You have researched the covers of 6 film magazines so should have a pretty good knowledge of this already.
Take a look at Figure 1 below; the front cover of an issue of Total Film Magazine.
The main elements of the page furniture have been identified.
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| Figure 1 : Total Film Magazine Cover |
Main Coverline
The 2 front covers of your new magazine will need to have a main coverline. What is the main coverline going to be on the first and second issues of your magazine?
You need to think of these in relation to your magazine's focus (film) and target audience appeal.
After the masthead, the main coverline is the thing that potential purchasers of your magazine will probably read first so it needs to draw them in.
In Figure 1.1 the main coverline is LUTHER / THE FALLEN SUN - this is a new film based on the acclaimed BBC detective drama starring Idris Elba.
Other Coverlines
How many other coverlines will your magazine have? Look back at your research into exisiting front covers to see how these are used.
If you decide to go for 4 other coverlines, what will these be? How will they be worded? Will they represent a range of content that readers will find inside the pages of your magazine?
Coverlines are usually made up of what is called a 'kicker' in bold followed by a teaser.
When thinking of coverlines make sure that you keep them short enough to be easily readable whilst understanding that these are the ways that you are trying to entice readers to look inside and potentially buy your magazine.
In Figure 1 an example of a coverline is DUNGEONS & DRAGONS World-ending stakes and live volcanoes. Here, the kicker is DUNGEONS & DRAGONS and the teaser is World-ending stakes and live volcanoes. The coverline is meant to intrigue the reader into wanting to look inside the magazine.
It is essential that all copy for your magazine covers is checked carefully for spelling and grammar.
Images
You also need to think about the possibilities of links to the main images on your front covers as these are usually 'anchored' to the main coverline.
In Figure 1 the main image is of the title character from the film featured in the main coverline; DCI John Luther. Note that the image is of the character and not of the actor.
You need to plan what your main image is going to be and how it ties into the main coverline.
Remember to look back at the requirements of your set brief. This sets out very clearly that you need to have original photographs which represent two different social groups. My advice would be to go for one cover with a female as the main image and one cover with a male as the main image. Alternatives would be to use models of different ethnicities but, if you do this, the distinctions in ethnicity must be very clear and obvious.
Page Furniture
You also need to plan the other page furniture for both covers.
This should consist of puffs, content plugs, date, price, barcode, etc.
What else will you have on the cover of each magazine issue?
It would make sense for your first edition to have a puff which makes it clear that it is the first edition of the magazine.
Look at your research to remind yourself of what other elements of page furniture you could include on your front covers You could also look at other magazine covers outside of the film genre to see what they make use of.
In Figure 1 you can see an example of a puff which states 25 GREATEST DETECTIVES EVER! showing a link to the main coverline which features a fictional detective.
There are also lots of content plugs on Figure 1. These are different to coverlines in that they are usually much shorter. At the top of Figure 1 content plugs are used for new films (Cocaine Bear, Knock At The Cabin and Magic Mike 3) whereas at the bottom left of the page they relate to actors such as High Jackman and Scarlett Johansson. The magazine is assuming knowledge on behalf of the reader in the use of these content plugs.
NEA TASK 17
Create a post on your blog with the following title:
NEA Task 17 (Planning) : Coverlines, Images and Page Furniture
In this post you need to show evidence of your planning for:
- Main coverline
- Other coverlines
- Main images, and
- Page furniture
There is no set format for how you need to show this planning so do it in the way that you feel most comfortable with.
Remember that this needs to be done for both issues of your new magazine!
This planning, if done correctly, will enable you to complete NEA Task 18.
Suggested Deadline
Monday 26th June
