Magazine Review: Final and Finished Draft

Magazine Review: Development of Ideas

Magazine Review: Making of the Review

To make my poster I used the programme InDesign as this is a programme often used by professionals when creating magazine pages. I also used my mock up design as a base to create my double page spread.

First Draft:
I used the image below as the background for my double page spread. I wanted to use one large, bold image for the article as I wanted it to be eye-catching and I thought this would be the best way to achieve this as opposed to using multiple smaller images. I used the image of the protagonist running in front of a sunset as it reflects the happy, nostalgic tone of the short film.

I adopted a black and white theme for the text on the article as I wanted the background image to be the most colourful segment of the article. I felt this colour scheme looked the most professional. I added black and white boxes to the background of text to make it stand out from the background. I also altered the opacity of the boxes so the background image was slightly visible beneath, this made them less harsh against the background. For my first draft I added elements such as a star rating from cosmopolitan magazine, the article itself, quotes from the directors, awards the film has won, a review, a summary of doubled page spread for example 'an exclusive look at the new Scanhouse production', a review page tag, film release date, page numbers, and a webpage address. These were elements I had learned about whilst researching magazine reviews. I also downloaded fonts from the website 'Da Font' to use for the quote used as the title of the article as I wanted an interesting font to catch the eye of the reader. 

Second Draft:

However upon reflection of my design and after speaking with teachers and a few peers I realised my magazine design had a few flaws and therefore I corrected these whilst creating my second draft. The image below displays my second draft. One change I made for my second draft is I moved the background image to fit the whole page as previously I had placed it to fit within the trim/bleed lines. This means that the image will fit the entire page and not leave a white border around it. I also then extended all the black background boxes to go past the trim/bleed lines, this gave the double page spread a more professional appearance. I also changed the text on the left hand page of the double page spread as this was previously a star rating from the Cosmopolitan magazine, however upon reflection I realised this was not a convention of a magazine review, therefore I changed this to 'Jessica Leigh takes an exclusive look at the new Scanhouse production', this therefore tells the reader what the article is about. I also made it a different don't to make it stand out. I also moved the web address to the bottom of the page and made it smaller. I also moved the star rating to below the title of the article, this implies that the star rating is from the magazine itself instead of it being a quote. I also moved the film release date to the bottom of the white background box. 

Third Draft:

After finishing my second draft of my magazine review both my teacher and I agreed that the double page spread would look more professional if the silhouette of the protagonist running was made slightly darker. This would create a larger contrast between the bright background and her silhouette. Therefore I used the programme Photoshop to do this. 

I then replaced this image with the original background image straight from InDesign and therefore finished my final draft. 

Magazine Review: Mock Up Draft One

This is my initial plan for the layout of my magazine review. Below is my initial plan for the design of my magazine review. I used both of these plans whilst creating my first draft of my magazine review on InDesign. 

Magazine Research: The Incredibles Analysis (3)

Institutional Information:

The Incredibles was an animated film, released on the 5th November 2004, based on a family of undercover superheroes who while trying to live a quiet suburban life are forced into action to save the world. The film was written and directed by Brad Bird, also known for the long running TV show The Simpsons and films such as Ratatouille and The Iron Giant. The film stars voice actors such as Craig T. Nelson, Samuel L.Jackson and Holly Hunter. The film falls under the genres animation, action, adventure and family and has the motion picture rating PG. The films tagline is 'Sock-er Mom'. Overall the estimated budget for the film was $92,000,000 with the film grossing $70,000,000 in the United states on its opening weekend and overall grossing over $260,000,000 in the United states alone. 

Images:

The articles uses a lot of images to get the reader interested in the film. The largest of the images is the image on the left, this is a long shot of the main characters within the film, the Parr family. The use of this image tells the audience that one of the main themes within this film is family and the relationships between them. There are also four images placed on the right hand page these show the various characters in the film also providing the reader with snapshots of their superpowers giving the audience an insight into the plot. The article also uses two cut out style images of two of the characters, these images are foregrounded in the article making them appear to be reaching out of the article towards the reader thus making them more immersed and involved in the article. 

Mis En Scene:

The reader can tell from the top left image that the characters in the shot are superheroes this is due to the tight fitting colourful outfits they are wearing with the black pants placed over the top. The audience is also able to tell that they are a family and a team due to the 'i' symbol on all of their outfits. The fact that they are superheroes is also supported by the black eye masks they are all wearing, this is a stereotypical superhero costume in the the film industry. The characters stance in the image also show the audience that they are superheroes and the fact they are stood in a defensive but ready to attack position is stereotypical of the superhero genre. This is also supported by their determined and smug facial expressions, this is typical of characters who have superhuman powers as it demonstrates their self assurance in their own abilities. 

The top image on the right presents the character as having superhuman strength. The juxtaposition of the small protagonist lifting the large heavy craters suggests that he has superhuman strength. 

Colour Scheme:

A red and black colour scheme is used throughout the article, this links with the red and black colour of the protagonists superhero outfits. The colour red also has connotations of danger which is a large element of this film as its the reason the protagonists come out of hiding, therefore this links to the plot and the genre of the film being action and adventure. The colour and tone of the images used in the article also hints towards the genre of action, for example in the pages on the right hand side orange and teal tones are used, these coloured tones are typical for the genre action. All of the images in this article are bright and colourful therefore catching the readers attention and thus getting them interested in the film. 

Orthography and Graphology:

The main body of the text is written in the classic 'Times New Roman' font, this makes it clear and easy to read. The first letter of the article 'T' is displayed in a large red font, this stands out in the article therefore making it more likely for someone to read it. Another similar technique is the way the first three words of the article are written in red font and are capitalised. The quote used in the article is also capitalised and written in a red font, this makes it stand out against the white background intriguing the reader and making them want to find out more about the film. Perhaps one weakness of the article is that it doesn't display the title of the film clearly as the reader has to search the page to find out that information as it is not obvious. 

Text:

The opening paragraph of the article immediately introduces the film and gives a brief insight to the characters by providing a few well recognisable quotes from the film, brief summaries of their appearances and personality traits. The main body of text includes many elements like quotes from various people involved in the film such as Ed Catmull, the President at Pixar, this provides multiple perspectives on the film for the reader. 

How does the article advertise the film?

This article advertises the film through the use of colour, images, graphology and orthography. The article uses bright images and text to capture the readers attention and build their interest in the film. The use of quotes from influential people such as the President of Pixar build the readers trust in the author and ultimately making it seem like a film worth watching.  

Magazine Research: Peter Pan Analysis (2)

Institutional Information:
Peter Pan is about the Darling children who received a visit from Peter Pan who takes them to Neverland where an ongoing war with the evil pirate Captain Hook is taking place. The film is directed by P.J Hogan, also known for Muriel's Wedding (1994) and My Best Friends Wedding (1997). Peter Pan the play was originally written by J.M Barrie which was then turned into a screenplay by Hogan. The film stars actors Jeremy Sumpter, Jason Isaacs and Olivia Williams. The tagline for the film is 'all children grow up expect one' and the film comes under the genres adventure,  family, fantasy and romance. Peter Pan was released December 25th 2003 in the United States with an estimated budget of $100,000,000 grossing an estimated $1,800,000 on its opening weekend and around $48,000,000 in the US alone. Production companies involved in the film include Universal Pictures, Columbia Pictures Corporation and Revolution Studios.

Images:
This article uses two main images and three smaller images to intrigue the reader and capture their attention. The main image on the left hand side of the double paged spread presents the two main characters of the film: Peter Pan and Wendy. This image takes up over half of the left hand side of the immediately capturing the readers attention. The fact that this image is the largest in the whole article tells the audience that the characters in this image are the two main characters that the plot will follow. The fact that this image features two characters also suggests to the reader that romance will be a key theme throughout the film and that the romance will involve the two characters featured in the image.
The second main image from the article is a mid/long shot of the antagonist of the film, Captain Hook. The reader is immediately informed that this character plays a large role in the film due to the fact he takes up a large portion of the right hand page.
The top of the double page spread features three images of shots from the film, these hint towards key themes of the film such as adventure, shown by Wendy looking through the door, family, shown through a shot of Wendy and her siblings and finally romance which is shown through the shot of the protagonist Peter Pan and Wendy standing in a typically romantic stance. These give the reader a small insight into the film, its key characters and themes.

Mis En Scene:
The mis en scene used in the images in the article also tell the audience that the film has a theatrical tone to it. This can be seen through the extravagant costume the character Captain Hook is wearing for example the large feather on the top of his pirate hat. The costume also tells the reader that the character on the right hand page is pirate due to the recognisable costume. We can also see that he is the antagonist in the plot as his right hand which is replaced by a hook is clearly visible in the image, this hook is easily identifiable by the audience as this hook has strong connections with the well known character Captain Hook. We can also tell he is the antagonist through his stern facial expression in the image.
We can tell from the images that the two protagonists are young children, this is emphasised by the lack of makeup used on the actors. The images also present the characters in the larger image on the left as the protagonists as they have happy facial expressions. We can see that Peter Pans character is carefree and wild through his the clothes he is wearing for example a sparse ripped and crumpled shirt. Wendy's character is presented as being more civilised and domesticated, this can be seen through the formal white shirt the character is wearing in one of the smaller images in the article. The old fashioned costumes seen on characters Captain Hook and Wendy also tell the reader that the film is set in the past.

Use of Colour:
One way colour is used throughout the article is through the characters outfits to demonstrate their personality and position within the plot. The brown neutral colour of the protagonists clothing suggests an earthy tone which has connotations of nature, youth and growth. This therefore links to the main plot point around the fact that Peter Pan is a child who ever ages. The colour red is also used throughout the character Captain Hook's outfit has connotations of danger and evil, signifying to the audience that he is the antagonist. The use of the strip across the right hand side of the right hand page of the double page spread also uses the colour green which relates to nature which has strong connotations of youth and growth. Green is also used for the first few words of the main body of text, for example 'Once upon a time...' and 'A clarification'. The white font used for the title of the article 'An Awfully Big Adventure' also has strong connotations of youth and innocence.

Orthography and Graphology:
Orthography is used throughout the double paged spread. An example being the change in font, font size and colour to indicate the start of a new segment in the main body of text. This also adds a sense of professionalism to the piece. This technique draws the readers attention to an otherwise visually boring body of text and therefore getting them to read the rest of the article. The rest of the the text is printed in the typical font 'Times New Roman', this makes the article clear and easy to read. The word 'Adventure' in the title of the article is printed in a font similar to calligraphy, this gives the impression that the word was written with a quill and ink. This therefore adds to the idea that this film is set in the past in a fictional world. This font is also used the signify the start of a new segment in the main body of text as well as for the quote on the right hand page.

Text:
The main body of text starts with the opening 'Once upon a time...' this immediately tells the audience that the film is based off of the well known fairytale. The first paragraph of the article introduces the film as a cinematic remake of the original fairytale therefore drawing in a wider audience as almost everyone has heard the tale of Peter Pan. It also introduces the film by referring to the directors previous work, this also brings in a wider audience. The use of words such as 'wedgie' used in the text, in this case the quote, create a childish tone to the article therefore intriguing younger readers into watching the film.

How does the article advertise the film?
Overall the article advertises the film Peter Pan through a use of graphology, orthography, colour and mis en scene.

Magazine Research: The Manchurian Crisis (1)

Institutional Information:
The Manchurian Crisis is a drama/sci-fi film, based from the original film The Manchurian Crisis 1962, released 30th July 2004 in the United States. The film is based off the novel written by Richard Condon, who also helped with adapting the story into a screenplay with other writers such as George Axelrod, Daniel Pyne and Dean Georgaris. The Manchurian Crisis tells the story of Sergeant Raymond Shaw after his army unit is ambushed during the first Gulf War. Starring actors include Denzel Washington as the leading role, Live Schreiber and Merly Streep. The film is a rated R due to strong violence and language, with the tagline '... is anyone seeing the truth?'. The budget for the film was an estimated $80,000,000, with the film grossing an estimated $20,000,000 on its opening weekend and an overall $65,000,000 overall. Production companies involved in the film include Paramount Pictures, Scott Rudin Productions and Clinica Estetico.

Images:
The double paged article includes four images from the film. Each of these images are focused on one individual character. The largest image is of the protagonist of the film, Major Marco, played by Denzel Washington. This is a medium shot of the character stood in a tall, formal stance. The fact that this image is almost centred on the double page spread and is larger than the other images, shows the audience that he is the main character in the film and that the plot will be centred around him. The fact that the character is stood alone in the shot also suggests that the plot will follow his personal struggle.
Another image in the article displays Meryl Streep's character, this is also a mid shot. This again tells the audience that her character will play an important role in the plot. The fact that she is alone in the shot implies that her character is a head-strong leader within the plot.
The use of smaller images for the other two photos suggest that these are more minor characters within the film. The use of large images of the well known actors playing a role in this film will intrigue the reader as these are faces they will recognise. This will draw in a larger audience for the film as people will go see the film because they have enjoyed actors such as Denzel Washington and Meryl Streep's work.

Mis En Scene:
In the main image of the article the main character, played by Denzel Washington, is displayed as standing tall in an officers uniform. This suggest to the reader his character has a highly professional and senior job. This subverts black stereotypes within the media as black characters are usually presented as making a living through crime and gangs, the fact that the character is presented with loads of medals on his uniform tells the audience he is very successful and respected within his profession. He is also shown wearing glasses, this presents him as intelligent. This intrigues the audience as the film is about the protagonist second guessing his own memories, the fact that the protagonist appears to be very intelligent suggests that the plot of the film is complex and interesting therefore expanding the potential audience of the film.
The image of the woman, played by Meryl Streep, displays her as professionally dressed, this implies that she is in a senior profession. The fact that she is dressed in all white clothing suggests that her character is innocent, however the caption located in the bottom left of the photo 'Meryl's scheming senator is all smiles in public' contradicts this presentation. This would therefore intrigue the audience as it adds complexity to the plot of the film. Her short brown hair presents her as practical and sensible, a stereotypical hair style of someone in a senior role.
Similar representations are used to present the other two characters. The use of professional clothing, and props such as pens present the characters as professional higher class individuals.

Use of colour:
Throughout the article there is a clear colour scheme of blue, red and white. This can be seen through the large text 'Primary Killer' and the media sized quote within the article ''Movies aren't religion. Nothing is sacred...' Jonathan Demme'. It can also been seen in the top left hand side of the double page spread where the title of the film is located. The colour scheme also matches the colours of the clothing the characters are wearing in the images, for example the blue uniform Denzel Washington's character is wearing, the white suit Meryl Streep's character is wearing, the white shirt of Jon Voight and the blue suit of Live Schreiber. This colour scheme links directly to the colours of the American flag, this links to strong theme of American politics throughout the film. The use of the red font for the word 'Killer's' has connotations of danger, corruption and murder, also themes found within the film. It also grabs the readers attention immediately therefore making it much more likely they will read the article and then go see the film.

Orthography and Graphology:
The majority of the main body of the text is displayed in a simple 'Times New Roman' font, this makes it clear and easy to read. Orthography is used throughout the text, each first word at the start of a new sentence is capitalised and punctuation is used clearly. The main body of text is also surrounded by a text box separating the article from the images and making the layout more clear and easy to read. A typewriter/stamp style font has been used throughout the article, a few examples being the work 'primary', the first sentence of the main body of text 'in 1972, Jonathan Demme' and the quote in the centre of the text 'Movies aren't religion. Nothing is sacred...'. This font appears to be a similar font used commonly throughout cinema to the 'secret' stamp placed on folders of private government information. This links to the themes of secrets, lies and corruption throughout the film.

Text:
The text immediately presents information about the fact that the movie is a re-make of the previous film, also called The Manchurian Crisis, released in 1962. This would attract a wider audience as anyone who had enjoyed that film would be interested in seeing the re-make. The text also gives a brief summary of what the film is about therefore drawing the readers interest in straight away. The quote used in the middle of the main body of text 'Movies aren't religion. Nothing is sacred...' is very mysterious and generates a sense of enigma around the new film.

How does this review advertise the film?
This double page review spread advertises the film through the use of colour, an example being the strong colour scheme of blue, red and white which links to the colours of the American flag presenting connotations of American politics, therefore clearly displaying the genre and main themes of the film. The use of font also advertises the film as the use of typewriter/stamp font for different elements of the article as it creates a sense of enigma as it has connotations of corruption, therefore intriguing the audience. The inclusion of images of the starring actors such as Denzel Washington and Meryl Streep also advertises the film as it draws in fans who had watched and enjoyed their previous work. Overall this article successfully draws in a particular audience for the film The Manchurian Crisis 2004.