1. Experimenting for magazine covers Although we have decided that my partner would create the magazine and I would create the poster, I felt I should also produce drafts of magazine front covers.
2. First attempt My first attempt of a film magazine cover is certainly one that can be improved, though it consists of good qualities in which I am adamant to continue to develop from within my second and final draft. In maintaining the typical conventions of a magazine cover, I feel my product is successful in establishing itself with an existing one. However, I am aware of improvements that need to be made.
3. Positive notes For my first draft of a magazine cover I believe there are some positive aspects of it. I believe the colour scheme if fluent and more presentable. Additionally, the associations of film elements itself further anchors the magazine's nature as a film centralised one. This is highlighted by the use of the film reel on the right of the front cover. Moreover, there is a clear head mast on the upper left of the page. this seems neat and enticing. The main image used is typically placed to cover the majority of the page, anchoring the magazine's contents. This is echoed by the hook line within it.
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5. Final attempt This is my second draft of the magazine front cover. I feel that i successfully developed the typical conventions in which already-existing film magazines possess. The main image within the page acts as a background and the base of the entire front cover, making prominent its importance and significance to the page, thus allowing the audience to recognise that 'Enter Sandman' is the main article within the magazine. Moreover, the editing to the image allows the audience to understand that the young girl within the frame is not what she appears, echoing the actual theme of the trailer. This brings about a sense of branding and anchorage to the actual film, an important quality as all artefacts advertising must contain important features of the film to allow the audience to get a greater understanding of the film, and to essentially persuade them to want to view it. Additionally, the draft of a magazine cover reveals a clear head-mast, again, an important feature of any magazine, as it typically holds the title of the magazine. The title 'NFR‘ is in large, bold text, attracting and enticing the audiences attention.
6. Like many successful magazine covers, the magazine brings about further enticement in the form of added features. Indeed, it is important to promote other aspects within the magazine as well as the main article. My magazine cover does this. It promotes other actors, films, interviews and more. This is necessary, as all magazines are competing against one another. If a magazine appears to have more to offer, the audience will be persuaded to purchase that particular magazine. I have kept to a clear colour scheme which assists in adding to the overall presentation, which is neat, crisp and attractive. Though I have largely kept to the colour scheme of red, white and black, these colours are bold and attractive. It is important that if using limited colour within the front cover, they must be the right choice. They must attract the audience. References to filmed elements are present within the front cover, asserting the magazine as a film promoting one. This is evident within the film reel, presenting images. This allows the audience to immediately recognise the product as a film magazine. Finally, i have in a sense distanced my magazine from many. This is obvious within my image. On many already-existing magazine front covers, icons used within the frame engage in what is known as 'the gaze', where people are staring at the audience. This allows the audience to gain a sense of connection. It is of course, a clever addition. However, my image does the opposite. With no view of the young girl's face, audiences are left alienated. However, this is very intentional, as her placement within the film trailer is very mysterious. She is the evil of the binary opposition, her body language even suggests so. It seems much more effective to allow the audience to let their own imagination characterise the young girl. This is arguably much more effective.
