The document provides information about designing the front cover of a film magazine focused on post-apocalyptic genre films. It discusses key elements of magazine covers including the masthead, buzz words, taglines, primary images, and cover lines. It also provides examples of institutional distributors of film magazines. The document then outlines the creative process for designing a mock cover, including researching conventions, developing ideas for images, colors, composition, and text placement. It incorporates feedback from audiences on two draft designs to create a final poster draft.
2. Film Magazine Front Cover Key Terms
Masthead (Main Title):
This is the main title of
the magazine which
remains the same
throughout every issue. It
may, however, change in
colour or style depending
on the movie being
featured.
Buzz Words/Phrases:
These are small catch
phrases or words that
catch the readers eye
and draw their
attention. E.g. FREE
WITH THIS ISSUE…
Tagline:
Similar to the title, this
tagline is on every copy
of the magazine and acts
as the magazines
catchphrase.
Primary Image:
This is an image relating
to the featured
movie/film. For example
the leading actor(s) or a
shot from the film.
Cover Lines:
These are either titles or
snippets of information
about articles featured
within the magazine.
(content)
3. Institutions
• There are various companies and institutions
that distribute and exhibit movie magazines,
from small businesses all the way up to huge c
• One Example is the British magazine ‘Empire’
which started in 1989 and is now the largest in
the UK. This is distributed and exhibited across
the globe e.g. USA, Russia and Australia.
5. Style File – Genre Specific Moodboard
Techniques I like
6. Style File - Inspiration
The Title of this magazine
has a rust effect on it.
This reinforces the
apocalypse genre and
adds a simple effect to
the title that makes it
stand out. Additionally,
the block font looks like
pieces of scrap metal.
Furthermore, the use of the
shot of the two characters
with the dessert background
reinforces the genre. This
allows the audience to relate
the front cover to the film
genre.
This magazine cover uses a
headshot of the main character.
The dark filter focuses the light
source upon the character showing
his grittiness. Furthermore, the
damaged and dirty nature of both
the actors costume and
background reinforce the post
apocalyptic genre.
Techniques I like
7. Style File - Inspiration
The image in the centre of the magazine cover is key to the
illustrating the genre. The image shows destruction (As do the
other 3 examples) that reinforce the genre. Additionally, the use
of the two characters in centre frame draw the audience’s eye,
thus drawing them in.
The World War Z movie magazine cover has a bloody background,
this allows the horror genre to be reinforced. Also, the characters
head shot is centrally framed which I am to recreate as this a
common occurrence for these magazines.
Techniques I like
The layout that inspires me the most are the head
shot/close-up shots of the character. This allows the
cover to show the grittiness of the character and reflect
the genre.
8. Ideas Generation - Images/Graphical Information
The images I intend on using will include a headshot/extreme
close up of my lead character. From the research I have conducted
I have found that the post apocalyptic characters visualised on
front covers are represented as gritty and dirty. This reflects the
environment/Diegesis the characters inhabit. Furthermore, the
background will include a baron landscape to denote that the
world has been ruined, once again reinforcing the genre. Finally,
the overall image will have a dark filter surrounding the edges as
to allow the audience to focus upon the headshot that is centrally
framed.
These are examples of
the graphical style of
magazine cover I intend
to replicate.
9. Ideas Generation – Colour Scheme
After looking through various magazines, both their covers and their content, I have
found that a few various colour schemes seem to reoccur. (Example 1), white with
rusty orange is a common magazine title colour scheme for the post apocalyptic
genre.
Furthermore, the colour schemes used by various movie/film magazines that suit this
genre are bleak and dark. This reflects the themes of the genre as there is a lack of
hope. Finally, the light source focuses upon the face of the character. This will have
brighter colours than the rest of the magazine cover.
The background
of this magazine
are what I
vaguely aim to
recreate. The
background
illustrates the
destruction of the
setting within the
movie and thus
sets the scene.
The Font and writing on
the front cover of the
magazine will be Red,
Black and White. These
are both colours that stand
out the most against the
majority of other colours.
Furthermore, these are
the colours of almost
every movie magazine and
thus follows conventions.
10. Ideas Generation - Composition Of Page
The composition of my page will follow the same style and conventions of
other movie magazine front covers. This will include a large title at the top
center of the page. Furthermore, the primary image will be place within the
center of the cover as this is of main interest too the audience. This
establishes the shot and draws them in. Finally, the central main image will be
surrounded by text relating to the movie and what is within the magazine
itself.
All of the magazine covers below have both titles
and centrally framed images. These are how I shall
build and compose my magazine cover.
11. Ideas Generation – Text And Placement
The text placement of the main title is going to follow the
conventions of other movie magazines. This means it will be
centrally framed at the top of the page. Furthermore, the other
text will be in Times New Roman as it looks professionally and is
easy to read. Finally, the text will descend down both the left and
the right of the central image.
These examples have
the title at the top of
the magazine, then the
additional text drops
down each side of the
main image.
12. EMPIREPost Apocalyptic Special Edition
Genre
Dead?
Has action
taken over
the film
industry?
Top 10
Movies Of
The 2016
EMPIRE
3D Film
Is it the
future of
cinema?
Plus:
The Book Of Eli
– The Road –
Mad Max Fury
Road
Free !
Timeline
Poster Of
Mad Max
Universe
Draft 1
13. EMPIRE
EMPIRE
Post Apocalyptic Special Edition
Top 10
Movies Of
The 2016
Genre
Dead?
Has action
taken over
the film
industry?Disney and
Warner
Bros:
Are they
killing the
market?
Plus:
The Book Of Eli
– The Road –
Mad Max Fury
Road
Free !
Timeline Poster Of Mad
Max Universe
Draft 2
14. Feedback From Audience
Draft 1:
The feedback I received for this magazine cover allowed me to adapt and change my
next design.
My audience feedback about this particular draft stated that I should make the word
spacing closer together to give the magazine cover a more professional look. Looking
at other examples of movie magazines, we can also see that the imagine in the centre
is too large.
My audience feedback also picked up on this and stated that if the image was smaller
then the background would become more prominent. Thus helping to illustrate the
genre further.
Draft 2:
My Audience feedback for the second draft had some similar points to the previous
draft. For example, the text issue, the text should still be closer together to look more
professional.
Another point that was made was that the text below the main image should be more
eye catching and striking instead of blending into the image.
Finally, the magazine cover looked very artistic, which in some cases is good
depending upon the genre. However, the genre I am focusing on is gritty and realistic
and thus the image is too bright.