The main functions of a film magazine are to promote new film releases, to provide reviews of films and to allow readers to understand the film industry from other perspectives. In general terms, further functions of a magazine are to advertise products for profit, to entertain and inform the reader and to create discourse to maintain an active readership. Empire magazine (a well established film magazine) claims its main function is to “provide indispensable insight into cinema, both blockbusting and classic”. Therefore film magazines expose areas of the film industry that will target a niche audience, whilst still appealing to wider audience.
2. How do film magazines target an audience?
Film magazines target audiences are predominately male, in the case of Empire magazine, their audience profile is “76% Male, Affluent ABC1 movie fans and cinema hounds.” Therefore, film magazines generally use main images that will appeal to males. It seems the majority of film magazines will use male actors or masculine characters as their main image, usually the main image fills the entire cover so it embodies masculine characteristics in its entirety. I have studied many front covers of Empire magazine and another established film magazine Total Film, and have found that the main image used usually obscures the masthead. This allows the reader to identify that it is an established magazine, and thus allow the reader to trust the content.
3. What are the key codes and conventions of the front cover of a film magazine?
To add authenticity to my response I will narrow my focus to two different front covers. The first is the January 2008 “meet the Joker” edition of Empire.
The Masthead
To add authenticity to my response I will narrow my focus to two different front covers. The first is the January 2008 “meet the Joker” edition of Empire.
The Masthead The masthead “Empire” is situated at the top of the page, and is the largest text featured which clearly identifies the brand. The term empire means “supreme power”, therefore the brand is identified with being important and knowledgeable within the film industry. Conventionally, the main image in the edition obscures the masthead, which as I have pointed out previously, shows the magazine is well established. The masthead is red which clashes with the other colours used on the cover, this makes the masthead identifiable as a constant and significant feature.
Subsidiary Texts
This particular edition of Empire doesn’t feature a strap line. Instead, it includes the line “The Dark Knight World Exclusive”, which promotes the content of the magazine as opposed to the actual brand. The majority of the text used on the cover relates to the main image, the text obscures the main image to ensure continuity in the background. There are nine sell lines which expose the main features of the issue, and entices the reader into the content. The majority of the sell lines just list particular films featured, which is a simple promotional device to establish the genre of the magazine and to show the reader that reviews are included. One particular sell line, “The Complete Coens” is interesting because it appears to be a flash as it is placed on a green circle, but instead is another insight into the content of the magazine. This gives the idea it is another main feature in the magazine. All of the sell lines are white, pink or green which is aesthetically pleasing. The main sell line, “Meet the Joker” is the largest and most appealing to the reader as it has an unconventional font which coincides with the character.
The Main Image
The main image of Heath Ledger as the Joker acts as the background of the cover. The character is sat directly in the middle of the cover to attract attention and maintain a gaze with the reader to establish a connection. The fact that a “villain” is used as the main image is unconventional, as the issue is promoting a single character, as well as the main film. The Joker is sat in front of a cage which creates an eerie effect and allows the cell lines to stand out due to the dark colours used.
Subsidiary Images
In the particular edition, only one subsidiary image is used which is a promotional counterpart of the main image. The batman logo establishes the identity and the purpose of the main image. It is situated above the characters head to show its significance.
The second magazine cover I am going to analyse is the September 2008 edition of Total Film.
Subsidiary Texts
This particular edition of Empire doesn’t feature a strap line. Instead, it includes the line “The Dark Knight World Exclusive”, which promotes the content of the magazine as opposed to the actual brand. The majority of the text used on the cover relates to the main image, the text obscures the main image to ensure continuity in the background. There are nine sell lines which expose the main features of the issue, and entices the reader into the content. The majority of the sell lines just list particular films featured, which is a simple promotional device to establish the genre of the magazine and to show the reader that reviews are included. One particular sell line, “The Complete Coens” is interesting because it appears to be a flash as it is placed on a green circle, but instead is another insight into the content of the magazine. This gives the idea it is another main feature in the magazine. All of the sell lines are white, pink or green which is aesthetically pleasing. The main sell line, “Meet the Joker” is the largest and most appealing to the reader as it has an unconventional font which coincides with the character.
The Main Image
The main image of Heath Ledger as the Joker acts as the background of the cover. The character is sat directly in the middle of the cover to attract attention and maintain a gaze with the reader to establish a connection. The fact that a “villain” is used as the main image is unconventional, as the issue is promoting a single character, as well as the main film. The Joker is sat in front of a cage which creates an eerie effect and allows the cell lines to stand out due to the dark colours used.
Subsidiary Images
In the particular edition, only one subsidiary image is used which is a promotional counterpart of the main image. The batman logo establishes the identity and the purpose of the main image. It is situated above the characters head to show its significance.
The second magazine cover I am going to analyse is the September 2008 edition of Total Film.
The Masthead
The masthead “Total Film” is also situated at the top of the page. It embodies the conventional feature of being obscured by the main image, which again shows it is an established film magazine. The font is white which projects its relevance as the background uses dark imposing colours. The masthead itself establishes the genre of the magazine so the particular niche audience will immediately become attracted to the magazine.
Subsidiary Texts
Unconventionally, this edition doesn’t include a strap line. It has ten sell lines, each clearly establishes the genre, featuring well known actors such as Simon Pegg, and a feature of the extreme effects of movies. All text featured is white or yellow, this is aesthetically pleasing as it maintains continuity whilst showing the importance of the main image.
The Main Image
An intriguing image has been chosen for this particular cover. The guns are the focal point as they appear to be coming out of the page, which is threatening to the audience and establishes the genre of the chosen film being promoted. The male figure is dressed as his character which maintains authenticity and is a useful promotional device. The character is looking into the character which, as the first cover, establishes a connection with the reader. Again, the main colours in the image are dark and therefore highlight the text used.
Subsidiary Images
There are no subsidiary images used on this cover, this would be unconventional for magazines in general, however it seems film magazines use one main image to promote the main feature and simply use cell lines to promote other features. This ensures the cover is aesthetically pleasing and the main feature is well established.
4. Discuss the relationship between film magazines and the film industry.
Film magazines promote the film industry in a competitive market, they create a strong relationship between onscreen, print and internet media by promoting films through print that are available on screen or on the internet. Film magazines are used to provide information about the film industry that will enlighten the reader, promoting various films as well as the industry itself. The reader can also establish a relationship with the character, or understand the actor behind to character to understand the acting world further. Film magazines also work to promote actors, meaning they are more sought after by the film industry and therefore contributing to the success or failure of certain actors and determining how they are received by the industry/public.
The masthead “Total Film” is also situated at the top of the page. It embodies the conventional feature of being obscured by the main image, which again shows it is an established film magazine. The font is white which projects its relevance as the background uses dark imposing colours. The masthead itself establishes the genre of the magazine so the particular niche audience will immediately become attracted to the magazine.
Subsidiary Texts
Unconventionally, this edition doesn’t include a strap line. It has ten sell lines, each clearly establishes the genre, featuring well known actors such as Simon Pegg, and a feature of the extreme effects of movies. All text featured is white or yellow, this is aesthetically pleasing as it maintains continuity whilst showing the importance of the main image.
The Main Image
An intriguing image has been chosen for this particular cover. The guns are the focal point as they appear to be coming out of the page, which is threatening to the audience and establishes the genre of the chosen film being promoted. The male figure is dressed as his character which maintains authenticity and is a useful promotional device. The character is looking into the character which, as the first cover, establishes a connection with the reader. Again, the main colours in the image are dark and therefore highlight the text used.
Subsidiary Images
There are no subsidiary images used on this cover, this would be unconventional for magazines in general, however it seems film magazines use one main image to promote the main feature and simply use cell lines to promote other features. This ensures the cover is aesthetically pleasing and the main feature is well established.
4. Discuss the relationship between film magazines and the film industry.
Film magazines promote the film industry in a competitive market, they create a strong relationship between onscreen, print and internet media by promoting films through print that are available on screen or on the internet. Film magazines are used to provide information about the film industry that will enlighten the reader, promoting various films as well as the industry itself. The reader can also establish a relationship with the character, or understand the actor behind to character to understand the acting world further. Film magazines also work to promote actors, meaning they are more sought after by the film industry and therefore contributing to the success or failure of certain actors and determining how they are received by the industry/public.
5. What is the relationship between film magazines and readers?
It is essential for magazines to form a bond of trust with the reader, as the are the most trusted media source. Therefore film magazines must establish themselves as a brand for the reader to trust their critique. Film magazines have the power to influence a persons decision to see a film, therefore have to form a relationship with the niche audience and target films that would be most appealing to that audience.
It is essential for magazines to form a bond of trust with the reader, as the are the most trusted media source. Therefore film magazines must establish themselves as a brand for the reader to trust their critique. Film magazines have the power to influence a persons decision to see a film, therefore have to form a relationship with the niche audience and target films that would be most appealing to that audience.
6. How do film covers represent social groups?
As I have discussed before, main images used on film magazines are predominately masculine characters or male actors. Therefore targeting a male audience. Also, film magazines will predominately target the middle class, by using sophisticated language and creating discourse. This is due to the film industry predominately targeting middle class males, therefore the two mediums compliment each other.
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