Research Into Film Magazine Covers

I have chosen to look at the covers of two successful British film magazines to get an idea of the typical conventions they use to attract a reader, promote the film and create a professional look to the cover.

Total Film is the UK's second best-selling film magazine launched in 1997 and published every 4 weeks. Total Film contains a range of features including full-length interviews with established and new actors and directors, 'Top 100' lists, photo shoots (of actors), film stills and film previews. Each issue includes 'The Total Film Interview' which includes an in depth interview with an actor or director combined with a critique of their work and ratings of the films they have featured in.

Empire is the UK's biggest selling film magazine launched in 1989 and published every 4 weeks. Empire's features include reviews of mainstream and art films, 'Top 10' lists, 'Pint Of Milk' where celebrities answer unusual questions and 'Celebrity Mastermind' where a celebrity asked questions about a film they were in or directed. Also, every issue features a quote on the spine of the magazine that has an obvious or subtle link to the main features of the magazine.