Tuesday, 12 April 2011
Evaluation.
This is a PowerPoint final evaluation of my overall project. You will see that it is written in a bulk note form and that question number 7 is missing. My reasoning for this is because my final evaluation is presented as a 16 minuet film evaluation I have constructed. However due to the program I have created this on I have had a few difficulties attempting to upload it. I did attempt to upload to YouTube so I could link the video through HTML however because of the length this was not possible. I have a hard copy of my evaluation saved to a disk which I will hand in for final evaluation.
Saturday, 9 April 2011
Friday, 8 April 2011
Article.
The most important section of a feature page is the article. Looking into the different double page spread features a common and popular article consists of a Q&A with there chosen artist. Because I have chosen one of my close friends within the music industry I held a personal Q&A session with him about his profession. The constructed a perfect Q&A providing my audience with appropriate information on Alex Mountford in a professional and easy to read conversation style.
Here is my finished product for my article.
Here is my finished product for my article.
So Alex, you’re a 16year old local singer song writer from the Isle of Wight. Pretty young to make a determined career choice, what made you decide the music path was right for you?
I’ve always really enjoyed playing guitar/writing songs since really young. I got my first guitar when I was 8 and my passion developed from there. The reason I started to take it seriously was from my music teacher pushing and encouraging me to develop a true passion for music. I started to listen to other small Indie artist and took a real shine listening to NeverShoutNever. His music is really uplifting and I can really relate, he inspired me to put my music out there. You never know who might enjoy it if you never let it get heard.
Would you consider NeverShoutNever as is your hero (role model)?
Christopher Drew (NeverShoutNever)? Yeah defiantly he’s the reason i started really. Also I was lucky enough to attend his show in Brighton a few weeks back. I was determined to get a ticket to his first England tour and to top of the day I was lucky enough to meet him in passing just before the show. We got talking and I managed to get him to take one of my CD’s consisting of a few completed tracks of my EP. It’s so amazing to meet your hero and find out they’re such a lovely genuine person.
So you’ve been writing a long time what's the name of your first completed song? -What inspired you?
So you’ve been writing a long time what's the name of your first completed song? -What inspired you?
My first proper song that I took seriously was Atlantic Anti Romance the first time I showed it to an audience was actually as a monologue piece for part of my GCSE drama course, it still needed some work to it then but when I performed it to my small class of 12 they seemed to respond well. It gave me a really positive attitude towards my music career and I just loved performing my own music. The song was inspired by a of course a girl, but I’m not one to tell
First gig you played?
Ummmmm, i guess it would have been an open mic, although the first proper gig i played? I really can’t remember; probably the Live/Wired semifinal. That was over a year ago now I was only 15 although the adrenalin was amazing I was nervous about my performance I didn’t want anything with my set to go wrong considering I was up there for about 20 minutes going solo.
Best gig you've played? -Why?
The best gig by far was the Live/Wired final, everything was so professional, it was great to work behind the stage and get a feel of the industry. Especially everyone there to support, I have a huge fan base they’re all so supportive and some really close friends always happy to come along. The audience responded really positively to me and my groups of high school friends were crazy enough to make banners with pictures of myself on which they threw onto the stage at the end of my set, despite coming second I left on such a high when one of the judges got a message from the lead singer of the Kooks saying they liked my sound and that they think I have some true potential.
How do you spend your free time?
I tend to go to a lot of gigs, whether it’s artists I love or just supporting the local music talent on the island, I have been lucky to perform in some bigger venues off the island which has been great and also introduced me to more people, making new friends and connections is a brilliant way to promote your own sound. I’m also keen on sound engineering and attempt to get involves with as much backstage technology as I can just to open more doorways down that career root. I’m always writing, coming up with new lyrics for possible tracks. However most importantly I love chilling with friends, my band, we spend our free time just being teenagers really!
Your backing band? When did you decide to include more instruments? What are they like, do you welcome their ideas?
Your backing band? When did you decide to include more instruments? What are they like, do you welcome their ideas?
My backing band at the moment is Dom Hough on drums, Toby Bracegirdle on bass and Sam Matlock on lead guitar; they’re all great! But the band is ever changing so hopefully I’ll tie down a line up soon. I’m always welcoming their ideas, especially Sam Matlock who in a way is helping me "produce" the new EP, he’s got a good head when it comes to music so that’s all good!
Your new EP, is this what are you currently working on?
Yeah, I’m currently working on my second EP actually which will have the new instruments from my backing band and hopefully a big new fresh sound! Keep my fans on their toes.
What’s a strange fact about yourself?
Ha, I’m addicted to energy drinks! It’s hard to believe I went through a stage of keeping all my empty cans and bottles. I think the obsession got to over 60 before I figured it was time to get rid of them. It hurt to part so I took a picture just so I can keep it as proof if the question ever arises.
What is your favorite energy drink?
What is your favorite energy drink?
I must have tried every single one going, at the moment there mostly from the Relentless origin, although it varies in between the Relentless and Monsters.
What’s most played on your iPod?
Umm, I don’t know if there’s a button to see? But it would surprise you! It’s either Sway (grime artist) or NeverShoutNever or some generic punk pop artist! I’m that mainstream. It differs from my own genre but I can’t help but love to listen to the mainstream current pop charts. I enjoy listening to music different from my own so that it’s not what I’m constantly surrounded by. Also music being my life I have to keep myself open to many different genres and styles to keep my sound new and fresh.
Plans for the future?
Plans for the future?
Gig a hell of a lot more. Get my recordings out there! Have a real good time! Meet new people and enjoy whatever life throws at me. (Let’s hope it throws a record deal).
Thursday, 7 April 2011
Double page spread deconstructions.
This is a deconstruction for a double page spread of "NME" magazine. Another rock music magazine I've been looking into to create my media product. This shows me an easy way to successfully present a double page spead on a feature artist.
Constructive Criticism
The top image is what I considered to be my completed contents product. I handed this over for some constructive criticism from my tutors.
-The one mentioned by both was that the space wasn't used efficiently. Although there is a background image used to cover the space because I've reduced the saturation it seems dull. Also because the image isn't grasping action it's dull with minimal movement. This is reflected upon the page.
- The editors not too formal and also not bold enough to connect with the audience.
-Spacing and layout isn't clear the images at the top of the page look messy and misplaced. Especially the one referring to Alex Mountford and Band stand.
-Including the Facebook logo is good and fits with the codes and conventions needed for this page however it would be nice to see ways the audience could contact the company directly
.
-The contents section is too small, the font size should be increased to fill the page more vertically or add more articles and page numbers to fill the remaining space above and below.
This image below is my new and improved contents page after taking on bored the constructive criticism.
Monday, 4 April 2011
Image choices.
This image was chosen to compliment a "band stand" article. I thought that this image would be appropriate because of the use of instruments and the setting shows that they are performing at some form of gig. This symbolises what it's advertising. This is a low angled 'MS' which i have put some shadow manipulating on and also increased the contrast this makes the facial expressions seem much more powerful. Also the white in the background make the image positive and encouraging for the reader instead of threatening.
I added this image to include another image from my photo soot with the band. There is only one difference between this image between this and the cover image is that Eloise is standing. This makes it much more authoritive. Also because the colours aren't as bright because I didn't want this image to grasp all the attention and be directed more towards the one which is representing the double page spread article.
This image was chosen because it's the same one on the cover representing Alex's double page spread. It's a high angled shot not showing facial expressions but because the contrast is high the colours really stand out against the dark background making this image a focus point.
I included this image to fill apace and support the article features I wrote about. This is a low angles "MS". I chose this one to include more images from this photo shoot and show the true potential of colour use which i toned down in the saturation of the other background image. It's a very stereotypical "band/artist" stance.
Sunday, 3 April 2011
Contents
Next was to begin my contents page. I've decided to stick with my colour scheme on this page although looking into "Kerrang" and "Q" magazine contents pages it proves it's no longer a necessity to stick to the implied colour scheme once past the front cover.
I first decided to undertake some research in contents construction as shown in these contents deconstructions to find out which codes and conventions work best and which to include in my contents page.
I first decided to undertake some research in contents construction as shown in these contents deconstructions to find out which codes and conventions work best and which to include in my contents page.
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