Magazine Analysis

1. Magazine Analysis

2. Empire - Synopsis • Empire is a British Film Magazine published monthly by Bauer Media (Q, The Box) • Biggest selling film magazine in Britain, consistently outselling its rivals including Total Film. • Organises yearly awards for different categories. Offers readers chance at voting for the winners. • Empire has some unique regular features, such as a regular Top 10 feature lists Empire's choice of the top ten examples of something film-related. For example 10 Best Chase Scenes. Readers are encouraged to write in if they disagree with the choices made. • Empire relates to popular culture in both approach and coverage unlike less irreverent and more 'serious' magazines such as Sight & Sound. It reviews both mainstream films and art films, but feature articles concentrate mainly on mainstream films.

3. Total Film - Synopsis • Total Film is a British publication published every once a month every year. • Launched in 1997, Total Film offers DVD and Blu- Ray news, reviews and features. • Is one of the largest circulation English-speaking film magazines in the world. • Each month, Total Film provides a range of features, from full-length interviews and photo shoots with established and up-and-coming actors and directors. • The magazine is made up of six different key features, which all serve different purposes. They either set out to involve and interact with the audience, give “sneak peeks” at different films or provide “behind the scenes” stills of films. (Dialogue, Buzz, Agenda, Screen, Lounge and The Total Film Quiz)

4. Magazine Front Cover Analysis : Empire and Total Film • Main Image • The main image of both of these front covers is inevitably going to vary, as the publishers look to cater for different needs. The Empire edition gives a close up of the characters (Batman) face. This could be used to not only show that he is a protagonist within his film, but also the emotion which he shows. The audience also gets to direct access to the characters eyes, as they are conveniently placed within the golden section of the picture. The character also has an intimidating facial expression, while wearing black clothing, which may go with the strep line “Dark Knight”. On the other hand, in the Total Film issue, the character is standing with is hands in his pocket, and looking attentively. The character has a more relaxed facial expression, but still manages to retain a sense of seriousness. He is wearing what seems to look like a long over coat, which may connote wealth or a level of social importance. The background in which he is meant to be standing in, has been blurred which creates an eerie atmosphere and makes him the sole character visible, further reinforcing the idea that he is important. • Masthead • The Masthead of each of these magazine front covers is clearly visible to the audience. They both also seems to take on the form of a selected colour scheme, with empire choosing black and blue, which creates a silhouette around the Masthead. While Total Film, have chosen to use a bold white colour, which is able to attract consumers. Total Film, have also used blue in their colour scheme, but is a subtle shade of blue, which is able to blend into the background. On the Empire edition, the Masthead is visible and falls in front of the main picture, which may add to its attraction to consumers. However the Masthead within the Total Film edition, is overlapped by the main picture. This seems to suggest the importance of the person in the picture, to not only the magazine, but also the film they are starring in. Strap line: The strap line featured in these magazine front covers, inevitably relate to the main pictures. Within the Empire issue, the strap line is “Batman vs. The Joker- Summer Just Gut Serious”. The consumer can see the relation between the strap line and main image, as not only is Batman the focal point for the main image, but also has a “serious” facial expression which ties in with the strap line. The text “The Dark Knight” can mean two things, as being a knight is usually related with being a hero, while he is referred to as “Dark” which would go hand in hand which the attire and overall mise-en scene.

5. Magazine Front Cover Analysis : Empire and Total Film Ctd. Sell Lines: The sell lines within both posters convey a range of conventions that is usually consistent on film magazines. Having said that, Empire uses less use of pictures or anything that will be able to detract attention from the main focus, which is Batman. However they have put a sell line directly next to the grimacing face of Batman, which will inevitably catch the consumers, as not only is it in a bright colour outlay, which also complements the colour scheme, but it involves a big film star in Clint Eastwood. The other sell lines, remain at the bottom of the picture, so as to not spoil the main idea of this front cover being a “tribute” to TheDark Knight film. On the other hand, Total Film, have used a more conventional approach to their sell lines. The sell lines are either side of the main focus, so that they remain potential points of interests to consumers. The main sell lines start of with CAPITAL letters, to give a brief idea of what else is going to feature within the magazine. There are then brief descriptions of each feature. There is also a picture clipping based element, which seems to aim to “sell” the magazine further with its use of aesthetic technique. The words “10 COOLEST MOVIES BEING MADE RIGHT NOW!” also feature next to these pictures which further enhance the consumers interest. The colour scheme of the front cover is also consistent within the sell lines, which may add to the effect of being contemporary yet eerie. Strap line ctd: The strap line featured within the Total Film magazine, shows a clear relation to the Masthead but also shows links to the overall colour scheme. Before the headline, there is a sub line that says “All The Elements Are Coming Together!”. The audience may be able to see the relation between this sub line and the name, but also the sub line that is under the head line which says “On set! Cracking the case of the Worlds Greatest Detective” reinforces this idea. This all goes together with the main picture where the character has his hands in his pockets and in front of a shadowy background. These ideas all add to the eeriness of the front cover, which add to the compounding effect this front cover may have on consumers. Mise-en-scene/ Colour Scheme The mise-en-scene of both covers is inevitable to be varied. However they do follow a similar colour scheme to one another. The mise-en-scen featured in the Empire is a full scale black background, while the character himself is also wearing black, which ties in with the ideals set by the strap line of Batman being the “Dark Knight”. The colour scheme used is a bright blue, which almost seems like a neon blue, which is reflected in the out line of the masthead. The blue used for the sell lines remain bright, but with the intention of attracting consumers. The mise-en-scene within Total Film, seems to have the intention of setting semi-distopian scenario, where Holmes stands out from the crowd. This idea could be reinforced, when there is nothing but what looks to be shadows in the background, while Holmes remains in the foreground. His peakcoat, could be seen as a symbol of a detective, which would make the strap line more authentic.The colour scheme is also a bright blue, which in comparison to the Empire, remains consistent, which also ties in with the shadowy eerie effect.