Progress Report - Radio Production and Camera Stills

The production of my group’s radio piece took place today, and although I had previous experience with the equipment, producing the advertisement was still a tough challenge. The skepticism I had built up of how it would turn out, due to the lack of planning, mainly to focus on the other products within the advanced portfolio, meant that more time was needed to make all the sounds and effects the group wanted to match perfectly. However, the atmosphere within the recording studio was calm, which led to clarity within our decision making on issues like choice of music and sound effects.

Photographic stills were also taken to reitterate the work-like atmosphere, as well as providing evidence of the physical work I have contributed to the advanced portfolio. Each member of the group contributed a fair amount to this production, by following the roles we assigned ourselves at the beginning of this project.
One issue that needs to be mentioned is that fact that our own production of music was created to fill in for the lack of copyrighted music we weren’t allowed to use, following the brief OCR has given us for the advanced portfolio. However, I believe this aided our radio advertisement, as it led to increased diversity, by creating our own piece.





My group has also decided that we are going to include other scenes within our film trailer as well as excluding those we believe do not aid the enigma and narrative. I think that this will create a more natural sense of fear than first cretaed when watching through the rough edit of the initial trailer.
The two photos above are photographic stills of the filming process which took most of the day, in an attempt to completely follow the codes and conventions. The first is where we have been refering back the storyboard, an important part of communication between each of the members within our group. The second image is of me, operating the camera.

Progress Report

As mentioned in the previous blog, time is limited at the moment and I have been attempting to create and apply ideas for my individual tasks as well as helping produce the group tasks – the radio advertisement and the film trailer. However, there have been some issues which has meant that alternative routes have been taken to solve these problems. An example of this is the way we have not been allowed to use existing music on our radio and film productions, even though previous portfolios have allowed this. Instead, we are going to use our own music for this. This has meant that we have larger responsibility surrounding the sound of our background music. It has also meant, however, that we have been able to directly mould the music around our pieces.

Relating to the individual tasks directly, I have been using Photoshop again, to update myself with some of the tools. This will aid my production of the individual tasks as I’ll be able to save time, which is critical at this late stage in the coursework. It will also give me the opportunity to create products that represent my full idea and in turn, show my understanding of these technologies. I have also created drawings of potential magazine front covers on paper, which has allowed for larger diversity when constructing an idea, due to the ease of drawing, in contrast to the complexities of Photoshop.

I have also spent time deciding the actual layout of the front cover; the use of the front cover to attract a potential audience is very important so the decision has not been taken lightly. The layout for my magazine is going to be similar to the style of Empire. The reason for this is that the picture I will be using conveys a sense of enigma, which is characteristic of this magazine throughout my research. This is reinforced by the posture and positioning of the character within the picture.

Filming for the Trailer

After arranging most of the paperwork allowing permission, as well as dates and props amongst other things, we went to film. The whole filming process took no longer than 3 hours, from which the required scenes were collected. It gave a good insight into the production stage of the Film Trailer, building on existing knowledge developed during the Foundation Portfolio, especially techincal codes. The result was that time management was smoother, as seen by the shorter amount of time it took to film.

Nevertheless, there were some minor issues which we had to correct on the spot. One of these was the issue with low batery. Although we had charged the battery the night before, this issue still caused some panic, in the ending, not running out. There were some other bigger issues though, such as the fact that one of our actors did not turn up. This lead to a rush to find someone who would be able to take up this role. For continuity, we made sure that all the shots filmed had this person in. We had taken test photogrpahs of our locations to see which would suit best for specific scenes. However, in a couple of these scenes, the reflection had made it impossible to film, leading to a change of location, more suited to our needs.

I also decided to take some still shots for potential use on my magazine and website productions, on top of the still photos taken of the location. This would aid the audience’s understanding of particular narratives, using my picture of the antagonist posing in a suggestive manner to illustrate this point. Pictures of my other group members, filming and organising the actors was also taken to reinforce the work ethic and direction of the narrative within the product.

Once filming had been completed, we returned all the equipment and then watched over the footage to see if any mistakes had been made, which were not spotted when watching the footage after each shot when filming. No mistakes had been spotted and we were happy with the footage we collected. Although the process was extremely stressful, we will be able to edit the film over the next week for the final trailer.

Planning of the Pre-Production

Since creating the blogs, for the purposes of explaining the process of the coursework, I have developed particular skills which have aided the production of this Advanced Portfolio. A direct example would be the use of web 2 technology, such as blogger, where this will end up. Furthermore, it has been used as a concise storage facility, linked to ‘Google Documents’ for the work produced over this period of pre-production. This will create ease for not just my group, but for others as well, such as the examiner who will need to locate each document individually.

In relation to the coursework production directly, I have been working well with the other members of my group, which has lead to quick progression since coming up with the initial ideas draft. This has also helped adapt our own transferrable skills to suit each other’s needs. This can be seen with the assignment of particular roles within the group, portraying the aspects at which we are better and worse at. This has lead to each of us helping each other with tasks we may find difficult, such as uploading work to ‘Blogger’ and ‘Google Documents’. ‘Google Documents’ has been helpful as a safe storage facility so that we do not lose important information. It has also meant that we can keep track of the work we have done and what work we still need to do through the use of a digital copy of the log book.

The pre-production of the Advanced Portfolio has shown that there is a lot more information that needs to be considered than in the Foundation Portfolio studied at AS Level. This may be partly due to the fact that there is more to produce, but it may also be stated that I have learnt that rules and regulations are just as important as deciding on other pre-production issues such as the technical codes. As a consequence, my group has dedicated a good amount of time in relating our own production to the rules and regulations, and advertising standards created by the BBFC.
Looking ahead, the filming of our trailer piece will take place tomorrow, which will be another big step towards the final Advanced Portfolio. Permission for equipment and locations have also been given, which will hopefully mean that no issues develop and the filming can be completed in quick time. Testiment to the planning between the group members.

Media and Collective Identity

"Find and list 5 websites that allow readers/users/contributors to create or participate in a collective identity. You are required to provide a discussion of how a specific collective identity is constructed/expressed on each of these sites (including a theoretical discussion of any relevant issues). You should seek to be as detailed as possible, use appropriate terminology and link to specific aspects of contextual study."

As the development of web 2.0 has grown, many websites have emerged that have helped individuals to join groups and convey their interests, via psychographic and demographic means. This has led to the build up of certain identities perpetuated throughout society, that have not stopped growing, leading to collective identities that other may attempt to judge or vice versa, label themselves. The list of websites below construct these identities in different ways, giving the user free choice over how they represent themselves.

http://www.myspace.com/

Although not as popular as it used to be, MySpace is still an important factor when it comes to representing a collective identity. The reason for this is that it incorporates many applications that aid musicians in uploading their work to web 2.0 for fans to listen to, such as the music player. It has a more direct approach than competitors such a Facebook, with the music player being easily located on the page, unlike Facebook. This will interpellate to the audience, persuading them to listen to maybe one track due to the ease of visiting the page.

It also gives the chance for those bands that may not be signed to a label to upload music, and many of those bands exist today amongst average people such as me. This leads to the idea that a “normal” can get noticed via the means of web 2.0, which appeals to most. This may give cultural capital to that band amongst friends or even bigger such as a school. On an even bigger scale, the band exists amongst many thousands more via MySpace, creating a collective identity solely representing music and the fans of it.

http://www.youtube.com/

Before the introduction of YouTube, uploading videos to the internet was much harder, so it is understandable that a collective identity developed from a site such as this. However, within this collective identity, many other identities are represented due to the wide range of users. This can be seen through the way videos are categorised by YouTube – Music, Comedy, Politics etc… The diversity of this website as well as the simple interface has meant that anyone from the average person to big corporate companies such as the BBC can create their own channel. It gives the opportunity to become a producer, and like MySpace, a person can show their own work to the world. There are some obvious examples, only recently a Uruguayan man was offered a $30m contract to direct a film based on his short film which he uploaded to YouTube.

Cultural capital again plays an important part within the world of YouTube. Subscribers to your channel will mean that the videos you make are important and entertaining to them. This may be another reason for the use of YouTube by the mass, to feel as though they have a place, other than at work or at home.

http://www.runescape.com/

Runescape is a browser based game whereby you create and control your own character. There are over 10 million players who interact via game play and the forums provided by the website. These all link together to form a collective identity, where you may appear to be more important than you are. This is reinforced by the idea that you are someone else within the game.

Anne Cronin’s theory that you become the product you buy is quite literal in this sense as you are becoming a character, seemingly different from the rest, but with motives very similar, that is to be the best and to communicate with other players through this newly obtained cultural capital.

http://www.facebook.com/

Facebook has probably become the most used social networking site, over taking MySpace in recent years. This has also lead to a collective identity whereby the key focuses may be the groups that you can join to show your interests or the other more important factors such as the pictures you post and the comments you leave. Similar people might look at these and agree with your views, and then proceed to add you as a friend. A snowballing effect, may then take place. The groups within the website that you can join will also say a lot about you and the influence web 2.0 has in connecting people. An example of this will be the way in which the campaign to get Rage Against the Machine to number one created a collection of people who were fans of the band; which then had a major impact on society.


http://www.wikipedia.org/

Wikipedia has come to the forefront of our attention due to its large amount of informative content. This information is largely user compiled and means that collective identity is developed via this idea that users can decide on correct information, develop and edit a page on a particular topic. There are also sub sites linked to Wikipedia such as a “Wiktionary” and various other forums where this information can be discussed by users.

Bordieu suggests that knowledge can also lead to a higher social position amongst a group, such as the discussions on Wikipedia, and this reinforces the idea as those with more knowoledge have a higher position amongst friends and other contributers to the site.

Ideas

Advanced Portfolio Ideas

Magazine Front Cover - Individual

Magazine Research
Magazine Background Ideas (Part 1)
Magazine Front Cover - Drawing

Film - Group

Synopsis
Analysis of Initial Ideas
Roles Within The Group
Pre-Production Log Book
Signifying Elements
Research on Teaser Trailers
SWOT Analysis
TV Advertising Standards Code
List of Resources
Voiceover Script
BBFC Trailer Classification
Media Competitor's Campaign - Textual Analysis
Psychographic Profile of the Target Audience
Reasons Behind The Name of the Campaign
Call Sheet
Character Script
Permission Documents
Draft Storyboard
Storyboard
Voiceover Storyboard
Ideas Blast
Editing Log
Room Plan
Room Booking
Mocumentary Idea Pitch
Location Stills - Description
Risk Assessment
List of Resources 2
Revision of Trailer Idea
Media Competitor's Campaign - Part 2
Media Competitor's Campaign - Part 3


Radio - Group

Radio Advertisement Rules
Pre-Production Log Book
Sound Studio Permission
Radio Codes and Conventions
Name of Radio Campaign
Radio Idea Blast

Magazine Front Cover

Marie Claire Website

As part of my Advanced Portfolio, I will need to produce my own magazine front cover which will help in attracting an audience for the film I will also be producing. Having limited experience in the use of Photoshop, every bit of practice I obtain will help my creativity and allow for a better quality product. This attempt will demonstrate the reasons for colour schemes, font types, size of the text and the layering used, amongst other things.

Colour is an important factor when producing a magazine, as the connotation associated with a particular colour can either reinforce or even subvert the other areas of your magazine production such as the content described by the text. I have used a dark blue to suggest a calm atmosphere within the magazine. The background blue, however, is also used to reinforce the brighter blue which is worn by the model. I have decided that although blue may be seen as a “calm” colour, the contrast can create a sense of interpellation which will help to attract a potential reader. “Marie Claire” conventionally uses mild colours as a way of attracting their target audience. I have been using “Marie Claire” as a way of comparing particular techniques used to speak out to a target audience, which their magazine aims for.

Another important aspect which determines how an audience will be attracted is the way a magazine such as “Marie Claire” uses the rule of thirds to place the model on the front cover. I have placed my model in the last third of the framing as I believe this gives the impression that the model is looking out of the magazine as well as the fact that she is facing towards the left side of the magazine which again makes it look as though she is facing the reader. This works at a personal level as the model may work as an interpellation device for the reader. The way the model is posing may also reinforce this personal level of conversation. Anne Cronin suggests that compulsive individuality is another technique used to entice an audience. The model on my front cover reinforces the idea that if you buy this issue, you may "become" that model.

The title itself, and the font associated with the magazine is another way in which an audience can be attracted. The title has its own connotation, and these tend to be positive which could lead to the magazine being bought, even if the reader is not a regular buyer. Depending on the layering, the masthead may be underneath or above the model, depending on the issue. However, as the font type is associated with the magazine, the reader may already recognise that the magazine is “Marie Claire”. Whether the masthead is above or below the model also helps to create a sense of depth. I have placed the model beneath the title for the reason just mentioned - that it creates a deeper sense of depth. This may also help to “lure” the reader in the magazine and is again reinforced by the pose created by the model.

As well as the main title, there are also sub texts used which help to give more information about the articles within the magazine. The lexis used can be important as key words may lead to the reader purchasing the magazine. The topics on discussion must also relate to the other areas of the magazine such as the model and the way she poses. I used the topic of travel to attract an audience. This may be associated with blue which in turn connotes calmness and this is what a person hopes to achieve on a holiday. The other topic can be linked to holiday as clothing is an important issue when travelling abroad, so this might further attract the potential reader.

Dreamweaver

I was able to use the program Dreamweaver in the previous lecture. However, unlike Photoshop, it provided more difficulties and was generally more complex. It provided further understanding as to how websites are produced and will help my production of the website stage in the Advanced Production.

The program incorporates every aspect of the website in layers which mean that a tiny mistake can make a big differece in its production. The mistakes I made helped me understand the fact that the website production will take a long time to plan and make.

Further development of my understanding in digital media.

My creativity has been advanced by the use of the program Photoshop. This has focused my understanding of editing towards digital aspects of the media and the way it can be used to change perspectives and views of a particular audience. Having no knowledge of this program before has meant that being able to use particular tools for creative purposes has also created a further interest in editing and how it can be used to minipulate information.

I have also been able to use an electronic catlogue to find particular books for which research was needed. Although I have used this catalogue before, I have been able to understand the way it works and how the books are located. This has meant that I can save time by finding books more easily and accurately.

Other digital technology, such as web 2, has meant that my evaluative skills have also been furthered through the use of websites such as Blogger and Youtube, where critical evaluations of the my AS coursework and my future coursework will help my understanding of digital media, and how it can be viewed throughout the internet by anyone.

How has my creativity developed through the use of digital technology?

Digital equipment has influenced the planning of my ideas, whereby the product which I created, had been altered and changed to a big extent during the three stages of the process. This has lead to a product which may not represent the set ideas I began with as the changes I had made took place due to my creative development and also means that the genre, originally decided on, was slightly subverted and reinforced in certain places with editing and camera work techniques.

At a practical level, it means that I can identify with the use of such equipment and how particular functions on these technologies work to create a product more accurately related to my ideas. The use of such equipment means that, for the future creation of a media product, I will be able to recognise what my capabilities and challenges are, by being able to identify with the evaluation of what went well and what went badly when using such equipment previously. These capabilities will mean that I can approach filming and editing or any other tasks which involve digital equipment, sure that what I have planned on doing can be done without any mistakes, due to my further knowledge of the digital equipment, and how this can work along side my creativity. Due to the level of expense involved with the equipment, a full paper analysis of safety measures were taken to insure that the equipment was secure no matter where it was taken to. This gave me the chance to film on locations that were representative of my ideas, furthering the creative aspect of the product.

As well as this, there is also the distribution aspect of these digital technologies which gave me an insight into newer technologies such as web 2. My final product, after editing, had the opportunity be viewed all over the world on the internet through sites such as YouTube. Using these websites has raised my awareness that media can be viewed with much more ease involved than other methods such as newspapers or television. Furthermore, user generated comments on these websites also helped as an analysis of my final product and has lead to advice which I can incorporate into my future products.

DVD is another form of digital technology which has aided my understanding of certain distribution methods. This form of technology means that my product can provide entertainment more easily than analog methods such as video, which may also be harder to access and the quality will be lower. DVD can also provide more entertainment than video or other analog methods in the sense that it has a bigger storage space; so therefore, it can contain more information for the viewer to interact with. This is important as the viewer may be interested in some of the features provided on DVD’s