Evaluation Question 2:How effective is the combination of your main

product and ancillary texts?

By Estelle Naughton

My finished media products are all connected to one another, the relationship between the three products and the combination of my ancillaries and main products all aim for the same effect on the audience. My ancillaries all refer back to my main product of the music video, because both ancillaries portray the same ideas as my music video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NNNvrRgC9M

• My first ancillary of the CD digipack is effective in relation to genre as the images I have produced and used are in black and white. Black and white effects are a convention of the genre of my products, as many indie genre products are black and white. The use of black and white is a way in which the audience can understand the genre of the ancillary and the main product, even before watching the finished product. Therefore, using black and white is effective in terms of genre as the audience will make an unconscious connection that the genre of my overall finished products, is indie. Alternatively, more products of other genres, are beginning to lean towards using black and white effects on their products, meaning that the audience may be lead to believe that my products are of a different genre. Black and white is used throughout my ancillaries and main product, which enables consistency and continuity allowing the audience to understand the overall narrative and recognise the genre, without having to adjust to different effects such as switching from black and white ancillaries and a colour music video. The back cover of the CD digipack is of the female character showing her bruises as a result of the relationship, this creates a narrative enigma as it foreshadows the narrative of the music video. This is effective as it makes the audience want to understand what has happened and why it has happened; therefore my first ancillary shows a link with my main product.

My second ancillary of the poster is effective as it continues the black and white theme but with a slight twist. I have constructed a poster with my front cover of my CD digipack in the centre of the page, with the original image in the background including part of the image which aren't displayed in the front cover in colour. This indicates that not everything is as pleasant as it seems as the front cover is of the two characters holding hands, so the colour image indicates that outside of that image, the relationship is abusive and destructive which is shown in the narrative of the music video, again referring back to my main product. The colour used on the background image is faded to signify the stigma connected with domestic abuse within relationships, as it is usually hidden from the public eye. This use of colour can be seen as a convention of the genre as not all indie genre products use black and white, yet it is less common than using black and white. Additionally, the blurred coloured image creates an air of mystery about the images itself, the reason for it being blurred and will make the audience question whether the reason for it will be explained and depicted in the main product.

These are the posters I analysed as part of product researched and I applied the front cover to my poster, as they have due to subtle effectiveness.

My poster with the front cover of my digipak.

In terms of technical codes, my finished products are effective as the use of camera shots, mise en scene and layout and design were considered before creating my ancillaries, with my main product being completed aside constructing my ancillaries. When discussing my first ancillary, extreme close up and close up shots are used within my ancillaries, showing a familiarity with my main product as these types of shots have also been used in my main product. This was done unintentionally, yet it allows a deeper meaning to the images used, as the images are of iconic places in Manchester which accurately represent the band themselves and the indie genre. My second ancillary is much the same, as the front cover from my CD digipack is used and then the outer image of the front cover is used, this indicates variety within the genre and products. In relation of the extreme close ups and close up shots used in my ancillaries, they are also used in my main product as my main product uses extreme close ups of the female character to convey emotion, allow the audience to feel empathetic towards her situation which is revealed in the end. Long shots or establishing shots are used, one of which is demonstrated in my digipack but are primarily within the main product. Again, the camera shots correspond with this in my main product, creating a balance and a

range of shot types used.

Close up of original image.

Extreme close up of background image which is the front cover of my ancillary.

Iconography used for digipak without any effects

Iconography displayed in the video through an establishing shot of Manchester skyline.

There's a synergy between all three products as the black and white theme is transferred consistently through the ancillaries and my main product suggesting a link between the products. Iconography is an evident feature within two of my products; my music video and my digipack. These was done deliberately as the location of the video was shot in Manchester, therefore I wanted to convey this within my digipack to hint to the audience the setting of the video. My poster can be considered somewhat iconic also, as it has the image of the front cover of my digipack, being the two main characters holding hands which establishes the relationship between the two characters even before viewing the main product. Another consistent feature of my products would be the lines, as the name of the band has lines above and underneath, which is demonstrated in the poster as the front cover of the digipack is used, however, the lines are used once more to create a border around the background image. This ensures that the audience are able to make a connection between my poster and the digipack even before reading the poster. Imagery is reused for effectiveness and to establish to the audience what my poster is advertising as it uses the front cover of my digipack. The black and white theme remains consistent throughout all my products with a slight altercation with my poster. The background image of my poster is in colour but blurred so the main focus is on the digipack front cover. The colour adds impact as it suggests that domestic abuse and violence within relationships happen, and it's not just staged for the purposes of the media in general.

Black and white theme continued throughout ancillaries, including poster as the extreme close up is the front cover of my digipak.

In all fairness, I haven't had many difficulties in creating a synergy between my products as the analysis of product research, helped to construct my finished products. Whilst the main product was being edited, I had a clear view of how the narrative would pan out, therefore it was able to conduct my ancillaries with this knowledge to establish a synergy. Some difficulties I experienced was when I was manipulating the images and creating the black and white effect as it was challenging to get them all to look the same when they were all different images, with different areas that needed highlighting. The black and white effect used on my ancillaries weren't compared to the levels of black and white used on my main product, as I didn’t want the two looking too much alike. Therefore, to eradicate this problem, I manipulated the images separately, focusing on one image at a time and ensuring that the image looked as best as it could, without comparing to previous images in black and white.

Print screen of music video with characters holding hands.

Front cover with characters holding hands.

This indicates the relationship between my finished products and the characters.

In conclusion, my A2 coursework products are as effective individually and combined as they represent the genre and the narrative of my main product. This allows a synergy and a relationship between the products to be built, and in this view, I believe my media products are effective.