End of Year NEA Task

End of Year NEA Task

Above is my finished magazine front cover for my NEA project on the fashion magazine brief on diversity.

1. What you have learnt since starting the mini-NEA on 18th June?

While doing this mini-NEA project, I have gained a variety of skills along the way in performance and studio training and web design. Utilising research, I have acquired some knowledge on magazine conventions and have tried to emulate some in my magazine cover.

The tutorial on building a website through WIX opened me up to the site I have never used before. I found it easily accessible and a quick and easy way to create a professional site without the need of having to go through an extremely detailed process of a website buidling course for example.

  

Through performance and studio training, I was encouraged to take myself less seriously which made me find myself more at ease as the performance sessions progressed. The studio training was really informative and helpful when I used the equipment for my photoshoot on Monday 9th July.

In hindsight, I would have probably done more research for my project to have a larger amount of ideas and more inspiration. 

2. What you have achieved for your NEA so far?

Now I have completed the process of creating my magazine front cover, I have found I am more accustomed to using Photoshop now and am able to do things using the software at a faster pace. For my photoshoot, I produced a shootboard so I knew the order and the timings of my shots. During pre-production and planning, I made moodboards, one that reflected the general representation of people I wanted to include in my magazine as the main cover image and features and another moodboard on positions. I had to put together my outfit for my photoshoot and decide which positions I would use in my shoot.

3. What your future plans are for your project?

Looking forward, I want to carry on with the project I am working on at the moment which is the fashion magazine brief and I will most likely use the same magazine title too. Though I see this mini-NEA project as learning curve, in September, I will probably continue to work on this project but I would like to produce of more material in terms of photography for cover images and features, this would presumably happen in the studio. Over the summer I would like to take location shots predominantly around London to use as locations in the backgrounds of my features and cover image.

Homeland Continuity Task

Homeland Continuity Task

1. What was your role in the task and what did you actually do?

In this task, Oliver, Tilly and myself produced the script for our Homeland remake. In order to recreate the conventions, we watched videos of Homeland featuring interrogating scenes. We also managed what the attire of the actors would be in addition to the props. During the filming, my main task was using the clapperboard. This included naming each scene and shot so when it came to editing, it would be clear the order of scenes and takes produced. 

2. What factors did you have to take into account when planning, filming and editing?

When planning, we split into two groups, one worked on the storyboard whilst the other (my group) worked on the script. To make sure everyone was on the same page, we came together at the end and discussed our plan to prepare and be ready for filming. When it came to filming, each scene was planned so we knew when to film each scene and what lines are said during each individual scene. By planning well, we were able to use our time filming more efficiently without wasting it unnecessarily.

3. How successful was your sequence? Did you manage to demonstrate match-on, shot-reverse-shot and 180-degree rule? Did you achieve continuity overall? 

I think my sequencing was quite successful due to the fact I edited the scenes following the order of the script. I did demonstrate the match-on shot, when Riana's character spoke about photos located inside a folder, I cut the shot focusing on Riana to the shot she passes over the folder to Tilly. Furthermore, I was able to put in many shot-reverse-shots with over-the-shoulder shots plus making sure to use the 180-degree rule. Overall, I ensured to obtain continuity because the shots I put together flow well and do not appear jumpy, I linked parts of sentences to one another in consecutive scenes so the shots seem natural when placed alongside one another.

4. What have you learnt from completing this task?

From doing this task, I have learnt how to edit, as previously I was incapable of doing so. Now, I am aware what happens in filming and editing to produce shots that appear natural on screen for viewers to watch. Editing is not something that can be rushed, it can take time and precision is key in where to begin and cut a scene.

Celebrity Magazine Cover

Celebrity Magazine Cover

 

S    Summarise the music celebrity you have created

     The music celebrity I have created is called Cherish. She is in the pop scene producing music for RnB and pop listeners. She is quite loud, personality-wise and is a fashion icon throughout the music industry. She is being used to demonstrate that celebrities come in all forms and they do not have to be all made up and stylised all the time.

      Evaluate how you have constructed the representation of your celebrity through your cover image and cover headline/text (denotation/connotation of text and image).
      For my cover image I used a white smoke background and pink-to-blue gradient effect on my masthead. Everything is more sophisticated than the celebrity's costume. The text above that says: 'The Evolution  of Music' projects that people in the music industry can be normal people just like everyone else, it's not about what they look like but simply the music they're making and its effect on others.

     Analyse how far you have used and/or challenged stereotypes of gender/race/age/sexuality in your cover.
      My cover challenge stereotypes because it is displays someone who has ethnic minority and is female. Instead or a glamorous costume she appears in simple plain clothing while showcasing some makeup but not extremely bold. Furthermore her hair is not excessive either in contrast to the star's personality and usual everyday wear which is normally more extravagant.

I

      Reflect on the production/editing process.  Are you pleased with the end result?Identify what is successful about your shot?  What would you have done differently in hindsight? 
I    I took quite a few shots to then select which one I liked best to show what I wanted it to indicate. The editing process was a little difficult at first as a person who hasn't been able to edit well in the past. However, as time progressed, I found it easier and was able to edit quicker. I quite like the end result as it has delivered what I wanted it to show so I am satisfied. My shot managed to capture the art of simplicity in the star in what she is wearing and what she looks like. In hindsight, I think I would have like to have worked the lighting more to cast shadows around the face of the celebrity more, maybe on one side of her face leaving the other side in full lighting.

Music Video Analysis - Havana

Music Video Analysis: Havana - Camila Cabello ft Young Thug

Technical Feature 1: Close Ups/Beauty Shot

- In this gif, we see a close up of Cabello,who bats her eyelashes in a flirty way
- In this beauty Cabello seems to be in fun mood whose mouth curls up into a smile
- As she turn around she turns her head towards the ground, the shot displays a slightly coy and light-hearted side to her character
- The stereotypical beauty shot is mainly found in music videos of female artists so this is a very classic convention

Technical Feature 2: Combination of audio-visual

- Here, Camila Cabello mentions the lyrics: 'I had to go' leaving the two men she previously danced with to dance together as she dances away
- This illustration emphasises her words quite clearly

Technical Feature 3: Direct Address

- Cabello throws her hat whilst looking into the camera, dancing and singing in front of a traditional microphone

- In this shot the camera zooms out from a medium close up to a medium shot

      Technical Feature 4: Camera Movement

- Camila is followed by the camera as she turns around

- We get to see where she is looking at another man

- There a change of background behind Cabello as the camera moves to match her turning around

Technical Feature 5: Multiple Viewpoints

Camila, the telenovela star

Camila, the movie star

Karla

- In this one video we view Camila Cabello portray three different roles, with the first appearance from Camila as a telenovela star, then Karla as an introverted person and lastly Camila as a film star

- The telenovela star version is showcased in a dramatized scene, quickly changing her emotions going through sadness, confusion to happiness

- In contrast, the quiet Karla is the side of Cabello that is less witnessed by the general public, here she is enjoyed entertainment such as telenovelas and movies

- Camila, the movie star is very playful and sassy character shown enjoying herself, singing and dancing with men, it seems she an amplified version of  a reality Karla possibly imagines having

Reflections on Shots

1. Analyse your chosen shot and identify in what way it could be described as signifying your chosen TV Drama genre/subgenre
The photo I have chosen is of a girl who is lying on a set of stairs, this is a wide shot from a low angle. This shot could be described in terms of genre as a horror/thriller, and possibly a mystery/crime. This is signified by the the girl on the stairs and the the pair of legs that can be seen higher up the stairs. This could be a mystery or thriller because it is ambiguous who pushed the girl down the stairs and whether she was even pushed down the stairs by that person or at all. The harsh blue lighting, produced by the coloured lens heightened our genre of horror as it created a cold, eerie atmosphere. 

2. What did you actually do to achieve the effect?
To achieve this affect we didn't allow the face or race of the person higher up the stairs to be seen, this left the still to be full of ambiguities.

3. How did you intend the audience to interpret your still? What narrative moment were you attempting to create? What meanings were you attempting to communicate? We wanted the audience to wonder what happened to this girl. How did she fall, was it on purpose by someone pushing her, or was it an accident and she tripped? Moreover we aimed for the audience to question the previous chain of events that happened before this episode. The viewers could further question who the person above on the stairs was and what their role was (if any) in the incident. 

4. Identify what is successful about your shot.
Our shot worked well as to establish curiosity in our audience. It suits our genre perfectly and magnetises the viewers.

5. What would you do differently in hindsight? A positive modification of our shot could be for it to be less wide to reduce how much of the white walls could be seen and bring the girl lying on the stairs into focus more.