Assignment 9: Magazine Cover Research Part B

Tayla Humphris

Glamour

GQ

Time

Total Film

Empire

Filmmaker (Independent)

Purpose of Film Magazines?

Film magazines are part of the marketing process that help attract their target audience. Film magazines includes release dates and facts all in the process of making the film (pre and post production) its insights the audiences and gives them the knowledge of the film industry.

Why are film magazines available?

Film magazines are available on the shelves, online, magazine apps or can be downloaded as a PDF.

What is the typical size for magazines?

Standard size: 8 3/8” x 10 7/8”

This is a physical copy however on tablets, mobiles and PDF’s the sizing will vary.

How are magazine covers attractive to the audience?

You could say that magazine covers are part of the films enigma and is seen as a tease for the audiences to open the magazine and find out more information such as ‘The Making Of’ and Behind The Scenes.

This differs than that of the film because there is a wider audience that can access a magazine which is helpful because it is attracting a wider audience to go and watch the film.

What are the conventions of Magazine covers?

Main ImageGenerally a long shot or a mid shot of the person featured (which helps sell the magazine)

A plain background tends to be used so that audiences are not distracted and highlights and makes the main image stand out

Direct gaze which entices and attracts the audience

Mast Head

A different font and colour palette to the rest used on the magazine. This distinguishes the magazines name.

To make the magazine seem organised the colour palette will be consistent and match so that audiences are turned away from it looking unorganised.

In the two examples I have used the mast head is placed over the main image which is not always used in other magazines. This is done so the audience are able to see the magazines name

Straplines

Straplines give the audience an insight of what to expect inside the magazine in only a few summed up words. It encourages readers to read the article in the magazine and eventually reading the whole magazine as they flick through the pages.

Colour Palette

Mast head is generally a different colour so it stands out from the rest

All magazines tend to use a consistency of colour (2-3 colours) this is so that readers are not distracted and the magazine looks organised

Background is one colour so it does not look busy and doesn’t take the attention away from the main image

Straplines are of a different colour so it is easier to distinguish

Feature Article

One of the next bigger text after the mast head and features the person’s name used as the main image. This suggests the main article is of them

Similarities and differences between magazines?

There is a lot of conventions that magazines share such as the main image, mast head and straplines. However the background of a magazine depends for example an action film cover will present a busy background whereas a fashion magazine will most likely have a plain background and this may effect the gaze of the person portrayed on the magazine

What do some magazine covers prioritise?

• Magazine title

• Main Image

• Feature Article