Film Posters Preparation for Unseen Analysis

Learning Intentions: To revise our understanding of print language and conventions.To revise our understanding of print language and conventions. To apply our understanding of print to the medium of film posters.To apply our understanding of print to the medium of film posters. To learn what to expect and how to respond to the Unseen Analysis assessment.To learn what to expect and how to respond to the Unseen Analysis assessment.

Unseen Analysis Six questionsSix questions A combination of questions which refer to:A combination of questions which refer to: –Categories & Language (Int. 1) –Categories, Language & Anchorage (Int. 2) Worth 20 marks.Worth 20 marks. Marked externallyMarked externally

Task #1: What we already know. Answer the questions on the ‘Sherlock Holmes’ poster.Answer the questions on the ‘Sherlock Holmes’ poster.

Medium The medium of Film Posters: PrintPrint Non-fiction (advert) for a fiction text.Non-fiction (advert) for a fiction text.

Categories Film posters are an important part of how a film is marketed Posters include all the information needed to attract people to see the film Posters include all the information needed to attract people to see the film Posters are usually organised in a particular way Posters are usually organised in a particular way

Categories The categories of film posters are unlikely to change. Pick a random poster from around the room and identify the categories that apply to it. –Medium –Form –Purpose –Genre –Tone (Int. 2) –Category by star (if applicable). –Audience

Categories Variations… Teaser poster: Identify the ways in which this poster is different to the standard ‘film poster’ format.

Categories Variations… Character Poster: Identify the ways in which these posters are different to the standard ‘film poster’ format.

Technical Codes (Lang): Text Elements On a film poster we can consider these to include: TitleTitle Tagline(s)Tagline(s) Press commentsPress comments Award nominationsAward nominations Release dateRelease date CopyCopy Actor / Director namesActor / Director names Caption – information attached to a graphic element.Caption – information attached to a graphic element. Billing Block – This usually includes technical credits, corporate branding (e.g. logos) or other advertising copy.Billing Block – This usually includes technical credits, corporate branding (e.g. logos) or other advertising copy.

Describe and explain the text elements used in this poster:

Technical Codes (Lang): Character Formatting SizeSize ColourColour Serif or Sans-serif – with or without thorns.Serif or Sans-serif – with or without thorns. Upper case and Lower Case – writing in capitals gives writing more impact writing in lower case can be seen as trendy.Upper case and Lower Case – writing in capitals gives writing more impact writing in lower case can be seen as trendy. Upright or italic – standard or stylish/old fashioned (italics also used for emphasis)Upright or italic – standard or stylish/old fashioned (italics also used for emphasis) Style of font:Style of font: –Calligraphic (handwritten / script) –Standard (normal / clear) –Decorative Bold or UnderlinedBold or Underlined

Basic typography Font Type ExamplesUsage Serif Times, Century Serifs are the small strokes at the ends of the letters. Serifs make small body text readable as the strokes lead the eye along the line; serif fonts can connote tradition, the past, authority Sans Serif Arial, Century Gothic Sans serif is French for ‘without serif’. Sans serif connotes modernity in mastheads; often used as subheads within serif body text Script Comic Sans, French Script Connotes personalisation – use sparingly Display Broadway, JOKERMAN Use sparingly for particular connotations

Character Formatting Look at the use of character formatting in this poster. Why have the producers of this text chosen to write in this way?

Technical Codes (Lang): Graphic Elements Graphic elements are: –Photographs – how these appear or are used in the poster. –Graphics – non-photographic pictures or designs. –Logos e.g. the Ghostbusters logo or logos attached to the institutions. –Use of colour e.g. red in a Blade poster having connotations of blood. Note: some film poster mix photographs and other graphic elements into a Collage effect. Also be aware that sometimes a graphic element may look photographic (often pictures of actors) but it is not e.g. Star Wars posters.

Graphic Elements Describe and explain the use of: –Photograph(s) –Graphics –Logos –Colour in this poster.

Other Print Conventions to Consider: size and layout. Size: Standard sizes apply depending on the region of the world that you are in. The size of the poster will not be relevant during this unseen analysis and the assessment.Size: Standard sizes apply depending on the region of the world that you are in. The size of the poster will not be relevant during this unseen analysis and the assessment. Layout: There is an expected layout of a film poster, there will be reasons for the producers of a film poster departing from these norms:Layout: There is an expected layout of a film poster, there will be reasons for the producers of a film poster departing from these norms: –Vertical / horizontal –Distribution of text elements / graphic elements in terms of standard / non-standard.

Cultural Codes There are three distinct cultural codes within the graphic elements of this poster. Describe and explain their use. NB: Narrative ‘Semic’ codes may also be relevant.

Anchorage An audience may read a text in different ways, this is called differential decoding. In order to secure a preferred reading, the producers of a text will include text that confirms a particular interpretation. This is anchorage. TASK How does this film poster use anchorage to secure a preferred reading?

Practice #1 Consider:Categories GenreGenre StarStarLanguage Use of colourUse of colour Cultural CodesCultural CodesAnchorage

Checklist: Your unseen analysis WILL go through the features of the text in this approximate order. Categories –Medium –Form –Purpose –Genre –(Star) –(Audience) –Tone (Int.2) Language –Text Elements –Character Formatting –Graphic Elements –Cultural Codes –Anchorage (Int2)

Practice #2 Categories GenreGenre StarStar Graphic Elements

Practice #3

The Hard Bit: The style of questions in the Unseen Analysis are the hardest part.The style of questions in the Unseen Analysis are the hardest part. They want you to describe and explain the simplest thing that your brain, naturally, wants to write-off as obvious.They want you to describe and explain the simplest thing that your brain, naturally, wants to write-off as obvious. This is particularly so, in my opinion, with the first question which will ask you to justify what type (medium/form) of text you are looking at.This is particularly so, in my opinion, with the first question which will ask you to justify what type (medium/form) of text you are looking at.

Practice #4 The medium of this text is print, describe (and explain) how you know this with reference to the text.

Practice #5