Question 7

Question 7:

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

My preliminary task was to create the front cover of a college magazine, here is what it looked like:

   Not much time and effort was dedicated to that project, especially compared to my main project. From seeing how my final project ended out, the need for drafting was very high. From taking some time out to draw up plans after looking at and considering existing media products, it gave me a very good template on how to make my magazine. The preliminary exercise I found very difficult to complete. I wasn’t fully aware of the techniques used in the production of magazines and I had no inspiration for creation such magazine. Existing products of this genre were difficult to find because they don’t usually get posted online, they are generally exclusive to the college.

   Despite this, I thought that my editing around the character in the magazine was very skillful, and my choice of positioning was also successful. Adding cover lines and a background however was much more difficult and is of very low quality.

Furthermore, editing is equally if not more important. It allowed me to add aspects which I perhaps realistically couldn’t. for example, I digitally edited tattoos, golden chains and a few other props. Editing also allowed me to conform to the conventions of R&B magazines by changing colours, making images black and white etc. However, I wouldn’t have much use for editing without taking original images that allow me to position an artist the way that I want them, with the background I want.

   Being constantly aware of having to conform to my genre’s conventions and the need for branding aided me to make a better magazine in general. Branding my magazine was very important because making a successful magazine somewhat relies on having a memorable brand name. Advertising, marketing and distribution for existing/future media products comes at a cost. Either the company pays a set amount for these things or they take a set revenue from the magazine’s profit, depending on the importance of their role.

   My final product demonstrates a high level of progression. Although I thought the editing I conducted in the preliminary task was very good, I still improved upon this. Positioning the artist to conform to the genre was much more successful, as was the overall mise-en-scene. The typography within the magazines and specifically the cover lines improved drastically. I think I managed to add the hint of perhaps sarcasm which most R&B magazines have also. After becoming much more familiar with the rule of thirds, the layout of my magazine also improved drastically, as I wasn’t just placing different things anywhere on the page. During this whole process, I have learnt a lot about many different things. Trying to identify them all would be difficult because of the volume of learning that took place. 

Question 6

Question 5