Entertainment Magazine (Sweeney Todd)

Masthead - As is conventional, the masthead for this magazine is positioned at the top of the cover in the largest font and in front of the image; this makes it easy to read and clear exactly what magazine it is. The ‘weekly’ is written almost ‘inside’ the main masthead as to not take attention away from the most recognisable/unique part of the masthead, but still allowing the frequency of the publishing to be known.  The sans serif font for all the text is quite clean and minimalist - as a general magazine, it is important that it fits whatever the genre of the entertainment on the cover, and this font is so versatile it can fit with any. Additionally, with the magazine being less niche it means it can appeal to a more mainstream, and thus wider, audience, which would hopefully increase sales numbers. By having the 'weekly' in another font and all in upper case, it provides some variation compared to the other text on the cover, making it stand out and easier to read (especially as it is so small it could risk getting 'lost' against the others).

Cover lines - Against convention, this magazine only has two cover lines. By doing this, it allows those few sections on the cover to be in a larger font, as they are not competing for space with say five or six others, and are clear to read. This is especially effective with such a well-known actor as Johnny Depp, as if he was not instantly recognisable from the image having his name so large is more likely to grab the reader’s attention. The lack of cover lines also adds to the minimalist aesthetics of the magazine that is more frequent in modern products, reflecting its niche but high quality writing. In keeping with conventions, the cover lines are positioned on opposing sides of the cover, meaning there is less 'white space' and creates a balanced aesthetic which is easy to read as the text is well spaced apart.

Image - The image itself is incredibly striking and eye catching; the white makeup contrasting with the black hair, costume, and grey background. While it is unconventional, Depp is not positioned facing the camera straight on, as instead his head is angled slightly (but with his eyes still directed at the camera). This allows him to portray some of ‘Sweeney Todd’s’ character trait, as he is mysterious and unknown, yet his gaze manages to almost ‘pierce’ through the reader looking at him that you cannot look away from. Conforming to convention, the magazine uses a head shot image, allowing just the shoulders and very upper chest to be seen while most of the cover is taken up by Depp’s head. This means most of the attention is still kept with his character’s iconic look, while the reader is still exposed to some of his costume, adding further texture and characterisation.  This texture is also helped by the use of lighting, as the left side of the cover is slightly darker then the left which adds shadowing to his cheekbones, creating an ‘angular’ look of associated with evil ‘villains’ helping to establish the films genre.

Rule of Thirds - The cover used the rule of thirds with its use of image and texts. The mast head fills the top 'thirds', as is conventional, with the main cover lines positioned along the top and centre left, and the other text covers the two bottom divisions. This placement allows sufficient 'thirds' for Depp's face/left shoulder, and means that not too much of any particular column or row is filled - overall, giving a well balanced cover that allows each separate feature sufficient space.

Colours - While the magazine changes it’s masthead colour every issue, it does use a limited variation with the most common being blue, yellow, white and red. The use of a fairly vibrant blue on this cover allows it to standout against the dark image, however it is still in keeping with the solemn aesthetics.  Using only three text colours, this adds to the simple feel of the cover, and allows nothing to become overcomplicated or overwhelming to read. The text also alternates colour with the main ‘headings’, meaning it is clear where each new important piece of information about the featured article starts. The use of red is a much warmer colour compared to the cold blue and whites, however, by using such a dark shade it still manages to fit with the overall look but stand out enough so it is readable. Using white for ‘Johnny Depp’ allows it to stand out against the black costume behind even more so then the blue ‘39’, highlighting that it is the most important feature of the issue. They have also used white for the lists of actor underneath, explicitly showing that they are connected.

Genre/Demographic - From the characters dark costume, hair, pasty face (as is common in antagonists, making them appear ghost like or dead) and stern expression you can infer that the movie is targeted at those of who enjoy entertainment with a darker theme. Also, the use of blue with the masthead is most commonly found on covers which feature movies aimed at the slightly older audience, as Sweeney Todd is (where as brighter colour such as yellow are commonly connected to those white a younger demographic). However, it is clear the magazine covers a large range of 'entertainment' (as you would expect), as the masthead, tag line, and other cover lines are not very niche or specific to one genre. By doing this, they are appealing to a wider target audience, as a reader who may not like the horror genre (as it portrayed by the image), is likely to enjoy reading about the other '39 new films' featured.

Font - The font for all the text is quite clean  and minimalistic - as a general magazine, it is important that it fits whatever the genre of the entertainment on the cover, and this font is so versatile it can fit with any. Additionally, with the magazine being less niche it means it can appeal to a more mainstream, and thus wider, audience, which would hopefully increase sales numbers. By having the 'weekly' in another font and all in upper case, it provides some variation compared to the other text on the cover, making it stand out and easier to read (especially as it is so small it could risk getting 'lost' against the others).