The document discusses conventions used in children's magazines, DVD covers, and opening sequences. It then explains how those conventions were incorporated into the student's own magazine cover, DVD cover, and audiovisual opening sequence for their children's television show "RunAround". While following many standard conventions to make the products appealing to children, the student's opening sequence broke some conventions by using a theme song without lyrics and somewhat unsteady camerawork to focus attention on the characters.

1. Conventions

2. Conventions of a Children's magazine
During the research stages I analysed three different magazine covers, in order to get a
variety of regular conventions. By doing this it enabled me to be able to incorporate them into
my product, making it a successful product. The three magazine covers I analysed were
Balamory, Ben 10 and Hannah Montana.
Main image of
Character fact files main characters
A free gift
Posters
Conventions
of a magazine Catchy cover
Programm lines
e title the
top, large
size
Bright colours
Fun
shapes Simple, easy
Barcode, to read fonts in
price, issue different sizes
number/date

3. Conventions of a Children's DVD cover
During the research stages I analysed three different DVD covers, in order to get a
variety of regular conventions. By doing this it enabled me to be able to incorporate
them into my product, making it a successful product. The three magazine covers I
analysed were Balamory, Ben 10 and Hannah Montana.
Bright, colourful Simple,
and vibrant clear fonts Rating
information and
Series
barcode
information
Conventions Programme
of a DVD name clear and
cover large at the top
Logo of
Image of
channel its
main
aired on
characters
Clear, simple
Organise
d

4. Conventions of a Children’s opening sequence
During the research stages I analysed three different opening sequences in order to get a
variety of regular conventions. By doing this it enabled me to be able to incorporate them
into my product, making it a successful product. The three magazine covers I analysed
were Balamory, Ben 10 and Lizzie Mcguire.
Props, costumes and
Minimal camera
colours all relate to
movement
different character types
Each character
Fast paced Conventions of introduced
editing a children’s individually, props
opening showing
sequence character types
Editing such as
cuts wipes, and Catchy, upbeat
fading. Also music, no one
transitions talking
between shots
Lasting between Different
30 seconds – 1 stereotypical
Relatable
minute 20 characters,
settings,
seconds long someone for
e.g. School
everyone to relate

5. How have I used these conventions in my magazine cover?
Clear, large title of
Issue date and programme at the top,
price consistent through all my
products creating brand
identity
Different things included Large image of the
relating to different characters, establishing the
characters, attracting a school setting
larger audience.
Huge variety of vibrant
colours and fonts used,
A free poster, having four to
giving the impression of
collect will make the audience
keep wanting to buy the being hand written and also
magazine so that they get all to attract the target
the posters. audience of both males and
females
Cover lines of A lure, e.g. free
things included gift
Unisex colours being Barcode
used, attracting a Fun shapes being used,
wider audience making it more exciting

6. How have I used these conventions in my DVD cover?
Keeping the title the same in all
Information telling you a little bit my products creates brand
about the programme identity and helps the audience
identify my product
Main image of cast looking Clear, simple and organised
happy, showing the school
setting
Variety of bright colours, simple clear
fonts, giving the handwritten effect, to
Rating certificate, DVD logo help attract the target audience
and channel programme can
be found on
Series information
Individual images of characters
helping introduce them, using colours
which represent their stereotypical
Paragraph at the back of the DVD characters, using their names to
cover, telling you what the make them more recognisable to the
programme is about audience
Using colours like blue and red are
unisex, meaning my product will attract
a larger audience
Running time, barcode,
rating certificate

7. How are these conventions and forms used in my ancillary tasks for
RunAround?
I tried to follow as many conventions as possible, making my product easier to attract the target audience
and advertise. When comparing my products to similar existing products there are many similarities. For
example, the main focus for both of my products is the large image of the main characters, which is
evident in all the magazine/DVD covers that I analysed. The ensures that audience will instantly see this
photo, and immediately recognise the programme as being RunAround. The cast are shown as being
happy, which gives the impression that the programme is going to be fun and happy. In my magazine
cover, the main image is surrounded by cover lines and fun shapes which help attract my target
audience. The fonts I have used are all bright and colourful, using unisex colours such as blue and red to
attract a wider audience, and also using colours relating to the character stereotypes, e.g. using pink
when talking about Emily, as she is stereotypically a girly girl. Using a variety of font sizes also make the
page seem more fun, making things which are more important stand out further. Using fun shapes when
adding taglines immediately makes it more fun for the reader. Bright, bold colours are used throughout
my magazine cover and DVD cover as it is representable to my target audience of children. On both of
my products there is a barcode, date/series information, and a rating certificate, immediately this makes
them seem far more realistic. There is a free gift offered in the magazine which makes it more exciting to
the audience, also there is childish language such as; “cool” and “fun.” Lastly, the clothing and props
relate to the characters stereotype which is easily recognisable. Like on the back of the DVD cover I
included individual images of each character, with a strip of colour around them enhancing their
character, e.g. Emily is in pink as she is stereotypically a girly girl, with her name wrote in pink, and in a
girly font.

8. How are these conventions used in your audiovisual media product?
Underneath this presentation you will find a video containing a commentary of me
talking about the conventions of my product. Although their are a few conventions I
haven't mentioned in the video. These are;
 The length of our video – our video follows convections of an opening sequence as it
is 40 seconds long.
 It also included fast paced editing, making it more exciting for the audience.
 There is a mixture of males and females, attracting a larger audience.
 Mainly a still camera is used due to the audience being young, this enables them to
easily follow the programme, however the camera does pan at some stages.
 Having four different stereotypes enables the audience to always have something to
relate too, props, costumes and colours are used to further the characters stereotypes.
 Starting and ending on a clip with the characters having fun together promotes a
positive message to the audience which they will relate to, our programme portrays
good role models to young children.
 The only sound which can be heard is the theme tune, the characters are not
speaking.

9. In what way does your media products challenge, form or develop
media conventions?
When producing my ancillary tasks and my audiovisual task, I used as many forms and
conventions from real products that I had researched earlier. My reasons for doing this is
that it makes it more realistic and it will fit in with similar products my target audience
already enjoys, which will make my product just as successful as existing products. All
my products use bright colours, consistency and are fun for the target audience, following
the youthful style. Although following many conventions, my main task did break
conventions in some areas, as I felt this would work better for the product I was
producing. These are;
• Using a theme tune without lyrics, enabling the children to focus mainly on the
sequence.
• It is evident in some of our filing that we used a handheld camera due to the
unsteadiness of I, this is breaking conventions as normally a still camera would be used.
I feel this lets us down and would be improved on if I was too make a similar product
again.
Overall I feel that my products are successful and do relate to our chosen target
audience well. During my ancillary tasks I strictly followed conventions to a high
professional standard making them realistic and suitable for my young target audience.