This document summarizes the research and creative process undertaken to develop a retro-inspired magazine concept. It involved researching 1940s/50s pin-up stars, genre conventions from magazines of the era, and inspiration from modern artists emulating retro styles. Mood boards and music were used to set the tone. Photography and editing techniques replicated the aesthetic. A fictional artist 'Sophia Fox' was featured throughout, portrayed through photography, article profiles and a music video concept drawing on analyzed retro and modern works.

1. Creativ Research into genre/inspiration from other texts Mood boards Music Actors Filming/Camerawork/Locatio Mise-en-scene Editing
ity ns
• Research into 19540s pin-up stars of the era, e.g. • Created a • I decided to focus my • I created the artist • In terms of photography a • I took inspiration from • The post editing stages
my Animoto of my pitch. Mood board on magazine on an ‘Sophia Fox’ using mid-shot was used so that 1940s fashion trends and were vital and I used
• Researched into the generic lighting effects and Animoto with entirely new musical an Artist Profile to the misé-en-scene was able styles that were popular at Photoshop CS5 to
their impact of mood in preparation for my own the song by genre: the retro and get a feel for how to be seen more definitely. I the time. This was evident create my magazine.
photography. Christina modern day music. her personality chose my artist to look through the use of hair • I cut out on my artist
• Research into magazine cover analysis of Aguilera called • I featured present day would be portrayed directly into the camera to curlers on my artist, with from my photography
RollingStone, Billboard and NME ‘Candyman’ to artists as well as through my form a relationship with my vivid red lip stick and dark and created my own
• Research and analysis of magazine contents portray the artists from the past product. audience and capture their eye make-up to represent to font styles, adding
pages. (Billboard and NME) initial theme that popular culture • I thought it was attention. pin-up desired look. techniques such as
• Research and analysis into magazine three double and vibe that takes inspiration appropriate to • I decided in order to • My own idea was to use an drop shadow and
page spread analysis (Q Magazine, Billboard and my magazine from, I focused on create a young enhance my creativity with American flag in outer glow.
AS Coursework
Vibe) will take. Marilyn Monroe was female artist who the adopting of technology I replacement for the plain • I edit the brightness
• Inspiration from texts such as Christina Aguilera the inspiration for my would appeal to the did not use any locations, bed sheet that Marilyn and
(a modern pin-up style who I wanted to portray) actor ‘Sophia Fox’. mass market and instead I decided on a plain Monroe originally created in contrast, levels, saturat
on the cover of RollingStone. draw in a wider background where I could her calendar shoot. I ion and selective
• I took inspiration from older texts from different audience. I could post-edit my artist onto a thought this added to the colour so that the
mediums, predominantly Marilyn Monroe’s create a star image clear and plain background. American theme and I could colours on my artist
famous naked cover shoot for her calendar which around this profile This was similar to other then enhance my colour stood out but also
entered popular culture. which allowed me magazines and a typical palette. matched other
to be creative. industry standard • I ensured my artist used elements such as type
technique. different poses on my DPS colour.
• I adopted specialist lighting to enhance her personality • I put an American flag
equipment to ensure my and portray her as a friendly image in a typography
photography was of a high and stylish artist that my using the gradient tool
quality. target audience would want to continue with my
to idolise. American theme.
• Did a textual analysis of Lana Del Rey’s ‘National • Created • I decided to use • I decided upon a • Texts such as Marina and • For the music video I used • I followed conventions
Anthem’ video and analysed generic conventions Animoto Pitch Marina and the female actor again the Diamonds’ 1940s/50s inspired look, of dance genre music
and applied narrative theories to it so that I could which allowed Diamonds’ track as I felt that I could ‘Primadonna’ inspired me to using a red A-line knee video and used quick,
work out a suitable narrative for my own video me to compile ‘Living Dead’ for the be more be creative with locations in length polka dot dress with short shots when the
• Created a unique artist profile, called ‘Lexi and a mood board theme of my music experimental in my music video and mix hair in curlers and with beats were fast and
the Spectrum’, taking inspiration from the current of inspirational video and created the terms of styling between in doors props short to transfer the
Marina and the Diamonds image, such as concept between life and mise-en-scene (bedroom) and outdoors • Props included a retro up-tempo feeling of
• Analysis of other texts: old icons like and death through with a female more (garden bench) to enhance cigarette holder and retro the track to the
• Marina and the Diamonds’ ‘Hollywood’ (I adopted Judy Garland the mise-en-scene than a male. to alternate realities in my spiked glasses and a fur audience
filming convention such as the close up of lips and Elizabeth and acting to portray • For my digipak I music video. shawl to add glamour to my • I slowed down the cuts
whilst lip syncing and the use of a spotlight) Taylor that I this decided to • I used a mid-shot to portray artist during the verses and
• Lana Del Rey’s ‘Summertime Sadness’ I developed wanted my • I used the same track represent my my illustration as I felt I • Central prop of the video in the slow bridges to
the use of using a spotlight behind the artist to artist to take listing from Marina female artist could add more detail and was a black old retro dial up build up to the
give a halo effect and a long shot to portray inspiration and the Diamonds’ through an allowed me to be more telephone which I took dramatic quick shots
isolation (this was in line with the pragmatic from. new album so that illustration rather creative in this way inspiration from Lady of the chorus. It can
meaning of our song) • Created an the tracks seemed than conventional Gaga’s ‘Telephone’ as it has also portray the
• Ellie Goulding’s ‘Your Song’ featured montage, Animatic genuine and would photography as I become on trend in recent solemn connotations
A2 Coursework
amateur shot style footage which I developed in Storyboard also be in line with could then years whilst still being of the lyrics.
my own way to show outtakes in my music video animation of my chosen single manipulate reminiscent of its past. • The quick shots
such as natural laughing our music • I replicated the mise-en- allowed me to be
• I researched alternative pop conventions to give video scene through my versatile in the type of
me an idea as to how I could challenge illustration and created shots I chose and use a
conventions of mainstream music videos digital polka-dots with a montage style look to
• Marina and the Diamonds’ Primadonna inspired retro telephone to give off it.
me to experiment with locations I cold find. an old vibe • I used Adobe Premiere
• Researched into representation in music videos Elements 8.0 software
and decided to represent my artist through the to edit my filming
Male Gaze together
• Researched convention of a Digipak • I used Adobe
• Researched into 1950s typography on tackorama Photoshop CS6 to edit
• Looked into different concepts of potential photo- my digipak and album
shoots and angles to see which would work best advert
• Analysed several album adverts and conventions
with different genres
• Researched a range of album cover compilations
& genres, e.g. liked the illustration theme on
Maroon 5’s album and thought a similar idea
could work for my own