Magazine Cover #3 SIGHT AND SOUND

Sight and Sound is a smaller publication than Empire and Total Film, but contains similar conventions to the two of them. The Masthead is the biggest font on the screen, and is placed at the top of the cover. The dominant central image is the focal point of the cover and the main cover line contains a bigger sized font than the cover lines. Other conventions such as banners, date, and price are included on this cover.

Magazine Cover #2 TOTAL FILM

My second magazine cover is from Total Film. Total Film is a British film magazine that was originally published in 1997. Total Film is a very similar publication to Empire in many ways; not only are they British publications, they both sell worldwide, focus on Hollywood blockbusters, contain exclusives etc. Like Empire, Total Film offers reviews on new releases in cinema, DVD's, and interviews and news on the latest goings on in the world of Film.

This magazine contains many conventions of a magazine front cover. The masthead is the biggest font on the cover, and is placed at the top of the magazine. The dominant central image takes up most of the cover, and the main cover line is based on this image, and also contains a bigger sized font than the rest of the cover lines. Their are also other images, placed at the top of the magazine, so as to illustrate what characters/actors will be covered in this issue. These images are surrounded by banners, in order to separate them from the rest of the cover.

Magazine Cover #1 EMPIRE

My first magazine cover is from Empire magazine. Empire is a British magazine, and is currently the biggest selling film magazine in Britain. The magazine is not only published in Britain, but has a vast audience in America, Australia, Russia, Portugal, and Turkey. Their magazine attracts young adults and teenagers, roughly between the ages of 15 and 24. Empire is well known for organising the annual 'Empire Year Awards'. This is an awards show that is decided completely by the readers of Empire magazine. Empire is a leading publication of it's type, and contains interviews and movies of many movies, most notably Hollywood Blockbuster movies, as this is the main attraction to their audience.

This magazine cover contains many conventions of a magazine front cover. The Masthead is the biggest font on the cover, and is placed at the top of the magazine. The Dominant Central Image takes up most of the cover, and the main cover line is based on this image, and also contains a bigger sized font than the rest of the cover lines. Various other conventions are used on this magazine front cover, most notably, banners, a barcode, and a date and price. 

Introduction to Magazine Front Cover's

Having analysed various existing film publications, I am now going to analyse various different magazine covers, from different genres, specifically focusing on their layout, style and content, as well as looking at their target audiences. As a result of this, I will have a better understanding of how magazines are formed and how important their front cover's are to attracting audiences, and this will aid me when I am required to design my own magazine front cover.

A Magazine Cover with Conventions

Film magazine front covers have many conventions. This front cover has the following conventions:

• Masthead - EMPIRE
• Dominant Central Image - Bard the Bowman (The Hobbit)
• Cover Lines
• Main Cover Line
• Slogan
• Web Address
• Date
• Issue
• Price
• Barcode
• Banners
• Other images
• Reference to free gifts

Conventions of a Magazine Front Cover

A magazine front cover is the selling point to targeted audiences due to the first impression that the contents contain. In order to sell magazines and attract customers, there are various conventions that all magazine covers contain, with the majority of these conventions being deemed as necessities in forming the layout of a magazine front cover.

These conventions are:

Masthead - This is the name of the magazine. It is commonly the biggest font of the page, so as to stand out, and is usually placed at the top of the cover, so as to be seen in shops on a magazine stand if there are other magazines blocking out the rest of the cover.

Dominant Central Image - This is the focus image that takes up a large chunk of space on the cover, usually in the centre.

Cover lines - These are designed to inform the reader as to what is inside the magazine. Cover lines tend to include movies that have recently come out, and stars or celebrities that will attract a certain audience to the magazine.

Main cover line - This is a cover line that is directly linked to the dominant central image. Will be the magazine's focus point in this issue.

Web address - Reference to the magazine's online website, which has different capabilities to the magazine.

Slogan - A phrase that is specifically affiliated to a magazine. Not all magazines have a slogan, so it is a personal decision whether to have one or not.

Date - Film magazines usually come out on a monthly basis, so it is likely that only the month and year would be located on the magazine, for example, 'May 2014'.

Price - The cost of the magazine

Issue number - Not always located on the magazine front cover. Reference to the number of magazines that the publication has produced, including the current magazine.

Barcode - Unique for each magazine. Present on all magazines.

Banners - Designs on the magazine so as to promote specific parts of the front cover, for example, offers, prizes, and specific parts of the magazine, such as dedicated pages to a certain film/actor.

Other images - To promote the magazine and its contents.

Reference to free gifts - Promotions for affiliated products that the publication provide, for example, free 3D glasses.

Magazine - Existing Film Publications

I will be required to design a magazine front cover on my created movie, as part of my coursework. However, despite this, I am unaware of many film magazine publications, so here is a list of film publications that I have researched, and information about them.

Popular UK music and film magazine. Features hundreds of music and movie reviews, interviews and news. 

Box office results, top ten, movie reviews.

One of the best film magazines online that examines classic, commercial, and independent films from a wide range of vantage points from the aesthetic to the political.

Online UK film magazine. Find reviews, features and interviews for new cinema and dvd releases, articles on independent, low-budget and regional film making, more.

Features news, reviews, top movies, upcoming releases, box office results (UK), forum, and more.

Features news, reviews, top movies, upcoming releases, box office results (UK), forum, and more.

Provides film news and gossip, movie reviews, video and DVD releases, Australian and international film industry information.

Covers cult films, underground shorts, alternative films and independent features.

Presents an insider's perspective on the world of independent filmmaking, including: interviews, case studies, financing and distribution information, festival reports, technical and production updates, and more.

Quality magazine providing articles on films old and new, foreign and domestic, narrative and documentary.

Movie reviews, news, and interviews for Hollywood, indie, and foreign films.

Site of Irish Film & Television Network. Covers film and television news, local and international festivals, film locations, Irish production and jobs.

Selected articles from the magazine on the art and politics of the cinema.

Guide to independent film and film making from around the world.

Hollywood's movie satire site.

Magazine explores the various aspects of film making from the perspective of the film makers themselves.

Reviews and previews of Hollywood movies and videos from the nation's critics.

Presents collection of essays, reviews, commentary, and discussion about cinema.

Newspaper providing movie reviews, box office info, entertainment and celebrity news, more.

Provides news and information on the latest Hollywood blockbusters, including exclusives and first look glimpses into the world of Film.

Conventions of a Poster #5 ANGRIEST MAN IN BROOKLYN

Conventions of this poster include:

• Name of film
• Images of recognisable stars
• Billing
• Imagery
• Tagline
• Actors names
• Production company logos
• Social media links
• Sound logos
• Reference to merchandise
• Font

Conventions of a Poster #4 TMNT

Conventions of this poster include:

• Name of film
• Images of recognisable characters
• Billing
• Imagery
• Release date
• Production company logos
• Social media links
• Sound logos
• Reference to merchandise
• Font
• Reference to source material

Conventions of a Poster #3 LET'S BE COPS

Conventions of this poster include:

• Name of Film
• Images of recognisable stars
• Billing
• Imagery
• Release date
• Tagline
• Production company logos
• Social media link
• Sound logos
• Reference to merchandise
• Font

Conventions of a Poster #2 LUCY

Conventions of this poster include:

• Name of Film - Lucy
• Images of recognisable stars - Scarlett Johansson
• Release Date - 'July 25'
• Tagline
• Imagery associated with genre
• colour scheme - Black + White
• Actors names
• Reference to director
• Production company logos
• Font

Conventions of a Poster #1 AS ABOVE SO BELOW

This poster is not a very conventional poster as it does not have many of the conventions that the majority of modern day posters include.

The conventions in this poster include:

• Name of Film - As Above So Below
• Imagery associated with genre - The Skull Heads (Horror Genre)
• Release Date - 'Coming Soon'
• Tagline - 'The Only Way Out Is Down'
• Colour Scheme - Red
• Production Company Logo's
• Certificate - There is not a certificate, but it is highlighted that this film is not yet rated.

Posters

As I will be creating a poster on my created movie, I will be analysing various posters and their conventions in order to understand what is needed to make a poster that attracts audiences, and leaves them wanting more.

A2 Media Introduction

For my A2 coursework I will be producing a teaser trailer, a magazine cover, and a poster, all of which will be based on an imaginary film.