This document analyzes the conventions and design elements commonly found on the covers of film magazine. It discusses key aspects like the masthead, house style, graphics, images of famous people, additional information elements, and subheadings. Examples are provided through analyses of the covers of magazines like "Total Film", "Empire", and "Premiere" to show how these conventions are applied.

1. Conventions of Film Magazine
Covers

2. Eye Catching
• The front cover is what first draws attention to
audiences, so it must do this well and capture
the buyer’s interest.

3. Masthead
• Otherwise known as the name of the
magazine, the masthead will be clear and
impressive.

4. House Style/Graphics
• The house style is the colours and fonts
commonly used throughout the magazine –
most magazines tend to have a set colour
scheme which helps to identify it.
• Graphics are used to highlight special news or
offers

5. Additional Information
• Additional information such as the price,
barcode and date are usually found together
• They will be small as to not draw attention
away from the main focus of the cover, but big
enough to read

6. Subheadings
• Subheadings advertise the main features that
can be found inside the magazine
• Important parts of these headings may be in
bold or a different colour to stand out

7. Famous people
• Most film magazines will have a famous icon
or person on the cover, again to attract
attention

8. ‘Total Film’ Cover Analysis
• Masthead is set behind the • There is a house style of • Graphics – there is a small circle
cover image, suggesting that orange and white – orange is graphic on which the spiderman
the magazine is well known image is set to make it stand out
enough for it to be used to highlight things, for more. The graphic is aligned
unnecessary for the masthead example the advertisement behind the actor in the image in
to be totally visible for ‘FREE GIANT POSTERS’ order to integrate the image
• The main image is the same • There are mini images of the
image on a film poster for the posters featured inside which
movie, featuring recognisable would appeal to potential
actors, thus drawing interest buyers
• The main heading has been • The masthead is colour
edited similar to the similarly to the background of
masthead, again making it the image, therefore
stand out integrating the image better
into the cover
• Price, date and barcode are • There aren’t many
small and don’t divert subheadings, but the ones
attention from the focus there are short and
informative to draw people in

9. ‘Empire’ Cover Analysis
• Masthead is set over the • There is a house style of red, • Graphics – there does not
cover image, perhaps white and yellow/orange,
suggesting it isn’t as well however there does not seem to appear to be any graphics
known as the previous cover be a colour for highlighting
from ‘Total Film’ as it has to things, they seem to be
be entirely visible alternated randomly
• The main image has been • There is a second image in the
taken from the movie and is of corner of a secondary article,
a recognised actor, attracting thus appealing to two
interest audiences
• The fonts are all variations of • The background is dark,
the same one, further making the text and image
enforcing a house style more aesthetically appealing
• Price, date and barcode are • There are many subheadings
small and don’t divert advertising the contents of the
attention from the focus magazine

10. ‘Premiere’ Cover Analysis
• Masthead is set over the • There is a house style of black • Graphics – there does not
cover image, perhaps and yellow, with the yellow
suggesting it isn’t as well appear to be any graphics
known as the cover from being used both as an
‘Total Film’ as it has to be alternating colour and also to
entirely visible highlight information
• The main image is of a • There is no other images on
recognised actor, who is in a this cover, which illustrates
humorous pose, which may or the importance or popularity
may not be relating to a movie of the featured actor
• The fonts are all variations of • The background is pale and on
the same one, further a slight gradient. It does not
enforcing a house style, apart distract from the contents on
from the masthead which is the cover
different in order to stand out
• Price, date and barcode are • Like previous covers, there are
small and don’t divert many subheadings advertising
attention from the focus the contents of the magazine