Evaluation2- how effective is the combination of your main product and ancillary texts (dvd digi-pak, magazine advert)?

 As part of the coursework we were also assigned to create our very own ancillary texts like a magazine advert and a DVD digi-pak.  We had to do a lot of research for this because as a group this was a new aspect of media that we needed to learn more about. First we had to look at some professional magazine adverts and digi-pak to get a feel of what they look like and what they actually are. We did look at artist like Adele and Florence and the machines, which we could relate to.

Subsidiary texts-

We really wanted to create these subsidiary texts that could link with the music video and to link with each other. We decided to use some images from our music video so that it can compliment with each other.

Magazine advert-

Firstly we decided to do the magazine advert as soon as we finished our music video. Therefore each participant from the group took some time to research into the magazine advert industry. We all researched into similar artist to are song which was more indie and pop music. We looked at artists like Lily Allen and Florence and the Machines. When we finished researching we got together and discussed what we have found. We then sat down and designed some rough copies of magazine adverts. We then put these ideas up on the computer and used different software’s to create some sample magazine adverts. We then got a final picture, which is an image from the music video, and edited on picnic. Then I put the picture on PowerPoint and then put on different features like the iTunes label and HMV. I got these ideas by looking at previous work done by others, which looked impressive. 

Digi pak-

Once we had created our magazine advert we swiftly moved on to the digi-pak. We also had to do some considerable amount of research into professional digi-pak’s because we didn’t know what they were. We researched into some similar artists like Florence and the Machine and Taylor Swift.

Throughout the digi-pak we have edited each individual image. We didn’t like the look of the original images so we needed to add more colour to draw people in. You can see that some of the images have a higher contrast because we wanted to emphasis the features on the picture like the ducks on the first image. We also changed the image of the sun so it comes out more and it noticeable. The leaves also show a more natural side and can link in with the whole song.

Final copies of the subsidiary texts-

Here is the digi-pak (above) and magazine advert (below) that we have created. I think that they both work well together and also with the video. They all use similar shade, tones and colour, which are really important when you try to work these together. It’s essential to have similar colours because it makes it more attractive and it makes them link really well and work together. It also shows some connection that they are of the same product. 

We thought to use at least one significant image in all the products so that it looks more similar and flowed better. Therefore we used a significant image of the main character from the music video to be the front cover of the digi-pak and magazine advert. We also contemplated that the audience may become more attached with the whole product and give it some meaning.
Furthermore, the writing is the legal things that need to be on the digi-pak like the copyright sign and the production group. As for the song titles it’s in italics, which is seen as being sleek and posh. It’s also feminine and the song is very feminine, as we have gathered from our feedback.  For the magazine advert we have tried to us the same font as the digi-pak because it’s from the same product so we wanted to link it all together.
Also the music advert had been edited so that it’s more focused on the singer rather than other features. It’s set in a natural surrounding, which ties up with everything like the genre of the song. I believe that the song is more of a country pop song that is quite mellow and naturalistic. It reminds me of music which comes from Taylor Swift who is a country pop song. Her videos are quite clamming, naturalistic and soft. It has soft and smooth colours to incorporate the emotions and feelings. I think this is really effective because all the items have a key point that they can relate back to. In out video we have tried to use the similar colours because it creates something clam and it complements the song. The song it slow and smoothing so the video needs to be like that as well. 

These are images from Taylor Swifts song called Love Story and you can see that it uses very natural and subtle colours to emphasis the song.

In our music video, digi-pak and magazine all use similar colours because it shows a good link between them all. Also its more appealing to the target audience as its all very feminine. 

Below is a image of words which best describes all three products. 

Focus Group- 

Below is a video focus group that we have recorded in order to gain some audience feedback. We have asked several people to talk about what they thought about our music video and the subsidiary texts that go with it.

From the feed back i have gathered that most of the people that we asked about if  the digi-pak and the magazine advert went well with the music video said yes it. They said that we incorporated images from the music video to the magazine advert and the digi-pak which works well together. It also shows a clear link between all three products. Therefore in conclusion I can say that we have successfully produced subsidiary products to go alone with the music video. 


Here are some words put together that were used when the individuals in the focus group talked about the products: