Holly Langlois

For this task we had to create a tour poster for our allocated genres, mine was country and western. I used Photoshop to cut out my artist image and InDesign to arrange the tour poster. This was easier having done lessons prior to the creation which helped with the use of the programme.  This will help with my production of my magazine cover as it ensures I have familiarity with different programmes as well as being able to know what fits well. For example you need a obvious colour scheme and should only really use two different fonts. It has also made extremely excited to start my magazine cover.

 

 

 

For this task we were asked to create a mock-up front page of a magazine, this I really enjoyed as it allowed me to practice on InDesign, a programme I am not familiar with.

 

ORIGINAL MAGAZINE

 

 

MY COPY

 

Three strengths in which I believe my copy of the magazine has are:

• The accuracy of the layout as everything is in line with what it is supposed to be, for example ‘FLORENCE’ is in line with the lower half of ‘MAGNETICMAN’ on the left of the magazine. This proves extremely similar to the original.
• The spacing between new lines and letters is almost identical to the poster, such as”I WOULD NEVER HAVE GOT THROUGH THE X FACTOR AUDITIONS”. This quote has very small gaps between the new lines and between each letter; this is what I have made sure of on my own copy.
• Finally, I believe that the fonts I used are extremely similar to those on the original, even though they are not the exact, I think I did a good job in finding the closest match.

Three weaknesses I think my mock-up front cover has are:

• That the main cover star image is not the same as I really struggles finding it online; this meant that the my work could not be an exact copy. There is nothing much I can do about this as I spent a large amount of time looking for the image. The image is also quite fuzzy so I need to learn how to bring quality out in images on the programme. Here is a tutorial to help: 
• Additionally, I forgot to make the gaps smaller in between ‘THE STATE OF MUSIC TODAY’ act lines which means that my mock-up was not a carbon copy. Furthermore, I need to pay attention to detail.
• Finally, even though my fonts were close to the original, they weren’t the same therefore I must learn to import the exact fonts from elsewhere. Here is an online tutorial that will help me find and use different fonts :

Here is another Indesign YouTube tutorial to help me in my future production work:

I chose this video as I feel it will aid me in my own work when formatting my music magazine as it shows me how to use different layouts on the programme, to fit the conventions of a magazine, for example columns.

This task really aided me in getting to know how to use InDesign which will make me feel more confident in using this programme for my own music magazine. Also the tutorials will help me improve my knowledge and understanding of the programme and therefore hopefully, will push and develop my future production work.

 

 

After our experimental photoshoot, we were asked to create a moodpboard with our favourite nine images and a hashtag analysis of the technical term for the shot as well as a denotation and a connotation. This was mine:

I loved creating this board and conveying varied meanings for each image. My favourite image is the extreme close up as the lighting is natural and raw which strips down the model and therefore aids the intense, fierce notion presented by the stare. I also like the #Boyinbush image as the exposure is dark and the shot is almost framed by the leaves; this connotes an untamed and wild sense of atmosphere to the both the image and the characteristics of the model.

This photoshoot will assist my future production work as it has taught me that you don’t just have to create meaning through mis-en-scene but can be formed through camera angle, distance and composition, therefore will benefit my music magazine and video work.

For this task we were asked to take images that were mainly focussed on distance, angle and composition. Our group decided to make a list of all the aspects we wanted to include, some of which were: framed shots, different angled shots and canted shots; we also wanted to experiment with depth of focus too. Here are our results:   As you can see at first we were having difficulty with exposure but soon managed to overcome this with camera experimentation. At first we wanted to test out some different techniques for example: framed shots, two shots and depth of focus; these can be seen in images 9783, 9795 and 9804. We then decided to try some angled shots, first being high angle canted (image 9806) then some slightly low angled ( image 9811). I feel our high angled shots were more successful due to the lighting.

After this, we experimented with depth of focus and perspective; I placed the camera at behind one model’s shoulder at a similar eyeliner to his and adjusted the camera settings to a subtle depth of field- meaning the model further away was more focussed than the one near the camera. Thus connoting a sense of conflict for power between the models.

We then focussed on getting some close ups and extreme close ups in which came out with some good shots (image 9891 and 9895). As you can tell, were had to adjust our aperture again to help with exposure in new lighting. After that we took some wide and mid shots to vary our techniques.

I really enjoyed this shoot as it allowed me to understand and practice different camera techniques and why we might use them. I have learnt that different angled and distance shots convey varied meanings alongside mes-en-scene.

This will aid my future production work as I will know how to convey meaning through distance, angle and composition for the cinematography when making our music videos and for the photoshoots for our music magazines.

At the beginning of the lesson , we received a genre of music to research in groups: ours was ‘country and western’. As apart of our research we created a moodboard with the idea that it would inspire us to be able to produce our own star image for the genre; we searched for ‘country and western’ in the search engine and it appeared with the stereotypical traits of the genre. These include: cowboy hats, boots, lassos and the cliche wild west elements.  We also took into account the brown and yellow tones in which almost all of the ‘country and western’ images possessed.

After creating the moodboard with images, we added in a few terms in which we felt described and explained the genre: ‘country and western’; furthermore, the genre ‘country and western’s’ typical star image would include “subtle eye makeup” . This natural and fresh look was seemed a common convention of performers in the genre. Additionally, we noticed a ” lively” aura to most images and therefore added this adjective to our moodboard in order to represent the genre efficiently. Alongside this, we recognised a common aspect of mis en scene, in particular the lighting and costume. Most costumes involve: a shirt (usually patterned), calf-high boots and a cliche cowboy hat; hence why we included these aspects in the moodboard.  Moreover, a typical lighting convention for ‘country and western’ were warm, yellow tones in which conveyed a friendly and lively atmosphere to the genre; furthermore we included these elements in the moodboard.

We then used our research to create an ensemble star image for the ‘country and western’ genre.  Here is our draft photo with post-its expressing our classmates’ response to our test outfit:

I believe that as a producer, I used the most obvious conventions from the genre to reflect my star image with the relevant mis-en-scene aspects, and thankfully received pertinent audience responses.

• The first comment ‘country’  reflects one half of the genre’s name which is a clear response from the audience, and therefore the costume has given the relevant star image for the genre.
• Secondly, the post- it ‘western’ is the other half of the intended genre which implies that the costume was a suitable star image that the audience could correctly decode.
• The adjective ‘different’ could be interpreted in a number of ways, however I am pleased that someone pointed this out about our star image; this is because the genre ‘country and western’ is different and there are a small majority of people who know much about it. Furthermore, I am overjoyed for someone to accept the genre for what it is: ‘different’.
• Finally, the term ‘cowboy’ associates with the wild west inspiration for the genre and, is what we proposed for our star image. Furthermore, the audience successfully decoded our costume.

After our class feedback, we carried out a photo shoot:

 

Overall, our shoot was successful however there were a few faulty images; for example image 2080 and 2081 were both blurry and out of focus, which wouldn’t reflect the genre successfully to the audience as it is unclear to determine what the model was doing. In addition, image 2067 shows lousy framing and positioning as it was taken during placement preparation for the props (hence the random arm).  Also image 2034 conveys an innapropriate facial expression for the genre as the model was mid -laughing, which is unlikely of star images for the ‘country and western’ genre.

After much deliberation, this was my final and chosen image from the shoot:

 

 

I regard this image in being the best representation of the ‘country and western’ genre as the costume and props depict the most suitable star image, for example the cowboy hat evokes the stereotypical wild west influence on the genre and expresses a key convention. The hat is also of a warm and simple colouration which associates with my first mention of tones in lighting of the genre, thus due to the lack of lighting facilities in this shoot, I turned to certain costuming aspects to remark these traits.  Additionally, the printed shirt is another element in which we originally noted from our moodboard, therefore implies an uncanny link to the genre. The red neckerchief is a common accessory that again ties in with the wild west influence, so I thought it relevant to include; also, I recognised the distinct red colour adds boldness and energy to the star image- reflecting the earlier noted lively feel of the genre. Moreover, the denim jacket establishes a rustic and weathered star image, something that I had distinguished from our moodboard research, which exemplifies a tough yet homely exposure on the genre.  Also the American flag, repeatedly demonstrates the wild west significance to the genre. The body language is relaxed and laid back -due to the leaning on the arm, therefore signifies the sensitivity and rawness to the hearty genre; yet the masked face argues the juxtaposing natural and plain star images often seen representing the genre.  Finally, the acoustic guitar is a well known convention of the genre and is positioned accordingly to echo it’s relevance to the star image and the genre. The reflections of the trees on the guitar connote a naturalistic fragility to the genre which links closely with the gentle acoustic aspects of ‘country and western’.

I believe this image worked better than the others in the shoot and is the best representative of the star image as it supports almost all conventions and convenient mes-en-scene of  the ‘country and western’ genre. It is a stripped back version of the stereotypical star image and leaves behind the lighting and common colour schemes replacing it with natural and gentle features.  Thus exposes the genre in the most real and innate light.

In conclusion, utilising mes-en-scene proves fundamental to illustrate meaning and present ideas to texts. Furthermore this work will influence my own planning and research for my magazine production as it will remind me to place reasoning and allegory to all components of my magazine and to use mis-en-scene to convey my intended meanings.

Above is my analysis of the symbols and denotations in which I believe this poster promotes; it’s purpose is to help me develop my skills in interpreting and analysing media texts. This will aid me in creating my own work, especially producing my music poster as it indicates the kind aspects I need to include and the depth of detail in which I must incorporate.  I have learnt that I must think about every element in my design process so that the audience can translate the intended purpose. Furthermore, my connotations interpreted from the mise-en scene within the above poster will enable me to analyse and pick apart my own work in the near future.