The poster for The Martian directly features Matt Damon looking at the audience with a vulnerable expression to elicit a sense of needing help. It also uses imagery to depict the isolation and harshness of Mars compared to Earth. The bold font and sci-fi theme of the text and slogan "Help is only 140 million miles away" aim to attract middle-aged men and convey the genre and distance between Earth and Mars. Including Matt Damon and director Ridley Scott, known for sci-fi films, helps draw larger audiences familiar with their work.

1. The filmThe Martian has many techniques to promote the film such as a variety of different
posters, a trailer and a website. The poster I have chosen to analyse it is very direct as the
main part of the whole poster the face of Matt Damon looking directly at the audience. This
is effective because it’s as though he is giving a cry for help because of the strong eye
contact and emotion in his facial expression which makes him look vulnerable. Matt Damon
is known to be in action films meaning he will appeal to a target audience who enjoy action
films. Also, Ridley Scott the director of the film is well known for sci-fi films, meaning this
will draw in an audience who enjoy sci-fi films also. An example of one of Ridley Scott’s film
is Alien which is known as one of his biggest films. It is also based around findings in space,
and although it does not have the same story line as The Martian it will still attract the same
audience. I believe Matt Damon will appeal to both a male and female audience, especially a
female audience because many find him appealing.
On the poster an image which represents Mars is used, which shows the audience the
differences of Mars to Earth. It is also dramatic because it emphasises how Mars has no life,
such as humans, wildlife, plants and buildings. It is a strong use of imagery as the contrast
of Mars and Matt Damon walking along the sand dunes displays loneliness.
The text is strong and bold because it is white against a colour scheme of browns, oranges
and reds. Because the text appears quite dominant this would appeal towards a target
audience of middle aged men. The font of the text is also sci-fi themed which gives an idea
of what the genre of the film is. The word “Martian” is a word used for someone/something
which is on Mars.
The slogan used “Help is only 140 million miles away” creates effect as it emphasises and
stresses to the audience how far the distance is from Earth to Mars. It will also make the
audience think about what they would do in that kind of situation if help was that far of a
distance.

2. “Helpisonly140 million
milesaway”thiscreates
effectasit stressesto
the audience how far
the distance isfrom
Earth to Mars.
Showsemotioninhis
eyes;appearslost,
vulnerable,andscared.
The use of an image
whichrepresents
Mars showsthe
audience how
differentthe planet
iscomparedto
Earth. There isno
life (nohumans,
wildlife,plants,
buildings).
Stronguse of
imageryasit
displaysloneliness.
The expression
inhis face (his
eyebrows) shows
fear.
The textis strong,bold
and dominant.Because
of thisitwouldappeal
more towardsa target
audience of middle aged
men.
Textisin a Sci-Fi themed
fontwhichtellsthe
audience aboutthe
genre.
The colour scheme of the
posterconsistsof browns,
orangesand redswhich
representsMars.
The word “Martian” is a
wordusedfor someone on
Mars.
The posteris directbecause
Matt Damonis lookingdirectly
at you (asthoughhe ismaking
eye contact.Lookingdirectlyat
the audience andbecause of
the emotionandexpressionin
hisface it isas thoughhe is
askingfortheirhelp.
Formal layout.
Matt Damonwho isthe mainactor is
well knownforotherfilmscreatinga
largeraudience.He will alsoattract
femalesbecause he isappealing.
RidleyScottisa big time producer
whichwill alsoattracta larger
audience because he iswell
knownforpopularfilmssuchas
Alien.