Pencil Sketches

Magazine Front Cover Layout

This idea conforms to a lot of the major magazine front cover conventions and in doing so is suitable for my own front cover. By employing less focus on the other features, viewers will concentrate more on the main image and film title, thus creating more anticipation for the feature inside the magazine. Again, this idea makes use of a less busy front cover; adding emphasis to the main image. I particularly like the idea of placing the headline and tagline next to the model’s face as it is immediately recognisable as the main story. The ‘Plus!’ section could maybe be smaller, again to highlight the main film without totally disregarding other parts.

This particular layout is striking in it’s angling of the headline. This may attract the reader and stand out from existing front covers. The inclusion of a sticker (maybe showing free giveaways from the magazine) may increase interest in the front cover. Again, the ‘other features’ section is significantly smaller to accentuate the main title. In subversion to some magazines, the masthead is smaller than the main headline which ultimately shows it’s prevalence as the main feature in the issue. The main image is a close up of a main character to accompany the headline, creating a sense of closeness and intimacy with the reader.

Poster Layout

Generic, conventional layout - trustworthy and successful composition style, concerning the genre. Film title – placed at the top of the copy to reinforce it’s importance as the main focal point (along with the main image) The two models are placed next to each other to suggest a connection, accompanied by their names next to each of their heads. However, by being so used in film posters, this layout may appear boring and/or repetitive. For this reason, the image used must be of high quality and evoke relevant thoughts about the film and it’s genre.

Two characters – close proximity and possibly eye contact suggest intimacy and a connection. Many elements in the same area could be make the information easy to read. Actors names under models correspond, highlighting them as main characters. By placing many elements in the lower 50% of the copy, the poster may seem bottom-heavy, and therefore unappealing. This also means that there is a lot of superfluous space at the top. Arguably, this could emptiness could be eliminated by a good main image with correct mise-en-scene.

This idea uses just one of the protagonists, and in placing the film title above the character makes the title itself relevant to them. For example ‘Nerd & Me’ makes reference to the character’s stock type and highlights them as main character. Poster conforms to normal conventions by including the credits section and release date. I intended to take a low angle shot in front of an estate block to reinforce the genre – urban rom- com. As a rom-com, featuring just one actor subverts normal conventions, but may also induce interest to find out who his/her love interest is.

Generic, conventional layout - trustworthy and successful composition style, concerning the genre. One model is placed in front of the other maybe implying that the story is from their perspective, yet actor (2) still has a key role. By placing a male here, it may conform to stereotypical traits of the patriarchal society; yet in subverting this, it may impose ideas of the post feminist, with self control and independence. Either idea would be interesting. Again, this idea may appear tedious. The fact that this composition has been re-used many times within the genre, may be unattractive to consumers.