Evaluation: Question 3 and 4

Evaluation: Question 2

Evaluation: Question 1

1. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

Final Digi-Pack

Creating my Digi-Pack.

Stage 1.

As I found from my previous analysis on both adverts and album covers (part of the digi-pack), the dominant image is the same in order for the viewer to be able to automatically draw a link between the two. Therefore, the first stage in making the front cover of my digi-pack was to convert the image to the right dimensions and then add it to my originally blank canvas.

Stage 2.

As you can see here, I have added the same text as seen on the advert in the same layout enhancing the link between the advert and the digi-pack.
Stage 3.

I then started to create the back page of my digi-pack so that I had a booklet which I then had to essentially fill. I decided on the image above as I felt that its composition lent itself to the back page of a digi-pack as I could envision the song titles going along the left hand side where the gap was. Additionally, the image tied into that on the front. Again I edited the original image to reflect the 'vintage' effect present in both the video and advert, tying the whole promotional package together.

Stage 4.

As you can see from the above image, I have added some song titles which would feature on the album- a common code and convention on the back page of an album cover. The font used is that from the other elements; providing continuity.

Stage 5.

In the next stage I added other codes and conventions of a back cover for an album. Things such as the small print about producers and copyright, the logo of the music label, a website for the artist and a barcode have all been included, therefore conforming to the correct forms and conventions.
Stage 6.

I decided that the above image would be used for one of the inner pages of my digi-pack in which I aim to create a page commonly seen in digi-packs for debut albums in which the artist introduces the audience to the album and talk about their inspiration and other elements relating to the music- allowing the audience to gain an insight into the artists life. I believed that this image would be suited to this page as the composition of the image allowed for what is essentially mass text without detracting the focus off the artist seen in the image. Like with the other images, I have edited the above one to contain the same look as the others, again providing continuity for the whole digi-pack and meaning it all links together.
Step 7.

In this stage, you can see that I have added the text to the image as mentioned in the above step. Again I kept the font the same as I feel it really reflects the image and the tone of the whole digi-pack, whilst again providing the continuity that is needed.
Stage 8.

This is the last page I am creating for my digi-pack, which is to contain the lyrics to the song 'Songbird'- linking into the video as well. Although being an album, I decided that lyrics pages are an important convention of digi-packs, especially amongst this genre. Therefore, despite the fact that the digi-pack would contain a lyrics page for each song which I am not creating, I would still include this convention as it is an important one. The image was chosen due to the fact that it does not contain much, therefore making it suitable for a page with lots of text. Also the image links into the rest of the images used, meaning the same tone is created and making the digi-pack fit together. Again I edited this image in the same style, so the nostalgic quality is still perceived.
Stage 9.

Lastly, I added the lyrics of the song onto the page. The font and colour scheme seen on all the other pages is still being used, continuing the continuity. I decided that the white text would go to the chorus of the song as it is repeated and therefore link together. Also it made the text stand out against the darker bits of the background, meaning that all the text could be seen.

Final advert.

Creating my advert.

Stage 1.

I have chosen this image if my artist to be the basis of my advert. It shows my artist in a natural and playful way yet the mise-en-scene and lighting suggest a sombre tone which would be present within the music on the album. Additionally, the image is reflective of the music video I have created which was one characteristic of adverts that I picked up on in my reflective analysis. However the image does need to be edited as it doesn't stand out in the way that I would want it to.

Stage 2.

In this stage, I have edited my original image in such a way that it contains a red tinge with a grainy quality to it that again is reflective of my music video. The well-known phrase "looking through rose-tinted glasses" is applicable here as I wanted the image to reflect the nostalgic feel that is present within the music video. In addition, the red tinge make the image stand-out more than the original image which was one reason for editing in the first place.

Stage 3.

I started to add some text to my advert, found at http://www.dafont.com/search.php?psize=m&q=the+only+exception. The reason for this particular text was I felt that it reflected the artists style of music and personality. A curvy style of font suggests a sense of respectability and maturity that is seen within 'Alice's' music, yet it also presents a natural character (especially against the natural background). However by adding the text I am able to see that 'Alice' herself does not stand out from the image as the eye is drawn to the bolder text, therefore this is an aspect I am going to have to edit.

Stage 4.

As you can see from above, I have edited the image so that my artist now stands out against both the background and the bold text. Now the viewer's eye is drawn to 'Alice' herself instead of the surroundings. In addition, I have begun to add 'critics comments' with the stars that is a typical convention with adverts that promote albums and singles.

Stage 5.

In this next stage I have more 'critics comments' as well as moving around the text of 'Alice' and 'Numb' into slightly more appropriate places, however I am still not fully satisfied with their positioning. Additionally, I have included a date for release- an important piece of information for an advert that is promoting the album's release; as well as the logo of the record label Sony BMG and a website for the artist. Most of the information that is required of an advert is present which means that it now a case of rearranging for a better composition and making sure all of the elements stand-out against the background.

Stage 6.

I have moved around the elements of the advert so that they can be considered as more aesthetically pleasing. In order to avoid confusion, I moved the title of the album down so that the viewer would not consider the artists name to be Alice Numb. By moving around the 'critics' feedback (which now includes a quote; another convention of an advert promoting an album), I have been able to put the date in a better place, whilst changing some text to white not only makes a change on the page, but also makes the certain aspects stand out against the background. In addition, I have made the image a little bit lighter to make the advert successfully catch the eye of the reader, whilst also indicating at the artists character and genre of music.

The Facebook logo, Song BMG logo and an official website for 'Alice' are also included at the bottom of the advert- again more conventions of a real advert, therefore meaning that I have included them all.

A2 Media coursework- Final video

Working on the feedback on my rough cut, here is my final music video. I have included extra shots of 'Alice' performing the song whilst writing the lyrics. I decided to stick to the idea of 'Alice' sitting in her room rather than performing a private concert that was another suggestion as I believed it fully explored the concept of a down-to-earth artist to its greatest extent. Additionally, I was able to enhance the nostalgic feel to the video as it is clear that 'Alice' is thinking back to this relationship; another reason to take the relaxed concept of writing the lyrics.

Rough Cut of Music Video

Here is my rough cut for my music video. I have attempted to stick to my shot list in regards to the shots, however there are a few that due to various reasons had to change. The video is meant to have shots with the more 'home video' elements to them. In order to do this I used the following effects:

- Fast Colour Corrector to create a reddish tinge that creates the nostalgic feeling throughout the video.
- Dust and Scratches in order to provide a grainier/ blurry effect to some of the shots.
- Roughen Edges so the video has a 'vintage' feel with a specific border around the shot.

From various feedback on my rough cut, it would seem that I need to provide more 'performance' shots to fully allow the creation of the star motif within the video. My ideas for this are focused around the concept of my artist writing the song and thinking back to this happier time. Not only does this idea provide much more 'performance', it also enhances the idea of nostalgia as 'Alice' is remembering the past.