Media Studies - AS (3 Posters - Analysis) - Leon Watkin-Williams - The Town -Catching Fire -Priest

2. Red coloured
title
Stormy Weather
Night Time (Time of
Day)
The Slogan
Weapons used
to kill
In disguise
(Costumes)
Bold Text
Location
Links between
the characters

3. The title is coloured in the theme red. This is typical of thriller because
we associate red with blood. The colour red can also associate with
danger. Therefore this tells us that the film is going to have blood and
danger within the film.
The title is in bold. The director has made the title bold because it
stands out. This is done because within the film, all crime is based
around this form of ‘Town’.
Therefore this represents thriller because when we see something that
stands out, we can denote that something within the film is based
around it.

4. The slogan is a key element when representing a thriller because it
references the film itself. The term ‘Bank Robbery’ is placed within the
slogan. This has been done to create the idea that this so called town
is high in crime. We can associate this slogan with thriller because it
implies that there will be crime.
Therefore the slogan is typical to thriller because it is referenced as a
sub-genre of crime.

5.  In ‘The Town’, the cast shown on the poster are all linked together.
For instance, Adam is placed between Doug and Rebecca because
within the film the main actor Doug is trying to be with Rebecca but
FBI agent Adam is using her to get to him
 Another link is also represented between Jeremy and Doug. This is
because Doug used to have a child with Krista and that was the
sister of Jeremy (His main partner in crime).
 Therefore in the poster, the characters are positioned the way they
are because it is the link between each others characters.
James Krista Doug Adam Rebecca

6. The stormy weather is typical in a thriller because of what we can
connote from it. When we see a storm within thriller, we know that
something dreadful is going to happen. We know this because in other
films such as ‘No Good Deed’ the antagonist isolates the characters in
their own home (Can be anywhere inside).
The night time is also typical of thriller. This is because we represent
the darkness with characters such as ghosts and antagonists.
Therefore the night time and the storm are associated with thriller
because it enables conventions of thriller to take place.

7. The location of the film is based on a town. This is typical in thriller
because when we are presented with a town we associate it with
places like abandoned houses, crime and etcetera.
The location proves the link with thriller in this film because in terms of
where the characters positioned, we can see that serious crime is
taking place.
Therefore the location is typical of thriller because it represents crime
or un-usual events.

8. The costumes we see in the poster are ‘Nuns’. This is typical of thriller
because costumes are used to disguise someone like the antagonist.
In the poster we can also denote that the costume is typical of the
thriller genre because of its appearance. When this is represented we
can consider it scary as it is offensive and strange.
Also, we can shows the costumes typical of thriller because of the
uniform. We are shown FBI agents in which is common in thriller as
they only appear at scenes of the crime.
Therefore the costumes we see are typical of thriller because they are
all linked with the sub-genres with crime and punishment.

9. The weapons we can see in this poster are assault rifles that are in the
motion of being shot (Shooting the guns). We can say that this is
typical of thriller because guns are used to kill in which they are being
fired towards the FBI team.
Therefore we can see that the weapons in the poster are typical of
thriller because they are being used to harm someone rather than to
protect someone (This also presents a link with the Title because when
we see a gun or dark red we associate it with blood).

11. The Slogan
Weapons (The
bow and arrow)
Fire and
Flames
Pitch Black
Background
The title
The Main
Character
(Directly looking at us)

12. The title we see written below the main character in the poster is
‘Catching Fire’. This could connote that there is a fire involved between
individuals. This is typical of thriller because we associate fighting and
conflict within the typical storylines.
The text is also in block capitals. This is done to create contextual
emphasis which is typical in thriller. This is because we associate loud
words with violence and anger. This could imply that the character
directly looking at us is in a state of anger or rage.
The title was also done in bold text to catch the viewers eye. The title is
relevant because it is relating to the ideas of antagonists (enemies).

13. By denoting this we can see block text in capital letters above what
appears to be the main character.
The slogan we see is typical in thriller because it refers and links to
scenes within the plot line. The slogan is also in block capitals to
create the effect that ‘THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT’. This was also
done to make the theme of revenge stand out. This is because we
associate an enemy with someone who has done something we
disagree with.
Therefore we can say that the slogan is typical in thriller because it
references typical plot lines within the story as well as to present the
idea of revenge.

14. The main character we can see is looking at the
Viewer directly holding a bow and flaming arrow.
We can also assume that from her appearance
she looks like she is a sort of fighter or an aggressive archer in battles
and etcetera. This is typical in thriller because it creates the enigma of
‘Who is she aiming the flaming arrow at and why?’.
We can also assume that she is a broken stereotype of thriller because
she is a female in a position of power and control. Likewise we can
connote that she is both scared and in power. This is because the
expression on her face makes her seem upset about why she has to
do what she is doing (She has to do it to end some sort of feud or
etcetera – typical of thriller).
Therefore the main character we are presented with is typical of thriller
because of how she is presented and how she using the bow and
arrow through a sense of anger she has.

15. We can see that the main character is aiming a bow and flaming arrow
directly towards the face of the audience.
Because she is holding the bow and arrow in such a hostile way it tells
us that she is looking for someone or something that she is out to kill.
This is typical in thriller because we associate weapons with blood and
murder.
We can also connote that the fire is linked to the weapon being used.
This is because the fire in the background could be relating to the
revenge she has with the enemy (Like fighting fire with fire) as she
must be out to find or kill them for something they have supposedly
done. Therefore this is typical of thriller.

16. The layer after the black background is a flaming
mocking jay.
As we connote fire, we can associate it to themes
and events associated with thriller such as revenge,
love, and others.
Because we can see that the fire is positioned behind the main
character and is aligned with the arrow we can connote that she is out
for revenge on who she is aiming at. This is typical of thriller because
when we see revenge or love in thriller we link it to scenes within
thrillers where people are killed through revenge or because of
something about love.
Therefore fire is a typical element in thriller used to connote themes of
thriller that take place in the film.

17. The colour background is black. When we connote this we can see
that black represents the darkness, being afraid, a fear of the
unknown. In a sense the colour black is used to associate dark and
feared occurrences. An example of this is shown in ‘The unborn’ where
the darkness is used to describe the possessed child.
Here we can say that they background of the poster is typical of thriller
because it is typically used to scare the audience or the main character
because we don’t know what could be lurking there. This could link
with the enemy that the character must be aiming at, as she might not
know who he is or what he is.
Therefore the colour black is a typical thriller element to represent the
darkness and the unknown.

19. Weapons
Cross used as a
‘T’ shape in title
Low Angle
(Looking Down)
Title
Slogan
Stormy
Weather

20. The title is a Seri font type text the has been shaded in places to look
three dimensional. The title being white is typical in thriller because we
can associate it with purity which links with the idea of a ‘Priest’) and
religion.
What is meant by this is that considering the film is named something
religious, the title may have been coloured white to represent that a
priest is pure and safe. (Pure/Safe are key connotations we use in
thriller to connote white as)
The title is also shaped in specific ways as if they have been carved
out. This is typical of thriller because the title typically connotes
references in the film in which we can see that the text is very sharp as
it has points on it.
Therefore we can say that the title is typical of thriller.

21. The slogan is in block capitals and is coloured red.
The slogan is present in the theme red. This is emblematic of thriller
because we associate red with the themes of revenge and blood. The
colour red can also associate references in films such as danger.
Therefore this tells us that the film is going to have blood and danger
within the film.
The catchphrase we see is typical in thriller because it mentions and
links to extracts within the story line. The slogan is also in block
capitals to create the effect that whatever it means, it is important. This
was also done to make the theme of vengeance and anger in a way
stand out. This then indicates there is an antagonist within the film.
Therefore the slogan is typical representation of thriller.

22. The weather we can see is a stormy and dark. When we see a storm
within thriller, we distinguish that something awful is going to happen.
We recognize this because in other movies such as ‘No Good Deed’
the antagonist separates the characters in their own household (Can
be anywhere inside).
The time of day we can see (Night time) is also typical of thriller. This is
because we associate the darkness with characters such as ghosts
and antagonists (bad guys).
Therefore the night time and the storm are associated with thriller
because it enables conventions of thriller to take place.

23. The combat weapons we can see in this picture is a single dagger like
combat knife. Already this is typical of thriller because we associate
knives with crime and murder.
We can also say that the dagger in the picture is typical of thriller
because it is being held in an aggressive way (Strong grip to it). This
can then imply the idea of vengeance because we know he must be
trying to obtain something or to attack someone.
Therefore the weapons we can see are typical of thriller because we
can connote it with typical themes such as revenge as well as links to
thrillers like murders and crimes.

24. The letter ‘T’ in the title is carved like the shape of a gravestone.
This could imply that the film is based upon faith in the way of God
because we associate gravestones/crosses with death and religion.
This is typical in thriller because when we see a headstone like this we
can imply that somebody in the film is going to be killed or harmed
because of religion. This suggests to us that the film is about someone
like a ‘priest’ or ‘extremist’ in a sense because someone is going to kill
in the name of religion.
The carved cross shape in the title is used as a link between the plot
line and reasoning behind the film. Therefore it is typical of thriller.

25. The low angle shot is of a male priest looking down
at the city. By connoting this we can see that this
is typical of thriller because we are presented with
someone that has power over something (In this case it is the city).
We can also say that from seeing this characters position, he has the
ability to control the city within his own hands (Similar to a vigilante
perhaps?). This can imply that he is out there to; perhaps do
something in name of religion such as kill people who disrespected his
beliefs.
Therefore the low angle shot is typical of thriller because it creates the
effect of something or someone being in control and power because
they are looking down at something like a ‘God’.