Film evaluation

Finally finished my film evaluation. I used a short motion picture to evaluate my film prelim as this is a much more interesting and interactive way to evaluate the product. I used the mac camera and the iMovie software to create this effect. I simply feature text to introduce the questions and then answered them myself. I used the same soundtrack as the actual film in order to link the two together effectively and also makes the evaluation slightly more interesting to listen to. I also used transitions to link the scenes together to illuminate my editing skills and again make the evaluation a lot more interesting to watch.

Evaluation of Magazine!

I feel that i stuck to my planning quite effectively. However, i did manage to alter a few things throughout the production of my magazine. Initially, i intending on featuring one student on the front of my magazine stood next a tree located more to the left of the magazine cover. However, i felt that the student being alone suggest slight isolation therefore i chose to involve two students to give off the impression that Gordano was more of a community. I managed to meet my plan when it came to the rest of the cover page to fully ensure that the magazine still reflected my initial idea.

    My contents page however, was changed quite a bit. Originally the editors note was located in a separate text box situated to the left of the image of students jumping (which i managed to do), however, i decided to feature the editors note at the top of the contents list which was then located down the left hand side of the contents. I did this because the contents page looked a bit too busy due to so many different boxes and images. I chose pastel blue for a background as during my production i noticed a running colour theme of blues and burgundy's therefore i chose to link the background into this scheme in order to give the magazine a little bit more of a 'flow.' 

    When it came to the actual content of the magazine, i managed to incorporate most of the ideas listed on my plan. I also managed to recognise a running theme throughout the content, therefore i decided to give my magazine a theme of 'the future.'

     I found planning very helpful as i was able to jot down my initial ideas to get a grip on what i wanted to include in my magazine. I could then later develop my ideas in order to ensure that my magazine included my favourite ideas yet still incorporated elements of my original plan.

     Finding my initial images was quite difficult as on the first day, i only retrieved my contents page picture and the back ground for my cover page. I later had to get my foreground cover images. However, on the day i did this, the weather was not very nice and it made the image very dull and dark. I therefore decided to feature the main foreground image but putting in on the sunnier background to give off a better impression and give the magazine a better sense of life. Cropping out the background of the foreground image was quite easy seeing as i only had to use the lasso tool and cut around the bits of the image which i wanted to use as the foreground. I then only had to copy and paste this image onto the chosen background. 

    Manipulating my images was relatively easy seeing as i am a previous photoshop user. Seeing as i copied and pasted the image onto a sunnier one, i had to alter the foreground image to lighten it in order for it to match the back better. I did this by using the 'shadows and highlights tool.' However, after the image was lightened, it appeared to me that the image look too fake therefore i decided to smudge the edges of the image and 'bevel and emboss' them in order for the picture to look more real.

    Whilst creating my cover and content page, i learnt skills on how to plan a typical magazine as well as having to think up a whole concept for the magazine. I also improved my photoshop skills and learnt how to use lots of new and different tools to edit my image effectively. I also learnt about how to position things on the cover effectively to increase the focus on one point as opposed to the other. I lastly discovered how to capture images effectively and discovered that different lighting on a picture makes a lot of difference when attempting to capture a certain mood and atmosphere. 

   If i were to redo my magazine, i would probably make the title a lot bigger and a lot bolder in order for the main focus to feature on the title. I would also change the name to the 'gordano takeover,' as i feel that this title would reflect my ideas better and would give the impression that i want my magazine to give.

   I think that my media product represent a very communal social group between sixth form and teenagers as it is mainly focused on them. It does this as my display more than one student on the front of the of the magazine portrays the idea of friendship and community. I also feature an image of students jumping on the contents page which implies the idea again of fun in the community.

   I feel that lots of different media institutions may distribute my media product as it covers quite a lot of genres throughout. Educational media institutions would definitely distribute my product as it focuses mainly on students education and future. However, further institutions may distribute my product as it too focuses on student well being and their social life. 

    The media product that i created would appeal to mainly students as it focuses mainly on their lives and makes sure that it fully supports them. However, parents may too be interested in the magazine as it provides effective advice, support and information which parents may find resourceful if they want to know about their students education. 

    I attracted my main audience by featuring them in the magazine. User peer students may encourage students to enjoy the magazine as it is, effectively about them. By focusing mainly on education, my magazine would attract students who struggling with the education and options therefore could look for advice in magazines such as my own. However, seeing as not every student is fully concentrated on their education, i decided to include information about social and humorous 'Prevetts tales' column which would wider the target audience range and ensure that it meets most students interests.

    From constructing this product, i learnt about  range of different technologies. As previously mentioned, i learnt further skills in the use of photoshop and learnt how to use a more advanced camera than what i am used to. 

    Looking back at my preliminary task, i feel that in the progression of creating and completing the product that i have learnt very valuable skills. I have learnt how to construct my vision effectively as well as being able to develop a wide range of skills in photoshop and photography. I have also learnt how to develop my initial ideas throughout the construction in order to effectively create the best product i possibly could.

Planning post

This post is about my magazine planning. My plan consists of a suggested layout of both the cover and contents page, as well as suggested titles and headlines.
   I intend to attempt to include most aspects of the school in the main cover page in order to suggest that my magazine covers a wide range of topics. The use of nature in my front cover such as the trees will help suggest that the school takes care of its environment and gives the school a very good image. The use of the newer school buildings on the cover again suggests that the school is well put together and looked after.  I chose to put a student on the cover mainly because the magazine is mainly based on the students, however, i decided to put them slightly off centre to ensure that people think that the magazine is not overly focused on just the students. I  chose to put the main headline dotted around the front cover in thick, bold, perhaps black, writing to ensure that they stand out effectively. The magazine title should be bold and standing out whilst being located at the top of the page to fully introduce the magazine.
    The contents page should include maybe a couple of students jumping to ensure that the magazine still has a 'fun' and 'exciting' vibe. The editors note is inspired by both 'look' and 'Grazia' magazine which is used as an effective way to introduce the magazine and ensure that the reader knows what they are actually reading. I chose to put the magazine title at the bottom of the page to contrast with the cover  title but still give a sense that the magazine links together effectively. The use of a pastel colour as a background ensures that images and text stand out very well.
     During my plan, i came up with a couple of titles for my magazine. However, my favourite magazine title has to be 'The Gordano Issue,' as it plays off both the original Gordano school name as well as 'The big issue.' I also came up with a couple of different layouts for the title but eventually came up with a final idea of stamping the 'Issue' over the traditional Gordano signature text.
     The content of my magazines consists of both students and teachers column to advise as well as pieces about uni, exams etc.
     Overall i feel that my plan reflects my ideas effectively to ensure that i can follow it closely to create a magazine which fits my initial vision.

Film Evaluation ... Almost there.

 I continued working on my evaluation script today after i finished my magazine. I answer a couple more questions but i feel i need to elaborate a little more on my answers in order to fully explain my product. Its quite complicated seeing as i joined late and didn't have much input into the real concept of the film therefore attempting to explain why the concept was chosen is a little more difficult than it should be. Yet the next question i can talk about some of the editing, which was my main area in the film.
   Once the script is done, i can concentrate on getting it film and edited together ready for the 'premier day' on Wednesday.

Magazine Prelim DONE!

I finished my preliminary magazine piece today. My last post stated that i had almost completed it, yet i hadn't at this point added any text to the magazine. However, during my lunch today, i managed to completely finish the magazine. Following my initial plan, I entered all of the main headlines onto the front of my magazine. Yet, halfway through doing so, i recognized that there was a running theme throughout all of the headlines; they seemed to feature elements of what students want to do with their future. Therefore, i decided to make my magazine as if it were a one-off special issue of the normal magazine. In order to make this seem more believable, i decided to write an introductory editors note just before the contents which was inspired by one of my favorite magazines: 'Look.' I think that this note addressed the audience directly which would be very welcoming to the reader.
   In the end, i chose to keep the title as the original Gordano logo with the stamp over the 'school.' This is mainly because it gives off the effect that students are rebelling over a typical magazine. However, whilst considering this, i have come up with changing the name of the magazine to 'The Gordano Takeover,' which would again add to the idea of rebellion as 'Takeover' is a much more possessive and powerful word.

My film

Seeing as i joined late, i didn't have too much input into the concept of the film. Therefore i decided to be the main editor of the piece as i have previous experience of using programmes such as iMovie. My group have chosen to focus on a spoof character of the typical teenage girl going through a break up. Most of the footage had already been filmed but just a few scenes had to be reshot due to mistakes being made. Once all of the footage had been collected, i began working on editing the piece together. Editing the film and adding the rest of the groups input was relatively simple. We worked on capturing scenes in a more humorous way with the spoof 'hand washing scene' which worked on playing with typical serious scenes. We added a cheesy soundtrack to ensure that the film was a cringey and spoof-like as it could be.
    Im still working on my evaluation of the film but should be ready to film it within the next few days.

My magazine

So far i have almost completed my magazine. I used photoshop in order to edit the photos of Courtney and Charlotte onto a much nicer background as the day we took photos was very dull and bleak. I cut them out using the 'lasso tool' and then I copied and pasted them onto a previously taken image of the newer school building in the sun in order for the cover to look more appealing. 

    After i did this i blurred the edges using the smudge tool as the edges were very rough and it was too apparent that i had cut and pasted them onto a much more appealing background. However, even after i had blurred the edges of my initial image, the difference in the lightening made the image look too fake and false. Therefore, I altered the shadows and highlights of the image to lighten it and then I bevel and embossed the image to make it look a bit more 3D. 

     I wanted the magazine to look quite rebellious so i chose to stamp over the original 'Gordano school' sign with the word 'issue.' Yet, people have often mistaken it to look like the big issue sign even though its not, therefore i may have to change it to look a little more original.

     With my contents page, i decided to have a bit more of a simply layout. Therefore i chose a light blue back with a faded image of two students jumping to give the magazine a bit of life and activity. I then chose just a simple rectangle for the text to be inserted. I also put the title on the content page to introduce the magazine a little bit more.