layout and content on similar publications

I have decided my film will be a mainstream Hollywood blockbuster, but will be suitable for featuring on both an independent and mainstream magazine. Since having decided this, it has lead me to deciding which kind of publication would have my film on the front cover of their magazine. I am going to analyse three covers, from similar publications, in terms of layout and content, in order to see the similarities between conventions. I will be looking at Empire, Total Film and The Hollywood reporter, which are all mainstream magazines.

Empire is the first magazine cover I have chosen to analyse. I have chosen Empire as it is a mainstream magazine, which is what mine will be as well.  

The second magazine cover I have analysed is Total Film. This is the same publication as Empire. Therefore, I am expecting the content and layout of the magazine cover to be the same as well. 

Although the publication of Total Film is the same as Empire, the content and layout of the magazine cover still differs slightly. For instance, Total Film didn't include as many coverlines as Empire did, as well as not including a price or barcode. Moreover, Total film included a two shot of two actors in its dominant central image, where as Empire only had one actress on the magazines cover. I will take these differences into consideration when creating the cover for my magazine. 

The final magazine cover I have chosen to analyse the layout and content of is The Hollywood Reporter. I have chosen this magazine as it features mainstream Hollywood films. However, this magazine slightly differs from Empire and Total Film as it also focuses on Hollywood's intersection with finance, fashion, politics, lifestyle, law and technology. Whereas Empire and Total Film's main focus is Hollywood blockbusters. 

The differing in The Hollywood Reporter in comparison to Empire and Total Film has been made evident through the dominant central image. For example, unlike the other two magazines, instead of having an image of a Hollywood actor/actress, there is an image of Tom Ford; a famous fashion designer. There are also significantly less conventions as well, such as a bar code, slogan and banners. 

In all three magazines, the mast head has been placed at the top of the magazine cover. The main cover line has also been placed right in the centre for Total Film, with it being taken more to the left in Empire, and more to the right in The Holly Wood reporter. All of the magazine covers have more than one cover lines as well. I am certainly going to take these three factors into consideration when I am making the cover for my magazine.