LO4 (M4:U3, D1:U3) - Meeting the client Brief

LO4 (U3) - Be able to carry our post-production techniques and processes for an original media product to a client brief

Front Cover

This is my front cover, in which I have exported as a JPEG.

Double Page Spread

This is my double page spread, in which I have exported as a JPEG.

How this exported media product meets the brief

The brief first asks me to create a new online and print based magazine for North London. This media I have exported can be used in a digital format, which it is currently in, which is the online part of the magazine, however it could also be printed on thick white hardback paper. It would be printed like this as it is a monthly magazine, therefore does not have to be eco friendly, because it is only sporadically created. In addition, it is completely based in North London, staring a real up and coming rock artist who travels around different locations of North London, performing in many venues. This meets the first stage of criteria for the magazine.

I needed to develop a proposal and sample material for the magazine for the first stage of this production. I created a proposal for three different ideas which I had at the start, however narrowed it down to only one main idea which I followed through with throughout the whole production.  Furthermore, the sample material I created were visualisation diagrams in which I did on paper and then digitally. This gave the magazine an outline to how it was going to look.

From this proposal, I was able to complete the next requirement on the brief, which was to plan and deliver my pitch to the client.

SOLO magazine pitch

As a base to my presentation, I used relevant information from the proposal to formulate the presentation for the pitch. I gave all my ideas and sample materials to the client, who was impressed and only gave me a small amount of feedback before I could create the actual magazine. I delivered my pitch including information on the background/ideas behind the magazine, objectives, font types, target audiences, competition, place in the market, price, distribution and marketing, legal and ethical issues and how to resolve them and relevant sketches.



Next I had to plan the production using planning documentation. The first thing I did here was created a Gantt chart, which massively helped me to manage my time. 

This ensured I did all tasks required for the deadline that the brief gave me. I also produced tick lists which gave me the motivation and drive to complete each task.

Photographic evidence

The client brief next suggested I was ready to produce my original content for my magazine.
For this, I took photographs of my rock artist I was reporting on, I sourced all my assets, I wrote my body copy, which was an interview with the artist and set up my software. This gave me all the suitable pieces I needed to finally touch up the magazine and make it look professional and acceptable to be sold in shops.

After producing all the content, I put it on the software that I set up (Photoshop). Here, I was able to complete the last task that I had been given in the client brief, which was to edit the original content together to create meaning for my magazine. Through the use of my editing skills, I was able to use tools such as the magnetic lasso to cut out my rock artist from the white wall I took the photo in front of. I also added relevant and appropriate headings and subtitles, along with exclusive articles that would be included in the real magazine, to attract attention from potential customers.

Magnetic Lasso

By completing all of these requirements from the client brief, I was able to produce the front cover and double page spread of the magazine.

Guitar - Front Cover

I used a range of post production tools and techniques in order to create meaning behind the magazine. I had to ensure I emphasised the importance of rock as a genre, as it means so much in this area of London.
The first way I created meaning in the magazine was through the colour scheme of the magazine. When I edited the photograph, I made sure to bring out the colour of the guitar, as this is one of the most important aspects of the magazine. By making the background black and white, and including black, grey and white writing, along with some red, it allowed the vibrant red guitar stand out on the page. This creates meaning behind the genre by showcasing its most important instrument, while setting out the scene of this rock artist. This also meets the criteria of the product brief because it is 'original content' that I have created. In addition, black is a key colour that rock magazines usually use, therefore by having it running throughout the front cover, it adds to the effect of the genre. This creates more meaning, as it is a code to have these colours portrayed in a rock genre magazine. 





I used a Classic Rock magazine as inspiration for the front cover of my magazine. The image of Luke Sutcliffe (my model) at the top of this document was inspired by an image of 'Slash' who is a world famous rock artist. The image is just below, and I have placed this here for you to see the similarities between this front cover and my front cover. I have used a similar colour scheme, as well putting maximum emphasis on the guitar, as the stand out object on the front of my magazine. The camera on both images were centring the guitar as the main feature and showcases the gloss on both, again symbolising how important it is to this genre. They both contrast the colours of the background of the magazine, as they are a bright red compared to the dark black and grey colours of the magazine. I was able to import my photo onto Photoshop in order to create a darker effect with the brick wall, just as Classic Rock have done with this magazine, creating a dark and gloomy feel through the black misty effect.

Classic Rock magazine - Slash

I decided to use cover lines such as " The Grace Notes, Q&A" and "Robyn Regan, The New Album", as these articles are most likely to be interesting for the target markets age range. By including artists that are of similar ages to the target audience creates meaning for the magazine, as they would be able to connect and understand the artists more than normal. These are upcoming rock artists, therefore by being a similar age to the audience suggests they would be interested to see how they made it as an artist and what sort of music they produce. "Live in Concert" and "The New Album" are very eye catching headings because they are relevant to what the audience wants to know. If there are people live in concert they are eager to know when and where, so they can see it live and if there are new albums they may want to listen to them to see what kind of music this upcoming rock artist makes. This creates meaning behind the magazine as it will give the customer an insight into their lives and music, possibly making them interested in the artist in the long term. These titles not only create meaning, but it is the best way to gain maximum revenue, as it is information that interests potential customers, and increases their want to buy the magazine and find out about the artists. 

I used the quick selection magnetic lasso tool in order to cut my model out from the original picture that was set on a blank white wall. By placing him on a more meaningful background of dark black and white bricks, it added personality to the magazine. The brief states that I have to create "original content" for my magazine, and with my artist just on a blank white wall it isn't original, nor does it portray any interest in the genre I have chosen. Using a more important and distinctive background will make more customers notice the magazine, and therefore want to purchase it too. Using this post production technique creates  meaning behind my magazine because it helps my model look like a more unique artist and allows the customer to relate to him too.

Not only would customers get that connection with the artists because they are of similar age ranges, but on the front cover of the magazine I ensured my model was looking right down the neck of the guitar towards the camera. This creates meaning because it suggests the guitarist is using the musical instrument as a platform of communicating with the audience. This is important because when the artist looks back at the person reading it, it makes it feel more real and personal for the customer, and enables a greater connection between the two faces.

With regards to my fonts, I made sure to mix it up between my large bold fonts and my messy hand writing fonts. This creates meaning behind the magazine because the bold important fonts symbolise the regular conventions of a rock magazine being powerful and strong heavy music. This is a theme throughout most rock genre magazines, which makes the audience notice it very easily. However, the meaning behind the messy font is that it represents the actual 'solo(s)' that the rock artists perform in concert live. This creates meaning because it makes it feel more real as if they were to see the artists live instead of just seeing their faces on a magazine.