AS Evaluation Q7

Q7: Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt from the progression of it to the full product? 

Ans: Initially when I took the course, Media Studies, I took it for granted that it’s just a general subject and not much hard work and study is required by this subject. But, as the A1 passed it proved me totally wrong! I really do acknowledge the fact that this subject requires serious dedication and hard work. Although I had to put effort dedicating the time and hard work I am really content that I kept this great subject that really proved vital in enhancing my knowledge and my hand at technology. 
Starting from start and looking at myself now, I feel a great difference! I came as a student with little knowledge about photography, adobe photoshop and honestly with no knowledge about the hazard involved in creating a media text. I got to know that it’s not just about creativity, some key conventions needs to be met in order for the result to be professional and easily understood by the target audience. I my AS I learned a lot of softwares the main being adobe photoshop. I have considerable knowledge about it now and practicing it has certainly enhanced the efficiency level. Now, I have been familiar with all the tools and their usage. Other than that, I have learnt various online presentations websites such as prezi, kizoa, slideshare, popplet and spicynodes. It has certainly increased my knowledge about JPS image and PNG images. I have no problem importing, exporting or embedding presentation or how to handle zip files for that sake. I head read about questionnaire and surveys but in media studies I got the chance to acknowledge the importance of conducting questionnaires and determining the market segment. I also got to know how to make a questionnaire and the appropriate website for it - survey monkey.com. 
Till now, it has been a terrific experience and I hope I continue to enhance my skills in A2.

AS Evaluation Q6

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AS Evaluation Q5

AS Evaluation Q4

AS Evaluation Q3

This question is done on spicynodes.com, powerpoint and kizoa.com!

AS Evaluation Q2

Q2: How does your media product represent particular social groups?

Note: This question is answered on www.padlet.com

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In Free Transform Style:

AS Evaluation: Q1

Q1: How does your media product use, develop and challenge forms and conventions of real media product? 

NOTE: Question 1 is answered on www.popplet.com 

Magazine Cover

Magazine Content Page

Magazine Double Spread

Insight to Double Spread Page

Insight to Magazine Content Page

Insight to Magazine Cover

Planning; Software

I have used adobe photoshop for the sketches and will use it for typography and graphics. I believe it's a good software and as we had previously used it for construction of school magazine I have some command over it now.  It has various tools which are best and easy to use when constructing a magazine.

Planning; Budget

The budget will most probably be around ten lacks as the magazine will be distributed in whole of Pakistan. Also, the fees paid to the antagonist will be high around two lacks which too because this is sponsored by PCB. The cricket gear will not cost at all as it can be borrowed by the player. The publishing and distribution cost would be high.

Planning; Equipment List

I would not need a detailed list of equipment for my magazine. I may just need a bat, ball or a wicket that suits best with my model to give it a look of a cricket magazine. I would require the latest kit used for Pakistan team to represent their country. As I will shoot in the day light, I wouldn't require the artificial lights as well. The main cost would be the publishing cost and the paper and the binding cost. Therefore, I can construct my magazine in a low budget as compared to other magazines.

Planning; Mood Board

About Mood board 

A mood board is a tool used by designers to help them get a good idea of what their clients are looking for. Mood boards are basically collages of items such as photographs, sketches, clippings, fabric swatches and color samples. A mood board can be actual or virtual. A mood board is used by many different types of designers such as those in fashion and interior design.

A decorating mood board often contains magazine clippings of furnishings that inspire the design concept. Sketches and a floor plan are also usually included on the board. Paint chips and other color swatches are also featured on a decorating mood board. The client can view the mood board and decide whether he or she likes the main design concepts the board represents.

A fashion mood board usually has sketches of garments as the main focus of the board. Fashion mood boards may also have magazine clippings or other sketches of what inspired the designer such as pictures of ocean waves for the design of a dark blue silk gown. Trimming details and ribbon could also be on a fashion mood board.

Mood boards are a great way for designers to present their take on a theme to clients. For example, if a client tells a designer that he or she wants something cozy or airy those feelings could be created in many different ways. By putting the ideas on a mood board first, the designer can make sure the client likes the ideas. You don't have to be a professional designer to create a mood board. It's possible to make your own mood board and get in touch with your own moods and tastes in the process.

You could start your personal mood board with a stack of magazines. Just tear and cut out anything that touches you in some way. Don't rationalize your choices, but pick colors, shapes, words and pictures that you feel drawn to. You can do theme boards such as "What I want my life to be like" or "Career ideas for me" or "How I want to decorate the baby's room." Anything goes and creating your own mood board can help your learn more about your self and your style.

Examples of Mood Boards: 

SPORTS MAGAZINES 

FASHION MAGAZINES

POP MUSIC MAGAZINES

  

Mood Board For My Cricket Magazine 

Planning; Various Codes and Meanings

Code: A system of signs which can be decoded to create meaning.

Most Common Codes:

1. Dress codes - this will be represented by the kit as my genre it cricket magazine
2. Colour codes - I will use green as this is the colour of the Pakistan flag and the Pakistan cricket team and symbolises patriotism as normally sports lours are really patriotic.
3. Non verbal codes / proxemics (facial gestures or body language): My model will have attitude and expression that provokes determination, energy, passion and zeal. The body language will convey motivation and strength.
4. Technical codes: Relates to the way in which particular texts are reproduced and the media used such as documentary. I will use the top angle to give my model a powerful look.   

Conventions: Is what you would expect to see in a certain genre, for example: in a sports genre we can expect sports equipment along with a famous player.

The codes and conventions in media can be separated into 3 groups -
- Technical (e.g. camera angles, movements & shots),
- Symbolic (e.g. clothing, colours)
- Written and audio (music etc.).
These three distinct groups give the text meaning and determine the response of the viewer.

Planning; Photography

I will take a medium shot to fully capture the attitude. My model will have a mystic attitude, filled with lots of hard work, determination and ego. I will take this shot from the front to connote that he is a normal person who has worked hard to achieve what he has and he is capable of making mistakes.

EXAMPLES:  STYLE

EXAMPLES: PHOTOGRAPHY - LOW LIGHT with MID SHOT

Planning; Graphics and Typography

I will require energetic and simple fonts.. FONT EXAMPLES

Planning; Expressions and Attitudes

As the name of my magazine in 'Zest' which conveys energy and passion I would like my model to have an attitude which conveys enthusiasm and zeal. The attitude should be just right to fully satisfy the name of the magazine. It should be serious along with a determined expression to carry on and convincing the audience of the handwork behind the scene. Also it should keep an expression and attitude that talks to the audience convincing them to buy and read.  EXAMPLES:

Planning; Mise-en-scene

Mise-en-scene literally means to 'put in a scene'. The miss-en-scene for my sports magazine would be:

Iconography: The iconography for my sports magazine would include the frequently used items of  cricket gear such as bat or ball or a wicket. This is done as to represent the genre of the sports magazine.

Costumes: The costumes used are usually the kit of the  Pakistan team given by PCB to make the audience familiar that it's the cricket magazine. However, as cricketers have a wide fan following and are recognised by the public easily they can be represented wearing  a pant coat while grabbing the cricket gear sometimes and sometimes may be just in the pant coat showing attitude.

Positioning: The model is usually positioned in the centre with sometimes arms closed or on sides hanging or placed on waist. In majority of sports magazines where the model is grabbing the cricket gear such as a bat it may be asked to grab the bat in front or place it on the shoulder while holding it. If it be a ball then he may be asked to play with the ball - throwing it in the air, while looking directly in the eyes of audience. In case of a wicket the same strategy with the bat may be used.

Planning; Finalizing Location

Selecting the location for my magazine wouldn't be difficult at all. I would obviously take the picture of my model in ground or at NCA (National Cricket Academy) to give it a sporty look or rather a look of a cricket magazine along with some cricket gear as I have observed in sports magazines. I can also take the picture of my model playing at the pitch or as I want him to act.