Magazine targets

1) Typography:
- masthead needs to be more menacing
- do not use times new roman
- smaller cover lines

2) Capitals need to be consistent

3) More social media e.g. twitter/facebook

4) No text on models face

5) More exciting straplines (including quotes)

6) taglines explaining programme e.g. talk about genre, audience, adjective and institution

7) Use exclusive once!

8) Leave more space at the edge on the margins

9) Media institution info

10) Barcode size

11) Spell check words

12) pug positioning

13) Maybe consider filters and effects etc.

Plan B and iLL Manors Case Study Project

Progress report Mon 11th Feb 2013

Progress report Mon 11th Feb 2013

I've done a title sequence analysis of skins which is an E4 show appealing to a similar audience as our programme Vengeance. I've also done some analysis on potential magazine main images as well as creating a photoshop draft of the magazine. I've also done a running scene analysis of Misfits season 4 episode 8 when the characters are running from the 4 horsemen of the apocalypse which will help us have a clearer idea of what shots to use in a running scene and we might even use one of two of the shots.

Aims - Analyse other magazine front covers 

Misfits running scene S4-E8

The running begins 0:28 

24 shots long

Embedding of this video was disabled by the E4 channel on Youtube so this is the link to the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPSS0A-IhNI

The first shot is a close up of the female character the four horsemen characters are after, it shows the characters emotions and feelings, behind this character is mid shots of two of the misfits main cast, one is a male who doesn't seem worried or scared but looks confused while staring at the four horsemen, the other character is a female who shows fear and shock of her face, she then signals the whole group of characters (including those who are hidden in this shot) to run, which starts the running scene.

The next shot is a match on action, the camera cuts to behind the characters who turn around to face the camera to run away. It's a mid-shot which lasts for 2seconds. We then see a tracking shot from a distance of all the characters running. which lasts for 2seconds as well. After that we see the subject they are running from (the four horsemen) which is a slow pan shot (2seconds). The camera cuts back to being in front of the characters running and the camera is concentrating on the character who is speaking (rudy). and it tracks backwards as he runs with the group following him and the horsemen chasing them all which lasted one second and cuts to the bicycles the four horsemen are riding (1second).

We then see the first male we saw at the start who looked confused who is trailing along at the back of the group, the camera seems to slightly lose control and shake to the right before cutting. It then cuts to the tracking shot of the group which pans left (behind the group) to show the confused male trailing behind. The camera then focuses on this character when it cuts to tracking in front of him, it shows his face and expression of fear clearly with the four horsemen blurred but close behind him. We also hear heavy breathing from this character. 

Camera then cuts to the female we first saw at a close up who the four horsemen are after. The camera tracks in front of her looking at her as she turns her head while running, it cuts to the four horsemen and quickly cuts to another male in the group to show his facial expression this then cuts to the female character who started the running scene by saying "everybody quick run". Another tracking shot is used of the four horsemen along with a whip pan to show all four horsemen.

Another female is then shown, the newest addition to the misfits group. This shot is again a close up just as every tracking shot in front of the characters were. A low angle tracking shot of the four horsemen is used possibly to connote power of the four horsemen. This then cuts to a face of one of the horsemen (which is hidden in the hooded jackets. Another tracking shot is used of the confused male as he turns his head to look behind him which then cuts to one of the horsemen at a low angle shot tracking him as he pulls out a sword. The camera cuts back to a tracking shot and slow motion is used for 1second to show the character pulling out the sword a bit further. 

The running scene then ends with all the characters trying to get into their community service building.

Souvenir magazine front cover draft done on photoshop

Potential photos to use in magazine

Picture one: It's between a transition  of a mid-shot to a long shot but would probably be classified as a long shot purely due to the fact that you can see pretty much below waistline and knee. The framing follows the rule of third, the photograph is mainly to the left, however if placing on a magazine front cover it's not normal to see this sort of photograph, usually if the main image is of a character which is leaning against the edge of a wall then they would be placed leaning against the edge of the magazine (usually the right side of the magazine) however this still is a good main image, there is a contrast between the colour of the clothing which tends to attract people due to the contrast jumping out the page at the reader. The pose of the actress in the main image is quite alluring, the red lipstick and hair in bouncy curls connotes love, attraction, affection and could possibly be a sign of dangerous which could be seen as a link to the narrative of "Vengeance" (the media production I am working on along side my group and the souvenir magazine of the production.) The lighting is low-key which links to the character and narrative of a dark and dangerous character etc. There is also no direct eye-contact to the camera, the eyes are looking to just the right of the camera (slightly off). I would leave the background as it is, due to the lighting creating a great shadow effect behind the female. 

Picture two: A long shot, same clothing and make up as picture one but the pose has changed portraying a less alluring character but a more playful character due to the smile and playful twirling of the hair in the hands along with the leg slightly lifted off the ground. If used on a magazine I would probably crop it to a mid-shot and just get the reader to focus on the upper body rather than the legs and mainly focus on the eyes due to the eyes making direct eye contact with the reader. Direct eye contact can go two ways with a reader, it could put them off due to an insecure feeling of being watched but it could also attract a reader as it connotes that the character/actress/model is looking and talk directly to the reader. The background would also need to be changed possibly through photoshop editing to a plain background due to the objects shown around the model (the coat hanger, coat and cabinet) having no relation to the narrative.

Picture three: The lighting again seems to be fine, it's coming from the left of the photo with no filler light used, it creates a low-key lighting with the shadow behind the model. It's almost identical to picture one but the pose and facial expression has been changed from alluring to a balance between alluring and playfully happy.

Picture four: A high angle shot of the model is used, lighting is still low-key, clothing and make up are the same as the previous pictures. The background needs to be edited to cut out the chair, carpet and light switch. If used in a magazine front cover I would crop this to just above the dress to crop it into a close up to show the facial expression more clearly and to keep audiences to focus on the models beauty in hair and make up. The direct eye contact could attract the reader as it seems to suture the reader into the magazine, the beauty of the model along with the direct eye contact makes the image mesmerising and difficult for a reader to stare away.

Picture five: make up and hair is the same from previous pictures, low-key lighting is still visibly but the lighting seems to be more natural as if from a window on the left behind the camera (due to the left arm of the model looking more brighter than the right, it shows the direction of the lighting is from the left and partly behind the camera). The background again has no relevance to the narrative or character and could be cut out/edited. The shot is more of a mid-shot than a long-shot, this allows the reader to see the females hands on her hips and her nails are more visibly, while in previous pictures they weren't as visible and didn't jump off the page as much. The pose shows a more dominant female, the hands on the hips could connote power, disappointment, confidence and dominance and linking this to the facial expression the female seems to have a smile and this could be a more flirty hands on hips pose showing she is disappointed but she isn't going to let whatever disappoint her put her down, instead she will smile and dominate it.

Picture six: a more innocent looking picture of the model, hair is pushed over to one side but is still in big bouncy curls, make up is still applied which does connote flirtatiousness but the facial expression seems to show a more thoughtful character who seems to be reflecting on something and this gives her the innocent pose along with the help of the positioning of her hands. The fact that the model isn't looking at the camera means that the main image wouldn't jump straight out at the reader but it is unusual for a model to look away from the camera completely and due to that it does give the main image a possibility of being seen by more potential readers of the magazine because it stands out for being different. The lighting is still low-key with small shadows being produced on the right of the face, the light is therefore coming in from the left of the image.

Picture seven: similar to picture four, a high angle shot of the model is used, lighting is still low-key, clothing and make up are the same as the previous pictures. The background needs to be edited to cut out the chair, carpet and light switch. If used in a magazine front cover I would crop this to just above the dress to crop it into a close up to show the facial expression more clearly and to keep audiences to focus on the models beauty in hair and make up. The direct eye contact could attract the reader as it seems to suture the reader into the magazine, the beauty of the model along with the direct eye contact makes the image mesmerising and difficult for a reader to stare away. While picture four had the facial expression as more of a smile it seemed like she was more playful while in this one it's less playful and more alluring.

Picture eight: make up and hair is the same as previous pictures as well as the dress used, this image is a close up and the model is leaning over towards the right, this could be a photo taken while the model was on a chair, it gives a more relaxed look rather then the playful and alluring look. This type of photograph could be used as a "interview with main protagonist/actress" on a magazine, where the female isn't in character role for the photograph and is just being her everyday self.

Picture nine: The model has changed costume from the previous pictures. This is a photograph showing a playful side of the model rather than a alluring pose. The background would probably need to be edited due to the red door and door handle showing or can be cropped out instead. There is low-key lighting used as there are shadows being produced between the model and the wall. The blue dress connotes tranquility and loyalty which could connote to the narrative. The photo is a mid-shot.

Picture ten: The model smiles connoting a more playful pose. The blue dress is used connoting tranquility and loyalty which again could link to the narrative. The make up and hair contrast with the playful pose and could connote flirtatiousness.

Title sequence analysis of skins

0:30 seconds long

55-58 shots long

The "Skins (generation)" title sequence shows the characters, their lifestyle, what they do, a bit of the location but it's quite vague. It also gives away some narrative clues e.g. two characters kissing, characters partying, characters smoking, so it gives an idea to the audience of what the programme may contain and may be about.  

There is also a lot of colours used, mainly bright colours, especially yellow. Bright colours tend to connote happiness and positivity, yellow usually connotes youth, fun, happiness and cheerful emotions. This again could be linked to the narrative due to the characters shown looking quite young possibly 17-20 years old and they seem to be enjoying themselves at the parties and in each others company. Other colours used were red and blue with a bit of white all at once, the red could connote love which was one of the many shots shown between two characters but those three specific colours could connote the Union Jack (British flag). So it's possible that these colours aren't just colours of emotion but colours of ethnicity, culture, nationality and backgrounds of the many characters within the programme which links to the programmes name "Skins". 

With the editing a lot of the shots had layers and effects on them of lens flare, some shots overlapped another and then disappeared, a lot of the time shots were being shown all over the screen, it confuses the audience and makes them look around the whole screen rather than focus on one area and due to the cuts being so fast the audience wouldn't be able to see every shot in detail in one sitting, they would have to watch the title sequence at least three to four times or go back and pause it at every shot to see them in enough detail and linking this to the music which seems to have random screeches/rewinding sounds it could connote the characters lives to be all over the place and anything could happen so the audience should expect the unexpected, it connotes that they are young and uncontrollable. Also with the song, there are no lyrics which could connote a lack of direction or voice, the characters have no higher power or voice to symbolise them or to command them to do something.

At the end the characters are seen playing with balloons which are linked to parties so throughout the title sequence we see a lot of characters kissing, hugging, partying and smoking which is most likely the three main themes of the programme and/or narrative of the series. We also see the characters letting go of the balloons they were holding, each balloon could represent the characters and they let the balloons float off which could connote that the characters are free like the balloons and are hoping to someday fly up high (metaphorically), possibly wanting to achieve success and wealth.

Targets 4/02/13

1. Complete programme opening analysis.
2. Provide more detail in each progress report.
3. Upload storyboard on blog - complete timings and add more detail.
4. Complete shot list and upload.
5. Analyse some tv/film running sequences - look at pace and pace of shots.
6. Break 180 degree rule and list ways to creat confusion and disorientation eg whip pans, jump cuts, use of sound and silence - contrast.
7. Update script use BBC writers room.
8. Upload finish all documentation.
9. Shooting schedule.

Progress report: 4th feb

I had printed out all documents and started filling them in, had one actor release form done and a personnel details sheet. After that my assistance was needed to do the storyboarding which was done as a group effort. I have also uploaded two photos of one male actor we would be using (Harvey) and one female actress (Simran).

Potential actor and actress