The document analyzes and compares the layout and design of three film magazine covers (Empire and Fangoria) and three film posters (Scream, The Blair Witch Project, and Sorority Row). Some key similarities across the magazines and posters include placing the masthead, tagline, or film title near the top to attract attention. Images are used prominently and text is designed and placed intentionally to stand out against backgrounds without overlapping important elements. Production details are included below titles to provide information to readers and viewers.

1. Film magazine covers
EMPIRE & FANGORIA

2. Strapline with small images of Masthead is at the top so
main actors in the film; people can see it when
informs readers what’s inside displayed in shops; as it is a
and is placed at the top so well known magazine, the
that it can be easily seen when main image is able to cover
displayed in shops. part of the masthead.
Empire’s masthead is often
red as it is a prominent colour
The sell line for Empire is “The that will stand out in shops;
UK’s no.1 Movie Magazine” it they also have their own
invites the readers to pick up specific font.
the magazine as it is written
under the masthead and easily
seen.
Cover lines inform
readers of other articles
included in the issue.
Main cover line is placed on
the left-side third so it will be
seen if it’s displayed
horizontally in shops. It
informs readers who and what
the main article is about.
Features written on a banner
so that the text stands out.
The text is bold so it’s easy to
read and informs readers what
Barcode is placed at the else is included.
bottom of the page so it
doesn’t interfere with the
main image and text.

3. Issue number is placed near Strapline informs readers
the masthead to inform what’s inside and is placed at
readers it’s the latest issue. the top so that it can be easily
seen if displayed in shops
though Fangoria is only
available online for the UK.
Masthead is at the top so people
can see it when displayed in
shops. Similar to Empire’s
masthead, Fangoria’s is often red
too, as it is a prominent colour Cover lines are in a
that will stand out in shops and as different colour to the
Fangoria is specifically a horror background to make the
magazine, the red links with the text easy to read but links
idea of blood and gore; they also with the masthead and
have their own specific font. main image.
Cover lines are placed on
the left-side third so they The main image is a
will be seen if displayed medium close up which
horizontally in shops and attracts readers’ attention;
inform readers what else is it stands out against the
included in the issue. black background.
The main cover line is placed at
Barcode is placed at the bottom the bottom of the page so that
so it doesn’t cover parts of the the main image dominates the
main image; the price and cover – again, the colours link
website are written on it to with the image and masthead.
inform readers.

4. Masthead is at the top so people
can see it when displayed in
Strapline informs readers
shops; as it is a well known
what’s inside and is placed at
magazine, the main image is able
the top so that it can be easily
to cover part of the masthead.
seen when displayed in shops.
The masthead links with the main
cover line and background image
which attracts attentions.
Issue number and price
written above the masthead;
Cover lines inform readers of
this is characteristic of Empire
other articles in this issue; the
magazine as the text it easy to
lighter colour of the text
see and informs the readers
stands out against the dark
that it’s a new issue.
background.
The main image is a long shot
which makes the actor look
Button attracts readers’
powerful – Empire often use
attention as it is a different
long and mid shots and rarely
colour to the background
use extreme close ups.
image and the text is easy to
read. It informs readers of a
feature in the magazine. Main cover line is placed in
the centre so it attracts
readers attentions; the font
and colour stand out
Extra cover lines places at the against the background
bottom to inform readers image.
what else is included and the
light coloured texts stands out
Barcode is placed at the
against the dark background.
bottom so it doesn’t
cover parts of the main
image.

5. Film posters
SCREAM, THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT
& SORORITY ROW

6. The tag line is at the top of the
poster to lure the audience – the
first thing the audience notice The genre of the film is horror
are the eyes which leads them to but as it would be displayed
read the tagline above. publicly, the image isn’t
explicit; however, the genre is
still obvious to the audience.
The main image is an extreme
close up of a woman’s face; she
is looking directly at the
audience which attracts
attention. Also, the fact that the
eyes are in colour and the rest of
the image has been desaturated
emphasises her fear.
The film title is near the
bottom of the poster so it
doesn’t cover the black space
The cast and crew are below and not the image. The text is
the title so the audience will visible and clear to read.
see who is in the film and
the production information
which will attract them more
The USP is placed at the very
– especially as the actors
bottom and attracts
and production companies
attention as the white colour
are well known. The font is
stands out against the black
simple and different to other
background and the font is
text on the poster.
different to the other text on
the page.

7. The top half of the image
establishes the setting; this
isn’t common as most Instead of a tagline, this
posters focus on the main poster has a short prologue
protagonists and usually and gives some background
show the main setting as the information about the film
background image. which intrigues the audience.
The main image is an extreme
close up of a woman's eyes
looking directly at the The film title is near the
audience to attract attention. bottom of the page so, like
the Scream poster, it fills up
some empty black space.
The cast and crew are under
the film title in white so that
the text can be seen against Production and distribution
the black background; the logos at the bottom appeal
font is different to other to the audience as they
text on the poster and easy show that well known
to read. companies have worked on
the film.

8. The top half of the image
establishes the setting like
the Blair Witch poster but
the focus is on the main
image. However, the flames
suggest that the setting will
be destroyed and that it is
important. The main image is of the
protagonists; they are all
female and so the audience
assume they are the victims.
They are looking towards
the camera to attract
attention from the audience.
The tag line is placed
above the film title and
provides information
about the film but
without unravelling the The cast and crew are
plot.. under the film title in a
lighter colour so the text
stands out against the
The film title is near black background; again
the bottom of the the font is different to
poster so it doesn’t other text. The distribution
cover the main image. logos are also at the
bottom with a website for
the film.