Conventions of Magazine Review

Technical Codes:

The technical codes of magazines are generally presented through the layout. Most magazine reviews have common conventions including:

•  Section title
•  Headline
•  Strap lines
•  Introduction
•  Breakout paragraphs
•  Pictures
•  Byline

Here is an example of magazine page layouts and how they can present technical codes within an article in different ways:

 

What is the purpose of a magazine film review?

What is the purpose of a magazine film review?
Primarily, the purpose of a magazine film review is to provide a potential audience with information and personal opinions/views regarding a particilar film.

The principal focus of a magazine review is for an audience to obtain an expert "third party" opinion on the suitibility of a film. Following this, audiences are then able to gain a clearer idea and understanding as to what the film is about which therefore helps to make an informed decision.

Film reviews are an important element of film marketing. Sometimes it can be a result of various film reviews which makes a certain film successful and popular. Most recently, this theory can be applied to Tom Hooper's "The Kings Speech". Initially the film appears to be a typical British heritage film, however due to the brilliant write ups it has recieved, this particular film has been a great success across the globe.

The purpose of a magazine film review

What is the purpose of a magazine film review?
Primarily, the purpose of a magazine film review is to provide a potential audience with information and personal opinions/views regarding a particilar film.

The principal focus of a magazine review is for an audience to obtain an expert "third party" opinion on the suitibility of a film. Following this, audiences are then able to gain a clearer idea and understanding as to what the film is about which therefore helps to make an informed decision.

Film reviews are an important element of film marketing. Sometimes it can be a result of various film reviews which makes a certain film successful and popular. Most recently, this theory can be applied to Tom Hooper's "The Kings Speech". Initially the film appears to be a typical British heritage film, however due to the brilliant write ups it has recieved, this particular film has been a great success across the globe.

 On the contrary to film posters, the audience are aware they are a form of advertising therefore suggest they are bias. On the otherhand, film reviews are impartial and unbiased therefore readers can make a good judgement as to whether a film is truely good or bad. Writers are not intending to promote the film they are merely commenting on how successful it is or isn't.

There are various different film magazines these include:

Empire, Total Film, Sight and Sound and Prevue.

On the contrary to film posters, the audience are aware they are a form of advertising therefore suggest they are bias. On the otherhand, film reviews are impartial and unbiased therefore readers can make a good judgement as to whether a film is truely good or bad. Writers are not intending to promote the film they are merely commenting on how successful it is or isn't.

Symbolic Codes of a Film Magazine

Symbolic codes are based upon the choices of images, colours and fonts. The connotations of what is seen is key here. A medieval font, as an example, or the use of the colour red. The 'hue saturation' of an image.

In terms of image selection, the following is usually thought about:

• Selection- choice of what shot is to be used. Most photographers will take more than one shot of the same event and the differences can be substantial. 
• Cropping- involves trimming parts of a picture after it has been taken. This is often used to cut out unnecessary parts of a photograph, or to focus the audiences attention on one area of a graphic. 
• Framing- the composition of the elements of the shot as it is being taken.
• Point of View- Where a photo is taken from will influence the way in which the audience perceives it. Perspective and background have major implications on the way an audience read an image. 

Technical Codes, Written Codes and Layout in Film Magazines

The technical codes of a film magazine are important in identifying the magazine as film based, and include: 

• Section Title
• Strap Lines
• Headline
• Introduction
• Pictures
• Subheadings
• Breakout Paragraphs
• Columns
• Graphics and Logos 
• Font and Typography
• Call to Action
• Breakout boxes
• Issue Info
• Byline

Variations in layout: 

Arrangements of columns: A page is often broken up into columns. The main text will be contained within single columns, where as introduction sentences or 'extra' information may spread across two or more columns. The number of columns on a page will often vary according to the size of a magazine and the audience the magazine targets (i.e. more columns, containing less text for a magazine targeting non-serious film watchers, and less columns containing more information for magazines targeting serious film watchers). 

Headline Style: This is technically part of typography. Despite this, choices made about headlines can affect the way an article is read. Headlines that are printed in bold with large lettering add urgency to a particular sentence. This urgency is reduced by lower writing cases, with only the first letter of each word capitalised. Some publications use strap lines- a smaller headline that adds detail- either above or below the headline (more often below). 

Fonts and Typography: A font is the style of character selected to create the words. Different fonts give different magazines their character, and make them identifiable from one another. Fonts can also establish whether a magazine is serious, or fun. Typography refers to size, spacing, line length of text on a page. An article in a publication will normally use more than one font and typography, but these will follow a formula set out by the house style.

Subheadings: A way of braking up a long article to make it more readable and attractive to a potential reader.

Use of Graphics and Photographs: Graphics included above or below a headline can signal regular sections in the publication and add to the design possibilities. They can also be used to break the page up visually, or highlight certain areas of text. The amount, type and layout of graphics and photographs can determine the way an article is perceived and read.

The written codes in a magazine article are communicated through the language used. The key area is the publications mode of address, i.e. the way they talk/communicate with their target audience. It could be humorous, chatty, serious or professional. The types of words used determine the style and complexity of an article and film magazine as a whole.

The written codes in a magazine

Written Codes



The written codes in a magazine article are communicated through the language that is used. The key area to think about is the publications 'mode of address'

Mode of address: The way it speaks to its audience, this could be very formal or indeed very casual. It may be humorous or serious, chatty or professional. The types of words selected and the style and complexity of the sentences used are how the mode of address is usually identified.

Symbolic Codes

The symbolic codes are based around the choice of images, fonts and colours used by the magazines.

In terms of image selection and capture, the following must be considered:

Selection: The choice of which shot to use.

Cropping: This involves trimming off parts of a picture after it has been taken.

Framing: The composition of the elements of the shot as it is being taken, mainly how things are presented in relation to each other.

Point of view: Where a photograph is taken from will influence the way in which it is perceived. The perspective as well as background have a major implication on the way we read an image.

What are the conventions of magazine page layout in terms of technical codes ?

The technical codes of magazines are importantly presented through the layout, these include:

>Section title

>Headline

>Strap lines

>Introduction

>Subheadings/breakout paragraphs

>Columns

>Pictures

>Graphics and logos

>Font and Typography

>Breakout Boxes

>Call to action

>Byline

>Issue information

More often than not the design of a page will largely depend on its readership as well as the content of the publication.

Arrangement of Columns: A page is broken up into columns. The number of columns on a page will usually vary according to the magazine.

Fonts and typography: A font is the style of character selected to create the words. The selection of font can give a magazine its character and identity.

Typography refers to the way the text is laid out on the page, for example the size and spacing etc. Magazine articles will normally use more than one font and typography.

Headline Style: The choices made about headlines can affect the way an article is read. Headlines in block capitals for example add a certain sense of urgency, which can be reduced by writing in lowercase.

Subheadings: A subheading is a means of visually breaking up a longer article making it more digestible. They can also be used to pick out a particular feature of the story in the main body of the article.

Use of graphics: Graphics are usually included above or below the headline, they usually signal regular sections in the publication and add to the design possibilities. They can also be used to beak the page up or even highlighting certain areas of work.

Photographs: Photographs have a significant effect on the way an article is read, when reading a magazine our eye is more readily drawn to the right hand page, therefore an eye catching image placed on the right hand page can catch our initial attention.

What is the purpose of a film magazine review?

Film reviews more often then not contain information about films, including the genre, narrative, synopsis etc. this is done in order to target the audience, giving them an insight of what the film has to offer. Film reviews are often very opinionated and contain third party recommendations, Therefore the purpose of a film review is to tell their audience what they thought was good or bad about the movie. So that these audience can make a choice of whether or not to watch the reviewed movie, furthermore emphasising the importance of film reviews in terms of capturing the audiences. With comparison to film posters, audiences recognise and understand that film posters are in fact a part of advertising  therefore the message that is put across, will always be a positive one about the film, on the other hand film reviews are written by a 3rd person journalist with a completely unbiased opinion about the film, therefore it is clear to see why the audiences value editorial opinions over their adverts.

Film reviews therefore are regarded as an important part of a films marketing campaign due to the fact that independant magazines can review their films allowing them to gain recognition and gain audiences, however there is always an element of risk, the film may recieve particularly bad reviews, causing them to lose out on mass audiences.