A2 Coursework :)

1. Question 2) How
effective is the
combination of your
main product and
ancillary texts?
By Emma Grimes

2. ImagesIn our documentary, we have used the same images on our double
page spread taken from our documentary. For example, we have
used Mike Pattison as the expert, a voxpop from Solihull, an
establishing shot of Solihull Sixth Form and a still shot of our
archival footage which all play a key part within our
documentary. This is effective as these images are the main key
points within our documentary. They would all target the same
audience as they all target teenagers; the image from the voxpop
is teenagers and therefore would target teenagers effectively as
they would be able to relate to them. The use of the expert would
perhaps appeal to our secondary target audience (Parents) as he
is older, and looks more professional. However, by using this in
both the documentary and the double page spread, we have
effectively advertised our documentary so that the target
audience knows what to expect. Our radio advert also includes
voxpops and experts, but not in the form of images. The theory of
binary opposites is highlighted here proposed by Levi Strauss,
who states that within any story, there are always two
conflicting opposites. We have put together a binary opposite of
experts vs. voxpops within all of our products to gain a vast
variety of views.

3. DPS
Documentary

4. Sound
We have used an effective use of sound throughout both of our
documentary and radio trailer. In our documentary, we have
included a music track in which we used the same track within
our radio trailer. This is effective in appealing to the same target
audience because if they like the music within the radio trailer,
then they are more likely to watch the documentary. On
reflection, the music was not as effective as we though it would
have been. This is because we had to adjust a music track that
was around 10 seconds long, and stretch it over to fit the whole
of the documentary. This meant that the music track sounded if it
kept stopping and starting, which might have not appealed to the
target audience. However, we have effectively used a
combination of our products to appeal to the same target
audience. We also used sound effects within our radio trailer,
however we did not use sound effects within our documentary.
Sound effects are not a major code and convention of
documentaries but are within a radio trailer. Even though we
have not included sound within our DPS, we have mediated
sound through the use of language. E.G: “Who better to explain
why it’s so popular in the youth than those who experience social
media daily?” which creates a light and fun tone, similar to the
music that we have used within the radio trailer.

5. Voice Over/PresentersWithin our documentary, radio trailer and double page spread, we
have used an effective combination to appeal to the same target
audience. Within our documentary, we have used both a voice
over and two presenters. The mode of our documentary was
expositional which was why we decided to include a voice over
and presenter to act as a “Voice of God”. The radio trailer also
includes a voice over, but we have used a different member of our
production group from the ones we used in our documentary. This
was deliberately done because in a radio trailer, you do not
typically have the same voice over from the documentary within
the radio trailer otherwise the audience might become bored. We
have also quoted the presenters within our double page spread,
which shows an effective link between the 3 products. The
audience becomes aware that all of the products are in some way
effectively combined to advertise our documentary. Ferdinand’s
theory of structure and patterns is also implemented here as we
have followed a storyline within our documentary and radio trailer
whilst using the voice over and the presenters to create a
sequence of events.

6. This screenshot from our DPS includes the presenters names which
creates an effective link between the three products
This is a screenshot from our documentary which shows
two presenters, which are the same people that feature
within the magazine.

7. Gender
Our documentary is targeted at both females and males in an equal
way. We have included Vox Pops of both females and males as well
as experts of both genders. This was also consistent within our radio
advert and double page spread, where we have used a range an
effective amount of both female and male voxpops within our radio
trailer, equally. We have also used one image of a voxpop within our
DPS, that includes both a teenage girl and teenage boy. This will
appeal to the same target audience, as they will recognize the
voxpops and experts from our documentary from the radio trailer and
the DPS. However, we have used all females for our voice­overs and
presenters as our production group consisted of 3 females. Here, the
theory of Stuart Hall can be implicated, as there may be a negioated
view of who the target audience actually is. The target audience of
males may think that the documentary is not aimed at them if they
only heard the presenters and voice over.

8. This screenshot from our documentary shows a voxpop of both a female and
male which will appeal to our target audience of both genders.
This screenshot from our magazine shows the same voxpop taken from our
documentary, effectively linking them together. (Our radio trailer also
includes the same one stating "I could live without it" (Male Quote)

9. Title
The title of the documentary is “Social Media, How does it effect your
everyday life?”. This is also highlighted through our DPS “Social Media,
How does it effect your everyday life?” and finally within our radio trailer.
On our DPS, we have made our title in an effective way by using images
from actual social media apps, which will visually attract the audiences’
attention. We have not done this in our documentary in the same way;
instead we have made physical pictures on paper of different social
media apps. On reflection, we still have done an effective combination of
all 3 media products to create a symbolic idea about social media.
Therefore, the theorist Barthes can be applied here as he suggested
there were 5 codes of action; one of which includes the symbolic code
relating to connotation. We have connotated the use of social media by
using social media apps in both our documentary and the DPS in a
creative, visual way. This will symbolise what our
topic is all about.

10. This is a
screenshot from
our DPS of
different social
media apps.
This is a
screenshot
from our
documentary
which also
includes social
media apps;
showing an
effective link.

11. We have created a brand identity by using a connection
between the three products. For our documentary, we have
decided to use BBC Three as our channel to advertise on
as we decided that this would be most suited to our target
audience of teenagers as BBC Three is generally targeted
at young people. On our DPS, we decided to use
RadioTimes as our magazine producer as this is also
linked with the BBC and the target audience will see an
effective link. As well as this, we have included BBC Three
on our DPS so that the target audience know the channel
that they could find it on, along with the date and time. For
our radio trailer, we have used BBC Radio 1 as this is also
linked to the BBC production company, with the date and
time also attached to this.
Radio Times/BBC
Radio 1/BBC Three