1. HORROR POSTER AND
MAGAZINE COVER ANALYSIS
Parveen K

2. In the preparation of
designing a horror magazine
cover, I had decided to do
rough sketches in order to
keep my ideas open and
clearer instead of rushing
into it. After research of
other horror magazines this
helped me fill in more ideas
which will attract my target
audience into wanting to
read it.

3. - After research into horror
magazines/posters and relevant
images to fit into it, I had taken
some of my own and chosen my
final image relating to some of
the ones I had researched such
as mirrors and premiere.
- I decided to use the image of a
close up shot showing only half
of my face. I did this because it
relates to the code of a horror
genre as only showing half of
the face, hides the full emotion
of the character, so in my image,
a screaming mouth is portrayed.
- Also using my own hand I had
taken pictures as if I was being
strangled. To make this look like
another persons hand, I had
changed the color of the hand
to a lighter tone that my face
making it seen more realistic
with the use of special effects
on Photoshop and also working
around the shadow on the top
half of the face to help fade it in
to the black background.

4. - I came up with the magazine
title of ‘OPEN SET’ due to the
fact that it was opposite of close
set which is done to symbolize
that the magazine is open to
information that happens behind
public discussion in terms of film
and media. The ‘OPEN SET’ has
the shadow effect as it is done to
help it fade into the magazine
into the black background
effectively.
I had also decided to place my
horror film tittle across the
bottom in bright red to stand out
to consumers with a black lining
around it to go over the arm.
- Issue numbers are essential for
a magazine as it helps consumers
keep up to date with your
magazine and read issue after
issue.

5. A banner is used on most
magazine covers to entertain
and inform consumers when
buying magazines and pull
attention.
A banner is used on
magazines to show that
it’s a purchase and is
mandatory in order to
get a distributor for your
magazine.
Stories and other
information of what
is posted in the
magazine is always
placed on the left
hand side due to the
fact that when
consumers shop for
magazines, the first
thing they see is the
left hand side and
the stories that are
placed on it.
Competitions on
magazines is another
way of drawing your
audience closer. The
great thing about
entering competitions
to magazines is that
they typically ask for a
quick response that
means that you don’t
have to worry about a
time consuming
process.
Referring to other
films will pull
audience towards the
magazine as if their
familiar with the other
film, they may want to
watch the new film
addressed.

6. In the preparation of designing a
horror poster, I had decided to do
rough sketches in order to keep my
ideas open and clearer instead of
rushing into it. After research of
other horror magazines this helped
me fill in more ideas which will
attract my target audience into
wanting to view it.

7. Throughout
designing a horror
poster, after
intense research I
had picked one of
my chosen images
as also a scream
with a half face
shadow creating a
sense of mystery
will question my
targeted audience.
I then decided to
make my image a bit
larger than its
original size allowing
it to cover the spare
space on my poster. I
also edited the tone
of my face to a red
shade knowing that
my red title would
blend in with the
image.
After researching horror
posters, I decided to add a
slogan which is done to
pull the viewers attention
and to question them,
giving away hints of the
narrative.
I had also played around
with different styles of
fonts, colours and sizes
until I found the font
styles that contributed
into the look of a horror
setting.
My final piece, looked like this.
After exploring with Photoshop, I
had done more research into
what else posters contained.
Therefore I added credits, ratings,
websites and logo’s. This is what
makes a poster look professional
and attractive to look at.
Most of the font that was used on
the poster, especially the credits
was a traditional font called ONYX
which is used is many posters
which made my poster look even
more professional.

9. How has technology played part in you
ancillary tasks?
• App’s such as Photoshop played the main part in my ancillary tasks as this
was the app that allowed me to edit and design my pieces and add special
effects. However if this was done through app’s such as Microsoft word or
publisher, the final result would not be effective enough to pull my target
audience.
• Also a high megapixel camera with extra focus, gave me the opportunity to
take great pictures in order for my magazine to look professional and at a
high standard. If I had used an ordinary camera such as a phone camera,
my final images would not look skilled enough to be on a poster or a
magazine.

10. How effective is the combination of of
your main product and ancillary texts?
• I have designed a poster effectively as the audiences are given a small clue
as to what the film is about as the slogan talks about a deadline. This is
effective as it fits in with the genre, which is fact and fiction of a serial
killer as the audience is left guessing and anticipating about what the
narrative may be. This also fits with my trailer, which follows the horror’s
codes and conventions of fact and fiction horror by using hand held
camera shots so the audience is left unsure.
• Both my horror poster and trailer are effective together as they both help
the viewer to decided whether this is their type of horror film, this is
beneficial as I want to reach my target audience in order to get the best
responses. The title deadline relates to my target audience of ages 15-25
as between that age gap are usually people who are students who
therefore are familiar with the term ‘deadline’ as the narrative of the
trailer also relates to students.
• One consistent theme seen through out the poster and the trailer is the
colour pallet I have chosen, firstly the colour red was used in the trailer as
it falls into horror code and conventions, of red symbolizing blood/gore
and horror and danger. As this is an important aspect of the trailer I felt it
was appropriate to carry it out through out the poster, this helps create a
link between the trailer and the poster.