News Task

1 - My role in the task
The role of Alize and I was to create a post on social media in the style of the telegraph. We would have to do this for Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. This required choosing the right story from those provided - we chose BREXIT for both twitter and facebook, but chose a story about Christmas shopping for Instagram, as this allowed for a nicer picture, which is what Instagram is focused on. We were then required to choose a photo for each story, as well as write a caption and add text specific to the platform, for example Instagram contained some comments.
2 - Explain the codes and conventions used in one media form and explain their intended impact
On the left is the Instagram post that I created about high street sales plummeting this Christmas due to the rise in internet shopping. It is denoted as a wide shot, which allows for the person viewing it to see a lot more of what is going on - it also shows a lot of the public in the photo. This connotes that this story could affect everyone, as the Christmas high street is something that is loved by everyone. It signifies that it is affecting everyone and everything. Another convention on Instagram is the use of comments, which I have followed here. It is denoted as two people having their say on the matter - one saying that this is always going to happen and one saying that the fall of the Christmas high street would be 'upsetting'. This connotes that there is a disagreement in the public. This disagreement would cause more audience interaction, which has an intended impact of making people read further into the story, through either the website or newspaper, which would boost profits. Another convention used on the facebook post is the short post itself, which has an intended impact of encouraging the audience to click the link and therefore go to the website, where money can be made.
3 -Explain how your choices reflect the real newspaper's values and target audience
One key choice was choosing the Brexit story to be our main focus on Twitter and facebook. The Telegraph is a broadsheet newspaper, who have a clear focus on Brexit on their website, so as this is a serious story we felt it best represented their values. Another choice was the photo on Instagram. Their readers are often upper middle class an therefore probably have business based jobs. These are associated with Central London, and so I chose a photo of Oxford Street to reflect that, as it makes the story relatable to the audience. It is also a nice photo which is common from the Telegraph on Insta, which you wouldn't be able to achieve with Brexit. This wasn't my creation, but the audience is also reflected in the advert on the front page of the Newspaper. This is a Gucci advert, which is an expensive brand that would appeal to the readership who have rich backgrounds and could afford this. 
4  Explain how your team adapted the news across the three different media forms and the reasons behind your decisions.
Our team had to make big decisions in terms of adapting the news across the different media forms, because each from has a specific purpose. The Brexit story featured on all three platforms, so this best represents the way we adapted the news. On social media - Twitter and facebook - the story is presented as short and very to the point, whereas it is much longer on the website and on the newspaper. This is because the people using the social media are often more busy, so it gets the news across to them quicker. Also, the Telegraph do not make a profit off of the social media, so by making it short it makes the audience want more information. They would then go to the website or newspaper for the longer story, which the Telegraph make money from.
5. In hindsight, is there anything about your team's outcomes that you would adapt or improve?
The main point I would have in terms of adaption is making clear what the news story actually consisted of. On the facebook, it mentions that Britain have officially left, but on the newspaper and on the website it says that only a deal has been agreed. I would make it the same for all of them, as this would confuse the audience and therefore turn them away from the Telegraph.

Celebrity Magazine Cover

1. Summarise the music celebrity you have created. Include name, music genre, personality and how they are being used to comment on contemporary celebrity

The music celebrity I created is known as Harv, a short and catchy name, which is popular in modern society. The genre is rap, more specifically British rap, as I feel there is a difference in style between British and American rap. His personality is not that of a typical rapper, he isn't as angry as the typical rapper, and I intended it to connote this. The comment on contempary society is in the text, which encourages women to get involved in the rap scene, which is something thta doesn't happrn in the genre at the minute.

2. Evaluate how you have constructed the representation of your celebrity through your cover image and cover headline/text (denotation/connotation of text and image).

I followed a stereotype of rapper through the costume, as often they wear large jackets as well as a cap. This represents his personality as typical of a rapper, but the text involved questions this. Often rappers rap about women in a mysoginistic way, but the text on the cover shows my celebrity as questioning this and therefore representing my character as more socially aware. Therefore, he is represented as a typical rapper but more socially aware than the rest.

3. Analyse how far you have used and/or challenged stereotypes of gender/race/age/sexuality in your cover.

I have challenged stereotypes of gender in my poster, as through the text I have encouraged females to get involved in the British rap scene, as there are no big ones at the minute, so I have challenged this to a large extent. I have also challenged race stereotypes in the British rap game, as none of the large British rappers are white, for example Stormzy, Krept & Konan and Dave are all black. Therefore, by my character being white, I have challenged this stereotype as well. However, I have used steretypes of age and sexuality, as most rappers are young and are also heterosexual.

4. 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 am relatively pleased with the end result of this project. I believe the pose and the costume is successful in my shot, as it clearly connotes the rapper genre. I also believe the red and white colour schemen is successful, as it is aesthetically pleasing. In hindsight, I would've attempted to add further text on to the cover, to promote other stories inside, as well as add a barcode and a date and issue number.

Minecraft Pocket Edition Gameplay Video for Youtube

1. How I did it (for example, what videos I watched, what technology I used and how)
For this video, I watched a lot of famous Minecraft youtubers who inspired me. For example, I watched some Sky Does Minecraft (12 million subscribers) videos, as well as watching some DanTdm videos. I noticed that they attempt to add cheesy humour into their videos, so I attempted to copy that idea whilst talking through the gameplay. I used an iPad to film my commentary, and then used Filmmaker Pro, which is free, to place the commentary over the clip.

2. How my video might attract the attention of MoJang and/or Microsoft, and how it might influence them
If my video was to become popular within the Minecraft community, MoJang would take notice. They encourage people to make Minecraft based content, as it provides publicity for them. Especially as the video is child friendly, it allows for more views which would get MoJang to see it. The series that I proposed to start might also attract the attention of MoJang, as they may think it is a good idea and therefore add something in the game to provide users more of a chance to create these house building series', which is also a clear sign of influencing them.

Video Games and Me

What

From a young age I can remember playing video games. When I was about 5 I would play the PS2 with my Dad every Friday night, often playing the FIFA '06 World Cup game. I have mainly gamed on consoles, as since I have played on a PS3, wii and PS4, but have also played on portable devices such as a PSP and my phone.

When

I can only game nowadays on weekends, as during the week I have a lot of schoolwork to do. However, in previous years I would play in the evenings. Of course, during holidays I can play as well.

Where

Most of my gaming has been at my house. My PS3 was previously placed in the front room, but since the arrival of the PS4 I have gamed in my own room. However, when I had the PSP, and now with my phone, I do game sometimes when I am out and about.

Why

There are many reasons for me playing games. For example, it brings social connections when I play online with my friends (often on FIFA). It also provides an opportunity for escapism, you can immerse yourself into the world of the game. Games are also a perfect cure for boredom.

Who (With)

When I was younger, I would only play with my Dad. As I've grown older, I have started to play by myself, and sometimes with my brother. That's what I feel a large appeal of gaming is, the chance to play by yourself - you don't need other people around you to enjoy yourself. Having said that, it is more fun when you do play with others, be it online or in person.

How

Games can be played without even pressing anything nowadays, as seen through VR headsets or previously the XBOX Kinect. They can be played with just the touch of someone's fingers on a phone or tablet, but I believe the best form of gaming is with a controller and a TV. Holding the controller gives you a sense of excitement that a touchscreen phone doesn't give you.

Minecraft Mission

As clear from my lack of building talent, this is the first time I have ever played Minecraft, which is odd considering it is the second most popular game of all time. I had a go at playing the pocket edition on an iPad, and built my first house, as pictured above.
Minecraft is a sandbox game, which means the user can do whatever they want to do. It can be played on almost anything, ranging from a phone to a console, and was first released in 2011. The user can mine anything, and then build or create something from what they have mined.
I believe it is so popular because it allows the user to create whatever they want, there are infinite possibilities.

Breakfast Show

Breakfast Show Reflections

  1-Did you fulfill all the content requirements; both in terms of including all the correct features as well as the actual choices made? 
 Alize and I fulfilled all of our requirements in terms of this task. We made it relevant to Latymer by including names of teachers and of course naming it the Latymer Breakfast Show makes it relevant to Latymer life. It features songs of the pop genre, and are from English artists, for example Galway Girl by Ed Sheeran. Jingles are also included, and we featured a news reading and a call in from a member of the public. It meets the needs of the TA, who are fans of the R1 breakfast show.
 2-Have you nailed the conventions and style of Nick Grimshaw and the Radio One Breakfast Show?
I feel like we have nailed the conventions and style of the Nick Grimshaw breakfast show. For example, we involved a lot of harmless banter between the host and the call-in or news reporter. We also featured segments from the show such as the celebrity gamble, which is involved in the Nick Grimshaw show. Also, our banter was relatively cringey, which is a convention of the Grimshaw show.
3-How well did you manage your running order/timings?
I think that Alize and I managed the timings relatively well, as we fit the entire segment within three minutes and each individual section filled the time required. However, as it was one take there were a few moments of silence, which is not typical of the show. For example, at 2:15, there was a long pause that we hoped would not have been there, which was our only main problem with timings.

Music Video Analysis - Look What You Made Me Do

Taylor Swift - Look What You Made Me Do

Convention 1 - Beauty Shot

As typical of most music videos, there is a close up of the singer which is known as the beauty shot. Taylor Swift is sporting a full face of make up,and this intends to add interest in the video as it is hoped that people find this shot aesthetically pleasing.



Convention 2 - Visual Representation

The lyrics here say 'the gun was mine', and at this precise time Taylor makes a gun sign with her hand. This is used to add layers to the audio, as it links nicely to the visual element that is added to the video.



Convention 3 - Varying Mise en Scene

This video repeatedly changes mise en scene, to represent the different personalities of Taylor Swift. This one uses the same framing, which is a shot from above, to do this. This is also an example of cutting to the beat of the music, which is something that happens in almost all music videos.




Convention 4 - Extraordinary Situations

This scene is of a car crash, where Taylor is posing for paparazzi outside of her crashed car. This is used to exaggerate celebrity culture of the time, but through using this extraordinary situation, the director is trying to show that celebrity culture has come too far. This is often used in music videos.




Convention 5 - Large Dance Numbers

This is a large dance number which is highly choreographed, with Taylor the focus in the middle. The camera goes from a long shot of Taylor, to a mid shot to a close up which highlights her as the focus of the shot. It shows she is the main person in the shot. The dancing of course is in time with the music.

Trailer analysis - Kingsman: The Golden Circle

Audience Appeal

• Opens with a shot of London - a recognizable city that therefore makes the audience relate to the film.
• Features many action shots, something the audience expect from the film. It fulfills the expectations of the rimary audience, who are fans of acion films.
• It entices fans of the previous films through recognizable characters and a clear color scheme that is associated with the first installment.
• Through featuring many shots of famous actors such as Channing Tatum and Halle Berry, the trailer is appealing to a secondary audience, which is people who are fans of these famous actors. For example, Channing Tatum is very popular with the female audience, and so this could attract females to the film who previously wouldn't have been interested in the film.

Genre signifiers

• The action scenes (e.g. when the character jumps from the taxi) clearly signify the action genre of the film.
• The film is about spies and being undercover. This is connoted through the voiceover, which mentions the Kingsman hideout being in a tailors, as well as through the high-tech gadgets on show (e.g. the umbrella weapon).
• The comedy element film to the film is signified through the quick and witty speech of the actors. The music also connotes this, as it is music that is no common of the action genre, therefore making the film seem quirky and funny.

Character & Representation

• The main character and the rest of the English characters are presented in suits and smart clothing. This presemts them as classy and sophisticated.
• The main character however has a different voice, one that is often assosciated with the working class. This suggests that he is a character who has a different background to the others, which is something we know from the first one.
• The American characters are portrayed in a stereotypical way - large coat and a cowboy hat. This makes them instantly recognisable as the American characters before they talk, and also higlights the difference in personalities and styles.
• Halle Berry's character is presented as the stereotypical tech genius, with a lab coat and glasses. This means that the audience can get a sense for what she is going to be like - they can make judgements.

Branding and Studio Identity

• Towards the beginning, the director is promoted to the audience, as he is famous from doing the first one. His name is Michael Vaughn. This will make people interested in the film if they liked the first one beacuse it is the same director.
• 20th century Fox is promoted through the gold colours throughout, the same colour as the Fox logo itself.
• IMAX is promoted at the end, showing it is a big film and also letting the audience know that they can watch this in IMAX.

Continuity Task Evaluation

Accident Video

1 - My video attempted to tell the story of an accident. It is a basic story of two people playing football (myself and Derek) on the school field. My character hits the ball too high and forces Derek's character to run backwards in an attempt to catch the ball. He does not see the third character (played by Zain) and falls over him, hurting Derek's character in the process.

2 - Before we took our shots, we took our time to plan out our story and roughly how we would portray it. We had to think of a logical shot order in order to tell our story correctly. When filming, we tried our best to keep it flowing quickly throughout, as well as keeping it continuous. This meant we tried our best to keep a match on action and the eyeline match (e.g. looking at the ball).

3 - On the whole, our we achieved continuity in most places. For example, we were very happy at the continuous flow between shots 1 and 2, where the ball bounces at the right time. However, there were two times continuity was not achieved. Between shots 2 and 3, where the ball doesn't fly as high in 2 as it does 3, and between 4 and 5, where Derek runs for longer than he should have. This was mainly because we couldn't edit our shots, and so it was difficult to keep it continuous without editing it.

4 - In hindsight, I would introduce Zain's character in the first shot so the audience know who he is when he appears in shot 4. I would also make it clearer what his character is doing.