2. What is the purpose of the poster ? The primary purpose of this poster is to advertise the film, in order to get people to watch it. It features a very well known teen actress – Lindsey Lohan, who is extremely popular with young girls as she has been in a lot of young teen hits – Parent trap and Freaky Friday etc. Therefore, straight away this is going to appeal to young teen girls, and we can see it is going to be a good film as they would have had to pay her a lot of money to appear in it. Young girls may also put this poster on their bedroom walls if they are fans of Lindsey Lohan, if they really like the film or if they like the colour scheme on the poster – making it a form of display, rather than just an advertisement - which is its primary purpose. What colours have been used? What associations do these colours have? Are they unusual for a poster? The font is in very bright pink. Pink stands for romance and passion, which highlights that this is going to be a theme within the movie. This is an American film and pink is perceived very feminine in America, highlighting the chick- flick genre of the film. The hot pink is portrayed as sexy, playful, fun colour, which emphasises the sexy, popular girl she becomes when she joins her new school and gets in with the wrong crowd, as well as the excitement of her new life and the ‘mean girls’ lifestyle. All the ‘mean girls’ in the background are wearing pink. This highlights their girly, almost ‘fake Barbie’, bitchy nature. The colour pink also strongly denotes friendship. This is a reference to new friendships Lindsey Lohan makes within the film, as well as the strong bong between the ‘mean girls’. Lindsey Lohan is dressed in a bright red top – this connotes her energy, her new fierce nature and her leadership within the film. The purple background highlights the romantic genre in the film, and is also a colour symbolising royalty – this is a reference to the ‘mean girls’ royalty within their school. What is the key (main) image we see? The main image we see is Lindsey Lohan looking fierce and strong by herself, while the three ‘mean girls’ stand in a confident pose behind. This identifies that although Lindsey begins as an outsider, she soon becomes fierce and confident when she gets in with their crowd. The three girls behind are standing very close together, one of them a little bit ahead – highlighting that she is the ‘queen bee’. They are standing in a over confident pose highlighting their attitude and bitchy manner.
3. What images do we see in the lower half or background of the poster? What do these tell us? In the lower half of the poster the only image we can just see all four girls’ legs. All of the ‘mean girls’ are wearing very short skirts with high heels so we can just see their bare legs. This symbolises their glamorous, sexy, confident natures. This is stereotypically quite ‘slutty’ and is a reference to their sexy natures in the film. In contrast, in the bottom half of the poster Lindsey is dressed in jeans and flat pumps. This is a reference to her at the beginning of the film before she became one of the ‘mean girls’ when she was less sexy and more natural. The background is purple which connotes the romance within the story, as well as being a colour associated with royalty – the royalty of the ‘men girls’ within their school. How realistic are the images ? The images are very realistic as it sums up the story line – the ‘mean girls’ all standing together and Lindsey being an outsider at the beginning, however, having a fierce, confident nature later in the film. The pictures are of real life people making them appear a lot more realistic. What is the colour of the title /text? Is there any significance in the use of this colour? The main title ‘Mean Girls’ is very bright, hot pink. Pink connotes romance and passion, which highlights that romance is going to be a genre within the film. The hot pink is also a very sexy, fun, feisty colour. This is a reference to the sexy, popular girl Lindsey becomes when she becomes one of the ‘mean girls’ as well as emphasising the fun, exciting, dangerous life she begins to live. Why has this font been chosen? What impression is it trying to make? The font is very bold. This symbolises the strong, confident, fiery personalities of the girls. It is quite a simple font, which makes the words a lot more poignant and obvious, comparing with the simple storyline aimed at young teenage girls. What is the tag line? What information does it reveal to you about the film? ‘WATCH YOUR BACK’ – This tag line is very relevant to the storyline as it symbolises the bitchy, fake friendships between the girls. It highlights the fact that anything could happen if you’re not alert at all times in their group, as they are very backstabbing girls. How is the poster layed out? Why are some things bigger than others? The poster is laid out with Lindsey Lohan on one side of the page and the mean girls on the other. This highlights the divide between the girls and the loneliness for Lindsey at the beginning. Lindsey is the biggest image on the page, symbolising the fact that she is the main character in the story, and although begins as an outsider and develops to have the power and control over the other girls. All the other girls are stood on the other side – Regina being slighting bigger than the others showing that she is ‘Queen Bee’. The title is the biggest font on the page, ‘Mean’ being considerable bigger, to emphasise and stress just how mean the girls are. The tag line is the next biggest piece of text stressing the sentence to the audience, so we realise just what the girls are like. Lindsey Lohans name is also in bold; highlighting a very well known teen actress is in the film, so it looks like it is going to be very good. Who is this film poster for? How do you know? The film is aimed at girls 13 who are at high school. This is obvious through the location (mainly the high school) and the teen actors so that young girls can empathise with their lifestyles and social groups within high school. The colour schemes on the poster – mainly pinks and purples are also very ‘stereotypically’ female. What is your reaction to it? This poster really makes me want to watch the film! It is portrayed as a real chick-flick which is one of my favourite genres of film, and the really girly connotations, through the colour scheme etc really appeal to me. We are also able to relate to the film as we are teenage girls, and social identity is very important to most teenagers.
4. What is the purpose of the poster?- There is a dual purpose for this poster. The primary purpose is to persuade the audience to watch it and to make the audience empathise or relate to the situation that both characters may be facing. What colours have been used? What associations do these colours have? Are they unusual for a poster? -The main colour of the poster is green, the colour green can have many connotations including sickness, this shows that the main theme within the film is someone suffering from an illness which affects others and causes discord and cowardice, as these are two other connotations of the colour green. Along with the sickness the colour green can also indicate emotional healing and protection, which could represent the Mother protecting her daughter from harm and they way she handles her emotions. What is the key image we see? -The main image is a mother with her daughter, there is a sense of love and happiness between them from the way they are looking at each other. The way the mother is looking at the daughter is a sense of reassurance – that everything will be ok. The other key image is the other young girl who is placed at the bottom alone we can immediately see that she is sick and is the one that they will have to look out for. The genre of the film is obvious to us straight away from the characters expressions and layout of the poster. What images do we see in the lower half or background of the poster? What do these tell us? - The bubbles in the background of the poster connotes virginity, This is a reference to the storyline as the sick girl wants to lose her virginity before she dies of cancer. The colour of the bubble blower is pink, which can signify hope and romance, which is a key issue during the film.
5. How realistic are the images? -The images are very realistic as they are photographs; they also look natural because there is no obvious posing within any of the images. Also the fact that its non-fiction and based on a true to life story makes the whole product seem more realistic and convincing to the audience. What is the colour of the title text? -The colour of the text is white and stays the same colour throughout the whole film poster, this may be because the mood of the film stays the same throughout along with the emotions of the characters. The colour white usually has a positive connotation – and in the sense of this film it may be at the end when her suffering is ended, which could represent a new beginning. The colour white also represents faith, which is a main factor which is focused in on during the film. White can also be associated with goodness, innocence, purity, It is considered to be the colour of perfection. Why has this font been chosen? What impression is it trying to make? -The font has been chosen as its simple, boring and the same throughout. This may have been because they want to focus on the main image to create emotion, rather than the font. However the title is all in lowercase and all the letters are all equal, this could symbolise that all the characters within the film are equal and even though she’s dying they still have traditional and equal values. What is the tag line? What information does it reveal to you about the film? -This film poster is very unique as there is no tag line, however a tag line may not be necessary for this specific film, as there has already been enough emotion portrayed through the pictures, colours and expressions used. How is the poster laid out? -The poster is layed out with the Mother and one daughter at the top of the poster, looking at each other which shows a strong bond between the two characters. The title is then in the middle and separates the other image which is off the girl who is ill, this could show a divide to how both parties are coping with the illness. However they are united in the fact they are all placed on the same background which could show them all going through the situation together. Who is this film poster for? How do you know? -This film poster is aimed at a vast amount of audiences. But mainly people from the older generation who understand the affect a terminal illness can have upon a family. It’s aimed mostly at parents (mostly women) who have children of their own and can empathise with the characters about what emotions there going through, and the thought of them losing a child. Also Cameron Diaz is the main adult actress within in the film and she is renowned for her good acting skills and she mostly acts in films that are emotionally moving. What's your reaction to it? - If I had not already seen this film, this film poster would defiantly encourage me to watch the film, as it seems like a interesting complex story about a girl who is suffering. The poster alone is emotionally moving.
6. What is the purpose of the poster?- There is a dual purpose for this poster. The primary purpose is to persuade the audience to watch it and to make the audience empathise or relate to the situation that both characters may be facing. What colours have been used? What associations do these colours have? Are they unusual for a poster? - The colours used on the poster are all very neutral shades, the greens, blues and different shades of creams, which connote a tranquil and calming atmosphere. Whereas the main characters are almost in a dark silhouette which connotes there could be an essence of danger somewhere in the film. What is the key image we see? - This main image is very important as it suggests to the audience the genre of the film, which appears to be romantic; we assume this as there in a tight embrace. This is typically of this genre as in romantic films the posters normally consist of two main characters. What images do we see in the lower half or background of the poster? What do these tell us? - There is a secluded beach in the background which is stereotypically romantic. The sea also appears in the background along with the sky, which are portrayed to be romantic. How realistic are the images? -This image is realistic and does reflect the films narrative and emotions portrayed in the picture.
7. What is the colour of the title text? -The bottom of the poster consists of titles. The word “dear” is in white which could connote innocence/cleanliness/pureness. The other titles are in the colour yellow, the Native Americans interpreted yellow to symbolize love, hope and overcoming challenges, this reflects the storyline to the film. Why has this font been chosen? What impression is it trying to make? -The font is very bold and shares a likeness with formal letters being sent to employees or family members. The list of names is also laid out like a military operations list. This reflects the main characters occupation. What is the tag line? -“What would you do with a letter that changed everything?” this highlights the main theme of the film, and the fact that the characters in the main image may be separate and there only source of contact is letters. It could also reveal that on letter may consist of some bad news regarding one of them, which changes both of their lives forever. How is the poster laid out? -The poster is set out like a stereotypical film poster, which includes a main image of the characters, the title, a tag line and the credits. The image of the characters takes up most of the poster this could connate the importance of them and their actions during the film. Who is this film poster for? How do you know? -This film poster is aimed at their target audience which predominately is teenage girls. We can assume this as the picture is a man and women embracing and girls are stereotypically more romantic than boys. They have also chosen the actor “Channing Tatum” – he is very popular amongst the teenage generation and is known as a heart throb. What is your reaction to it? - It makes me want to watch the film, as it seems sad and very emotionally moving. I enjoy watching true to life stories, as I think they are more realistic and true to life.
8. What is the purpose of the poster ? The primary purpose of this poster is to advertise the film, in order to get people to watch it. It features two high profile Hollywood actresses on the front, so we can straight away see that it is going to be a good film, as it would have cost a lot of money for them to feature in it. Children who are fans of these particular actors would also display this poster on their walls – so it can be used as a display as well as advertising. What colours have been used? What associations do these colours have? Are they unusual for a poster? The only colours used on the poster are black, white and red. The clothing on both the characters is black, contrasting with the white background (binary oppositions). This suggests that there are two sides to this story – the double life. The black suits make the characters look high powered, smart and sophisticated, which makes them stand out amongst the plain, white background. It also makes the film appear more professional. The ‘PROPSOSAL’ is written in red, which connotes the passion and fervour of marriage, which signifies the romance between the two in the film. What is the key (main) image we see? Is this different or the same from other action adventure posters? The man is pushed up to the wall with a very straight back while the woman leans out before him. This connotes the fact that the woman has the power throughout the film, and he is not in control of the situation. His facial expression looks tense and worried, whilst the woman smirks – which highlights the fact she is getting what she wants, even though the man is not happy about it (the pretend marriage). It is quite a sexual image with the man being pushed up against the wall, which suggests that it is going to be a romantic genre, with perhaps some drama. What images do we see in the lower half or background of the poster? What do these tell us? There is no image in the background of the poster; however there is a shadow underneath them in the lower half of the poster. This suggests that they could be leading a double life. The background, and the floor is all very white and clinical – which suggests one of them may be very neat, tidy and professional (the lady) against the man in black, who is portrayed as the opposite.
9. How realistic are the images ? The image is very realistic as it sums up the storyline of the film. It reflects the storylines, highlighting that the women (Sandra Bullock) has complete control over the man (Ryan Reynolds) as well as emphasising their business like relationship through the use of costume and their more personal relationship through their positioning. The fact that it is a photograph, rather than animation also makes the image a lot more realistic. What is the colour of the title /text? Is there any significance in the use of this colour? Nearly all of the text is black, which is very businesslike and professional. This resembles the structure and organisation in the ladies (Sandra Bullock) life. It contrasts with the white background – white being a very naive, innocent, peaceful colour. This represents the carefree lifestyle of the man (Ryan Reynolds). The purpose of the black font is to stand out amongst the white background, white and black being binary oppositions -just like the opposite personalities of characters in the film. The only other colour used on the poster is red. Red is a very sensual, exciting and passionate colour, which is also very often used to portray danger. It symbolises the danger of the task they are doing - what could happen if people find out they are faking their engagement, and also highlights the passion and romance that develops between the two throughout. The red also dramatically stands out amongst the two other bland colours, emphasising the title. Why has this font been chosen? What impression is it trying to make? The font is very bold and simple, which highlights the business relationship in the film as it looks very professional. This, however, is ironic to the complex storyline. The font also looks like a wedding invitation, which symbolises the fake wedding bribe within the storyline. What is the tag line? What information does it reveal to you about the film? ‘Here comes the bribe’. This is a pun on words as the phrase is usually ‘here comes the bride’. This also has double meanings and connotations, as it is a reference to marriage, proposals and weddings, as well as highlighting the fact that Sandra Bullock has bribed Ryan Reynolds with a promotion as long as he goes along with pretending they are engaged. How is the poster layed out? Why are some things bigger than others? The poster is layed out with the characters taking up exactly half the poster, and the writing in the other half. The man is pushed up against the wall, whilst the woman bends out before him, highlighting the hierarchy and higher status of the women. It illustrates that Ryan Reynolds has no control over the situation in the film. They are elongated to fill up one side of the poster and make them appear important. It is a simple layout having the words on the other side, but very effective – ‘less is more’. Their names are at the top, which makes them easily noticeable, highlighting that they are famous Hollywood stars. This is quite large font on the page, along with the tag line identifying their importance. The largest font on the page is the title ‘The Proposal’, ‘Proposal’ being significantly bigger, which highlights the romantic genre. Who is this film poster for? How do you know? This film poster is aimed mainly at women – as women stereotypically prefer romantic genres to men, probably 13+ as it features adults as the main characters, rather than teenagers, so children may find it harder to relate to. It is also certificate 12. The characters are dressed in business suits and it is a very simple white background, so from the poster I think older teenagers/adults would be more interested in watching it, as children usually prefer bright, colourful, exciting film posters. What is your reaction to it? I think I would really enjoy this film, as it looks like a real love story from their stance. It also looks like it is going to be a funny film, as the man is leaning up straight against the wall, with a scared expression on his face, almost trying to get away from the women, as she smirks and leans out in a flirty position in front. However, the simplicity of the poster, and the business suits could make the film seem a bit boring and office like.
10. What is the purpose of the poster?- There is a dual purpose for this poster. The primary purpose is to persuade the audience to watch it and to make the audience empathise or relate to the situation that both characters may be facing. What colours have been used? What associations do these colours have? Are they unusual for a poster? - The colours used on the poster are all very neutral shades. The whiteness may connate emptiness and purity , the binary opposition which is black could connate death or upset. The red is the only colour which stands out within the poster, this colour is associated with love, passion, and romance. What is the key image we see? - This main image is very important as it suggests to the audience the genre of the film, which appears to be romantic; we assume this as the man is looking over the women lovingly . The image appears almost ghostly as the characters are on a plain white background. What images do we see in the lower half or background of the poster? What do these tell us? - This poster is unlike many other film posters due to the fact that there is no background, and we as an audience can’t see the location of the characters, this however could connate the characters being lost with no direction. It could also portray the fact that all they want/need is each other. How realistic are the images? -This image is realistic and does reflect the films narrative and emotions portrayed in the picture.
11. What is the colour of the title text? - The colour of the title is in red this colour can connate sexuality, passion, sensitivity, and love. The credits which have been written in black this could symbolise power, elegance, formality, death and mystery. We can immediately see this film is about letters, from the title “P.S. I love you” this then immediately includes the idea of formality and mystery. Why has this font been chosen? What impression is it trying to make? - The title of the film has been written in a very romantic style of writing, which could even handwriting, this could symbolise love and affection, and reference to the letters which are being sent, which could be that of a romantic content. The font of the credits however is very different, its bolder and more formal – this could represent a more formal letter. What is the tagline? - “Sometime there's only one thing to say” this highlights the main features and narrative of the film. It also relates back to the title, and is also a reference to the letters which are being sent. How is the poster laid out? - The poster is set out like a stereotypical film poster, which includes a main image of the characters, the title, a tag line and the credits. The image of the characters takes up most of the poster this could connate the importance of them and their actions during the film. Who is this film poster for? How do you know? - This film poster is aimed at their target audience which is fairly broad and can be aimed at both teenagers and adults. It’s predominately aimed at women 15+ as the narrative is fairly deep which includes a terminal illness and a death which the younger audience may find hard to handle. What is your reaction to it? - This film poster makes me want to watch the film as it seems like an emotionally, true to life film. It makes me curious to know what happens , and the association with the letters.
12. What is the purpose of the poster?- There is a dual purpose for this poster. The primary purpose is to persuade the audience to watch it and to make the audience empathise or relate to the situation that the characters may be facing. However this specific film is a comedy so another aim is to make the audience laugh. What colours have been used? What associations do these colours have? Are they unusual for a poster? -The font is in a light green colour, this is associated with emotional healing and protection, this might reflect the fact that Juno feels like she has to do the best for her baby – by giving it away. The orange connotes distrust and also sexual desire, this could represent the fact the main character has gone behind her parents back and got pregnant. The white portrays innocence, this either represent her, the main characters symbolising the fact she is naive and clueless. Or the white may portray cleanliness hospitals and doctors. What is the key image we see? -The main image is the picture of the 2 main characters. We can immediately see its a comedy from the stance the boys in, he looks confused and ridiculous in the clothes he’s wearing. The girl on the other hand looks like she’s in control and very focused. We can see that the young girl is pregnant and assume that the young man is the father, which the audience will assume is light hearted entertainment What images do we see in the lower half or background of the poster? What do these tell us? -The background is a mixture of two colours orange and white. Which mean distrust desire and innocence. We can see straight away that this film isn’t to be taken seriously as the background is stripy which shows the film isn’t carrying an important moral message. The lower half of the poster consist of silhouettes running, this could connote one of the main characters running away from something either metaphorically or literally.
13. How realistic are the images? -The images don’t appear that realistic as the characters are placed on a comedy background which makes the tone of the film fun and not to be taken seriously. What is the colour of the title text? -The title text is in the colour green this may represent emotional healing or protection, this could be interpreted in many different ways. The fact she’s having a baby and she wants to protect it. Or she may want to be protecting herself or her parents from conflict or hassle. On the other hand the reviews and tag line are both in black, this could symbolise the unknown, and how she’s going to deal with the situation. Black can also connote strength or authority, this could show she’s pulled through and made a plan, for how she’s going to cope with her mistake. Why has this font been chosen? What impression is it trying to make? -The font looks fun and interesting, it almost looks like a young child has written it. Or its been written by “Juno” when she was doodling or thinking about what she was going to do regarding her situation. The font is trying to give out the impression of a fun light hearted film, with all the credits and actors name at the bottom – where it’s not noticeable. What is the tagline? -The tagline reads “A comedy about growing up...and the bumps along the way.” This is a pun, and has a double meaning. It connotes the idea of having a baby and problems occurring during the pregnancy. This tag line highlights to us that “Juno” will experience a few problems when she’s pregnant, most of them being humorous, as we identify from the way the tagline has been written. How is the poster layed out? Why are some things bigger than others? -The poster is layed out with a big picture to the left of the poster then the information, reviews and title on the right. The credits and actors names are placed on the bottom of the page, this could be that the producer of the poster didn’t want to be attracted to the actors and more to the image and punch line. The image is important as we can tell from their costumes what kind of characters they are and more importantly the genre of the film. The image is used to attract you, and almost shock you, as the film came out in and then the eye-catching colours are used to keep your attention. The title is just below half way down the page and aligned with the characters, to show the relation between the title and the main character. Who is this film poster for? How do you know? -This film poster is aimed at mostly girls 15+ . We know this because of the age of the actors, being a similar age means that the audience can empathise with them. The colours on the poster are also very bright and typically that off the younger generation. However boys would also enjoy this film as there is banter in it and banter and males are collocated/associated. What is your reaction to it? - The film poster is very light hearted and seems funny, therefore it would make me want to watch the film as it seems like a fun film that you can either watch with friends or the family.
14. What is the purpose of the poster?- There is a dual purpose for this poster. The primary purpose is to persuade the audience to watch it and to make the audience empathise or relate to the situation that the characters may be facing. However this specific film is a comedy so another aim is to make the audience laugh. What colours have been used? What associations do these colours have? Are they unusual for a poster? -A variety of colours have been used throughout this poster. The font is in pink this connotes romance, love and friendship, this might represent the friendship ‘Elle Woods’ makes during the film, and the way she is trying to get her ex boyfriend back. The yellow underneath the main title may show a more cheerful, energetic side to her personality. Yellow can also symbolise intellect, which shows that education and university may be a big part of the film. Blue is also another main colour used this represents knowledge, power, integrity and seriousness. This could symbolise the factors ‘Elle’ needs to become a successful law student at Harvard. The pink dress she is wearing shows she has feminine qualities and passiveness. What is the key image we see? - The main image is of the main character ‘Elle Woods’ we assume from her costume that she is feminine and a girly girl, we also assume she is quiet spoilt as the stereotypical spoilt girl has a little dog, and dresses them in clothes. The colour pink also suggests she may be romantic. However the black books in her hand represent education and intellect. What images do we see in the lower half or background of the poster? What do these tell us? -The background shows of lots of students dressed in black suits, they blend into the background unlike the main character who is dressed in bright pink. This might connote that they are stereotypical hard working students, unlike are main character. We can also see in the background a building which looks big and represents wealth, so we assume the characters are all fairly well off and come from good backgrounds. At the bottom of the poster we can see a dog, this is a stereotypical dog which you associate with celebrities like, Paris Hilton etc. So we can assume she may want to be like them or is already an “it” girl.
15. How realistic are the images? -Although the main image is photographed along with the students behind, it doesn’t seem that realistic. However it reflects the storyline well, including all the factors that appear throughout the whole film. It also emphasises her power over the other students well. What is the colour of the title text? -The colour of the title text is in pink this connotes romance, love and friendship, this might represent the friendship ‘Elle Woods’ makes during the film. The yellow underneath the main title may show a more cheerful, energetic side to her personality. The orangey colour used above the title could represent a sign of distrust within the film. This could be a certain friend she makes or her lecturer who turns out to have only taken a liking to her because of her looks. The credits which have been written in dark blue at the bottom of the poster connote power, integrity and seriousness. Why has this font been chosen? What impression is it trying to make? -Half the title is written all in cap locks and the other half is all written in lower case. The “Legally” is written completely in cap locks, this shows formality and could represent the fact she is studying law. The “blonde” however is written all in lowercase this could represent the fact that being ‘blonde’ is not a thing that you boast about while being at Harvard. What is the tagline? -The tagline reads “This summer go blonde!” – this is very relevant to the storyline as it symbolises the fact that she acts ‘blonde’. It highlights the fact that being blonde is stereotypically more fun, and that being blonde gives you advantages within life. How is the poster layed out? Why are some things bigger than others? -The poster is layed out with the title at the top, which is also separated by the main character ‘Elle’. This could be because the two words – ‘Legal’ and ‘Blonde’ don’t go together. The picture of ‘Elle’ is right at the front and stands out from all the other characters, this could be because she has power over them, and her status is higher. It also shows her importance throughout the film. Who is this film poster for? How do you know? -This poster is aimed at girls 15+ . We can see that the film is aimed at mostly girls because the colour schemes are very girly and use stereotypical colours like pinks and reds. Also Reese Withersppon, who is the main character is an idol to many young girls, so having her feature in the film attracts many of the teenage audiences. Also every teenager knows a typical ‘blonde’ so we can empathise with the things she does and how she reacts to certain situations. What is your reaction? -This poster really makes me want to watch the film. It is portrayed as a real chick-flick through the colours and. We as a teenage audience are also able to relate to the film as we are teenage girls, and social identity is very important to most teenagers.
16. What is the purpose of the poster ? The primary purpose of this poster is to advertise the film, in order to get people to watch it. It features a very high profile Hollywood actress on the front – Sandra Bullock, so we can straight away see that it is going to be a good film, as it would have cost a lot of money for her to feature in it. People who are fans of her, are interested in basketball or really enjoy the film may also put this poster up in their house, so it can be used as a display as well as just an advertisement. The poster features a very large man, who is being stroked on the back by Sandra Bullock. This creates pathos, so we immediately feel sorry for him, and want to watch the film to know what is going on. What colours have been used? What associations do these colours have? The grass is very poignant in this picture. Green is a colour which is symbolised with strong feelings of envy and jealousy – the ‘green eyed monster’. This is a contrast to Big Mike, who although has nothing, is actually never jealous of their lifestyle. However, themes of jealously do run through the film, as the women who Leigh (Sandra Bullock) lunches with become increasingly jealous of the good person she is becoming. I think that this also has a strong reference to the ‘grass is greener on the other side’ – meaning that the new life that he is going to will be a lot better – which it is. Both characters are wearing just black and white. Black and white are binary oppositions – black being represented to sophistication, power and mystery as well as grief, and white symbolising purity, innocence and tranquillity. This signifies the black and white, complete opposite between their two lifestyles. The sky is very bright and starts of very blue, representing tranquillity and new found security in his new home. However it gets brighter, and whiter the further you look symbolising peace and ‘light at the end of a tunnel’. White is also a colour strongly represented to marriage, and in some ways they are inviting a new family member into their family – much like marriage. What is the key (main) image we see? The main image that we see is Leigh (Sandra Bullock) with her arm placed on Big Mike as though she is looking after him. This is a strong reference to the storyline as it is about Sandra Bullock bringing him up. This picture immediately creates pathos, as he appears to look so tough and she has her arm around him, looking after him as though he is upset. This makes us want to watch the film as we want to know what is happening. They are walking towards a big stadium and he is dressed in basketball kit, highlighting that the storyline is going to have a big reference to basketball within it. They are also walking into a very sunny distance, so we know that there is going to be a happy ending and it symbolises the fact that Big Mike is going to a much happier place, and is really going to succeed
17. What images do we see in the lower half or background of the poster? What do these tell us? In the lower half of the poster the only image we can see is the grass. The green grass represents nature and new beginnings – this has a strong reference to the new life Big Mike is beginning to live as he moves in with Leigh (Sandra Bullock). As I have already said, I think that this is also a strong reference to the phrase ‘the grass is greener on the other side’ – meaning that the new life that he is going to will be a lot better – which it is. Green is also a colour strongly represented to emotions, especially jealousy. Although Big Mike is never once jealous of Leigh and her family’s lifestyle, the women that Leigh lunches with become increasingly jealous of the better person she is becoming. Green is also a colour strongly representing healing, which symbolises that Big Mikes life is getting better, and he is healing inside and beginning to trust people. In the background we can see a big stadium, which symbioses the theme of basket ball within the film, as well as the fact that he is going to become a big star. The sky in the background also represents peace, hope, tranquillity and new beginnings. How realistic are the images? The images in this poster are very realistic. It features real people, in the real setting of the film, and also highlights key themes and topics of the storyline – hope, basketball, new beginnings and strong relationships etc. The sky also makes the image a lot more realistic, as we can identify that they are actually outside at a basketball stadium. The use of pathos – the fact that Leigh has her arm around Big Mike as though she is looking after him also makes the image more realistic, as the emotion within the film is illustrated, making the poster seem more real and genuine. What is the colour of the title /text? Is there any significance in the use of this colour? The colour of the title ‘The Blind Side’ is white. White is a colour symbolising peace, innocence and safety. This signifies Big Mikes pure, genuine, peaceful nature and highlights that fact that he does not have an ounce of envy or a mean bone in his body. White is a colour strongly symbolising perfection – Big Mikes personality being associated to perfection. White is a colour that is also a connotation of marriage and adding another person into your family. In some ways, the adoption of Big Mike is like the joy of marriage as he joins the Tuohy family. The tagline however is in black. This is a binary opposition to white, as black connotes sophistication, and can also be associated with grief. This emphasises the extreme difference in lifestyles, and the contrast of his gloomy lifestyle before, as well as Leigh’s former business like attitude. Why has this font been chosen? What impression is it trying to make? The font is very simple, which makes it very effective among the green grass as sometimes ‘less is more’. Very plain, basic font is used, so that is does not take away from the image, as this is the most important aspect. The simple font also compares to the simple narrative. It also makes the poster look more emotive, as it is not energetic, bright, colourful font, which would contrast with the extremely emotional, true storyline.
18. What is the tag line? What information does it reveal to you about the film? ‘Based on an extraordinary true story’. This is a very, very effective, yet simple tag line. It makes the film appear very deep, moving and profound, with no gimmicky tag line. This makes us want to watch the film as we believe it is going to be a real heart grabbing, touching film, as it follows someone’s real life events. How is the poster layed out? Why are some things bigger than others? The two characters take up most of the poster, Big Mike being significantly bigger. This highlights the contrast between his looks, and his actual personality. It portrays him to be strong and confident, whereas actually he is a real big softie. By having the characters the biggest item on the page, it identifies them as the two main characters, and the fact we are following their lives. The stadium in the background is also very big, identifying what a big star he is going to become. The biggest font on the page is the title to make it very poignant and clear. This could have references to basketball or the social world. The second biggest font on the page is the actresses name Sandra Bullock. This is used to capture the attention of the audience as she is a high profile Hollywood actress, so we expect the film to be good, as they must have spent a lot to get her to feature in it. The tag line is also very bold, to emphasise the fact that it is a true story, which makes it more emotional and moving. Who is this film poster for? How do you know? I think this poster is aimed at both genders aged 15+. I think that the fact that is it a true story makes it a lot more touching, deep and meaningful, therefore being aimed at a more mature audience. It is more of a moving film, rather than a fun, exciting, feel good film, which are usually aimed at a younger generation. What is your reaction to it? From this poster I think that this film looks very good. It looks very emotional, touching and deep through the image which would really appeal to me. The fact that it is a true story also makes me want to watch it more, as it makes it more meaningful, real and genuine.
19. What is the purpose of the poster? The primary purpose of this poster is to advertise the film, in order to get people to watch it. It features a very well known teen actress – Lindsey Lohan, who is extremely popular with young girls as she has been in a lot of young teen hits – Parent trap and later featuring in Mean Girls etc. Therefore, straight away this is going to appeal to young teen girls, and we can see it is going to be a good film as they would have had to pay her a lot of money to appear in it. Young girls may also put this poster on their bedroom walls if they are fans of Lindsey Lohan, if they really like the film or if they like the colour scheme on the poster – making it a form of display, rather than just an advertisement - which is its primary purpose. What colours have been used? What associations do these colours have? Are they unusual for a poster? The main colours are the background – purple and green. Green is the colour of nature, so therefore strongly symbolises growth, as well as safety. This has two references to the film, as it is symbolises the growing up of Lindsey Lohan as she goes through high school as well as the hope of safety from her mum, as she wants to look after her. Green is also strongly associated with greed and envy, which could be a reference to her mum being jealous of her young, free, careless life, or a reference to her being jealous to her mother’s organised, professional lifestyle – hence why they don’t get on very well. However, purple is a colour strongly referenced to mystery and spirituality. This is a reference to the spiritual side of the story – where they get changed into one another’s body after they eat the fortune cookies. Lindsey Lohan is dressed in a black suit and black heels which are very professional and business like colours representing sophistication, which is symbolic to her mother’s authority and professional lifestyle. In contrast, her mother is dressed in a red skirt and is holding a red guitar. This represents Lindsey’s fiery, courageous ‘punk-rock’ attitude and style. What is the key (main) image we see? Is this different or the same from other action adventure posters? The main image that we see is Lindsey Lohan dressed up in her mother’s clothes, and her mum stood next to her in hers, holding her electric guitar. This is the key feature of the storyline – as they are switched into each other’s bodies, so produces a comical appeal to the poster. Both of them have a very shocked expression on their face, emphasising their shock and humiliation within the film, once again adding humour to the poster.
20. What images do we see in the lower half or background of the poster? What do these tell us? In the bottom half of the poster the only image we can see is the bottom of each of their legs. This is very significant to the story, as we can tell a lot about each character just by their lower half of their body through their choice clothing and shoes. Lindsey Lohan is wearing a knee length black skirt, and black heels which is a very stereotypical outfit choice for a business woman. It is also very professional looking. In contrast, her mother is wearing a shorter, red and black checked skirt, which is cut diagonally making it get shorter giving it an edgy, punk-rock chick feel to it. She has also got fishnet tights on which are perceived to be sexy and also stereotypically quite ‘slutty’ and are associated with hookers, so it is obvious a shock and rather comical that her mum is wearing them. However, they also look quite trendy and rock chick. She also has knee high black boots on which also look fashionable, groovy, and once again rock chick, symbolising Lindsey Lohans’ personality in the film, and their obvious switch of personality. Half the background is green and half is purple signifying the divide between the two lifestyles. Purple signifies the spiritual, fashionable and trendy side of the storyline, and the green signifies the envy with characters and growth of personalities. The stripes in the background contrast with the freaky outfits and different in personality, as stripes usually stand for uniformity, which is the complete opposite to the characters. How realistic are the images? The images are photographs of real people, rather than animations making it appear realistic. It also refers to the storyline as we can obviously see their swap in personalities through their use of clothing and props. Their shocked expressions also make the images more realistic as it shows emotion and actual real life expression. What is the colour of the title /text? Is there any significance in the use of this colour? The text is outlined in black, making the letters far more poignant and obvious as well as being a very mysterious colour, emphasising the fact that something strange is going on. Black is also perceived to be a fashionable, trendy and cool colour for young people. ‘Freaky’ is also outlined in red, which is a colour strongly linked with danger. This represents the danger and humiliation within the storyline. ‘Friday’ is also outlined in purple, which is a very fashionable, trendy colour, which has references to spirituality, mystery and wisdom. This emphasises the mysterious, spooky, spiritual storyline and the wisdom of the lady who has swapped them. The middle of the text is white, which is a binary opposition to black. This identifies the differences and opposition within their lifestyles. Purple and red are colours that clash with each other, this symbolises the fun, exciting, twist to the story. Why has this font been chosen? What impression is it trying to make? The font is very different, with the letters at various heights and sizes. It is trendy, groovy and wacky looking, highlighting the crazy storyline and twist of personalities. The ‘Freaky Friday’ words look as though they are highlighted in black to give a 3D effect, which adds to the trendy, freaky, fashionable and rather unusual themes to the film. What is the tag line? What information does it reveal to you about the film? ‘Every teenager’s nightmare... turning into her mother’. This is quite a humorous tag line and adds a comical twist to the film. It sums up the whole storyline, as they actually do switch personalities. Teenagers would actually be able to relate to this line, as the teenage years are quite often the rebellious years, where the last thing most teenagers would want is to be like their parents!
21. How is the poster layed out? Why are some things bigger than others? The characters are the largest object on the page due to the fact that they are the whole storyline. It is based on their personalities and how they swap over. The next biggest thing on the page is the title ‘Freaky Friday’. This emphasised the freakiness of the characters and the Friday highlights an unlucky day (Friday 13th!). The characters names are also in bold. This highlights their high status and the familiarity of them as they are Hollywood actresses, showing that it is going to be a good teenage film, especially as Lindsey Lohan is one of the most famous teenage actresses. Who is this film poster for? How do you know? This poster is aimed at a teenage audience 11+ who are at secondary school. Lindsey Lohan is a very popular actress with the young, teenage audience. All the colours and font are very youthful, vibrant, trendy and exciting, which appeals to a younger audience. I think that the target audience would probably be young girls, rather than boys as the main characters are female, therefore the girls can empathise and relate to them. It also looks as though it is going to be a really good family entertainment film. What is your reaction to it? I think this poster looks very exciting, energetic and full of fun! It looks as though it is going to be a real fun filled, entertaining comedy that I would watch. Being a teenage girl, we can also relate with the main character.
22. What is the purpose of the poster?- There is a dual purpose for this poster. The primary purpose is to persuade the audience to watch it and to make the audience empathise or relate to the situation that the characters may be facing. However this specific film is a comedy so another aim is to make the audience laugh. What is the key (main) image we see? Is this different or the same from other action adventure posters? The main image on the poster is the two main characters Nell Bedworth (Samarie Armstrong) and Woody Deane (Kevin Zegers). They are sitting either end of a bench this could represent that they might not get on well with each other. The stance of the characters looks role reversed. With the girl sitting in an in-feminine way, with her legs apart and her face looking straight ahead which could show attitude. On the other hand the boy is sitting stereotypically like a girl with his legs crossed and reading a book. He comes across to be intellectual and respectable which is completely opposite to the girl. This could represent the fact that they swap souls/ bodies. Who is this film poster for? How do you know? - This film poster is aimed at mostly girls who are 15+, we can see this from the colour scheme chosen, which consists mostly of pink, which is a stereotypical girls colour.
23. What images do we see in the lower half or background of the poster? What do these tell us? -The background is white which could show emptiness or a feeling of being lost – this could be shown during later on in the film when they both feel lost without their own bodies. The white can also represent goodness, innocence, purity, and virginity. The colour white also symbolises perfection – this could represent the ending of the film when everything turns out to be perfect. In the lower half of the image we can see shadows which could connote a dark past to one or both of the characters. How realistic are the images? -The images are fairly realistic as they are photographed, so they appear to come across real. The images also give us a good indication to what the film will include and be about. It highlights the fact that there is confusion within the film, but also because of the facial expressions we can tell that the film is supposed to be fun and taken light heartedly rather than serious and based on true life. What is the colour of the title /text? Is there any significance in the use of this colour? -The colour of the font is in pink and blue. This film poster challenges stereotypical society, as normally pink is associated with girls and blue associated with boys. But the word ‘boy’ is written in pink which could show a feminine, passionate boy, the colour pink also connotes friendship or love. This could be about the characters and the strong bond they form. The word ‘girl’ on the other hand is written in blue this connotes power, which could symbolise the fact that the girl has the power over the boy. Blue also connotes seriousness and understanding, which could be as they are both in the same situation and can empathise with each other. The colour change also represents the fact that they have also changed bodies. Why has this font been chosen? What impression is it trying to make? -The font is used isn’t at all formal. It has been written in a handwriting style of writing which could represent the fact that the characters are going to have to do everything only with the help of each other. It’s very simple font, which could represent a simple and easy to follow storyline. What is the tag line? What information does it reveal to you about the film? - “He's trying to get out of her knickers” – this tag line is a bit of a shock to the audience and is meant to come across funny, as normally the quote will be “He’s trying to get in her knickers”.
24. What is the purpose of the poster? The primary purpose of this poster is to advertise the film in order to get people to watch. It may be displayed in public places, bus stops, magazines etc so that everyone can see it, so it is advertised in many different places, to all social groups. People who really enjoy the film may also put the poster up in their house, so it can be used as a form of display, as well as achieving its primary purpose, which is to advertise. What colours have been used? What associations do these colours have? Are they unusual for a poster? The only colours used on the poster are green, blue and white. They are basic, primary colours making the poster look very effective. The splash of green symbolises nature, growth and harmony. This signifies the growing of their love and their contentment with each other. It also represents the safety and security with one another. Blue is associated with trust (the trust between the two), loyalty and healing (as Noah is trying to heal Allie). Blue is also a very deep colour, emphasising the depth of the film. It also signifies the tranquillity and calmness of their lifestyle, for example, romantic boat rides and strolls. White is a symbol of purity (the pureness of their love) and is a colour associated with perfection, highlighting the perfection of their intense love. White is also a strong connotation of marriage, highlighting the theme of romance and passion within the film. What is the key (main) image we see? The main image is the man and women (Noah and Allie) in a passionate embrace. The rain is pouring down their faces, which adds to the intense feeling of passion as it is a very romantic and stirring scene. This highlights the theme of deep love of the two main characters within the story, and identifies they key themes that run throughout. What images do we see in the lower half or background of the poster? What do these tell us? In the lower half of the poster we can just see the two characters bodies embraced and wrapped around each other, identifying their passion and love and lust for each other. In the background we can see the splashes of rain, which symbolises the intensity of their passion and there is a very stereotypical romantic picture portrayed of two lovers kissing in the rain, because of the closeness, warmth and protection of each other. The use of rain is also symbolic to the other elements such as fire, making this a very fiery, fierce romance.
25. How realistic are the images? The images are very realistic as they are the two main characters are embraced in a very symbolic position for the storyline. It is a real photograph, rather than any animations making it a lot more realistic. The elements of the rain and their expressions on their faces make the poster very emotive, once again adding to the realism and passion. What is the colour of the title /text? Is there any significance in the use of this colour? All the text is black, which is very plain and simple, so that it does not draw away from the picture which is the most important part of the poster to emphasise the emotive, deep storyline. Black also signifies depression, darkness and gloom which highlights the story of the old lady in the nursing home. These are the emotions she feels in the nursing home as it signifies old age and illness, as well as the emotions that Noah is feeling at the loss of his young lover. This is a huge contrast to the two young lovers. Why has this font been chosen? What impression is it trying to make? The font is very basic and simple, so that it does not draw away from the main image, which is the most important feature. However, it is classy, almost regal looking font to highlight the class behind their deep love and passion – making their love have an ‘old fashioned’ feel to it through the use of the scroll and it also makes the film appear more romantic. The theme of the past is portrayed by the use of the scroll, which is an old fashioned form of writing. What is the tag line? What information does it reveal to you about the film? ‘Behind every great love is a great story’. This tag line symbolises the fact that there is a great deal more to the romantic, deep picture than meets the eye. It signifies that there is a much deeper meaning behind their love story. How is the poster layed out? Why are some things bigger than others? The two main characters are the biggest image on the page, symbolising the fact that they are the two main characters and the story follows their love story. This emphasises their romantic, passionate embrace with each other, highlighting the deep, meaningful narrative, as well as showing that they are the two key features within the film. The biggest piece of text on the page it the title ‘Notebook’. This helps to advertise the name of the film, as well as highlighting the fact that it is following their lives, much like a diary/notebook. The splashes of rain are also very big, adding to the extremeness and intensity of their love and passion. All the stars/characters names are of equal size, illustrating their equal values. The tag line is also in bold, stressing the importance of the line – that there is a much deeper meaning behind their perceived love. Who is this film poster for? How do you know? I would say that this film poster is targeted at teenagers and adults 16+ as it is a very mature and emotive storyline. It would appeal to those people looking for a real romance and passionate, touching love story. Although the romantic genre is more stereotypically female, I think that this film would also appeal to a more mature male who is in touch with his emotions. What is your reaction to it? This poster really makes the film appeal to me. The romantic genre is generally my favourite, and this poster portrays the film as a really passionate, fiery, emotional and moving storyline that would really appeal to me and really play with emotions!
26. What is the purpose of the poster? The primary purpose of this poster is to advertise the film, in order to get people to watch it. It features a very well known actress and model – Anna Faris. She is a playboy model, so as well as being a film that would appeal to teenage girls, boys may also watch it as she is a male heart throb! Girls may also put this poster on their bedroom walls if they enjoy the film or like the colour scheme. Some boys may do too, if they are a fan of Anna Faris! This makes the poster not only a form of advertisement, which is its primary purpose, but also a form of display. What colours have been used? What associations do these colours have? Are they unusual for a poster? Most of the colour used on the page is pink. Shelley (Anna Farris) is dressed head to toe in baby pink – pink bunny ears, pink top, pink mini skirt and pink shoes. Pink can be a symbol of romance and friendship. This highlights the romantic genre within the film, as well as the new friendships Shelley makes when she becomes one of the sorority girls from Zeta Alpha Zeta. Pink is also very stereotypically ‘Barbie’, girly and extremely feminine, which highlights Shelley’s personality throughout the film. She is very feminine, bubbly and a bit of an airhead, which is also very stereotypical for ‘Barbie’s. Pink is also the renowned colour for playboy. Pink can also connote passiveness and can be perceived as a very delicate, sweet colour. This is also a reference to Shelleys’ personality, because although she may appear fake, she is actually very sweet, and easily hurt making her very delicate. The house is painted in blue, which represents the trust, loyalty and friendship within the Zeta house. Blue is also a colour strongly signifying tranquillity, calmness and healing. This is a reference to the healing her new friends provide her after she is kicked out the Playboy mansion, and the calmness of her new friends. The girls peering out the door behind her (her new friends) are dress in more subdued, neural colours signifying their more plain, simple lifestyle and image.
27. What is the key (main) image we see? The key image we see is Shelley stood posing outside her new house. She has long blonde hair which is very stereotypically ‘plastic’ and ‘barbie’. Blondes are stereotyped to be more of an ‘airhead’ than brunettes. She is dresses in a very short skirt, skimpy top and very high heels, which is stereotypically quite a ‘fake’ and ‘slutty’ outfit. She stands in a confident pose, highlighting that she is the main character, and that she is a glamorous, attractive model. She stands outside a wooden, simple door emphasising the fact that she is going to a less glamorous more low-key place. The girls behind her (her new friends) peer out the door at her highlighting their lack of confidence. They have a look of astonishment on their face, showing that they are shocked by her. What images do we see in the lower half or background of the poster? What do these tell us? In the bottom of the poster we can just see Shelleys legs and her high heels – emphasising how short her skirt is making her appear quite ‘slutty’, yet sexy and glamorous. Her suitcases are next to her, which are bright pink and playboy, once again connoting her very feminine, ‘Barbie’ nature. They also have the playboy bunny on them, emphasising the fact that she is a playboy model. In the background is the very unglamorous, wooden, braking down looking zeta house, highlighting that she is moving to a far less glamorous place. The girls peer their heads out the doorway, looking very plain, unglamorous and simple, contrasting with Shelleys exciting, glamorous and sexy nature. How realistic are the images? The images are very realistic looking as they are the actual people in the film and it is in the actual location. It is a photograph of Shelley wearing what she does in the film, which represents her personality and glamorous playboy model lifestyle. They are also stood outside their actual sorority house, making it far more realistic. The fact that it is an actual picture, rather than an animation makes it far more realistic. What is the colour of the title /text? Is there any significance in the use of this colour? The main colour of the titles is pink. Pink can be a symbol of romance and friendship. This highlights the romantic genre within the film, as well as the new friendships Shelley makes when she becomes one of the sorority girls from Zeta Alpha Zeta. Pink is also very stereotypically ‘fake’ and ‘barbie like’. Pink can be a symbol of romance and friendship. Pink also connotes passion, sweetness, playfulness, sexuality and can also be a very delicate colour. This represents all of the themes within the film – her sweet delicate attitude, as well as her sexual appearance and romantic storyline. The white border symbolises her new peaceful, calm attitude as she enters her new life as part of the sorority. Why has this font been chosen? What impression is it trying to make? The font is very bold and simple so that it does not take away from the image, as this is the most important part. It highlights Shelleys bold, outgoing personality and lifestyle. It is also the typical ‘playboy’ style of font, highlighting the fact that she is a former playboy model.
28. What is the tag line? What information does it reveal to you about the film? ‘For the girls ZETA house college life was no party, until Shelley showed up’. This tells the whole storyline and highlights the fact that the ZETA house at college is obviously the most unpopular girls that do not go out. It also symbolises the fact that Shelley lives a very glamorous, exciting, party life which she introduces to the girls. How is the poster layed out? Why are some things bigger than others? Shelley is the biggest object on the poster, highlighting the fact that she is the main character and the whole storyline is centred around her. It emphasises her glamour and sexy image. The pink suitcases also take up quite a significant amount of space. The bright pink colour is stresses that she is your stereotypical ‘Barbie dolly girl’. The title is the biggest piece of text on the page, emphasising the fact that she is a playboy bunny, with very little brains, who would only be good as a ‘house play mate!’ Who is this film poster for? How do you know? The film poster is targeted towards a teenage audience. This is shown through the location (college), the costumes (trendy, provocative and sexy outfits and high heels) and the props used (bright, pink playboy suitcases) that would appeal to teenage girls. The characters used are also teenagers based in a college setting, so the teenage audience are able to empathise and relate to the setting and different social groups. Although the use of pink in so many situations is stereotypically directed towards a female target audience, boys may also like to watch this film with their friends or girlfriends as Shelley is a real male heartthrob. They have dressed the girl as stereotypical ‘sexy, blonde’ to attract the male eye. What is your reaction to it? My reaction to this poster is that I really want to watch the film! Being a teenage girl, there are lots of concepts that appeal to me and we can relate to the main characters. Shelley appears to be very sexy and fun, so it arouses my curiosity as it looks like it is going to be a really good, fun, and humorous, feel good chick-flick, which is also one of my favourite film genres.
29. What is the purpose of the poster? The primary purpose of this poster is to advertise the film, in order to get people to watch it. It features a high profile actor – Leonardo DiCaprio and high profile actress Kate Winslet on the front, so we can straight away see that it is going to be a good film, as it would have cost a lot of money for them to feature in it. It is also based on a true story, so people are more interested in watching it to find out what actually happened. Children who are fans of these particular actors would also display this poster on their walls – so it can be used as a display in their bedrooms etc as well as advertising. What colours have been used? What associations do these colours have? Are they unusual for a poster? The boat is black which portrays danger and darkness highlighting the dramatic, terrifying storyline. In Western cultures black is a colour that is strongly represented to grief, death, danger and mourning. This represents the death and heartbreak within the story. The dark colours also highlight the strength of the iron boat. The line around the boat is yellow – this almost symbolises a hazard or danger about to occur, which is a reference to the storyline. Pale, muted, pastel colours are used for the characters, which signify the romance and trust between them. The bottom of the picture is a complete contrast with the top of the photo where they are floating in the blue sky, which appears very tranquil, and almost represents heaven. The top of the boat, as it gets closer to them turns to white, this symbolises the purity and compassion between the two characters. This is also represented through the white clouds. What is the key (main) image we see? Is this different or the same from other tragedy/ romantic posters? The main image that we see is the big boat in the centre of the poster. This highlights a journey, as well as showing that it is the main feature of the story. Above the boat, the two characters are embraced in a passionate, tender, romantic position with Leonardo DiCaprio’s head leaning on Kate Winslets shoulder. This highlights the strong bond and love between the two in the film. They are highlighted in the sky, so they almost appear like angels, illustrating the theme of death and heartbreak within the film.
30. What images do we see in the lower half or background of the poster? What do these tell us? In the lower half of the poster we can see the dark, black boat. This is a huge contrast to the top of the poster. The black connotes death, darkness and heartbreak, and also makes the title far more poignant. The background of the poster is a real contrast to this. The sky portrays a peaceful, tranquil, calm atmosphere which makes them look like angels. This symbolises the loss within the film, as they almost appear a spirit. How realistic are the images? The poster is very realistic, as it is based on a true story. Real people and a real boat are used on the poster, rather than any animations making it appear far more real and factual. This makes us more willing to watch the film, as it is a true story and features what actually happened, so it plays with our emotions more deeply. Leonardo DiCaprio is also leaning his head on Kate Winslets shoulder, once again creating a very realistic image, as it symbolises their deep passion and love for one another within the film. What is the colour of the title /text? Is there any significance in the use of this colour? The title is in white, along with the character names and tag line “Nothing on Earth could come between them”. This makes these most important pieces of text stand out and signifies the purity, innocence and gentleness between the two lovers. The rest of the text on the page is in yellow, which also stands out on the page and is also the colour of warning signs, so implies a dangerous edge to the film. Why has this font been chosen? What impression is it trying to make? The font is very bold, strong and powerful looking. This compares to the strength of the boat, the ice berg and the powerfulness and intensity of the storyline. What is the tag line? What information does it reveal to you about the film? ‘Nothing on Earth could come between them’. This highlights the love between the two characters. It makes the film appeal to people who enjoy the romantic genre as well as drama/tragedy and highlights the fact it is going to be very deep, moving and meaningful making the whole film more emotional. How is the poster layed out? Why are some things bigger than others? The poster is layed out with the boat taking up three quarters. This symbolises the strength, power and force of the iceberg and boat as well as the mass destruction, heartbreak and tragedy that is caused b the boat. The next biggest image on the page is the two characters – Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet. This symbolises the fact that they are the main characters – the story is about their lives on the boat as well as making them appear in spirit, as though they are strongly remembered and very important.
31. Who is this film poster for? How do you know? I think that this poster is targeted at both genders aged 12 and over. It is obviously a romance, but the boat in it gives another dimension. The hulk of the ship suggests that it also an adventure/drama based on a journey, so this would attract to people who enjoy the romantic genre, as well as adventures and dramas. The fact that it is a true story would also make it more appealing to a wider audience as it is a form of education as well as a film. Therefore, this would attract a mass audience. However, it would not appeal to a younger audience as it would be too heavy and dramatic. What is your reaction to it? Personally, I would choose to watch this film because it appeals to the romantic genre as well as adventure and drama and I like all of these genres. It looks like it would be a very exciting, moving and dramatic storyline which would be full of suspense. The fact that is a true, harrowing story will also make it far more interesting, dramatic and emotional.
32. What is the purpose of the poster? - There is a dual purpose for this poster. The primary purpose is to persuade the audience to watch it and to make the audience empathise or relate to the situation that the characters may be facing. However this specific film is a comedy so another aim is to make the audience laugh. What colours have been used? What associations do these colours have? Are they unusual for a poster? - The colours used are very contrasting. Pink is used within the title to show there is romance, passion and love during the film it also shows that the women is feminine. The colour black connotes the unknown and a sense of confusion or mystery within the film . The colour grey connotes strong emotions, and is a very balanced and cool colour. What is the key (main) image we see? - the main image we see is the two characters, the man is looking at the women in a lovingly kind off way. The women is looking straight at the camera smiling, this could show innocence and vulnerability. We can see by there costume that the man might be more laidback. On the other hand the women who is dressed smartly might take life more seriously. What images do we see in the lower half or background of the poster? What do these tell us? - The background of the poster is white, this may show an emptiness somewhere within the story, however white has positive connotations so this could symbolise something good happening.
