Evaluation Question 2

1. Evaluation Question 2:
How effective is the combination of your main
product and ancillary texts?
By Estelle Naughton

2. My finished media products are all
connected to one another, the
relationship between the three
products and the combination of
my ancillaries and main products
all aim for the same effect on the
audience. My ancillaries all refer
back to my main product of the
music video, because both
ancillaries portray the same ideas
as my music video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NNNvrRgC9M

3. • My first ancillary of the CD digipack is effective in relation to genre as the images I
have produced and used are in black and white. Black and white effects are a
convention of the genre of my products, as many indie genre products are black and
white. The use of black and white is a way in which the audience can understand the
genre of the ancillary and the main product, even before watching the finished
product. Therefore, using black and white is effective in terms of genre as the
audience will make an unconscious connection that the genre of my overall finished
products, is indie. Alternatively, more products of other genres, are beginning to lean
towards using black and white effects on their products, meaning that the audience
may be lead to believe that my products are of a different genre. Black and white is
used throughout my ancillaries and main product, which enables consistency and
continuity allowing the audience to understand the overall narrative and recognise the
genre, without having to adjust to different effects such as switching from black and
white ancillaries and a colour music video. The back cover of the CD digipack is of
the female character showing her bruises as a result of the relationship, this creates a
narrative enigma as it foreshadows the narrative of the music video. This is effective
as it makes the audience want to understand what has happened and why it has
happened; therefore my first ancillary shows a link with my main product.

4. My second ancillary of the poster is effective as it continues the black and white theme but with a slight
twist. I have constructed a poster with my front cover of my CD digipack in the centre of the page, with
the original image in the background including part of the image which aren't displayed in the front
cover in colour. This indicates that not everything is as pleasant as it seems as the front cover is of the
two characters holding hands, so the colour image indicates that outside of that image, the relationship
is abusive and destructive which is shown in the narrative of the music video, again referring back to
my main product. The colour used on the background image is faded to signify the stigma connected
with domestic abuse within relationships, as it is usually hidden from the public eye. This use of colour
can be seen as a convention of the genre as not all indie genre products use black and white, yet it is
less common than using black and white. Additionally, the blurred coloured image creates an air of
mystery about the images itself, the reason for it being blurred and will make the audience question
whether the reason for it will be explained and depicted in the main product.
These are the posters I analysed as part of product researched and I
applied the front cover to my poster, as they have due to subtle
effectiveness.
My poster with the front
cover of my digipak.

5. In terms of technical codes, my finished
products are effective as the use of camera
shots, mise en scene and layout and design
were considered before creating my ancillaries,
with my main product being completed aside
constructing my ancillaries. When discussing
my first ancillary, extreme close up and close
up shots are used within my ancillaries,
showing a familiarity with my main product as
these types of shots have also been used in
my main product. This was done
unintentionally, yet it allows a deeper meaning
to the images used, as the images are of iconic
places in Manchester which accurately
represent the band themselves and the indie
genre. My second ancillary is much the same,
as the front cover from my CD digipack is used
and then the outer image of the front cover is
used, this indicates variety within the genre
and products. In relation of the extreme close
ups and close up shots used in my ancillaries,
they are also used in my main product as my
main product uses extreme close ups of the
female character to convey emotion, allow the
audience to feel empathetic towards her
situation which is revealed in the end. Long
shots or establishing shots are used, one of
which is demonstrated in my digipack but are
primarily within the main product. Again, the
camera shots correspond with this in my main
product, creating a balance and a range of
shot types used.
Close up
of original
image.
Extreme close up
of background
image which is
the front cover of
my ancillary.
Iconography
used for digipak
without any
effects
Iconography
displayed in the
video through an
establishing shot of
Manchester skyline.

6. There's a synergy between all three products as the
black and white theme is transferred consistently
through the ancillaries and my main product
suggesting a link between the products. Iconography
is an evident feature within two of my products; my
music video and my digipack. These was done
deliberately as the location of the video was shot in
Manchester, therefore I wanted to convey this within
my digipack to hint to the audience the setting of the
video. My poster can be considered somewhat iconic
also, as it has the image of the front cover of my
digipack, being the two main characters holding
hands which establishes the relationship between
the two characters even before viewing the main
product. Another consistent feature of my products
would be the lines, as the name of the band has
lines above and underneath, which is demonstrated
in the poster as the front cover of the digipack is
used, however, the lines are used once more to
create a border around the background image. This
ensures that the audience are able to make a
connection between my poster and the digipack
even before reading the poster. Imagery is reused for
effectiveness and to establish to the audience what
my poster is advertising as it uses the front cover of
my digipack. The black and white theme remains
consistent throughout all my products with a slight
altercation with my poster. The background image of
my poster is in colour but blurred so the main focus
is on the digipack front cover. The colour adds
impact as it suggests that domestic abuse and
violence within relationships happen, and it's not just
staged for the purposes of the media in general.
Black and
white theme
continued
throughout
ancillaries,
including
poster as the
extreme close
up is the front
cover of my
digipak.

7. In all fairness, I haven't had many difficulties in creating a synergy between my products as the
analysis of product research, helped to construct my finished products. Whilst the main product
was being edited, I had a clear view of how the narrative would pan out, therefore it was able to
conduct my ancillaries with this knowledge to establish a synergy. Some difficulties I
experienced was when I was manipulating the images and creating the black and white effect
as it was challenging to get them all to look the same when they were all different images, with
different areas that needed highlighting. The black and white effect used on my ancillaries
weren't compared to the levels of black and white used on my main product, as I didn’t want the
two looking too much alike. Therefore, to eradicate this problem, I manipulated the images
separately, focusing on one image at a time and ensuring that the image looked as best as it
could, without comparing to previous images in black and white.
Print screen of music video with
characters holding hands.
Front cover with characters holding
hands.
This indicates the relationship between my
finished products and the characters.

8. In conclusion, my A2 coursework products are as effective individually and combined as they
represent the genre and the narrative of my main product. This allows a synergy and a relationship
between the products to be built, and in this view, I believe my media products are effective.