The Final Post...

Evaluation Part 4

Looking back at my preliminary task, what do I feel I have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

Looking again at my preliminary task I feel I have learnt so much. My actual magazine is more appealing and the house style is more attractive and appealing. I have had more time on the full product than I did on my preliminary and this is evident in all aspects.

Having this time done a questionnaire I have learnt how to appeal to my audience more as well as, having previously said, making it more attractive.

I learnt more about existing products, iconic people of musical theatre and representation through all my research.

As I have said in the previous blog I used a lot of programs that I had not used before and so I learnt how to use them.

Evaluation Part 3

What have I learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

In this coursework module I have learnt a lot about the magazine industry and other media text institutes as well as a range of technologies and ways of editing.

I used my own camera for all pictures which is just a simple fuji-film digital camera with 10.2 megapixels. Although this is not the best quality it has sufficed for this purpose. In editing the pictures I used a range of programs. In order to remove any background I used paint and serif photoplus. For editing the pirate onto the barrel I used serif again. The black and white pictures with one thing in colour were edited using picnik as was any computerised text. Any edits to make the lighting better or image clearer I used either picnik or picassa.

With the exception of picassa and paint I had not used any of the programs before. Majority were simple enough to pick up but I needed some help with serif on my first use. By using a range of programs I was able to experience and learn a lot about a range of technologies. I have also learnt to be more patient as I found the photo and text editing meant a lot of trial and error to get it exact.

Also, in the evaluation video I am currently creating I have used imovie which although I have used before in groups I have never used individually and so it is proving a challenge. I have however mastered the basics and hope to upload the video tomorrow.

I used the schools imacs and my own netbook to complete all my blogs. I used the internet for research via google. I then used survey monkey and facebook to gain feedback and a better idea of how to produce my magazine to appeal to my target audience. This was an easy way of gaining feedback and even though I had never before used surey monkey, I found it relatively straight-forward to use.

Evaluation Part 2

What kind of media institution might distribute my media product and why?

As musical theatre magazines seem to be independent I am unable to find a media institute that would distribute my magazine. However I have research IPC media and this would be a possibility as they are the leading consumer magazine publisher. They publish a wide range of magazine genres and are very successful.

As it is a musical theatre magazine I would have my magazine sold in places where people with this interest are likely to be. Because of this I would approach theatres all around the country to sell my magazine. As people don't really go to the theatre just to buy a magazine I would make it more accessible by having it available in certain supermarkets i.e Tescos as this is a popular supermarket. I would also create an exciting website that allows subscription and I would post leaflets advertising the magazine to drama, dance and music groups and clubs across the country.

I think a majority of theatres would accept this as it will give them an opportunity to advertise productions and create more of a name within the theatre as they could have advertising space. I would gain a lot of subscriptions and sales as there are limited magazines of this genre and only one of this style.

Evaluation Part 1

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

In order to answer and reflect in on this I'm going to put my front cover alongside the front

cover of a printed magazine.

As you can see there are many differences between my front cover and Musical Stages front cover. Musical Stages front cover is more conventional and simple whereas mine challenges the typical conventions and is more complex as it has more on it. A similarity is that both front covers include the issue number and price which is vital information. Musical Stages also includes the season release 'Winter 2010/11' which provides more information for the consumer and is helpful for keeping record as well as informing the reader as to how recent it is. If I were to construct my front cover again I would include this information as it is generally easier and helpful for everyone.

Both covers have a subject to the image - close-up of the male in my cover and long-shot of the actors in Musical Stages with focus on the standing male. There are different in that mine includes other pictures whereas Musical Stages has just the one picture. I personally prefer mine as there is more to grab the consumers attention and will attract more customers as the range of images appeals to a greater range of audience. Also, for my scrap-book house-style it is necessary to have several images.

The text on Musical Stages cover is very simple, plain and clear. Mine is also clear but links to musical theatre as it appears to have lights like a theatre dressing table mirror. I also feel that the colours I have used grab the readers attention more as they stand out against the background. As far as my house-style go I am not sure as to whether the text on the front cover is 'scrap-book' enough as to me it looks clearly edited. If I had more time and was doing this again I would probably look at hand-painting or drawing this but still taking inspiration from this particular font found on picnik.

To conclude my media product takes forms and conventions e.g the main picture, title positioning and barcode then develops and challenges these around them. For example the other pictures are placed in positions so that the fill the space and I have added other features like the buttons, ribbons and cardboard musical note. I think that I have developed and challenged conventions enough to make my magazine stand-out yet still be aesthetically pleasing for consumers.

My Magazine

Front Cover = Done!

As you can see I opted for the second mock-up idea. I chose to use this image rather than the ships wheel as this cover seems to have more of a subject and meaning. The three other pictures where also taken by me and show different aspects of musical theatre.

I have priced it at £2.99 as this was the most popular feedback from my survey.

I feel it has the right quantity of pictures, text and buttons etc to make it appear exciting, grab the readers attention without looking too busy.

Again the font is edited on using Picknik. I chose the particular font for the magazine title as it looks like lights on the background...which is very musical theatre! I chose the white and red colours for the text so that they stand out not just against the background but they grab the consumers attention.