Analysis of Poster Analysis of Poster and Magazine – A2and Magazine – A2

Robbie DaleRobbie Dale

PosterPoster

I chose a monochromatic colour I chose a monochromatic colour palette - black and white. palette - black and white.

These colours are conventionally These colours are conventionally used to symbolise opposites. In used to symbolise opposites. In Western cultures, Black stands Western cultures, Black stands for corruption, darkness and for corruption, darkness and death, while White represents death, while White represents life, purity and innocence.life, purity and innocence.

These colours represent the These colours represent the main themes of my film - life and main themes of my film - life and death. death.

The colour palette is minimalistic The colour palette is minimalistic and reflects the equality of and reflects the equality of Death; king or peasant, Death Death; king or peasant, Death comes for all. It is also a classic comes for all. It is also a classic palette, referencing the era of palette, referencing the era of black and white film. black and white film.

It is an easily recognisable It is an easily recognisable colour scheme, which would give colour scheme, which would give the audience an idea about the the audience an idea about the film’s genre.film’s genre.

The poster shows it is targeting The poster shows it is targeting young adults and thriller addicts by young adults and thriller addicts by using the skull as a central image.using the skull as a central image.

This is a conventional symbol which I This is a conventional symbol which I have tried to subvert by presenting have tried to subvert by presenting it like a computer image.it like a computer image.

The skull also refers to the danse The skull also refers to the danse macabre that appears in my trailer macabre that appears in my trailer and could be used as distinctive and could be used as distinctive promotional motif. promotional motif.

This clearly shows the genre the film This clearly shows the genre the film is and therefore a basis for the an is and therefore a basis for the an older audience. older audience.

The poster references the end of the The poster references the end of the Mesoamerican long count calendar, Mesoamerican long count calendar, which some claim is the date for the which some claim is the date for the end of the world. Because this is end of the world. Because this is unexplained, it helps create an ‘in-unexplained, it helps create an ‘in-group’ feeling among the audience.group’ feeling among the audience.

The lighting effect on the The lighting effect on the skull aims to makes it seems skull aims to makes it seems as if it is emerging from as if it is emerging from darkness; a very gothic darkness; a very gothic image. It also represents the image. It also represents the shocking scenes that I hope shocking scenes that I hope would make the audience would make the audience jump in their seats.jump in their seats.

The skull’s front-on angle The skull’s front-on angle denotes again the equality of denotes again the equality of Death. It brings the viewer Death. It brings the viewer face to face with death.face to face with death.

The direct look makes it The direct look makes it seem that the skull’s gaze is seem that the skull’s gaze is piercing your soul and piercing your soul and drawing you in, closer to the drawing you in, closer to the poster.poster.

The only image used The only image used on the poster is the on the poster is the skull which implies skull which implies that death is one of that death is one of the movie’s themes. the movie’s themes.

This image is This image is designed to attract designed to attract a older, more a older, more appropriate appropriate audience who would audience who would find the genre of find the genre of film interesting.film interesting.

My ident, Riddle Films, was My ident, Riddle Films, was designed to represent the designed to represent the thriller element of the film my thriller element of the film my company produces.company produces.

This was first placed in the This was first placed in the bottom left-hand corner of the bottom left-hand corner of the poster but research and poster but research and feedback showed that this:feedback showed that this:

1. did not look 1. did not look aesthetically pleasing;aesthetically pleasing;2. was not conventional 2. was not conventional (bottom centre is the (bottom centre is the normal position).normal position).

I therefore changed the poster I therefore changed the poster accordingly.accordingly.

As my director and crew are As my director and crew are not well-known, I did not use a not well-known, I did not use a large font to draw attention to large font to draw attention to them. Style and positioning of them. Style and positioning of the text follows convention. the text follows convention.

I used Trajan Pro for the main film titles I used Trajan Pro for the main film titles and information but Steel Tongs for the and information but Steel Tongs for the credits and presentation. credits and presentation.

I used Trajan Pro as it is a simple I used Trajan Pro as it is a simple but chic serif font. I though of but chic serif font. I though of adding a worn effect to the text adding a worn effect to the text represent death and decay but represent death and decay but decided to use a outer glow decided to use a outer glow effect, which feedback showed effect, which feedback showed looked better. The outer glow looked better. The outer glow made the title look ghostly and made the title look ghostly and therefore emphasised the therefore emphasised the supernatural. supernatural. The film title was originally The film title was originally placed acrostically down the left placed acrostically down the left hand side but after criticism of it hand side but after criticism of it being confused with the tagline, I being confused with the tagline, I put it in a more conventional put it in a more conventional position.position.

Steel Tongs was used for credits Steel Tongs was used for credits and presentation as it is a clear and presentation as it is a clear sans serif font which looks sans serif font which looks professional.professional.

The poster challenges The poster challenges conventions by not conventions by not including an image or name including an image or name of an actor. of an actor.

It keeps to conventions by It keeps to conventions by having a strong central having a strong central image, including standard image, including standard elements such as including elements such as including the film’s title, production the film’s title, production company ident, list of crew company ident, list of crew and web addresses (in the and web addresses (in the bottom left and right bottom left and right corners).corners).

Magazine Front CoverMagazine Front Cover

The colour palette is black, The colour palette is black, white and red, primary and white and red, primary and complementary colours. complementary colours.

These three colours have These three colours have distinctive meanings : distinctive meanings : white and black denote white and black denote opposites such as life and opposites such as life and death, while the red refers death, while the red refers not only to blood but is not only to blood but is used to not only remain used to not only remain conventional but also conventional but also draws the reader’s eye draws the reader’s eye towards the magazine. towards the magazine.

The colours stand out The colours stand out against each other and against each other and that means that text and that means that text and images are easily images are easily viewable.viewable.

The cover targets young The cover targets young adults who read film adults who read film magazines.magazines.

This cover is stylish and This cover is stylish and effective, using a danse effective, using a danse macabre-inspired main image. macabre-inspired main image.

The use of red in the The use of red in the magazine title helps attract magazine title helps attract new readers and make it new readers and make it easily seen on a shelf. easily seen on a shelf.

The red bar at the bottom of The red bar at the bottom of the cover is used to the cover is used to emphasise the main article emphasise the main article and instantly attract those and instantly attract those who like to keep up-to-date who like to keep up-to-date with films. This is a with films. This is a conventional way of adding conventional way of adding emphasis to key articles.emphasis to key articles.

The skull’s side angle and The skull’s side angle and eye line looking towards eye line looking towards the other images draws the other images draws the reader’s attention to the reader’s attention to them.them.

This pose gives the figure This pose gives the figure power - as he is looking power - as he is looking down on the other images down on the other images - which is offset by his - which is offset by his casual stance. This casual stance. This implies openness and implies openness and vulnerability, traits which vulnerability, traits which this figure lacks. this figure lacks.

The other images are The other images are used to stick to used to stick to convention and to fill convention and to fill negative space on the negative space on the magazine cover, they also magazine cover, they also relate to the main article relate to the main article of the cover.of the cover.

Other conventional Other conventional elements of the magazine elements of the magazine cover include : cover include :

a web address for the a web address for the magazine, magazine,

a barcode with date and a barcode with date and price. price.

These features help create These features help create a professional looka professional look..

There are no clear There are no clear conventions about the conventions about the positioning of these items, positioning of these items, and they may move around and they may move around from cover to cover from cover to cover depending on the layout depending on the layout and image used.and image used.

The Plus section is also a The Plus section is also a conventional method of conventional method of showing what else is in showing what else is in your magazine. This is your magazine. This is necessary as if the main necessary as if the main article does not interest the article does not interest the reader, then you have to reader, then you have to entice them with other entice them with other options to try and get them options to try and get them to purchase your product. to purchase your product.

The use of two colours is a The use of two colours is a conventional way of conventional way of breaking up cover text as it breaking up cover text as it makes it easier for the makes it easier for the reader to differentiate reader to differentiate between stories.between stories.

The strapline is at the top The strapline is at the top and is a conventional way of and is a conventional way of showing awards given to showing awards given to the magazine or to promote the magazine or to promote it with a slogan. it with a slogan.

The use of Trajan Pro in Reaper’s The use of Trajan Pro in Reaper’s related news is to show continuity related news is to show continuity from the poster to the magazine. from the poster to the magazine.

The outer glow effect this time is The outer glow effect this time is less to do with supernatural effect less to do with supernatural effect but more with the text otherwise but more with the text otherwise becoming indecipherable against becoming indecipherable against the model’s legs.the model’s legs.

Text size selection was aimed to Text size selection was aimed to emphasise key elements – the emphasise key elements – the film’s title, the magazine itself, film’s title, the magazine itself, and headline contents. and headline contents.

Fonts are chosen so as to be seen Fonts are chosen so as to be seen from a distance, but there is not from a distance, but there is not so much variation as to confuse so much variation as to confuse the potential buyer. the potential buyer.

The font used for the The font used for the title is the largest on the title is the largest on the page. In red and with a page. In red and with a shadow effect the shadow effect the magazine’s name is magazine’s name is easily seen against the easily seen against the white background. white background.

Also, the model is placed Also, the model is placed in front of the in front of the magazine’s name as magazine’s name as conventionally, with conventionally, with well-known film well-known film magazines, they can magazines, they can afford to cover a small afford to cover a small part of their name.part of their name.