This document analyzes the conventions and key elements of a film magazine cover. It identifies common features like the masthead at the top, the central main image usually featuring the lead actor, and taglines that concisely describe the film. It also notes design considerations like font size and color that ensure the cover's main elements stand out and draw the reader's attention. The document then provides a specific example of a magazine cover, identifying each element and how it engages the target audience.

1. Film Magazine
Conventions.

2. Skyline/tagline
Magazine title/
masthead
Film title
Buzz words- ‘The
epic issue’
Anchorage text
Barcode and
price
Cover lines
Secondary images
Cover lines
Main image of
the leading actor
Promotional puff

3. Masthead
A masthead always features on a film
magazine, which is at the top of the page. It
should be the largest element on the page,
clear and bold. The colour of the masthead
will often be the same, to use as a brand
identity. For example, Empire, mostly uses
the colour red.

4. The main image of a film magazine is always central on the page as it is the main
focus of the cover. Usually, the image is of the main character of the film. If the
reader is a fan of the actor and have previously enjoyed other films they have
starred in, then they will most likely be enticed to watch the certain film
promoted on the front cover.
Main Image

5. Tag lines
Tag lines are very useful to promote films, as not only can they briefly
tell the reader what the film is about, or what genre it could be, it also
sticks in the readers head, which will ensure they are more likely to
remember the film that is being advertised.

6. This is the extra information on the cover to
tell the readers what else is inside, which will
most likely take their interest, and persuade
them more to buy it. However, it will be
smaller than the more major elements on the
cover, such as the masthead, main image and
film title. This is because this is what the whole
magazine focuses on in that certain issue. So it
is logical for the magazine to make the main
elements larger. The anchorage text is mostly
always the same font and colour as other
elements on the magazine to connect all the
information together, create a brand identity,
and also bring the whole cover together, to
make it attractive to the reader as much as
possible.
Anchorage text and cover lines

7. Barcode, date and issue number
These are essential parts of information on a
magazine cover. However, they are always
small and are not usually bigger than the rest
of the elements on the magazine. This ensures
the readers attention is not taken away from
the main elements of the cover, such as the
main image, tag line, and title of the film.

8. Cover analysis
This is a magazine cover from Studio, which we found from doing our research. It is a woman's film magazine which
would be perfect to use for our own magazine cover to promote our film, since our target audience are 15-24 year old
females.
Masthead- This allows the audience to know that the
name of the magazine is Studio. Studio instantly
relates to film since films are shot in Studios. The title
is in block capitals and is bold, which would catch the
audiences eye instantly. Also, the grey is a fairly
neutral colour which doesn’t detract any attention
away from the rest of the features on the magazine.
The colour also complements the pink and white
colours as well.
Skyline- The pink relates well to the female
target audience. It also states it’s ‘Britain's
first woman's film magazine.’ This would
instantly attract the female audience since
they would not have had a magazine just
dedicated to them before, which may
intrigue them to buy it. It also tells the
reader it’s a film magazine, so film
enthusiasts will most likely buy it.
Main image- the main image centred in the
middle of the magazine is Amanda Seyfried
as herself, a popular actress who many
females can relate to and will likely be fans
of hers. She is looking straight into the
camera which would instantly engage the
reader and create a connection between the
character and audience. Readers who are big
fans of Amanda will instantly want to buy
the magazine as it suggests it will involve
details about her real life, on the outside of
the filming world, which would be
interesting for most readers.
The cover also includes the
magazines website which
allows the audience more
access to information from the
magazine. This will also attract
a wider target audience,
particularly younger females.
The anchorage text allows the
reader an insight into what else is
inside. The font and colours of the
writing also attracts the target
audience since it is feminine.
Buzz word- ‘exclusive.’ This will
entice the reader to buy the
magazine as it highlights how it is
a special edition and they may be
able to read information which is
fresh in the film world. It Is also
slightly larger than the other text
to make it stand out more.
The title- the title of the ,magazine is ‘The
Oscars’, which also relates it to films. Also, as
the Oscars is a major event, it may attract
more readers. As the magazine is mostly about
the Oscars, this is the largest text on the cover,
with white font which matches the background
and therefor creates a brand identity.