Specific Genre Magazine

After looking at Sight and Sound I have decided to do a more specific magazine in terms of target audience. I am going to make a magazine targeting audiences who like film noir and similar genres, such as crime and thriller, and make the magazine a Noir special.

Here below are existing specific genre magazines:

• The cover line at the top of the magazine instantly lets the audience know what genre of book's, film and tv the magazine sole focuses on "Crime"
• A majority of the audience will know of "Poirot" and instantly be able to recognise the name along with the central image and will associate it with the genre of crime.

• The cover line at the top instantly allows audience to see that the magazine is all about sci-fi, fantasy and horror films. 
• The central image along with the main cover line are promoting Spider-Man 2 a film that belongs to the super-hero genre, a genre that has elements of sci-fi and fantasy. 
• The smaller images are of films that again belong to the sci-fi and fantasy genre. 
• The almost 3D, metallic lettering of the title of the magazine instantly suggests to the audience that the magazine will at least partially focus on sci-fi films. 

• The colour scheme instantly indicates the noir genre.
• The font used for "Film Noir" is in lower case letters, something smaller more independent magazine often do. 
• The mise-en-scene immediately indicates that the film is set in the 1940's, which is when classic noir were made.
• The smaller cover line also indicates to the audience that inside the magazine there will be details about the greatest crime films. 
• The red of the title and underneath the main cover line adds an element of noir, as red is often associated with the femme fetale as they are often perceived as manipulative, dangerous and seductive all elements that the colour red is often used to represent.

• The name alone of the magazine "scream" indicates to the audience that it is a horror magazine.
• The font used for the title of the magazine adds to the element of horror, making it more clear to audiences what genre the magazine belongs to. 
• The smaller images are dark and together with the blood like splatters are a clear indication for audiences that the magazine focuses on horror.
• The cover line above the masthead "blood, guts, gore and more" is yet another indication that the magazine focuses on horror. 
• The main cover line "The Walking Dead" has skulls and a hand reaching as though coming out of the ground, again hinting at the horror genre. 

In conclusion all of these magazines had certain elements indicating their specific genre, such as the type of font, the cover lines, the images and the colour scheme. Therefore when I start creating my magazine I will have to think carefully about each convention and how to lay them out.

Sight and Sound Cover Analysis - 5

Below is a Sight and Sound Magazine front cover.

• The front cover is of a well known director mainly known for his films from the 1940's and 1950's including "Citizen Cane", "Touch of Evil" and "The Magnificent Ambersons"
• The dominant image is a medium shot and is in black and white
• The font is done in 1930's/1940's style
• The cover lines mention things from that era of film such as silent film and Marilyn Monroe 
• The font is in colour but is plain 

Sight and Sound Cover Analysis - 4

Below is a Sight and Sound magazine front cover.

• The dominant image is of "The faces of the new French cinema" which are not well-known and are unrecognisable to a lot of audiences
• The colour scheme, (French colours) reflect the cover line "New French Cinema" 
• The cover lines include lower budget foreign films, such as Girlhood, The tribe and Phoenix
• Again the simplistic font is used

Sight and Sound Cover Analysis - 3

Below is a Sight and Sound magazine front cover.

• The dominant image is of a less well-known actor and reflects the themes of the dominant film mentioned, "Selma"
• The dominant image almost appears as a painting rather than a picture
• The cover lines mention independent films and the directors including Michael Mann's "Blackhat" and Peter Strickland's "The Duke of Burgundy"
• The image is a medium shot
• The same plain, simplistic yet colourful font is used 

Sight and Sound Cover Analysis - 2

Below is a Sight and Sound magazine front cover.

• Again the dominant image of a less well-know actress that only certain audiences would recognise
• Amma Asante a well known British screenwriter/director is mentioned as the director of Belle
• The cover lines talk about film festivals such as Cannes film festival and directors/writers including Mike Leigh, Cronenberg and the Dardenne brothers which are not known as "Hollywood" directors/writers
• The same simple font is used 

Sight and Sound Cover Analysis - 1

Below is a Sight and Sound magazine front cover.

• The dominant image is an unrecognisable director/producer/screenwriter and actor, that only particular audiences would recognise
• The image is a medium shot
• The cover lines talk about other independent films
• The colour scheme is plain suggesting that the magazine focuses more on information rather that images
• The magazine title is in lower case letters, suggesting it doesn't advertise/review big hollywood blockbusters that tend to have powerful font

Sight and Sound Cover Analysis - Introduction

As I have decided to do a Neo Film Noir, which is an independent film genre, I have chosen the appropriate publication for the magazine front cover for my film, which is Sight and Sound.

I am going to be analysing 5 different Sight and Sound magazines in terms of layout, colour scheme, font, images and more, so that when it comes to creating my own magazine cover I can use the conventions that represent independent film magazines, to make it appear as authentic as possible.