Sight & sound
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The document provides an analysis of the cover design conventions of the film magazine Sight and Sound. It notes that the magazine title is placed neatly in the left corner in a relatively small, simple font that helps the magazine be easily recognizable. The main image takes up about 3/4 of the cover and relates to the featured article. Color schemes and fonts are used consistently throughout the cover to create a polished, sophisticated look while still conveying creativity.
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Sight & sound
- 1. The typical convention for Sight and sound magazine is to situate the title neatly in the left hand corner. It is relatively small in size compared to other magazines who use the width of their title, sometimes overlapping with the image. The simplicity of this reflects its international success in suggesting that the magazine can easily be recognized By keeping a common look for the magazine to, it also helps with brand identity. The plain simple black times new roman standard font is clear, bold yet doesn't dominant the front cover. I feel this creates a more finished, more practical and more sophisticated feel for the magazine. The yellow box behind it threads in elements of creativity and again is easily identified. The vibrant use of this as well as the red imply that although it is informative, it is also bold, daring and fun to look at not just a black and white simple magazine with a few articles. The subtlety implied through the color choice and positioning, makes this magazine overall, very appealing.
- 2. The tag line reads “the international film magazine” in a small red font. Keeping within the color schemes and also adding it for the benefit of newer readers. This doesn't need to be a selling point for the magazine as it is evident that the magazine already has established readers and there is no need to bring attention to it. The right hand corner carries out the same scheme of colour shown in the title displaying the barcode, date, issue, price and publisher icon. Keeping the colours the same throughout helps brighten the front cover and also is easily identifiable for readers. £3.95 is the price of Sight and Sound being quite a high price which could reflect the class the target audience falls into and also the age group being primarily 35+, unlike others you find being student targeted.
- 3. A typical convention of Film magazines, and most magazines is that the main image takes up around ¾ of the page. It shows the main feature within the magazine this week and would appeal to an audience who recognize the person on the front cover. This image would relate to the target audience, being those interested in directors, and behind the scene members rather than big star names or blockbuster coverage. The image of an older man’s face (Michael Haneke) is positioned in the center of the magazine cover, representing his role within British films. The mis en scene of his black shirt against the white/gray background represents dominance and professional imagery. He is positioned in the photo, upright and forward facing giving the impression of confidants and wise persona. The blurred background makes the reader concentrate on the subject, suggesting his importance. There is also a clever color scheme carried out with the gray facial hair being emphasized it keeps in tone with the washed out colored background. Glasses connote knowledge, intelligence and may reflect the target audience in this way.
- 4. The main text that appears on the front cover can be easily identified as link to the main focal point being the image. ‘Michael Haneke’ is in bold white writing, standing out against his black top. ‘The White Ribbon Interview’, is positioned at the bottom center , implying a link with the person photographed and its importance as it is bigger then the title. The simplicity of this could represent independent films and no need for busy Hollywood effects. This simple credit like format outlines other articles you can find in this weeks issue. As it lies below the main headline it is not taking away the focus, yet still being clear and informative enough. In red standing out more so then the white font reads ‘Every New Film Reviewed’, which upholds the image of passionate film enthusiast keeping up to date with innovative British independent films.
- 5. I have decided to look at a horror issue for sight and sound as it is more connected to my genre of film. This also subverts typical stereotypes of a film magazine and sight and sound its self. It keeps within the color scheme, having the yellow still iconic of Sigh and Sound yet it acts as a banner along the top. This helps the balance of the overall front page. The main image is also interesting as it still takes up a lot of the page, yet it isn't off a actor, or director but a prop. It is to be associated with the bold black text HORROR and also chainsaw massacre being a well known horror. The selling line being ‘the return of real horror’ could also influence people to watch the film if they haven’t to see what a ‘real’ horror film is like. The red used on the cover is a typical convention of Sight and Sound yet used in a very creative way to represent blood tying in with a main convention of horror. The use of a white background keeps the attention on the image and has nothing else drawing the attention away from it. These cover lines are simply laid out and use the same color as the blood stains on the white background keeping within a similar scheme again makes the front cover look more sophisticated. These cover lines encourage the reader to purchase this magazine with other articles that are included. The yellow at the bottom balances the whole thing out giving it a final finish altogether.