Friday, 11 May 2012
Tuesday, 8 May 2012
Evaluation Question 7
Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?
I feel i have learned lots of skills and techniques which will be useful for future work. I have learned about a whole new programme, Photoshop. I used Microsoft Publisher for my preliminary task, but quickly learned for the real product, that Photoshop was a simpler programme for what i intended to do. It also gave me a product of higher quality. I have also learned to play around with images, changing the darkness levels, in order to gain effect through the images. I have also learned that using different fonts and colours is not always the best thing to do. Often, a simpler approach with a strict colour scheme (as was used in my final product) has a much more professional look about it. Finally, I realised the importance of researching your product and especially the audience for it. This is vitally important as it gives you an idea of what the audience are looking for in a magazine, which doesn't currently exist in a magazine.
I feel i have learned lots of skills and techniques which will be useful for future work. I have learned about a whole new programme, Photoshop. I used Microsoft Publisher for my preliminary task, but quickly learned for the real product, that Photoshop was a simpler programme for what i intended to do. It also gave me a product of higher quality. I have also learned to play around with images, changing the darkness levels, in order to gain effect through the images. I have also learned that using different fonts and colours is not always the best thing to do. Often, a simpler approach with a strict colour scheme (as was used in my final product) has a much more professional look about it. Finally, I realised the importance of researching your product and especially the audience for it. This is vitally important as it gives you an idea of what the audience are looking for in a magazine, which doesn't currently exist in a magazine.
Friday, 4 May 2012
Evaluation Question 3
What kind of media institution might distribute your media product?
I feel that this has two different answers. Firstly, i believe a small independant distributor would be good, so long as it has the capacity to be distributing nation-wide. A small independant distributor would be attractive to many cool young teenagers who are trying to defend smaller music industry labels, rather than just following the crowd with multi-national cooperations.
However, at the same time, a huge distributor such as IPC Media would be able to back the product financially, whilst also attracting readers from its other already existing products. They would also have no trouble distributing globally, due to their huge man power and global recognition.
Evaluation Question 2
How does your media product represent particular social groups?
"Fire!" magazine represents has a target audience of mostly young adolescent males, so i tried to make it represent them. i have included several images (particularly on the contents page) instead of large chunks of text, as this perhaps will hold my readers attention for longer. I have used mostly young models in my photography, but because i want my audience to be well-rounded musically, have also used some older ones.
I have not used basic fonts for my headings and masthead, as i felt a young lower class audience would be attracted by a more ragged style. However, for the main texts and cover lines, i have used a simpler, plainer font, in order for the message to be clear.
My target audience of teenagers are often represented negatively, so i wanted a new product to show them in a brighter, more positive light. I feel my product does this by listening to what they wanted (through the survey), and including it in a product.
Thursday, 3 May 2012
Friday, 10 February 2012
Double Page Spread Article
Davide Gonzalez
CHILEAN PERFECTS CHILLED MUSIC
22 year-old, Davide Gonzalez has recently taken South America by storm, and with his debut album, “Me Gusta”, about to reach UK stores, the future looks bright for Gonzalez. Already touring in the US, the young singer-songwriter from Santiago will embark on a tour across the UK and Europe in spring 2012. ‘Me Gusta’ is undoubtedly one of the best debut albums in years. A seasoned pro would be proud of his lyrics, whilst his youth means it maintains the flair in his rhythmic guitar.
As he enters and shakes my hand, you immediately understand why he has been so successful, as his presence fills the room with a calm authority, a trait that has clearly worn off on his stunning album. And he’s even brought his acoustic in.
I begin by asking him about his success so far, on which he gives a startlingly mature overview. “I’m delighted of course”, he says calmly. “I never really thought it would go this far but I have always loved playing the guitar. As a young boy, my father taught me how to play, and I don’t think I’ve ever gone a week without picking it up and playing something. I can’t believe the reaction that my music gets. Playing to a crowd of 9,000 people in my hometown of Santiago last month was the highlight of my career. A huge honour.”
Gonzalez has risen to fame in a relatively short space of time. Having sold over a million albums in his native continent, his achievements already dwarf many of the elder statesmen of music. Despite recent success, Gonzalez is keen to remember his roots, and it is obvious to see these influences on ‘Me Gusta’. “Many of the rhythms and riffs on the album just come from sounds I hear around town”, he explains. “For example, on “El Viaje”, I was sat in my local restaurant whilst writing, and tried to incorporate some of the bangs and clanging noises coming from the kitchen. Primarily, I want my music to appeal to Chileans; anyone else is a bonus for me.”
When asked about his musical heroes and influences, his answer is surprisingly broad for a man of his tender age, ranging from western acts like Johnny Cash to modern Mexican guitar duo, ‘Rodrigo y Gabriela’.
“My father was a major influence. I have always listened to Flamenco music and acoustic artists. I was brought up listening to this kind of thing. I’m a huge Johnny Cash fan; he always connected so well with his audience, and I would love to be even half as successful as he was. Recently, I admire Rodrigo y Gabriela, who have really improved this sort of music’s popularity and image globally.” He even went as far as to say that one day he would be “honoured” to collaborate on a song with them.
The young, flamboyant South American is optimistic about his future and is hoping the people of the UK will see his potential. “Of course it is nerve-racking going to a new country, but with Britain’s historical music background, I’m confident I can achieve great things there. The British people are famous for welcoming musicians for all corners of the globe with open arms, and I’m hopeful they will do the same for me.”
He is equally grounded when considering his plans for the future, which is already includes a slot on the Main Stage at the world famous Coachella Festival in the USA. “It is such a huge privilege, to share the stage with some of the greatest music acts is the world. It feels like a dream. 12 months ago, if someone had said I would be on the same stage as Dave Grohl, I would have laughed in their face! But now it’s really happening. Unbelievable!”
The next few years for this energetic Chilean certainly seems to have bags of potential. Even just in the fifteen minutes I had with him, I know from the strength of his character, that greatness is more than within Gonzalez’s grasp. Remember the name.
Rory Nicholson
Friday, 6 January 2012
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