Which Brief?

Brief 1: A promotion package for the release of an album, to include a music promo video together with two of the following three options:

• a website homepage for the brand
• a cover for its release as part of a digipak (CD/DVD package)
• a magazine advertisement for the digipak (CD/DVD package)

This was my favourite brief to start with as it's something new and different I haven't done before. However I soon realised I have no real experience in music promo material. I would also find it difficult to find an artist that would let me use their song or album to use as the music for the video as I can't break copyright laws and don't have any friends in bands or individual artists.

Brief 2: A promotion package for a new film, to include a teaser trailer, together with two of the following three options:

• a website homepage for the film
• a film magezine front cover, featuring the film
• a poster for the film

This brief doesn't appeal to me as it's very similar to what I did last year for my AS Media Studies coursework. I would feel like I'd be doing the same again and not expanding my skills into different areas as much as I'd like to before university. 

Brief 3: An advertisement package for a new product or service, to include two TV advertisements, together with two of the following three options

• a radio advertisement
• a TV programme sponsorship sequence
• a web pop-up

I really like the sound of brief 3. If it was a 'here's the product, do an advertisment package for it' I would prefer it more but the face you need to think up a new product or service is what's putting me off as I know I would constantly be changing my mind and a lot of things you think up being a new idea, somebody has already produced. 

Brief 4: A promotion package for a new computer/video game, to include two TV advertisements, together with two of the following three options:

• a cover of the game's package
• two hyperlinked pages from the game's website
• a magazine advertisement for the game

I have no knowledge into computer/video games. Also I presume you'd have to partly make the computer game as if you used a pre existing game such as Call of Duty or Grand Theft Auto then that would break copyright laws. For these reasons I decided against this brief. 

Brief 5: A promotion package for a new soap opera, to include a TV trailer, together with two of the following three options:

• a listings magazine front cover featuring the new soap
• two hyperlinked webpages (with video extract) for the soap's website
• a poster for the soap

This is the brief I chose to pursue. I watch many soap operas myself and have seen them advertised on TV multiple times. I thought I could use the Trailer skills I learnt last year still allowing myself to explore new things without feeling like I was repeating my previous year.

Brief 6: A selection of materials related to an original children's TV drama, to include the title sequence to the TV programme, together with two of the following three options:

• the front cover to a magazine for the series
• a DVD cover for the series
• a radio advertisment for the magazine

The modority of children's programmes are either cartoon based (Spongebob Squarepants, Arthur, Danger Mouse etc.), or human-sized characters in large costumes (Once Upon a Time, Tweenies, Teletubbies etc.) I have no experience in computer generated character animation and would find it challenging to produce.

Brief 7: An extract from a new documentary TV programme, lasting approximately five miniutes, together with two of the follwing three options:

• a radio trailer for the documentary
• a double-page spread from a listings magazine focused on the documentary
• a newspaper advertisement for the documentary

In GCSE level we produced the first 5 minutes or so of a new documentary or reality TV programme. This meant I have previous understanding of documentaries however I remember at the time finding it difficult to film as documentaries are professional looking programmes and so having them set in a school/sixth form would be an obstacle being unable to film in school hours.

Brief 8: The first two pages of a new local newspaper, together with two of the following three options:

• a poster for the newspaper
• a radio advertisment for the newspaper
• two hyperlinked pages from the paper's website

I am not a newspaper-reader. I much prefer to check the current affairs online or through the Apple News App this would mean educating myself on the format and content of newspapers, something which would be time consuming in comparison to other briefs I ready know things about.

Brief 9: A website for a new TV channel (to include a minimum of three hyperlinked pages with original images, audio and video extract), together with two of the following three options:

• a newspaper advertisment for the channel
• a double page spread for a listings magazine, focused on the channel's launch
• an animated ident sequence for the channel

Apart from my AS Level evaluation last academic year, I had never made a website before. Although I did enjoy exploring this new platform of sharing your ideas, I don't feel I have enough familiarity with website design.

Brief 10: A short film in its entirety, lasting approximately five minutes, which may be live action or animated or a combination of both, together with two of the following three options:

• a poster for the film
• a radio trailer for the film
• a film magazine review page featuring the film

In AS Media Studies we had a short task to create the story of a fairytale in a Film Noir genre lasting 2-4 minutes. Although this was fun to do, my group struggled to tell the whole tale in that space of time and felt we didn't get the storyline across very clearly. This put me off this brief as a short film in its entirety includes it start to finish. 

Brief 11: The first level of a new computer/video game, together with two of the following three options:

• the cover for the game's package
• a magazine advertisment for the game
• a radio advertisement for the game

As I said about brief 4, I have no awareness of how to make computer/video games. I wouldn't have a clue and would be relying a lot on my teachers and peers for help, I want to prove to myself with this brief how I can work well independently so do not want to choose something which goes against that.

Brief 12: An extract/package from a local TV news programme, lasting approximately five minutes, together with two of the following three options:

• two hyperlinked pages from the programme's website
• a generic radio trailer for the programme
• a short title sequence for the programme

I do watch the news and like to keep up with what's happening in the world. However, from watching these I've realised they're usually set in a studio. I would be doubtful I would ever be able to make it look close to the professionalism of the studios. If my sixth form had a green screen ability or something similar I would consider this brief more. 

How different media texts combine to market, promote and exhibit one core production and ancillary products

Reflective Comment: