The document discusses several film posters and how they represent the genre of the film. It analyzes posters for "Across the Hall", "George Lucas in Love", "I'm Here", and others. Key aspects discussed include use of images, text, color schemes, and visual cues that suggest the genre such as weapons for action films, mysterious facial expressions for horror, and aliens for science fiction. Overall the document examines how film posters effectively convey genre through visual design and teaser text to intrigue audiences.
2. ACROSS THE HALL
Across the Hall is a short film with a running time of
25 minutes, released as a download in two parts. It
Short film Feature length film poster
was written and directed by Alex Merkin, and was
poster released in 2006. Alex Merkin went on to direct a full
length feature film also called ‘Across the Hall’
based on the same story. The short film poster is
typical in the way it has the actors name at the top of
the page, the feature length film also does this. The
short film poster uses a still from the film as their
image on the poster, a feature film poster wouldn’t
do this. The feature film poster does include a still
from the film however, but not in the same way as
the short film. Stills are used in a way to tease the
audience and to invite them into watching the film.
The still in the feature film, is of the man who is
finding out the truth about his unfaithful other
half, with a gun in his hand. This gives the audience
an idea instantly as to what the film is about, and
what to expect. The short film poster has not
enhanced Adrian Grenier’s face, so we see that he
is sweating, making us know he is un-nerved by
something. This is different from the feature film
poster as they have put an enhancement on the
whole poster itself, and the actors’ faces look
touched up.
3. GEORGE LUCAS IN LOVE
George Lucas in Love is an independent, live
action short film released in June 1999. It
was directed by Joe Nussbaum. George
Lucas in Love is based on Star Wars, with
the characters in the short film being based
on the characters in the actual Star Wars
films. All the heads of the actors in the film
are on the poster, which differs from Across
the Hall, as it doesn’t use a still from the film.
With a running time of 8 minutes the film
gets straight to the point with a plot twist
concluded it. The poster has an over
powering colour of brown, with light
reflections off each of the actors’ faces.
Using the tone of brown over everything
leaves the story to the imagination, as it also
doesn’t involve a still from the
film, everything is left to the audience. The
poster isn’t very exciting in my opinion, but I
did enjoy the film. Which supports what I
said about the film poster leaving the story to
the imagination with the basis of it being
4. I’M HERE
‘I’m Here’ is a 2010 science fiction
romance, writte and directed by Spike
Jonze. The film is a love story about two
robots living in Los Angeles, where
humans and robots coexist. The film was
funded by and is a promotion for Absolut
Vodka, which links to the line on the
poster, ‘a love story in an absolut world,’
referencing to Absolut Vodka. The line at
the top of the poster written, ‘ordinary is no
place to be,’ gives the audience an idea of
the type of film. The image used on the
poster is of the two characters in the
film, depicting them in the way described
above. The actors’ names are written at
the bottom, with other information about
the film. The image used on the poster
makes you think it’s a romance straight
away, with the use of the sun shining on
the floor and around them, makes it seem
rather tranquil. I like the way this poster
has been done, and it could actually be
used for a feature film, as it’s not a typical
short film poster. The image is of the
characters outside, depicting them as free.
5. FILM POSTERS AND THEIR
GENRES
This is the film poster for ‘Transporter 3.’
The genre of this film is action. The film
poster makes the genre obvious as the main
character, Jason Statham, is shown mid-air
holding two guns. His facial expression
looks angry, showing that he trying to kill or
get killed. There is a female character
shown in the poster, which is typical of an
action film, as there is usually a romantic
involvement. The female is also holding a
gun, tells us she is involved in the action
and isn’t necessarily playing the damsel in
distress role. There is also a car on the
poster, which could mean the film involves a
car chase, referencing to the action of the
film.
6. This is the film poster for James Cameron’s
‘Titanic.’ The two genres of this film, are mainly
disaster and romance, with romance being my
focus. The poster shows the two main characters in
the film, with the Titanic underneath them. With the
characters being at the top, over the Titanic, it
depicts their love as being so strong that not even
the disaster that happens in the film can stop them
being in love. The audience are shown that the
characters are romantically involved immediately
with the posture of them. The sentence written over
them, ‘Nothing on earth could come between them,’
this, again, tells the audience of their love for one
another, and how strong it was. The poster is
typical in the way it shows the main characters’
names, with the name of the film being the biggest
font. Some more actors’ names, and more
information about the film is listed at the bottom of
the poster.
7. This is the film poster for ‘The Blair Witch Project.’
The genre of the film is horror. The poster is typical
of a horror poster because of the dark colours
used, and not seeing the whole of a person’s face.
This is common of horror film posters, as they often
don’t show the whole of someone’s face, they usually
distort them, or show a part of them, leaving it more
mysterious for the audience. This poster is purely
luring the audience to watch the film with the writing
at the top of the poster. The sentences they used
makes the story seem real, by saying ‘three students
disappeared in the woods in October of 1994,’ making
it more chilling as it creates this sense of it being
‘based on a real story’ which a lot of horror movies
now use as their teaser line. With the way the
female’s face looks, it tells the audience how it is
filmed, presented in the style of ‘found footage.’
Meaning that the footage was found after the disaster
or occurrence happened, which is how many horror
films create a more heightened sense of horror.
8. This is the film poster for ‘Skyline.’ The genre of this
film is science fiction. Many science fiction films
involve aliens or something based around aliens in
their story. With this film poster, it is immediately
obvious what the genre is. It is typical with its teaser
line, and the title of the film being the biggest font and
main piece of writing on the poster. There are two
characters shown on the poster, but we don’t see
their faces, leaving a mysterious feel about it. The
teaser line used, ‘don’t look up,’ tells the audience
where the threat in the film is coming from. It shows
what we know as a UFO, linking to the idea of aliens
again. They show lots of things coming out of the
UFO, leaving that the imagination as to what it is.
Leaving you to believe aliens, or something linked to
them. This film poster is good because it does
actually make you want to watch the film as you want
to know what happens after seeing the poster. This is
exactly what they’re intending to do when making
these posters, so if they are effective enough, they
will do it well.
9. This is the film poster for ‘Unknown,’ starring Liam
Neeson. The genre of this film is a thriller. The film
poster shows the main character, Liam Neeson, with
half his face shaded, leaving a mysterious side to the
plot, and as to what’s going to happen. He is
depicted as the main character by being the whole
size of the poster, meaning he is the most important
character as well as the main one. He is shown
holding a gun, which accounts for the genre being a
thriller, and possibly an action also. The teaser line
they use, ‘take back your life,’ tells us that he has
perhaps lost something important to him, and he’s
prepared to get it back whatever the consequence.
There are two female characters shown on the
poster across the middle, which are obviously the
people important to him in the film. The poster leaves
a lot the imagination, as it’s not obvious as to what
the film is about. Film posters like this are good, as
they lure the audience in, leaving them wanting to
watch the film.