Evaluation Question 2 Draft - Sanj

How effective is the combination of your main product and Ancillary texts?

The combination of my main and ancillary product, has proven effective for both the genre and artist that we have formed a representation for.

My main product is a combination of contempory dance and 'pop' with influences of 'alternative/ indie' performance, something that has been effective through the research that has been previously conducted.

When creating our video, I ensured that the mise en scene supported the research that was conducted. Looking at Katie Jones, it is evident that she and Birdy and Jessie Ware share multiple visual similarities. This meant that producing a realisitic video would be effective, as our creation would be similar to those existing within our chosen genre. Defining cheekbones and ensuring that eyes where more defined, helped to enhance these similarities and therefore attracted a audience that would listen to Birdy's music. In addition, the simple and minimalistic theme that we had created was simair to the indie pop genre that we had chosen, the natural/ bare-faced appearance supporting this. Wearing a simple black jumper and high waisted jeans, is not a pop convention,  helps to keep the 'edge' that both our researched artists and Katie Jones share as well as enhancing the flawless look found in 'pop' videos'.
When applying our video to our music genre, I feel that many convetions are both followed and challenged. Using existing Birdy, Emile Sande and Sam Smith songs for inspiration, the video is produced with a similar style in mind. To ensure that the video remains pop/indie pop we focused on using long and mid shots to ensure that Katie Jones and the dancers contained a equal mixture and power balance throughout, rather than a performance video where instruments would be enhanced, the video created did not have the option. This star image featuring prolonged mid/long shots would attract the audience as well as helping to keep the video in a 'indie pop' genre as the artist is main focus in these videos often followed by a narrative or performance.
The video has been challenged in several ways. First of all, not many 'indie [pop' videos contain a contempory dance similar to what is featured in Katie Jones work. This is something that can be argued to be 'indie pop' rather than souly pop, raising issues for some. The genre that we have chosen to replicate often takes a unique and induvidual twist from what appears in pop videos today, often relying on vocals to help progress in the industry. In addition, the type of dance that is used is more appropriate for a song that is different the one chosen. The routine we have used may work better for 'Thinking out Loud' where as we have used many moves from 'Try' by Pink. This adds to the edge that we have created, and also supports our narrative the is use throughout.

My ancillary has gained influences from a mixture of indie and pop influences. product featured a simple and minimalist house style that I attempted to reproduce throughout. Using a black and white colour scheme helped to create a relationship between the video and the products that I attempted to create and helped to connote a sense of class and sophistication that I wanted Katie Jones to have.
 The type of camera angle has derived for Rihanna's 'Loud'. This meant that I was able to heavily focus on the star image and was able to experiment with extreme close ups and close ups to ensure that I attracted the right audience that I needed. Posing my artist in a pop like image has meant that it can also attract a market  from a male gaze prospective. Furthermore, I have ensured that I use the same image in both of my products to ensure that the audience makes the connection between the video and the ancillary texts.
When looking at my digipak panels, I have created lyrics that are printed across several pages. These pages, include lyrics that are featured in the album 'Autum Leaves'. This helps to re-inforce the songs that are featured, making them think about what they are listening to and the message that maybe conveyed in some songs, this is significant in the music video Standing in the Way of the Light'. Artists such  as Nina Nesbitt and Birdy have songs that are similar to what I have created, this I feel is appropriate for my design.
The colours used throughout my main and ancillary products, remain clean and classic and have been used to attract a niche target audience. This is because the research that I had conducted featured settings that where simple and ensured that the artist remained the focus throughout. The area chosen also helped our dancers, as they were a heavy part of the video created, with the researched  conducted, such as Ed Sheeran's - Thinking out Loud, supporting this.
The typeface and text helps the continuity that has been created across the project, using a simple, easy to read font ensures that a house style remains and the contrast between image and text is positive and efficient. My inspiration for the typeface has derived from my AS coursework, as I felt that the magazine I had created would suitable for my texts now, however my overall ancillary products can be challenged as being more 'indie' than 'pop' because its unconventional visual design that many people would first think of when looking at a 'pop' artist.