Photoshoot Plan

Photoshoot Plan

A plan for the photographs I will take for FullyDistorted Magazine...

Production Report (Models/ Equipment/ Props)

Models for FullyDistorted Magazine

- For my Rock Music Magazine, I intend to feature a three-piece rock group as the main feature article, and so therefore they will be featuring on the front cover. The models who I will hire to appear in my photographs as the group will be Callum, Aiden, and myself. To reflect the retro, classic style of the music in my magazine, we will be dressed in a 70s'/80s' fashion and with rock star clothing.

- We will not require makeup as the image for the magazine is not intended to be glamorous or attractive, but the lead singer will be of interest and so will have to come across as impressive to the reader. To convey that the group is successful and performs rock music, one of the models will be holding a prop of an Electric Guitar, however the lead singer will not have any props so as not to take away focus.   

- To capture my images I will require a Digital Camera and tripod, in order to make the photographs as professional-lookng as possible and similar in appearance to the images I found in examples of previous magazines. I will take the images of my models so that they are in environmental and fairly empty spaces, such as a field or empty road, so that the group stand out even more. This may be more effectively achieved by capturing the images through a photo shoot and using a green screen, allowing for my images to be professionally edited.

Mock Front Cover/ Contents Page Layouts



Some Draft copies of Layout Ideas for FullyDistorted Front Covers/Contents Pages...

Mock Front Cover Draft





Mock Contents Page Draft Ideas

Mock Front Cover Layout

Mock Contents Page Layout

Mock Main Article Layout

Draft Article for Rock Music Magazine

Bruised Voodoo: The Next Step Forward?

By Adam Thornton

Twenty-Five years of Britain’s biggest Rock act, but what is to come?

 

Since opening the notorious Leeds StageFright Festival an unbelievable twenty five years ago, Bruised Voodoo have gone from strength to strength. A discography of nine full albums, three different line-ups and countless Golden Gibson awards haven’t shaken the band’s totally original image, and their impact on today’s rock scene is as big as ever. But Bruised Voodoo have even more to show us, says lead singer Bryan DeLarge.

Speaking to the dreadlocked, gruff rock god – frontman for Voodoo since 1989 – it’s impossible to believe that the man himself has been hailed as the biggest icon of the next generation. ‘It comes as part of the job’ he says. But no other group in recent years springs to mind when it comes to Classic Rock, a reputation which has been built up over a quarter of a century; ‘we always wanted to stay fresh and true to our roots, and create the music we loved while growing up. It’s all about taking the stuff of Rock’s past and making it new’.

 Bruised Voodoo might not be called the most popular act of the millennium, and as we learnt even DeLarge himself admits that that title belongs to Valhalla. ‘Those guys are the greatest; I mean they truly deserve respect. We met them at Glastonbury a couple of years ago and they’re amazing performers.’ True, the punk-rooted Norse three-piece have global recognition. But only Bruised Voodoo have spawned a new style of music, taking in equal parts the fiery power of Metal along with heavenly Hendrix riffs and the Latin flair of Santana – in parts due to the ancestry of Rhythm Guitarist Tony Garavito.  ‘Tom gave us the music of his heritage, and it gave us just another layer to the style that Bruised Voodoo has. We take the stuff we love from all the legendary acts and make it our own, that’s what we are.’ From Sixties to Nineties, Blues to Grunge, Voodoo are simply timeless.

 After earning massive critical acclaim for their poetic third album ‘Kabbalah’, Voodoo focused on reaching their adoring disciples and toured for two full years, culminating in their now famous appearance at Wembley. Since then, the group have dealt with disputes between record labels and gone totally independent. Replacing their Lead Guitarist and taking a melodic approach to writing songs, DeLarge has now become the main focus of attention for the band, providing much of their album content. Four releases and a brutally good film soundtrack later, Bruised Voodoo are ready to head in the next musical direction, says DeLarge. ‘I think styles come and go. We’re always going to be Bruised Voodoo. It’s in our blood. I just think the time has come to take our next step forward and go to another level. There’ so much more you haven’t seen of us yet.’

The group have even coped with the trauma of losing their original drummer Rickie ‘Blades’ Hammstein in 2007,  but nothing will stop them in their quest to create the perfect hybrid of Classic Rock. Cancelling a batch of sell-out concerts immediately afterwards, Voodoo vowed to return – and return they did. In fact, the aftermath of Blades’ tragic death led to some of their most powerful tunes, plus a tribute to their band mate through their performance at StageFright twenty years after their first appearance there.

 But where is the future going to send Bruised Voodoo? We certainly have our fingers crossed for another few singles. ‘We are just going to head back to the studio and see what we can shred out of our guitars. It’s still about the music. We aren’t going anywhere.’ We definitely hope not. 

Rock Music Magazine Proposal

Rock Music Magazine Proposal

I intend to produce a new rock music magazine called FullyDistorted, with my design covering a house style that will be present in the front cover right through to double-page spread articles. This house style will remain simplistic and contrasting to catch the reader's eye and reflect the classic style of music they enjoy. The magazine will be aimed at teenagers and young adults aged 16 to 30 who are interested in current and classic rock music. Due to the target audience, the features will primarily be based on artists and the songs that they will be enthusiastic about. However, my articles will also encompass older acts and new stories that will be of interest to the reader as well. This would be covered in the News section of the magazine too. There will be a focus on imagery over text, and by focusing on one main artist my use of photographs will promote their importance on the front cover. Due to the classic style of the genre, I do not intend to use a flashy, colourful house style, and will perhaps concentrate on black and white or individual colours. I will intend to use a variety of images so that there is not one specific style of artist in the magazine - but a clear respresentation of all the important artists at the same time. The magazine will fetch for around two to three pounds, as this is the price range the target audience are most willing to spend for a magazine of their interest. My budget to produce the images and features of my magazine will be £500.

Initial Ideas for Company Name/Logo/Profile

Initial Thoughts

Ideas for a Rock Music Magazine Company/Name:

• Should reflect musical style
• One word? short and powerful
• i.e '_________ Magazine'?
• Named after a famous song/album? (e.g Forty Licks, Purple Haze)
• Could be less elegant and to the point instead

Ideas for Rock Music Magazine logo design:

• Shaped like a guitar after the mast head
• Possible Hippie-style patterns?
• Contrasting colours?

Ideas for main features:

• Article about an artist going solo
• Latest group success and future work
• Information about an uprising group?

Research into Publishers (IPC Media/Future PLC/ Bauer Publishing)

Publishers and Distributors

IPC Media

IPC Media is one of the three largest publishing houses in the UK,  being a divison of TimeWarner (which is the corporation owning Warner Bros, for example). IPC covers a range of platforms in the Media, such as online, through print or phones. IPC can be found through over 60 brands, which reach 26 million adults nationwide. IPC's products could be said to engage women generally more than men - with two thirds of adult woman targeted.

The famous brands through IPC range from Sport and Leisure and TV Entertainment to Women's Fashion and Home Interest. IPC is divided into three main publishing areas - IPC Connect, IPC Inspire and IPC Southbank. The first two comprise Women and Men's entertainment respectively (Now, Chat and TvTimes/RugbyWorld, Nuts, NME), whilst the latter is more elegant in style and includes fashion-related products which target a sophisticated female audience. It is clear from these divisions that IPC appeals to a wide range of consumers. Additionally, IPC Advertising is also a division which can promote clients's products who purchase advertising across any of IPC's brands. 

In summary, IPC is a broad publisher, which has grown in size since being a publisher for 50 years. Therefore,  IPC's success is due to covering both sexes and a range of well-known brands that are recognised across the country.


Future PLC

Future PLC is a publisher which strives to 'be the number one provider of trusted editorial services for enthusiasts in every one of our specialist sectors, and to be the number one partner of the companies who want to do business with these enthusiasts'
Since 1985, Future PLC has grown to cover numerous formats aimed at niche markets of certain interests, for example photography and film or video games. Future PLC has operations in the US, UK and Australiawhich proves its international appeal - using magazines, websites and events to attract audiences to over 200 special interest publications.

Future PLC defines its' products into several sectors - Technology, Entertainment & Video Games, Sport & Auto, Music, and Creative. Main brands that appeal to a generally male target audience include: T3, TotalFilm, Classic Rock, GamesRadar and Official Xbox Magazine. Due to this, FuturePLC is the largest UK magazine exporter and magazine licensor. Although specialising in a more intelligent, specialist range of publications, magazines have exported to 89 other countries as well. Obviously, through the modern target audience, the web has played a large part in building the popularity of the corporation, with over 1.3 million Facebook fans, and FuturePLC now braodening into apps and websites.

Although it covers less wide-ranging products, and focusing on a smaller target audience, through providing a connected, unifying style to all of its publications a large following of people interested in these magazines are more likely to purchase them.


Bauer
 
Bauer Publishing is the final media company which reaches a wide range of people through publishing 282 magazines. There are numerous genres of brands that Bauer encompasses, having grown in size since 'Bella' magazine in 1987 to now include Women's Weeklies, TV Listings, Puzzles, Lifestyle, Music & Film, and Special Interest publications.

Having been founded in 1875 in Germany, and now comprising products which are sold in 15 countries, Bauer is clearly an example of a publishing house whose appeal mirrors its size. Bauer is successful at drawing in a wide target audience due to exporting to many countries, and constantly acquiring new products (such as Emap's Radio and Consumer Magazine divisions). Bauer has a considerable market share in nationwide magazine sales, as the popularity of the main brands has remained constant.

The range of products through Bauer includes 'Take a Break', 'That's Life!' and 'Spirit and Destiny', as well as puzzle magazines like 'Codebreakers' and 'Take a Puzzle' - so therefore a alrgely female target audience. By specialising in the one sex, Bauer has therefore increased its' popularity rather than generalising the audience to more people (as women are more likely to have time to spend money on magazines), and become one of the largest distributors also.