Completed NEA

 My name is Ellie Wright. Welcome to my A Level Media Studies blog. This is a record of the work I have undertaken for the Making Media Non-examination Assessment (NEA) within the OCR H409 GCE A Level course in Media Studies. 

I worked independently on Brief 3: Magazine and Online to produce the front covers and contents pages for the first two editions of a film magazine called The Exclusive together with the magazine's accompanying website.

Research and Planning

My research/planning for the task can be found further down my page.

Magazine Covers and Contents Pages

Magazine first edition cover and contents page

Magazine second edition cover and contents page


Magazine Website

The link to my website, which was created using Wix, can be found at the link below. 

The magazine consists of a homepage and a single linked page. The linked page can be accessed by clicking on 'Interviews.'

Homepage | The Exclusive (ewrightes.wixsite.com)


website redesign

 I felt my website design was minimal so I made a digital design of it through word of my homepage and link page



home








linked



copy

 I decided to use a different, less bold font for smaller copy within my contents and cover pages


these are the fonts I used throughout the magazine and used Hittedal Sans for the masthead


Cover editting

 this is the initial layout of my magazine front cover 1

the layout felt awkward and the main coverline is not anchored enough so I adjusted it and followed the new layout for cover 2.














NEA Task 21 (Planning) : Photography Planning


magazine covers + contents pages:
Edition 1:

 1. Who will you be using as your models for each photograph (bear in mind that your photographs need to show representation of two distinct social groups)

. the cover image and contents page image of "Serena Burden" is going to be modelled by Daisy Blissett, representing the female social group- I considered a variety of people but Daisy is the most comfortable in front of the camera 
. The image of "Ella Mordawska" in the contents page is going to be modelled by Joanne Inbaraj Jashua, the original person I had considered for my photos is not comfortable in front of a camera whereas Joanne is easy to work with and to direct on how the photos need to work.

2. What thought needs to be given to the following elements of mise-en-scene?

Location/props/costume/body langauge/lighting

I am taking the photos for my front cover in a plain room that is dark, with just a spot light on the model to give her a sense of power. She's going to be sitting on a directors chair, shot at a low angle. This allows her to be represented with aspects of authority- in the contents page photo, it will be similar but with a neutral light and the model will be smiling, showing her to be welcoming and friendly. She will be wearing a business outfit to represent her power and intellect.

For my contents page, I will also have an image of "Ella Mordawska" with her review of Get Out- My model, Joanne will be leaning against a wall, looking just over the camera in a neutral lighting. She will be wearing bright clothes with a mid shot. This is all to show her as intellectual but also an interesting person.


Edition 2:

 1. Who will you be using as your models for each photograph (bear in mind that your photographs need to show representation of two distinct social groups)

. The cover image and contents page image of "Ben Arden" is going to be modelled by Zack Lambert, representing the male social group as he is the most complying to be in the photos.
. My contents page photo of someone signing up for Netflix is an over the shoulder shot and will not need their face so many people were happy to partake, I will be using Benjamin for these photos. 

2. What thought needs to be given to the following elements of mise-en-scene?

Location/props/costume/body langauge/lighting

. My cover image will be done in a theatre with cinema-like seating, with dark lighting with the model sitting in one of the seats. The only prop will be a typical box of popcorn with a rose sticking out due to it being a rom com. I want this cover to be much more of a positive vibe so I will have my model with a slight smile looking into the camera.

. My contents page photo of "Ben Arden" will be an "in scene" photo of the movie. To do this I am going to use a green screen and a photo of the beach at sunrise- I will edit my model onto this beach with the greenscreen and he will be wearing black trousers and a simple shirt which is untucked, very conventional for a rom com

. My second photo for the contents page will simply need a laptop with Netflix open, natural lighting and a focus on the screen


Website:

 1. Who will you be using as your models for each photograph (bear in mind that your photographs need to show representation of two distinct social groups)

One photo will be of Zack Lambert holding a rose close to his face for the linked page and the second photo for the Home page will be of Ann giving a film review

2. What thought needs to be given to the following elements of mise-en-scene?

Location/props/costume/body langauge/lighting

The photo of Zack will be relatively dark, with a rose taking centre frame with his face 

My homepage photo, will be relatively simple, a neutral-bright lighting with the model smiling holding a pen on a notebook

NEA Task 20 (Planning) : Website Homepage and Linked Page


1. What will your website header on the homepage look like?
The header of my website homepage will have a red banner with "THE EXCLUSIVE" central in the same font used for the magazine masthead in black with the tagline just under in a smaller size. On the far left I will have the Instagram, Facebook and YouTube logos for social media with a search... box above the social medias. On the right of the copy I will have the links to other pages which will be:  The Magazine, New Releases, Interviews, Get Involved

2. What content will be on your homepage and linked page?

Homepage- different sections:
. a section with a picture of someone holding a notebook with a pen for "new and reviewed movies"
. A section with a black image with WIN white, give yourself the chance to win a free Netflix Subscription
. Our Latest reviews
. Shop for More Exclusives
. More about our team

Linked page- My working link will be "Interviews"
- A heading of Our Latest with a close up of Zack as Ben Arden with the rose in front of his face- "Forever and Always, the inside scoop from Arden" as a caption on the left and on the right side there will be a video clip for people to watch of the interview with captions
. more sections under that interview 
. "Jake Tucker on his way into the industry"
. "Burden on her directorial debut"
. "Molly Woodward talks to us on her acting career"
. "Life Behind The Screen with Chris Hope"


3. What original audio or audio-visual content will be included on your website?

. an audio-visual interview with Ben Arden from the second edition to go in the interviews section

NEA Task 19 (Planning) : Contents Pages

 

Conventions of a Contents Page

Typography:

will be the same for both editions

. Section titles in red on white background
. Page title in black
most copy will be in this font as it is the masthead font and will represent continuity
However, I'll use this font for the smaller parts of copy





First Edition: May 2024

- Copy:

. Exclusive Contents

Cover Specials (section)

01 . Ella Mordawska's critical review 
Ella Mordawska takes us through her intellectual opinions on Jordan Peele's Get Out.

07 . Serena Burden on her directorial debut
We get the inside scoop on the highs and lows behind the making of this new film, in this exclusive interview with Burden






 Features (section)

14 . Cinematic masterpieces of the year
the top movies and shows this year so far.

20. The Sound of Music
The cinematic journey behind the iconic classic
 
23. The Picture of Dorian Gray
how our views towards Wilde have changed over time.

27 . The Watchers
Everything you need to know about the new horror film

29. Website 
All the important details of our website for you to discover more Exclusive content


The cover specials section being at the top half of the page with an image for each title-

Images:

. An image of "Serena Burden" in neutral lighting looking directly at the camera with a slight smile
copy placed over the image

. An image of "Ella Mordawska" with a straight face away from the camera   
copy directly under 

Second Edition: June 2024

. Exclusive Contents


Cover Specials (section)

01. See the website to win a FREE Netflix Subscription
Where to find the best opportunities to watch more of your favourite shows

07. Ben Arden, on his role in Forever and Always
Arden talks to us about his character in the new rom com


Features (section)

14. DIY Indoor Cinema
create your own indoor cinema with high quality and low prices


20.  Ballerina
Len Wiseman's new film: what's it about and why should you watch it?

23. Gifts for Cinema Geeks
Stuck on what to get your film-obsessed friend? we've got you covered!

27. Best Classics of All Time
Classics that are a must-see 

29. New & Reviewed Movies
We have reviewed all the best movies from the summer for you to watch so far!

Images:

An image of a scene from "forever and always" which will be the actor in his role on the beach- photoshopped image using original photography

For the subscription to Netflix- An over the shoulder shot of someone on a laptop for Netflix


NEA Task 18 (Planning) : Mock Up of Cover 1 and 2

 





NEA Task 17 (Planning) : Coverlines, Images and Page Furniture


First Edition:

Masthead:
- The Exclusive

Main Coverline:
Serena Burden on her directorial debut: Behind Closed Doors, adapted from the novel by B.A. Paris

Main image:
- The director sitting in a directors chair, dark room
- low angle



Reference Image:















Other coverlines: Ella Mordawska's critical review on Jordan Peele's "Get Out"

Page Furniture

. Puff -  more exclusives on the website

. barcode- bottom left corner of page

. price- above barcode

. Date- Top right corner- May 2024

. Content Plugs- The Watchers, The Picture Of Dorian Gray: attitudes through time, Cinematic Masterpieces of the year

. Strapline- "From the Old to the New" 
Sat under the masthead, smaller size.

. Pull Quote- "Its been an honour to bring this book to life"
 

Second Edition:

Masthead:  The Exclusive

Main coverline:
Ben Arden on his role in Forever and Always, the next big rom com

Main image:
Actor sat in cinema seats
holding roses? popcorn?

Other Coverlines:
See the website for an Exclusive chance to win a FREE subscription to Netflix

Page Furniture:

. Puff - New and Reviewed movies

. barcode- bottom left corner of page

. price- above barcode

. Date- Top left corner- June 2024

. Content Plugs- DIY indoor cinema, gifts for cinema geeks, BEST classics of all time

. Strapline- "From the Old to the New" 
Sat under the masthead, smaller size.

. Pull Quote-  "the representation of what true love looks like"
 

NEA Task 16 : Masthead Design

Deciding the masthead font: I decided a sans-serif font would work better as it looks cleaner and more professional. 



I liked this font for the way it has a slight lean forward- some of my target audience preferred this one as it seemed more professional. However, it is not common for film magazines to use italicised fonts. 



Initially, I liked this font and some of my target audience feedback showed it to stand out due to the bold as well as being easier to read which is why I will be using this font for my masthead and strapline.


Initially, I liked the look of this font due to its uniqueness and the style of it. However, I did not go for this as it would be limiting with the colour palette possibilities and did not stand out to my audience feedback.

I tested different typography for the masthead as shown below. I am going to have the masthead Capitalised with the "THE" in a smaller size and just above the "EXCLUSIVE."  





NEA Task 15 (Planning) : Film Magazine 60 Second Pitch

click here to see 60 second pitch

NEA Task 14 (Planning) : Magazine Title and Strapline

 This is my mind map plan which I created in order to decide the Title and Strapline:

"The Exclusive"

"From the Old to the New"

NEA Task 12 : Research Into Film Magazine Contents Pages.

 

  • are they single or double pages?
  • the layout of the different elements on the page
  • the different sections of the magazine that are shown in the contents pages
  • the actual content - what can be found inside the magazine?
  • the use of typography - font, size, use capitalisation/lower case, text direction, etc
  • the use of images
  • the use of page numbers
Sight and Sound
'

The content page of Sight and Sound is a double page with 5 sections on one side and 13 sections on the other side. One section on the right of the second side is a credit to “Contributors” section with images of three people who are significant in the film industry. Within the 18 sections in the magazines, there is content on reviews of the films, the films themselves and the production elements of the films. However, the content on the films is not mainstream but rather movies with an alternative main aim on the art of film/cinema rather than profit. Within the typography in the content pages of Sight and Sound, there is a use of a sans-serif font and capitalisation for the headings/subheadings and smaller copy for the contents.

Little White Lies



Little White Lies has a double page spread with one page of content and a page with illustrations which relate to the movie which is featured on the front cover. There are no photo graphic images in the content pages, just illustrations. The typography is very minimalistic with a small selection of sections and the titles only being slightly bigger than the content. There is a mic of interviews with writers/directors and reviews. The page numbers are above each section in small to signify where each section can be found.

Film Stories


The content pages of Film Stories have double pages with credits to the important people involved in creating the magazine and 4 movies in the centre accompanied by images from each film. There are 21 sections in the contents pages which cover content such as interviews with directors/actors, movies reviews and a section of the magazine where people can suggest films for Matt Edwards to review. The title for each section is in a bright colour (e.g., blue which is then a colour reflected throughout the whole page) and is capitalised. The page numbers are in a colourful graphic block to dictate where each section can be found within the magazine.

NEA Task 8 : Research Into Existing Film Magazines For A Media Literate Audience

 Film Stories

Film Stories originated as a podcast and website in 2018, founded by Simon Brew. It is now a monthly magazine, publishing middle to high market content, like interviews with film makers and directors. A typical cover of this magazine has one main image of the main topic of the edition (movie, director etc.) and the name of the magazine on the top, the magazine is typically £5.99.

Sight and Sound

Sight and Sound is a film magazine which was first published in 1932 and is published by BFI (British Film Institute) monthly for £6. There is a Sight and Sound website but it within the BFI website. A typical cover for the magazine is minimalistic as it has just one image and the brand name on it.

Little White Lies

Little White Lies is a film magazine published bimonthly since 2005 and is proud in its reviews on its website. A magazine usually costs £10.99 and the cover typically has lots of colour with an illustrated image and the brand name.


NEA Task 7 : My Target Audience

 

  1. Why is target audience important to Bauer?
Bauer state on their website that: "We are guided by regular research and analysis of our markets and target groups, which allows us to understand our readers, users, listeners, and advertisers and know exactly how to engage, inform and entertain."

They need to ensure that they are producing content that is able to reach and satisfy their targeted audience.

     2. what is a media literate audience?
wikepedia states that: "Media Literacy is the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, communicate and create using all forms of communication." also meaning media literate people are able to decode messages in media and are critical in their interests and in the production of movies rather then the product itself.

Target Audience Profile

Sam may be in the Sixth Form studying A Levels and preparations for university. If Sam is already at university they are likely to be studying at a Russell Group university and following a course that is recognised as being traditionally academic. If Sam is employed they may be at the start of their career and, therefore, not at the height of their earning potential yet.

Sam’s family background will have added significant cultural capital to their experiences. Sam will have been brought up in a household where there has been a clear focus on the importance of education and the opportunities that this can bring. Sam will have experienced holidays both in this country and abroad and their knowledge of other cultures will have been enhanced by this.

Sam is knowledgeable about current affairs but doesn’t access news via traditional channels such as newspapers or television. Sam would not dream of reading the red top or middle-market tabloids. If Sam had to, they may flick through The Guardian or i. 

To keep updated on what is happening in the world Sam, like most others of their age, relies more heavily on their social media feeds. Social media is important to Sam but it doesn’t dominate their life. They are more likely to use Instagram and Tik Tok than Facebook and will be as interested in consuming as they are in producing content. Sam likes to be seen as slightly different to the average 16-25 year old and has an active interest in learning about the world around them. Sam is interested in reality television programmes such as Love Island but is likely to see it as escapist fun rather than a guide to how they should live their life.

Sam will make use of online sources such as Huffington Post, a site that features content from more than 100,000 bloggers (from politicians, students and celebrities to academics, parents and policy experts) who contribute in real-time on the subjects they are passionate about. 

Sam is interested in all aspects of culture. They are interested in reading and are likely to always have at least one book by their bedside. Sam is more likely to read fiction than non-fiction and is able to hold a conversation regarding what they like and dislike in a narrative. Sam will enjoy music but doesn’t follow the crowd. Sam is interested in new music and takes pleasure in listening to artists that their friends may not have heard of yet. Sam is likely to be interested in attending festivals alongside friends. 

Sam will take an active interest in film and is just as likely to stream content as visit the cinema. Sam enjoys watching Hollywood blockbusters but is just as likely to seek out the latest independent film. Sam is interested in all aspects of film-making and not just the end product and, because of this, is more likely to read film magazines such as Sight and SoundLittle White Lies and Film Stories than more mainstream magazines such as Empire and Total Film.

Sam has some disposable income but is still conscious of the need to save. Fashion is important but  they are not a sheep who follows the same trends as everyone else. Sam will be seen by their friends as a trend setter and not a follower of fashion.

Sam is interested in issues that affect young people of the same age. These would include climate concerns and the impact of human beings on the environment.

NEA Task 6 : Understanding Audience (Mass Market)

1.      What is a mass market audience?

-        Mass market audiences want to see mainstream, new and popular films which are played on big Cinema chains such as Odeon and Cineworld, they are mass market as they get a larger viewing.


- These are all mainstream movies on the OnScreen website which target a mass market audience.


        2. What is an independent cinema?

m   Independent cinemas show alternative, independent and smaller films as well as mainstream movies and are often cheaper with more of a community atmosphere.


     - this is a film more likely to be shown in an independent cinema as it is independent and not heavily funded.



       3. What is OnScreen magazine?

        OnScreen magazine focuses on a mass market audience whilst also showing independent films, the magazine is available for free as a pdf on the website or can be found in independent cinemas as they make money from the advertising for movies and more in the magazine.





4


      4. What different sections are there on the OnScreen website and how do these sections appeal to a mass market audience?

- there are hyperlinks which lead to the following, features, news, reviews, trailers, movies, win and cinema pass. "MOVIES" offers movies that are coming soon and that are in cinemas now, this appeals to a mass market audience as they want to watch the new mainstream movies that are on in cinemas like Odeon and Cineworld.

        5. How does the latest edition of OnScreen magazine (May/June 2023) appeal to a mass market audience?

             

- The puff "FREE TAKE A COPY", typography of capitalised and large "FREE" means it will reach more people as its price will not stop anyone from being able to access it.

    - Main image of the new Indiana Jones movie- it is a large mainstream movie being reproduced as it is popular and will reach a mass market audience.

     - puff of chance to win spider-verse prizes, again mainstream movie and products that interest a large fandom. 

      - Mentions of many mainstream films in content plugs.


 





      6. What is meant by the term cross-media convergence?

           Cross-media convergence is when the two products work in sync to promote each other.

     7. Is there any cross-media convergence* between the magazine and its website?    

i     In the website, it promotes the print magazine through free pdfs and more on the content- in the pdf there is also a call to the website, promoting it also showing cross media convergence.







       Across the website and magazine, the brand of OnScreen is in the same font and capitalisation, showing cross media convergence.














Completed NEA

  My name is Ellie Wright. Welcome to my A Level Media Studies blog. This is a record of the work I have undertaken for the Making Media N o...