1. Name: Eleanor Stapleton
Candidate Number: 6259
Center Name: St. Paul’s Catholic College
Center Number: 64770
Unit G324: Advanced Production Portfolio

2. Magazine cover research
This is my magazine research page. I have been looking at existing front covers for TV magazines and soap specific magazines. I
have found two front covers which are ‘What’s on TV’ and ‘Inside Soap’. These two caught my attention due to the color scheme
used, the layout of images and cover lines. I feel that these are really good examples and guides for me for when I come to
produce my own front cover for my soap. They are also very stereotypical magazine covers one aspect is the business of the cover
and also the white glow around all cut out images, the boldness from all text used on the cover.
Having the verbal code of ‘brand new’ in bold writing makes it stand out
to the reader in which they will be attracted to this. They will also be
attracted to the shape and because its filled in white, it will be much
more easier to understand.
Using the verbal code of ‘BETRAYED’ as the
main headline, is a unique selling point for this
specific magazine as this is what the readers
would first be presented with when they buy
or look at the magazine. Also, the yellow
background shape behind the text also makes
it eye catching due to the warm bold colours.
I’ve noticed that soap magazines have a white
glow around most of the images used (mainly
characters) This makes them stand out more and
gives them a cleaner finish. Having the glow can
also connote characteristics for certain
characters.
The main image consists of a mid shot of two characters.
Who seem to be in a tense relationship due to their facial
expressions. There is also a sub main heading image
beneath the male character. This may suggest a multi
stranded narrative between these three characters. I feel
that this is another USP of this magazine as this would
interest the reader because the magazine may include a
side story or some clues for a specific episode of this soap.
The way that eye contact is used in the main headline
image draws the reader in. This is an aspect I would want
to re-create in my magazine cover.
The layout of the cover lines are all separated
into their own specific shape. This makes it
more cluttered and busy although its easier to
read as you could argue that its neatly
separated.

3. Magazine cover research
This is the second magazine I decided to anaylse and research about. I chose this one because it had some similar features and
some not so similar to the previous magazine cover anaylsed above. I feel that these are really good examples and guides for me
for when I come to produce my own front cover for my soap. They are also very stereotypical magazine covers one aspect is the
business of the cover and also the white glow around all cut out images, the boldness from all text used on the cover.
The layout for this magazine I would say is more cluttered than ‘What's
on TV’ and its much bolder than the last magazine.
The tagline for this magazine is very catchy and
rolls of the tongue. This I would say would be on
of the magazines USP’s as it states that it
includes ‘every story, every secret, every week’.
This would interest the reader as they will be
very up to date with all the soaps and also be
intrigued by the secrets.
The images used on this magazine cover are
very different from the previous cover. Most
of the images have been taken from the actual
soap opera episode. This a clever way of
pulling readers to buy the magazine as it’s a
sneak peek of what is going to happen in the
specific episode.
The main headline is very different to
the magazine above and I think puts the
cover at a disadvantage. The word
‘DOOMED’ has been filled in in a white
colour which is unusual and subverts
away from the original stereotypical
bold main headline.
This magazine has more of a specific colour
scheme which consists of: red, white and
yellow, similar to the previous magazine. This
is common in most magazines as these colours
stand out the most and catch the readers
attention and draws them in. I aim to repeat
this code and convention (Steve Neale) as it
pulls readers in to buy the magazine.
This image here has used a quote from the either the article
or soap episode which pulls the readers into wanting to know
more about this particular story within the soap opera.

4. Poster research
This is my poster research page. I have also been looking at different types of posters for TV shows. I’ve analysed a Hollyoaks
poster and a skins one. I was attracted to these two most of all due to some of the features in which they have both used and
which I may want to ‘repeat’ (Steve Neale) in my own poster. These will be good examples for when I come to produce my own
poster. I will be able to get ideas from both and maybe combine them.
In this poster, it is denoting the audience with the main
characters who are supposedly going to be a apart for
this disequilibrium which will change the soap forever.
The dark and aggressive
colours used connote a
dystopian atmosphere.
The fact that each character is
looking in a different direction
builds up the tension between
these 5 characters as they are not
making any eye contact with the
viewers or other characters within
the poster.
This character here is suggesting a
multi stranded narrative between
herself and the middle female
character. This would excite the
audience into wanting to know
more about the whole situation
but also, their story they have
going on which the other
characters seem to be obvious by.
The use of the fire edit in this poster
is very effective as it connotes the
hatred and angry relationship these
characters may carry. It also links in
with the air date of the episode –
Friday the 5th (bonfire night).
I think one of the main USP’s
of this poster is how minimal
it is. The edit of fire has
made it more exciting and
will stand out to viewers.
Making it so bold may even
attract unregularly viewers
of the soap.
The way the characters are presented is in a very
seductive way both male and female. They are
unclothed but the female character situated in the
middle conforms to the stereotypical view of how
woman are portrayed in the media as being objects
rather than people and also conforms to Propp’s
character role as the ‘princess’ (damsel in distress).
This may attract more male viewers to the show.

5. Poster research
This is the second poster which I have chosen to analyse. This will be a good example to go by as it’s a teen drama. So I will be
able to use certain aspects of this one onto my own poster. I was attracted to these two most of all due to some of the features in
which they have both used and which I may want to ‘repeat’ (Steve Neale) in my own poster. These will be good examples for
when I come to produce my own poster. I will be able to get ideas from both and maybe combine them.
This poster is divided into three sections
with different colours for each. The
colours could connote different meanings
or emotions about each character which
will interest the viewers and get them
wanting to know more about the
characters.
The layout for this poster is very minimal
again much like the previous one. The
colours would be the main USP as it
draws viewers in and makes the audience
think.
Posters are much more dramatic and the way
the three characters are looking in different
directions suggests different things about
them. The far left: more worried and maybe in
a state of distress more than the other two.
Middle: more mysterious and secretive. The
far right character seems to be looking guilty
about something. Its very important in a poster
as its how the audience can get connected to
characters by looking at print.
The close up shots make the poster more
effective as it enhances the characters
emotions much better than if it were to be a
mid shot.
A disadvantage to this poster I would say is the
size of the tagline. I think if it was a bigger font
size it would’ve stood out more and made
more of an impact as its an effective tagline.
Another disadvantage would be the pink stars
which have been placed in around the poster.
This makes the poster seem more feminine
which is effectively a bad decision. This won’t
attract as many male viewers as they would
automatically think that this would be for a
female audience due to them being a bold pink
colour.
Where the point of call is situated it states ‘in
2013… life hits you’ this diverts from the original
‘coming soon’ and makes the viewer get excited
about the show.