Real Statement of Intent

300 words

In my coursework, I am planning to design two magazine pages centered on a teenage boy’s descent into drug culture. On the first page, the character is introduced through a gritty montage. Although he is technically a student, he isn’t seen in a traditional school uniform instead, he wears a hoodie, distressed jeans, and worn out sneakers to reflect a more realistic, everyday urban look. The setting is intentionally harsh think cold concrete, alleyways, and graffiti to highlight the environment he survives in. This page will use a collage-style layout to mimic his fractured state of mind. The visuals include quick cut photography showing him skipping school, smoking, and sitting alone in shadows, giving the audience insight into the isolation that sparked his struggle.

The second page shifts the narrative focus toward a false sense of success. Here, the character is seen holding stacks of money, representing the temporary and dangerous rewards of his lifestyle. In the middle of this sequence, a second character a mentor or a rival enters the frame. Their dialogue focuses on grand ambitions and the illusion of power, with the photographer utilizing intense close up shots to capture the sweat, the dilated pupils, and the nervous energy behind their boasts. These tight frames are meant to feel claustrophobic, suggesting that despite the money, the characters are trapped.

To conclude the project, the final section of the second page will feature a significant amount of negative space, leading the reader's eye to a single, haunting quote at the bottom. This ending serves as a fade to black, forcing the audience to reflect on the cost of the boy's choices. By contrasting the dark, busy montage of the first page with the sharp, cold focus of the second, I aim to create a powerful visual story about lost potential.