Sight and Sound magazine

Sight and Sound magazine is a film magazine that offers information and features on more Art house type productions and niche genre films. Featuring my poster in this type of magazine would be the most suitable option, it typically aims at a male film audience and allows less publicised works to be shown.

The draft cover that I came up for my magazine is actually quite similar to some of the Sight and Sound covers I have just researched, which shows that my own cover will fit the conventions that I am studying.

 <-- This is the cover that appears similar to my own, as I was thinking of a simple layout with the serene blue sky background.


My original idea for the background of the magazine was the field image with my actor standing with her back towards the camera, but now I am steering towards a more horror orientated image..

I am going to draw a few of my new ideas up and upload them shortly. Looking at the covers for Sight & Sound has made me want to go in a different direction in terms of imagery, something more simplistic and eye catching. Something that reflects the psychological horror genre.

This magazine has quite a retro feel to it, as would my own, referring to it's title of 'Drive In' (typically an old way of watching movies).

Poster placement

I will be placing my poster in a film magazine, this means the dimensions of my poster will be around 8.5x11". I thought this would be a good place to advertise as the poster will be fairly detailed and so would require more time to look at, it is not quite 'eye-catching' enough for a billboard poster. Also being a niche genre film means that it would require a lot of finance to advertise over billboards and such, so a slot in a magazine would be easier financially.

Audience feedback

I have just received some feedback regarding the layout and design of my poster. From this I have learnt that I need to figure out the layout of the poster in regards to where it will be shown, e.g in a magazine, billboard. When this has been decided I can then work on what size and shape it will be.
The bottom two images on the poster have been more unpopular than the top, not as strong imagery. I will try to find some other images that will convey the theme of the story to the viewer, eliminating the weaker images.

Practicing on photoshop for poster

broken mirror - reflecting the characters mind frame, broken, shattered, dangerous.

moon - shows the films link with nature as in the other images, everything is outdoors, natural, unsafe.

figure standing alone - isolation, vulnerability, innocence

child running into woods - danger, running, fear, darkness, loss of innocence

The imagery used in these posters reflects some of the themes and conventions of my genre and storyline

Final Magazine and Poster layouts

What to include on poster

Title going across middle of the two images, splitting into 2 halves.
WRECKQUIEM - on either side of title put the film festivals it is entered for (make up names)
under title simply 3 actors names
top images: moon on left side, broken mirror on right
bottom image: actress on floor of the woods

What to include on magazine

TITLE - Drive In

MAIN STORY - Katharine Wood's debut hit with Wreckquiem, this years best
                             psychological horror
                             First interview with director + cast
                             Image of lead actress

SUB STORIES - The best film festivals to attend this summer
                              New releases (list across bottom of page)
                              Film buff's quiz of the year