CLOSED BLOG NOTIFICATION

Centre name: Norbury Manor Business and Enterprise College for Girls
Centre Number:14343
Candidate Name: Shivani Cavaliere
Candidate Number: 1041
Unit:G321

Final Front Cover

Final Contents

Final DPS

Evaluation: Question 7

Evaluation question 7 from Shivani Cavaliere

Evaluation: Question 6

Evaluation: Question 5

Evaluation: Question 4

Evaluation: Question 3

Evaluation: Question 2

Evaluation: Question 1

DPS Links to Cover/Contents

DPS Links to Cover/Contents by Slidely Slideshow

Double Page Spread - Interview

Double Page Spread - Interview

Luna Skyler is a new and rising star in the indie genre, and we were lucky enough to interview her. Fitting somewhere between indie pop and indie rock, Luna Skyler has no aspirations of being the new Lana Del Rey, but the first Luna Skyler. Skyler started out on YouTube, covering her favourite songs by artists like Hozier and Arctic Monkeys, but her magical and ethereal vibe she gives the songs made them her own. Her audience and fame is growing every day, and her first single ‘Hollywood Soldier’ is currently holding the number one spot in the UK charts. Luna Skyler is out of this world, and the sky is definitely not her limit.

Your music fits into a whole new genre of its own. What was it that inspired you to have such an ethereal, out of this world vibe to it?

‘Since I was young I have always had a deep fascination with all things absurd. [Laughs] I guess it just inevitably found its way into my music and lyrics. I wanted to be something new, and something different in the industry, and I think I have managed pretty well in doing that. When the album comes out you’ll really be able to hear the influences and interests I’ve had since I was a child. I have always found peace in my thoughts, and looking up at the stars and letting my mind go to weird and wonderful places, which really comes through in my music and lyrics.

There’s always negativity in the music industry. How do you cope with negativity targeted at you?

‘Negativity is unavoidable, unfortunately. There are always people who have nothing better to do other than compare you to others, accuse you of copying, criticising your look etcetera. I don’t believe in spreading negativity, so I tend to ignore it. Of course fans get defensive, but as I said; spreading the negativity makes it worse. Ignoring it is the best way, ‘cause if you don’t retaliate, they have nothing else to say to you.’

What do you want to get out of your career? Is it more about the fame, money, music or fans?

I’ve never been it in for the money. I mean, sure, it’s a bonus! [Laughs] but since I started on YouTube it was always about getting my music out there and heard. And my fans – they mean the world to me. I wouldn’t be sitting here doing this interview. I’m so grateful for everything honestly. This is beyond what I thought I would achieve, and getting this far has made me just want to keep going further and pursuing my career even further.’

Who would you say are your music heroes?

‘Hmm... Well, it’s always something I’ve wanted to do, but having people like Lana Del Rey, who is one of the most successful female indie artists of today, and seeing where they started and how far they’ve come inspires me every day. I listen to a lot of music; I don’t stick to one genre. So yeah, I have a lot of inspirations and people who inspire me to be more and do more.’

You’re a big inspiration for a lot of girls, and you’re highly respected as a feminist icon. What message would you give young girls who are trying to make it in a male dominated industry?

‘Keep trying. It’s hard, trust me it really is, I’m not gonna sugar coat it, but it’s so worth it. Being a female working in this industry is hard, but if we don’t stop trying to get the equality that is so overdue, it’ll never change. So girls; keep going at it and help change the way the industry is run.’ 

DPS Image Choices

Stand First

Here are a collection of stand firsts that I found when doing my research. I used them as inspiration for my own stand first, incorporating ideas such as talking about the artist's past, style of music/personal style and what is going on in their career right now.

Here is my stand first. I decided to make it quite long, but not too long, to give a good insight of what to expect in the interview, as well as details that can't be fitted into the interview.

Double Page Spread Resarch

Contents page colour choices

Contents page colour choices from Shivani Cavaliere

Contents Page Feedback

Contents Font and Features

Slide share explaining my contents fonts and features decisions and intentions.

Contents Image Choices

Here is a video of my images I used on my contents page and a narration of me explaining why I used them and how they benefited my contents page.

Contents Layout

Contents Research/Deconstruction

 

Here is a video of me analysing and deconstructing contents pages of various magazines and relating them back to my ideas.

Front Cover Feedback

Front cover linked to research

Front Cover Features

Here is a post on Glogster I made to show the features on my front cover and explain why I chose to have them. For a better viewing, click full screen.

Photo Manipulation Example

Cover Layout/Changes

Masthead and Fonts Decisions

 

Here is a video of me explaining my decisions concerning my masthead and font.


Narration in video: These are the fonts I considered using for my masthead. They are all similar to the one I drew on my flat plan and fit the theme of magazine, as well as the name I chose. I chose to name my magazine Apollo for a number of reasons, one being that it was different to what is conventionally used and fits the theme of indie because of this. Apollo is also the god of music, as well as art and poetry among others, which fits the genre as well.

This is the first font I found and considered for my masthead. It was big and bold and easy to read, but it did not look as sophisticated and professional as I had decided I wanted. The second font I found was this one. Again, while it fit the name of the magazine, I felt it looked too historical and not professional enough. However, again with it in all caps, it makes it eye catching and easy to read, hence why I considered using it.

This is the font that I decided to use for my masthead. It had the Greek vibe to it that matches the name of my magazine, but it wasn't too obvious like the previous one. It was sophisticated and looked professional, and when I put it on my magazine and edited it, it looked perfect. It's still bold and in capitals so it draws attention. I chose to make the font red as it would match my colour scheme, as well as because it is an eye catching colour and is used in the indie genre. It would match my idea to have the picture on my front cover in black and white with only the red parts in colour, and having the colour coordination would make it look appealing and attractive.

Front Cover - Final Shot

Model Consent Forms

Here are the pictures of the models I used with their model consent forms.

Taking Pictures

Here is a video of some photos of me taking photos of my model. I used a variety of props, shots, angles and zooms to create my test shots, and came out with a good selection. (Photo credits to Holly Hawkins-Lucraft)
Made on stupeflix.com

Test Shots

Here is a video I made on stupeflix.com of all of my test shots for my front cover, contents page, and double page spread. I have varied the types of shots I have used and the props I have used as well, using one or the other, none, or both.

Shot List

 Here is a short video I made showing my shots and some descriptions of them.

Flat Plan Feedback

To receive feedback for my flat plan, I asked a number of my peers their opinion and received comments on the post for my flat plan. Overall, the vast majority of comments and feedback I got was very positive and my design and layout was appreciated.

 Holly mentions here that she liked my idea to have the translucent L on top of my article as it shows the artist. I thought this would be a good idea as it also makes her name stick in your mind, and it also looked attractive.

Again, people here have mentioned the idea for the L as well as the colour scheme being an interesting idea. Somebody also mentioned the title of my magazine which pleased me as I was worried people would not understand it, but I chose the title as it relates to music but not in a way that is too obvious.

From my peers, I received similar feedback. Overall, people seemed to like that I chose to keep my layout simple but creative, and the colour scheme was also something people found interesting. I thought that the idea I had for the colour scheme would impress as it is different and not something you see on magazines often. The only advice and criticism I got was to make sure I left enough space at the top of my photo for the masthead to go, as it was quite cramped on my flat plan. When taking my test shots, I took this into consideration.

Flat Plan

Visual Mood board

This is my visual mood board I made. I included seven different things I associated with the Indie genre, which is records (vinyls), instruments, checked shirts, vintage things, CDs, accessories and art. To produce my mood board I used a range of different angles when taking photos, as well as filming some of my footage. The music I used is Twenty One Pilot's Tear In My Heart  as I found it was fitting as they are an indie band and kept the energy of the video up.I will use what I have learnt through making this video and apply it to my photos and elements of my magazine through props, colour schemes and more.

Reader Profile

Reader Profile - Made on www.canva.com

Artist Profile - Fashion

These are some of the items of clothing/accessories that I have collaged on picmonkey.com, to show the type of clothing my artist would wear. I have taken inspiration and ideas from them so that I can use the style and some similar items of clothing on the model I have chosen to be my artist. All of the clothes and accessories on here fit the indie genre, some leaning to Indie Rock while others to Indie Pop. However, they both fit how I picture my artist to look and the type of clothes they would wear. While these items of clothing are popular, it is not mainstream popular, but mostly among artists in the genre and fans of the genre. I noticed that usually female Indie artists wear either very grunge, bohemian types of clothing, such as Lana Del Rey and HAIM, while others are more quirky and eccentric in their fashion, such as artists like Melanie Martinez and Marina Diamandis. By doing this research, I have found out that I can chose to style my artist either one of these ways, or stray from both to create a new style for the genre.

Artist Profile

Audience Research - Focus Group

Adam
Question: 'What do you think about this front cover of 'Q' magazine?   
Adam: I think it looks quite appealing, mainly because all the colours match. The use of red makes it eye-catching. I also think it is effective that he isn't looking at the camera, because usually on magazines the artist on the cover is looking in the camera. 

Sydney
Question: What do you think of the front cover for this magazine, 'NME'?
Sydney: It doesn't look very appealing to me. I think the use of a bright yellow at the top, while it does stand out, makes it look a bit too overwhelming. Like, the odd use of yellow here and there works, but I think it's too much. It fits the genre of indie though, especially the black and white picture. 

Holly
Question: What is your opinion on the cover of this magazine, 'Billboard'? 
Holly: I like the cover of this magazine, and I find it appealing. I think it's relevant that the artist is covering most of the masthead, as it shows its popularity. Her angle of gaze is away from the camera, so I think that is a pose used a lot on indie music magazines, as I have seen it used before. The colours match, making it look attractive.  


I then continued to ask them some general questions about the magazines I had showed them.

1. Would you buy one of these magazines? If so, which one? 
Holly: I would definitely buy the first one, not just because it has Ed Sheeran on it, but also because I like the colour scheme best. I think red, black and white stands out the most, which makes it appealing to me. 

Sydney: I would buy the first or last one. I think the colours work best on them, and while they are both really different, I think they both work. I especially like the last one though because it is quite simplistic but looks nice. 

Adam: I would probably buy the first one as well. The colours make it most appealing and it is layout well. 

2. What features on the magazine 'NME' stood out most to you? 
Adam: The first thing I noticed was the artists name. It's written in big capital letters, which made it hard to miss. I think because the picture is in black and white, and the font is against the black, it made it stand out more. 

Holly: The bright yellow banner at the top, for sure. Because its so bright and stands out from the mostly red and black colour scheme, it makes it stand out from the rest of the magazine.

Sydney: The same as Holly really, the yellow banner stood out most to me. As soon as I saw the magazine, that was the first thing my eyes went to. 

3. What makes the third magazine, 'Billboard', appealing, if anything does?
Sydney: I just really like how simplistic it is. It gives away little information, which could go both ways in making someone want to buy it, but I personally prefer that.

Holly: I personally don't find it very appealing. While the layout works, I don't think it's stuck to a strict theme and colour scheme, and I prefer magazines that do. The writing is also quite hard to read against the outfit the artist is wearing. 

Adam: The picture on the front is used effectively because she is looking away from the camera, but apart from that I think it is too simple. 

4. How do these magazines fit in the indie genre?
Adam: The two colour schemes on the first two are red and black, and I think that makes them fit the genre because those are the colours I would expect to see on the front of an indie magazine.

Sydney: I think they all fit the genre well. The last one is quite different to the other two, but I still think it works, because I associate Indie music with both ways the magazines look; with guitars and colours like the ones used, but also like, aesthetics and flowers. 

Holly: They all fit the indie genre as they are not what you would see in mainstream magazines; two out of three of the magazines, the artists are looking away from the camera and none of them are smiling. Usually you would see the opposite of this on magazines.