Production Process - Magazine

The plan for our magazine covered developed once it came to creating the piece, although some aspects of the original plan remain. The blue background, an influence taken from many television magazine covers, is a welcoming colour that will attract the reader’s eye. We chose this colour due to its use on other magazine covers and because of the colour connotations such as relaxation and trauma – two theme’s connected with soap operas.  The yellow, pink, white and black colours are chosen to contrast against the blue background, making information easy to locate and read. The colours have been used within features that have direct links to the colour connotations. The inclusion of pink, blue and yellow also directly links to our target audience, we aim for both our soap opera, magazine cover and poster to appeal to a diverse audience – by using blue, pink and yellow we hope to appeal to all genders.

The circular format was chosen in relation to a television magazine cover we studied. We liked the interesting layout of the circles and believe this will give our cover a unique and original appearance in comparison to others. The circle relates directly to ‘soap bubbles’ on a literal meaning but the connotations of the circle format is the ‘circle of life’ a parallel to soap operas and their direct link to following characters from birth to death, offering a realistic view of working class, modern life.

The logo for our soap opera was created in keeping with the circular format and is featured in the top left corner, a common position for the title and logo of a magazine. The pink background has connotations of love which is used to portray a love for television – it is also a bright welcoming colour that is in keeping with the tone of the magazine cover. The lexis “TV” is shown in the largest font, a direct link that this is the main importance of the magazine and therefore, the main topic of the magazine. We chose to edit text “TV” to give it a shadow, to contrast it further against the background showing it to be the main focus. We chose for the second lexis in our magazine’s title, “inside” to be shown vertically, we felt this logo was unique and would therefore be easily remembered by our target audience. The pragmatics of this phrase tell the reader that the information within this magazine is exclusive and honest, it tells them that the information given in the magazine is the most they can read upon the topics discussed. Above the logo, in the circle is the phrase “your weekly television guide” – the syntax of the sentence means that the inclusive pronoun comes first showing that the reader is the main importance of the magazine – it makes the reader feel part of a ‘group’, as if the magazine has been produced with them, personally, in mind; it is also in keeping with the chatty tone created by the magazine front cover. The lexis “guide” rather than magazine was chosen because the pragmatics of the lexis “guide” are much softer and once again, connotes that the magazine is reliable, honest and helpful. This phrase is shown in white font, contrasting it from the rest of the logo and the box so that it is easily visible to the reader.

The feature directly below the logo is shown in a circle frame, with a pink outline. The pink outline is used to connote love, the topic which is discussed within the feature. Layered over an image is the tagline “Tom and Jade – Together or Not?”, this tagline was chosen as it directly interacts with the audience asking them to think about it which will develop a sense of curiosity. We have used a common technique of television magazines by not naming the soap opera; television magazines often neglect showing which soap is being discussed as they know their audience will be able to establish by the characters which soap opera it is; so instead we have named two characters which acts as an indexical reference to the soap opera. The feature uses a staged image to show two characters, established as Tom and Jade. The body language of the characters (stood side by side) shows the chemistry between the pair and their glum facial expression match with the tagline by connoting their ‘relationship’ is turbulent.

There are two other smaller features at the bottom, shown in a similar format however, these features relate directly to the main feature. A thick outline, either pink or yellow, highlights the features from the blue background making the information easily accessible for the audience, an outer glow is also used to isolate the features from the background – a technique used in the magazine covers studied. Both use screen grabs from the trailer to entice the reader, offering them hints about storylines and setting. Once feature shows two characters kissing with the tagline “Who’s kissing who?” layered over, this tagline – like the previous, by being an interrogative, interacts with the audience, making them think directly about the possibilities of relationships. It also immediately introduces one of the prime storylines, love and lust, creating a sense of excitement amongst the readers. The second feature shows a screen grab taken from the trailer showing the main street lit up at night, the light has been treated making it more noticeable and welcoming to the reader. The tagline layered over is, “inside – a tour of the town”, this invites the reader in by offering some exclusive information, and then teasing them to find out more. It shows that the magazine is reliable by offering a full explanation to the new soap opera.

In the top right corner, and bottom right corner of the page are two star-like puffs which are shown in yellow to connote the happiness and excitement about the topics within. The exclamations used in both create a sense of excitement for the reader, in keeping with the chatty, informal tone and making them want to read more and both have taglines which tease the reader by offering more information inside about these exciting features; these two techniques have been incorporated to make the reader more likely to buy the magazine. Both puffs are shown in the same format due to the similar theme within them – not only were the shapes and colours chosen do draw attention and because of the parallel connotations but because they both look like parody’s of a medal, which links directly to the competitive theme referred to in both. The bottom puff has been edited to that a shadow is visible around it, this is to isolate it from the background drawing the reader attention to it. The top puff has been edited to that an outer glow is visible; this is parallel to the comedy glow often shown when winning is refered to in other forms of media – this was incorporated as it fits in well with the chatty, informal tone of the magazine and excites the reader about the feature.

The price of the magazine is shown in between the top puff and main feature. A simple, san serif font is used for the “£1” and the colour white has been chosen to make it noticeable to the reader. We chose this price as we want to attract customers and can therefore not make our magazine two expensive.

The image of the main feature is shown in a circular format, in keeping with the theme that runs throughout. This is important within this feature as the connotations of the circle, life and death, are appropriate to this character and the opening storyline. A staged image is chosen to introduce the character whilst not giving away too much information about storylines, emotions and relationships – it also makes the character appear much more realistic. The character is looking directly at the camera and smiling, this was chosen instead of a glum facial expression as it is more welcoming to the audience and therefore more likely to attract their attention, and in turn more likely for them to watch the soap. It also connotes that the soap opera is fun and exciting, an feeling that will transfer onto the reader making them excited about the new soap. The girl is dressed modern clothing stereotypical to a teenage girl, this highlights her gender making her appear more vulnerable and emphasising other personality traits associated with her age and gender. The white background is used to connote innocence, parallel to the stereotype the magazine aims to create for the character so that her storyline will then shock and interest the audience. The characters head is edited so that it is layered over the circle, this connotes her big personality, it is also parallel to the opening storyline and her need to break free. Both the circle and image are edited so that a shadow is visible – the effect the shadow behind the character is the connotations to a darker side to her in comparison to the ‘happy’ girl represented. The circle’s shadow is used to highlight it from the background.

The first pink box, highlights the words “Cliffside, New Soap!” in the colours yellow and white. The title of the soap, “Cliffside” is shown in a yellow font parallel to the sunshine linked with the seaside setting. The pink box is used due to its connotations of love, a central theme within the opening storylines and throughout the soap opera. The phrase “new soap!” is shown in a larger white font to help promote the soap make it visible to the reader. The syntax of the exclamation names the soap first meaning making it easier to remember for the reader. Underneath this the masthead is visible in colour and font stereotypical to the format of television magazine covers. The lexis “secrets” was chosen as the masthead because it will trigger the audience to begin to imagine possible situations which will be influence by other soap operas, cultural references and expectations of society today. The inner yellow colour has connotations of sunshine, parallel to the setting and connotations of happiness, parallel to the character however, this is juxtaposed by a thick black outline. The black outline contrasts against the yellow connoting things may not be what they seem and giving the feature a more sinister tone this links directly to the happy character shown in the staged image and the foreboding shadow behind her. It immediately makes the reader curious about the character, making them want to find out more. Underneath the masthead is a tagline, shown in a pink box making it easily accessible to the reader and highlighting that extra information surrounding the topic of “secrets” is being offered. In a simple white font in the interrogative “Can Charlotte handle the truth or will the secrets come out?”, this immediately develops the readers interest and curiosity by naming the character in the image as Charlotte. The interrogative also interacts with the reader by asking them to question and think about possible scenarios and storylines. The lexis “handle” was chosen as the pragmatics of the word allude to the possibility that Charlotte is some sort of turmoil and things are getting to much – it creates a cliff-hanger between the information and the first episode meaning the reader is more likely to watch the soap opera and find out more.