Masthead Development

The masthead started with a normal text font arial with the colour black. I wanted to create a more romantic and powerful font so I changed the text to capitals and chose comprehensive gothic light as the font style. This gave the romantic feel and the capitalsmade in standout on the page. I then adopted the colour to a more romantic stereotypical love colour, red. This dark red helped it stand out on the page as the masthead. Finally, I added some effects to the masthead head tomake it stand out on the page and look moreprofessional by adding a drop shadow, applying bevel and embossed the image and applied the black as an under lay colour to add the final effects to make the masthead lookprofessionalby manipulating a simple design to fit with the high end magazine market.

Magazine Photo Editing

Original Photo

Final photo

Stages of manipulation

This shows the original photo taken from the photo-shoot and the finished photo used on my magazine cover. The photo has had the background cut out of the photo which is typical conventional form seen in the magazine industrey especially in the high end market of magazines. I used the cut tool on photoshop to cut out around the image to allow this professional look to the photo as the background didnt fit into the colour scheme of the magazine layout.

After cutting the background of the image i used the face mask tool to help perfect the models faces on both male and female to make them look more glamours. This manipulation technique is another conventional form seen across the magazine industrey. I used the face mask tool as this helps work accuratly cover over marks on the face and i felt the best tool to use for the task.

I felt at this point after the masking manipulation technique and the cutting out of the background that the magazine still did not fit into the high end magazine caterogry so therefore changed the colour dimensions of the photo in the colour balence under tools. I highlighted the white and black colours in the photo and applied the grey scale to the photo. This technique was applied and help make the photo fit into typical magazine front covers seen within the high end of film magazines. This was the final aspect to the photo and the final manipulation stage to the photo.

Meeting 5

The Agenda: Deciding on the image for the magazine front cover

Members Present: Ciara, Beth and Lewis


Items Discuessed:
The photo we have decided to use on the front cover of the magazine is the last photo in the photo-shoot (seen below). This is because we felt it stuck to conventinal magzine traits of form like an outward facing eyeline anda  shoulder and head view. We felt the mise en scene and the props used helped the photo stick to the high end market of magazines and the conventional aspects that are always used. This allowed the photo to appeal the stereotypical people who would by the magazine. Not ony that the main reason we felt this image stood out was the way in which the photo appealed to the target audience of the magazine, teens. We felt the shwoing of flesh from the female in the phot pushes guidlines of magazien photography which teens want to see images bending the rules and this is the overall deciding factor of why we chose this image as the magazine front cover image.

                                                      The final image for the magazine;

Items to be discussed: Editing aspects and the rest of conventional aspects of magazine suchs masthead, puff and plug.

Photo-shoot for Magazine

We decided to hold a photo-shoot to capture the image for the front cover of the magazie. We decided to put a lot of time and effort into the main front cover image through our audience research we found the image on the front cover is a fundamental aspect of the magazine that needs to meet magazine and high end magazine conventions as well as challenege some aspects. As our magazine was being aimed into the high end of the market we therefore planned the photo-shoot and the mise en scene around this idea.

In the photo we were looking for we plan to have the two main actors in the shot. This is the leading male and female as we felt these were the important characters regarding the storyline. Keeping with the high end conventions of a high street magazine we are looking for a close up shot that has the head shoulders in to help capture the characters face and there facial expressions. The way we set out the aqctors was the male was in a suit with a tie. This was a black and white dinner suit of which we added a watch to add to the character and to help stick to our high end stereotype as the way the character is set up on the magazine front cover will be the type of person stereotyped to by the magazine. With the leading female we have placed her in dinner dress that is white to help again keep with the simple colour scheme which will be seen throughout the film. The additional colours we have used will be used in the editing of the image stage. We have the girls hair long and down to show her being dressed up and pretty well the male actor has a messed up styled hair that looks like hes well groomed. This again will help fit the stereotype we are looking for as well as help fit into the conventions of a high end magazine.

After the photo-shoot we selected these five as the final ones to chose from to make our magzien cover. We looked at matching the image to angle we wanted to create with mise en scene in mind well trying to keep with conventional high end magazines and appeal to our audience. As well as this we have to make sure that we are appealing to our traget audience of teens so we have to make this appealing and related to teens and relevent.

 With this image we felt this met the typical front cover of a film magazine as well as the high end of magazine front covers. We felt this was to standard and would not jump out of the page. We liked the amgle of front on and felt the look was good, but it lacked the appeal to teens. Although, the characters are teens we felt that the image should be a bit more cheeky and push the boundaries and limitations of the rules. This image feels boring and predictable. This would be the safest option for us to pick.

This image shows the characters emotions for one another and feel real. However, we need to stick to conventions of the high end magazine traits and the images are all serious. This photo does look slightly unprofessional with the actors not looking out front and is a view we are not looking for but could be used for the film poster and will be a candidate for that selection. The eyeline of the actors is not right and editing the image will be limited on this photo.

This close up shot of the actors is forward facing and a good view. I feel the actors are to relaxed and the view of them does nt fit in with the conventional high market photo as the poses they are holding are relaxed. The added conventioanl streotypical props like a watch for man are missing in the scene and the prop is an important small aspect which helps undermine the character and stereptype .

This phot is a long shot which gets the legs of the actors in. This does not stick to conventional traits seen on magazine front covers. This means challenging the conventions of the magazine which i feel pulls us more down the scale of magzine front covers when we want to be in the high end market. The laid back tho serious non caring pose from the male actor doesnt some his character up although is a great pose. His action of leaning against the wall really captures a "bad attitude" look which against the turning cheeky pose from the female. Although, the image has good poses and use of props and mise en scene the actually view of the image is to far away which can be changed and developed in the editing stage.

 This photo really captures the conventional forms of the high market magazine front cover image by using a straight pose with the actors looking our front. The angle of front on but capturing the head and shoulders is perfect for the magazine market we are aiming the magzine into too. The mise ens cene and props look good in the image and the pose both fits the charcaters and the conventions of film magazine front covers. The male actor although, is all serious as a casual student aspect seen with the (hand in ther pocket action). The female actor is turning which looks professional with a student feel.

The hair of both actors is perfect as the female as long falling hair and the male actor has waxed hair to the side again helping fit with the stereotype of the people will the high end market.

Not only does this image fit the conventions seen with the high end market of film magazines but this phot challenges the dimensions and limitations of showing flesh. The female actors back is revealing which helps appeal to the tean market by hitting the limitations and guidelines of producing a film magazine image and its that percise aspect that draws the target audience of teens to the magazine. This photo not only sticks to dimensions of film magzines especially the high end of magazines but meets hits traget audiences needs by challenging the limitations of magazine guidelines to reach there target audience by challenging some aspects as well sticking to conventional forms seen in media products.  

Meeting 4

Meeting Agenda: Discuss magazine layout

Members Present: Beth, Ciara and Lewis

Items discussed:We have decided to use this layout as our magazine layout and all create a magazine cover and see which one is the best and has the best overall layout, phot and magazine conventions. We will assess which one will recieve the best mark.

Propsed next meeting topics: Poster layouts and magazine editing.

Magazine Layout

The magazine layout sticks to magazine conventions seen in the market already. The masthead is poistioned at the top of the page from left to right. This is typically where mastheads are poistioned. Challenging this concept would be risky and could jepodise the success of the magazine.

The image is large and centerd which again is conventional of film magazines across all genres. The large image is an important of which I established from my audience research so therefore, concentrated mostly on the poistioning of the main image on the front cover to keep conventional forms the same as well as making the magazine appeal to the target audience of teens. The image is overlapping the masthead which again is conventional in all magazines not just film magazines across all genres and would be a big mistake to not keep to the conventions. Challenging this concept breaks down the reality of the magazine and is a form that should not be challenged.

The other uses of puff and plug I have decided to use is not a concept and trait of magazine front covers from the high end market. This is some think I intend to challenge by using the uses of puff and plug. This is because I intened to make my magazine not only fit in with conventional traits from the high end market of film magazines where I am placing my magazine, but also appeal to the target audience of the film. With the uses of puff and plug my magazine will appeal to my target audience of teens which will challenge the conventions seen in high end magazines. One of these texts use will be the actors names and the film title. This again is another concept seen on film magazine front covers and helps bring attention to the magazine as well as providing a professional look.

My magazine will also have the date, issue number and barcode present to help make the magazine look professional. These are added extras which will help bring the reality of the magazine out. They are essentials to publishing and do have to be poistioned right against all of the other aspects of the magazine front cover to balence the page out.

Casting Younger Actors

Casting younger actors is difficult to find actors who match the older cast members. To act as younger actor requires really strong talent and confeidence at the young age. A lot of the young actors and actresses are always very hard to get hold of and cant not always commit as they will be in school. They will have lots of pressure on them and will feel pressured to work under the consuming time frame so therefore, we will have to make sure that they are well looked after so that they will benefit from the expereience as well as producing a successful film.

Niamh Kinsella - Successful

Niamh presented her confeidence straightaway to us. Her audition for the role we were hesitant as to how she would perform in the role of a serious character as she is well known for her comedy status and roles within the film industry and almost all of her major film roles involve a comedy aspect; however we were very surprised as to how dedicated and commited she became to the part straight away - she engaged herself within in the role of the character easily and also developed certain trates of her own to add towards the character. Niamh was very confident within herself and embedded this within her character, she had a clear voice and her diction was perfect when asked to recite some of the chosen dialogue. The main aspect that stood out about Niamh was her ability to work well with other actors - she produced amazing chemistry with both actors going up for the main role; Niamh made it an easy decision for us when choosing our female young actor lead role.

Harry Craven - Successful

This young actor hasnt been in many films but as appeared on televison in line performances. We feel he can adapt to the film industrey as it is not as much pressure however, requires a lot more time and effort in such a short space of time. The actor fitted the role perfectly and he showed great enthusiasim to really embed the role of the character. He was really serious and the young actor will be cheaper to have in the cast then the other auditioned actors. We feel he can learn a lot from the performance and also bring a lot to the production. We feel he is one to look out for in the future.

Daniel Watts - Unsuccessful

This actor is a very high profile and famous actor. He is very expensive and has been to known to be high maintence and require a lot of attention and pgysical items well working. We would love to have this actor on set with us but, can not afford to splash out on this famous actor to have him in the production.

Keeley Ryan – Unsuccessful

A very unexperienced young actor, however we felt Keeley could pull it out of the bag, just as Harry had, but she lacked in the confidence department and just wasn't good enough for the role when compared to other actors. Another aspect that steered us away from Keeley was the fact that she let her confidence get in the way of developing chemistry with the other male actors - she was very immature when it came to co-acting; we decided to use Keeley for our second draft alongside Daniel but we felt they just weren't good enough for the final film