Production 3- New Imagery Ideas

I have also taken three new pictures after I had the idea of having a grey background for my shots. For the first photo, I placed my violin on the grey carpet in my room. For the other two photos, I found a silky grey blanket. Instead of leaving the blanket flat, I decided to pinch the fabric to give more definition to the blanket. Then I placed my violin on top and took photos from above. I also happen to have LED lights in my bedroom, so I played around with lights colors and I found that when I turn the LED lights to orange it makes the colors in the violin pop more. Thus making the violin look more vibrant compared to the dull gray color it is placed on. 

I have also been adding more to my featured article with scientific facts and evidence to conclude how music, specifically classical music, is beneficial to the body and brain. 

Production 2- New Images and Featured Article

 An introduction to my featured article: Music can improve brain and body function as well as induce relaxation. Classical music for example has been proven to greatly affect brainwaves and lifestyle in people. Classical music is known to take away symptoms of anxiety such as nervousness or jitteriness... 

 

 For my featured article, I wanted to write about how classical music can affect your brain activity and lifestyle. I have found many articles doing research on this topic. According to Science Daily, "listening to classical music enhanced the activity of genes involved in dopamine secretion and transport, synaptic neurotransmission, learning and memory, and down-regulated the genes mediating neurodegeneration." I can write a scientific article about the effects of classical music. I think this would interest my audience of wealthy older people. To put myself in the position of an older person I would be concerned about preserving what is left of my life and brain. According to the Symphony Central Coast, "classical music down-regulated genes associated with neurodegenerative diseases. A happy brain is a healthy brain, and classical music – especially that that evokes positive memories – can increase dopamine and neuro connectivity in the system, slowing down the aging process." I would listen to classical music to combat the natural deterioration of the brain.

 I have recently come up with the bright idea to email the teacher of the Sarasota High School Orchestra program to ask him questions about how his orchestra has impacted his students and his own life. I would also like to email the band director and get his input on how music has affected his students and his life. I will go to the Sarasota high school website to find both of their emails. There are three music teachers; Charles Alfrey, Christopher Leiper, and Kirby Sanders. 

 To contact an American violinist, Taylor Davis, I went onto her website and found a contact page to ask her some questions. “Hello, my name is Zoe. I am writing an article for my media studies high school class on how the violin and classical music can help improve a person's brain activity and lifestyle. The violin has personally done so much to impact my life. I absolutely love your covers of Fairytail, ATOT, and literally all the Zelda covers. I have some questions if you are willing to answer them: How do you think the violin has affected your life? Do you think violin has a positive influence on your mental state?”

I have also taken some more pictures that I may include in my magazine. For my new images, I wanted to include some greenery as it would contrast with the brown color of the violin.

Production 1- Determining and Scheduling

    The subject of interviews for my featured article would be about the benefits of classical music. I could ask musicians and conductors about experiences they may have gone through where classical music has really helped them. Some musicians I might try to contact would be a professional violinist, Taylor Davis, or a conductor at the Sarasota Youth Orchestra.  

    Some shooting locations I could take photos at could be at the Faith Baptist Church, the Sarasota High School Auditorium, or my own home. I would like to have access to a location with a stage. Some shots I might take could be a low angled shot of a soloist to make them appear taller. For the soloist shot, I would let a friend borrow my personal violin for her to “play”. I could instruct her on how to position the violin as I take pictures. Another shot I could take would be a picture of my personal violin. I would like the violin to be the only subject for the picture, with a black background to draw attention to the violin. I could blur out any scratches that may already present on my violin. My only needed props would be my violin, a friend, and a nice recital dress. 

  To schedule my interviews for my featured article, I will send emails to various musicians. Some of these musicians include my personal idol Taylor Davis, some of my previous conductors that teach at the Sarasota Youth Orchestra, and the director of the Sarasota Youth Orchestra. In these emails, I will ask questions regarding the impact of classical music on a person.  

    For my photos, I will acquire the necessary personnel and attire. To do this I will have a close friend, or I wear a fancy dress during a photo. I would like the focus of my picture to be a girl in the middle of her violin solo on a stage. I own many recital dresses that can be used for this picture. To make this picture more dramatic I would like my friend to wear a special black dress. I would also like the background to be dark. This would bring more attention to the color of the violin. At the location of my photoshoot, I have access to a spotlight that could highlight the person. 

Storyboard

 The challenge to create a storyboard would be trying to figure out the layout of the paper. I needed to be able to fit the magazine title into the restraints of the paper without any overflow.  Author James Higgins said, “Storyboarding is a structured exercise based on brainstorming. You can use it in all stages of the problem-solving process, but it's especially helpful for generating alternatives and choosing among them.” I was able to use my creativity and ideas through brainstorming to complete my storyboard. 

I enjoyed looking through different fonts to find one that would suit the elements of my magazine. I also enjoyed coloring and coordinating fonts throughout my magazine. 

Creating a storyboard helped me better visualize my magazine and layout. I was able to precisely place and edit my ideas onto paper. Author Annemaree O'Brien said “Planning is a crucial part of the pre-production process. You need to have a STORY OUTLINE, a SCRIPT, and a STORYBOARD before you can begin shooting.” With my storyboard, I was able to accurately present my ideas for my magazine before my final product. 

A change I made to my storyboard that is different from my concept refinement would be the masthead. I changed my masthead from The Affluent Octave to The Elevated Octave because I simply enjoyed the later title better. This new title better addressed my targeted audience, the wealthy classical music listeners. I also eventually changed my selling line to "The world's most prestigious classical music magazine" to draw in a more expensive audience.

Preliminary Layout

 Magazine 

Masthead:  The Elevated Octave 

Main Image: The main image of my magazine would be an elegant photograph of a string instrument. I was thinking the picture could be taken and edited to draw attention to the instrument's wood and color. 

Selling Line: The world's best classical music magazine. 

Typography/Font: The typography and fonts used for my magazine would be elegant. I want my magazine to feel luxurious to my readers. A more elegant and expensive element to the magazine to aspire to the wealthy audience's taste. No bubble or funky fonts. 

Feature Article Title/Content/Image/s: My featured article would be titled “The Benefits of Classical Music”. In this article, I will include studies and research that show how classical music is beneficial. Some examples of benefits are that classical music can decrease blood pressure, relieve pain naturally, reduce stress levels, and aid in sleep. These benefits can draw in an elderly audience who experiences these problems. I could include images of instruments. 

Content Page Styling/Article Title Ideas: For my content page I want to have a simpler design. Something straightforward with its purpose and not too distracting. Some article titles I could include would be “The life of Tchaikovsky”, “The oldest violin”, and “A New Uprising Conductor in Australia”. I could include images of conductors or opera houses around the world. 

Peer Pitch & Concept Refinement Chart

CATEGORY	DETAILS
Film OR Magazine	Magazine
Genre	Classical Music
Target Audience (Be specific)	My target audience for my magazine would be classical musicians, people who love classical music, or aspiring classical musicians.
What is your concept? (Be thorough & specific. Review the links on Blackboard)	My concept is to create a magazine on the genre of classical music. This magazine will include tips and tricks for instrument treatment and information on the instrument and how classical music plays through that instrument (the role in an orchestra). I will add interviews from local conductors and private tutors. There will be medical and lifestyle studies to determine the scientific effect classical music holds. Each issue will focus on the overall topic of classical music with featured articles on important aspects the classical music provides in life. Possibly have an issue dedicated to a different string instrument or maybe an issue dedicated to classical music in different places.  Advertisements: Rehairing Bows, Buying instruments, Private lessons, treatments, and items. Yachts, Expensive perfumes/ colognes, exotic vacations, etc.
How did you conceive the idea for this concept?	I conceived this idea for my concept because I recognized the importance classical music plays in my personal life. Playing classical music is a hobby that I enjoy because it can help me to destress and relax after a difficult day.
What do you believe is unique about your concept?	I believe my concept is unique because most people do not understand the effect classical music has on their life. This magazine can enlighten people to recognize the advantageous aspects classical music has and can inspire more people to follow this hobby. My concept is unique because most magazines focus on more modern music while mine will focus on a more cultural and sophisticated audience.
Why do you believe this product will be of interest to your audience?	This product will be of interest to my audience because it will help them to understand the effect that playing classical music independently and with others can have on your life. This will also help my audience become more informed about their instruments. This product will be of interest to my audience because there is not a lot of magazines like it.
FEEDBACK RECEIVED FROM PEERS	Musicians   Rich old people  Jewelry, cologne, perfume, and Yachts ads  Making instruments  High-end creators  Different orchestra season  Wealthy people travel to see plays or conductors  I can write a featured article about how classical music can help with issues older folks deal with.

    The input I received during my class pitch helps me realize that I can alter my audience to increase my profit margin. If I aim my magazines towards the older and wealthier audience, I can make more money. This impacted the vision I had for my concept because now I can write a featured article on how classical music can help your health and happiness. These are two topics that may be critical areas in older communities. I received a lot of positive feedback and suggestions. The articles given in class helped me realize the importance of an online presence for publishing and marketing. In the article U.S. Magazine Industry - Statistics & Facts, Amy Watson states “The advent of the internet has changed the print publishing industry drastically.” The internet has changed marketing tactics and made it harder for traditional magazine editors to have customers buying papers. Amy Watson states “consumers have become accustomed to the advantages offered by internet-based alternatives, making it increasingly difficult for print newspapers and magazines to keep their audiences.” In the Magazine Publishing Trends for 2020 – The Alliance of Print and Digital article upcoming trends for magazine publishing will be “using data to deliver targeted digital content.” and “using data to identify the print and digital balances that increase profitability.” The use of data for magazine publishing can improve an editor's industry. These articles help me understand how data can support my magazine. By using the internet, my audience can have direct access to requested conductors and compositions.