The document compares conventions of mainstream and independent film magazine covers. Mainstream magazines typically feature a bold title, character not actor as the central image, and background relating to the featured film. They contain many small images and text. Independent magazine covers usually have little text, spotlight or blurred background, and feature the actor not character as the focal point with little color other than the title. Both commonly include a banner indicating the issue and information around the central image of an actor/character looking at the reader related to the main topic.

1. MAGAZINE
COVERS

2. Mainstream
Film
Magazines

3. Conventions of a mainstream
film magazine front cover
Bold title
The character
on the
front, not the
actor
Small pictures of other
things that are in the
magazine
Background refers to the film:
• Empire  Public Enemies – burred
background with smoke from ‘Tommy
gun’ to highlight it’s set in the past.
• Empire  Inception – perspective
background, writing angles to point in
the background.
• Total Film  Captain America –
American themed
background, patriotic film and relates
to the film as the image in the
background is a shield which he uses.
• Total Film  Star Trek – black and
white background, a touch to the past
as the films are remakes.
A lot of text around
the central image

4. Independent
Film
Magazines

5. Conventions of an independent
film magazine front cover
Little text around
the central image
Simple background:
• Sight and Sound  Michael Fassbender
– spotlight with black and grey colour.
• Sight and Sound  Clint Eastwood –
spotlight, black and grey to match the
picture of him being in black and white.
• Sight and Sound – Sofia Coppola – light
grey background, making it more
feminine compared to the others.
• Filmmaker  Kate Winslet – dark
background, spotlight of grey.
• Filmmaker  Ryan Coogler –
spotlight, black and grey.
• Filmmaker  James Franco – blurred
background, hints of brown.
The actor not the
character as the
focal point
Little colour –
mainly on the title
of the magazine
Simple front cover
– not complicated

6. What goes on the majority of
film magazine covers
Banner defying the
issue
Information
surrounding
the central
image
Actor/character as
the large image.
Usually looking
directly at the
reader
Main topic in
the magazine