Codes & Conventions of Magazines

Research of Magazine Covers

 Created for Documentaries

Three of the biggest film magazines on the market are Empire, Total Film and Sight and Sound. All three of these review latest films and allow their readers to find out about all the films out at that moment. Here, I will look at each film in depth.

Empire

• In common with most British film magazines, Empire is populist 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 on the former.
• As well as film news, previews and reviews, Empire has some unique regular features. Each issue (with the exception of issues 108 - 113) features a Classic Scene, a transcript from a notable film scene. The first such classic scene to be featured was the "I could have been a contender" scene from On the Waterfront.

Total Film

• Total Film is a British film magazine published 13 times a year (every four weeks) by Future Publishing.
• The magazine was launched in 1997 and offers film, DVD and Blu-ray news, reviews and features. 
• Each month, TF provides a range of features, from full-length interviews and photo shoots with established and up-and-coming actors and directors, to major film previews and retrospective pieces. All issues contain the Total Film Interview — an in-depth chat with a celebrated actor or director, along with a critique of their body of work; the Abridged Script - a one-page parody of a recent release and Total Film loves..., a one-page celebration of a film, a scene or a performance.

Sight and Sound

• British monthly film magazine published by the British Film Institute
• The magazine says it reviews all film releases each month, including those with a narrow art house release, as opposed to the more mainstream focus of its competitors.
• Every decade, Sight & Sound asks an international group of film professionals to vote for their greatest film of all time. Critics are asked to provide a top ten list
•  The Sight & Sound accolade has come to be regarded as one of the most important of the "greatest ever film" polls.