1. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products? (i.e. of music magazines)

2. How does your media product represent particular social groups?

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

3 What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

4 Who would be the audience for your media product?

5 How did you attract/address your audience?

6 What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

7 Looking back at your preliminary task (the continuity editing task), what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to full product?

After conducting research into designing and creating a magazine I have learnt a variety of ways in which they are made. This includes using the F/E or Z layout to make the magazine comfortable for the audience to read and look at. I also found out that the most common colour scheme for magazines it red, white and black. I also found out in my research that masthead's are large, bold and also represent the genre of the magazine; Kerrang! has a cracked masthead which represents the iconology of it being messy. I also discovered that the register of magazine's are very low depending on their audience, they usually contain layers of taboo and colloquilisms.

When photographing my magazine, I tested camera angles with my test models who were the same height as my real models which meant I could get the right angle with ease. I experimented by using steps to but the taller model at the bottom of the steps, the shorter model halfway up the steps and then I'd stand at the top to get my desired high angle shot. However I did experiment with chairs and tables to get height but they weren't as accurate as using steps. I also learnt how to set up the Canon EOS 40D's exposure settings. I already had a good knowledge of shutterspeed, aperture, ISO, lighting and exposure however I had never operated a Canon before there I learnt how to set that up. The problem I had is I set the ISO so it wasn't very sensitive to light which resulted in 'noise' to be shown on parts of the picture which meant I had to sort that out on Photoshop.

When using Adobe Photoshop Elements I learnt that it is not the best version of Photoshop to use when creating a magazine. This is mainly due to the fact that it does not have a 'justify' option which puts the text into columns. Alternativly, I had Adobe Photoshop CS2 at my house which offered all of the features I needed to make my magazine. When using Photoshop, I learnt that it is hard to adjust the composition of the models to make the magazine look proffesional. I struggled trying to adjust the mise-en-scene. This is due to my drawings which weren't drawn well enough to show how large the models should be. I learnt that the best shot to use on models for the front cover is midshot however mine was slightly longer than that so I could fit my props in the picture. However this resulted in there being a gap in the middle of the page which was evident in my draft front cover. To fix this problem I inserted text to fill the gap and make the magazine seem more appealing to the audience. I also struggled to correct the proportions of the photograph in my double page spread. This is because I took the shot as a landscape shot however I had to fit it on one portrait A4 page.

      

This is the draft front cover (left) and shows the gap inbetween the models. 

(below) is the final cover and shows how I filled in the gap.

Double Page Spread - Finished

Contents - Final

Final Cover

Contents Page - Almost finished

Double Page Spread - Almost Finished

Cover- Almost Finished

Official Photo Shoot - 7th March 2012 - 15:20

I have arranged to photograph my models on the 7th March at 15:20. This is convenient because it is after college hours so there would not be any time limitations, apart from the college's closure but it gives us plenty of time to do the shoot. I will do the shoot in college in the same place I did my test shots. This is because the steps allow me to balance the model's height difference and get my desired high angle shot. The problem with this setting is the background is not one colour however I can remove the background using Adobe Photoshop Cs2.

I will also use the white pull-down screen for the projector in my media room as it acts as a good white background for the close up shots.

I have brought in my desired props for the shoot. This includes my red and white electric guitar, top hat, microphone (which would be borrowed from the music department) and a tray for the microphone. The use of these props are shown in my original drawings. [Click here]

Further Improvements

Double Page Spread

• Change page numbers to 44-45 ensuring odd number is on the right hand side page
• Make text smaller 
• Insert new lines after each quote 
• Change picture to proper picture with models  

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Front Cover

• Make background pathway seem more like a pathway
• "ELECTRIFF" needs to be bigger (cover the majority of the page) and lowered slightly
• "The journey continues" slightly smaller underneith "ELECTRIFF"
• Bottom information needs to be smaller OR displayed down right hand side + repetition of ELECTRIFF is unneccessary.
• Change picture to proper picture with models

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Contents

• Change picture to proper picture with models

Draft Contents 3

Double Page Spread - Almost Finished

New Double Page Spread Photo Test

This is the re-creation of The White Stripes photograph that I designed in my drawn mock DPS. This is just a test shot, I will use the proper models for the final DPS. I used a VGA cable to connect the camera to the television so I could see the camera picture live on the television screen which was positioned directly infront of me.
Inspired by...

Cover - Almost Finished

What I need to work on

Front Cover

• "Electriff Have Returned" needs to be in middle of page
• Fill the white empty spaces
• Add price under title
• Make main photo seem more real, not cut out
• Add QR code

Double Page Spread

• Don't colour in eyes
• Change image to other design shown in drawings [Click Here]
• More red needed for consistant colour scheme
• Make picture overlap title
• Text needs to be in columns
• More interesting font
• Reference author

Contents

• More brief sentences
• More content - "Gig Guide/Reviews/Latest/News ETC"
• Needs to show magazine has at least 80 pages
• More branding
• Heading must say "contents"
• Sectioned better; columns as well as rows
• Image of crowd needs to be more exiting
• Make image of guitar + plectrum more interesting

Overall Magazine

• Variety of shot distances
• More content/objects/setting
• Include page numbers, date
• Mise-en-Scene needs much more thought
• Consistand heading typography
• Logo present on every page
• Look at Q magazine

Teacher Feedback - Mr Nicolle

Teacher Feedback - Mr Smith

Magazine title: BREAKDOWN – Luke Niblett

	Minimal  Level 1 10 – 23 marks	Basic Level 2 24–35 marks	Proficiency Level 3            36–47 marks	Excellence Level 4            48–60 marks
framing a shot, including and excluding elements as appropriate		Photo’s fine but not sure about DPS image
using a variety of shot distances as appropriate		Variety of distance used but guitar and plectrum don’t add much
shooting material appropriate to the task set		Contents photos are weak, crowd image is odd as the faces seen look incredibly bored. DPS needs different photo
selecting mise-en-scène including colour, figure, lighting, objects and setting		Main image too well lit and seems stuck onto cover
manipulating photographs as appropriate to the context for presentation, including cropping and resizing	Don't colour in eyes, doesn’t add anything
accurately using language and register		Contents is too wordy, DPS article is good if too short
appropriately integrating illustration and text		Everything is legible but very ‘safe’
showing understanding of conventions of layout and page design	No evidence of columns, only THREE things in whole mag, no page no’s, no branding. No grab lines, no fluff etc
showing awareness of the need for variety in fonts and text size	Little to no variety
using ICT appropriately for the task set		Ok

Summary Comment Luke: this doesn’t ‘look’ or feel like a magazine because neither the contents nor the DPS follow any of the conventions. Use columns, use page numbers, use logo/website on page corners for branding. Why is the name of the magazine on the contents page? Why aren’t your contents broken down into categories? Why is you magazine 14 pages long? How much does it cost? Your article MUST be longer. Look at Q magazines and see how they are laid out. You have a lot of work to do (most of it simple basic tweaks) to get this looking like a magazine. You also need to take more photographs.

Peer Feedback

1. Include issue number + price
2. More info of content on cover of various topics
3. More pages on contents page, (Page 30, 31, 32 ETC)
4. Good grammar
5. Interesting context
6. Double page spread needs to be in columns
7. Eye colours aren't realistic

Evaluation of Magazine

Links
Music King http://mrsmithasmedia.blogspot.com/2011/02/musicking.html
The Beat http://mrsmithasmedia.blogspot.com/2012/02/beat.html
PM http://mrsmithasmedia.blogspot.com/2011/02/pm.html
Muse http://mrsmithasmedia.blogspot.com/2011/02/muse.html
PopStream http://lukebodycw12.blogspot.com/2012/02/draft-magazine-cover.html
The Loot http://vishalkumarcw12.blogspot.com/

Double Page Spread Draft 2

Contents Draft 2

Cover Draft 2

Double Page Spread Draft 1

The first design was based on this photograph of Jack White and Meg White from The White Stripes. I like it because it makes the two people seem connected as they have the same skin colour and their hair is sort of merged into each other.

Contents Draft 1

Cover Draft 1

Article Draft

ELECTRIFF are back and louder than ever...

The return of our beloved Electriff has proved that old skool hard rock is still blazing in its glory. The ruthless and unstoppable band have been collaborating on work with artists such as The Kills, Dead Weather and Crystal Castles along with their own work which means that a whole bunch of music is due for release soon. Rumours suggest that Electriff will be touring throughout the UK as well as conquering USA, Australia and the rest of Europe. Cassie Dane and Ben Kurt who have not been seen together for almost 3 years have finally combined once again to recollect their crown in the world of rock music.
The band worked their unbeatable reputation from performing at small venues including towns, pubs, beaches and clubs. They then went on to showering their talent over other audiences such as Wembley Stadium – London, Glastonbury, Royal Variety show. However the Ben Kurt apprised to us that Electriff will also be going back to their roots which mean smaller venues in smaller towns including Lutterworth - Leicestershire which is confirmed. 
During our interview with Electriff discovered that they’re not just all about getting smashed and breaking stuff, they have “been down to hell and back” – Cassie Dane…


BD. What caused you to break up all those years ago?
CD. We were dealing with a massive amount of alcohol and drugs and we didn’t want it to get in the way of our music so we stopped writing.
BD. Did you ever think you’d reunite?
BK. I didn’t even think I’d still be breathing by this date, what is it? February?
BD. Hahaha well we can all safely say you’re still alive and we’re all counting on you guys to return with a blaze
CD. Oh there will be a blaze, oh yeah
BD. We’ve all heard you’ve been working on new songs can you give us a little insight to this? 
CD. We have been writing some new stuff, very heavy. Aha shh you can’t tell anyone
BD. I’ll be sure not too! Ben we heard rumours that you will provide vocals this time round?
BK. Erm yeah I mean I have provided vocals but they’re more sounds than words, I sound more like Hagrid on smack or something
BD. Haha, finally before you leave, who is your favourite artist at the moment?
CD. Well we’ve worked with The Kills and Crystal Castles. I think my favourite artist to work with is The Dead Weather. Erm I have also grown fond of The Strokes…


Electriff, an all time classic rock name of the 2000s are back, and from the reactions of loyal fans that are still showing their support to this awesome rock band. BreakDown magazine were the first in line to confirm this from the band themselves however fans such as the ardent head-banging Electriff fan Bruce Kennedy have managed to find out other through other methods. Bruce, along with over a dozen others have been queuing outside of Cassie and Ben’s hotel for almost a week now just to catch them together. Bruce told Electriff that “It was totally worth it, just to see these two again shows that the s**t which has infected the radios hasn’t infected the rest of music.

Model Profile

Model Names: Dan Hensey/Rachael Dalton Band
Name: Electriff
The band's style is similar to the White Stripes however they are more heavy and their clothing consists of leather and dark clothing which is more similar to The Kills and Crystal Castles. The lead singer and guitarist Cassie Dane (Rachael Dalton) is known for playing electric guitar/base guitar and vocals. Her appearance is similar to Slash; curly hair, nose piercing and top hat however she is also similar to Amy Lee from the band Evanescence. Ben Kurt (Dan Hensey) is very well known for drumming for the band Electriff and also adds a rock and roll image to the band. Ben's look is similar to David Gilmour from Pink Floyd. Electriff product heavy rock music similar to Guns N Roses, AC/DC, Kiss, Marilyn Manson ETC.

                 Dan Hensey                                                             Rachael Dalton

Photograph Influences

My photograph will be stylised like this photograph of The White Stripes. I will make it like this in terms of one subject being in the foreground and one in the back. Because my theme is reversed gender stereotypes, i will put the female in the foreground and the male in the background. I will use the red, white and black colour scheme and also serious expressions.

In terms of camera angles, I will base my photograph around this one; the camera angle is a high angle shot looking down on the subject. Although this theoretically portrays the subject as feeble and weak, it does look good with a slightly wide angle lens. This is shown in the picture of slash where it makes the head area look large and the legs look small, as if the whole body is directing towards a certain point. This is also shown in the second picture of The White Stripes where they're holding their umbrellas in the rain and looking into the camera. Although a wide angle lens isn't used in this shot, it does make it look like their bodies are directing towards a certain point and it highlights their expressions very well.

Magazine title

After evaluating my class feedback on my title page I have decided to go with the name 'Break Down'

Audience + Profile

My magazine will appeal to teenagers aged from 12-19. The target market is quite a young age therefore the magazine must be reasonably censored. The magazine is targeted towards both genders and I will show this through the reversed gender stereotype idea which is where the male is following the stereotypical female role and vice-versa. The magazine is also aimed at guitarists and people who are learning the guitar as it will have tabulators and chords ETC

Audience Profile
Name: Katie Ford
Age: 17
Favourite bands: Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Green Day
Favourite films: Anchorman, Waynes World, Dewey Cox: Walk Hard, Step Brothers.
Favourite Actress: Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly, Mike Myers 
Favourite magazine: NME, Kerrang! The Wire


After looking at my draft I asked Katie if she would be interested in buying my magazine and this is what she said: 'Well it has a bunch of decent bands, and I like the red, black and white colour scheme. I'm not sure I'd be willing to pay as much as £5 for it though so maybe bring the price down slightly? Other than that I'd most certainly buy it"