1. To understand the codes & conventions of film posters

2. Codes & conventions
Codes are the signs and symbols that create meaning (fonts, colours, images)
Conventions are the accepted way of presenting certain elements (names, dates, credits)

3. Codes & conventions of film posters
What are the codes and conventions (typical features) of film posters?
What can you expect to see on every poster?

4. Codes & Conventions of Film Posters
Film title (font, colour)
Tagline
Release date
Production blurb
Main image
Main cast

5. Codes & Conventions

6. What are the connotations of the following :
The two guns, and the ways they are held
The approaching train
The character looking down
The character’s back facing the audience
The clock
“Time Waits for One Man”
The tagline is a play on the phrase “Time waits for no one”

7. What other information are you able to gain from a film poster?
Extra Information
What other information are you able to gain from a film poster?
Genre
Narrative
Audience
Setting/location

8. Poster Assessment Using your knowledge of media terms, analyse the
following poster in detail
Write your answers using:
Denotation
Connotation
Signification
Effect on the audience

9. D.C.S.E. Exemplar Paragraph
The character featured in the poster is standing with their back to the audience, connoting unfamiliarity and possible danger. Since most posters feature a character making direct eye contact with the audience, the poster’s choice of featuring a character looking away signifies it is a potential villain, since they are looking away from the audience and towards oncoming danger. As a result, the audience would be intrigued to not only see the outcome of this event, but also to find out more about the featured character.