It is interesting when discussing film posters to examine the roles the play in today’s modern day society. Film posters have a diverse variety of uses such as to advertise an upcoming film and to add to the anticipation and excitement for its release date, which would boost their cinema attendance and DVD sales. Film posters usually contain examples of different persuasive and informative techniques, such as a:
Title (a title is a persuasive and informative technique, it is hard to differentiate between the techniques a title uses because it is being informative by telling the audience the films name, but the title can also be persuasive because it can be used to subtly hint the genre and plot of the film which could entice anticipation from the audience.)
Tag Line (are generally seen as a persuasive technique because they are used to excite the audience and build up anticipation of its release date.)
Actors names ( are quite similar to the title because it is being informative by telling the audience the actors names, but actors names can also be persuasive because the film could contain a worldwide renowned actor who would create a bigger ‘pull’ than actor who nobody has ever heard of.)
Release dates, website address and credits (these are used as informative techniques because they use no persuasive techniques in their text. Their sole role in a film poster is to inform.)
Images (this is a persuasive technique mostly used to excite the audience, but it can be informative in such a way to briefly hint the plot and genre of the film.)
DVD posters usually contain all of these things, but may include more features such as:
Awards nominated and awards won (this is a persuasive technique because many people belie...
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...hown in ‘Alien’s’ poster because it uses eerie colours, extra terrestrial images and a tag line that reads ‘In space no one can hear you scream’ information alone ‘Alien’s’ target audience have clearly shown it is supposed to be scary and inappropriate for children. While for ‘Home Alone’ the audience can clearly see if it is appropriate for them because the genre and story line has been revealed so much, the audience can clearly see if it is suitable for them. I believe ‘Home Alone’s’ target audience is young families because it uses the informal humour so many of its predecessors have used.
In conclusion I believe both film posters were equally good at advertising their films and they both clearly show the genre and who the film is suitable for. I believe that these posters would have had been very successful at advertising and its concepts should be used again.
In his essay, “It’s Just a Movie: A Teaching Essay for Introductory Media Classes”, Greg M. Smith argues that analyzing a film does not ruin, but enhances a movie-viewing experience; he supports his argument with supporting evidence. He addresses the careful planning required for movies. Messages are not meant to be telegrams. Audiences read into movies to understand basic plotlines. Viewers should examine works rather than society’s explanations. Each piece contributes to Smith’s argument, movies are worth scrutinizing.
Movies today are extremely expensive to make and are typically financed through either film studio contracts or from investors willing to take a risk. In order to be successful, movies need to be marketed and distributed either under contract by the film studios or by companies that specialize in such services. The aspects of financing, marketing and distribution of films have changed between the studio and independent systems over the years as the evolution of the film industry took place.
... a documentary film by definition must include visuals, but Ames aspires to explain how an emphasis on certain imagery can be used to persuade as well as inform.
Posters were used during World War II by the U.S. government to get a significant message across to their citizens. To analyze a poster it is important to think about the choice of color, placement of words and images, shapes, and emotional appeal ( Lunsford and Ruszkiewicz 91). All of these factor into the message the author is trying to explain to its viewers visually. In the poster “When You Ride Alone,” the message the author was trying to get across to Americans was the importance of carpooling. This poster successfully conveys the message through the words,color scheme and representation of objects.
film and so captions had to be use to explain what the next section of
An example of this would be a close up on the facial expressions this would make the audience more susceptible to feel the same as the character. These effects can be caused from changing the setting to altering the camera angles used. Throughout the essay I will discuss the effect they have introducing the character Indiana Jones. We are introduced into the film with the paramount trademark of a mountain but unexpectedly we are brought straight into the film by merging this symbol with the actual mountain in the South American rainforest. Spread across the screen is the words South America to allow the audience to know where the scene is set.
to the film early on but makes the viewer want to make sense of what
The film’s story does not simply shines forth, but is also the foundation of the plot. The film’s plot makes the traditional guidelines applicable...
...er apparently created successful persuasive appeals for the crowd to be attracted and enjoy a movie that will be funny, colorful, and full of adventures that eventually will teach a life experience to the public.
It is very important how you put things up on the screen. It tells the viewer what the movie is about. Every single frame in a movie tells the fate of the characters.
Ethan Hawke and Kenneth Branagh recreated Shakespeare’s Hamlet with an alluring ambiance, however Ethan Hawke’s version was more appealing to an audience due to the stimulation of intelligent reflection. The setting and the mood in each of these versions played with the audience’s emotions, but Ethan Hawke’s version brought on stronger ones. Secondly, Ethan Hawke and Kenneth Branagh used different choices of music and visuals that were equally effective in creating the ambiance the directors wished to obtain. As well, both movie versions created characters that tried to influence an audience; but, Ethan Hawke’s version introduced its main character so effectively that an audience was captivated by him. These two movie versions had some similarities, but Ethan Hawke’s different style produced a more appealing film. In the end, it was interesting to view the ways in which a director can try to make an old story more appealing to a modern day audience.
Stanley, Robert H. The Movie Idiom: Film as a Popular Art Form. Illinois: Waveland Press, Inc. 2011. Print
A set of practices concerning the narrative structure compose the classical Hollywood Paradigm. These conventions create a plot centering around a character who undergoes a journey in an attempt to achieve some type of goal (). By giving the central character more time on screen, the film helps the audience to not only understand the character’s motivation but also empathize with his/her emotional state. Additionally, some antagonistic force creates conflict with the main character, preventing immediate success(). Finally, after confronting the antagonist, the main character achieves his or her goal along with growing emotionally(). This proven structure creates a linear and relatively easily followed series of events encompassing the leading character and a goal.
Barsam, R. M., Monahan, D., & Gocsik, K. M. (2012). Looking at movies: an introduction to film (4th ed.). New York: W.W. Norton & Co..
John Gibbs and Douglas Pye (2005) Style and meaning : studies in the detailed analysis of film. Engalnd: Manchester University Press, pp 42-52.