Pre-Lim Task: Model Consent Forms

The models I'm using for my pre-liminary tasks have signed the model consent forms with their names and signatures to give me permission to publish the pictures I take of them.

Pre-Lim Task: Flat Plan

For my flat plan I decided to inject as much detail as possible so I could refer back to it regularly. Instead of doing a rough sketch I printed out an image my model took of herself and traced it, completing the colour using makeup to make it look more realistic. This particular picture is a close up where my text happened to fit within the empty spaces perfectly, but when I begin taking my photos I will play around with different angles and lightings to see what works best. I changed the colour of her top to blue so that it would compliment my masthead and added a bracelet saying 'End Violence' to link it back to my magazines USP of engaging young girls in political activism.

In terms of my masthead, I imitated the 'Bubblegum' font from the website 'Dafont' and coloured it in using a turquoise pencil. As my mastheads font is fairly bulky and bold, I decided to keep the rest of the fonts more simplistic, but I chose pink as my other feature colour to ensure it complimented the shades my model was wearing and satisfied the stereotypical interests of my target audience. I'm interested in politics myself, so I researched some current affairs and included six fascinating article titles relating to news stories... I came up with '#I'mWithHer - Everything you need to know about Hillary's presidency plans', 'BREXIT: What it means for women', 'Rape culture: Menace or myth?', 'The 10 best campaigns you can get involved in', 'Protect reproductive rights now - the young girls tackling abortion access around the world', and 'The top 20 politicians under 30'...

These are just some initial ideas, but for each article I have considered how my reader could interpret it; By incorporating a social media campaign ('#I'mWithHer') I am keeping it relevant to news stories in the world right now, by specifying a gender ('What it means for women) I am offering a fresh perspective, by using a question mark ('Menace or myth?') I am challenging the readers to a debate, by directing it towards the reader ('Campaigns YOU can get involved with') I am inviting them to try new things, by using a pull quote from my model ("Protect reproductive rights, now!") I am selling the idea to my reader that my cover star could be them one day, and by specifying an age range in my plug  ('+ top 20 politicians under 30') I am promoting and encouraging success among the younger generation. Although I want my magazine to have a professional edge, I felt as though graphics would modernize the overall mise-en-scene, which is why I placed a box around the first and third articles and drew three identical intricate designs underneath the fourth article. These are small details that give the magazine a younger feel!

For my contents page I researched a variety of different layouts until I eventually found one I felt suited my magazine the most... I will consider different shots from my shot list before deciding on my final images, but I plan on using two clear images (one at a neutral angle in the media studio with minimal makeup and a campaign top, and the other at a low angle in the playground with props such as tables and a ballot box, as well as a politics revision book). I plan on using graphics such as rectangles behind text to emphasize the main elements of each article/caption (eg. 'BREXIT') and including page numbers as well as an explanation in a smaller font beneath. I also used exactly the same 'Bubblegum' font from the website 'Dafont' and plan on incorporating my feature colours.

Pre-Lim Task: Shot List

My shot list showcases images I will potentially use for my magazine front cover and contents page...

 My first shot is a close up at a neutral angle taken in the media studio - I aim to keep my model's hair  in a sleek bun and her makeup minimal to draw more attention to her politics related slogan bracelet. My second shot is a medium close up of my model wearing a campaign top taken at a low view to emphasize that there is power in activism (this will be taken in the media studio so that the background is simple yet effective, and I have added hoop earrings to my model because these are fashionable accessories among the magazines desired age  range). My third shot is an over the shoulder shot taken at a high angle in the media studio, with the same bracelet acting as the centre of the entire image. This is a very minimalistic photo but I plan on incorporating other elements that will make it more attractive to my target market such as intricate makeup.  My forth shot is a medium close up of my model holding a politics revision book... I have decided to choose a classroom as the location and take it at a neutral angle to make the reader feel as though they are a politics student themselves and consequently engaging. My fifth shot will be taken in the same location but with my model holding a ballot paper instead, which links the mise-en-scene to the magazines theme. My final shot is a medium close up of my model mid-debate in a classroom. I aim to make this feel as intimate and inviting as possible by taking it in a classroom and keeping it at a neutral angle.

Moving onto my contents page images, my first shot is a two shot taken at a low angle with one model holding a revision book. I want to capture this from the bottom of the sixth form stairs so it looks like they are descending from class as two intrigued friends, adding to the overall mise-en-scene. My second shot is a medium close up of my model taken at a neutral angle and wearing a campaign top in the playground. I want to highlight the importance of standing out from the crowd with this particular image! My third shot will also be taken at a neutral angle and in the playground, but the political statement in a public place here is a protest sign. I will ensure the words are in focus so that it is easily understandable for my readers. My forth shot is a two shot with the same models as my first shot, but this time they are mid-conversation reading another politics related book. I want to highlight the importance of healthy debate between girls of all races, religions, and political beliefs (since my two models are visibly of different faiths, for example). My fifth shot is an extreme close up - I will purposely take the picture so that the top half of my models face is all you can see, as I want the emphasis to be placed on the politics related book she is reading - but I am going to play around with other features during Photoshop to enhance certain aspects of my model such as her makeup and hair. My final shot is a medium long shot taken at a neutral angle in the school hall - Props include a ballot box and an 'I voted' badge to correlate with my magazines theme, whilst my model will be wearing preppy clothes to give a professional feel.

Pre-Lim Task: Reader Profile

 

Pre-Lim Task: Deconstructing a magazine cover

Pre-lim Task: Initial Ideas

Welcome to my blog! Its purpose is to showcase my work, share my ideas, allow me to throw myself into the course wholeheartedly, and help develop my own personal creative direction throughout various different projects...

For my pre-liminary task my brief is to produce the front cover and contents page of a college magazine where I must include as many relevant conventions as possible. I am basing my college magazine around politics since a lack of education surrounding important issues is why I believe the younger generation are more likely to dismiss voting for elections and other referendums, despite it impacting us collectively the most - hence the masthead 'Engage'. 

I have specified my target market further by aiming it towards teenage girls, particularly in the age range of 16+; statistics like men averagely outnumbering women 4 to 1 in Westminster and the fact that only 4 out of 23 current cabinet ministers are women are my main motivations for hypothetically creating a space for young girls to encourage each other to stand up for what they believe in. If women felt more systematically supported, we could dissect our government more equally.

My front cover should consist of a medium close-up of my model, however the details of this shot are ambiguous, therefore I will contemplate different aspects of my shot list before finalizing my flat plan. I have also considered a close-up of my model wearing a bracelet with a slogan supporting a certain campaign, a medium close-up or over the shoulder shot of my model wearing a top promoting a political movement, a medium close-up of my model mid-debate, and a medium close-up of my model holding a ballot paper. I want my model to look fresh yet professional, so these images may be taken from a low angle to suggest power, but there's an element in each that relates back to my theme.

My feature colours will compliment a colour my model is wearing (either make-up or clothing) and the fonts will be bold and inviting. I am still gathering inspirations for a puff but that, combined with my plugs, are intrinsically linked to challenging social norms in politics. Persuasive techniques will be used to enhance the success of my anchor, and I plan on prioritising a positive representation of women in the media in terms of mise-en-scene. An article of mine has been published already, so I'm going to put as much effort into my pre-lim task (and other media projects) to ensure I can build on my portfolio and increase my media knowledge.