Film poster and magazine front cover research

1. FILM POSTER AND
MAGAZINE FRONT COVER
RESEARCH
Chynia Teixeira

3. WHAT IS A FILM POSTER?
A film poster is a piece of marketing that is used to advertise an
upcoming film.
These posters can vary in different ways such as size and the
content within them, however each poster is designed to specifically
attracted the films target audience.
They normally contain an image and text, the image may be the
main actor or actors or and image that links to the film. The name of
the film is the biggest text on the poster, along with the names of
stars, sometimes director and the film companies. Film posters can
be found in a variety of different places such as outside cinemas, on
billboards or on buses.

4. MAIN
POSTER
This is a billing block, it includes the
different film companies involved in
the making and distribution of the
film, it is also like credits as it
includes names of directors and
producers for example.
This is the names of the actors that
are staring in the film, this is their to
make people want to go because if
they know an actor or actress that
they like is in a film they are more
likely to go and see it.
This is a tagline, this tells us
a little about the story line
without revealing too much
for example this could mean
that all may go wrong in the
place that is set.
The title is at the bottom
like on most film poster, it is
in bold writing so that it
stands out and also it has
the Batman logo behind
which allows people that the
film “The Dark Knight” is
about Batman.
This is the release date, usually on main
trailers he exact date is put on it whereas
on teaser trailers it may just say “Coming
Soon” or “This Summer” etc. this allows
for the audience to know when they can
go and see it.
On all posters there is a main image,
this could be an image of he leading
character or a symbol that represents
the film in some way, in this film
poster this is both the main character
and also a symbol that represents the
movie. They both allow the audience
to know more about the movie
without revealing too much.

5. TEASER FILM POSTER
A teaser poster is a poster that is an early promotion for a film.
These posters are usually basic with one main image of the main
characters or an image that is related to the film in some way. These
images reveal very little about the film that is going to be released.
The purpose of teaser film trailers is to increase awareness of the
upcoming film which once again does not reveal too much.

6. TEASER
POSTER
The number “3” is
in the centre to
represent Toy Story
3. People will know
that this is a poster
for Toy Story
because they have
used the same
theme.
The release date allows the
target audience to know
when it will be in cinemas.
The name of the distribution
and film company allows for
people to know who created
the movie and also it also
makes the title more clear as
people will know that it
definitely is Toy Story.
This is a tagline,
this reveals very
little about the
film, or example
it could mean
that the toys will
be in danger and
may need to
escape from
somewhere
This is a very basic poster
which is why it is a teaser
poster because it reveals
practically nothing about the
film besides the film
company and the release
date.

7. SUCCESSFUL FILM POSTER
There are a variety of different aspects that I believe film posters
should include for it to be a successful film poster, these include:
A style or theme that is consistent or links with the actual film.
A tagline that links to the film, revealing a small amount of the
storyline.
Colours that link with the theme for example, dark colours for a
horror film or bright colours for a children’s film.
Iconography that doesn’t reveal too much about the film but just
enough to make people want to go and see it.

9. WHAT IS A MAGAZINE COVER?
A magazine cover is the front of a magazine, it advertises what will
be within the actual magazine.
Magazine covers are usually full of information about the different
articles within it, also there is usually a main focus on the cover
such as a celebrity, in the case of film magazines the front cover
usually has the main character/actor from a film for example, Harry
Potter/ Daniel Radcliff or The Mad Hatter/ Johnny Depp. By having
a well known celeb/ character on the front cover makes more
people want to buy the magazine and read more because there is a
well known popular person on the font cover. Magazine front
covers also include large bold titles, taglines and dates of
publication.
The purpose of magazine covers is to allow people to know what
will be within the magazine.

10. MAGAZINE FRONT
COVER
Front covers include a barcode, this
is so that it can be purchased, its
presence symbolises professionalism.
It is in the bottom right corner so
that it is not in the way of the left
side which is where most of the
writing and features are.
This is the masthead/title. This is the
biggest text on the front cover and is
usually the boldest and in a different
colour to most of the other text.
This is the tagline, this will attract
the target readers as it guarantees
good quality due to it stating its
popularity, in this magazine the
tagline is the same colour as the
title to draw attention to it however
not too much which is why it is in
smaller font.
This is the main image is in the
centre of the magazine cover, its
there to catch the audiences
attention. For this front cover,
Daniel Radcliff is looking directly
into the camera, this draws the
readers in, by having a well known
character on the front cover it will
mean that the reader will know this
will be about the film
The price is small and not
in the way of any other
text so that it does not
take any attention from
the other more important
aspects of the magazine.
This colour scheme is
somewhat plain
however the important
parts that the
magazine company
want to stand out such
as the title an articles
that are most
important and more
popular.

11. SUCCESSFUL MAGAZINE FILM
COVER
There are a variety of different aspects that a magazine cover
should include to ensure that it is successful, these include:
Cover lines that appeal to the target readers
Clear, bold master head
Good colour schemes
An equal amount of iconography and typography
Strong background, top celebrities as this will draw a wider range
of readers