue is used to show the historical figure of North Korea.

The entire documentary is shot in North Korea.

Documentary Analysis 1

I am analyzing  5 minutes BBC documentary called "The Birth of Israel (2008)". Here, Jeremy Bowen presents a look back at the creation of the state of Israel, examining the events leading up to the Israeli war of Independence in 1949. (via youtube)

At the beginning of the scene, we can see a long shot of the sun setting and usually directors use this kind of shot to show the location. As the documentary is about a Israel we can hear a non diegetic sound of Israeli music at the background. Soon after the long shot scene blends to another medium long shot when the mosque is shown.

 In this picture, the editor has isolated the scene of mosque and it's surrounding. This can be seen by the difference of the color:color of  top of mosque as yellowish golden whereas rest are black and white. Now, medium close up of a city with close up shot  follows with a sign of crucifix. The editor uses the previous pattern to portray i.e  the color of crucifix yellowish golden. Altogether, the director shows the relationship between two different religion followed by the people of Israel and Palestine. The  non diegetic sound (voice over) from the background stating, "60 years ago Israel fought and won a war for it's independent for Palestine this was catastrophe", pause for a second "Two side have been fighting ever since" conveys us the message of deep differences between two countries.

After the scene, the effects on the video changes to holga-ish effect and even the music at the background changes to fast drum music following with the change of the background scene at fast pace. This time the editor provide us with pictures of bomb explosion, damaged buildings, army troops, guns, citizens and war. Here the editor has used black and white holga-ish effect for a few second scene because this documentary is about a Israeli war of Independence,1949. From this black and white effects he wants his audiences to know that these scene are from the past; of the war that Israel fought.  Long shot black and white picture of dead tree follows on the screen by the title of the documentary "The Birth of Israel". After the black and white long shot of the dead tree, the efftect changes to color. The scene cuts to blue sky and from there camera tilts down focusing on a long shot of a building. Here, the director has used a long shot of the building to show the location and the whole structure of the building. We can hear a diegetic sound of sea at the background. Now, the scene cuts to the close up shot of caged parrot. The camera person uses a depth of field to focus more on the caged bird rather than the surrounding. The camera focus pull and focuses on the man walking near the road. At the background, we can hear the voice over. Soon after this scene, we can see the clips of the  war that took place in Gaza. Here, in the scene, we can even see a medium long shot of the building. A smoke coming out of the building and blood on the floor which connotes  war. Soon after this scene, we can see a group of people in rally that connotes dissatisfaction of citizen  . We can even see a close up shot of blood which connotes death, fight and danger. We can even see a medium shot of the people taking at the stretcher  connotes the suffering of the citizens. The tracking shot of the trails of the blood to the dead body portrays the effect of the war and creates sympathy. The screen fades out to black and cuts to the scene of waving Israel flag which connotes  leadership. Now, the scene cuts to long, medium and close up shots of rocket fires and at the background we can still hear the non diegetic sound (Voice over). Within this scene, another scene blends in black. Again, the editor uses black and white to show his target audience that all the scences occured in the past. At the background, we can hear the non diegetic sound (voice over).  After few seconds, the non diegetic sound changes into diegetic sound (dialogue) where we can see a medium close up of the interviewee (Shimon Peres).

Again, a flag of Israel at the back which connotes interviewee must be from Israel. Again, the scene cuts to the black and white scene. This time, the voice over again changes into non diegetic sound. At the background, we can still see  a life of Palestinian farmer from so many backs ago. Soon after this black and white scene cuts to the interviewee (Hazem Nusseibeh) and the non diegetic voice over changes into diegetic sound (dialogue).