2. Movie Magazine Comparisons
To the right is an image of my final movie magazine front cover in
comparison to the three existing movie magazine covers. I think it
is clear which conventions I have tried to adhere to, as well as the
conventions which I have tried to challenge. I thought it was
important to keep the same layout idea as this is something that
obviously works and has proven to be successful throughout the
years, therefore it is something my target audience would be
familiar with. I also tried to incorporate a number of different
images and fonts that would emphasise to the reader that the
magazine is specific to the movie industry.
3. The Main Image
I really do believe that one of the most effective and intriguing
elements of a movie magazine cover is the main image. Having
analysed numerous movie magazine covers which featured different
genres, I chose to include a mid-shot of both characters from my
teaser trailer and my movie poster. One of the things I wasn’t sure
about was whether to have the image feature the actresses being
themselves or still portraying their characters. I had noticed a mixed
range when researching movie magazines, with Empire and Total
Film focusing on having the actors portraying their characters, yet
other magazines such as The Hollywood Reporter, Entertainment
Weekly and Premiere had the actors being themselves on the
covers. Two covers I really liked were from Entertainment Weekly
which featured the cast of The Social Network. What I liked about
both covers is that the image could be portrayed as either the
characters or the actors, depending on the reader’s perspective. I
chose this particular image as it highlights the aspect of the female
on the protagonist on the right leaning on female character on the
left throughout the movie, a main element I highlighted in my
teaser trailer. I chose to do this as it upheld a key element of the
film across all of the promotional media products, including the
movie poster.
4. Masthead, Issue Date & Number and Social Media
At the very top of my movie magazine cover I chose to include the issue date and number, the masthead and three
social media icons. Beginning with the issue date and number, I downloaded a font from the website
www.dafonts.com which allowed me to type letters within a film reel. I thought this was really effective as it
emphasises to the reader that this magazine focuses entirely on the movie industry. I commonly placed it at the very
top of the page in order to adhere to the conventions of movie magazines today. In terms of the masthead, I wanted
to go with something short and memorable, so I chose ‘Uncut’, suggesting to the reader than the magazine gains
exclusive content and behind the scenes information both on set and off set. I placed it at the top as well as I feel
that this is the most effective positioning in terms of attracting more readers. The font is plain black, yet very bold
and has been partially covered by the top of the main image. This suggests to readers that the magazine is already
well-known as it can afford to conceal such a key element of the cover. I chose to challenge codes and conventions by
including some social media icons in order to keep the magazine modern and up to date, therefore possibly
attracting younger viewers.
5. Coverlines
I included various different coverlines within my movie magazine cover. The first two are located towards the top of
the page surrounding the characters in the main image. I chose to highlight the USP’s of the coverlines by choosing a
separate font and colour in order to make them stand out. The one on the left states that the 100 greatest films of all
time have been named within the magazine, which is a list that would intrigue movie-goers and those who take
particular interests in the movie industry. The second coverline states that the magazine is ‘on the set’, suggesting to
the reader that there is the potential of exclusive information within the magazine, therefore making it much more
appealing. Having these coverlines located here means that the reader’s eyes will immediately go to them after
observing the main image. The main coverline has been located in the middle of the cover, similarly to existing
magazine covers. I chose to use the same font for the movie title in order to keep all three media products similar. I
then mentioned below the movie title the words ‘complete and exclusive access’, which would definitely come
across as a USP. I then wrote a short summary of what the reader should expect inside, much like movie magazine
covers do today. This would give them a taste of the feature, therefore intriguing them into reading the magazine,
yet without giving too much away.
6. USP’s, Coverlines, Price and Barcode
Featuring at the bottom of my movie magazine cover is a USP of free posters, additional coverlines, the barcode and
the price. Firstly I included two images at the bottom left of the page to correspond with the ‘Free Posters!’ coverline
located beside it. Freebies are definitely features of magazines that would encourage more readers to buy a copy.
Beside the images of the posters are additional coverlines, both of which entice the reader into finding out more
about the subjects being discussed. I decided to include the barcode in the conventional location, however I decided
to make it look as though it has been placed on a clapper board used frequently when making films. This is an object
which many readers would be familiar with, therefore it would again emphasise the fact that the magazine is tailored
towards those interested in the movie industry. I also added the price on the board as well.
