Website Ancillary Task

For this task me and Melissa will create a website for Vanessa Calton. We have been chosen to undertake this task as we have the skills needed from our A level ICT course to create the site. The program which we will use to create the website is Adobe Dreamweaver. After having an initial discussion with Meilssa about the website we have decided that first will both research existing websites separately and them bring our research and ideas together to make hand drawn designs and detailed notes.


I began my research by looking at Vanessa Carlton's official website and found that the website is currently undergoing changes. I have decided that I will have to research the websites of female artists of a similar genre and target audience.

http://taylorswift.com/

I started off my research by looking at the official website of Taylor Swift.  The features which I will discuss with Melissa for us to incorporate in our website are the following:

• When you enter her website the music from her latest Album began to play and this could be controlled by a music player.  
• At the head of the homepage there a slide show with images of Taylor Swift. 
• Having not only a menu but a series of links and hot shots positioned on the homepage.  
• Having a list of possible dates on the tour page with a ticket or sold out option.
• If the viewer selects the ticket option then they are taken to an external website where they can buy tickets.
• On the gallery page there are small thumb print images for the viewer to look thought. When they have selected an image they click on the image and a larger version appears.
• Having the my life or biography page laid out in same way as on Taylor swifts website.

http://www.avrillavigne.com/us/home

The next female artists website I looked at was Avril Lavigne.The features which I will discuss with Melissa for us to incorporate in our website are the following: 

• Having a patterned background with a black square box in the center of the page. With the patterned background bordering the box.
• Having Vanessa Carlton written at the head of the page in the same position as Avril Lavigne is written.
• Main copy written in white.
• Having the news page set out a Avril Lavigne has.
• A count down timer.
• Having advertisements incorporated in the slide show at the head of the page as well as images.
• A link to iTunes to purchase the sound track.

http://www.katyperry.com/

The next female artists website I looked at was katy Perry.The features which I will discuss with Melissa for us to incorporate in our website are the following:

• The tour page having the following subheadings - date, venue, location, tickets.
• Having two different colour stripes with the same colour text. 
• Having different boxes for different news stories with clear subheadings.

http://www.jessiejofficial.com/

The next female artists website I looked at was Jessie J .The features which I will discuss with Melissa for us to incorporate in our website are the following:

• On the video page having small thumb print options which when selected enlarge.
• Having play and pause buttons on the video, also a volume adjustment.
• Having the merchandise set out as the 'featured products' section is.
• The use of both regular, bold font and different font sizes beneath the products for sale.
• Having a image of the product for sale as well as a description and the price.
• Having a buy now option

http://www.cherylcole.com/

The next female artists website I looked at was Cheryl Cole .The features which I will discuss with Melissa for us to incorporate in our website are the following:

• The navigation bar situated at the head of the page.
• The title of each page written as a subheading in the same of as used on the navigation bar.
• The products on the merchandise page centered
• Having the gallery page laid out in the same was as the video page.

By looking at and analysing pages from different websites I have been able to identify the common features in a website of this genre. I have also been able to identify different design ideas I think should be included within the website.  By looking at a different artist of the same genres website I have discovered that there are many similarities when it comes to layout, interactivity and content. For example there is a simple and consistent colour scheme, a lot of interactive features, a gallery page and different types of merchandise.  I have also been able to see that there is a common layout that each site is based on as well as there being certain pages featured in every artists website.

After looking at the contents of each website in detail I feel that the following pages should be included:

• Home
• My Life
• Gallery 
• Video 
• News Tour
• Merchandise

After both mine and Melissa's research was completed I had a meeting with her to discuss the  plans for Vanessa Carlton's website. At the meeting we made detail notes and hand drawings. I was responsible for using Publisher to create a computerised version of the plans for both myself and Melissa to refer to throughout the creation of the website. 

Homepage

Gallery

My Life

News

Tour

Video Page

Merchandise

Filming Begins...

On Tuesday the 16th of November our group started off by having a meeting to finalise the different locations we want to use in our music video. We decided that we would start off by filming in Franks Park Woods.


As a group we discussed the different shots we wished to take in detail ensuring we had a range of different types of shots and location which would support our story line and  lyrics to the song itself. After our initial discussion we sorted out hair, make up, costume and props.


Responsibilities 

I was responsible for booking out and picking up the equipment

The whole group was responsible for directing and using the equipment during the shoot

This is an example of a shot that we recorded.

We will now ensure that the footage is uploaded. Once it has been uploaded as a group we will look through the footage and any useable footage will be renamed and put into a dated folder ready for when it needs to be transferred to the video editing machine my group has been assigned which is video editing machine six. The video editing machine is where the video will be put together using Adobe Premier. 

The uploading process

• The equipment in returned to Mr Ruck
• The files are then converted
• The files are then uploaded to the server and placed in out groups TriMeida folder which is number Six
• We can then access the footage and sort through it
• The footage is then renamed and put into dated folders
• The usable footage is then transfered to the video editing machines 

Principal Photography

On the 1st of November 2010 our group had a meeting to discuss the different types of photography we would each need to complete our ancillary tasks. We decided that we would book out a camera and tripod for Friday 12th of November. On this day we will visit a range of different locations including a train station and woods before returning to school to use both the green and white screens.

Between now and Wednesday each member of the group is going to plan the photographs they need to be taken considering costumes, lighting and locations.  I will first start looking at the research i have collected on concert tickets, band t-shirts and artists websites to put together ideas for the shoot. I decided that I would research into Vanessa Carlton to look at her styling and different poses which I could re-create, and below are the images I found.

By researching to existing Photography of Vanessa Carlton I have been able to see that she has a feminist styling with both a 'girlie' and Gothic theme.  Her poses are shuttle and her make up naturalistic which I will reflect in my photography. Knowing her target audience also reinforces her styling as her target audience is teenagers and young adults. I have also decided that one of the location I would like to have Melissa's (who is playing Vanessa Carlton in out music video) picture taken will be in the woods as this location has been used by Vanessa in a verity of ways. I would also like to take images of Melissa in some of the locations featured in the music video which would include the woods but also places like Erith pier as in Vanessa photographs she shows the piano which is the focus of her music video in her images. 

Regarding my ancillary tasks pacifically I would like to capture an image in one of the locations in which Melissa is in the left of the shot with the rest of the shot having space to the right hand side. I have decided that I would  like to capture an image like this as I think it would be suitable for one on my concert ticket designs.  I would also like to use the green and white screens to create suitable Photography for the concert ticket I wish to take as images taken this way are commonly used on concert T-shirts.  As well as using the green screen to create am image for my other concert ticket design so the two designs have different types of images from which i can gain feedback on and then decide which type of image is stronger. I feel that I have undertaken strong research on both concert tickets and T-shirts i know what types of image's I need to create.

Because i fell that I have not specifically looked in detail at the types of photography used within the website I have looked into existing photography of other artists and fan websites an Vanessa Carlton's s currently being re-designed and bellow is what I have found. 

                                   

                                   

                                     

I can see that gallery options and pages contained within websites hold a variety of images which include both images on locations and photo shoots using plain screen backgrounds. I will ensure that I create a range of these images and use a verity of these images within the website. 


On Friday the 12th of November my group visited different locations and used a range of  technology to start taking our principle photography for our ancillary tasks.  I was responsible for the hiring and collecting of the equipment needed and bringing suitable make up for the shoot. We started off by choosing appropriate make up, accessories and costumes for our model. (Melissa). As each member of the group had undertaken research and planned the images they wished to take and in what locations we came up with a list of different locations to visit.  Bellow is the list of location we came up with as a group.


Franks Park Woods
A Cafe
A set of concrete Steps
Erith Pier
Erith Train station


After we had visited these locations we returned to school where I had booked the Green Screen and we had organised to have a microphone and stand.


These are a selection of images taken on this day:

Overall the day was very successful as we created most of the images each group member wanted to. As a group we will arrange another date for further Photography, but for now I can review the images taken and begin the creation of my ancillary tasks.  

Ancillary Task Research - T-shirt

When starting my research into existing concert T-shirts. I firstly look at concert T-shirts I had collected from concerts I have been to before using the search engine Google to look at images, and then artists websites to find existing concert T-shirts. I found that the front of concert T-shirts where very different but all had an image of the artist and their name and on the back the concert dates. Below I have positioned a few different designs.

Next I compared each T-shirt making note of similarities and differences. This is a key point in my research and planning as I need to ensure that I keep with the codes and conventions of existing products, as these notes will influence my designs.

Similarities

• Black T-shirt
• Image positioned on the font
• Limited text
• colours that contrast and stand out are used

Differences

• Positing of image
• Positing of text
• Font style and size

I used my research to put together initial ideas, sketches and detailed designs.

Initial ideas  (brainstorm)

Initial ideas spider diagram

I decided to put together an initial ideas brainstorm as I could refer to this throughout the project. As well as a way of ensuring that all commonly used factors are included in my designs as this brainstorm is a basis for the designs I will create.

Sketches

I have decided that i will create two different designs and gain feedback from my target audience, teachers and compare each design to my groups. I have decided to do this to give me a range of skills and to try different ideas and see which conforms and ties in best with the rest of my groups ancillary. I will make a decision to which idea I am going to put forward for the group review after my feedback as at the group review there will be final changes gives to tie all of our products together and I only want to present my strongest design for final changes. I will now use Photoshop to edit my images and Illustrator to put the different aspects of the designs together.

Ancillary Task Research - Concert Ticket

When starting my research into existing concert tickets I firstly looked my the tickets which I had kept from concerts I had been to before looking online. To search the internet for examples I used the Google search engine to look at its imaged and then I looked at existing artists websites.   I found that there was a large range of types of concert tickets but found there where two most commonly used types. There were tickets which had a plain pattern background with the information of the concert, and tickets with an image to the side of the concert information. Bellow I have positioned one design of each type of ticket.

Next I compared each concert ticked making note of similarities and differences. I decided to do this as i knew that I was going to create one of the concert ticket options but i wanted to see which features where commonly used on both types of concert ticket.


Similarities

• Band or artists name positioned at the top of the ticket
• Time and date shown
• Gate or zone shown
• Seat number shown
• Different font sizes for different sections

Differences

• Different backgrounds
• Different font colors
• One has a image the other does not

I then decided that I would turn to my target audience and research more throughly into the type of ticket the same type of artist as Vanessa Carlton would use.  The feedback from the target audience was to design a ticket which incorporated an image. My research in to similar artists showed that a range of both designs was used but I felt that a design with an image would be the most suitable for Vanessa Carlton. 

I then used my research and target audience feedback to put together initial ideas, sketches and detailed designs.


Initial ideas  (brainstorm)

Concert Ticket Brain Storm

I decided to put together initial ideas to ensure that I included the codes and conventions in my designs and as planning I could refer to throughout the creation of the concert ticket.

Sketches

1st Draft Idea

2nd Draft Idea

I have decided to create two different concert tickets and then gain feedback and advice from my teachers, peers and to compare my work to my groups designs before deciding on a final design to take to our review in a few months time for final changes.  Now I have completed my paper designs I will now edit my photography in Photoshop and use Illustrator to create both concert ticket designs.

After the Half Term Break...

Today we had a group meeting to discuss the next stage in our production work. We decided that we would start by arranging dates, times and the hiring of equipment. For principle photography for our ancillary tasks. We decided that we would use the green screen for our pictures as well as locations.


Now we have a date and time each member of our group is going to research their selected ancillary tasks in detail to ensure our own products fit with the codes and conventions as is in keeping with existing print material.


I will now research in depth into concert tickets and band t-shirts. I will keep you up to date on my research and development!

Over the half term & Music Video plans...

Over the half term I bought a notebook for our group to record any important information and to keep a detail account of the development of our production. This information will include what we will do and when and how it went.


Rebecca has also created a detailed style guide to be used and followed by each member of the group as they complete their own ancillary tasks. This guide will ensure each persons work follows a certain theme and all of our ancillary tasks show consistency and link together.


Here are the plans we have come up with for the music video using out story boards from our pitch.

Making my way downtown - Walking down a busy street singing
walking fast 
faces passed - two people walk past
and I'm home bound. - key in front door

Staring blankly ahead, - close up of her face
just making my way-
making my way 
through the crowd. - Walking through a crowd


If I could fall 
into the sky. - walking through the woods
Do you think time 
would pass me by? - Looking at her watch or phone
'Cause you know I'd walk
a thousand miles
if I could
just see you...
Tonight. - Walking down the hill into the sun

And I need you. 
And I miss you. 
And now I wonder.... - At home looking through photos

It's always times like these 
when I think of you 
and I wonder 
if you ever 
think of me? - At the cafe sitting alone

'Cause everything's so wrong 
and I don't belong 
living in your 
precious memories. - At home sitting on the floor looking at photos, cards and letters she then rips them up

If I could fall 
into the sky.
Do you think time 
would pass me by? 
'Cause you know I'd walk 
a thousand miles 
if I could 
just see you...-  At the pier looking around with tracking shots when she runs to the edge and looks out into the distance.

'Cause I need you.
And I miss you.
And now I wonder... - Out of the house looking at street signs and deciding which way to go

And I, I 
don't want to let you know.
I, I 
drown in your memory. 
I, I 
don't want to let this go. 
I, I
don't - On Pier Melissa falls to her knees as the camera pans around her


Making my way downtown 

walking fast 
faces passed 
and I'm home bound.

Staring blankly ahead,
just making my way-
making my way 
through the crowd. - Looking out of the train window and shots in London

And I need you. 
And I miss you. 
And now I wonder.... - In London with her walking across a bridge
If I could fall
into the sky.
Do you think time 
would pass me by? 
'Cause you know I'd walk 
a thousand miles 
if I could 
just see you... - In the park with a lake and she sees the boy in the diatance

If I could fall
into the sky.
Do you think time 
would pass me by? 
'Cause you know I'd walk 
a thousand miles 
if I could 
just see you.

If I could

just hold you... - The two characters walking closer together until the reach each other 

Tonight - Hands slipping away