A2 Media

Preliminary Task

As a start to the A2 course of media studies, which focuses on the use of film and camera throughout the year, I have been planning to film a short film consisting of two characters. In the build up to this we have been working on the pre-production stage which involves creating and writing a script and transferring the script to a suitable story board. Once this has been completed, we will produce the film and later edit it on 'Premier' in the post-production stages.

Some of the scenario's groups have chosen to film between two characters include
an interegation
an arguement
a conversation between a mother and daughter
a teacher and student meeting

AS Media Coursework - Evaluation

Here I have produced a presentation slide through powerpoint explaining my decisions and choices of my final media product, a music magazine. I have included a detailed analysis of each page and why codes and conventions have been successful in making my magazine realistic as well as how each production choice has led me to promote my media product to a specialised audience.

As media coursework evaluation

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Coursework - Music Magazine Pages

The task of my coursework was to research, understand and produce three pages that will be part of a music magazine; a front cover, a contents page and a double page spread. Through research I was able to include the main conventions of magazines, e.g. barcode and date, to add a realistic sense to my magazine. However I have also taken ideas from research and added my own creative effect to produce something different. Research about the music industry and decreasing sales of magazines has lead me to create a free magazine with online access for a digital version. Below are the three images of my front cover page, my contents page and my double page spread. 

Changed Front Cover

After continuing work on my music magazine with composing the elements of a double page spread, I found that it was less likely to find the cover model different from the model inside the double page spread - the main exclusive interview of the magazine. Therefore with further skills and knowledge I adpated my front cover image to suit the image within the double page spread. Like other magazine companies, the process for producing a final product goes through various stages and therefore I think it is good that I have had the opportunity to realise faults and change them.

This image here is an example of my original front cover of my music magazine. All the conventions of a normal magazine have been included, i.e. barcode, title, price and date. I really like the overall presentation of this front cover as it suits my audience well and creates a sophisticated look with an insight that will draw the reader in, "I always kiss and tell". I think the image is strong and connects well with the fashion world. However the model in this image is not the model I have selected for my double page spread and so in order to adapt my magazine I altered the image of the model, as shown below. 

The image here, image number two, is my final music magazine front cover. I have kept most of the conventions, the barcode, title, and date but due to research into the falling prices and industry of music magazines, I have altered my price to make the magazine free, hopefully encouraging those who take an interest in music to carry on with that passion. The image, of course, is the main reason for creating a second front cover and here I have created something that will hopefully appeal to a younger audience, my age demographic being around 23/24 years of age. I have also changed the name of the model on the front cover to suit with the double page spread, naming her "Char" instead of "Tallica May". Lastly, in order to keep up to date with the growing market and demand for digital sales in the music industry and music magazine industry, I have included a website address within my front cover, as well as my double page spread, in order to attract the social demographic to reading my magazine online, "www.outspokenonline.co.uk"   I believe this magazine front cover works equally as well as the first as most of the conventions have been kept the same, but my knowledge into creating something that is suitable for its audience and the style to be kept the same has improved.

Coursework - Double Page Spread

As I have now successfully produced a front cover and contents page for my very own music magazine, I was then able to create a double page spread featuring a given artist of music to go alongside the previous two. The image presented above is of my final double page spread. From research I was able to understand that most double page spreads include half the page filled with an image and the other half is primarily used for the text, or in this case the interview, therefore I have incorporated this into my own double page spread using the 'dodge' tool in photoshop to lighten the right hand side of the photo in order for it to easily blend with the contrasting white side of the paper where the text is placed. Amongst this I increased the brightness and created a higher contrast to create a more professional image but keeping it simplistic. I have included the main conventions of a double page spread, including page number, title, introduction and examples in text, such as having the interview questions in 'bold' and the response in 'regular' text graphics. I have also included a website address at the bottom of the page for those more socially interactive readers and to ensure my magazine is keeping up to date with changing switch from paper to digital production. The colour scheme of this page is kept similar to the other created pages, sticking to pinks, in particular on this page, pastel colours; pinks and blue, which also bodes well with the contents page and front cover, which as an overall effect allows a clear understanding of the audience of women rather than men. The title, 'Char and her guitar' was created with through the use of online programme DaFont to create contrasting effects of text which again relate to the contents page and front cover, varying from serif fonts to sans serif fonts. From research on double page spreads I have chosen to include a large pastel colour 'C' on the background of the page, standing for 'Char' to break up the text and make it more appealing to the reader. This idea was taken from an extract of Lady Gaga in Q magazine which featured a large 'L' on the page, therefore my magazine is easily representable to the ones presented in my research. Overall I think my double page spread has worked successfully well and bodes well with both my contents page and front cover page.

Coursework - Double Page Spread

This is a third example of a double page spread in a magazine. Like many other double page spreads, this has a distinct layout in the sense that it focuses on placing the image on one side of the page and the text on the other. The image here is in black and white which sets an old school tone to it. The main feature of this double page spread is the red 'L' standing for Lady Gaga. This is a feature I particularly like and will therefore incorporate it into my own double page spread. The font size is very small and therefore hard to read and almost daunting for the reader. Another convention is the use of coloumns within the page to seperate the text and to bode well with other music and typical magazines.

Coursework - Double Page Spread

The magazine headline on this double page spread is written in bold to make it stand out, not only is it purposefully composed like that but it is set to be positioned on a slant in order to create an effect that isnt average or boring. The most successful feature about the headline on this page is that the writers have incorporated it within a quote from one of the band members, "We're being the best MCR we can be", this adds a catchy feel to the page wanting the reader to read on.

Amongst the title on the left hand side of the page the header, "world exclusive" suggests that this magazine interviews people artists and bands from around the world which helps with its unique selling point and allows for the reader to trust in the brand.

With magazine prices and sales failing this magazine has become up to date with including a web address to link readers to an online site, where more information can be provided. Placing it on the popular page of the magazine ensures more readers will see it thus upping the ratings online, which is esstential in this technology growing world.

This double page spread is consistant in presenting various images of the band to help the reader visualise and connect with the text they will be reading. Most of the images are representitive of the title of the piece "The best we can be" as it shows the band hard at work, adding to their growing list of fans.

Lastly in the top right hand corner is an informational box about the band, providing key facts, new song titles and tour dates for the reader. This is vital in showing the magazine takes an interest in the band to provide such background information, again allowing for the audience to trust in the brand.

I would say that this is a successful part of a double page spread, the colour scheme is consistant and they have shown a personal interest in representing a band of importance.