A Film Magazine Front Cover

Image source: http://www.empireonline.com/magazine/covers/

To gain an understanding of how and why film magazine front covers are constructed, I must apply to LIIAR principle to the chosen medium.

L anguage - Conventionally the key feature of a film magazine front cover is the main image which appears on the page, which usually contains the main stars of the film being advertised. These actors are expected to be recognised by the magazines audience, therefore if the audience is a fan of the actor featured on the cover, they will be influenced to buy the magazine. An example is shown on the issue of "Empire" magazine shown opposite, where a photograph of Daniel Craig is the central component of the cover. The text used on this issue is also very minimalistic so most of the attention will be focused upon the image. The magazine's title "Empire" is placed conventionally at the top of the page where it is the most eye-catching. The headline underneath the photo "Bond Begins..." instantly tells the audience that the actor shown on the cover will be the star of a new James Bond film. This magazine uses a range of other conventional features as part of the magazines language such as a strapline "The World's Best Movie Magazine" which has been placed underneath the masthead. The cover also contains conventional features such as a barcode, the price and the magazine's website. The colours used on magazine covers are also very important. This particular edition uses a mixture of red and grey, which represent the themes of violence and technology apparent in all Bond films.

I deology - "Bauer Media is a multi-platform UK-based media Group consisting of many companies collected around two main divisions – Magazines and Radio - widely recognised and rewarded as being industry innovators. Our business is built on influential media brands with millions of personal relationships with engaged readers and listeners. Our strategy is to connect audiences with excellent content through our broad multi-touch point brand platforms, wherever and whenever and however they want." - http://www.bauermedia.co.uk/About

I nstitution - The publisher of "Empire" magazine is "Bauer Media". Bauer Media is a division of the Bauer Publishing Group, Europe’s largest privately owned publishing Group. The Bauer Publishing Group is a worldwide media empire offering over 230 magazines in 15 countries, as well as online, TV and radio stations.

Source: http://www.bauermedia.co.uk/About

A udience - Magazines are generally targeted at a very specific audience, and the cover should reflect the content which readers can expect to find within the product. My film is targeted at a young teenage to young adult audience, predominantly females but also males, therefore my magazine cover should be looking to attract this age group as well.

R epresentation - The main way in which "Empire" magazine represents the films they are advertising is through the digital photographs of the film stars featured on the magazine's cover. The way in which film magazines chose to represent actors on the covers of their magazines largely depends on the genre which the featured film is from. As an example the issue of "Empire" shown opposite is advertising a new James Bond film, which is part of the action/thriller genre. Because of this the actor Daniel Craig is shown adopting a serious expression, and his tie has been left undone to create the idea that he has been in a brawl or fight. He is also seen carrying a gun, a prop iconic to the action/thriller genre.