Film Magazine Cover Influences

I have selected some film magazine covers based on their visual nature rather than their genre. Our genre is technically a 'teen apocalypse' but this genre isn't very common, especially for magazine covers. If they are featured on a front cover it's often a single character functioning to sell the film, but our idea will feature a lot more main characters that we want to use on the magazine cover. This is why we have mainly looked at groups.

TOTAL FILM: X-MEN First Class
This 'Total Film' poster strongly influences us in term of character composition. I like how the four characters fit on the cover, leaving no space around them as this creates a maximised and fuller effect, catching the viewers attention. I also like the low angle because it adds a sense of power in the image, strengthened by the direct address, also encouraging the demographic to pick up a copy. The two males are in the centre, leaving the females on the outside- contextually, the demographic is generally male orientated and this can function to draw the males attention in and then lead their eyes to the center where the anchorage text is placed. The two females are separated which in a sense, adds a balance. It also reinforces the 'Bechdel test' as the women's visual relationship suggests they are isolated, and the woman's breasts on the right side are visible, in order to attract 'the male gaze'. This marketing tool has been spotted very frequently in popular texts like 'The avengers' poster and is criticised for it degrade towards women, so in our magazine cover we shouldn't conform to that idea, I think. Their pose appears strong and can reflect the film to be action packed and emotional, as their stance forms a sort of barrier.

I like the overall cold blue/metalic background colour because it's also iconic of the sci-fi genre, while the anchorage text, sell lines and puff are orange which contrasts with the blue to be conspicuous and catch eyes. I like the simple colour-scheme of blue/orange/white as it appears professionally crafted for that effect on the viewer- something we would like to reproduce. And finally, I feel influenced by the different puffs on the cover: the plus sign and stars forming a circle, they are conventional and professional-looking. But I think the barcose should be smaller and more in a corner so it doesn't make the cover look too unattractive.

Here's a video source explaining the 'Bechdel test'

EMPIRE: Watchmen

In looking at yet another superhero front cover, I found that the covers are often tailored to suit the anchor image. For example, the use of primary colours helps connote a comic feel to the magazine which helps attract the demographics attention and especially fans of the superhero genre- stereotypically a younger audience who may go out more than a mature audience who might subscribe instead. Furthermore, the yellow anchorage text stands out mostly, which is helped by the complementary background colour of purple. The purple helps add a villainous sense to the cover because it is dark and associated to other villain characters in comics. The iconic and cartoon-like splatter of blood helps encourage this idea and suggests violence which can be seen as a selling point for the film because people like action films. 

I thought the sell lines, references and skyline were also influential to a degree. The language used ''First look' indicates to me what kinds of things we should be saying, as well as other field specific lexis like 'film-review on page...' and 'interview with the cast of...' as those phrases are what bring the viewer deeper in because it invites them to look inside and become hooked on the contents. Saying things like 'first look' makes the magazine seem very up to date and exclusive which is appealing to any audience, considering the other film-magazine competition to sell the magazine. This idea is further supported by journalese 'The years most essential exclusive' which exaggerates the magazines appearance in order to make it seem more important than it is. Words like 'most' and 'best' give the magazine a confident boost above others, so the audience believe how great and packed the magazine is, and buy it. The fact there isnt a rectangle box forming a skyline, I think is effective because it takes away that chunky effect and makes the cover more intergrated and interesting. There are already random shapes functioning as puffs that kind of disrupt the cover in a way, I think if there are even more shapes, it begins to look slightly unprofessional- so I will push forward this idea when I discuss plans with my group, in reproducing this Empire look. 

I also like the range of film references in the sell lines, from 'Bruno' to 'Transformers 2' shows the different genres of films which appeals to a wide audience- I will ensure we do the same on our magazine cover.

TOTAL FILM: The Hunger Games

This cover from 'Total Film' looks at one of our trailer influences, so through using this text I can see how effective synergy is for The Hunger Games. The iconic fire behind the main subject/anchor image has been used again in representing the film. The fire is present in both the poster and trailer and probably more media products, allowing them to compliment each other as well a become established as a recognisable up in coming movie. The strong use of synergy between these products will advertise the film better to the demographic and will make the presence of fire and the mockingjay even more iconic, tied to both the film and Katniss. I like how the oranges and reds reflect the fiery battle that is the Hunger Games, so I would like certain colours to reflect our film too. Since it might be compared to The Hunger Games to an extent, it would be best if we distributed our film with another colour like green or blue to show how it is different, while connoting different emotions from those colours too. 

I especially like the strap-line at the bottom because of the use of inset images, it has more visual appeal and quickly informs the reader of the contents without having to read it (as there are often lots of words and sell lines all over it can be overwhelming). This is an image of the 'interactive issue' which is the magazine distributed online. As you can see the play icons on the inset images, allowing the audience to watch clips, bringing the magazine to a whole new level, but this seems like it could be achieved on just any website or blog. 

The anchor text as part of the main title 'The Hunger Games' adds an alliterative description 'Death! Destruction! Dystopia!' adds a ring to the presentation which helps sell the film and magazine. 

Finally, I like the plus sign puff and the main circle puff with a ring in it, as they look more interesting and bold. I want a strap-line like on this cover, and so I think it would also be good to use the plus sign puff here too, to add a range and still communicate what's inside in lots of areas of the magazine cover. On the main puff, I like the idea of have a 'top ten' sort of sell line because it tells the audience that there are loads of films, all just in one article. 

EMPIRE: Captain American
This subscriber version differs from the retail version in terms of the anchorage because there are two characters added to either side of the clear main protagonist. Although Captain America's pose is strong, powerful and direct to the audience through direct address and centre positioning, the other male character, who is a villain, may be behind him, but he a shoulder higher than him, making them the same height, showing the equal battle between them. The fact CA has his back to the villains can suggest that he doesn't see them coming. At the same time, for people who don't know much about Captain America, the group shot might establish them as a team, especially since both males have a star on their shoulder. However, their guns can indicate their villainous roles due to the negative associations with crime and violence. And it's Captain Americas job to protect society, shown by his grip to his unharmed shield. 

The limited colour scheme of red, blue and chrome supports the films iconography of comic books, patriotic America and the need for defense.  The use of metallic colours also show that the film will be more action packed and military-like, also reflected in the films title 'the winter soldier'. This monochromic feel allows the masthead to brightly shine, although it is overlapped by heads and a puff, it shows that the magazine is already very established and recognised that it doesn't need to be untouched to be noticed.

In conclusion, the group shots often only slight reflect the films content, to subtly suggest the relationship through height and composition. I want to reflect the character relationships because their pose might look interesting rather than conventional.