How did you use new media technologies in the construction and research, planning and evaluation stages?

I used many new media technologies throughout the entire project and I first started off with using the Internet as my blog to upload work. 

Blogger was where I uploaded my work so it could be viewed on screen neatly and professionally.

When using this blog I was able to upload images which were related to my project. I uploaded image which were also scanned in order to show my mock up’s of storyboards.

I also used my memory stick and hotmail in order to store information that I may need to include. This would be work that I had worked on at home.

For all my images and art work that was created for the magazine cover and poster I used photoshop to edit and produce my products. This was easy because I am a photography student who has previous knowledge on how to use photoshop. This programme helped my work look professional and clean.

I used my photography camera (SLR) in order to capture the images used on the poster and magazine cover. This helped show clarity and was easier to work with when editing.

Final cut pro was the main programme used for the trailer. I edited and produced my film trailer on this programme. I also have previous experience with final cut so I didn’t struggle to use this software.  With this software I was allowed to edit and add sound and also over lap images/text to create a fast moving after during credits. 

The use of Celtx has been used in order to create a professional looking script. When using Celtx, I was able to address location, time of day and speech accurately and neatly. This would make the script easy to read and if anyone were to direct the trailer, it would be easy to use and understand.

I also used my mobile yo record videos for audience research and responses. I recorded each video and emailed them over so I could use them on the computer. From there I could use Imovie or Final Cut Pro to combine all videos and create a edited sequence. 

What have you learned from your audience feedback?

My audience feedback has allowed me to see a different point of view of how people view my products. I have noticed certain things that I can pick up on and improve if I were to do it all again. Audience feedback is very important and also helps a lot for future projects. Any sort of feedback helps later on and also can help us understand our mistakes.

The targeted audience is the audience that we need to please first which is why their opinions and criticisms are appreciated.

I had many positive comments back which made me feel as if I was definitely working in the right direction. The editing at the beginning and the choice of music to fit in with the whole sequence was something that was appreciated a lot. Another thing that was noticed was the change of location and how the location fitted in with what I was trying to portray.

I also had some negative comments which helped me see how I can improve if I was to ever complete this again. The narrative didn’t fit well with the music and maybe could have been louder or more powerful. Another comment was that I could of used more actors to make the scenes look a bit more busy and could have flowed a little more. 

How effective is the combination of your main product and ancillary texts?

I have tried to make all 3 products very effective and consistent so that it is something that can be recognised and remembered easily. I have kept everything consistent through the font of the texts used on all products and colours. These are the things that help my target audience recognise and begin to get familiar with. The costumes which have used in the trailer have also been used on the poster and magazine cover. This also helps the targeted audience to see the similar characters dressed in similar outfits on a magazine cover, poster and on the trailer. The actors are also something that have been made consistent as I have focused on one main character throughout the products.

When having a package of products that needs to be promoted worldwide, there needs to be some sort of originality within it. I have aimed to keep everything original, mixing and matching all the stuff I have looked at to complete my products so that I can create something different for my own. 

From Geek to Chic trailer

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

In order to complete a believable product for my project I had to follow certain conventions that would also help make my work look professional. I had to follow previous comedy drama trailers as a guideline to see what previous directors and editors have included in their trailers.

In my trailer I used the following conventions in order to achieve this believable and professional product:

• Introduction of the main character (female protagonist)
• Narration done by a character (Main character)
• Credits included (Title of movie & release date)
• Not giving away much information (brief & interesting)

I have learnt that conventions are hard to follow because our main aim is to make the product look brilliant and professional. The editing and narrative of the trailer have been the challenging parts. I had to make the narrative realistic but I was also trying not to give away majority of the story. Devil Wears Prada is also a comedy drama which has a more fast pace trailer. This is a trailer that I looked at in order to get an idea of how the conventions work with real media.

My poster design was an easy task as I knew that my film trailer itself is not very complicated so I knew to make my poster the same so it stays consistent.

I followed these conventions in order to complete my poster:

• Images used (dominant images)
• Subtext & credits (along bottom of poster and top)
• No image as a background/natural location
• Costumes
• How the images are placed

My aim was to make sure that the posters that I have seen previously have similar conventions to mine. A poster needs to be eye catching and needs to be able to draw my target audience, which is what I aimed to do. I have tried to make the images and the name of the film stand out, as it is something that people can look at and remember the film by. The images I have chosen are different to images you would see on many other posters and they are pretty simple which is something that normally will stick in peoples minds.

My magazine design was also an easy task after looking at many film magazines I could see certain conventions that can help me complete my magazine cover.

I followed these conventions in order to complete my magazine cover:

• Taglines & Cover lines (different sizes and colours to compliment each other)
• Dominant image for the main featured story
• Barcodes and prices
• Dates and website
• Slogan for the magazine
• Other featured stories

My magazine cover is slightly less busy compared to the other real media magazine covers. I have tried to keep the poster, trailer and magazine cover consistent with the amount of information that I have on it. Total Film magazine have a dominant image which is the focal point of the entire magazine. This helps draw attention to the targeted audience and then helps develop the promotion of the film. The main difference between my magazine cover and a Total Film magazine cover is the use of colour and where my masthead has been placed. Colours that are used on the film cover to promote a new film which would be related to the dominant image are the colours that are used throughout the entire marketing section for the film. Once again I have tried to keep consistency with the colours so they can be remember able and eye catching for the targeted audience.

Final Film Magazine Cover

Final Film Poster