Evaluation - Question 2

How does the Media Product represent a particular social group?

 

Evaluation - Question 1

In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

Front Cover

Contents Page

Double Page Spread

Finished Double Page Spread

 

This is my completed double page spread and article.  I have continued the colour scheme of red, black and grey on this page. I used a black and white image as I felt it looked best next to the bright colours on the article page.  I also kept the theme of red as it brightens up my double page spread. 

I kept the pages conventional by using columns for the article, page numbers, masthead, date of issue and also adding a pull quote from the article.  I made the pull quite red so it stands out on he page.  I also made a letter layer effect which one inspired by Q and I think that its rather unique and makes the double page spread different to other pages in the magazine.

I wanted to add another pull quote on top of the image as I felt that there was a lot of dead space towards the top of the image, I feel that this worked well as I think pull quotes stand out and having another on top of the image allowed the reader to engage more into the article by reading the quote first.

I am very happy with how my article has turned out. I liked how I could add more features than what I planned and I also changed the page order.  I think that its very conventional and I like how the letter layer effect works under the article, I feel that it all worked well together. I think that it is better than my original design.

Overall I am happy with how my double page spread has turned out, I think I could improve on some thing such as the image page but I am happy as it is and I think it works well so far.

Music Magazine Double Page Spread Progress 2

From my previous progress I have now added my article to the page.  I did this by making columns and added a text box to each, I then used bridges to drop the word document onto the page so the article fits perfectly.  I decided to add a lead onto my article so it sets it off and makes the page look more busy.

As I progressed further I decided to expand further on my lead, this way it makes it look longer and interesting to read. I have used a drop caps at the beginning of the article as it is conventional to all articles, I also made it red so it stands out on the page. I have also added a letter layered effect which was inspired by Q magazine, I did this as I feel it works well on the page and also adds more of the colour red which then helps keep my colour scheme flowing.  I then added a pull quote from my article and placed it on the last column as I feel that's where it looks best due to it being red.  My article columns each include something red which makes this page bright next to the black and white image.  I then decided on a header which was 'Climb to Stardom' I made this grey so I could include the last colour to my scheme.  I used the phrase 'Climb to Stardom' as I made Callum a developing artist and he is already high up in his star career.

Music Magazine Double Page Spread Progress

 

I have now started my article page.  I chose a picture of Callum sat on a bench, I feel that this photo looks natural and appealing to my target audience.  I changed the effect of the photo to black and white as I feel it looks better with the colours on the first page.

When creating the page with the article its self I decided to call it 'Interviews With Artists' so the reader knows what type of article this is which would be an interview.  I wanted to keep to my colour scheme so I decided to make bright red blocks on either side of the heading so that it stands out on the page.  For now I have used 'Callum' as a headline of the article but I will change it when I develop on my page more.

I am hoping to add the article when I progress further and I am also hoping  to use a pull quote and a drops cap at the beginning of my article.

Final Article Draft

Callum

From the valleys to the next chapter of his life and career.  Joining us in the centre of Cardiff in our top recording studio ‘Dewi Sant’, Callum certainly seems dedicated to his music.  It takes everything for one of the latest pop geniuses to release a heart wrenching and moving album such as “Emotion” so early on in his career.  Beat-driven “Loyalty Soldiers” swooped One Direction right off number one in the Shuffle charts after their 3 week hit of “History”.  That’s just the first blast in an unexpected release of sensational textures and unique song structures on his new album, which features the phenomenal collaborator, Jess Glynne, along with hit maker, Justin Bieber (who makes up the majority of our top hits). “There’s nothing disappointing, I know that much”, says Max Marcus, who co-wrote Callum’s career finding single, “Turn It Up” and was in help with the new albums lead single.

In this exclusive first interview about his extraordinary new album, the star took a look ahead at the thrilling new sounds and creative endeavours in store for him, while also recapping the many milestones along the way that have earned his place in the spotlight.

 

Your new album Emotions is the new buzz, everyone admires it! How do you feel about this craze?

It’s awesome, it really is!  I never thought it would get this big.  I never even thought it would make a release, it was so unexpected.  It just seems too early to even have the right career for myself but I’ve made an album, WHAAT?  Words cannot describe how overwhelmed I am.  It’s amazing!

Well were in love with it. But tell us what we really want to know.  What’s the story behind the album?

[Laughs] I shouldn’t laugh; it was a hard time for me.  Well, while writing for the album, I was going through an awful break up with my girlfriend, ah ex-girlfriend.  Which is why I called my album ‘Emotions’ because I purely based it on how I felt through this time. I was young and I fell in love way to quick. I put her before everything, school, friends, music which is what the song “Put You First” is based on.

So your album is very true to you, which must be really important.  But I don’t get it, some of your songs on the album are very upbeat and lively?

Yeah, well albums take months to write and I didn’t just write songs because I was going through a breakup.  I mean I’m not Taylor Swift [laughs].  I wanted to base my first album on my life at the time I was writing the songs, so the first couple of songs on the album were very exciting because I was still with my ex at the time; then we broke up and the rest of the album just became more emotional.

Did the album help your emotions?

Yeah, I got it all out of my system.  It’s like all my anger and frustration is out now.  I was never really good at talking so I write songs and they’re generally personal to me.  However, when I was younger I used to write from other people’s perspective.  When I hit 16 and developed a bit of maturity, something happened and it hurt me.  I realised that writing the truth just makes everything a lot easier.

 

 

 

Do you think there’s a benefit to that?

Yeah.  I think a lot of people don’t wear their hearts on their sleeves.  People may be a bit put off about how honest I am and how open I am in my music, but I think it’s better that way and I’m happier.  It’s helping me move on.  I feel like I know where I am again, I’m pushing myself to be as successful as I can, I have to constantly evolve.

I’m looking forward to so much more of your music. What do you think makes a good pop song?

[Laughs] I’m looking forward to so much more too.  Absolutely everything, something that everyone can sing and dance to. I used to love singing Michael Jackson and Justin Timberlake, I played Jackson in a school play once but I had to lip sing.  That was upsetting because I wanted to show off and promote my own voice for future productions.  I love pop music and current music so everything is good about them.

You have two featured artists in Emotion. It’s so exciting. How did it come across?

Yeah, Justin and Jess. They’re amazing, they really are and they are so talented.  My co-writer, Max, which can I say, I would never have done this album without, is very friendly with their co-writers and they  got together one day for a catch up as they say and put some lyrics together and BAM we were in the studios and had some great songs.  But yeah, Jess and Justin are great to work with and I’m still over the moon to have the chance to work with them.

And what is your favourite song on the album?

I have one song ‘Years and Years’ which I couldn’t wait for people to hear. It has so many emotions in, good and bad. The tempo varies which makes it unique and exciting and the song itself is personal to me and listeners could probably relate to it too. It’s probably my favourite because I could sing it however I liked because you could interpret it in any way you want.

Are there any last comments you want to make to the readers?

Yeah, I just want to thank everyone for the support and courage I have received.  It has been amazing. I’m also thanking you a hell of a lot for having me here today and how much you and this magazine has helped me develop my career. Oh and I also want to thank my ex for breaking my heart which is helping me write so many songs and getting them to number one. Jokes on you now!! So yeah, thank you to absolutely everyone.

You can now purchase Callum’s album of ‘Emotions’ on iTunes and in music stores.  Visit his website www.callummusic.co.uk for more details on his first UK tour and his upcoming career and status or follow him @callummusicuk on Facebook and Twitter

Words: Megan Webb

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finished Music Magazine Contents Page

This is my completed contents page for my magazine.  To finish I added a subscription at the bottom of the page. The subscription will lead to the website, I wanted to put the web address on the bottom of the page so that my readers know that Shuffle is a multi-platform brand. this will also be present on each page along with the date, logo and page numbers.  I have a regulars section where I have included real artists that appealed to my target audience, I found these artists out when I looked back over my audience questionnaire.  I have also kept the colour scheme consistent through to the contents page, this will keep the magazine looking professional and tidy. I wanted all my pages to look similar however I thought this one looked bare, to solve this I decided to create a number of lines surrounding the masthead and sub heading.  This now makes the page look more unique as it will not be done on another page.
There is also a bar at the bottom of the page and from my research I found that a lot of magazines do this to divide the pages.  I then decided that I wanted to use this and also add the masthead at the bottom to keep the brand name flowing.  I also used bold black lines on the regulars section to divide the stories in the magazine.
The main picture on my page is of my main artist, Callum.  I used him so the reader knows that the  main article will be based on him.  I also added images of younger artists on the contents page, I used younger artists as it would appeal to my target audience.  For one of my images I have added a quote next to it, I seen this in a Q magazine and thought it was different and I wanted to make my magazine unique.
Overall I am happy with how my contents page turned out.  I don't think it looks as well as a profession contents page.  I have achieved what I wanted out of this page but I had to cut down on the amount of images I wanted on this page.  This doesn't affect the page as it still has a basic design.  I feel that there are some things that I can improve on such as they layout but overall I am pleased with my end product.