What is a magazine cover?

What is a magazine cover?

Film magazines often use the cover to promote new film releases using the important actors/actresses as the main image. They have many codes and conventions to target different demographics and portray many genres of film.

Codes and Conventions:

Mast Head:

The Mast Head is the title of the magazine. Magazines often use names associated with film and theatre such as  as 'Premiere' and 'Total Film'. On the other hand, magazines such as 'Empire' use  powerful names rather than a direct link with film. Usually, the mast head is the largest copy on the magazine cover; it attracts usual consumers and new buyers. The font and size tends to stay the same but the colour and placement (foreground/background) can differ depending on the film they are promoting. For instance, the 'Salt' and 'Star Trek' cover changed the mast head's position and colour even though they are both for the magazine 'Total Film'.

I find both Mast Head's effective in their own way. The left cover is bright and uses a smashed effect to represent the genre of the film. However, the cover on the right is bold and stands out in contrast to the black and white image.




Direct address:

Often film magazines use direct address. This means that the main image of the actors/actresses are looking at the audience. Usually, this is to involve the audience as it appears that the actors are looking at the buyers; this can help to persuade the audience to buy the magazine. Here is an example:

Chris Evans uses Direct address within this magazine poster. The magazine is trying to promote the film 'Captain America' and by using direct address the audience is involved. 

Puff:
Puffs are small shapes (usually circles) that hold information on the page; magazine covers use puffs to promote other information or to make things stand out. For instance, they make have text such as 'FREE POSTER INSIDE' or 'See pg 9 for exclusive interviews'.  This helps to draw the audience's attention to the puffs on the page and to USP's of the magazine.

Skyline/Strapline:

The skyline/strapline is text located at the top of the magazine. The text can differ from things such as 'FREE POSTER INSIDE' to information about the magazine. People often read in a 'Z' formation so the title and skyline/strapline will be the first thing the audience reads. therefore, the strapline/skyline has to be catching and help to promote the magazine.

Here are two examples:

This magazine cover uses a USP and states, 'FREE GIANT IRON MAN POSTER!'. The colour stands out as purple and yellow contrast on the colour wheel and the word 'FREE' is well used to attract customers. The use of the adjective 'giant' also helps the magazine to sell itself as it exaggerates the size.

This cover uses the skyline/strapline, 'THE MARVEL MOVIE ISSUE'. By using alliteration, the sentence already appears catchy and memorable. Also, because it is a 'MARVEL MOVIE ISSUE', the magazine seems exclusive and unique. This will include collectors as they will want to buy the 'one off' issue, fans of the comics and films and new customers too. This skyline/strapline is effective as it involves different demographics and stands out.






Date/Issue number/ Price:
Usually, the date and issue number are  shown in the same place on the magazine whereas the price is often located next to the bar code. The date is always shown on a magazine cover to show when the magazine is released. The issue number tends to be next to the date to allow collectors or new buyers to know the issue.The price has to be on the front of the magazine, so the consumers know how much to pay. These three small but important features are generic of any magazine cover, not just film.

Example:

Above the letter 'M', is the date and issue number is shown. Since it is minor information, the font tends to be rather small and hidden away.

Bar code:
The bar code is usually on the front of a magazine cover to show the price and make the magazine available to buy. It tends to be well placed so it doesn't distract the audience from the main image and puffs on the cover.

Sell Lines

The sell lines on a magazine are other text on the page that aren't the skyline/strapline, title or mast head. These give extra information about what the magazine contains. This is useful as it attracts people who are interested in other films, genres and actors/actresses.

Here is an example:

This magazine cover uses a few sell lines. It uses one word exclamative sentences to draw attention to them ('SNEAKY!' and 'EXTRA!). Below the words is information about what is inside the magazine; this is a nice idea as the large words make the audience want to read what is underneath.












Main image and inset images:
The main image is the large central photo on the magazine cover. The image is associated with the main film that is being promoted by the magazine,and tends to use direct address. The 'Hobbit' uses the main character Bilbo as the main image, focusing on the central actor of the film. This makes it recognisable and helps to promote the film.

Inset images are other images on the page aside from the main picture. These could be used to promote other films that are shown in more depth within the magazine, or they could be other images from the main film focus. For example, the magazine cover below uses 'The Hobbit' as its main image, but uses different films as its inset images. This includes the audience of other film genres and makes the magazine appear to be more exciting with more films to showcase.

Iconography:

Just like trailers and posters, magazine covers can also use iconography. This is to include fans of the film and intrigue new customers. For example, the 'Empire' magazine below uses bullet holes to represent the iconography within the 'James Bond' films. Most people associate guns with the well- known films so by using the shattered glass effect, the audience will understand why this is done. It makes the magazine cover look different to others and helps to promote the film.

Anchorage text:

Anchorage text is written copy placed towards the bottom of the page. It tends to be the title of the main film to attract people interested within the film or who want to know more about it. For example, the magazine cover below states, 'Inception'. It is bold, clear and overlaps the main image, this helps it to stand out, making it clear for the customer to know what the magazine is promoting.

Two types of magazine covers:

Unsubscribed- The unsubscribed version has to use most conventions such as puffs and sell lines as it is trying to attract an audience. The unsubscribed version will be sold in shops to target many demographics.

Subscribed- The subscribed version does not use conventions such s puffs as the audience have already subscribed to buy the magazine. Therefore, the magazine does not have to sell itself. 

                                    Unsubscribed on the left          Subscribed on the right