MAGAZINE

COVERS

MainstreamFilm

Magazines

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

Independent Film

Magazines

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

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