This document provides guidelines for designing effective magazine covers to promote horror films. It discusses conventions like placing the masthead, film title, cover lines and other elements. Specifically, it recommends using striking images of masked villains that stand out and draw the eye, catchy taglines and banners that entice readers, and a color palette that reinforces the horror theme. Overall, the document stresses the importance of visually engaging covers that follow industry standards while still standing out from other magazines on shelves.

1. How Effective Is
The Combination Of Your Main
Product & Ancillary Texts?

2. Comparison To Industry
Standard
I created a tagline for The title is not as
my poster as it is a simple as the ‘Friday
conventional tool used to the 13th’ title as I
lead the audience to the felt that the horror
title. My tagline theme should be
incorporates a rhetorical established through
device where I directly the title as titles
address the audience as are very important.
to who they believe will The font style and
have ‘The Last Laugh’. effects on the font
This involvement could makes my poster stand
have been heightened if I out especially for
listed the website, audiences who will see
Facebook and Twitter the poster in cinemas
websites on the poster. and will instantly
However, as I have distinguish it from a
already created Twitter psychological or
and Facebook pages to zombie horror film,
market my trailer and for example.
ancillary texts, I will
use the social platform
The date is also placed at the bottom of the
to receive feedback about
poster. My film will be releasing on January the
how I could improve my
13th, I decided this date as it was a Friday and
products.
Friday the 13th is notorious for the superstitious
beliefs it is tied around. This date will add to
The credits are placed at the horror atmosphere thus making my film
the bottom of the poster attractive to my target audience who are keen
which is a convention for horror film viewers.
all posters.

3. The Tagline The Image
The tagline ‘Welcome To Crystal The low angle long shot image of the masked
Lake’ is a jovial warm invitation villain is effective in depicting his
which serves to inform the audience power. The mask is hidden by the shadows
that the film is set near a lake. which makes it frightening for the audience
It is a direct address to the through the fear of the unknown. The mask
audience members. It is placed at is a conventional paradigm which invites
the top of the poster and is audience members to view the film in order
visible through the colour white to find out who is behind it. The deathly
which makes it stand out. The chainsaw weapon highlights the sadistic
audience recognise that the calm, nature of the villain and it is a weapon
tranquillity of the lake will be more effective than a gun for instance as
tainted by the sadistic acts of the it allows personal contact and it
villain. penetrates inside the skin. It conforms to
The Extra Strapline Clover’s theory as when the Final Girl uses
Knowing that the film is ‘From the this weapon in her final combat with the
producers of ‘The Texas Chainsaw villain, she displays her masculine traits.
Massacre’ links it to a line of
successful slasher films. Fans of The trees and mist in the background depict
‘The Texas Chainsaw Massacre’ are an isolated and claustrophobic environment.
likely to go and watch the film The villain stands in front of them as if
and this conforms to Barthes he owns the area. The villain is certainly
pleasure of Text theory where the more familiar with this surrounding in
audience guess what will happen contrast to the victims who have no chance
and seeing this play out gives to hide. The tall trees depict a sense of
them the pleasure. Also there is entrapment as they appear like bars, this
another layer of pleasure to be instantly conveys to the audience that most
had when the unexpected happens of the action will take place in this place
and seeing as this is a remake, and the victims will make attempts to flee
there must be something which the area, alive. The lake and woods make a
marks it out from the others. good horror setting and the tranquil nature
of the natural world is subverted to
witness disturbing brutal murders.
The Franchise The Date
Friday the 13th is The date is at the The Title The Credits
part of a big very bottom of the The red font connotes blood, death and passion
There is information about
franchise and page and it is ironic establishing the slasher subgenre and making it
audience members
the producers and people
that this slasher film stand out from the dark background. The broken
who have seen involved in making the
is set to release a effect coupled with a classic font style
previous film will film. The production logo
day before Valentines reflects how it is a remake of a classic film
want to see how makes loyal audience
day. It subverts the with a difference. Friday the 13th is a date
this edition is members want to go and see
going to be notion of love and considered to be bad luck and the target
the film solely because
different. A unity and presents a audience are certain to be aware of this. Thus,
they know that it is big
franchise film film all about the the title immediately attracts the audiences
budget and high quality.
opposite. attention and conveys the horror theme.

4. The Tagline The Extra Strapline
I chose to use the tagline ‘Who
Knowing that the film is ‘From the
Will Have...’ as it is featured in
producers of Scream’ links it to a
my trailer too, this creates a
line of successful slasher films. Fans
continuity between my main product
of ‘Scream’ are likely to go and watch
and ancillary text. It is a direct
the film and loyal audience members of
address to the audience members. I
the producer are given an incentive to
decided to place it at the top of
watch the film. The purpose of this
the poster as it is visible
extra strapline was to add weight.
through the colour white which
Associating ‘The Last Laugh’ to a film
makes it stand out. The audience
like ‘Scream’, raises expectations of
recognise that the film will be
the audiences who expect a high
based on someone avenging for
quality, big budget, successful film. I
something and there will be a
chose to use plain white font as I
combat between the villain and the
didn’t want to divert the attention
protagonist. To see who survives
from the main image and title.
is a leading factor in inviting
Moreover, the font on the tone cards is
the audience to watch the film.
also white and I wanted to continue the
This conforms to Barthes ‘Pleasure
illuminating sharp colour theme.
of Text’ theory as audiences can
guess what will happen in
mainstream films and seeing this
play out is the pleasure they get.
Also, there is another layer of
The Credits
There is information about the
pleasure to be had when the
producers and people involved in making
unexpected occurs. This is
the film. The production logo makes
relevant to our film where when
loyal audience members want to go and
the villain is unmasked, the
see the film solely because they know
audience will be shocked as it
that it is big budget and high quality.
will not be someone who they had
expected.
The Date
The date is at the very bottom of the page and it is ironic that this slasher
film is set to release at the start of the new year. I chose to set this date
as it would be the first horror film of the year so audiences are likely to
want to watch it. Because 13/01/2012 was a Friday, I have chosen to release
the film on Friday the 13th as the day is emblematic of horror thus sets an
eerie mood. I edited the date so it had the same wind effect as the title,
the horror of the film permeates to the date which is why Friday the 13th is
an effective date for the release.

5. The Image The Title
The slight low angle, medium long shot
The red font connotes blood, and
image of the masked villain is effective
establishing the slasher subgenre
in depicting his power. The white mask is
and making it stand out from the
tainted with splatters of red which makes
dark background. The wind effect
it frightening for the audience as the red
coupled with a classic font style
represents blood thus his brutal nature.
reflects how it is a remake of a
Using the Photoshop software, I decided to
classic film with a difference.
use a red colour theme as it links with
The smudged effect on the font
the slasher genre. Moreover, in our
makes it look as if blood has been
trailer, the last sequence shows blood on
smeared across the title. We chose
the floor therefore it links with the idea
the title ‘The Last Laugh’ as it a
of the villain being a savage murderer who
metaphor for who will be the last
commits brutal actions. The mask is a
one standing thus the title
conventional paradigm which invites
suggests that there will be a
audience members to view the film in order
final combat between the villain
to find out who is behind it. I decided to
and the victim. To see who will
use this image as I wanted to brand my
survives: the villain or the
texts with an image of the villain. I used
protagonist, makes the audience
a close up image of the villain on my
want to go and watch the film to
magazine cover and a close up image of the
see if what they have guessed is
mask blending with the title in my
correct.
trailer. I feel that showing the villain
is far more effective than showing the Marketing
victims as this generates fear for My poster would be placed in
audiences who want to find out more about cinemas and on bus stops,
his sadistic nature. It also leads them to underground stations etc as this
ask questions as to why he is wearing a is an effective way to advertise
mask? Why cannot he reveal his true my film to the wider audience and
identity? To find out the answer to these my target group who are students
questions, audiences are thus forced to go therefore are likely to be using
and watch the film. public transport and going to
cinemas.
The Image continued.
The trees in the background depict an isolated and claustrophobic environment. The
villain stands in front of them as if he owns the area. The villain is certainly
more familiar with this surrounding in contrast to the victims who have no chance
to hide. The tall trees create a sense of entrapment as they appear sharp, coupled
with the red colour which I added, nature has been tainted with the blood of the
victims. I chose to darken the image to match the dark settings in our trailer and
the black background of my magazine cover. The audience will be able to relate to
the trailer as this location fits in with the scene in the woods in the trailer.

6. Comparison To Industry
Both images are
Standard The cover line is made
to stand out with a
positioned in the white font against a
centre thus they stand green background. This
out and invite direct makes the cover line
eye contact with the appear almost
readers. This highlighted conveying
contributes to the the importance of the
horror theme as the article featured
direct eye contact inside.
makes the villain look
powerful.
The banner is placed
at the top of the page
I chose a similar where the green and
masthead with the white font choice make
issue number embedded it stand out against
in the ‘M’ as this was the black background.
a convention for I decided to use
Empire magazine. I ‘Movies’ Biggest Year
added an outer glow to Ever’ as it is more
the masthead to make shocking for readers
it stand out and and entices them to
reinforce the horror purchase the magazine
theme of the magazine to find out what the
cover. big deal is about.
The film title is placed
The cover lines are placed at the bottom just under the masthead as
of the page featuring exclusive previews it is positioned in a place
of the content inside thus providing an where it will stand out. I
incentive for the readers to purchase the have also placed the film
magazine. title on top of the image.

7. The Masthead
The issue number, price and
The Banner date of publication are
The green font colour of the positioned between the “M”
banner blends it with the which is a convention for
green theme of the magazine. Empire magazine. The small font
The banner provides an means that it is not very
incentive for readers who may noticeable for readers as a
wish to collect the covers. It result, it is the last thing
is positioned at the top of the readers will look at. The
the page making it visible for “Empire” has a green outer glow
readers. which correlates with the green
colour scheme.
The Film Title
It is clear as to what film The Image
this edition will feature as The extreme close up shot of
it is shown on the front the Joker instantly stands out
cover. The juxtaposition in
from the other magazine covers
“summer” and “scary” mirrors
on the shelf. The readers are
the juxtaposition of the “mass attracted to the front cover
murdering clown” which conveys through the direct eye contact.
that the film will be unique. The red paint on the lips and
smeared across the face could
be blood which highlights the
The Cover Line sadistic nature of the clown.
The white face gives him an
The cover line invites the
almost ghostly, zombie and
reader to take a glimpse of
deathlike appearance which
the articles featured inside
creates fear for readers. The
and a “12 page career
smile is creepy and uncanny.
special” on Eastwood’s career
is likely to make his fans
want to purchase the
The Barcode
magazine. The white font The barcode is positioned on
stands out against the green the bottom right hand side in
background making it stand a vertical position. A
out on the cover. barcode is necessary for it
to be scanned in the shops.
The Extra Cover Line
The cross is a conventional tool in Empire magazine
covers and here it provides a neat ordering of the
extra cover lines. Other films are featured on the
front page with short descriptions to engage readers.

8. The Banner The Masthead
The green font colour of the banner blends
The issue number, price and date
it with the green theme of the magazine.
of publication are positioned
The banner provides an incentive for
between the “M” which is a
readers who will want to purchase the
convention for Empire magazine.
magazine to see why this year is so ‘Big’.
The small font means that it is
It is positioned at the top of the page
not very noticeable for readers as
making it visible for readers. I chose
a result, it is the last thing the
‘Movies’ Biggest Year Ever!’ rather than
readers will look at. The “Empire”
‘2 Covers To Collect’ as Empire readers
has a green outer glow which
are more interested in the content of the
correlates with the green colour
magazine which will give them detailed
scheme.
information about movies. I therefore felt
that this banner will attract my audience.
The Image
The Film Title The close up shot of the mask
instantly stands out from the other
It is clear as to what film this edition
magazine covers on the shelf. The
will feature as it is shown on the front
readers are attracted to the front
cover. The juxtaposition of “laughter” and
cover through the direct eye
“fatal” mirrors the juxtaposition of the
contact. The splatter of blood
sadistic clown which conveys that the film
smeared across the face highlights
will be about appearance versus reality. I
the sadistic nature of the clown.
didn’t want to add the wind effect to the
The white face gives him an almost
title as it appeared quite messy, this is
ghostly, zombie and deathlike
why I decided to keep it simple and just
appearance which creates fear for
added a glow.
readers. The smile is creepy and
The Cover Line uncanny.
The cover line invites the reader to
take a glimpse of the articles featured
inside and a “12 page career special” on
Radcliffe’s career is likely to make his
fans want to purchase the magazine. The The Barcode
white font stands out against the black The Puff The barcode is
background making it stand out on the “Essential 2011 positioned on the
cover. Preview” parallels bottom right hand side
with the white and
The Extra Cover Line in a vertical
green colour position. A barcode is
The cross is a conventional tool in Empire magazine
scheme making it necessary for it to be
covers and here it provides a neat ordering of the
stand out from the scanned in the shops.
extra cover lines if not alluding to the religious
cover lines.
crucifix symbol to foreshadow death. Other films
are featured on the front page with short
descriptions to engage readers.

9. The Colour
Branding The Font
I used a red colour palette for the film poster as I decided to use different fonts on the
I wanted depict the horror element using a colour poster and magazine cover. This was due to
notorious for blood, gore and, more specifically, the feedback from my target audience as they
the slasher sub-genre. The sharp white font felt that the effect on the poster would not
compliments the red colour where the wind effect be suitable for the magazine cover as it was
on the font tears through the font which mirrors quite unclear to read. Moreover, from my
the villain’s destructive nature. I opted for a research into existing magazine covers like
green, white and black colour palette for the ‘The Dark Knight Empire edition, I could see
magazine cover as I wanted to challenge the that the film title was simple and bold which
stereotypical red colour, and moreover, wanted to made it stand out. I decided not to use the
differentiate my magazine cover from the poster. same font as the trailer as it was quite
Although the green may not appear as a horror simple. I did however use the same white
colour, I feel that the colour presents the colour as the title and tone cards in the
villain as both intelligent and malicious. The trailer as I liked the bright effect.
colour challenges the conventional colour theme The credit font on the poster is different to
like ‘The Dark Knight’ Empire cover. The bright the title font as after researching existing
green combination is attractive for readers and posters, I found that the purpose of the
the natural green is subverted to present a credits is to inform rather than contribute
dangerous character. The green theme correlates to to the style of the poster. This is why I
the woods scene in the trailer too. chose a small plain font for the credits.
The Images
I used images of the villain on both poster and magazine cover as I
wanted to link the two texts together. By using two different shots, a
medium long shot and a close up shot, I managed to depict the villain
in different forms as in my trailer where the villain is shown
committing different sadistic acts. I placed the image in the centre as
from my research of existing texts, the ones which attracted my
attention were the ones which had the image positioned in the centre
where direct eye contact was being made: (The Dark Knight Empire
Magazine, Friday the 13th Film poster).

10. Branding
The Audience The Link With My Main Product
My film poster, trailer and magazine The poster links to the woods scene in the
cover are aimed at the same target trailer therefore the audience can quite
audience of 16-24 year olds which is why clearly establish the connection. I decided
they are consistent with the level of to use the woods location and a slight low
horror depicted. Because my film is rated angle shot of the villain standing in front
a ’15’ due to the violence, I feel that of them as I felt that the villain’s stance
the poster and magazine cover are made him appear very powerful, which echoes
suitable ancillary texts to accompany it. his presentation in my trailer. The close
The image of the mask correlates through up shot of the mask ties universally to my
all the products which is why I believe trailer as there are many shots of the mask
that the audience will instantly during the latter part of the trailer. Here
recognise the brand. The mask is the I wanted to heighten the villain’s power
motif stamped across all of my products and fearfulness through the constant
which is effective in creating a link and portrayal of him.
binding the products together.
The Effect
The effect of marketing our trailer on social networking websites such
as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube enables us to create a stable
foundation for ensuring that our main product reaches our intended
audience and the wider public. Due to the links between my main product
and ancillary texts, audiences will find it easy to associate one with
the other therefore our brand will be well known on a global scale.