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Party Animal

RECKLESS! COULDN’T BE HAPPIER TO CATCH UP WITH THE NEW TEEN ROCKERS BURN GIRLS’ NORA AMIR IN AN ARCHAIC NORTHERN WAREHOUSE. NOT THE CLASSIEST OF PLACES...

Hardcore indie band Burn Girls, the female dominated trio from a small town in North East England, are preparing to become one of the next biggest indie bands after publicly releasing their first single. Going from playing in local bars at no cost back in 2009, this will be a massive jump for the girls! We were lucky enough to catch up with the gorgeous lead singer Nora Amir for a chat about herself, the band, the release of their new single and how they became successful.

Hello Nora! I feel so privileged to be able to meet you, in a few months you’ll be the word on everyone’s mouth. So what do you think 2012 is gunna bring for you and your band?
It’s hard to predict what’s going to happen next as we’ve only just made it into the music scene so we’re just taking one month at a time. But I’m hoping this year’s going to be crazy, it’s gunna be one hell of a busy year so we’ll be working our socks off in the studio to produce the best for you guys!

Are you working on your first album already then?
Yeah. Our recently released single ‘Attack Of The Days’ is just a taster of what to expect from our upcoming album. It’s still early days and that but we’re gunna be trying our hardest to make this a big one!

Okay, sounds great! How would you describe the sound of your new single ‘Attack Of The Days’?
I don’t really like describing our band as a particular sound and narrowing it down to one genre as I want us to be unique. We always say if we had to describe our music, it is like a mix between Paramore and VersaEmerge with an edgy hardcore mental side.

You don’t really look like the typical hardcore band.
They always say ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’…

Tell us about how this sudden fame came among you lot. How did you make it into the music industry?
Well we used to always perform in local bars and clubs and that for no cost. It seems so weird looking back, but everyone’s gotta start somewhere! We never ever thought we would become this successful. However I do miss performing in the bars and clubs ‘cos we always got time to chill afterwards and get smashed off our heads.

So you’re a bit of a party animal, ey?
Defo! Sometimes I can party up to forty eight hours straight if I’ve got time off from recording. My life is pretty much crazy mad but it’s sweet.

Wow, all sounds a bit hectic! So when will this album be finished recording and able for us to finally get our hands on?
We don’t know an exact date yet ‘cos we obviously wanna make sure it is perfect before we release it as it is our first album so we don’t wanna fuck anything up. We think around summer though.

BURN GIRLS’ SINGLE ATTACK OF THE DAYS IS OUT NOW VIA ITUNES.

Planning Feedback

The planning for my print task is split into five sections: research into similar products and a potential target audience; organisation of actors, locations, costumes or props; shotlists, layouts, drafting, scripting or storyboarding; time management and level of care in the presentation of research and planning.

Overall the initial mark I got was 16/20 but I was also given some points for improvement.

The improvements I have been suggested to make are:

• Textual analysis for a second magazine
• Clearer own audience definition
• Discuss all elements of audience segmentation
• Create an audience profile
• Add more detail or quotes to peer assessment post
• Included notes from the three article examples in article planning
• Discuss how each element of research affects my own ideas in my audience feedback posts

Progress Update

There are 6 weeks until the Easter break which means - 6 weeks of lesson time to complete my foundation portfolio.

There are 60 marks available for construction and 20 marks for Research and Planning and 20 marks for evaluation - 100 marks in total

To achieve a grade:

A I need to get 80 marks

B I need to get 70 marks

C I need to get 60 marks

To be in level 4 (grade A/B) my work must demonstrate excellence throughout.

By Monday 5th March I should have a rough cut of my products

By Monday 19th March my products should be completed

From Monday 19th - Friday 30th March I will be working on my 7 evaluation questions.

The my completed portfolio should be submitted for formal marking on Monday 16th April. I should use the Easter break to make any minor amendments to my work.

In order to meet these deadlines I will make sure I attend every lesson, make sure I complete each piece of work before the deadline to make sure it is definitely completed and spread my work out over time so it is not done all at once and doesn't decrease in quality towards the end.

Photo Shoot Set Up

When I take my images in the photography studio, there will be a three point lighting set up. In this set up, the model is positioned in the centre of the set up with two lights shining in from either side which when the photo is took will flash off reflecting the light and avoid the model's image creating a shadow. The camera used in all my image took will be a D-SLR camera so a high quality image will be produced.

Test Shots

I have took some practice photography shots during the planning of my magazine to practice different poses which I may get my models to use when I produce my magazine front cover, contents page and double page spread.

In this image, the models pose with his hands in his pockets represents a chilled and relaxed casual look. This look is also portrayed by the way the model is looking away from the camera and doing a more natural pose rather than a pose directly posing for the camera. The relaxed and casual look suggests that the lifestyle of the artist is relaxed and chilled when in the public as they are from an independent genre so are not really well known so can act as an ordinary person when out in the public but really have just the same hectic lifestyle as any other artist. The model is positioned to the right hand side of the screen like in some other indie artist images as they are not a mainstream artist so not as much attention is shown on them so they are positioned to the right hand side of the screen unlike mainstream artists which would usually be positioned on the left hand side of the screen as this is the side the viewer looks at first. This image is between a medium shot and a long shot as not the whole body is shown but below the waistline is shown to give the viewer a wider look at the model's costume. The model wears dark and dull colours which relates to the genre again of being independent and idolised. The background image for this photo is a brick wall which is generally used in hip hop style magazines so I will not use this background in my images for my magazine. Also, this image has closed framing so makes the model look trapped and the background image can distract the viewer from looking at the model. The background behind the brick wall is lighter than the rest of the image so this also makes the model look trapped in front of bright light which is behind him. This is similar to an image I analysed of Paolo Nutini situated in a tunnel.

In this image, the models pose with her hands holding on to her jacket represents that she's confident in herself and this pose shows her dominance and power which represents ideologies of increasing female dominance in this genre of music. The facial expression of the model shows a serious tone but also with a slight smirky smile. This also represents that the model is confident by posing seriously showing her serious passion for music but the slight smile also shows a fun and adventurous side to the model. The model is centrally positioned which could suggest that she likes being centre of attention and she is a leading role so all the attention from the viewer is focused on the model. The eye line of this model is slightly above the rule of thirds meaning that there is a slight low angle shot so the model is represented as being a dominant character. A medium close up shot is used in this image as I have noticed from my research that most shots of models are medium close up shots revealing the costume, make up, pose and facial expression of the model. The costume of the model with the black leather jacket will be used on one on my models in the photographs for my magazine as I have noticed that it is popular for female models to wear black leather jackets in this genre of magazine. Again, the model is wearing dark and dull clothing to relate to the genre. The model has a middle parting wavy hairstyle like Taylor Momsen in the images I researched. The model also has slightly dark eye make up around her eyes and a pale natural lip gloss again like Taylor Momsen. The background image for this image is plain black so there is open framing making the model look free. Most of the lighting is focused on the model's face to pay more attention to the facial area and the facial expression. When taking the real images for my magazine I will make sure there is a plain background with no lines in the back wall so full attention is focused on the model.

In this image, the model's facial expression looks shy and not confident as they don't really have a serious look. This relates to the lifestyle of the artists from this genre of music as they are independent artists so are not always under the spotlight and public attention. The tilt of the head also represents the model as being less confident as this suggests they are not wanting to pose towards the camera. This model is centrally positioned so all attention is focused on the model. The eye line of the model in this image is about in the centre of the rule of thirds but as the model's eyes look as if they are slightly looking down this may suggest that the character is more vulnerable as a slight high angle shot is used. This shot is between a medium shot and a close up shot which reveals a bit of the costume and the facial expression but doesn't show the pose of the model. The costume of the model with the checkered shirt layered on top of a plain t-shirt is the costume I will use for one of my male models when I shoot the images for my magazine. The model has long hair for a male which I have noticed this hairstyle is common in a lot of the male models in similar magazines I have researched so I will get male models with long hair for my magazine. The background image for this image is a plain grey so there is open framing making the model look free. When taking the real images for my magazine I will take either a medium shot or a close up shot so more attention is focused on the costume or more attention is focused on the facial expression.

Costume and Make Up Research

In the genre of the magazines I have researched I have specifically looked at the costume and make up in which the models wear so I have an idea of what costume and make up to get my models to wear.

Costume

I have noticed that a popular costume which the male models wear are checkered shirts over a plain black or white t-shirt so I will get at least one of my male models to dress in this style of costume. I have also noticed that a popular costume which the female models wear are black leather jackets so I will get at least one of my female models to dress in a black leather jacket. The general colours of the costume the models wear are dark and dull colours like black, white and navy. These colours will also match with the three colour palette scheme.

Make Up

I have noticed that the make up of the female models in the magazines I have researched all generally have the same make up style. The models generally have bold eyeliner with dark eyeshadow for their eye make up so their eyes are an important feature to make them stand out relating to the genre and nude lip colour so more impact is situated on their eyes. However I have noticed some artists have brightly coloured lipstick if they have brightly coloured hair so they are linked together and represent the fun and adventurous lifestyle of the artists.

Costume and Make Up Artist Examples

In this image of Paramore, a band often featured in Kerrang! magazine, two of the male artists are wearing checkered shirts with black shirts slightly revealing underneath which I have noticed is quite a common style of costume used in this genre of magazine. This band has a female lead singer like the band on my front cover will be. I have noticed from research of similar magazines that most of the female models either have brightly coloured or dark hair. The brightly coloured hair in this image makes her stand out from the rest of the band as she is the leading artist and female so different from the rest of the band members. As the band on my front cover features a female lead singer, I will choose a female model who has bright hair. 

In this image of Taylor Momsen, also the female lead singer of a band, she has very dark heavy eye make up around her eyes relating to the genre of music she plays, rock. The rock music is heavy and her eye make up is heavy so they both link together. I will give my model dark eye make up but not as dark as this model as most of the other model's I have looked at from this type of genre don't have as heavy eye make up as this. The model is wearing a black leather jacket which I will get one of my models to wear as this relates to the genre of rock. The model is also wearing scruffy ripped jeans and black boots so if possible I will get my model to also wear this costume. This model also wears a pale natural lip gloss which I have noticed a lot of female models wear in this genre of magazine.

Organising Costume and Make Up

I have followed the trend of models wearing checkered shirts on top of plain t-shirts which is featured in a lot of the magazines related to this genre for my model. The dark and dull colours in the clothing relate to the genre as the artists from the rock genre are usually independent and not mainstream so dull and dark colours are used so the models are not made a statement. I have tested the style of costume on a model to show the style of costume I will get my model to wear in the actual photo shoot for my magazine. 

This image shows the make up I will use when doing the make up on my models. I have practiced some of this make up on my models below. In the image pictured, there is a pale natural coloured lip gloss as I have found most models for the genre of my magazine wear pale natural coloured lip gloss; eyeliner, dark eye shadow and mascara to make the eyes stand out boldy and heavily relating to the genre of the magazine as I have noticed this is popular for female models in the magazines I have researched.

I tested the eye make up on models and the images above show the two different styles of eye make up I tried. For the image on the right, I have used the style of Taylor Momsen's make up where she wears bold and heavy black eye shadow all around the eye. This reflects the rocky grungey genre of the music as the make up is heavy along with the music. However the image on the left is slightly different as there isn't as heavy eye shadow used and the eye make up is more focused on the use of eye liner. This style of eye make up is common in the models displayed in the magazines I researched as it shows the rock genre of the model and the 'cat eye' look brings the eyes out and makes them look bold by the heavy dark colour of the eye liner which also relates to the genre. When I take the pictures for my magazine, I will have some models with heavy eye shadow and some models with heavy eye liner.

Model Release Forms

I have produced model release forms for all of my models I will be taking photos of for my magazine including the details of the person and their signature to acknowledge their permission to allow me to take and distribute photos of them on the internet.