This document provides an analysis of three film magazine covers and three film posters. For each cover/poster, it examines the color scheme, layout/design, images used, poses/styles, composition/framing, and written codes/language. Across the covers and posters, there are recurring techniques like using action poses, rule of thirds framing, and concise language to attract audiences. Color schemes generally include shades of red, blue, grey and white. Images are often close-ups of lead characters in dramatic situations. Text is routinely placed in the bottom third to frame and draw attention to the central visual elements.

1. TEXTUAL ANALYSIS FOR
ANCILLARY PRODUCTS
Rhiannon Jenkins

2. Film Magazine Cover Analysis

3. Film Magazine Cover Analysis
Colour: the colour scheme of this issue of
Empire is red, yellow, white and dark blue.
The dark blue serves as the background and
basis for the magazine cover, while the white
is used for most of the text. Yellow and red are
bold colours which connote energy so are
used to highlight important words such as the
masthead and taglines that will interest the
audience. Colourful inserts such as the little
star and yellow stripes, which connote danger
are used to add detail and depth to the cover.
Layout & Design: the font of the masthead is
bold and recognisable, meaning that if an
image were to be put on top of the masthead
the audience would still recognise the
magazine as Empire. The text is displayed in
one column on the left hand side, leaving two
thirds of the space left to show the main
image with a small box of text related to it.
There is also a small tagline along the bottom
with featured films.

4. Film Magazine Cover Analysis
Images: a main image of Harry Potter is
used to convey what the featured article of
the magazine is focused on. A smaller image
in the lower left hand corner shows
characters from other films that are featured.
All of the characters shown look as if they
are heading into action or are in the midst of
it as the audience will be attracted to the
most exciting parts of the film, as they enjoy
watching danger unfold from a safe
distance.
Pose, style, hair & make-up: the main
image of Harry Potter shows him looking
disheveled and covered in blood and dirt
with his glasses smashed which suggests he
has just been or is still involved in a battle
which is exciting and intriguing for an
audience. He is pictured looking serious and
not smiling which shows him as powerful
and older than he has looked before.

5. Film Magazine Cover Analysis
Composition and Framing: the main image
used is a mid-close up which is fairly intimate,
suggesting that by buying the magazine the
audience will get intricate details of the film and
characters. The rule of thirds is used to frame
the shot, meaning that the audience look
directly into his eyes. This rule also applies to
the text placement; with the masthead featured
in the top third of the cover and the bulk of the
text placed in the first third/left hand column.
Written Codes and Language: the words
“massive” and “special” imply that the issue is
important and not to be missed. The phrase
“bloody hell” is used as it is a common phrase
within Harry Potter, which is the main feature,
and because the audience is older it will appeal
to them as they won’t be offended by the use of
language and will understand what it means.
The language used is easy to read and is not
complex, meaning it appeals to everyone.

6. Film Magazine Cover Analysis
Colour: the colour scheme of this issue of
Empire is blue, white, red and gold. Blue is used
as the main background colour and white is
used for some of the text. Red and gold are
used as the main feature is Iron Man and these
are the colours of his costume. Unlike the first
issue, the colour white is used for the masthead
so it doesn’t stand out too much as people
already recognise it. Instead red is used to make
the titles of the films stand out to the audience.
Layout & Design: unlike the first issue of this
magazine that I analysed, the masthead is
actually pictured behind the image of the main
character as the magazine has become more
well known so people recognise Empire’s house
style. The masthead is shown at the top of the
page and the main part of the text is shown on
the left column of the front cover. Again there is
a small text box on the right side and another in
the left corner talking about other films that are
featured.

7. Film Magazine Cover Analysis
Images: the only image used is a picture of
Iron Man, the main character from the featured
film. The colours of his costume match the
colours used for some of the text on the cover
which keeps continuity. The background image
looks as if it is of the sky which fits the
character as his suit allows him to fly. Some
media theorists suggest that an image of a
single human will sell more copies than
multiple people which is why this image may
have been used.
Pose, style, hair & make-up: the character is
shown posing whilst holding his mask, allowing
the audience to see his face as besides being
a popular character, the actor himself is very
well known so will sell more copies of the
magazine. The character is shown looking
serious and the fiery embers around him
suggest that he is in the midst of action,
something that obviously appeals to the
audience.

8. Film Magazine Cover Analysis
Composition and Framing: The rule of thirds
allows the text to be placed within the most
appropriate columns which frames the image,
making it the centre of attention. Although the
image is a mid shot from the waist up, because
of it’s placement the audience’s eye line will be
directly drawn to the characters eyes, making
them feel more of a connection. It has also
been placed so that the masks’ eyes fall on one
of the lines, meaning that fans of this particular
movie will be drawn to the magazine cover.
Written Codes and Language: the written
codes and language on this cover mirror the
action-based atmosphere the magazine
portrays in it’s images. Words such as “action”,
“dark side” and “lethal weapon” are dangerous
and exciting, which attracts the audience as it
leaves enigma codes which makes them want
to read and discover the whole story. Again, the
language used is simplistic and in short, sharp
sentences which appeals to a wider audience.

9. Film Magazine Cover Analysis
Colour: the colour scheme for this issue is
grey, white, gold and red which is very similar
to the other two issues I have analysed. The
grey is used as the background and the white
is used for the majority of the text as it is easy
to read. Gold is used as it is a celebratory
issue for Star Wars and features important
film releases as it is the Christmas period.
Red is used to still connote excitement and
highlights important parts of the front cover.
Layout & Design: the font and position of the
masthead is the same as the previous issues
which continues the house style of the
magazine. It features a tag line along the
bottom much like the first cover I looked at,
yet much like the second cover, it uses the
colour white for the masthead as it does not
need to attract too much attention as
audiences are already familiar with the design.

10. Film Magazine Cover Analysis
Images: the four smaller images used are
all mid-close ups that show the characters
from the shoulders up. This allows them to
be easily framed off so that they do not
capture too much attention initially but do
after the reader has picked up the magazine.
The main image of Jennifer Lawrence as
Katniss is almost a mid-long shot which
shows that she is the main attraction on the
cover.
Pose, style, hair & make-up: The pose
Katniss is in shows her holding the bow,
which again seems to be a recurrent theme
of the magazine as it shows the characters
in the midst of action. The Male Gaze is
used slightly here as her clothes are fairly
tight fitting and she looks attractive, but still
does not completely break away from the
action-genre of the magazine as her hair is
tied back and she is very fresh-faced. The
clothes she is wearing match the colour
scheme of the cover.

11. Film Magazine Cover Analysis
Composition and Framing: unlike the other
two covers, this one has five separate pictures
showing different films. However, the rule of
thirds is still applied by using these four smaller
pictures to actually frame the main, most
important one. This rule is again use to draw
the audiences attention to the main characters
face and the masthead as well as the featured
title.
Written Codes and Language: this cover
features almost no words that aren’t an actors
name or the title of a film. This is so it appleals
to a wide audience of any form of intellect and
targets people by being concise and sharp with
the choice of words used. Unlike the other two
covers, this one has less emphasis on action
through language used, but still manages to
portray this up to an extent with the phrase
« Jennifer Lawrence catches fire in the hunger
games 2 », which, although made up almost
entirely of film names still connotes action.

12. Film Poster Analysis

13. Film Poster Analysis
The image takes up
the whole poster and
serves as the
background as well.
The close up of the
eye shows an image
inside which is very
mysterious as it is not
a normal image. The
image can also mean
many different things
to an audience e.g.
seeing yourself,
someone watching
you or even seeing
the future or past.
Featured actress’
name is featured at
the top, but not in too
noticeable a font.
Colour scheme of
black, grey, white and
beige. Looks
desaturated and could
have been edited
through a sepia filter.
Film title is in the bottom
third of the poster.
Billing block is at the
bottoms of the poster.

14. Film Poster Analysis
The original
backgrounds of
the images have
been taken away
and edited
together onto a
plain black
background.
Close up of
protagonists face in
the middle third.
Colour scheme is
black, white and
red with hints of
orange and blue.
Notable actor.
Red is used to
make the title
stand out.
All text is in the
bottom third of the
poster minus the
tagline.

15. Film Poster Analysis
Notable actors.
Close up of the
main protagonist
on the left third.
Tagline.
Similar to the Shutter
island trailer which uses
two images edited
together to convey
setting and character.
Critics’ comments.
Colour scheme is
sepia and is similar
to The Skeleton Key.
Uses the colours
beige, white, black
and yellow.
Most important text
is in the bottom
third of the poster.

16. Film Poster Analysis
Close up of
protagonists
face featured
in the left
hand third.
Much like the
previous two
posters there
is two images
edited
together and
stripped of
their original
background
to look more
menacing.
Notable actor.
Colour scheme
is sepia, using
black, white and
a dusty beige.
Tagline.
Text is in the bottom
third of the poster, much
like all of the others.