Analysing 2 Film Posters - Carla

As our story-line is meant to be an over exaggerated anti-climax, we want the film poster to look really ambiguous and make the audience wonder what they are going to watch.

Primer (2004, Directed by Shane Carruth)

Primer science fiction drama film about the accidental discovery of a means of time travel.   Four friends/fledgling entrepreneurs, knowing that there's something bigger and more innovative than the different error-checking devices they've built, wrestle over their new invention.   

Narrative -This poster manages to tell the viewer very little whilst still enticing the audience in. The use of restricted narration from the poster creates ambiguity and makes the audience curious to find out what its about. The dark lighting gives the idea there is a dark twist in the plot.

Genre - The use of the Title made out of cables gives the idea it is a Sci-Fi film. The focus attention is towards a piece of isolated machinery. This gives the idea it is a film with elements of heightened drama and futuristic technology. The dark lighting with a bright light on the machinery gives it an eerie effect. We know the movie is based on the piece of machinery because the light is shining straight on to it and there is nothing else it the picture apart from cables and the caption 'what if it actually works?' 

Target Audience -

Representation - 

Brighton Rock (2010, Directed by Rowan Joffe)

In 1964, Pinkie Brown, a sociopathic member of a Brighton gang, murders a man who has himself killed the gang leader, Kite. He befriends Rose, a young waitress who had witnessed gang activity, so as to keep an eye on her, and she falls in love with him. In order to prevent her from being made to give evidence against him, he marries her. Ida, Rose's employer and a friend of the man killed by Pinkie, takes it upon herself to save the girl from the monster she has married.

Narrative - From looking at the male characters face it gives the idea it is an action/thriller themed film, along with the use of clouds and sky, the darkness and the light this reinforces the idea that this is a good vs. evil / revenge and redemption styled movie circling around the male character. The poster portrays the main protagonist very obviously with a traditional representation of masculinity, this is shown through the centre positioning of his character and his name being put first in the text of actors names characters connoting that he is of higher importance and is at the centre of the narrative. Also the low key lighting used on one side of his faces portrays him as evil or showing the emotion of anger this is also shown through his facial expression and body language as his is posed 'ready for action'.

Genre: The use of the backgrounds colour could be suggesting an eventful storyline so it is most likely an action thriller. This is reinforced by the facial expression of the male and female on the right, along with the male’s body language which is suggests that he is aggressive and possibly violent. The costume used helps the audience suggest the genre and era of the film, for example the clothes worn are 'very sixties' and the film is probably from that era, also the male character has his collar up on his coat which may suggest crime in the narrative, it's as if he has something to hide about his identity. The large and bold white title displayed on a dark background also suggests that this film could be a thriller including the narrative use of binary opposites shown through the use of lighting for example the poster uses low key lighting vs whereas the film narrative may use good vs bad. It is directed at an older audience this is shown by the genre portrayed, the age certificate of 15.

Representation: The male character seems to be a representation of a young middle class adult (suggested through his clothing). His facial expression seems to suggest an aggressive possibly violent disposition portraying a generalization that young males could be holding in anger and rage which could threaten or harm others. The woman on the right seems to be mirroring the male characters basic aura whereas the woman on the left seems to be much more concerned about the male, suggesting she could be looking out for his safety and well-being giving the impression that she is a much more emotionally compatible character to the audience. This could be a generalization of what people were expected to be like during the time this film was set, the film is based pre-world war 2 so it could be a representation of the animosity that lead up to the events that would take place. The femininity and masculinity on the poster is very clear with the positioning of the characters, the composition of the frame, and the costume, body language and facial expressions of the characters. We’re told that the male character is empowered, the older female character is traditionally represented in a pink coat with a vulnerable expression, and the younger female is a more modern representation, looking in control and fashionable.

Target Audience : I would say the target audience would range from 15 and over. With Helen Mirren and John Hurt starring in it, I would think the film would open up a much bigger target audience to the older generation. This is due to both stars performing in other films and being respected actors of the film industry with their own fan base. We can also assume that the readers of the classic novel would be interested to see the adaptation as there is already a fan base for the product with a more mature audience.