Key conventions. Look over the magazine cover key conventions notes sheet and ensure you can confidently identify the key aspects that are found on a magazine cover.
To begin, this front cover has several key conventions yet breaks others. Most jarringly, the title of publication. It is placed in the centre of the cover so it is very easily obvious. This conforms to the key conventions. However, the specific placing of the title breaks convention as they have placed the title in the centre rather than the top right. In addition to the title of publication, they have superimposed a face with eccentric, warm colours to make it stand out and appear striking. The central image has been overlayed into title of the publication acting as the foreground, this again is solely habitual of art house work yet entirely breaks convention of regular magazine covers because they tend to employ one strong, central image to 'anchor' the image. In terms of the use of colour, this cover does stick to conventions by using little colour and a set colour scheme in order to avoid becoming too bombastic or pompous and subsequently difficult to 'decode.' The colour scheme here creates a warm, cheerful yet mysterious and intriguing appearance. This appeals to individuals who perhaps are interested in film. Furthermore, this cover has omitted any slogans, free offers, name checks, excessive use of language, competitions, bar codes, prices etc. This breaks typical convention but is congruous in the genre of arthouse work.
2) Find at least 5 arts centre or cinema programmes/brochures aimed at a similar target audience to your project (arthouse cinema). For each one, pick out one design idea that you could use in your own print work.
I like the use of side profiles here within the central images as they create ambiguity and this is appropriate in art house documents.
Again, the focus image of the document s looking away from the camera. I also like the simple colour scheme and typography/hand lettering employed here.
I really enjoy the creepy, sinister image used here as it creates an overall dark, eerie impression very well.
Again, the use of side profiles is employed and the focus of the document is not one consecutive image which appeals to me and the art house genre.
This image appeals to me strongly and it is appropriate for arthouse because the focus is not looking at the camera and is covering her face. Again, the colour scheme is very minimal and lacks vibrance or saturation which is what my genre of film fits into.
3) Find at least 5 contents pages from arts programmes or magazines. How are contents pages designed? How do they use a combination of text and images to create an effective design?
This contents page is slightly pompous with several typefaces used. It appears quite 'busy' which I dislike but the strip of images is very interesting as well as the vertically aligned text. What makes this effective is the colour scheme which is quite fundamental yet manages to capture and strike viewers. The fonts however, vary immensely which makes it an eyesore to some extent.
Here, the table of contents is split by an image that is cut into by titles. I feel that this is very effective because of its minimalistic yet striking feel that it captures.
This contents page works well because it uses a simple colour scheme, as to not overwhelm viewers and instead effectively capture the impression they intended to create. This impression is that this magazine consists of interesting content that the viewers must read. On another note, i like the use of the hand over the main focus and will consider employing it in my print work.
The use of the dot-to-dot is most striking to me as it is quite a unique concept and often considered quite childish yet it works here superbly. Again, the simple colour scheme helps contribute to the highbrow content.
This is perhaps the most effective contents page and the most fitting to the genre of arthouse. The use of a sans serif font creates a modern feel and makes it very easy to decode. The use of vertical text again is striking as it creates an impression of ease. The images before the text enables viewers to gather a feel of what the films consist of, again meaning it is very easy to decode.
Planning and sketching
1) Create a spider diagram or bullet point list of all the things your target audience might be interested in. How can you use this information to create a main feature about your film that will appeal to your target audience?
4) Create a spider diagram or bullet point list of ideas for your double-page spread feature. Write a list of potential headlines and sub-headings for the article you choose to go with.
Sketching
Produce an A5 sketch of your front cover
Produce an A4 sketch of your double-page spread contents page.
Produce an A4 landscape sketch of your double page spread design
1) Which of your main characters will appear on the front cover of your programme?
Eden, Rapist (Abdullah), Maya (Gifty)
2) What image or images do you need for the contents page?
Several side profiles of Maya, Eden and the rapist as well as several front facing shots.
3) What image or images will you use for the double-page spread?
Front facing shots of the rapist and on the other a front facing shot of Eden.
4) Write a shot list for the photoshoot. Make sure you plan a variety of camera shots you will look to capture - medium shots, close-ups etc.
| EDEN | MAYA | RAPIST |
| Medium close up side profile eye line | Medium close up side profile eye line | front facing long shot (waist up) |
| Medium close up side profile upwards | Medium close up side profile upwards | Medium close up side profile eye line |
| medium close up front facing hand holding sheet. | medium close up front facing hand holding sheet. | Medium close up side profile upwards |
| front facing, eyes closed, looking upwards, rapist holding her. |
5) What costume, props or make-up will you require for the photoshoot?
Backpacks, worn down traveller clothes, fake blood, fake vomit.
