Film Magazine Deconstruction-Empire

I will be aiming to further study the common codes and conventions of 'EMPIRE' film magazine

I will first, focus on the design and layout of the magazine codes and conventions in order to understand the features and layout which are successful to a readers eye.

Below, I have placed some examples of former 'EMPIRE' covers which instantly gives an audience the impression of which this magazine offers and also the image of the entire magazine.

• This is an 'Empire' issue cover from 201
•  The mise en scene of the cover, colours used, text, typography, images, common features and codes will be the concepts I study and choose to replicate. 

• Secondly, an Empire issue cover from more recently 2012
• Focus on one new film release e.g. Spiderman and the new leading actor (Andrew Garfield)

Under the subheadings of design and layout come many codes and conventions and the following will help me fully identify and understand why and how such codes are used:

1. Images-size,editing,colour,what it is

2. Text-size, font, typography, colour, angles

3. Mise en scene-placement of every code on an A4 spread, why is that picture there?

4. Colour-colour theme, bright, bold, relevant, common colour theme

5. Title- 'EMPIRE'

6. Logo

7. Common codes-names of writers, photography, page numbers, photo tags, captions

Below, is a common design of a film interview/feature from 'Empire' magazine which I will consturct using those main themes numbered:



1. Images

• Amount of pictures used totalled- 10
• Three of those images are large scaled and help order the mise en scene of the entire article.
• Firstly, the largest image is the background of the interview title and background information. This is to be as eye-catching as possible and draw attention to the striking pictures which help lay out what the interview is about
• The two other images one seen in black and white effect (reflective i.e. past film scene) and one coloured are images from films on focus in the article
• The other images, medium and smalled scaled are seen on a common feature on the right side of the double page A4 spread article
• All the images are edited similarly i.e. in a square/rectangular position and angled in forward an upright alignment

2. Text

• There is a real variation of font and size in text throughout this double page spread article from large bold titles to small photo captions in italic
• The article title "The Final Cut" is extremley large and in  bold capitals. This is significant as it is a main focus point within the article and the reader starts to read from this point.
• Slightly small text usually in italics, is placed below the main title however not as small as the main body of text
• Quotes are enlarged throughout an article and in this case is seen in “blue completed with quote marks”
• Unusually, in this particular article the text is not angled to appear more three dimensional, instead the text is horizontally read left to right
• Some very small text is angled vertically^ to fit the common code of photo captions and photography tags i.e. PhotographyJohnWest
• Also, photo captions are placed in left diagonal places of the image, which shows text being minimised to fit
• The main body of text is aligned in vertical columns which is most certainly a significant recogniseable trait of a magazine

3. Mise en Scene

• Placement of images is scattered acorss the double A4 page spread, although the pictures do not dominate the article, simply enhance it
• The placement includes the 1st image in the top left square section, 2nd image centred on the bottom of page and thirdly in the right hand corner-enough variation and equal space and balance from image to text
• Some larger, more importantly situated text is written with a image in the background i.e. film title 'The Final Cut'
• Otherwise, text is placed in boxes which are photo captions giving a short description of what the image explains
• Main body of text is aligned in vertical columns which gives structure to the article
• On the right side of the article is an 'Empire' feature which has a slight border separating it from the focus of this certain interview - his alters the whole mise en scene of the article but adds interverence and some different interest (however, is not so dissimilar to the subject matter)
• The only quote is situated on the bottom of the page, on the right side however some other 'Empire' articles are quote heavy plastered across the two pages

4. Colour

• Two main colours which are featured in mostly all 'Empire' magazines are black and red
• This is a current colour theme as the title of 'Empire' acts as the magazines logo coloured in red
• A common code is throughout the magazine, therefore evident in interviews and above, with coloured borders i.e. black and red borders outlining the article
• The colours in the particular article vary, most of the images are coloured except one which is coloured black and white highlighting a variation
• The black/red colours continue in the text as the main text is in black however some significant parts of the article have been highlighted red i.e. short descriptions, however the quote introduces new colours blue and pink

5. Title

• Seen on the magazine covers is the regular 'EMPIRE' title central on the front cover
• The typography always stays the same, and the styling appears quite gothic with the edgy quirks on the capital lettering
• The colour is red-which is bold and has connotations such as anger, danger, blood, war, love, intense romance etc
• This is a skillful relation to the magazine as these connotations are common themes and basis' within any film on whatever subject matter

6. Common codes + conventions

• The most important codes I need to notice and replicate are these small conventions such as names of writers, photography, page numbers, photo tags, captions, quotes, sponsors, production names
• With these codes text is usually angled either vertically on the centre pages in the borders of the double page spread
• Horizontally, involved in text or at the bottom borders of the page
• Beside each image used, a common convention is the information of who is responsible for the image and where it is from, this text is styled as so: PhotographyJohnWest
• Photo captions in this article are described in small black boxes with white text in a corner of the image
• Page numbers are seen in the bottom right corner, white numbers varying in bold/unbold style