Evaluation Q.2. How effective is the combination of your main product and ancillary texts?

When we had finally finished all filming outside of college it became time to divide our four man team, with two members (Owen and Ciaran) tackling editing on final cut pro and the other two members (Kwame and Ruben) working on the CD case and magazine advert. Although it was left primarily to Kwame and Ruben to compose the ancillary texts, we feel all aspects of this section of the project have been undertaken as a group.

An example of this was when choosing what images to use for the magazine and CD case, it was a group decision on the images but then Kwame and Ruben were left to create the spectacular products that are today finished. When we were out filming earlier on in the academic year, it was always our first thought if we saw any interesting locations to try and shoot them for use on our CD case and magazine advert. Especially around the northern quarter in Manchester city centre, which is where we found a lot of interesting locations. One of the main aims with the front cover of the CD case and the magazine advert was continuing with the 'urban' theme of our video. This has most certainly been achieved through both the ancillary texts as both use pictures depicting Kwame (our Professor Green) in 'urban' locations with graffiti in the background. Using graffiti seems to be the most effective way to attain the 'urban' style and look we aspired to achieve all throughout our media product. In particular, the front cover of the CD case shows Kwame stood in front of a piece of street graffiti designed to look like and represent the high rise buildings of a city. We were fortunate to come across such a perfect piece of graffiti as it was exactly what we were searching for to fit on our front panel.

In terms of how our CD cover and more importantly, the magazine advertisement, help to sell our product are through several different means. On the front cover of the CD case for example (pictured left), we wanted a bold image that would include Kwame as Professor Green to give some face recognition. However, as the image is quite dark his face wouldn't necesarily catch the eye of a shopper, instead the stark black and white contrast between the street art and actual wording of 'Professor Green, Goodnight' is what we've gone for to try and draw attention to the product.

For the magazine advert (pictured below) we definitely wanted an image that kept to the urban theme, but which put no doubt in viewers minds to who the star is. This is why we've chosen a picture, taken in the centre of town, that has a huge image of Kwame stood on a stairwell on a back drop of Graffiti street art. By using the stairwell Kwame is instantly given a higher status as the viewer is seemingly looking up at him. This is consistent with a lot of 'star' images as their social status is often sought to be advanced through the use of photography, and this is certainly one way of achieving it. The top and bottom of the advert are headed and footed in block capitals with the artist's name 'Professor Green' and the release date of the single 'Goodnight'. The song name itself is highlighted in green to accentuate the artist, as his name contains the word 'green', and is located mid way up the page in big bold type. Professor Green's official website is given as a domain where interested viewers can go and purchase the single as well as find out more about the artist and his current works. Also, HMV have endorsed the single so their logo has been added to the advert as another place where the single can be bought from.


Overall i believe the links and themes that run throughout the ancillary texts and the main video itself are strong enough and obvious enough that customers will be able clearly able to identify the record in a shop or browsing online. I think overall the products we have produced are very strong and could be passed as professional work.