ANCILLARY PRODUCTSTHE CONVENTIONS OF MAGAZINE COVERS

AND FILM POSTERS

TAGLINE

TITLE• Second focal point of the

poster• Largest text on the page• Usually an interesting

font that hints towards the films genre

• Short simple sentence that hints towards both the films genre and narrative

• Often a play on words

IMAGE• Focal point of the trailer• Hints towards the genre

and narrative of the film• Uses Photoshop or rule

of thirds to captivate the audience

CREDITS• All posters use the

following font, creating a universal way of recognising a movie poster

• Shows information which is important but doesn’t relate to the narrative of the film, such as: the distribution company, the production company, the main actors, producers, executive producers, etc.

OTHER• Release date/coming soon• Website• Logo of distribution and

production companies• Age restriction

CONVENTIONS OF A FILM POSTER

Title contrasts against greens and greys, title and credits take up 1/3 of image such as with conventional film posters

Mid shot of couple with a ring suggests romantic genreThe prop also gives an insight into the narrative of the film

Tagline uses conventional ‘romantic’ language such as ‘propose’ and ‘boyfriend’ to suggest films genre

Names of main actors, usually with a fan following, used to appeal to a larger audience

Direct mode of address invites the audience in, creates interest and appeal

Colour green used to hint towards the narrative, as the leap year proposal is an Irish tradition

Tagline gives evidence into films narrative and introduces main characters

Image uses rule of thirds to create appealContrast of the woman and man in colour also does this

Uses stereotypical ‘romantic colours’, such as baby pink and light blue

Tagline is used to create anchorage with the atmosphere of the image, using the word ‘die’ suggests that is a horror movie

Image uses rile of thirds, with the characters filling 2/3 of the poster. Image of the girl winking creates anchorage between the image and the tagline

Actors’ names, again to appeal to a wider audience

Uses director’s previous films of the same genre to appeal to a wider audience

The title hints towards narrative of the movie, uses a cliché phrase which sticks in the audiences mindTagline is also hints towards the cliché ‘in the blink of an eye’, and the image of the film shows a wink, hinting towards the films narrative

BANNERS

BUZZ WORDS• Words such as ‘free’ and

‘plus’ to entice the reader

• The same/extremely similar every issue to maintain the magazine’s house style

MASTHEAD

• Main sell line creates anchorage to the image, both of which are usually the main article in the issue

• Other sell lines feature different articles in the magazine to appeal to a larger audience

IMAGE• Relates to the main article

in the magazine• Usually uses the rule of

thirds in order to grab the readers attention

• Uses a direct mode of address to draw readers in

OTHER• Barcode/Price• Publisher• Issue Number• Website

SELL LINES

• Shows more that the what the magazine has to offer

CONVENTIONS OF A MAGAZINE COVER

Uses the traditional house style of the magazine’s masthead, covered partly by the head of the male in the image, suggesting his importance in the magazine

Image uses the rule of thirds, places her in the middle of the page suggesting her importance in this issueCostume connotes to the age of the target audience as well as the narrative of the movie, and blood on her hands suggest that the genre of the film may he horror

Shows article and creates anchorage to image of magazinesIntroduces names of actors first to indicate that the cast is the focus for the articlePuts name of film in inverted commas so that audience know the filmUses the buzzword ‘new’ to create a hype

Largest sell line, indicating that this is the main selling point of the issue after the Romeo and Juliet articleUses field specific lexis such as ‘starring’ to appeal to film fans, and features other film stars to appeal to a wider audience

Small banner featuring names of other film stars in order to appeal to a wider audience

Uses a conventional romantic pose, the female clinging onto the male with his arm draped casually over her.

Colour red on the woman to create connotations of desire and lust

Small banner to appeal to a larger audience

The strong yellow and large font connote the importance of the article, and introduces the film

Second largest sell line shows the next most important article in the magazine, and uses the buzz word ‘ultimate’ to create a buzz and feeling of urgency to buy the issue.

Image is the traditional ‘man protecting the woman pose’, she is wearing white to connote innocence and create the stereotypical ‘damsel in distress’ role

Masthead is traditionally large and its white colour contrasts heavily with the black background

Smaller than the sell line is the sentence introducing it, and the fact that it is in a question creates a direct mode of address for the reader

Uses field specific lexis such as ‘starring’ to appeal to film fans, and features other film stars to appeal to a wider audience