Name: Adam Temple-HealdCandidate number :Centre: 33435 Aquinas CollegeAS Media StudiesOCR G321: Foundation Portfolio

Brief from OCR syllabus

Question 1 – Who would be your audience for your media product?

It will be quite similar to Mixmag magazine so it will attract readers of that, but will be aimed at a slightly younger audience. The primary audience for my magazine would be mainly teens/young adults aged 15-25, this is because the biggest audience for electronic music is people who lie in this age group. Although there will be some people who listen to this music above or possibly below this age group, I will target my magazine towards the majority age group so it will therefore appeal to a wider audience. My content isn’t particularly gender specific like things such as fashion or cars, so this means the articles will be aimed towards both male and female audiences as both will read it.My secondary audience will be people that might not buy the magazine, but read it with friends. And my other secondary audience will be people above the age group that I aimed it at, as there will be people above those ages who will want to read something like my magazine so I have to keep them in mind but still mainly target it at my primary audience.

I made an audience mood board to visually show what my perfect audience would be. Although, looking back on this, I would have added some things such as other artists, and pictures of events. But I would have removed some things such as the Marvel and DC logos because as I developed my magazine, I didn’t want them in it anymore.

Question 1

Ideal ReaderMy ideal reader would have to have certain interests to enjoy reading my magazine. They would have to like electronic music obviously, as the magazine is primarily based around this and everything to do with it from gigs, and artists to tutorials. To get the most out of my magazine they’d have to use social networking sites such as twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Question 1

I included these features that my audience wanted under one section called “Upcoming”.

As my magazine was mainly a electronic music magazine I wanted to focus on that, but I still involved film reviews.

I feel as though interviews should be quite a large part of magazines, and some of the audience thought so too so I made it quite a large part.

Again, I created a whole section based on upcoming events as the majority of surveyed people would want something like that.

As not the majority of people wanted to see tech in the magazine, I decided to base the competitions off it. Who doesn’t want to win the latest gadget?!

Question 1

The most popular colour scheme was the red, white and black one. And whilst making my magazine I feel it was definitely the best choice

Although, I didn’t use it on my DPS, this because they usually have their own theme and look in othermagazines.

I really should have gone for the offer of discount in certain shops as it was the most popular, but I used the free posters offer instead as it gave me the addition of another visual object on my contents page so it wasn’t just all words.

Question 1

In the end I didn’t go for anything heavily film related as I wanted it to be mainly music focused, so I just went for the review of films and just do the top films instead of ones from specific genres. But maybe in the future I could do a Top 10 Comedy Films or something.

As you can see from the survey, most people want to get it for as cheap as possible, but that was the lowest I was willing to go as it only comes out once a month so otherwise I wouldn’t make any money.

Question 1

I got interviews with the different artists, from the popular ones, to the less-heard-of ones. This allows people to get to know more about the ones they already enjoy, and get introduced to the ones they don’t.

This magazine will be released once a month as the majority of surveyed people would prefer it if it was like that. This also allows my magazine to have more, and better quality content in it.

Question 2 – How does your media product represent particular social groups?

My magazine doesn’t really represent any specific kind of social group, but more like a selection of them.

My magazine includes links to twitter and the internet as the people reading my magazine will most likely have these and will be interested in finding out more.

My magazine shows that my readers have the time and money to put into going to the latest gigs and venues as that’s quite a large part of my magazine.

My cover star doesn’t have a specific style, but her glowing eyes shows the genre of music; electronic.

Question 2

The kind of person who reads my magazine always wants to be the first person out of their friends to find something out. This is shown by there being exclusive content in this magazine meaning no other magazine has it.

The people who read it want to always know what the best things out there are. This is represented through us providing content on what we think are the best current and upcoming artists, the best music out there at the moment and what the best events are. The readers always want to know what’s happening.

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

The media institution that will distribute my media product would be Development Hell Ltd. This company already publishes Mixmag, which is probably the biggest selling and most widespread electronic and dance music magazine out there at the moment.

I think that Supercharged will compliment Mixmag very well as they are both electronic and dance music related, and would promote each other.

Publishing my magazine with Development Hell Ltd will make my magazine a sister publication to Mixmag, the biggest, most popular dance magazine in the UK. Mixmag is very successful, so it will help get my magazine into circulation, and will be distributed via print (physical magazine).I wouldn’t risk publishing it with a rival company to Mixmag, as it will be extremely tough going up against something that’s already majorly popular. But if a rich and influential company backed and published my magazine I could have a chance. But I’d rather stick with the safer choice.

A new issue of Supercharged will be released every month, priced at £2.99 which is similar to Mixmag. But mine will be released halfway through the month as oppose to at the end/start of the month. This means my magazine will not clash with Mixmag meaning more people will buy it.

Question 3

SUPERCHARGEDDropping the bass at your door

Question 3

Website App

This allows people to have another experience of the magazine, and allows for more interaction and accessibility.

This lets people access content from the magazine whilst on the go.

Question 3

SSupercharged Mag@SuperChargedMag

Twitter

This lets the magazine writers etc interact with the readers easily and helps promote the magazine as people will retweet things.

Merchandise

SSupercharged

Question 4 – In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real

media products?

My music magazine was one based around dance/electronic music. During the process of making my magazine I used other dance magazines such as Mixmag as my inspiration. These helped shape my media product immensely as they too were electronic music themed magazines and so this helped me with the different conventions such as layouts, colours, fonts etc.

Front CoverThe front cover was the first part of my magazine that I created. Before I started creating it, I took a look at what Mixmag’s front covers looked like, and decided to follow the same sort of layout.

Question 4

Mixmag’s covers had the star right in the centre of the cover, bigger than everything else showing that they’re the most important thing in the magazine with all of the information around them.

The headline linking to the main image is placed over the main image somewhere, making it stand out and easier to read.

The masthead of Mixmag is very big, filling up the majority of the cover, making it easy to notice and identify. They also change the colour of the masthead depending on the background of the cover so it contrasts and stands out even more.

The colour schemes on each individual magazine is different but they stick with the same colour scheme throughout that specific issue.

Both magazines had a banner/catchy slogan near the masthead to make you want to buy the product.

Some of the front covers use ‘the gaze’ where the main cover star is looking into the camera, this creates a kind of interaction between the star and the audience.

Both covers include some kind of promotion, these entice the reader to buy the magazine and possibly convince them to buy future ones

Mixmag doesn’t use secondary images on their front covers, only the large main image. This makes it look neater and less cluttered.

Question 4

The masthead I created took up the majority of the top of the front cover, just like in Mixmag.

Mixmag’s masthead is quite plain and simple, whereas I went for font that fitted the theme of my magazine in a way, as it looks dramatic and explosive, just like the music that it looks at.

I decided to create a banner/slogan that didn’t increase my magazines ego like Mixmag’s “The world’s biggest..” I went for something that went with the theme of my magazine, and it’s also a clever play on words.

I put the main star right in the centre of the front cover as she is the main story of this magazine.

The headline linking to this story was placed over them to make it stand out against everything else, just like in some Mixmag magazines.

The colour scheme I used all work well together as they all contrast each other making the cover look eye-catching and striking.

I decided not to use any secondary images to link with my secondary stories as I think the cover will have lost it’s dramatic affect, as it would have made it look a bit cluttered. This is very similar to Mixmag as they never use any secondary images.

Contents PageQuestion 4

A large image is used to show off the main story and catch your attention.

The features and articles are in a list layout so they can be seen easily, and each has brief information about each one underneath it so you can easily find what you’re looking for.

Secondary stories are displayed with pictures instead of short captions, making them more eye-catching.

The name of the magazine to keep it fresh in the reader’s mind.

The issue date so you know when it was published and if it is relevant anymore.

The first line of every article is in bold, so it catches the readers attention more and lets you easily distinguish between each article.

Page numbers show the reader where to find that article.

The word Contents is clearly shown at the top of the page.

Question 4

A large image is used to show off the main story and catch your attention.

The features and articles are in a list layout so they can be seen easily, and each has brief information about each one underneath it so you can easily find what you’re looking for.

The name of the magazine to keep it fresh in the reader’s mind.

The issue date so you know when it was published and if it is relevant anymore.

The first line/word of every article is in bold, so it catches the readers attention more and lets you easily distinguish between each article.

I wrote an editor’s letter, this gives the magazine a really strong humanly feel to it.

I didn’t have any secondary images because I wanted all of the attention on the main star.

The word Contents takes up a huge space at the top of the page, clearly showing the reader where they are, and if you’re looking through the magazine you can quickly find it.

I didn’t reveal what the posters were so people would have to open the magazine to see what they were.

A large image is used to show off the main story and catch your attention.

I created a way for people to get information and content even when they’ve read the magazine which is a twitter account. And this will also help to get my magazine known.

Double Page SpreadI didn’t look at any specific magazines for my DPS, I just looked at a selection of

different ones.

Question 4

Pull quote to draw the reader in.

The images take up a whole page, which makes the reader get drawn into them. And the image is usually found on the left page.

Set out in columns.

The star of the image is usually looking straight at the audience which entices the reader to read on.

The star’s name is put somewhere on the page in bold or in a bigger size, this makes them stand out more as a celebrity.

A stand first, to slightly explain who the reader is going to reading about.

Every DPS has a drop capital, which shows the reader where to start.

A DPS usually follows the same colour scheme as the rest of the magazine.

In an interview DPS the questions are put into a different coloured box so you can tell them apart from the answers.

Question 4

Pull quote to draw the reader in. I chose something funny to make the reader want more.

I added a drop capital to show readers where to start and it makes the text look different so it’s not the same throughout.

I put my article in columns to make it tidier and easier to read so you don't lose where you’re reading.

I gave my DPS a different colour scheme to the rest of the magazine which goes against usual DPS conventions. I did this as I wanted my star to stand out from the crowd, and the colour scheme being different to the rest connotes this.

A stand first, to slightly explain who the reader is going to reading about.

I made the star’s name huge on my DPS, this makes the star look very important, and connotes that he wants people to know his name.

The image takes up one page, just like in a lot of other double page spreads.

I put the questions in different coloured boxes so they are easily distinguishable, and they break up the text.

My main star is looking straight at the audience, trying to involve them more, and to entice them into reading on.

Question 5 – How did you attract/address your audience?

I attracted my audience by conveying certain conventions to make them pick my magazine over the competitors.

The masthead I created took up a huge space at the top of the cover, I also made it look dramatic as to catch people’s eye. The name of the magazine will also make readers want to read more because “Supercharged” connotes that it’s exciting, powerful and fast-paced, just like electronic music.

I made a pug advertising the chance to win an expensive prize. I made the pug circular to make it stand out from everything else on the cover which were quite square and rectangular in shape. This will make the reader want to buy the magazine so they are in with a chance of winning it.

My banner/slogan I used is a clever play on words and shows that electronic music is in the magazine. It drops the bass at “your door” making the reader relate to it more.

I created a little “Plus” section at the bottom so people who pick up my magazine can easily see what else is in there and that’s it’s not only electronic music, but film related things too and will therefore make other people pick up the magazine too.

I added “+much more” at the end so people would see that there’s a lot of content in my magazine and they’d have to read on to see it. I also put the price on the cover so you can easily see how cheap it is, which may convince people into buying it.

The cover star is looking straight forward, straight at the audience, this will engage the audience, and automatically involves them with the magazine more.

Question 5

I get the audience involved in the magazine so it lets them really see what they want to read. This also makes them feel like part of a community, one in which they all enjoy a similar thing; electronic music.

Aimed at people who enjoy watching their favourite artists, and who like to get involved in lively events.

For people who want to know things before their mates.

I didn’t try and make my cover star into someone my readers want to be, I wanted to make her striking and eye-catching, with her glowing eyes it makes her seem slightly unhuman like a robot which links to the genre of music, and will make people want to know more.

The genre of music my magazine is based around is electronic and the people who usually listen to that genre are quite laidback so I went for a friendly mode of address, to make the magazine have a cool and calm feel about it, to treat the readers as equals.

My contents page follows the same style and colours. I used the colours red, white and black as they all stand out from each other which makes the pages even more striking.

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

The following slides show how I got this text and effects.

First I typed out the text I wanted at size 220 and put it in the font Myriad Pro. Then I set the background to black and the text to white so the effects would show up much better (see later).

I then right-clicked on the text layer and chose blending options.

The I set it to these settings, which create a glow around the text.

This is what it looks like when complete.

Then you right click on the text layer and select ‘Duplicate Layer’ this will create an identical text layer that you will be able to edit independently.

Question 6

Go into the blending options for the duplicate text layer, but instead of red set it to blue and the size is a bit bigger.Also make sure to tick the ‘Drop Shadow’ option, this is what gives it the 3D-ish effect.

This is what it looks like.

Then create a new layer, make it the second one from the bottom, fill it black and set it to ‘Screen’.

Then play around with the positioning of the lens flare so it is under your text somewhere.

And then it’s done!

Question 6

The following slides show how I removed the

background and blended her waist into it.

I used the magic eraser tool on the green-screen background and then used a soft edged eraser to get rid of the green between the fur on the hood.

Then I used the fill bucket tool to set the background as black.

Question 6

Then you use the burn tool and set it to the ‘shadows’ option. Then you paint around the base of her body.

I set the exposure to 68% as it makes the shadows darker.

And then it’s done!

Question 6

Question 6

I gave one of my pull quotes a border to make it stand out more against the picture.

I typed out the quote I wanted to use.

Then I put black boxes between each line and aligned it perfectly.

Then I copied and pasted the two black boxes and moved them a layer below the other black boxes. Then I change them to purple and shifted them down and slightly to the right which gives it a 3D effect.

Question 7 – Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression to

the full product?

Technologies Used:• DSLR• Computer• Adobe Photoshop• Publisher

Question 7In my college magazine masthead I went for a smooth, cartoonish look as it is aimed primarily at younger readers, aged from 16-18. I used the same sort of colour scheme as the Aquinas logo so readers can relate to it.

Whereas for my music magazine I created an edgy looking masthead, which looks quite explosive just like the music it’s representing. I think that this looks much more professional than my college magazine, so could be sold much better in a shop.

On my college magazine I put the banner at the bottom of the page, and copied the cartoon style of the rest of the front cover. I also made the word ‘BEST’ stand out by putting it in capital letters.

The music magazines banner is underneath the masthead, which I feel looks better and the readers are more likely to see it here, and what it says really links to the content of the magazine and is actually inventive instead of just upping the magazines status.

On my college magazine I highlighted key words in the secondary stories to make the reader notice them more, this made it so people could easily see what the story would be about at a glance. I also included a picture to go with my story which gave the story a visual representation of the story, although I felt this made the front cover look a bit cluttered.

Question 7

On my music magazine front cover I titled the secondary stories, this made it even easier for readers/viewers to see what stories they were. And I put boxes around the title of the stories so they stood out more, and I made them slightly transparent so you could see the image behind if need be.

I put the main cover line over the main image on my college magazine, this showed the link between the two, although,

this made it a bit harder than normal to see it as it blended in with the background a bit too much.

On my music magazine I put the main cover line under the picture of the star, this made sure it was still easily visible but

still linked with the main image. I also changed the font of it from the rest of the front cover so it stood out.

Question 7

Technologies Used:• DSLR• Computer• Adobe Photoshop• Publisher

Question 7

In both of my magazines I set out my features section in a ordered list. This is because it makes it easy to find what pages things are on, and it fits well on the page. A lot of magazines don’t order their content in page order, whereas mine does making it easier to navigate.

In my college magazine I included images for my secondary stories, whereas in my music magazine I didn’t. This is because I wanted to stick with the simplistic theme following on from the front cover. Adding secondary images would have also taken the room away for me to add the extra information I put under each article on the features list.