'Total Film' Magazine research

This magazine looks at the genre science-fiction, which means that different aspects of the magazine will cater for this genre. The colours scheme used by this magazine, is extremely simple, yet very effective. The use of the black, white and red throughout the front cover, allows it all to link together and have a clean professional finish. The us of the black and white allows the front cover to look unnatural, which aspects of this genre also portrays. The use of the red on this cover allows different aspects to stand out clearly, however, this does not reflect any aspects which could be brought from the science-fiction genre, therefore this is unconventional to this magazine. Therefore the colours used on this magazine cover are both conventional and unconventional, which was also seen on the other magazine cover which advertised a horror film , this could therefore show, that the colours used on the magazines, do not always have to be conventional to the genre in which it is advertising.

The splash on this magazine cover, is placed at the bottom of the page, which could also be seen as unconventional. This is because due to the visual hierarchy this would be the last thing that the readers eye would be drawn to, meaning that the film on the front of the magazine would not be the first thing to be advertised. However aspects of the splash, allow it to draw the eye of the audience, therefore advertising the film. As the splash is in a bold and big sized font, this means that the audiences eye is instantly drawn to the splash, therefore instant advertising is able to take place of the film. As the splash is in a white colour, this could be seen as conventional or unconventional, as on the image it is conventional at it stands out on the black, with it being a contrasting colour. However the corners of the splash are against the background colour, which is also white. On the other hand, as the splash has a faint black outline, it does allow the splash to stand out even on the same coloured background, therefore it easily draws the eye of the audience. As the splash is placed on top of the image, this could reflect that the name of the film is more important, in advertising, than the actual actor, although he is well known with the film. The name is more important, as 'Star Trek' is a well known series, which has a broad audience, therefore would have a big audience instantly due to it being well known. The use of the word 'coolest' being underlined, also allow attention of the reader to be brought to that word, therefore persuades the reader to see the film, as others who have seen it have enjoyed it.

The image used is a close up shot of a well known character of 'Star Trek', which means when he is seen, an instant recognition takes place, therefore drawing the targeted readers, which will already recognise the actor from the series of 'Star Trek'. This image takes up the entire page, therefore making an impact on the reader as soon as they see it, however it also means that the reader will be able to recognise the character from a far distance, therefore attracting the targeted audience to the magazine. The lighting on the image is very cleverly done and due to the lighting it is able to reflect certain aspects of the character. Due to this, the reader is able to see that this character may have two personalities, one where he is happy, trustworthy and kind and one where his darker side is able to show itself. The colouring of the image is very simple, yet cleverly done. The use of the black and white, allows the audience to see certain aspects of everyday things to be seen in a different light, which this sort of genre allows the audience to experience also. As the image is placed under other aspects of the magazine cover, this could reflect that his image is not as important, however it could also reflect that this genre takes things which are sometimes unnoticed, shows that they are much more, which I believe this image is also meant to reflect.

The title on this magazine cover, like most, is placed at the top of the magazine, meaning that it will be the first thing which the readers eye will be attracted to, due to the visual hierarchy, meaning that the brand of the magazine is instantly known, which could attract and persuade more readers to pick up the magazine and look at the film advertised on the front cover. However, like the splash, this title is in a white colour, which when over the image is extremely conventional, as it contrasts from the black, therefore standing out on the page, attracting the attention of the reader. However, at the corners where it meets the white background, it become unconventional, meaning that it could be hard to see what the title says, meaning that instant recognition may not be able to take place. On the other hand this does mean that the readers attention is placed on the film, meaning that it may get more advertisement than the brand of the magazine, which is very clever, as this is the main purpose of the magazine. However as the title is in a bold and big sized font which takes up a good percentage of the page, it does mean that the readers attention does fall onto the title, meaning that recognition of the brand does occur. Clever editing is also used on this title, as the the word 'total' is placed within the main title, like seen on the other magazine, however this word is transparent, which may draw people to the magazine, due to it looking interesting.

The subtitles on this magazine are both conventional and unconventional, due to the colours which they have been placed in. As some of in a black colour, this means that they are very visible on the page, and will naturally draw the attention of the reader. This will also occur with those which are placed in a red font, or who have a red border around it, however, those which are in the colour white, would be seen as unconventional, as they are extremely hard to read, therefore would not draw the attention of the reader, as much as those which are conventional. However those that are placed in white, do draw the reader who is already looking at the magazine, as they look further into those subtitles, to allow them to be read. Like on the other magazine cover, the subtitles are placed around the image, which gives the impression of bordering it, which means that the readers main attention is placed on the main feature on the page. However the use of the subtitles being placed around the image, means that once the attention has fallen from the main feature, it then naturally falls on the subtitles around it. As each subtitle is in big and small fonts, it means that the words which will draw the reader into the magazine are in a bigger font, which is the purpose of the subtitles. It also means however that the attention of the reader will fall on the subtitles, as they look aesthetically pleasing and interesting to the reader.