This document discusses how the magazine cover challenges and follows conventions of real magazines. It follows many conventions of Total Film magazine such as placement of masthead, issue details, and limited characters. However, it challenges conventions by covering a horror film genre not typically featured, only showing the back of the villain, and using a gray background instead of the typical white. The cover is meant for Total Film subscribers to try introducing horror and create exclusivity. Subscriber editions have simpler designs than regular issues.

1. Evaluation Question
One
In what ways does your media product use, develop or
challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
(Magazine)

3. Elaboration
• For my magazine front cover I followed many of the codes and conventions
used by the magazine ‘total Film’ as I was producing an issue for them.
However, in some areas I have strayed away from these normal codes and
conventions as my film is a horror film which are not usually covered by
Total film. This is why I selected Total Film as I saw a gap in the market that
could be filled as most horror movie based magazines are not as well
established.

4. • I discovered that Total Film do extra issues for subscribers and I thought
that this would be a good way of introducing horror movies to the
magazine-to try it out on subscribers first. In addition to this, it adds
exclusivity to the film. As it is new and exclusive it will draw more people to
the magazine as they will want to be apart of it.
• Subscriber’s editions do not follow the normal codes and conventions of
magazines. They are much more simplistic and refined as they are designed
specifically for subscribers and act as a privilege for loyal customers.

5. • I have followed the convention of keeping the subscriber’s edition very
simplistic and not including features of other articles inside the magazine, as
other magazines would do.
• I have also followed the convention of the positioning of the masthead (total
film) and the issue name above it. I specifically wanted to follow this
convention as it is used for most of Total Film’s front covers and I wanted
my magazine to look as official as possible. In addition the positioning of the
masthead is not only common of total film but most magazines in general.

6. • A further code I have followed is the use of the issue number, date and
website link. These are common place on almost all magazine front covers,
however, I thought that Total Film’s positioning of them in particular was
really clever. They have placed them in the dip over the M of film this is
clever as it does not draw immediate attention but they are still clear for the
viewer to read. For this reason I decided to use this method and also Total
Film seem to use this on all their front covers so it was necessary in order to
fit in with their brand.

7. • A further convention that I have used with my own front cover is having a
limited number of character’s on the front cover. Most magazine limit the
number of people as their main feature on the front cover but more so with
the exclusive editions to a maximum of three but usually 2. This is why I
have limited the number on my own front cover to 2. this adds to the
minimalistic and exclusive feel of the subscriber’s edition.

8. e.

9. • However, regarding the characters used I have also gone against convention. Movie
magazine front covers usually show the hero/heroine of the movie. Wile I have
done this by including Ellie I have also gone against the norm by also including the
villain-the kidnapper. In addition as the two characters on the front of a magazine
are the main feature it is common place for both of their faces to be shown,
however, we cannot see the villain’s face at all as he is facing away from the
audience. I see this as being more effective, as if I were to include his face in the
image it would give the film away as the viewers would already know who the
kidnapper was before even seeing the film and this is a key element of my movie.

10. • Another way in which I have challenged the
codes and conventions of Total Film is with
the design of the background. Total Film
usually use a simplistic image within the
background or use a plain white as shown. This is also common place within other movie
magazines. However, I wanted to challenge this and use a convention used by other
magazines (such as music and fashion) and use a block colour other than white. I decided
to use grey. It is very rare to find a magazine that uses grey or its background, however, I
found that it suited mine really well.