Additional Alternative Film Magazine Analysis

 

 

As this magazine is for ‘Art house’ or alternative films the conventions of typical magazines are modified for a more unconventional effect. The magazine is published by the BFI which also produces a lot of the films that are reviewed in this magazine which is why its logo is enlarged in a separate puff so suggest its importance in the publication. 

The cover lines are in a hand drawn style font with bubble writing and arrows for a ‘doodle like’ effect. This reflects the type of artistic films which are featured in this magazine-such as ‘Submarine’.  The alternative international genre of film magazine is effectively portrayed through the main cover lines- ‘London Film Festival special: British Invention’ and ‘Venice’ to instantly inform the reader its genre of content.

The pale blue, red and orange-yellow compliment the white background because they stand out drawing the audience’s attention towards particular articles. An example of this is “Richard Ayoade on his debut ‘Submarine’”  with blue text and a humorous play on the words ‘Submarine’ making the’ I’ a telescope. This ties in to the main image thus making it more of a focal point than the text underneath.

Another broken convention is the main image.  Richard Ayoade who directed the featured film ‘Submarine’ is known for his role as the awkward ‘Moss’ in the IT crowd so instead of using an action shot of a film or a sexually posed photograph, this awkward stance by Ayoade portrays an unusual yet quirky tone for the magazine which resonates in the text on the right and left third.

By having no pictures by the cover lines or a range of puffs this makes the reader want to subscribe to the magazine so they can look inside and discover what the cover line is about.  The absence of pictures is in keeping with the magazine creative and different image because it removes a tacky and amateur finish.

The Sight and Sound masthead is on the left third so if it was stacked on a kiosk the potential audience would be able to see it clearly, grabbing their attention. The language ‘Festival special’ suggests the magazine is specifically focussed on festivals in this edition appealing to a minority film market that are looking to seek out films rather than see them on the big screen.

I intend to make my film an indie alternative film thus making an understated magazine is important, as shown by Sight and Sound, to remain in keeping with the films tone and message.