The document summarizes conventions used in movie posters and magazine covers to attract audiences. It analyzes posters for Scream, Prom Night, and Carrie, noting visual elements like taglines, images, and colors that convey genre and intrigue viewers. It also examines a Total Film magazine cover, identifying features like the masthead, cover line, selling line, images, and pull quote that aim to hook readers. Overall, the document discusses design techniques used to effectively market films and publications.

1. MAGAZINES AND
MOVIE POSTERS
By Danielle McGrath

2. MOVIE POSTERS
Usually with film posters,
the potential audience are
given a generalised
overview of what the film is
about. Film posters are
often released with at least
one of the main characters
in the centre to entice
potential audiences to come
and see the film. This factor
adds some sort of appeal to
the film as the audience are
given a glimpse of who‟s in
the film as well as what the
genre of the film is.

3. CONVENTIONS OF A POSTER
SCREAM (1996)
This poster for „Scream‟
instantly puts me on edge. The
Tagline contrast between the black and
white and the small speck of
colour on the girl‟s eyes
represents innocence and
honesty that is eventually lot.
Main image
The fact that both the tagline
and the title are white makes
the film ambiguous. Although
the audience can tell that this
Title film is of the horror
genre, we‟re unaware of what
weapon the killer uses. The
title „Scream‟ instantly tells the
audience that this film is a
horror movie.

4. CONVENTIONS OF A POSTER
PROM NIGHT (2008)
This poster for „Prom Night‟
has a big impact on audiences.
The main image is of a girl
(potentially the final girl)
screaming representing the
Main image
horror genre. The red writing
used for the title stands out
against the rest of the poster
with connotations of blood and
possibly a series of killings in
one „night‟. The close-up of the
girl also gives us a feeling of
the unknown as we can only
Title see half of her face. The tagline
„A Night To Die For‟ again
Tagline suggests that there‟s going to
be death and it‟s going to be set
on one particular night.

5. CONVENTIONS OF A POSTER
CARRIE (1976)
This poster for „Carrie‟ creates
a big impact on its audience.
Tagline The main image is of Carrie
however, the placement of the
two images could represent a
split personality; the good and
Main image the evil. The colour of the title
and the tagline depicts
connotations of blood and
Title death; symbolising that this
film is part of the horror genre.

6. FAVOURITE MOVIE POSTER
The poster for „Halloween‟ is
incredibly effective. The contrast
of the orange and the black
immediately evokes the idea that
it‟s based around Halloween (and
of course the title instantly tells us
that) and the ambiguity of the
poster ensures that the audience
have no idea who the killer is or
who the victims are. The tagline
„The Night He Came Home!‟ puts
the audience on edge as we‟re
wondering who „He‟ is. The way
that the murder weapon has been
incorporated so it looks like a
pumpkin (as well as a face) gives
you the idea that this film is a part
of the horror genre however, it
plays on the elements of what we
enjoyed doing as children.

7. Colour scheme
CONVENTIONS OF A MAGAZINE
Pull quote
Selling line Main image Cover line
Masthead Other images Button

8. CONVENTIONS OF A MAGAZINE
TOTAL FILM
Masthead: The masthead is in a
bold font, that looks disjointed and
damaged to create emphasis on
what the film on the front cover is
about. By having a big and bold
title, it‟s easy for consumers to see
it in stores.
Cover line: The cover line is
„Massive 2011 Preview‟ which
instantly hooks the reader as it
takes up a third of the page. It‟s the
first thing the consumer will see.
Selling line: The selling line is
„The Modern Guide To Movies‟.
This is featured on every copy of
Total Film which encourages the
reader to buy the magazine.

9. Button: The button on this cover is „Your
Essential Guide To The Year‟s Must-See
Movies‟. The fact that the last line is in bold
suggests that you don‟t want to miss this
article; hooking the reader.
Main image: The main image is of the cast of
„SuckerPunch‟. The cast takes up almost the
entire front cover making them the exclusive
purpose of this issue. All of the actress are
looking directly at the reader which entices the
consumer and encourages them to buy the
magazine.
Other images: There are also other images of
different movies coming up like Transformers 3
and Captain America. This issue is suitable for
all viewers as they display different genres on
the front cover giving others a chance to read
about their favourite movies even if they‟re not
the „exclusive‟.

10. Colour scheme: This issue doesn‟t really have
a colour scheme however, the white titles stand
out against the background. The mixture of
oranges, yellows and whites represent power
which is what the cast of „SuckerPunch‟ are
portraying.
Pull quote: The pull quote „“It‟s Alice in
Wonderland… with machine guns.” – Zack
Snyder‟ gives the reader a first impression of
what‟s inside the magazine and what the
purpose of the main article is. It again, entices
the consumer.