Total Film Analysis/Research

I have chosen to focus on the film magazine "Total Film". I am looking at the production details, Audience, mode of address and representation.

PRODUCTION DETAILS
Total Film is produced by Future Publishing in Bath. Future produces over 150 magazines worldwide including magazines like Classic Rock, Xbox 360 Magazine and Total Guitar. Their magazines are produced in over 30 countries around the world.
Total Film is one of their biggest selling magazines with around 85-90,000 magazines sold each month. It costs £4.00 and will occasionally have free DVDs and books accompanying the magazine. It features reviews of new films and old films revisited.
It has a consistent format and layout with the following elements:
a). Cover article - the big feature of the month
b). Buzz - film gossip and news(films not yet released)
c). Reviews - reviews of cinema releases that month
d). Lounge - home entertainment news and features (near the back)
e). Reader's letters and competitions (to guarantee audience engagement)

AUDIENCE
The audience is primarily made up of young men who are film fans. Most of the letters are from men and the advertising is male-orientated. Most of the adverts support the film industry e.g. HMV, Play.com, DVDs due to be released. Men are also targeted for the classified adverts at the back for games, gadgets, technology, cars and phone sex lines. However, the magazine does claim that 25% of its readers are women.

MODE OF ADDRESS
The mode of address is playful, masculine and youthful e.g. looking at Harry Potter lego designs to see if it gives clues for the films. The magazine is not very laddish by including film references and jokes whilst not being too serious. It positions its audience as young, knowledgeable film lovers who are familiar with pop culture references and have a sense of humour

REPRESENTATION
There is a bias towards men which is the same as in Hollywood. Most of the stars and directors featured are male. The women who are featured are presented as sex objects who are all attractive and sexy. It does reject laddishness that is in magazines like Zoo and Nuts. Future conducted a survey several years ago that claimed that the average demographic is 75% male and the median age is 26. The psychometric profile describes Total Film readers as dedicated film goers who see films on the opening weekend and show off their film knowledge to their mates in the pub.

PM