Audience Feedback 2

Documentary Extract



Newspaper Ad

TV Listings Review

Production: TV Listings Magazine

Ancillary Product: Ad

I used photoshop to create my first ancillary product, which is a newspaper ad. I started by inserting a photograph that I took, into the adobe software. I chose to use the 'barbie' cut out picture as the children's toy is supposed to represent beauty and an idea of the perfect woman, which ties in with ideas that I explore in my documentary. Therefore I thought that this image would link with the documentary and create brand identity. 

The lighting was a little dark, so I used the 'dodge' tool in photoshop to lighten the background. I took the picture against a white wall so that it would be easier for me to lighten it. I kept the corners slightly darker so that the picture has a gradient / shades.

This was the first title I tried, I had the inspiration from major fashion magazines like Vogue and Elle, as they use this kind of simple, large font which looks rather affective.

Furthermore, like the font on the VOGUE magazine, I used superimposition so that the image covers a part of the title. This means that focus is not taken from the image. 

However, I didn't like the look of the previous title, since I think that it looked too plain and needed some colour. Also, I thought the title would look better if it were a little longer. This is when I decided to change the title of my documentary to 'The Perfect Image' as I think that this gives a little more guidance to what the programme is about, as in my audience feedback somebody mentioned that 'Image' was too vague. 

I also added the 'BBC Three' logo in the corner to add to brand identity, and also to show the institution. I included a tagline on the T-Shirt, but then deleted it since I thought there was too much in the picture. I made the word 'perfect' pink as this is the stereotypical colour of femininity, linking to stereotype ideas in my project. 

I changed the title from centre position to one side of the image as I think it looked more aesthetically pleasing with all the words together, as the bright pink stands out amongst the black font.

At this point I also whitened the background even more, only leaving a slight shade in the corners, as I think it looks more authentic with a white background.

I swapped the positions of the title and the logo and preferred the look with the title on the right of the image. Usually, people read from left to right, therefore most ads would had the title on the left hand side (left-hand side rule). However, I went against ad conventions as I thought the title lined up better with the image on this side. 

I used http://www.myfonts.com/hotnewfonts/ for the fonts that I have used on my ad and inserted them into photoshop and resized them. 

These are the three fonts that I could not decide between at first. Initially I liked the 2nd, the thin one as I thought that it looked elegant and simple. Although, this font wasn't eye-catching when I added it to my ad. Therefore I decided to use a thicker font to make it easier for audiences to read.

I made this word pink also to link with the BBC Three logo = brand identity. I also made the word italic and used a different font, a more feminine/ elegant.

Next I added a date and time, although I didn't think the position looked authentic, therefore in my final product I swapped the positions of the BBC Three logo and the date/time...

This is my final product. My first ancillary product. 

Log: Creating ancillary products

Before creating my ancillary products, I need to think about the following...

1. My ancillary products should link to my documentary extract

I think that it is important to create a 'brand' image between my extract and its ancillary products, so that the audience can link them to each other and note key themes / ideas / convention between the three products.

     2.  What kind of audience I'm targeting 

I must stick to my primary target audience, and make sure that I use the right colours / text etc.

Log: How should my documentary end?

I wondered in which way I should end my documentary, since it is an extract (approx. 5 mins) and therefore as I have chosen to do an extract from the beginning of documentary, it would not also feature credits / a proper ending.
After watching documentaries, I thought that a good way to end my extract would be to have a "coming up after the break" as though the programme is about to go to commercial break. However, I chose to use BBC Three as my broadcasting channel, and the BBC are known for not having advertisement breaks, so it would not be authentic to use this initial idea.
I had lots of footage from my interview with a 'professional' and had to cut it down in order to fit within the time limit of my product. Therefore, I decided to end the extract part-way through the interview, which suggests that it would have continued.
Furthermore, at the beginning of my extract I have an introduction, in which the presenter describes the contents of the entire documentary. Firstly, I thought that this was a convention of documentary, but secondly, it implies that if my product was actually aired on television (and an hour in length) there would be more ideas and topics to present.

I asked my focus group what they thought. (click here to view focus group). Samantha suggested that I include the short title sequence at the end of my extract also, so that the viewers are aware that it is just an extract. Before hand (in my latest upload of my product > click here) I just fade out of the interview and have text stating "end of extract" but from audience feedback, although Kiah suggested that this was too abrupt. I like the idea since I think that it will make the ending more smooth and will include this in my final product.

Editing: Updated Documentary Extract

I  have taken the suggested improvements from my audience feedback into consideration and have made multiple changes to my project. 

Here is a link to my first 'rough cut' - click here

And here is my updated version...



I have analysed some of the changes made below.

Some titles, for example when the person being interviewed comes up? Some more vox-pops and perhaps an alternative view this is a good idea, I will add titles when the person is being interviewed 

 

In my audience feedback, a member of my target audience suggested that I include some titles during the interview so that it was clearer for viewers, who was being interviewed. I decided to use a simple title since research proved to me that this is a common convention in documentaries. (http://bethmossadvancedportfolio.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/editing.html)

I have customised the titles in Final Cut Pro X, to fit with my colour theme and also, brand identity is continued, as the white and pink titles link to the BBC Three logo.

wider variety in vox pops, maybe some adults or boys I would like to include alternative opinions but need to keep an eye on the duration/length of my project as it shouldn't exceed 5 mins 

I did not have enough time left in my project to include male opinions because it would have exceeded 5 minutes, and I thought that if I included a 'boys' opinion, then I would have had to have a larger section about male representations in the media. However, I have only made an extract, and in one my ancillary products (magazine listings review) I will mention the content of what would be in the 'rest' of the programme, as it would be about 45 minutes long.

However, I have included an 'alternative' opinion, where she disagrees with the media presentations and says that models are 'too skinny' and that most images are photoshopped. I also mention in the beginning 'narrative' section that during the programme "I'll explore the art of photoshop" which suggests that in the rest of the documentary, the amount of media that is photoshopped / fake would be further explored. 

Editing: BBC Three Logo

From my research into documentaries, I found that they usually have the channel logo in the corner (usually because the broadcaster e.g. BBC / ITV have produced the documentary - shows the institution). 

For example, this is a screenshot from BBC Three documentary 'Superslim Me' which has the BBC Three logo in the top corner throughout the programme. 

I watched this tutorial on YouTube as I wasn't sure how to overlay a picture onto video, and how to resize it etc.

I managed to add the logo to my project timeline and have retimed it to run throughout the whole extract. I had to resize the logo and decided to move it into the top left-hand corner. 

Here is a screen shot of before I added the logo and after. I like the logo included as I think that my project looks more authentic.