Conventions of Film Magazine Covers

Eye Catching

• The front cover is what first draws attention to audiences, so it must do this well and capture the buyer’s interest.

Masthead

• Otherwise known as the name of the magazine, the masthead will be clear and impressive.

House Style/Graphics

• The house style is the colours and fonts commonly used throughout the magazine – most magazines tend to have a set colour scheme which helps to identify it.

• Graphics are used to highlight special news or offers

Additional Information

• Additional information such as the price, barcode and date are usually found together

• They will be small as to not draw attention away from the main focus of the cover, but big enough to read

Subheadings

• Subheadings advertise the main features that can be found inside the magazine

• Important parts of these headings may be in bold or a different colour to stand out

Famous people

• Most film magazines will have a famous icon or person on the cover, again to attract attention

‘Total Film’ Cover Analysis

• Masthead is set behind the cover image, suggesting that the magazine is well known enough for it to be unnecessary for the masthead to be totally visible

• There is a house style of orange and white – orange is used to highlight things, for example the advertisement for ‘FREE GIANT POSTERS’

• The masthead is colour similarly to the background of the image, therefore integrating the image better into the cover

• Price, date and barcode are small and don’t divert attention from the focus

• Graphics – there is a small circle graphic on which the spiderman image is set to make it stand out more. The graphic is aligned behind the actor in the image in order to integrate the image

• The main image is the same image on a film poster for the movie, featuring recognisable actors, thus drawing interest

• There aren’t many subheadings, but the ones there are short and informative to draw people in

• There are mini images of the posters featured inside which would appeal to potential buyers

• The main heading has been edited similar to the masthead, again making it stand out

‘Empire’ Cover Analysis

• Masthead is set over the cover image, perhaps suggesting it isn’t as well known as the previous cover from ‘Total Film’ as it has to be entirely visible

• There is a house style of red, white and yellow/orange, however there does not seem to be a colour for highlighting things, they seem to be alternated randomly

• Graphics – there does not appear to be any graphics

• The main image has been taken from the movie and is of a recognised actor, attracting interest

• There is a second image in the corner of a secondary article, thus appealing to two audiences

• Price, date and barcode are small and don’t divert attention from the focus

• There are many subheadings advertising the contents of the magazine

• The fonts are all variations of the same one, further enforcing a house style

• The background is dark, making the text and image more aesthetically appealing

‘Premiere’ Cover Analysis

• Masthead is set over the cover image, perhaps suggesting it isn’t as well known as the cover from ‘Total Film’ as it has to be entirely visible

• There is a house style of black and yellow, with the yellow being used both as an alternating colour and also to highlight information

• Graphics – there does not appear to be any graphics

• The main image is of a recognised actor, who is in a humorous pose, which may or may not be relating to a movie

• There is no other images on this cover, which illustrates the importance or popularity of the featured actor

• Price, date and barcode are small and don’t divert attention from the focus

• Like previous covers, there are many subheadings advertising the contents of the magazine

• The fonts are all variations of the same one, further enforcing a house style, apart from the masthead which is different in order to stand out

• The background is pale and on a slight gradient. It does not distract from the contents on the cover