Double Page Spread Stage 2

This is the second stage of construction for my double page spread. I need to add the article and then the double page spread is next to finished. I feel that sticking with consistent themes such as the red lines across the right and top will give my magazine something that is unique and iconic to it.

Contents Page Stage 3

This is the third and almost final stage of the construction of my contents page. I just have to add the editors photograph and then it will be finished. I have moved up the title from last time, bumped down the contrast and added the editors note. I feel that this page has enough information, but is not too busy. I also feel it has the right amount of colours too.

Contents Page Stage 2

This is the second stage of construction for my contents page. I have changed a few of the black colours to red, and have changed the text around. Looking at other contents pages, they were put into two categories, Regulars and Specials. I edited mine to do this too. I also added a title for the image and a quote. I added more contrast and brightness to the image as well. I feel that a bit more is needed for this page, but it is looking good.

Front Cover Stage 2

This is the second stage of construction for my front cover. I have added a few bits of text, and moved the darkness title. I have also added a few different fonts. I still have a lot to do to this cover, but I feel that the progress is looking good.

Double Page Spread Stage 1

This is the first stage of my double page spread. I feel that the photo montage is ok, and obviously the article is yet to be added. I feel that I will be able to vastly improve this the longer I spend on it.

Contents Page Stage 1

This is the first stage of construction for my contents page. I was inspired by Classic ROck magazine, and tried sticking to a used and proven layout. I edited the photo by bumping up the contrast and cropped the image so it fits the page properly. Once again, I feel this is a good start, but can be much improved.

Cover Page Stage 1

This is the first stage of construction for my music magazine cover. I have added a font and cut around his head to give it a 3D effect, added contrast and brightness to the photo and added a title and barcode. I feel I can do a lot more to this, but this is a good start.

Photo Shoot 2

This shoot was taken at the Bath Pavilion. The Darkness were preforming with two other bands, and I saw this a great oppertunity to take some photos. I emailed the Darkness' PR, and managed to get a photo pass. This enabled me to go into the pit at the front for the first three songs of each band. I feel that the shoot turned out really well, and I have plenty of photos to use for my cover and double page spread. From doing this, I have l;earnt a lot about how to take good photos of live acts, with bright lighting and fast movement.

Second Shoot Planning

For my second attempt at my cover photo shoot, I emailed the PR team for the band "The Darkness". After a conversation, I received an email to say I had been allocated a photo pass for the Bath gig. These photos will probably be very well suited as it is a professional band, and they are a rock band. I will take some of the band while they are preforming, and they will be under professional studio lighting.

From doing this, I have learnt that if you put in the effort, good things will happen. This is a very good opportunity to take some very good photos.



From: Tom Freeman [tom@hallornothing.com]
Sent: 14 November 2013 15:43
To: Gillian Porter; Matthew HOLDEN
Subject: RE: The Darkness and my A level



Just head to the guest list upon arrival Matthew, let them know your name, and they will issue you with a sticky photo pass which will get you into the pit for the first 3 songs.


-----Original Message-----
From: Matthew HOLDEN [mailto:mho00037@thecastleschool.org.uk] 
Sent: 14 November 2013 16:09
To: Tom Freeman
Subject: RE: The Darkness and my A level

Hi Tom,

Thank you very very much for this! It's much appreciated!

How will I show the staff that I have a photo pass?

Many thanks,

Matt
________________________________________
From: Tom Freeman [tom@hallornothing.com]
Sent: 14 November 2013 15:43
To: Gillian Porter; Matthew HOLDEN
Subject: RE: The Darkness and my A level

Hi Matthew

I've allocated you a photo pass for tomorrow's show in Bath, which will let you shoot the first 3 songs from the pit (no flash).

Band will be on stage at 9.15pm.

Any questions please let me know.

Thanks

Tom




-----Original Message-----
From: Gillian Porter
Sent: 12 November 2013 16:30
To: Matthew HOLDEN
Cc: Tom Freeman
Subject: RE: The Darkness and my A level

Ok - let me see how it's looking and we'll be in touch.

gp

-----Original Message-----
From: Matthew HOLDEN [mailto:mho00037@thecastleschool.org.uk]
Sent: 12 November 2013 15:14
To: Gillian Porter
Subject: RE: The Darkness and my A level

Hello Gillian,

I have a Fujifilm S2980 bridge camera. It's not professional, but at the same time it's not a phone camera.

Thanks,
Matt
________________________________________
From: Gillian Porter [gillian@hallornothing.com]
Sent: 12 November 2013 12:17
To: Matthew HOLDEN
Cc: Tom Freeman
Subject: RE: The Darkness and my A level

Hi Matt

Do you have a professional camera for shooting live acts?
Best
Gillian

-----Original Message-----
From: Matthew HOLDEN [mailto:mho00037@thecastleschool.org.uk]
Sent: 12 November 2013 09:52
To: Gillian Porter; information@mythophonic.com
Subject: The Darkness and my A level

Hello,

I am going to the Darkness in Bath on Friday, and I was planning on taking some photos for my media A level. We have to make a music magazine, and I was planning on using the Darkness for my cover band. Would it be possible for me to take my camera in and take some photos?

Many thanks,

Matt Holden

Photo Shoot 1

This photo shoot did not go nearly as well as planned. The photos do not look professional in the slightest and I will have to do another main shoot. I may be able to take one photo for the contents page, but other than that, this shoot is useless.

Planning the Layout

From doing this task, I now have a plan to take when it comes to making my magazine. This will guide me during the layout stage. This is how my magazine will look almost exactly. I looked at Mojo, Total Guitar and Classic Rock to get inspiration for this task. I feel that it will help me greatly and looks good.

Typography, Drop Caps, Sizes, and Colour Experiments

From doing this task, I have learnt how to make an article more interesting and how to easily break up a big block of text. This will help me when I decide what to do to make my article really eye catching and interesting. This will hopefully make my magazine successful.

Second Article Draft

Art of the Anarchists are one of many British rock bands that took the world by storm in the 80s, but they were the creators, some even say they're the godfathers of classic rock. With the matchless screeches of front man Sid Phoenix, the endless solos from lead guitarist Floyd Cole, the rumbling underline from bassist Henley Hollis and the crazy attitude of drummer Nick Santana, they truly had a sound that could match no other. However, we all know the mighty story of their fame, but where did it all begin?

In 1978 four school friends decided to create a band. They called themselves “Life’s a Beach” and took an interesting twist on rock classics. Their debut album “Lucifer’s Bog Roll” was sold to their friends and family for £1 each. It featured spoofs such as “Won’t Get Drooled Again”, an imitation of The Who’s classic “Won’t Get Fooled Again, and “Bolton’s Calling” a take-off of The Clash’s “London Calling”.

Their first gig was at the Armstrong hall, in their home town of Thornbury. They have been noted as saying that this performance acquired them a small cult following.  Throughout the next four years, the band continued to grow this following through the means of many gigs all over the south west of the country. Despite this loyal fan base, the band decided they sought to take things further, yet they would not be able to ensure this with what they had, despite being signed to a minor record company.

In 1983, Floyd Cole, the song writer and Guitarist for the group, put forward the idea of taking things more seriously. He did this by presenting them with a song he had been working on for the past year. “Psycho-Mania” was performed and explained to the band. Hollis has been quoted as saying “As soon as I heard the guitar riff I knew this was gonna be big”. Now the band had a new sound, they just needed more to show off. Cole spent the next two months writing songs for an album and the band spent the rest of the year recording them.

Shortly before the album “New Coat, New Start” was released a week before Christmas, 1983, the band opted for a name change. “Life’s a Beach” would now be known as “Art of the Anarchists” to suit their new style. Their new album was number one going into the New Year. This gave the band many offers from major record companies, enabling them to leave the small “Death Row Records”. With the new funding and advice, the band were able to release a follow up album in the summer of 1984 called “My coat is too small now”. This album was number one in the UK top charts and made it to number 6 in the US, with the track “Pigeon out of Hell” making number one in both countries.

With the knowledge of how to make song that would sell, the financial backing to do that, and a now huge recognition throughout the rock stage, “Art of the Anarchists” were able to seize the world and forever change rock and roll. But that’s another story.

This is the final version of my article. I have added a sentence based on my teachers comments I will include boxouts with quotes on the double page spread to make the pages more interesting than just one topic. This is what a lot of successful music magazines do, so hopefully it will work for mine. I have learnt that my work should have lots of explanation and detail in it.

Costume, Prop, Location and Actor Planning

From doing this task, I have a greater understanding of what type of clothes the people in my photos will be wearing. As it is a classic rock magazine and covers a lot of genres and different bands and people, the criteria for the fashion in my shoots will very wide. The locations will be around musical instruments with varied backgrounds. The actors will hopefully be older people rather than younger. This is because the rock stars of the past are quite old.

Photo Shoot Plan

Shoot Date and Time
1)Lunchtimes on Wednesday 6th, Thursday 7th and Friday 8th of November.

2)Monday 11th November 3:30
3)Wednesday 13th November 12:30
4)Friday 15th November 3:30

Image Description
1)The art teachers as a classic rock band, with their instruments. They will be a band of four, and will be posing, not plying their instruments outside. For the photos in the music department with the drum kit and such, they will pretend to play for a few photos.

2)Nicky dressed as Meatloaf.
3)Dad being Sting
4)The Darkness doing their thing.

Shoot Location
1)Castle School music department, and woods in the sports field. We will wander around the site to find locations for the shoot at the date.

2)My house
3)My house
4)The Bath Pavilion

Model/Person
1)The art and music teachers - Mr Welsh, Miss Hazel hurst, Mr Saunders and Mr Fitzgerald.

2)Nicky Millard
3)Dad
4)Justin Hawkins and The Darkness

Lighting
1)Natural daylight. I will do the shoot at about midday, but it is quite cloudy at the moment, so the photos may need brightening on photoshop. For the photos in the music department, I can ensure that lots of light is on key areas of the shots, and that it makes important things stand out.

2)I will try to imitate studio lighting and Meatloaf's iconic pose and image.
3)I will try to imitate studio lighting.
4)Studio lighting

Plan of Shots
1)Photos of the band as a whole outside and inside, then individual photos, or photos as pairs will be taken inside.

2)A few individual facial photos that are iconic to Meatloaf.
3)Photos of him in gig gear.
4)Photos of the band while they are playing.

Doing this task will greatly help me as a guide for when it comes to my photo shoots. Making a note of the things above will remind me of ideas and aid me when deciding where and what the photos of my main shoots will be of. This is a main part of the magazine, so being careful and thorough will be the best course of action for a good end result.

Logo Planning

This is the finished logo for my magazine. I chose a rock styled font and noticeable but dark colours. I did not ant to have black in my logo, so I chose a dark burgundy. I also decided the name "Battle Axe" while designing my logo, as it has a ring to it, and is memorable while still fitting the rock genre. From desiging this logo, I have learnt how to use many programmes, but I most importantly gained experience about design and layout.