Ancillary product research: Magazine

The second ancillary product that I am going to make that will go alongside the package for the film, which includes a film trailer and a poster, is. magazine front cover that features the film we have made.
The magazine will follow the codes and conventions of the many other film magazines that are publicly available, and I will analyse them so that I have a better understanding of these conventions before I create my own.

What is the purpose of a film magazine?

The primary purpose of a film magazine is to promote an existing film that has recently been released and to inform the target audience about the details of the characters involved and the narrative of the film. Film magazines often include exclusive interviews with main characters who may reveal information that hasn't yet been officially discussed by producers or production companies of the film. Without question, film reviews in magazines provide a synopsis of the film. Opinions on the actors in the film are given, there is commentary on the director's style and narrative structure and there is often an overall opinion given on the making of the film. The front cover of a film magazine is the section of the product that creates the biggest impact and must be the most effective at gaining the target audiences attention in order to entice them to buy the magazine. The cover provides instant recognition of the genre of the film they are promoting. Additionally, the purpose of a film magazine review is to introduce themes and subject matter helping people establish whether the film would be suited to them and whether it's of their taste.

Main features of a magazine

Focal image

The main image of the magazine front cover is known as the focal image, and it includes the main character of the film they are featuring. The is a key element of a magazine as it informs the target audience who is in the featuring film in the issue. The image generally will follow a similar style to the poster of the film, so that it is recognisable for the audience and will therefore grab the attention of the audience who are already aware of the film. The image will contain stereotypical elements of the genre that show, for example in this 'Empire' cover, James Bond is the featuring film and the mise en scene shows that Daniel Craig is holding a gun, representing the genre of the film to the audience.