Mise en scene - LAYOUT

This is a sketch of the layout I am intending to recreate with my rock magazine.

Mise en scene - camera angles

I will be thinking about the camera angles influenced by my style models and real media products.

I was inspired by the top left image and would like to use something like this within my magazine. I would like to get one of my images and put the contents of the page over the top of it. The images with the guitars indicates how i'd like my front cover and the bottom right would be similar to what i'd like to use in my contents page. I think the audience would instantly know that they are looking at a rock magazine.

For my front cover I would use a medium close up shot and use a low angle. For my contents page I will use a close up shot from a slightly low angle.

I plan to take some future shots after my establishing shots and i will bear in mind the type of shots I am hoping to accomplish paying particular attention to the camera angle and closeness of my shots.

I plan to take these shots in the new year. I will use a frame to help me think about the layout of the shot. I will make sure that Nicky Roberts and Janet Bellis are available. I will ask Dave Heyes if I am able to borrow his guitar. If this is not possible I will use two microphones for my style models instead which I have already got.

Mise en scene - draft photographs

After checking the hall was free and my two style models were available, we met at the front of the hall to start our draft photo shoot. I asked my style models to recreate some poses that reflect the choices I have made in my research. For example the elvis pose that I researched so the models were asked to sit on the steps of the stage. I also asked them to 'rock out' some poses to establish what my selection of magazine covers portrayed.

Mise en scene - style models and establishing shots

My actresses are Nicky Roberts and Janet Bellis. To fit in with the theme of my music magazine they will be wearing black or red leather jackets, white shirt, black jeans, black leather combat boots.

The location will be in the main hall, the background will be the stage.  The props will be guitars and/or microphones.

I have decided to use a 'British rock theme' and base my shots around classic rock stars like Elvis and James Dean. I will take some initial shot in the hall on Thursday 3rd December after gaining permission that the hall will be free and also that both style models are available.

I will be asking Janet and Nicky to stand or sit in various poses like back to back or side by side, rocking it out or sitting on the stage steps. I will take a good amount of shots so I can pick the best out of them. I will take some long distance, medium close-ups and other shots like extreme close ups.

Conclusion

My previous posts have explored magazine covers. I have analysed their target audiences and looked into the styles they use to create their appealing front covers.  I eventually leaned towards rock and roll as the genre that most interests me. Therefore I have chosen to create a rock and roll music magazine.

The specific age group that my rock and roll magazine will be aimed at will be teenagers aged between 13 and 20. It will be non-gender specific so will appeal anyone within the age range who is interested in rock and roll music.

The social status of my target audience will be school or college goers. My research found that the rock and roll magazines I research ranged from approximately £1.75 to £3.50.  I am aiming to produce a high quality magazine but will bear in mind that high school and college students will have minimum allowance therefore my magazine will be priced at £2.99.

The front cover will be Nicky Roberts and Janet Bellis wearing rock and roll leather jackets, sunglasses and guitars and will feature particular artists and bands such as Nick Jonas and the Administration.

I will include special features of classic rock and roll artists such as Elvis Presley and Queen. Along with Linkin Park.

I will now concentrate on preparing a photo shoot for appropriate original photos for my chose artist who will feature on the front cover and contents page.

Artists who feature in the chosen magazines

The type of bands and artists that feature in Kerrang magazine are often American rock artists. Green Day who is the American punk rock band and Corey Taylor who is an American musician and lead singer of the heavy metal band slipnot are regularly featured in Kerrang.

Mojo has similar type of music but they often focus on English rock bands such Pink Floyd and The Smiths who are described as the most influential artists and bands ever.

Rolling Stone magazine features a wide variety of famous singers usually solo artists such as Rihanna, Jimi Hendrix and Eminem and they are usually American.

Companies that create the magazines

Kerrang magazine and Mojo are currently owned by Bauer Media Group who are a large European-based media company, headquartered in Hamburg, Germany that manages a portfolio of more than 600 magazines.  It has a workforce of approximately 11,000 employees in 17 countries. Bauer Media Group bought Kerrang magazine in 2008.

Rolling Stones magazine is co-founded and published by Jann Simon Wenner. In 1967 Wenner and Gleason founded Rolling Stone in San Francisco. To get the magazine started Wenner borrowed $7,500 from family members. In 1977, Rolling Stone shifted its base of operations to New York. Wenner employed Will Dana to help improve the circulation of the magazine and by 2006 Rolling Stone's magazine circulation was at an all-time high of 1.5 million copies sold every fortnight.

Style models

The first style model I chose was Kerrang magazine. It retails for £2.20 in places such as Asda. It is published weekly. It's current circulation is approximately 30,300.

The second style model I chose is Rolling Stone magazine which is a biweekly magazine. It retails at a price of $2.48 and currently has a circulation of 1,468,263 copies.

The third style model I chose is Mojo magazine which is a monthly magazine. It retails at a price of £3.50 and has approximately 79,345 copies in circulation.

The music genres that I am interested in

Rock and roll is the genre I am interested in because I am a fan of Elvis Presley and Queen and their type of music. I am also interested in rock and roll because of the leather jackets that are stereotypical with rock stars.

Magazine covers that cover rock music are usually big time magazines with cutting-edge fonts and eye-catching images.







Having a genuine interest in rock music will help me study more in depth to the world of rock with enthusiasm.

Who the magazines are targeting

The magazines I researched are targeting particular audiences mostly due to their age or taste in music.

For example Mojo is a popular, monthly, music magazine. It's target audience is for people with an interest in classic rock music. It has in-depth coverage of both popular and cult acts and a mainstream magazine.

Q magazine is also a popular music magazine and is also published monthly. It was intended for people with a taste in older music. It's single letter title was aimed at being more prominent on newsstands. The image of Noel Gallagher suggests that this is a rock magazine due to him looking 'cool' and wearing a dark leather jacket. I will take this type of image into consideration if I choose a rock themed magazine.

Classical Music magazine is a monthly trade magazine for the classical music profession so is obviously aimed at those who prefer classical music.

Billboard is an American music magazine. Billboard focuses on several internationally recognised record charts, which track the most popular charts and albums across several categories on a weekly basis. This magazine is targeting a wide audience who take interest in various music. 

NME stands for New Musical Express. It is a British music journalism magazine which has been published since March 1952. It is largely associated with rock, alternative and indie music.

Uncut is a monthly publication based in London. It focuses on popular british music.

Rolling Stone magazine is a biweekly magazine focusing on popular culture. It is aimed at youth.

Spin magazine was noted for its broad music coverage with emphasis on college rock and hip-hop.




These are just some of the magazines that I have researched. They target audiences due to their age or taste in music. It has helped me identify which type of magazine I would like to cover myself.