MEDIA STUDIES A2

1. Magazine Front Cover Overview
Introduction
In thissummaryI will be givinganoverview onfilmmagazinefrontcoversforEmpire,Total Film, and
Fangoria.Each of these frontcoverswill normallyfollow general conventionsof how afilmmagazine
issupposedtolooklike,whilstalsoshowcasingthe mostlyadvertisedfilmonthe frontcoverinorder
to create a kindof personalityanddistinctivenessforthe magazine. Commonfeatureswilloften
include amasthead,mainimage,mainsell line,feature articlephotographs,othersell lines,anda
barcode at the bottomof the layout. All six of these filmmagazineshave beencreatedtoeffectively
promote filmstoa professionalandrefinedstandard.
MainImage
For the mainimage that takesup the majorityof the cover’sframe,itisnormally a mediumshot,
longshort,or a close up,includingaprotagonistoran iconicscene thatthe audience will recognise
fromthe filmthatisbeingpromotedonthe frontcover. The lesscharactersbeingused,the better,
as thiswill allowspace forotherimportantsell linestobe positionedonthe front covertoadvertise
otherfilms.
The image generallywill complementthe mainsell line andhelptosuggestthe narrative of the film.
It successfullydoesthisby the combinationof mise-en-scene elementssuchasmakeup,lightingand
costume. Makeupisusedto helpadd effects toa person’sskintoshow if theyhave beenscarredor
bleeding,whichisthe case with Harry Potter’s face on the coverof Empire magazine. Withhorror

2. films,thisistopresentsomeone beingpossessedthroughthe use of contactsand makeupusedto
make the model’sskinpale.Thisistocreate a shockingdynamicforthe audience. Lightingis usedto
helpshowthe personalityof the characterorset the tone of a scene,forexample, profile lighting
has been usedforthe mainimage to promote TheDescent inFangoria topresenta dark and
frighteningcharactertothe audience andtoeasilysignifythatthisisahorror filmbeingpromoted
here. Costume isusedtohelpmake judgementsonwhoare the characters, suchas theirage and
professionandalsothe time periodof whenthe filmisset.Forexample, Empire’smainimage that
promotes SherlockHolmes2 presentsthe twoprotagonistsinoldfashionedandvintage attire that
helpstoproclaimthat the filmissetinthe past.
Whena close up isbeingusedforthe front coveror whena face is the mostfocusedpart of the
model forthe mainimage,itis normal forthe character to have makeupand certainfacial
expressionsthatare memorable inordertodraw in the audience. A commoncharacteristicsof film
magazinestodefinitelyhave the use of directaddressinordertogive off an attentiongrabbing
effect,makingthe image lookappealingtothe reader.Inothercases,the main image will alsohave
the model givingoff the oppositeof directaddressandlookawayfromthe camera to give off the
feelingthatactionistakingplace andthe scene has frozenintime.Thiswill make the audience alot
more engrossedinthe film’snarrative.Anexample of thiswouldbe the mainimage topromote
ResidentEvil: Retribution on the frontcover of Fangoria,asMila Jovovichisseenholdingagunwhile
lookingaway fromthe camera.
Colouringusedforthe frontcoverof filmmagazineswill be selectedinrelationtothe mainfilm
beingadvertised,reflectingthe setting,genre,narrative,etc.of the film.Thesewillbe the trademark
coloursof the filmfeatured,securingsymbioticlinksbetweenthisandotherpromotional piecesthat
are withinthe campaign. Fangoria’s coverforthe ResidentEvil filmusesred,blue,andwhite colours
inorder to reflectuponthe filmbeingpromotedin3D,and the colourschosenbeing representative
and symbolicof the 3D effect.
Masthead
For the each of the magazine frontcovers,the mastheadhasbeenplacedatthe topof the page.It is
the largest,boldestpiece of textinthe frame inordertoreel inand attract the audience topickthe
magazine upbefore beingfurtherpersuadedbythe explorationof the dominatingmainimage. Each
mastheadhasa greatimportance andwill be unique,having aconsistencyforeverymagazine front
coverin orderto maintainbrandidentityandrecognition.Howeverthere maybe some variation
across the issueswiththe coloursandeffectsusedinordertoreflectthe genre of filmbeing
promotedandto complimentthe coloursusedonthe restof the cover.Othermastheadvariations
will be simple andcleansothatthere isno distractionbeingmade fromthe mainimage andsell
lines.
Sometimesthe mainimage will slightlycoverthe mastheadfromthe bottom.Thisisbasicallyto
implythatthe magazine iswell knownenoughsothatevenif the mastheadmay notbe fullyvisible,
the magazine will stillbe easilyrecognisable.
MainSell Line andOther Sell Lines
Everyfrontcover will have amainsell line that dominatesacrossthe mainimage,andispresentina
variousamountof ways to advertise the filmthatisbeingfeaturingonthe frontcover.Mainsell
lineswill mostcommonlyonlystate the name of the focusedfilm, usingthe film’ssignaturefontor
one that wouldbe similartoit.Fangoria’sThe Descentmagazine frontcoverhasthe mainsell line
usingthe signature fontof The Descent.Thiswill inturncreate a symbioticlinkandattract interest
frompeople whowantto see the film,recognisingthe fontandthenhavingan urge to buythe
magazine.

3. There will be little tonone amountsof sell linesthatfeature onthe frontcover,inorderto avoidany
kindof distractionfromthe mainimage and make itlessattractive.Interviewsandotherfilmsbeing
listedare promotedthroughsell linesandthe feel of exclusivitybeingfocuseduponsothatthiswill
entice the targetaudience topurchase the magazine.
Other Features
 Barcodes
Everyfrontcover will have one.Thisincludesthe date andprice of the magazine andhelps
to pointoutwhichissue isthe latestforfrequentbuyers.
 Puffs
These are frequentlyusedtocontainasell line ortoadvertise contentthatthe audience will
findinterestingwhile readingthroughthe magazine.Thiswill alsohelpaudiencesnot
struggle whencomingtofinda particularpiece of informationona crowdedfrontcover.
 Straplinesand Skylines
Both of these are normallyplacedatthe top of the frontcoverabove the mastheadand are
usedinalmosteveryissue of afilm magazine,inordertoestablishbrandidentityandhelp
the specifiedmagazine becomemore recognisable.
Conclusion
Afterlookingatandanalysinga varietyof frontcoversfroma range of filmmagazines,ithasbecome
clearthat each and everyone of themwill follow the general conventionsthatIhave listed,amain
image to dominate the frame,amasthead,sell lines,andotherkeylayoutcharacteristicsinorderto
maintaina strongsense of professionalism.Although eachissue isdifferentandunique,brand
identityanduse of keyconventionswill helpaudienceseasilyrecognise the magazinethattheyare
lookingat.