Development Diaries
- 2. NUMBER ONE How do you feel about writing your proposal? As this was the first week of final major project, I was quite excited to get started. When I started my proposal, it reminded me of other projects. I felt confident enough to write up a proposal as I already knew what I wanted to do for my project, for once. I am going to invent a new female artist and create her merchandise and advertisement. This made it easier for me to write a proposal and actually got the written section done when I got given it. Do you think you have enough knowledge to proceed? At the moment, I still need to carry on researching so then I have enough behind me to carry on. However, I have knowledge from my last projects which can help go forward, such as the magazine and poster research. But I don’t want to carry on without having my new research behind me. Only because I am creating new products of which I have not produced before, such as tour date posters which don’t sound as easy as I thought.
- 3. NUMBER ONE What further research do you need to do? I am still in the process of finishing my research. I have already started looking at Simon Cowell and Syco, his entertainment company. I really need to look at different tour date posters as this is one of the products I am going to be creating so I need to research first. Other aspects I still need to research are different merchandise but I may create that as a mood board and analysis. Also, photography portfolio as I will be using some of the extra images I will take and create a portfolio using portfolio box which I have used before. Do you think you have produced enough work? No, I personally don’t think I have produced enough work this week so far. This is because I still have a lot to do concerning my research and I have to consider my production schedule which will take some time to think about as I am not sure when to do certain products. I believe it will be easier when I figure out the people I am using for my work and then it will come together. What could you do to improve this work? I think the big improvement is to take more time and concentrate on my research to get it done by the deadline.
- 4. NUMBER TWO This week I went to the library to find any books or magazines about music or artists. I came out with a folder which had 1980’s album covers and a book with old record covers. This has influenced me to have a look at album covers or record covers so then I can design one for my artist. I found it quite interesting looking at old albums as they are different from the ones today. This is what I’m going to do for my existing products. Another thing I found in the library was nme music magazines of which I scanned so I can analyse them. There was a few slides in my theory that needed to be finished, so I did. After this, I started my research within this I’ve looked at tour date posters for Dua Lipa, Madonna and Camila Cabello. I have picked these three artists as they were who I looked at during my theory. Also, I have looked at t-shirts for each of the same artists. Whilst I was browsing the Billboard website, I found two photography portfolio which I have copied and out onto my research so I can analyse the different angles, lighting and costume/make-up they have used so when it comes to my portfolio, I can refer back to that. This will be important when it comes to my work as this will be my inspiration. Furthermore, the next bit of research I will be looking at is album covers or/and record covers. I believe I have produced enough work so far in the week so be able to carry on. As I’m only looking at research, it means I can look at other things if I need to, such as their music videos. From my improvement last week, I think I have accomplished this as I have all my work complete.
- 5. NUMBER THREE What you have you learned from your research so far? So far, from my research I have learnt that about different magazine covers, double page spreads, tour date posters and t-shirts. Also, two photoshoots of female musicians so see the different styles, angles, locations and costume/make-up. This is going to help with my own work as I can take some of these aspects and use them. What other research do you think you need to do to support your project? I still need to look at secondary as part of my research. For this, I’m going to look at how to create an upcoming musician and how to create advertisement and promotion to get the musician out there. Another part of research I need to look at is the production. I will be looking at different make up tutorials to make the musician look good. Additionally, I will look at a photography tutorial so I know where to position the musician and get the accurate angle as I will be needing the images for the magazine cover, double page spread and portfolio. The structure of a magazine and posters will be looked at so then I know how to lay my work out.
- 6. NUMBER THREE What do you think you can you take forward from this research in to your project? At the moment, there is a lot of research that I can take forward such as, the t-shirt designs. I’m thinking of using one of the images from the photoshoot and having the name in big letters. Has your research highlighted any problems that you need to solve? At the start, I was unsure about the photography portfolio as I didn’t know what kind of location and scenery I wanted to use or if I should just use the white/black screen. However, when I went onto the Billboard website there was photographs from a photoshoot with Normani and Avril Lavigne. This has now clarified what I can do with my own work. But I am still thinking about the scenery/location. Which aspect of your research do you think is the most successful so far? I think the most successful part of my research has been the photoshoot as I said before, I wasn’t sure and since I’ve researched it has become more clear.
- 7. NUMBER FOUR What have you identified as potential issues so far in your problem solving work? In the few days, I have started looking for models to use for my project. I asked a couple of people and one got back to me and responded with a good attitude. However, a few days ago, I got a message saying that she didn’t want to do it. Luckily, I haven’t started my actual production otherwise I would have been stuck. What have you do so far to solve those potential problems? From the model issue, I have now put out a post on Snapchat and have got many good responses from it. When they all messaged me, I said that we could all do a photoshoot and then the ones I like the best, I will use and they seemed happy with this. This will show me who’s got the look for my project and suits it the best. I believe doing this photoshoot is a good idea as I can see who’s photogenic enough and will suit the name that has been picked from the audience. Another thing, I thought of is to have a back-up model, just in case something happens. Has the initial problem solving process influenced your project? It has as it’s made me look further into the project than just the basics. I have now looked at different tutorials for make- up, how to dress the model, photography and the camera basics. I have written many notes from each video I have watched that I thought I could use for my own project.
- 8. NUMBER FOUR What practical activities can you do to help solve potential production problems? I will conducting a few experiments so I get the hang of using the camera. I have already watched a tutorial on how to use the camera which is a Canon 600D. The video showed what all the buttons do and how to use them and change them to what you want. Any other questions I have I can ask my tutor for the help. I will practise at college for the time being and then when I go for my photoshoot, I will be all prepared. How will you record your solutions to problems as you go through planning and production? Some of the ways I will record my work is by creating an experiments or production reflection power point and talking about the tools I have used and why I have and how this will affect my own work. How good do you feel you are at solving problems? In the past, I have managed to get through a problem by solving it in the correct way. This one issue I’ve had so far with the models, I have solved well and now haven’t had any other problems and hopefully will not have any more. What could you do to get better at it? I could go back to my research and see what I could do as another option.
- 9. NUMBER FIVE How has problem solving gone this week? This week has been good, I have carried on with problem solving. I created a shot list by paper and pen and then photocopied it so then I had spare sheets. This is going to help with my production later on as I can have it with me. Another thing I need to figure out is what kind of poses that I want the model to be in. Also, I have started experimenting with getting to know my way around the camera. This will make it a lot easier for when it comes to production. What problem have you solved this week and how have you solved it? The other day I went out and took some photographs and unfortunately they were really blurry. However, I learnt why that happened to the image as the camera setting was on manual focus instead of auto focus. What I have done now is booked the camera out again so then I can go home and take some more photographs and getting better at using the camera. I will know if I have solved this issue when I come into college tomorrow and look at the images. Furthermore, if the photos don’t come out properly again, I will book it out for the holidays and carry on experimenting in my time off. What problems do you still need to work on? The only problem is using the camera, I really need to keep using the camera and really getting the hang off using it and getting used to what all the buttons do on the dial. Just need to keep practising is how I’m going to solve it.
- 10. NUMBER FIVE What practical skills have you learned or improved this week? Again, I have learnt how to use the camera properly to make sure my images don’t come out blurry as it was out of focus. Another thing I have learnt this week is how to use the graphics tablet which I have been using for experiments. I haven’t used the graphics tablet before so it was interesting to use. I believe if I had to use it again I would be okay using it. Planning starts next week. Are you ready? If not, what can you do to improve? I believe I am ready to start planning. There are a few slides in my research power point that I need to complete, apart from that everything is done. To get my research done, I need to take some time out and get it done before I get back to college. Is your website up to date? My website is not up to date, this is one of the things to I still need to complete. The work is done, I just need to find time to put it onto my website. What have you got on my to do list? • Models • Location • A few slides in my research power point
- 11. NUMBER SIX How has planning gone so far this week? I started the first week of planning by creating a list of what I needed to do. This has helped me as I can tick them off as I’m going along. So far, I have got through most of my list. The opening for my planning is inspiration. I have chosen the images that I found as part of my research. Next, I looked at image styles that were going to help with my photoshoot, from these images I have collected a colour scheme. This time I have used a different website for colours. I have used Adobe Colours CC and have found it easier to use as you can any image you want and it will pick out the main colours. What plans have you already made? Be specific? I have already planned my photoshoot with my model. I looked at my work rota to see when I’m working and when it was the best time for my model to be free. I have already come up with the layouts for my front cover magazine, double page spread and tour date poster.
- 12. NUMBER SIX What planning issues do you still need to work on? How are you going to organise that? One thing I need to organise still a day to meet up before the photoshoot so then I can talk through everything with the model. In the meeting, I’d be talking about location, clothing and make up. I haven’t got my response for this yet. This will get sorted before the photoshoot. Is your website up to date? Nope, I will get all up tomorrow so then I can get it all marked. What have you got on your to do list? From last week’s list I can tick off models and location. There are still a few slides in my research that I still need to do. However, this week’s list is to create another layout for my tour date poster to show I have thought about more than one structure and to start the article for the copy so then I’m not writing the article last minute. In my last project, I wrote too much is what I’m going to do again so then I can cut it out if I have too much.
- 13. NUMBER SEVEN Production starts on Monday, how well planned are you? I am planned enough to start production on Monday. I have already got the photoshoot planned, the model to come during the day on Saturday and a camera already booked out and a location sorted out for both inside and outside in case of the weather turning. What has worked well in your planning? I feel like I have worked very well with my planning as I have already finished it a week before. I have got my inspiration on there to show what influenced me with my work, image style which are the images that I have found on the Billboard website and taken the ones that I like and the ones have inspired to recreate an image like that. I have come up with different colour schemes, fonts and layouts to show what my work may look like. Other things I’ve looked at is locations to show I’ve thought about weather and contrast. Lastly, my production schedule which will help me when I start production on Monday. What things have you still got to work on? I have already finished my planning which means I can go back to any other work that I haven’t finished off and get it completed. One last thing that I need to work on is my article for my double page spread. I have already got the questions written down, I just need to write a story from it.
- 14. NUMBER SEVEN Have you got a production schedule? How useful do you think it will be? I do have a production schedule, in previous projects I end up not using the schedule. However, the very last project it proved to work very well as it meant I could look back at it to see if I’m missing anything else out. How often, if at all, will you review you planning during production? I will be reviewing my planning to look at my schedule as I feel this is going to help me and at least I can add more tasks and aims into it. Has anything gone wrong because of poor planning before? Is anything likely to go wrong because of poor planning now? Nothing has gone wrong from my planning in previous projects so I think I should be alright with this project. I have already planned the model, however the model I was going to use has now become busy with work so I have got a few replacements for this weekend. I don’t think anything could go wrong, I’m just hoping that the weather holds up for the photoshoot. But even if it does rain, I have already planned different What have you learned during the planning stages of this work? I have learnt to properly explain myself, my work and why I have chosen certain things.