Categories 1) Identify the form of the text. Describe one element from the text that shows this.(2 marks) 2) Identify the purposes of this text. Describe the elements of the text that shows these purposes. (4 marks) 3) What is the genre of this text? Describe three individual elements in the text that shows this genre. (4 marks) Language 4) Identify the fonts that have been used in this text and give reasons for their use. (4 marks) 5) Describe how technical/cultural codes have been used to create meaning in the text. (6 marks) [You should think about lighting, camera, focus, angle, shot- cropping, layout, slogans and straplines, colour, dress code and so on.]

Identify the form of the text. Describe one element from the text that shows this.(2 marks) Film Poster – We can tell this because it came from empire which a popular magazine and website that is completely dedicated to films. You can also tell it is a film poster through the posters composition – there is a still image of three characters walking through an enclosed walkway with daylight on the one side and night on the other. Naturally this could not happen so the image has been carefully constructed to reveal information about the film. Along the top it tells you something about the film and at the bottom it tells you a release date. Taking all these elements together you can identify that this is a film poster.

Identify the purposes of this text. Describe the elements of the text that shows these purposes. (4 marks) The purpose of this film poster is to advertise the film by giving information, and trying to convince people to go see the film. Therefore the purposes of the poster are to inform and persuade. It informs the viewer that Ethan Hawke, Willem Defoe and Sam Neil star in the film. It also informs the viewer that the film will be out in cinemas in January and according to Variety, another magazine that reviews films, the film is a mixture of “The Matrix” and “28 Days Later”. The film poster would persuade fans of the actors Ethan Hawke and Willem Defoe to go see the film, the idea being that if you like their films then you will want to see this one. Also by mentioning another two films that this one is like, one which was hugely successfully, the producers of this text are hoping to convince fans of these movies to come and watch this movie. By mentioning serving blood the poster indicates that the film will be about vampires and therefore it will try and convince fans of vampire films to watch it.

What is the genre of this text? Describe three individual elements in the text that shows this genre. (4 marks) One possible genre for this film would be horror. The mention of eating blood indicates that it deals with vampires which is associated with the horror genre. One side of the poster shows a city at night under a full moon in darkness which again ties in with horror and vampires because vampires live in darkness and darkness is associated with death and therefore horror. Generally speaking it is believed that bad things happen at night so the film is likely to deal with the darker side of humanity.

What is the genre of this text? Describe three individual elements in the text that shows this genre. (4 marks) Another genre that this film could be trying to demonstrate is the action genre. It could be an action film because one character is carrying a weapon, a crossbow, and appears to have it aimed at the main character. Also the contrast between the daylight, on the same side as the man with the crossbow, and the darkness, on the same side as the man with the ghostly pale skin, indicates an element of conflict which is important for an action film.

Identify the fonts that have been used in this text and give reasons for their use. (4 marks) In relatively large, red writing along the top we have a comparison between this film and two others in sans serif. The names of the two films are written in larger writing making them stand out against the rest of the red writing. The use of sans serif font gives the writing a slightly informal feel. The use of red as the colour for the font makes it seem like the words have been written in blood which again ties in with the ideas of vampires who need blood to survive.

Identify the fonts that have been used in this text and give reasons for their use. (4 marks) Directly below the red writing is the name Variety written in small white writing. This lets the viewer know that the red writing is a quote from this magazine. The white writing is directly above Ethan Hawke, the character standing centre, making it seem like he might be innocent and therefore our hero in this film. The name of the film is written in bold sans serif and is a yellow/gold colour that reminds the viewer of the sun thus tying in with the name “Daybreakers”. All the writing is written in block lettering (Uppercase) making it stand out and easy to read.

Describe how technical/cultural codes have been used to create meaning in the text. (6 marks) Lighting – there is a lot of shadow down the right hand side of the poster resulting in only the left hand side of their faces being visible. The lighting here creates a sense of conflict that meets in the centre where the characters are indicating they are central to the conflict. As Ethan Hawke is situated dead centre it is clear that he is the one stuck in the middle of this conflict and will be key to its outcome.

Describe how technical/cultural codes have been used to create meaning in the text. (6 marks) Camera – Wide angled Long Shot of the characters allowing us to see all of them clearly as well as part of the city in the background. The camera appears to be looking up (a low angle shot) at the three characters making them seem powerful and perhaps the leaders of some organisation. The two characters standing behind the main character are looking at the camera – as if they are looking at the audience and they looked focused on something. The main character in the centre is looking towards the daylight as if trying to find a way to escape the evil represented by the darkness. It is as if he will have to chose a side.

Describe how technical/cultural codes have been used to create meaning in the text. (6 marks) Layout – Having the characters central indicates that they are important. By having two of them standing behind Ethan Hawke, the one dead centre, indicates that he is the most important and the most powerful. The day light and night light of the city being on opposite sides indicates a clear division between good and evil. The character with the crossbow appears on the daylight side making it seem like he is on the side of good fighting the pale skinned character who appears on the dark night side. He is barely visible in the darkness making it seem as if he is on the side of evil and the one in the middle is stuck between the two.

Describe how technical/cultural codes have been used to create meaning in the text. (6 marks) Costume – two characters are dressed nicely in suits making them seem like business men. However because of the darkness of the suit we can see the paleness of their skin and pale skin is something we associate with vampires so therefore we come to consider these business men as being evil. The other character (the one with the crossbow) appears to be dressed in a more informal manner making it seem like he is the average man on the street who has had to step up to fight the evil business men.