The document summarizes some common conventions used in film posters and magazine covers. For posters, it notes that the film title is usually prominently displayed, characters are recognizably dressed, and credits and release dates are at the bottom. For magazines, it states that the masthead is largest at the top, the main picture and cover story take up most of the page, and coverlines advertise inside stories. Both use bright colors and images to attract audiences.

1. Summary of poster and magazine analysis

2. » Main characters are usually centre of the poster with
text placed around them.
» The title of the film is conventionally in bold sans serif
font so it stands out.
» Characters are usually shown in the same clothes on all
promotional packages to make them easily
recognisable.
» posters usually use long shots so you can see all the
characater(s)
» Credits of people involved in the film are conventionally
placed on the bottom third of the poster along with the
release date. 2
» Actors name and film slogan are often used

3. » The masthead is usually the largest font on the
cover and is conventionally sans serif.
» Main picture taking up most of the page with
the cover story title across it.
» Coverlines are often placed down both left and
right sides of the cover advertising other stories
inside the issue
» Date, issue and price are often shown
underneath the masthead.
» Bright colour scheme and pull quotes are
conventional . 3

4. The masthead of the magazine is conventionally the largest font on the
front cover as it’s the name of the magazine and so is well recognised. The
masthead is always placed at the top of the cover. Its usually bold sans serif
font to make it stand out more to the audience and tends to stay very
similar across all issues of a magazine. Its also conventional for the date and
price to be placed around the masthead in much smaller font (as shown on
the empire masthead). There are also Coverlines placed above both
mastheads advertising other stories inside the issue of the magazine. The
website of the magazine is also often placed in smaller font near the
masthead.
4

5. The main picture on a magazine cover conventionally
takes up most of the page and coverlines are usually
placed around it. Often the picture is placed over part
of the masthead (Megan Fox’s head blocks the ‘I’ on the
masthead). The picture is related to the cover story
which is the main story covered in depth in an issue.
Both long shots and close ups are used on magazine
covers and the colours that the person on the front
wears are usually seen in the colour scheme (the purple
Megan Fox is wearing) and the red, white and blue
colour scheme associated with captain America.
5

6. Coverlines are often placed
around the main picture on
magazine covers. They tend to
be placed on the sides of the
page (left on the Hellboy cover
and right on the Thor cover).
They advertise smaller stories
included inside the issue.
Magazines often use a + sign to
advertise other coverlines which
is usually at the bottom of the
page (shown on the Thor cover.
6

7. The largest font on a film poster
tends to be the logo of the film, it
tends to be sans serif and bold to
make it stand out to the
audience. The logo tends to be
consistent over all posters to
help create a brand identity. This
can be placed at the top , bottom
or middle of the poster. Its often
an eye catching colour to help
stand out (both are red in
pictures). The American pie logo
stays the same through all the
film franchise to help create a
brand identity
7

8. Film posters tend to use mid or long shots as it shows
more of the character and therefore makes them more
identifiable to the audience. This also shows the clothes
that the characters are wearing which makes the
characters more relatable to a teen audience (more so in
the Beta house poster). Credits are typically placed at
the bottom of the poster along with the release date as
shown in the Superbad poster. The characters on the
Beta house poster also suggests that it covers typical teen
comedy stories (relationships and sex).
8

9. Film posters often contain slogans from the
film, as seen on the hangover 2 poster ‘ the
wolfpack is back’ and ‘Bangkok has them now’.
Another common convention on film posters is
to list other films from the same film makers. (on
the Superbad poster, ‘from the makers of the 40
year old virgin and knocked up’. Film posters
also advertise the actor names (friends with
benefits poster), especially if they are big stars as
this will increase the popularity of the film if
people are fans of the actors.
9

10. Teen comedy posters often use bright
vibrant colours to attract a teen audience.
Bright colours will attract the audiences
eye more. They also use clothes and
props that a teen audience would be able
to relate to. Examples of the bright
colours used can be seen in the Beta
house and mean girls posters.
10