Media studies evaluation for question 1

3. The conventions of my magazine cover is that it stays within the theme of the
film trailer as the colour and font matches the conventions of the film trailer as
it represents isolation as the font can suggest the font is worn down, imprinted
on the wall that is been there for a long duration. The three main colours used
is green, black and white. Green symbolises the theme of Halloween and
zombies as it connotes decomposing and mutation which is the theme with
zombies. This instantly tells the audience that the genre is based on zombies.
The colour white and black are binary opposites (Levi-Strauss) in which they
symbolise life and death.
The colours also make the text stand out more and engage the audience even
further. The colours can also symbolise isolation as the colour black envelops
around the white text which can suggest darkness surrounding life and making
life smaller and feel trapped which subliminally shows the audience the
conventional theme of isolation and horror. The central image is of a zombie
which is pale (similar to white) to match the three colour rule. The zombie
instantly tells the audience that the film is based on zombies even further
which appeals to the target audience and engages them even more within the
text. The texts that are in white symbolises the main topics displayed and can
also symbolise life in a metaphorical sense and the lack of white texts makes
the topics stand out which can connote vulnerability and isolation within the
film.

4. The magazine cover develops conventions of a normal film magazine as it uses a
masthead which says “THE ISSUE OF THE YEAR!!!” the explanation marks helps
the text to stand out more and shouts out to the audience more emphasising
what it is saying. The masthead will also entice the audience to consume the text
as it is glamourised and exaggerating the value of the magazine making the
audience want to consume the text.
This convention is similar to the masthead of the magazine cover TOTAL FILM
magazine which says “The issue of the decade!” which does the same function as
the masthead I have done. The colours used is similar to the colours used within
my magazine cover which is green, red and white which the colour green
symbolises mutation and decomposition within the genre of zombies and the
colour red is used to reinforce gore and danger which zombie films contain gore
and danger.

5. The text of my magazine cover is all in upper case which stands out more to the
audience and also slows the eye when reading the text, this helps sustain what is
read within the reader/audience’s head which will engage the audience within the
text. The same is done with the TOTAL FILM magazine cover as it performs the
same function.
The text that displays “one of Jacque Pearce’s greatest creations yet!” will create
hype and excitement for the audience as the it connotes that the film is going to
be a masterpiece of its genre in which makes the audience want to read more
facts and details about the film by consuming this product.

6. Other conventions used is other famous films displayed and stories/articles based
upon them. This will attract new audiences to view this text and consume this
text. All of the films and people mentioned on the text is white to make it stand
out more to the audience and it also matches the theme of the magazine cover
and reinforces the conventions of the trailer as white can symbolise life,
innocence and hope which these words are isolated as they are surrounded by
other words within the text that are green which symbolises zombies of
decomposition and mutation which subliminally tells the audience the genre even
more.
The text which displays “HALLOWEEN HAS BEGUN!” instantly tells the audience
the main theme of the magazine and attracts the target audience that like horror
which is supported alongside the main agenda of the magazine the film THE
HUNTED which may attract a larger audience for the film as they will want to
consume the product through hype and buzz being created for the film.

7. The text that displays “INSIDE: THE TOP 10 TIPS TO SURVIVE THE ZOMBIE
APOCALYPSE!” is used as it creates the curiosity for the audience to find what the
main tips to survive the zombie apocalypse. This can also explain what the film
may be about and will be intrigued to see if the film uses any of the tips
mentioned within the magazine to help enable their survival. This also puts the
audience in the protagonist’s shoes to what they would do in this situation
(intellectual puzzles, Altman). This creates word of mouth as the audience who
read this magazine will tell their friends and family what they would do in that
situation. This process will keep the audience engaged within the text and also
create even more hype for the upcoming film.
The sticker/circle on the magazine is of a different shade of green which helps it
stand out more than the rest of the text which displays the text in white. This also
reinforces the conventions mentioned earlier (the colour green symbolising
mutation and decomposition of zombies surrounding the colour white which
symbolises life, innocence, and hope being enveloped by the colour green which
reinforces the conventional theme isolation).

8. The title of the film THE HUNTED is in similar font to the brand image of the film title to
enable the audience to recognise and identify the same brand but on different platforms
(synergy) which engages the audience even more within the text. The colour of the font of
the film title is white to reinforce the convention of isolation of life even further as it is
next to the central image of a zombie. The title is big to stand out to the audience to make
it easier to see the film title displayed and identify what the main story/article will be
about to the audience. Whereas the other magazine cover (TOTAL FILM) does not display
the film title as this may be due to the fact that the magazine article is only aimed the
target audience which the target audience will know what the film is just by looking at the
main protagonist as it is well advertised across different platforms whereas the film The
Hunted is new and is being advertised on different platforms.
The central image chosen for my magazine cover is of a zombie. The central image of the
zombie is chosen as it instantly tells the audience what the film genre is and is best suited
than displaying a central image of the film’s main protagonist as the target audience will
not recognise the actor as the actor is not well known which is good as it creates more
realism within the film and trailer as if it was real instead of using a famous actor that
most of the audience will recognise which subliminally distracts them from the immersion
of the film they are watching as it is slightly not believable.

9. The film poster possesses conventions of a
zombie apocalyptic film poster. the film
poster reinforces conventions of the zombie
apocalyptic genre as it displays arms of a
zombie trying to grab the maim protagonist
which creates the feel of a point of view
aspect for the audience and at the same time
it creates a subliminal message to the
audience to grab the product which the
grabbing arms creates more value for the
product as it displays that it is in high
demand.

10. Another convention used is the font
colour being of red and of splash effect
which reinforces the conventions of the
zombie apocalyptic genre as it connotes
blood, gore, evil and danger which are all
elements identified within the genre.
Another convention that is used is the
release date of the upcoming film which
is emphasised in a big font of red which
keeps to the theme of the genre but at
the same time it stands out to the
audience to notify them of the date
which creates hype buzz and word of
mouth/electronic word of mouth as the
audience may tell others through social
media which creates even more hype
and the audience will want to find out
more details about the upcoming film.

11. Another convention used is the billings block
which is seen on all film posters and is the font
colour of grey which symbolises death and lack
of hope which are conventions within the
genre of the zombie apocalypse.
Another convention used is the central image
displaying the main protagonist as it creates
synergy across all texts to allow the audience
to identify that it is the same product/brand
and the central image of the main protagonist
helps describe the film best by the conventions
displayed by the main protagonist. The
iconography used is the mask, hood and sword
which enables the audience to identify this
distinctive unique character but the
appearance creates excitement as it displays
action and the conventional theme of
mysteriousness.

12. Another convention used within the film poster
is the slogan/rhetorical question which create a
unique identity of the brand as the audience will
associate the rhetorical question with the film as
it is reinforced within the poster and the
theatrical film trailer. The use of the rhetorical
question creates intellectual puzzles (Altman) for
the audience as they question what the slogan
means and creates hype and excitement as the
question sustains within the audience's mind
which advertises the product after the audience
has seen the stimulus (film poster, magazine
cover and film trailer).

13. The convention of actors' names being
displayed at the top of the poster in red font
stands out to the audience to enable the
audience to identify the actors names so when
they see these actors names, it will remind
them of the product and if the audience
recognises these actors, it will create hype,
excitement and word of mouth.
Another convention used is use of media
convergence as there are details of the film's
Facebook page which reinforces electronic
word of mouth which helps spread hype and
buzz about the film.