The document provides details on the typical conventions and features used on magazine front covers. It discusses the purpose of the front cover being to attract readers and entice them to purchase the magazine. Key elements typically included on covers are the masthead, main image, anchorage text, buzz words, taglines, and banners. These elements are used to showcase what content is inside and draw readers in. The document also examines specific examples of movie magazine covers, analyzing how effectively the different features are implemented in each case.

1. Magazine Analysis

2. Purpose of the Front cover…
The main purpose of the front cover is to draw and attract the
audience in closer. The audience may see the magazine on a shelf
and want to take a closer look depending on how well the front
cover has achieved its conventions. The model, colour, and font
are all things that will catch the audiences eye; the text and what
the magazine includes, is what persuades the audience to then
open the magazine to read it. So to summarise, the front cover is
extremely important, as it is the main selling point to get the
audience to purchase it, by briefly showing what it will include.

3. Conventions of a front cover…
Image: The image is probably the most important feature of the front cover, because it is what stands out to the
audience. The image will consist of the main character of the film (tends to have the most fame) so that the
audience is drawn into looking at their picture. The image tens to be a midshot which portrays the type of role
the character plays within the new film they will be in.
Masthead: This will traditionally be placed at the top of the page, and shows the name of the magazine. It tends
to be the largest text on the page as it is what draws the target audience in. For example 'Empire', would need
to be seen clearly so that the target audience who are interested in films will be able to familiarise themselves
with it. It also sells the magazine, as well established magazines already have an audience to rely on.
Anchorage text: This text is over the image and tends to make a statement. It could involve a quote of what the
actor has said about the film or a sentence letting the audience know a bit about what will be featured in the
magazine. It's function is to pull the audience's interest even more so that they would want to read the
magazine and be interested in the film.
Buzz word: The buzz word will consist of the words 'Free' and 'Exclusive', which focuses on showing the
audience that they will be seeing something special and exclusive which influences them to purchase the
magazine.
Banner: This gives information about what the magazine will include and be about. It further interests the
audience.
Taglines: These involve short subheadings with a couple words as a description, to let the audience know on
some of the topics that will come up in the magazine. It gives a teaser to the audience as it draws them in to
wanting to read further.

4. Masthead:
‘Total Film’ is the name
of the company who
owns this magazine. It is
written in white large font
to stand out in
comparison to the dark
image. The target
audience will be able to
relate to the masthead of
knowing what type of
magazines they produce,
and they will be keen on
buying it if they are
regular customers to this
type. The masthead also
includes a small feature
where synergy is used to
advertise their own
website, which could
possibly lead to more
insight into the film being
featured.

5. Anchorage text:
The anchorage text
stands out, due to the
size of the text. It gives
information to the
audience about the
films name and a hint
of what it consists off.
For example beneath
the name of the film,
‘The summers darkest
block buster’ is written;
the words block buster
draw the audience in as
it already informs them
that the film must be
good.

6. Image:
The main image includes two men
who are the main characters in the
film. One is holding a gun pointing
towards the audience which shows
direct contact. The effect of this
shows he has the control and is
luring the audience in to the film.
The other man is turned to the side
which shows he isn't as interested
as he looks as if he is walking away.
It may suggest what his character is
like. They are positioned over the
Masthead which signifies that they
have more importance over the
magazine. They are seen as the
selling point rather than the name of
the magazine.

7. Buzzword:
The Buzzword here is
‘World Exclusive’ which
is written in white, the
same as the masthead
which means it needs to
stand out. Even though it
is small, it is on top of a
red larger text which
means that it will be
recognised and read. It
draws the audience into
believing they will come
across something that
wont be seen anywhere
else.

8. Taglines:
The taglines differentiate
whilst still staying on the
topic of relating to films.
One tagline includes
informing the audience on
‘Christian Bale’s interview.
This is common as
magazines usually feature
an interview with someone
who is rising in fame.
Another tagline mentions
about the film ‘Angels &
Demons’; magazines
usually advertise more
than one film to attract a
larger audience.

9. Banner:
The banner is written in red
which doesn't stand out in
comparison to the white text
beneath it, however once the
audience views it more closer
they can see what topic will be
featured in the magazine. It
informs the audience whilst
drawing them in to wanting to
read more about the ‘3D
special’.

10. Masthead:
The masthead is written in
large font and has a 3D
effect to it. It’s quite
confusing with the design,
but has been used in a
creative way to promote and
show off what the film
Inception is really about. It
will make the audience
wonder as to why everything
is either upside down or in a
abstract way. The magazine
companies name is relatable
and the target audience for
the magazine will be
intrigued, however from far i
doesn't stand out enough to
draw the audiences
attention from a distance.

11. Buzz word:
The buzzword here is
stated in a silver circle,
this allows it to stand
out and be separated
from the rest of the
text.

12. Image:
The main image used is
of Leonardo Dicaprio. He
is the selling point over
here as he is on the front
cover and is a well
respected actor. He does
not give direct address
and seems to be holding
a weapon looking the
other way. This shows
his direct attention is not
on the audience. This
could be slightly negative
as he isn't drawing the
audience in by giving
them that importance.
Also, there are shadows
on his face which makes
it slightly harder to
recognise him. This all
could be part of the mise
en sene for the film
however it effects the
magazine as it does not
fully draw the audience
in.

13. Taglines:
There are a few tagline on
this magazine cover, they all
involve introducing the topic
or rather film being featured.
One tagline written in red
states ‘First looks!’, which
draws the audiences attention
by making them believe that
within this magazine they will
discover something no one
else knows about yet. The
tagline's will mention films
within a particular genre, for
example ‘Immortals, let me in
and thor’ will feature in the
action thriller genre. Where
as the ‘clash of the titans and
toy story’ films will be
featured in the cartoon
category.

14. Anchorage text:
The text is written in
great and over laps the
main image. It stands
out due to its size, and
informs the audience on
the name of the film.
Beneath it is written
‘Inside the ultimate head
trip’ which further
connotes the narrative
of the film as it is all to
do with the mind and
illusions.

15. Banner:
The banner is written in
red to stand out in
comparison to the
complex pattern and
colours of the main
image. The words used
are ‘Mind-blowing’ which
not only interests the
audience, but also relates
to the whole topic of the
magazine, as it is all
about the mind.

16. Masthead:
The Masthead is written
in large white font in
order for t to stand out.
The Font remains the
same as it is part of the
conventions of this
magazine. Also, the
masthead appears
behind the main image
which shows that it is of
less importance in
comparison to the main
image. It takes up a third
of the page with its size;
this is so that it is seen
from far, helping it to
stand out and create its
impact with the
reputation of this
popular, well known
magazine. The colour of
the magazine further
allows it to stand out in
comparison to the dark
colours used on here.

17. Buzz word:
The buzz word on here
features in a circle
made with small blue
stars. This is a
common feature used
in the Total Film
magazines. It states
‘The worlds best movie
reviews’ which makes
the audience feel the
desperate need to buy
this magazine due to
fact that it is ‘the
worlds best’

18. Main image:
The main image
consists of Angelina
Jolie dressed as
Maleficent. This
magazine editing is then
clear to be promoting
and featuring this film.
Her importance shows,
as she is positioned over
the masthead. She had
been made to look
extremely white, just as
the masthead is, in order
for her to look un human
and connote the film
genre. She gives direct
eye contact to the
audience which shows
she gives the
importance to the
audience, however her
pose makes it look as if
she is piercing at them,
possible connoting she
is evil.

19. Taglines:
The tagline in this
magazine edition do not
follow the traditional ones
of total film magazines.
They seem to be in
different locations as
supposed to being near
one another. For example,
‘Godzilla’ in positioned in
large writing on the left,
where as the ‘28 biggest
blockbusters’ are on the
right in a a blue circle
(similar to how a buzz
word should look. Also, the
tagline for Avengers:Age of
Ultron, in at the bottom of
the page, completely away
from the other tagline’s.
This is a new style;
something I Haven't seen a
lot of, which makes me
question wether it works
well or not.

20. Anchorage text:
The Anchorage text
positions in the middle
of the page in large
white and blue font. It is
positioned in the middle
to show the importance
and emphasis to the
audience what it is
saying. The fact that it
is an ‘Epic Blockbuster
Issue’, shows the
significance of it
including the best
blockbuster films. Also
the yellow framing
bellow contributes to
the film theme of it
looking like a film tape.

21. Banner:
The banner is
positioned at the at
the top of the page
as it usually is on
magazine overs. It
follows the same
font and colours for
the anchorage text,
which works well.
Beside it mentions
‘Free the amazing
spiderman 2 gifts’
which is boxed off
in red; this attracts
the audiences
attention with using
a vibrant colour
against the ice blue
tones.

22. Masthead:
The masthead on
this issue follows
again, the same
conventions of the
other magazines; it
is white, has the
same font and is the
same size. It is
behind the actors on
the page which
shows they are of
more significance,
however the
reputation of the
magazine allows for
it to stand out. The
white colour
contrasts with the
red tones on the
magazine cover
which is useful is
getting the attention.

23. Buzz word:
The buzz word on here
features in a circle which is a
common theme used; i
must criticise that it doesn't
stand out as much, as it has
not been highlighted with
any colours that stand out.
The colour is white, but
made small and thin which
does not allow it to be
emphasised as much as it
could. This could be
explained however that it
isn't the most interesting
feature of the magazine,
therefore it shouldn't be over
emphasised.

24. Main Image:
The main image consists of
3 characters as supposed
to 1. This means they
cannot be so close up to
the audience as they need
to fit equally in the frame.
The two men do not give
direct eye contact which
suggests that they are of
more importance than us,
whereas the woman looks
discreetly at us. One of the
men and the woman have
been positioned to be
behind the main actor at
the front which again
represents the hierarchal
status. Also, they look as if
their are a lot of shadow’s
placed on them, this
suggests the genre of the
film and magazine will be
dark and gory perhaps.

25. Taglines:
The tagline again on
this magazine edition,
features the tagline’s
to be placed at the top
of the page as well as
the bottom, this shows
that this convention is
always changing. The
magazine seems to
feature films that
belong to the same
genre; Action-hero
ones. However the
way the tagline are
positioned are, I don't
think TotalFilm have
given the most
importance ot the
tagline as they do not
stand out.

26. Anchorage text:
The anchorage text is
given the most
significance and
importance on this issue,
due to it being centred
as well as being the
second largest text on
the page. It stats ‘sin
city: A dame to kill kicks
off the 10 coolest movies
coming your way’, this
suggests that the
magazine will includes
films that have not been
released yet, so that the
audience can get an
inside view. The colour
of this font consists of rd
and silver, which fits in
well with the rest of the
colour theme.

27. Banner:
The banner on this
page is not
emphasised a lot and
to be honest, does
not seem very
relevant. It consists of
‘Comic-book cool’
which doesn't have
much significance.

28. Key Features that I can
use…
From each magazine I have picked
out relevant features they include
that I can use on my Magazine. The
reason I have chosen these specific
features is because I feel it is unique
to the TotalFilm brand; for example
‘The worlds best movie reviews’ is
iconic to the brand. Also, the film
tape effects is cool to use to further
connote the magazine being a film
review magazine. In addition the
free gift included in one magazine
could be a possible feature I include.