Shutter island magazine cover analysis

1. Magazine Analysis
The cover of Total Film
October 2009

2. You can see from this picture the
full cover of the shutter island
issue of total film magazine. Its
shows a full body shot of
Leonardo DiCaprio allowing us to
view his costume, lighting and to
be able to create an idea
surrounding his character. The
costume he is wearing portrays a
smart businessman, however the
costume looks slightly bedraggled
as if the character has been
through an adventure or some
kind of danger or distress this
intrigues the audience as they
want to find out what has
happened. The lighting of the
picture allows a mysterious air to
be created surrounding the
character this to adds to the
audiences intrigue, the lighting of
the picture is extremely important.
This picture very accurately
portrays the film which is essential
for a magazine cover featuring a
film.
Magazine Cover

3. Mast Head
The masthead is clear and to the point allows you to quickly and effectively
identify the genre of the magazine. The font they have chosen to use is simple and
easy to read this is essential for a magazine cover. The word ‘total’ in the heading
shows they include a wide range of films within the magazine, because they keep
the interests wide this allows many audiences to be attracted to their product.
This is the banner from the magazine cover they have very effectively edited it so it
fits in with the theme of the magazine as well as still being recognizable as ‘Total
Film’. They way they have position the picture of DiCaprio means that people will
immediately see his face when identifying the magazine. It may also operate in
another way that means that you look at DiCaprio and then notice the name of
the magazine identifying it. The mysterious figure at the end of the banner is lit up
across the face so to ensure you can’t identify the figure, it also emitted a yellow
light which can be seen as a warning. The theme of the magazine cover is
generally dark so the white of the title really stands out making it easy to notice.

4. Cover lines
This slide focuses of the cover lines of the magazine cover. I have
included 3 examples; The first is the cover line which runs across the top
of the magazine ‘greatest movie art ever’ this is in a contrasting red
which stands out against the dark colour palette of the magazine
cover. This also advertises one of the features within the magazine
attracting the audience. The second example is the avatar feature ‘its
got everything’ by including an opinion it quickly allows you to see that
is a review. By including an opinion it also makes it seem more personal
which would entice they audience to find out what someone thinks
about a certain film. The third example includes 3 separate cover lines,
they have continued the colour theme of using the dark red
and white as a contrast against the dark colour theme. They
are also playing with the boldness and sizes of the fonts allow-people
to be attracted to the coverline. Use of words such as
‘plus’ and ‘inside’ are words that attract the reader to inside
the magazine to read the features.

5. Main Coverline
This is the main coverline I have chosen to analyse
as is the main coverline as well as being the one
which advertises shutter island. By clearly creating
the link with the film it allows the audience to create
the connection between the magazine and the
film. It also creates a link with the cover person ‘Leo
takes over the asylum’, by using a familiar name to
address Leonardo DiCaprio makes the audience
film as if the magazine is friendly with him and the
may get more of an inside scoop. This also plays on
the celebrity obsession within society today. It also
creates a comedic element with the use of the
words ‘takes over’ playing on the horror idea of
something supernatural or in control, this comedic
element continues with familiar connection the
magazine has with Leonardo DiCaprio. It continues
to follows the colour scheme of the film the deep
red as well as the font used on the film posters. By
running similar themes between the film poster and
the magazine cover allows the connection
between the magazine and film to be made quickly
and clearly for the audience.

6. Essentials
There is many essentials in which you have to include when
creating a magazine cover. These are often elements that
you wouldn’t choose to have on your magazine as they are
not ascetically pleasing however you have to include them.
These essentials include; the barcode, the date. These
essentials are located in different places on different
magazines. This issue is quite uncommon as the date and
issue number is positioned in the ‘M’ of the mast head,
normally these details are tucked away often at the bottom
of the page or right in the corner of the cover.

7. Comparison Between
You can quickly identify
similarities between the film
poster and magazine cover
this allows you to create the
connection between the
two. Firstly is the title of the
film is written in very similar
fonts to allow you to create
an identity which can be
recognised by many
audiences. Secondly both
have highlighted they same
features on Leonardo
DiCaprio the face however
they have used lighting
differently to create mystery
though different ways. The
are both dark colour
palettes but different
intensities of darkness.