Poster Analysis x14

1. Poster analysis.

2. 1. White background suggest an innocence to the narrative. Position of characters suggest they are in a relationship. Letters on the floor could link with the tag line. Colour red connotes love. The purpose of this poster is to give the audience an insight in to the narrative of the film, from this poster you can tell that the genre will be a romantic comedy between the characters starring in the poster and from the picture on the poster the audience can tell that the two are in a relationship, also its a marketing technique to get the film known to enable the largest possible audience and to inform information e.g. the date of release. The prominent colours used in this film are white and red which are both connotes to love and passion for red and for white pure and innocent. Colours for posters are chosen to which best fit genres and from the colours chosen for this you can tell that this film is going to entail a love story with an innocent narrative therefore a rom com. For example a lot of horrors use black and red to represent death and blood or danger. The image shown in this poster portrays a genre specific element as the way the shot it set up you can tell its a love story. The fact that it looks like both the character have minimal clothing shows a sign of intimacy and her hand is clearly central to the shot with a wedding ring on. The image used is very realistic because the way the male character is looking at the female character laying down shows his admiration for her and does show a couple that seem to be in love. The titles colour has significance to the film because its red and in script so the first thing is that it stands out on a washed out image and white background but it also portrays the theme love.

3. People fear the unknown and from this Black silhouette we cant really tell who or what it is making it unknown. 2. The Woods is a known feared place especially at night. The white scratched title insinuates that the blades on the silhouettes hand is important. Red and Black connotes danger and death. This film poster is typical to a horror, even without reading the well known title you can tell its a horror film by the image and colours used. Unlike the previous poster p.s I love you the red is used for a different representation in a horror red connotes either blood or danger which are both genre specific elements. The font is in white to make it bold and eye catching to the potential audience looking at it and it also has slits thorough the title enhancing the gory narrative to this film. The back image is of a forest with trees creating a dark shadowed location with glimmers of ghostly lighting protruding through. The woods and similar isolating places already have a reputation for being a creepy place where many UN explainable things happen even in reality, making the genre even more recognisable. The main image is a black silhouette of someone with blades as fingers in a very casual pose this leaves the audience guessing as to who or what this figure is as nothing is given away. The tag line is “every story has a beginning” I think the reason for this tag line is because this film is trying to create the beginning of the story for the original night mare on elm street to carry on and this tag lone gives more away than most because now the audience knows that it will have similar narratives to the old version. The structure of the poster is quite simple with the image being central and the title being at the bottom and I think the reason for this is because as this is a sequel film the audience already know a lot about this film but by keeping the film poster simple it doesn’t give too much of the new story away.

4. 3. Red and blue are reactant colours but stand out when they are put together. You can tell this film is targeted at children from the use of animated characters. The title isn’t central to the poster making it not seem ordinary and usual. Shows the film has humorous aspects. This film poster is clearly marketed at children, and you can tell this by the animation used for the goldfish and the cat but also “the cat in the hat” is a famous book written by Dr seuss which is aimed at children. The main colours themed in this poster are red and blue which causes opposite reactions. Blue connotes calmness and tranquillity where as red is an intimate passionate colour and neither of these have anything to do with the film which could be misleading, but as its targeted at children then the bold bright colours help to draw their attention and don’t make it boring. The font is big, bold and white to make the recognisable title stand out. This poster is structured differently to most its image is more to the left and the title is a third of the way down the page to the right, I think the purpose of this is to portray a fun and non boring film.

5. 4. Serious facial expressions on both characters show seriousness. Fiery colours could represent fiery storyline. Guns are genre specific elements of action films. The tattoos could represent a masculine character. The first thing you notice when you see this film poster is Angelina Jolie and the tattoos on her arm, the codes, scriptive writing etc… and you as the audience automatically think that she plays quite a bucth character with all the bold unfeminine tattoos and the gun. The gun is a major factor for helping to define the genre and this would be action. The image of the other character also represents this as he´s in mid air shooting two guns. The back image is of a city which insinuates the location for the film. The colours used in this are gold and black, black can represent authority and power which supports the image on the poster as the female character looks in power over the male character which gives us a representation of the characters already. Gold could represent a number of things as a number of phrases are linked with the colour for example “good as gold” here gold is referred to as something good but in a phrase like “fools gold” it refers to something being worthless, so I think that using this colour keeps the audience minds open to the possible narrative of this film. The title is very bold, simple and clear its cut off in the poster and makes it look edgy.

6. 5. Black background to accentuate the pink. Diamond encrusted title to represent glamour. Tag line to the audience of sex and the city sitcom who would understand it. Main character in Black and White with a Pink dress on. Just simply the font tells you everything you need to know about the film. Its big, pink, bold, glamorous and it titles “Sex in the city”. Its structured like this because not much else needs to be put on the poster because its such a widely recognised sitcom already and the huge target audience that this sit com has already will be sold to this film regardless, so the poster doesn’t have to do much selling or representing to do. The tag line is “get carried away” this doesn’t have much to do with the film its self its referring to one of the main characters which is starred on the right hand side of the poster in black and white with a pink dress on. The colours used are black and pink, pink is used for love, glamour and is a very feminine colour which is who this film appeals to and the black is mainly to make the pink exaggerate even more. Personally I love this poster and I think it would have a great reaction as it’s a very effective but very simple and is targeted perfectly to its audience.

7. 6. One of the most eye catching aspects on this poster is Gerard Butlers eyes in which he looks angry. Debris flying in the sky shows some indication that it Could be an action. Big bold title to catch attention. Images overlaid of the two charactersshows conflict. You can look at this poster in two different ways, one you see jamie foxx as the main subject of the poster with a ghostly opaque image of gerard butler behind him or you see clearly gerard butlers face as the main subject and jamie foxx as the background but either way you cannot miss the stare of Gerard butler and from the serious expression you can tell the film is not going to be a romantic com. The dull greys and blacks used tells us that the narrative of this story is going to be dark and cynical which could mean a thriller but the background image of debris and stormy clouds also implies an action. Like most of the posters analysed the titles is in big bold white writing, again to make its stand out. I think that the picture of Gerard butler is bigger because the story revolves around a tragic accident that happened to him.

8. 7. The background is a visual illusion. Characters are on opposite sides of the poster maybe showing a disagreement. Prestige is written in bold implying significance. The characters are both in embracing positions which shows UN expectancy. This is my favourite film posters out of all of them as the poster itself is an illusion which leaves suggestion open to what the film is going to be about because the title “the prestige” isn’t very informative. The structure of this poster is odd as the characters are on the bottom right and the top left corners facing each other, with the title down the bottom right hand side and the illusion being in the centre. The only colours used are very commonly put together and they are black and white which again still doesn’t give the give any clues away to the narrative or genre of the film. The tag line is “are you watching closely” which suggest that there is magic involved which is then supported by the background which is an illusion. The font used is very plain but “prestige” is written in bold which make you think that the word has some importance to the story line.

9. 8. The white tag line tells nothing about the narrative of the film. Dark mysterious figure suggests the genre horror. The background is in the woods which is known as a feared place. the use of a red title makes it stand out from the background and the colour also connotes danger and blood. The fact that the main character is at a high angle shows that the main character is powerful and more superior. Also as he is holding a sword it shows he is also violent. The fact he is wearing a mask hides his identity therefore making an uneasy atmosphere. The audience for this film would be older teenagers as the film is clearly about violence and horror which would scare younger children too much. For teenagers, horror is one of their favourite genres, so horror directors are trying to make every new horror film as gory and scary as possible to fulfil the teenagers tastes. This poster advertising the film Friday the 13th instantly reveals its genre, horror. All the typical horror features are shown for example dark mysterious colours, the titles in red and the connotations of the colour red is blood.

10. Title is big bold and pink which is represents femininity. 9. White background suggesting innocence. The costumes of the characters conflict because he is dressed in a smart suit and she is dressed in more casual clothing. The body positioning of the characters suggest that the male character leans on the female. The main characters are standing back to back to each other however the woman is stood up right whereas the man is leaning back into her, showing she is in control. The costumes show that the man is very wealthy as he is in a suit and the girl is wear plastic boots, a short tight skirt and a crop top which would normally suggest she is a prostitute. The smiles on both of the characters faces show happiness, laughter and maybe even love. The layout of the poster is interesting as the actors and directors are bordered around the outside of the poster. This gives more focus to the main characters who are sharing the middle 1/3 of the poster showing their importance and that they play the main roles. the two characters names are placed so that the audience knows that the film must be good as there is two celebrity actors starring in it. The target audience would most likely be females judging by this poster. This pretty woman poster immediately shows that the genre is a romantic comedy. This is represented in the main characters and the colours. The title is pink which is a very feminine colour, and it is also very bold and taking up 1/3 of the poster page representing that the film is female controlled and female targeted.

11. 10. Big, bold and clear title to make it stand out. Actors names in bold lettering to appeal to audiences. Tag line helps the understanding of the narrative. Body language of characters insinuates they are immature. The main characters are placed in the middle of the poster and are both male showing that the film is based around two males out to have sex with bridesmaids possibly. The poses they are both pulling are showing there are free and are ready for adventure. The man on the right has a very free pose showing he will welcome all adventure or obstacles. Judging by this poster, Wedding crashers reveals the genre of comedy and maybe even romance. The backdrop which is white represents innocence and that the film is light hearted and simple. The big bold title in red shows love, romance and by the sub-title below the main characters ‘Hide your bridesmaids’ sex too. The target audience for this film would be 15+ and targeted at both men and females. Although rom-coms are usually stereotyped as a women's film, men will enjoy it as its about to men on the pull. Therefore it gives all viewers a laugh. Also the two characters seem as if they are ‘standing on top of the world’ or infact the bridesmaids’ showing control and superiority as the directors names etc are below them.

12. 11. Pink scripture writing influencing a feminine film. Black background used to make everything else stand out. Still image of the main characters is intimate suggesting a relationship. Tag line is in white and above the characters dancing grabs the audiences attention. The first image on the left of the two main characters dancing show intimacy and a very close connection by the body but also emotionally. It reveals the type of dancing that will be included in the film and as he has his top of it makes it even more sexual. The other image of them in the water shows love as she is wearing a white dress showing innocence of her character and he is holding her up, supporting her. However again he has his top off showing the type of man he is. The target audience for this film would be teenagers plus as the dancing appears to be very intimate and sexual by the two images of the characters together. The white titles show innocence and the sub title ‘dancing to the beats of their hearts’ shows their is romance and love in this film. Looking at this poster of Dirty Dancing, it shows the genre will be dance but also romance. The dark background represents secrets and the bright baby pink writing shows vulnerability, love and feminism. The blue shows the water from the river scene showing the dancing takes place everywhere.

13. 12. Red title is a genre specific element of horror films. The main image is of a wide opened eye, from this we can tell its a horror film. Black background makes the other aspects of the poster stand out. Contrast of the black and white face. The main character instantly draws attention as it contrasts with the backdrop and the imagine is in black and white only really showing the main characters eye. the image itself represents horror as the image isn’t nice to look at and hair is covering the characters face showing she guards herself and is a mystery to others. The target audience will again be teenagers just because of the genre. The layout is basic, but the main character blends in with the backdrop representing hiding, hinting that The Grudge is a jumpy film for the audience. The titles at the bottom also blend into the background and keep a dark grey colour. Again, The Grudge instantly reveals its genre, just by the colours. The reds connotation is blood and adds even more effect as the title is faded in places like blood would be. Also as the backdrop is black showing mystery and darkness allowing the red to be recognised as blood and not love. The red jumps out at the audience as the rest of the poster is in black and white catching the audiences attention which is the main intention of a poster.

14. 13. Bold writing to make it eye-catching Giving the audience an insight on the makers of the film. Adding comedy to the poster, telling the audience that the film is a comical animation film The main image shows that the alien is one of the main characters The purpose of this poster is to inform the audience that a new animated film is being released in cinemas soon called Monsters Inc. The poster clearly shows that the film is animated as one of the main cartoon characters is shown on the front. Bold font is used to make the poster stand out and bright colours are used to grab the main audience’s attention which will be younger children The poster seems to be aimed at a younger audience because of the colours and images meaning the film will be targeted at the younger generation. The extra information informing the audience that the creators of Monsters Inc are the same as the creators of Toy story gives the audience a sign that the film will be good seeing as Toy Story was such a popular high rated film. The caption ‘You won’t believe your eye’ adds a humour to the poster as the alien only has one eye and younger children will find this funny as they know it’s supposed to be plural - ‘eyes.’ The alien is the biggest item on the poster grabbing attention showing that he will be featured in the film, and the title of the film is underneath him in a bold blue colour.

15. 14. Including the audience in the film already making it personal to them, Backdrop reveals location Showing the audience that the film will be out near valentines day insuring them that the film is about love. Colours represent love (red), innocence (white), and then black showing mystery and a dark twist to the story The backdrop immediately gives the audience an idea that the film is set in somewhere tropical like Hawaii as they are sat on a beach with a picnic. The characters are showing their personalities through the colours of their clothes, as Adam Sandler (a well known actor) is wearing bright orange indicating he is happy and cheerful. Whereas Drew Barrymore is in dark grey dress indicating a dark mysterious which also gives a contrast against him. The audience for this film would be teenagers plus as the whole film is about going on a first date which to understand the person would have to understand and also understand the illness the character Drew Barrymore plays has. The titles are in black red and white representing love in the middle of the dark side and the light side. Also the caption ‘remember the date Valentines day’ reveals the film is about love as the film was produced for Valentines day which is known for couples and love.

16. Evaluation. Analysing the 14 film posters of various genres has helped us to realise what techniques are most effective and meet their target audiences expectations. The simple font, central imaging and plain backgrounds all are effective without being too complex. Also the positioning of the characters e.g. Body language helps the representation of the character, therefore making them easier to relate to. Now we realise the idea of the tag lines is to help the audience understand more about the narrative of the film so for example to add humour to the poster .