Analysing Film magazine Covers.

Here I am going to be anaylsing the codes and conventions of film magazine covers. This will help me with my front cover as i will have a grater understanding of what they include and what common trends they have.

Analysis of Total Film front cover magazines.
Similarities.

- The similarities between the two magazines are that the style of the masthead. they both have the 'Total Film' arrangement for example the feature article photograph is in front of the masthead.

- Also the font style of the puffs, and the plugs have the same typography.

- Finally the colours of both mastheads are the same. Meaning that both the magazines are sharing a common trend with each other.

Differences.

- The differences between the two sample film magazine covers are a lot, and weighs more that the similarities.

- One of the many differences between the two samples is the masthead. Although the alignment is the same the ont style and case is not. In the first sample the typography is in lower case whereas in sample two the typography is much bolder as it is in capital lettering.

- The positioning of the bar code is different in both issues as the bar code in the first sample is placed to the left hand side of the magazine, and the bar code on the second sample is placed on the right hand side. This shows that Total Film don't have common trends which they stick to.

- The feature article photograph is also different as the first sample includes 3 characters and the second sample only one character. Also adding to this point - the posing of the characters is also different as the first sample has all the characters posing , meanwhile in the second sample the character is in action. Means that it is a still photograph taken from the film itself.

- The backgrounds on the covers are also different as the first sample has a simple plain background, and the second sample the background looks as if it has been featured in the film itself.

- there are also a lot of plugs in the first sample, on the other hand the second sample only features a couple of plugs. This is because the character in the feature article photograph is in action, so therefore that is what Total Film have focused on. If however there were more plugs and puffs then the front cover would be to crowed with information and the connotation of the feature article photograph would be lost.

- The colour schemes are also diverse from each other as the first sample has a pure white background with a gradient gray coming from the corners - this effect is used in magazines and posters as this diverts the readers attention straight to the feature article photograph. The white background gives the front cover a modern look. It fits in perfectly with the Matrix theme as Matrix is very high tech and professional and the white background is best as the white represents purity and professionalism.

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Analysis of Empire front cover magazines.

Similarities.

- The masthead of the issue of the joker and the issue of spiderman is red and is present on both issues of Empire magazine.

- The font and the position of the date of the issue is in the same place.

- The font of the masthead is also in the same position on both issues and uses the same typography.

- There is some sort of background behind the feature article photograph.

- The webiste of the magazines is in the same place (under the masthead on the right).
- In both of the feature article photographs are looking straight at the camera, making the front cover more intense and draws the reader in as the character in the image is giving direct eye contact.

Differences.
- One the front of the magazines is different and uses different style of text, colour, and position.
- The typography on the joker issue of Empire is different as it uses more bright colours, and comic styled text. Whereas on the spiderman issue of Empire, the typography is more formal, by using standard text with no effects and block colours.
- The issue of spiderman includes another picture acting as a plug and shows the reader what other things are going to be in the magazine. But in the issue of joker, the whole of the front cover is just focused on the joker, as no other iamges are used. If this was to be done, then the front cover of that particular issue would be too cluttered and would be overly crowed with pictures and text.
- The shot distances of the issues on Empire is different as in the issue of the joker, the shot distance is a long shot as it shows the wholes body of the character as the reader can see the clothing that the joker wears as it is more dramatic and elaborate. On the other hand, the character in the spiderman issue has a shot distance of a mid shot as you can oly his his chest upwards. This shows more of the pose that spiderman is making as you can see him reaching out and the reader can see this clearly.