1. Movie Magazine & Poster analysis Cover analysis
Naomi Sian Bennett-Johnson

2. Along with my production piece I will be
making a magazine cover and poster. The two
pieces will help to promote the film. I hope to
express the film by having my trailer
represented on the poster and cover and have
taken inspiration from the pieces above that I
have analysed.

3. Posters
A movie poster is a poster used to advertise a film. Studios often print
several posters that vary in size and content for various domestic and
international markets. They normally contain an image with text.
Today's posters often feature photographs of the main actors. The
text on movie posters usually contains the film title in large lettering
and often the names of the main actors. It may also include a tag line,
the name of the director, names of characters, the release date, etc.
Movie posters are displayed inside and on the outside of movie
theaters, and elsewhere on the street or in shops. The same images
may also be used on websites, DVD (and historically VHS)
Packaging, flyers, advertisements in newspapers and magazines, etc.

4. Types Of Posters
• Lobby cards: like posters but smaller, Lobby cards are collected and
their value depends on their age, quality and popularity. Typically
issued in sets of eight, each featuring a different scene from the
film.
• Teaser poster: an early promotional movie poster, containing a
basic image or design without revealing too much information such
as the plot, theme, and characters. The purpose is to incite
awareness and generate hype for the film.
• Character posters: For a film with an ensemble cast there may be a
set of character posters, each featuring an individual character from
the film. Usually it contains the name of the actor/actress, with or
without the name of the character played. It may also include a
tagline that reflects the quality of the character.

5. Movie Magazine
A movie magazine is a magazine dedicated to
film and film culture. Such magazines
typically include film news, interviews, photo
shoots, essays and movie reviews.

6. Conventions Of Magazines
Language
&
register What creates
Flash Masthead
meaning
Pull quotes Quotes/links to the
Cover lines
film
Principle of thirds Font
Technical style, size, c
olour Mise en scene
Terms U.S.P Revealing
Position, pose,
genre
costume, eye
Kicker and Camera
contact /gaze,
explanatory angle
facial
Cover
Route of expression
stories
the eye
Stories Pictures I will use these conventions and my
& captions research to create my own magazine
cover and poster. This will ensure my
final products look professional.

7. Masthead Skyline
•Name of magazine is in Readers notice the addition is
bold, red, capital letters to make it special , why its special and this
stand out and is the biggest writing on may help appeal to people who
the page this shows the importance of like this genre and make it feel
the magazine name and brand. The personalised.
characters overlap the masthead that
shows the brand is established as even Colour scheme
without seeing the full name is The font colours and background complement
recognisable . the images which harmonises the cover.
They’ve also engaged the audience by
Slogan representing the film on the magazine
• Boast claiming the through mise en scene.
magazine is special and
well established attracts
readers Layout
Everything on the cover is
Shows the main Characters of the film: “centralized”. This brings focus
• Characters positioned in a way to to the image and text
suggest one of them is more together, so to not have
dominant and important than the anything unnoticed.
other this suggests to the reader
what the film involves. Anchor text
• Both wear contrasting costume one A short summary of both
more formal, other wearing police characters is used to engage
badge in less formal the reader by informing the
clothing, suggests differences in audience of there roles
hierarchy, personality and therefore justifying there
occupation. costume, surrounding
• Action shots are used rather than , postures and facial
posed photographs. There is no expressions.
direct address of the audience which Notice how small the price is, when
engages. A range of topics that relate to
Sell lines: magazines are cheap the price is larger so
crime and violence are mentioned in more noticeable and the ‘reasonable’
reference to the content of the price is used as a selling strategy. Whereas
magazine. This suggests that the if the magazine is expensive it may detract
magazine is aimed at fans who are from the appeal, so isn’t used as a selling
serious about this genre or want to read strategy. We also notice the barcode
detailed articles. which on magazines is on the front cover
whereas on books they are on the back.

8. The price is in a unusual
position as is it is usually Colour scheme: the
at the bottom of the background, font colours
page near the barcode go with the image on the
front. The colours
creates a semantic field
Masthead of hell which harmonises
• The masthead has been edited with the theme and title
so to go with the genre and of the movie “Hellboy
theme of the movie which is 2”.
used to engage e the
audience.
Introduces readers to another
platform of the magazine they can
The central image, a medium close-up
explore so to promote more, sell
of the main character is used so the
more advertising space and appeal
audience can automatically relate to
to a wider audience. It may be
the movie and genre. The character
suggested that it will appeal to a
also directly addresses the audience
younger audience, those who are
by making direct eye contact so to
more ‘technology savvy’ or those
achieve intimacy and intensity.
who cant afford to buy the
magazine constantly so use the
Sell & cover lines: A range of website as an alternative.
movie topics are mentioned in
references to actors. This suggests Magazine may
the magazine is aimed at fans of be aimed at a
the celebrities, people who are more mature
serious about the film industry or audience as it
who want to read detailed contains sexual
articles. content
Makes the content of
the magazine seem
exclusive
Anchor text: The tells us
why text the main image is
featured. This is may also
lure the audience to read
the article inside about
them.

9. The central image, directly addresses the
audience by making eye contact so to
achieve intimacy and intensity. He stands
with an upright domineering posture
and straightaway is seen as strong which
gives the audience a sense of his
character and what the movie is about.
“Plus” Makes it
Some may argue the seem as if the
main image of a magazine is
white, blue eyed giving you
“pretty boy” is extra, your
representative of a getting your
common convention moneys worth
and stereotype of and more
what a super hero
Repetition of
should look like.
the word “the”
emphasises
the subjects
presented
Colour scheme:
The font colours and background complement the
image which harmonises the cover. They’ve
engaged the audience by representing the
American flag in the background and in costume
which reflects the film and the character which is
“Captain America”. The character may be used as
a symbol, to represent America as strong which
shows a sense of patriarchy therefore may relate
and appeal more audience in the USA.

10. “Gripping” ,“raw”, “gritty” the terminology The overall theme of the movie challenges social assumptions of only
fits the genre and by using adjectives that boys being in gangs. The low angle shot of one of the characters with a
will appeal to the target audience the film bat depicts dominance and aggression. This contrasts with how females
Positive quote: To the
seems more exciting. The font main used are usually depicted as gentle and calm. The costumes worn can also be
target audience Sky
also depicts these words by the font looking used to challenge conventions as they lack femininity and hoodies are
movies may be held in
scratched and dirty. usually associated with young males.
high esteem therefore a The images of the main
good response from characters occupy a large
them is ideal in proportion of the poster and
appealing to the the girls are used and appeal
audience as it comes as the main selling point. The
from a ‘trusted source’. gang theme to the movie is
The good feedback represented through there
encourages people to body language and facial
watch it and the expressions which show
audience are able to get aggression. Instead of directly
an opinion on the movie addressing the audience an
before seeing it. action shot of the girls is used
to engage the audience and
represent the film through
Colour saturation: The mise en scene.
two main colours are red
and pink which the
images as well as the Certificate to be
font are in. Red has the confirmed.The
connotations of passion British Board of Film
and anger meanwhile Classifications has
pink can be seen as a not released an age
symbol of femininity. rating for the title.
This may symbolize the The artists
concept of a girl gang. featured go with
Despite red and pink the genre of an
being bold colours the Previous credits: By mentioning previous The title is at the bottom Informs The website introduces
films done by the producer the poster the audience to another urban film and
black sand whites used of the poster, the visual audience
presupposes the target audience are platform of the film, so artists would be
give a dark tone to the images are the main when film is
familiar with the producers previous to promote more, sell recognisable to
poster which reflects the focus and may be seen in cinemas
work. This suggests the last movies were advertising space and the target
plot movie. to appeal to the target so they can
a success so is used as a guarantee for a appeal to a young audience.
audience. watch it
good movie and prompts audience audience.
expectations.

11. The image challenges the
conventional movie poster by
being simple. Simplicity of the
poster may suggest the film is
aimed at an more All the images are
serious, mature audience. All of incorporated within
the poster is in black and white one main image to
and suggest there is one
the only colour is red and is main character which
used to highlight the word may be the “one
“point” which shows truth” quoted in the
importance and connotations text. The 8 pictures
surrounding the colour may may represent the “8
depict danger and anger. strangers “and “8
points of view” this
The silhouettes
brings cohesion
of the man with
poster and gives
the gun creates
suggestions to the
mystery and
audience of what the
suggests the
film is about. All the
movie is about
images are action
crime or
shots and are used
violence.
to represent the film
through mise en
scene with the aim to
engage the audience.
Gives a build up
to the release of
the movie by not
disclosing the
date.

12. The rating of the “4 stars ” and the expert The website introduces the
and critique statement is used to classify audience to another platform
the film and rank it high quality so to for the film, so to promote
appeal and lure in the audience. To the more, sell advertising space and
target audience RWD magazine may appeal to new audiences. They
have a high degree of respect or be also promote a soundtrack
recognisable therefore a good response which has artists on it that
from them is appealing. The good relates to the urban genre of
feedback encourages people to watch it. the film and can be used to
collect more income . Its’
release date is prior to the one
The poster has connotation's of of the actual film suggesting the
doom with the dark cloudy soundtrack is being used as
background. In the clouds are another promotion strategy a
what seem to be gang members to maybe create ‘hype’ and
suggesting in the film they ‘re the build momentum around the
cause of trouble. movie.
The well known actors within the The well known song is used to
genre are shown on the poster promote the soundtrack and it
below there names , they are presupposes the audience are
used as a strategy to sell tickets. familiar with the song. As well as
the soundtrack helping to sell the
The image depicts a war with the film the film may also be helping
people in the background looking to promote the soundtrack and
as if they are chasing the main song.
images. The audience is engaged
The font informing the
by the representation of the film
audience of the
through mise en scene.
release date is made
bold and shows the
Mainly males are represented on
precise date so to
the poster with a clear image of
guarantee an audience
only one female suggesting the
for the film.
film is male dominated. This also
may be seen as a bad stereotype
of young males in todays society.