Create Production Materials (U3: P4, M3)

Learning Objective (U3): Be able to create production materials for an original media product to a client brief

Below are all my production materials: body copy, thumbnails, chosen images, codes and conventions, setting up evidence and setting up templates.

Double Page Spread Content
In my double page spread, I did an interview with a North London based Hip Hop artist. This is because Hip Hop is a vibrant music scene in North London. The reason I chose to interview a North London Hip Hop artists is to try and give him exposure to bring the vibrant music scene to the light.

What's good S Dot, how are you doing today?

Good g, thanks for asking. Feeling positive.

What was the first thing you thought of this morning?

That I have to finish a beat I have been working on for the past few days. I like to set myself tasks when I wake up to stay on track. Also, I think about breakfast, but I think most people do.

What have you been listening to recently?

I mainly listen to rap being a producer and rapper myself, but obviously, the genre has so much variation that there is always something new to listen to. One day I might be listening to some grime, maybe, Wiley or Skepta, I’m a big Skepta fan, and it's cool because he's from North London like me. On another day I might be listening to some American hip-hop because I like a lot of west coast rap, stuff like Snoop Dogg and Tupac. Really it depends on what kind of a mood I’m in, I like to listen to other genres too, stuff like Miles Davis, I’m quite into jazz at the moment.

Where do you find inspiration for your music?

To be honest with you, it is completely random. Because I try and listen to so much different music as I can, and it only takes a small element of the song, something specific such as a drum beat or maybe the way vocals have been mixed for me to go, “yeah, I want to try that”. Sometimes it's hard depending on the genre to take something and put it into a hip-hop beat, but if it's good enough I always manage to find a way.

What have you been working on recently?

As I said I’m making a beat, but honestly, I make beats all the time, I have a hard drive full of them. In terms of actually finished music, I can't give away too much other than that I have some collaborations with other North London artists being released soon so stay tuned, and I’m also making beats for a few interesting people.

Hmm, what do you mean by interesting people, big artists?

Haha, you're really trying me today, aren’t you! As I said I can’t give up too much as it will spoil the surprise. I can say that the people that I’m surrounded by in the music scene are interesting for more reasons than one. Some are established, some are just gaining traction, and some are bringing something completely new to the North London scene, something that the people need. I love seeing something new man, especially when the music starts to sound the same.

When your not making music, what do you get up to?

Well, you know, the obvious stuff g, chilling with my friends, going to parties, I like going skateboarding because it's similar to producing beats, the more you do it the better you become. Plus it gets me out of the studio, it's important to see the sunlight ahaha.

Well, it's been great talking to you, any words for the people S Dot?

Have fun, especially while you're young. The only reason I’m where I am today is because I did exactly what I wanted. Oh, and stay tuned for that fresh hip-hop content, I’ve got a lot of cool stuff coming up, and I’m sure Flow Magazine will cover it. See ya.

Peace, see you soon!


Thumbnails of images

Final Images

Front Cover

For my front cover, I decided to use one of my last photos, due to the fact that there is a clear focus on the artist. This is known as depth of field, as the focal point of the image is in focus rather than the background. I also tried to use the mis-en-scene of the photo to appeal to my audience by having the subject wear a gold chain because I feel that this looks urban. This will appeal to my target audience of Hip Hop fans in North London because a lot of rappers wear chains so this image will be something they recognise. It is important that they recognise from the front cover that this is a Hip Hop magazine as the cover is the first thing they will see. 

Here is another image that I considered using for my front cover. All of the mis-en-scene is the same in this photo, as well as the camera angle which makes the subject look powerful and creates a focus. The depth of field is different from the photo above because due to the exposure, creating shadows on the model's face there is less of a focus on the artists as he blends into the background more. I told my model to talk on the phone because it amplifies facial expressions which I feel is evident in this photo. Despite the shadows on the model, I still feel that this is appropriate for a front cover because the model is the focus. 

Double Page Spread

This is the image that I decided to use for the background of my double page spread. The reason that I chose this image is that I feel that graffiti represents the urban background of Hip Hop in North London. I will photoshop another photo of the model from our photoshoot on top of this image. This will make the model the main focal point of my double page spread due to the bright colours of the graffiti contrasting the black tee worn by the model.

Templates

From this menu, I could decide the piece of paper that I was working on. For my front cover, I selected A4 and for my double page spread, I selected A3 and then rotated it by 90 degrees.

From this menu, I could decide the piece of paper that I was working on. For my front cover, I selected A4 and for my double page spread, I selected A3 and then rotated it by 90 degrees.

Evidence of original images - Me setting up the camera and tripod at my shooting location
The first image is of me putting the shoe on the camera, which screws into the bottom of the camera and allows me to attach the camera to the tripod. 

Here is an image of me setting up the tripod to take my photos. The reason I used a tripod is so that the camera is steady when I take my photographs.