Film poster analysis
- 1. Film Poster Analysis Eda Ozdemir
- 2. Title- the title has been written in the biggest, boldest font ‘From the makers of’ is a clever selling line as it catches Main Image- the main image dominates the on the poster and is also written in capitals which helps it to the audiences attention by highlighting other well page, being the largest feature on the page stand out. It is in white to stand out from the darkness of the known films made by the same people. This is a massive and being central in the layout. It is a boys shirt in the background and matches the colour of the help when promoting a new film as people will often medium shot of a young boy, from a directly rest of the text on the poster and the white scratches on the trust producers of previous films they have seen and parallel angle looking straight towards the boys eyes. The typography denotes a slightly faded and enjoyed watching, and expect this film to be of the same camera, which in this case is the eye line distressed effect which makes it old. This is the largest text standard. This links to Tom Ryall’s genre theory, that it match is the audience. So this incomes direct on the poster so it automatically hooks the audiences provides a framework of structuring tools which in turn address being used which draws the attention to read it as it is the most crucial part of the poster act as a form of supervision over the work of production audience, however the eyes have been The cold colours create a scary mise en scene film makers and the work of reading by the audience. scratched out which automatically shows which are normally associated with horror that something bad has happened to him. films. A shadow of a demon/monster is in the The use of child actors have become background on the large window of the house extremely popular since the release of The which creates the sense of the unknown Exorcist (1973). Having the picture of the which makes the audience want to find out child in the foreground of the poster what the shadow is. The blue/grey colour intensifies the importance behind the scheme seen in this film poster has become a character. Typically children are seen as a widely used convention in Western countries sign of purity and innocence, which is clearly in recent horror. The tone of the colours opposed in this poster scaring the audience suggest death, coldness, and mystery. This who view it. The eyes being scratched out entries the read and urges them to find out immediately forces the audience to ask more, by them watching the film. ‘why?’ and increases their chances of going to watch the film, to answer these rhetorical The quotes from other sources increase the questions. audiences expectations of the film, and convince them to go and see it when its Strapline- The strapline ‘It’s not the house released as it becomes evidence that it is that’s haunted’ puts a twist on the plot of worth paying for. It describes what the film the film before the audience has even was like from other audiences which shows watched it. It intrigues the audience and that the film has lived up to the expectations makes them want to know more about the of a horror film. The most important words Credits are an important The background of the poster is always film. The strapline is important as it gets such as ‘scary’ and ‘sheer terror’ have been aspect of any film poster as very important as it gives the film a their mind working, asking questions that put into a bigger font to make them stand they give recognition to the setting. Here we see the all-American can only be answered by watching the film out, catching the audiences attention. companies and main names home, which in most films is a place of and uncovering the mysteries. The strapline involved in creating the film. security for the characters. In the has the same typography as the title Company logos have been added to show They are almost always in the window is the silhouette of a demon, however it is in a smaller font and coloured what licensing and production companies same font, situated at the which gives a preview as to what the in blue to separate it from the title and are involved. bottom of the poster. The film could be about, this then furthers match the cold coloured background. The rating immediately shows the reader credits are the legal lines that the interest of the audience. The that it is a good film as it has been given 5 give credit to the producers, flowers in the garden are dark and The website allows the audience to look stars which will attract the audience as they distributor, financier, cast and dead, which adds to the overall feel of further into the film, which will then would want to watch a good quality film. crew. the poster. further persuade them into watching it.
- 3. The main colours used in the film The credits are in a small, centred text and are featured The main image of this film poster dominates the poster, enforced through the main image are conventionally at the bottom of the poster along with the page and is main focal point, much like the other white and blue. In the mise-en-scene, there is a company logos involved in the making of the film various genre’s of film posters I analysed, as it is a setting of the outdoors, shown by the bright blue included beneath. All of this text has been included in common convention of a film poster of any genre. sky and small amount of green grass showing black contrasting with the main image so that it stands The image is a close-up of two characters through, connoting that they are outdoors out clearly to the audience, but also connoting that there embracing romantically. Through the mise-en- perhaps in a rural area, like a field. There are may be a darker, perhaps sadder side to this story. scene, their expressions show passion and large amounts of the blue sky shown in the lust, emotions associated with love, romance and image. And the characters clothes are also blue the romance genre. This is also shown through and white, matching this colour scheme. The use their body language, in which their arms are of light blue represents trust and loyalty, two key wrapped round each other, mid- components of a loving relationship, which links embrace, connoting closeness and love. The with these two main characters and the romance image also includes rain pouring down hard over genre of the film. The use of bright white the couple, as we see through the characters connotes light, purity and clothing and hair being wet. This is a cliché innocence, representing the purity of their love. romantic theme, people kissing in the pouring These colours are quite tranquil, connoting a rain, which is immediately associated with the calm lifestyle which the couple share. A large romance genre. The heavy rain adds to the amount of white is used in the centre of the intensity of the scene, making it a very strong poster, in the form of light which brings focus on image which connotes passion. the two characters lips which are near touching. Immediately, the viewer recognises this as a film This has been brought to focus to show that they of the romance genre. We see this through the are about to kiss, further representing the style and structure of the film poster, as genre romance genre. This colour scheme differs theorist Daniel Chandler states that genre tends completely to that of the horror genre as to be based on the idea that genres represent romance films tend to use this pure colour particular conventions of that genre, such as scheme consisting of only light colours, whereas specific iconography and structure/styles.by horror films tend to use very dark, striking colour iconography, Daniel Chandlers means we expect schemes in their posters which connote evil and to see certain things and objects within the mise- darkness. The strapline ‘Behind every great love is a great en-scene in a particular genre. In this case, in story’ intrigues the audience and makes them want romance we expect to see a romantic to know about their love story. The strapline is relationship, which this poster clearly represents important as it gets their mind working, asking through the large image of two characters questions that can only be answered by watching the embracing. We also see an engagement ring on film. her finger, clearly in view, which further gives us the denotation that these two characters are The title of the film has been written in a simplistic, sans serif bold typography. The simplicity of the title’s involved. typography is to ensure focus is not taken away from the powerful main image. Conventionally, in the romance genre, film posters use a tall serif font to appear formal and elegant and relate to romance. This poster subverts Company logos have been added to show this romance genre convention. This film poster has not used this convention, and even unconventionally what licensing and production companies included their title in a rather small size. This is because they intend to attract their target audience through their are involved. It is a very important main image, and do not want a bold title to draw attention away from it. convention in a movie poster.
- 4. Unlike the other 2 film posters I have looked at, this As a sequel film, part of the ‘Paranormal Activity’ In comparison to the previous poster I analysed, poster uses a film critic’s opinion of the film as their films, people will be able to recognise the poster to be both of the horror genre, the main image used in main tagline to encourage people to go and watch one of their films because of the similar conventions this poster appears to be a clip from the actual the film. By using a critic’s opinion, describing the used and the use of continuity through things such as movie itself giving the audience a sneak insight into film as the ‘most anticipated horror event of the the type of main image and the typography. what they should expect. No clear characters are year’ the poster will have built high expectations for shown to expect a young child and a dog, leaving us the audience as they will now anticipate the film to questioning who the protagonists are in the film and be the best horror film they will have watched all what the narrative will revolve around. The aerial year and meet their entertainment needs – Uses shot looks as it is from CCTV footage and because of and gratifications theory (1974). The placing of the its nature, it can also be classified as a master shot tagline at the top of the poster in a white colour as it shows everything in the bedroom. The opened contrasting with the black background will catch door creates suspense as the young child and dog the readers eye. It also acts as a sign of ‘warning’ both are looking at the door, as if they can hear or people as it informs them of how scary the film will see something. The blue tint of the image creates a be. This helps create a sense of excitement spooky and supernatural feel, relating back to the amongst people wanting to see the film. title of the film ‘Paranormal Activity 2’. Unlike the previous poster, the image does not take up the Although a release date has not been stated, the whole poster and the use of the black makes the poster mentions the film to be ‘coming soon’ in a genre of horror very clear to the audience. white bold font that catches the readers eye. The ‘coming soon’ adds excitement for people wanting The colour scheme of dark blue, red, white and to watch the film and as part of the ‘Paranormal black all relate to the genre of the film, as they are Activity’ sequel; the anticipation will be much typical colours associated with horror and greater than if it were to be a new film. supernatural. This allows people to recognise the film as a horror. Title- the title of the film is placed beneath the main This poster is dissimilar to the previous two image. The spooky typography used relates to posters, as it does not include any credits or genre of horror and supernatural. The use of red information. This could be due to the type of film connotes danger and contrasts well against the poster, presuming this is a ‘teaser’ poster that was black background, catching the readers eye. The released several months before any news on the title evokes the reader to be alarmed as it conveys release date was out. However, it may just be that the genre of supernatural and horror efficiently. the film company did not feel it was important or The small size of the title may be because of the relevant in this case to include the credits. This is greater importance of the image for the poster. The the similar case in the other sequels of the blurred effect of the typography relates to the ‘Paranormal Activity’ films. Therefore it will have genre of horror as it makes the title look ghostly been continually decision not to include the credit and scary. The website address has been included on this poster encouraging people to go onto the website to find information. However, it does include the company out more news and information about the film. The production company is using cross media logo positioned on the bottom right hand corner of convergence to advertise and promote the film whilst building an online community of people excited to the poster, adding the element of professionalism see the second film of the sequel. This also links to the uses and gratifications theory. to the poster.