I have chosen to analyse a film magazine cover from Empires edition featuring the film ‘Suicide Squad’. This was a popular film of the year 2016, and the magazine cover featured a number of conventions related to the film used to promote the product.
The masthead is placed at the top of the page behind the main focal photo which shows the actor Jared Leto dressed as his character the joker in ‘Suicide squad’. This layout is recognisable by regular readers as it follows a pattern of the focal image being overlapped by the masthead.
The photograph takes up a large section of the cover, which features a number of contrasting colours. The camera angle is slightly lower than the audience, this intimidates the audience as it looks like the joker is directly staring at them. The joker is primarily a bland white and black colour, except his hair, eyes and hand tattoo which are a vibrant, green, blue and red. The photograph reveals some information about the villain, the fact he is covering his mouth could mean he is deceitful and sneaky. His gold chains and jewellery reveal he may have power and wealth. Alongside his green hair, which could symbolise his greed and envy. The colours used compliment both the joker and the contradicting background. The background uses a mixture of vibrant pinks, purples and oranges as if a smoke bomb had gone off, relating to events that happen in the film. Similar colours are also used on other promotional products for suicide squad, such as the film poster. This similarity helps make the brand become more distinguishable amongst other products. The different texts alternate between either pink or white and are all written in capital letters, this helps them to be read more clearly and works nicely with the other colours used.
Below the photograph the coverline is shown to be the title of the film which is shown in white, bold capital letters indicating to potential buyers that this film would be the main focus of the article. Below the coverline is a short, detailed description of what would feature within the magazine. The magazine's tagline is placed below the title of the film and reads 'Plus the 50 greatest villains of all time ' this piece of information relates to the main image which shows a potential villain that could feature in that list. This is an enticing bit of information which encourages the audience to read more. The magazine also has a skyline which runs above the masthead 'Empire', it is a bit of information which calls out to readers about some special exclusive reading of 'Wonder Woman and Kong; skull island' only found within that magazine. Once again influencing the audience to read further. The typography of the text is all bold and is in capital letters mixing between a white and pink colour. The visual codes of the pink colour is used when the magazine is offering something eg. ‘Plus’ / ‘Exclusive first looks’ compared to the white colour which is used to inform the audience what the offer is eg. ‘The 50 greatest villains of all time’.
A puff features in the shape of a paint splash from a dart gun on the magazine cover, this links with the weapons used within the film and the overall design and theme of the magazine. Puffs are conventionally used to promote a competition or exclusive article, which is what the Empire magazine has done. It is attempting to promote the ‘fantastic beasts’ and their behind the scenes filming. By placing the puff alongside the main image and text means that it is another promotion which could be read at first glance.
The target audience is any film fanatics who would be willing to buy a magazines about films, anyone interested in films which contain superheroes/ villains or are into the sci/fi, fantasy genre. Or finally in viewing the film suicide squad itself, this is because the magazine tries to capture their interests by showing a number of exciting exclusive readings from similar films within the same genre and offering a list of 50 characters believed to be the greatest villains. I also believe due to the vibrant colours any child may pick up the magazine mistaking it for one from their age range.
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