COMMENTS
Task1
Apologies for this taking so long Anya. I keep meaning to do it then ending up not doing it.
Okay, here we go.
First
and foremost, fantastic. You've clearly thought very carefully about
the effectiveness of your chosen images and your research has definitely
impacted on the finished production work. This eye for design will be
really useful when you move into the real production.
As for the
productions themselves I am VERY impressed. Your covers are stylish,
demonstrate an excellent eye for a cohesive house style and clearly
control mise en scene and typography to create an excellent effect.
Really spot on. Well done!
Task 2
Your photography shows really good attention to lighting and clearly
fulfills all of the elements that were in the brief. I do however have
one or two concerns about the effectiveness of the task for you because
you are clearly in front of the camera for all of these images. If you
haven't already done so, make sure that you spend some time acquainting
yourself with the functions of the camera. You need to know the settings
that are most effective and the right way to change shutter, iso and
iris. You have tremendous creativity, so matching this with technical
skill could see you achieving an A star in this section of the course.
This should be your target.
Task 3
Research
There are no marks for this and so it doesn't matter how you
present it, but I just have the feeling you could be a little more
dynamic. I'll admit that I am nit picking, because you were really
thorough here and it is clear that you demonstrated solid
understanding of the genre. Be sure to look closely at representation
and narrative. Really apply all the things you are learning across the
course.
Magazine
Your cover is quirky and minimalistic in a good way. Beware this
type of choice as it does cut you off from certain high scoring options,
like using anchoring text in the representation of your central figure
and implying certain narrative codes. On the
inside I really like the layout and design and your choices of image
are very good. But I don't think that the minimalism works so well. By
the point that someone picks up the magazine and looks inside they are
already hooked and at that point the appeal is
the desire to read and be entertained by words. So, you need to do
something that implies that. Puns work. Blocks of text work. etc. I'm
still impressed by this piece, but I think it just needs to do a little
more to get a very high grade. 19/25
Website
I really liked the idea of starting the website with an interview
that would then find its way into the magazine. That is a really strong
piece of convergence. However, I think your choice of fonts and layout
and design in this section makes it look less
professional. The general layout is sound but just like the magazine,
it needs to be more text dense by this point to promise readers
information and entertainment. Like most people I suggest you really
focus on copying something that exists, totally copy
it, and then start to embellish it. This will give you an authentic
base to your production which you can then twist to make it more
creative.
17/25
Convergence
This you definitely did well. I got a real sense of the connection
between the two and it was this that I was really looking for. The
sensibilities matched, there seemed to be a definite relationship. This
bodes very well. 8/10
44/60 - B grade - In summary, you did a really good job of this.
Copying does need to be the basis for your approach to the real thing,
but LOADS of potential. Definitely aiming for that A star.