ANALYSING FILM POSTERS

You have been introduced to the task and in today's lesson, you will make a start on your analysis. Post finished analysis under the Page FILM POSTERS.

Formats for presenting poster analysis are here.

Film poster analysis. Follow the CIE guidance here:

When you analyse Film Posters 

1) identify the written codes -  title, the tagline, placing of the star talent, the billing block, release date

2) identify how layout and mise-en-scène has been used effectively in a poster: decide how the poster has prioritised the images. What is central to the poster image  / the key image? 

3) mise-en-scène: how do background images reinforce the narrative or genre or marginalise certain other characters? 

4) what is the colour palette used and how has colour been used to create effect? 

5) how have graphics and font been used to promote the production company and link the products from the package? Where are these positioned? How has colour on the fonts been used to distinguish between different elements of the written aspects of the poster? 

6) what is the narrative contained in the film poster (and perhaps links to the trailer content) 

7) how are the film's generic conventions signalled?

We learned from Dan Skinner on the FDA Teaching Trailers resource: there are two types of graphics that are used in posters and trailers. One is ‘copy’ and the other is ‘pedigree’. The term ‘pedigree’ is useful when analysing posters.

Pedigree is the term that refers to graphics from the studio that reassure the audience about the film’s quality. For instance, copy about distributors and companies (Paramount Pictures, 20th Century Fox)

The term ‘copy’ is useful when analysing trailers.

Copy will help tell the story of the movie. Some trailers have a quantity of copy, especially when the story is complicated, so the copy helps point to aspects of the story that are significant.