The document analyzes similarities in the design of 8 film magazine covers. All covers feature the magazine masthead prominently in red. The main image takes up the full frame and shows the main protagonist(s) hinting at the narrative. Genres are suggested through props like weapons or close-ups of faces. Colors like blue reference genres like sci-fi. Bold text and references to other films are used to attract readers. The film title is typically placed near or under the main image. Feature articles showcase other films to entice buyers. Recognizing these repeated patterns will help in designing effective promotional magazine covers.

1. FilmMagazine Front Cover Overview

2. The eight magazine front covers I have chosen have been designed to promote
successful films and to draw in the audience to buying and reading the magazine so
they learn more about the film. By analysing these front covers and comparing them
to each other, I have made it achievable to pick out similarities between them and to
establish repeated patterns.
All eight front covers feature regular film magazine conventions which we can quickly
recognise such as the fact that the masthead in all of the front covers is the largest
piece of text on the cover and sits at the top above the main image. In six of the eight
posters I have chosen, the masthead font colour is red which could have been used to
make the front cover stand out more or link to the fact that the films feature blood or
love. Plus, the fact that the main image takes up all of the frame in each front cover
and gives a hint to what the films narrative will include.
You can see other repeated patterns such as in all eight front covers I have chosen, the
main protagonist/s are featured in the main image. This is so that the audience will
instantly recognise the characters and therefore be more persuaded to buy the
magazine. The genre of the films are suggested on the magazine front cover as in The
Hunger Games and Terminator Genisys the audience are given a hint to the genre as
the characters have weapons in their hands which indicates that the genre is action
adventure. In Tron Legacy and Black Swan the camera shots are close ups of the
protagonists faces, this shows us that the films will most likely be centred on those
characters and their journeys. In three of the eight front covers a common use of the
camera is to have a long shot or medium long shot which shows some of the setting
too which may suggest that it is not just the protagonist who is important in the film
but also the situation they are in may affect their worlds as a whole.
You can identify similarities in the mise-en-scenefor these magazine front covers as in
seven of the eight front covers the character in the main images costume is black
which suggests that they have a dark personality and a dark past which will draw in
the audience as they will want to know the reason behind their mysterious
demeanour. Also on all of the magazines except Shutter Island theprotagonist is giving
direct address to the camera which makes it more personal for the audience and
makes it look as if they’re being directly targeted.
As well as this, you can pick out patterns in the colours chosen to feature on these
magazine front covers as in Tron Legacy, Shutter Island and Maleficent the colour blue
mainly appears around the main image which could link to the Science-Fiction, Fantasy
genre or to the fact that the tone of the film will be cold and detached. Whereas on
the other five front covers the colours white, black and grey are presented which could
indicate that in the films who the antagonist is, is not always clear so it could leave the
audience guessing or trying to find out what the mystery is.
There is a consistent pattern in the way which sell lines are used on the magazine front
covers as in all eight front covers I have chosen, they feature the names of other

3. successful films on them which is used as a technique to draw in a wider audience as if
they are not interested in the film advertised on the cover they might want to read
about another of the films promoted inside the magazine. Plus, on seven of the eight
covers there are bold skylines at the top of the magazines featuring statements like
THE WORLD’S BIGGEST MOVIE MAGAZINE or THE HITCHCOCK LEGACY and THE 3D
EVENT OF THE YEAR. These pieces of text are used attract the reader to the magazine
as it will get them excited about the articles that are shown inside the magazine and
could persuade them more to purchase it.
It is easy to see recurring patterns in the layout of the film magazine front covers as in
half of them, the actual name of the film advertised on the front is placed to the left
next to the main image which could represent that the main focus of the film is in the
main image so they have to sit side by side. In addition to this, on the other half of the
front covers I have chosen, the title of the film advertised is placed underneath the
main image. This could be because the magazine wants to draw in the audience first
then present them with the film’s name once they genuinely want to learn what the
image is promoting. These similarities could mean that it is conventional to place the
name of the film like this on a front cover.
In three of the eight magazine front covers, feature article photographs are laid out on
the cover either at the bottom of the cover or on the side. These are used to show
pictures of other films that will be featured inside the magazine which is effective
because the audience can see what other films they could read about and in turn
convince them to buy the magazine.
In conclusion, all of the film magazine front covers I have chosen are effective in
promoting the films on their front covers as many aspects will draw in a wider
audience who will want to find out more about the movie. When generating ideas and
starting my practical work I will take from this the many repeated patterns that are
used and will apply them to my own film magazine so that it can be successful in
advertising my film also.