Magazine Influences
We decided to find some magazine influences for our own task. By using some from our trailer/poster influences and more, we found new ideas to use for our own magazine cover.
Since 'The Hunger Games' was one of our main influences, we decided to have a look at the magazine cover that features it. One of the interesting things about this magazine is the interactive inset images. They really differentiate this magazine from others, creating a unique 'Total Film' idea. Since most of this generation use mobile phones, the interactive images are contemporary and involve many age groups, especially teenagers (the demographic for 'The Hunger Games'). This is a clever idea and would be useful to find a modern way to involve our audience when we make our own magazine cover.
The alliteration is also appealing when reading this cover. 'DEATH! DESTRUCTION! DYSTOPIA!' stands out on the page. Using this language technique, the audience tend to be drawn to alliterative phrases and find it easier to remember, therefore, by using it the audience may read other text on the page rather than just the mast head or anchorage text.
The background colour really compliments the main image. The use of red, orange and yellow to create the fire effect is rather iconic; Jennifer Lawrence (the main image) is known as 'the girl on fire' within 'The Hunger Games'. The use of white for the font, helps it to stand out and doesn't over use the colour on the page.
The main puff on the page is extremely striking. Due to its size and the large red number '10', it is hard not to notice it. I'd like to have noticeable puffs on our own magazine, when we make it, to make other information stand out.
The main image, is used well. Since Jennifer Lawrence, is the main character within 'The Hunger Games', it is suitable to have her as the main focus. If other characters such as Liam Hemsworth or Josh Hutcherson were placed on the cover,, I'd feel that it would be too crowded due to the dominating colour background. Therefore I like how it is set out.
The sell lines are quite easy to notice. However, I think that yellow is a little over-done as the background is very vivid and dramatic already. I like the use of adjectives in the red boxes, such as, 'exclusive' and 'amazing' as it helps to emphasise the information that follows.
Things that influenced us:
1. Unique selling point- interactive inset images
2. Alliteration
3. Background colour and iconography
4. Striking puffs
Empire: Harry Potter
Once again, since we used Harry Potter as our poster influence, we decided to look at the magazine cover.
One of the main things we liked about this magazine cover is the group shot. Rather than just showing one character, it shows three. Most people will know Harry Potter, since this is promoting the last film, therefore, the characters are iconic in themselves.
One of the USP's of this magazine cover is the use of 'free' within the skyline/strapline and next to the inset images. By doing this, the audience feels they are getting more for their money, causing them tow ant to buy the magazine.
Due to Harry Potter's success, most people know the characters and story line. Therefore, the use of 'the perfect farewell', involves fans of the series, without discluding the rest of the audience. It would be useful if we could do something similar to this when we make our own magazine cover.
The background of this cover is a huge contrast in comparison to the 'Hunger Games' cover. Personally, I dislike the white background, however I can see why it may be used; the main characters stand out without a distracting background as they are the main focus.
The puff on this cover states, 'the world wanted'. This uses hyperbole to emphasise how popular it is. It also suggests that everyone else has this magazine and knows about it, causing the audience to feel as if they should have it too.
Things that influenced us:
1. More than one character as the main image
2. Using 'free' as a unique selling point
3. Hyperbole
Total Film: The Twilight Saga- New Moon
Since we decided that we liked magazine covers with more than one character on the front, we decided to look at the Twilight Saga New Moon magazine cover. One thing I really liked was the glow effect on 'FILM' and 'new moon'; it reflects the supernatural within the film and connotes to the glow of the moon. I liked the image of the three main characters as it hints towards the narrative (Bella is hiding behind Jacob and the narrative involves him trying to be with Bella, when Edward leaves.) I think the background colour works well as the blue is a calming colour and the black contrasts with the white font. The puffs don't work as well on this poster due to the colour being very similar to the background, causing it to blend in. The skyline/strapline is very catching as it is written in caps locks and says 'FREE' and 'GIANT', emphasising what the audience will get with this edition.
Things that influenced us:
1. More than one character as the main image
2. The contrasting colours and glow effect on the writing
3. Free poster as a way to attract the audience
Total Film: Sucker Punch
Since we really liked the group shots on the front of magazines, we decided to stay with these as influences. What I liked a lot about this magazine cover was the positioning of the characters. They have the main female in the middle with the other girls beginning to get further into the background in a diagonal formation from the centre. This highlights the main characters as they are in the foreground and I thought this may be a useful idea for our film if we have a large cast. Just like the Total Film: Hunger Games magazine, I liked the inset images as a reel at the bottom as it structures the page nicely to present the information. Although I liked the skyline/strapline 'free poster' on the other magazines, I also liked the idea of describing the magazine itself like this magazine does ('the modern guide to films'). The white font really stands out and contrasts with the green background. I liked the way the 'Film' looked eroded and cracked to compliment the genre of the film. I think the background is a good colour, using greens (a colour often associated with war/army) and orange to stand out, as it represents the narrative that involves fighting. The puffs really stand out on this magazine, due to the bright orange colour. I felt this would be a good idea to draw attention to other information. I also liked the position of the sell lines as it gives extra information when they reach the bottom of the page, influencing the audience to turn the page to find out more. I think the costume choice is interesting as the girls are not fully clothed, attracting the male gaze. Also, the costumes portray women in a powerful way also attracting females as well as males.
Things that influenced us:
1. The position of characters in the group shot
2. The colours to compliment the narrative and genre
3. The bright puffs
4. Describing the magazine in the strapline/skyline
5.The font
6. The position of the sell lines
Total Film: X-Men First Class:
We found that this magazine cover was similar to Total Film: Sucker Punch due to its positioning of the characters within the group shot. We liked this better as it had less characters but still kept the diagonal shape from the centre. The direct address also makes the tone of the magazine quite sinister and dark which we thought was an interesting use of the characters eye line. I really like how the colour of 'Film' matches the costumes with a shade of blue running as a theme. The skyline/strapline is clever as it states 'X-tra', using the title 'X-Men' to play on the words.Also other adjectives such as 'x-plosive,', 'x-trodianry' and 'x-clusive' all compliment the title of the film. We decided this may be useful to use in our own magazine cover. The sell lines are nicely set out at the bottom and are easy to read. This simple technique works well and presents the information clearly.
Things that influenced us:
1. Less characters and their position
2. The clever strapline/sjyline and adjectives
3. The simple sell lines
4. The colour of the mast head
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