Meeting the client brief (U3 : P5 M4 D1)

Learning Outcome : To be able to carry out post-production techniques and processes for an original media product to a client brief.

Front Cover :

Double page spread :

Both my front cover and double page spread are exported as JPEGs. The reason behind choosing this format is because it is has easy advantages. JPEGs allow for high quality digital photos, quick transfers and fast access for those who want to view your product. 

Client brief requirements :

The client brief made it explicit that my magazine promotes a new independent film from North London. I have met this requirement through the inclusion of 'Under the mistletoe.' This meets the client brief as the detailing of the movie is produced within the body copy which then promotes the movie as people will read what the film is about. 

As the client brief stated my magazine should reference a current and new streaming platform. My double page spread highlights both steaming platforms. The current streaming platform is Netflix, whilst the new platform is Attraction Films. Including these allowed me to meet the requirement as within the magazine, one can clearly see that I have pasted both logos on the page and referenced to 'Watch Now.'

Moreover, the brief also made it aware that I should add an inclusion of a film festival. I have met this requirement due to the addition of 'now showing at BFL Film Festival' on my double page spread. 

The client brief also emphasised that my magazine has to have a North London focus and I have definitely met this due to the original content of my magazine that was taken in North London. This meets the brief as I have not produced photography outside of the given area; making it fully aware to the audience that this is a North London film and magazine. 

The brief also left the magazine open to interpretation whilst deciding what genre the magazine would be. It is clear my magazine is a romantic genre as the colour scheme and content within the product resembles love and affection; as the reds and pinks are stereotypical love colours and the content promotes a romance movie. 

Additionally the client brief stated that the magazine should be available both on an online and print format. I have met this requirement through the physical copy I produced, as well as noting on the front cover to 'access our online copy via our new xmas app!' This promotes two versions for the audience if they wish to reach our magazine. 

Lastly, the brief made it aware that the magazine should produce original content in order to create meaning. I have done this by including original photography I took with models on both the front and double page spread. I also included an article written by me on the double page spread; it was an interview with the actors in the new movie I am promoting. 

Tools used for my front cover :

I used the gradient tool within my front cover in order to create a soft notation of the magazine, as I thought having only one colour could make the magazine come across as harsh or blocky. This tool allowed me to create a soft balayage of the chosen pink, as well as adding more detail to my product which may interest the audience. This created meaning as it allowed my magazine to capture the romance genre as a blend of pink highlights stereotypical features of love and attraction. 

A tool I found useful was the magic eraser tool as it allowed me to remove any unwanted backgrounds of images I included within my front cover. It was necessary to use this tool, as I included images that had text within them and I needed the image to be a clean cut so the text would be visible for the readers. This tool also brought a professional outlook to the magazine which then created meaning due to the images looking immaculate; so it would then stand out to consumers. 

The move tool become an important and useful feature when organising my front cover. This tool allowed me to position my cover lines, images and puffs in the correct places I wished them to be. This tool was necessary as I would not of been able to move details around if not for this tool. This tool created meaning as it allowed my front cover to look tidy; without the move tool consumers may have not been attracted to my product as the magazine might have looked unprofessional. 

I then used the stroke tool which allowed me to make some of my cover lines stand out and capture the consumers eye. This tool outlined text in order to pull the reader into a specific cover line due to it emphasising its important to look at it first. This created meaning as it means all the attention will be taken to this text first.

Tools used for my double page spread : 

The rectangle tool was used whilst creating the advent calendar on half the page of the double page spread. I used this tool to create multiple rectangles that had different sizes. This was helpful as it didn't take long to make and also gave me an outline of how each movie would fit into a rectangle. The fact I could re size the rectangle meant it could be shaped in anyway I wanted. This helped my magazine as I wouldn't have been able to make my advent calendar the way I wanted without this tool. 

The opacity tool allowed me to decide whether tor not the images I used were to be shown completely or with a slight subtle. I was able to decide between an opacity of 100% to 0%. I used this feature for droplets of snow as if the opacity was shown at 100% it would have been very hard to read the text I had written. This tool I found very necessary as I wouldn't have been able to use the image without the tool as it would have looked harsh and over done. This created meaning as the audience can be drawn to the imagery without having it hard to reads the text that was put over it; also adds a sense of Christmas feel. 

Another tool I used very often was the type tool. This was extremely important to use whilst making my double page spread as it allowed me to create articles, titles and quotes with a range of different sizes and fonts. This tool allowed me to create text that my readers could enjoy. It also made the layout of my magazine very professional as the text wasn't plotted around the page, it was positioned neatly. This tool created meaning as I could change the colour of the text to fit in with my genre of romance. 

Lastly, I used the lasso tool in order to cut around an image on my double page spread. I could have used the magic eraser, however with some of the images this tool was more useful as I could specifically erase a part of the image without getting rid of the entire image. This tool was easy to use and didn't take up much time of the creation process. It then created meaning as it meant images on my double page spread would be neatly placed and could fit in specific places that could draw the reader in.