Research and Planning:Podcast-September

This is an overview of the posts i have uploaded in this first month of the AS Media course.

Research and Planning: Music Genre Research

I decided to research a little bit more into my chosen genre's of music since they all co-incide with one another, I have added definitions to help me out with the appearance of models and the magazine, To represent pop punk I would use upbeat colours, but still make the magazine look sophisticated to tie in with the older genre of Alternative rock, but also add an edgy look to the magazine to tie in with the older genre of Punk rock. I have also added examples of bands who lie in those categories to add as a reference and maybe even include them in my own magazine.



POP PUNK!

Definiton: Pop punk is a fusion music genre that combines elements of punk rock with pop music to varying degrees. The msuic typically combines fast punk tempos, chord changes and loud guitars with pop-influenced melodies and lyrical themes.
Pop punk bands include: All Time Low, Fall Out Boy, Sum 41 and Neck Deep.

All Time Low

Neck Deep

ALTERNATIVE ROCK!

Definition: Alternative rock is a genre of rock music that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980's and became very popular in the 1990's. The "Alternative" definition refers to the genre's distinction from mainstream rock music and uses primarily distorted guitar sounds.
Alternative rock bands include: Foo Fighters, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Thirty Seconds To Mars, The Pretty Reckless, You Me At Six, Mallory Knox and Lower Than Atlantis

The Pretty Reckless

Mallory Knox

Lower Than Atlantis

Thirty Seconds To Mars

PUNK ROCK!

Definition: Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United states, United Kingdom and Australia. Punk rock originated from garage music. Punk bands created fast hard-edges music, typically with short songs, stripped-down instrumentation, and often political, anti-establishment lyrics.
Punk rock bands include: Green Day, Blink 182, New Found Glory and Ramones.

Green Day

Research and Planning: Genre collage

I created a collage of images and mastheads relating to alternative and pop punk magazines.
I found mastheads from Kerrang!, Rock Sound and Alternative Press. These mastheads use capital letters and sharp, precise fonts to give a cutting edge image. Kerrang! has the appearance of cracked glass to relate to the hardcore music included inside the magazine.
Black and white is a recurring colour theme throughout the magazine covers and images. Black and white are easy colours to work with since they can be paired with any other colour relating to a band logo, for example pink can be added to relate to Green Day, or yellow can be used to relate to Nirvana.
Instruments are often used on the front covers of magazines so this would be something for me to think about for my magazine cover.
Band logos and albums are often used as inspirations for colour schemes. If a band has released a new album the colours on the front cover and cover lines will reflect the album cover.

Research and Planning: Double page spread music magazine analysis

Genre
This double page spread represents the post-hardcore, alternative music genre and you can tell this because of the model used. The model used is Kellin Quinn the lead singer of the group Sleeping With Sirens. The double page spread uses the red black and white colour scheme with the traditional amount of yellow in a quote. Kellin is shown screaming into a microphone with shows us that the genre is of the heavier nature.

Representation
The main image shows the well known lead singer screaming into a microphone wearing headphones which shows that he is hard working and tells the reader that he is working on new songs. He is wearing his own clothes and is covered up which makes this suitable for any target audience.

Audience
Stereotypically this magazine will be aimed at the male gender since the colour scheme is quite masculine (red, white, yellow and black). The layout is very professional which would appeal more to an older target audience.

Layout
This double page spread is set out with a main image covering the whole double page which is very crisp and high quality The text is set out in columns around the main image which makes the page more attractive to look at and is clear to read. The black, white and red colour scheme is carried on throughout the double page spread and keeps the magazine looking professional and easy to read. The two small images at the top right make the article look more like a scrapbook and this fits in well since the story is about the bands jounrey whilst writing their next album.

Research and Planning:Contents page analysis

Genre
This contents page is part of Rock Sound magazine and you can tell it is part of the rock/alternative/punk genre because of the images used and artists spoken about.

Audience
The magazine is aimed at the male gender and this is emphasised by the formal layout and and colour scheme of red, black, grey and white. The contents page is very professional looking meaning it would appeal to an older target audience from about 16-25.

Representation
The conents page includes three images all relating to stories inside the magazine. The first image is a male model (Caleb Shomo) with tattoos looking quite serious and wearing his own clothes. The second image shows another artist (Frank Iero) holding an acoustic guitar and smoking a cigarette which implies an alternative rockstar image. The third image shows a band made up of men and women (Marmozets) having a great time which promotes a rockstar lifestyle to young people reading the magazine.

Layout
Rocksound is presented very professionally with a clear column structure down the left hand side and is clearly broken up from the three images which are evenly spaced down the right hand side of the page. The layout is very simple but very effective and carries on the colour scheme from the front cover.

Research and Planning:Voicethread Music Magazine Analysis: Alternative Press

Music magazine Analysis 2: Alternative Press

Alternative Press magazine is an American magazine which covers the same music as Kerrang! ( rock/metal/alternative) does in the UK. Alternative press looks completely different to any Kerrang! magazine. Alternative press is definitely a more sophisticated magazine and you can see this from the front cover. The first cover is a special commemorative issue and uses a grey scale filter for the whole magazine except using the traditional red and yellow in small amounts in the bottom left hand corner. The first cover also uses silver for the masthead which makes it clear that the magazine is special/limited edition. The commemorative issue is slightly different to the usual magazines since it doesn't include lots of cover lines, it only includes the one story about the first ever Alternative Press awards.
I included the top issue to emphasise the fact that this magazine even though it is aimed at the younger generations (14-25) is very sophisticated in appearance.
The second cover is from a normal weekly issue including the same band/artist on the cover.
Alternative press keeps to the three colour rule using red, yellow and black. The images used in Alternative Press are extremely high quality and are always very interesting and striking, The main photo of Brendon Urie is quite different since it involves a classic American car in a quiet background and the singer is wearing very smart clothing, this adds to the sophistication of the magazine. The tone of text used is also very intelligent and isn't very humourous but still engages the reader to pick up a copy. Alternative Press have a very distinct masthead using the initials AP, this masthead is used throughtout all the magazines. Unlike Kerrang!, Alternative Press only include three of four cover lines, but the magazine itself includes longer, more detailed and more professional interviews and images.

Research and Planning: Music Magazine Analysis: Kerrang!

Music Magazine Analysis: Kerrang!
Kerrang! is known for it's masthead using a broken cut up font and it's key exclamation point.
The magazine definitely follows the three colour rule using red blue and white to emphasise the fact that Asking Alexandria "conquered" America. The main front cover image is a mid shot from the hips upwards and of course is extremely high quality. The two members of Asking Alexandria are wearing their own clothes which represent their rockstar/metal image, the sunglasses, messy hair, tattoos and piercings add to the effect that this is clearly a rock/metal/alternative magazine.
Kerrang! coverlines are usually short and sweet and always include a few images of the poster pull outs you recieve with every magazine. Kerrang! have layered their cover lines out sensibly covering the top of the magazine and the bottom whilst including a few images and a cover line either side of the main image. The headline story is made bold and placed in the middle of the cover as this needs to attract fans of the band Asking Alexandria and intrigue the readers more.
The cover lines are all related to music in some way, for example "Gerard Way's big secret revealed" and "Slash to star in Breaking Bad?" the second cover line also appeals to any Breaking Bad viewers which will increase sales on the magazine.
All fonts used are very sharp or relating to the band (e.g. logo) which gives the magazine a sort of cutting edge image and very fast and striking.
The target audience is very clearly stated through the bands that are used on the cover (fans of the certain band on the cover).

Research and Planning: My college magazine Contents Page

This is the mock up for my college magazine contents page.

The font sizes for the cover lines match up to the front cover font sizes. The mock up would follow the three colour rule. My contents draft shows that the background would be filled black so it would definitely follow the three colour rule by using the pink 'contents' title and the yellow colour coming through with the notepads. Both drafts and mock ups come from the same magazine, and this is obvious because of the colour scheme and fonts used. I decided to expand the cover line stories a little bit to intrigue the reader more and these clearly relate to the cover lines of the front cover. I used a more informal tone when extending the cover lines so the stories appeal more to the student body. I also added a few photos relating to the cover lines just for added imagery and colour.

Research and Planning: My college magazine Front Cover

This is the front cover for my college magazine. I followed my draft and kept the colours and font the same. I used the Hyde Clarendon logo colours as my three colour rule and used the 'ROCKWELL' font throughout my magazine cover and contents page.

There are six cover lines on my front cover which are all featured on the contents page as well. The cover lines follow the three colour rule with alternating pink and yellow font colours. When interviewing other students they wanted technology and recent news stories inside the magazine, so I chose these cover lines to make sure that students would be interested in reading the new issue. 

The image I used for my front cover was originally taken outside but because I wanted the black background to flow around the page I got rid of the original background using photoshop. 

I added a publication line just under the masthead that reads "All you'll ever need, in a college magazine" which shows that all the stories included are what the students would want to read. 

Just as an extra touch i added a yellow tick (keeping with the three colour rule) to show that the magazine is new and fresh and what students will want to read.

Research and Planning: College Magazine Photos

These are the photos i took of Adam for my college magazine front cover. I took the photos outside in order to get a high quality image with good lighting. I chose the 3rd image for my front cover since it had the best lighting and clearer image. 

Research and Planning: My college magazine drafts today

College magazine so far.

So far I have started to put the front cover of my college magazine together. I have made the background black and the title follows my draft with the pink and yellow colours and the font is quite similar to my draft (Rockwell). I have also started to erase the background from my main photo of a college student. The student in the picture is my friend Adam who is stood outside of the college. The reason I took the photos outside is because I wanted a clearer, high quality image. I am erasing the background since I just want the front cover to contain Adam and no extra background. I will be adding the finished picture of Adam to right hand side of the cover and adding the cover lines in the next lesson.

Research and Planning: College magazine front cover and contents page mock up

FRONT COVER:
My front cover includes the college logo covers, I used pink and yellow in the masthead and used capital letters to make the masthead look very eye-catching. The main image will cover most of the right hand side of the front cover, and I will add a black background which will cover the whole cover so that the pink and yellow masthead and cover lines are easy to read.

CONTENTS PAGE
I wanted to keep the magazine looking quite modern, since my target audience is 16-18.
So instead of having a normal listed contents page I thought I would have small note pages and the cover line stories and page numbers would be written there. The note pages would keep the college theme into the contents page and promote an educational approach.
The "CONTENTS" title will also be in pink to continue the Hyde Clarendon colour scheme.

Research and Planning: Costume/Props list

Costume/Props list

In order to make sure I have everything I need for the front image I have made a short list of props that the model will be needing.

·      Textbooks

·      Note pads

·      Pencil case

·      Casual clothing

Also I will need to take various photos with different backgrounds and lighting so that I have a number of photos to choose from when it comes to designing the final front cover.

Location

·      College steps

·      Main Hall

·      Classroom 

Research and Planning: Masthead fonts

For this quick task I had to choose different fonts and colours to represent the magazine title.

I chose the first font because the sharp crisp edges and old fashioned lettering made me think of metal and hardcore music. I also chose a very deep red colour to represent the dark music being promoted in the magazine.
The second font is quite fun and cute which makes it appropriate for a maagzine about pop music, to emphasise the happiness of the music I chose the colour pink because it is bright and fun.
The last font is quite square and precise which reminds me of digital text and since this is for a film magazine I thought it would be quite appropriate. The colour orange is quite uni-sex so makes a perfect fit for a film magazine which can be read by many different types of people.

Research and Analysis: Target Audience Research Videos

Three target audience videos from fellow students.
These three videos will help me to design my college magazine front cover and contents page.

Adam

1. Eye catching title and good quality image.
2. Recent world news.
3. Student working, or holding books and pen (Any gender)
4. Logo colours Black Pink Yellow
5. Hyde News

Liam

1. The Masthead and Model
2. Technology
3. Student (Female)
4. Black yellow and pink
5. Clarendon Way, Hyde News

Reece

1. The Masthead, the main image and cover lines
2. Technology
3. A student holding books to represent that they are a college student
4. Black pink and yellow
5. Clarendon News

Research and Analysis: Target Audience Research.

Target Audience Research Question.
To create my college magazine I will need to ask a few questions to my target audience.
These questions should help me decide what my magazine is going to look like from the outside, and give me a clear indication to the general idea of the rest of the magazine mock up.

1. What is the first thing you look for in a magazine?




2. What cover lines/ stories would you like to read in a college magazine?




3. What image would you like to see on the cover of a college magazine?




4. What three colours would you use as a colour scheme for a Hyde Clarendon college magazine?




5. What would you name a college magazine?

Research and Planning: College Magazine Fonts

College Magazine Fonts.


In preparation for creating my college magazine I decided to look through some fonts that could be used for the magazine title and cover lines.

Research and Planning: Medium Close Up Examples

For my college magazine, I will need to include a medium close up of a fellow college student. So in order to create the correct shot I have some examples of medium close ups to take inspiration from.

Research and Planning: College Magazine Analysis

Analysis of "College Magazine" Fall 2010 edition.

This college magazine is aimed at students studying at college ,and those who are about to start college.

Codes and Conventions:

• Masthead
• Cover Lines
• High quality image
• Publication line
• Issue number
• Barcode & Price

This front cover includes an image of a college student to clearly represent that this magazine is about college life, and what to expect.
The Masthead at the top of the magazine saying "COLLEGE" makes it even more clear as to what to expect inside the magazine. 
Underneath the title are the publication line, date and issue number. 
Seven cover lines are included on the front cover of the magazine to give a small insight in what to find inside. The cover lines all appeal to students either regarding their favourite celebrities or relatable sections e.g "Celebrating the big 2-1 in Vegas" The magazine aims to give advice on matters regarding the students' future but to also give them a little break from tough life at college, and catching up with all the latest gossip from around the world.

Research and Planning: Analysis of college magazines.

Analysis of Ridgewater College magazine, Spring 2009 edition.


This college magazine is aimed at college students and parents, since it is written in a formal tone.
Inside this college magazine there is a contents page, the stories include:
- Departments around the college
- News
- Practical advice
- Global Learning
- "Northern exposure" ( 1 student going on a trip and being successful)
- "Sound Decisions" (Student going into business and being successful)
- Alumni Profile "Balancing Act"( Student Profile)

                                  ^ Contents page.

The Ridgewater College magazine is set out very professionally like any other magazine. It is set out in columns and has a very sophisticated appearance, the subtle colour scheme and professionally taken pictures shows that the magazine is aimed at an older age group.

INITIAL IDEAS
My college magazine will include a similar layout to the Ridgewater Magazine and reflect the colour scheme of the Hyde Clarendon college logo.

As well as any news about the college and any upcoming events, I would like to include a few more stories regarding students achievements inside college and outside college.

My school magazine from Rishworth School included more stories about the pupils and events we had participated in, which is something I would like to mention.

LAYOUT

The Ridgewater magazine has one large photo on the front cover which is something I would want to include in my college magazine, but instead of just one student i would take a picture of a variety of students or just include a picture of the college building as my front cover. I would keep the captions on the front cover similar but using my own stories just to give the reader an idea about what to expect inside.
The contents page again I would keep very similar but instead of adding long and lengthy descriptions of the stories, sum the whole story in one sentence so not to give too much away.

Research and Planning: Indesign Tutorial

Today I completed a tutorial using Adobe Indesign software.

I found a lengthy film review (The hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug) written by Empire.

I copied and placed the review into 3 coloumns. Unfortunately not all of the review fitted into the three columns.

I created a text box at the top of the page and gave my document a title and changed the colour using the toolbar on the right of the screen. I also changed the background colour using the same toolbar and the bucket tool. 

I found an image relating to the film and saved this to my documents, I then placed it onto the document and framed it to fit the content so i could resize the image without it becoming distorted.

Research and Planning: Photoshop Challenge

Today I completed the Photoshop Challenge.

Firstly I opened up an A4 document using the International paper size feature.
I added the text "AS MEDIA STUDIES" using the text tool and changed the size and font using the toolbar at the top of the screen and changed the colour using the swatches on the right hand side of the screen. I changed the background colour to blue using the paint bucket tool. I added a 'Drop Shadow' to the text by going to layer and layer style and clicking on the drop shadow option.
I chose an image of Gerard Way from google images and changed his hair colour to a darker red using the paint brush tool and changed the opacity so I didn't get a block colour. I placed the picture underneath the title and added a shape using the 'custom shape tool' and changed the colour again using the colour swatches on the right tool bar.

Research and Planning: Photoshop CD tutorial

Today i created a CD cover using Photoshop.
I created 5 layers using 5 different images.
I distorted the background using the distort filter. I changed the position and angle of the cd using the rotation tool and changed the colour by using the colour balance feature.
I changed the colour of the originally green horn to make it look like it was made of brass.
I also added notes at the top of the horn to make it look like the horn was being played. I also added text using the text feature to make it more personal.

Research and Planning: Photoshop skin tutorial

Today I have learnt how to use the Spot healing brush tool to get rid of any spots or blemishes.
I also managed to change the colour of her hair, lips, eyes and cheeks using the brush tool with different opacities and sizes to create a natural finish.