AimsAims

• To be familiar with the layout of a film poster

• To be familiar with a range of conventions film posters use

• SEAL/PLTS: To be effective participators

Jigsaw Jigsaw

• Take the jigsaw pieces and try to arrange them into a well-known film poster.

• In your groups, decide on five features that you think are the most important for a film poster to have.

• Why do you think this?

Star billing - big Hollywood name

Tagline

Film’s title

2nd Star billing

Includes binary opposites

Themed Language

Billing blockFilm’s website

Main focal image

Conventional layout

Stylised typography

Represents the film’s conflict

Includes genre conventions

Introduces main characters and setting

Clear sense of the target audience

Provides a sense of the film’s production values

Aims to broaden the film’s appeal and reach

Purpose of a film poster Conventions of a film poster

Flames graphic –natural elements

Star billing - big Hollywood name

Burning mythical walled city - CGI

Dressed like a warrior, a historical figure on a quest

Supernatural destructive force

Spear as weapon

Frame within a frame, digital effects

Strong, direct Tagline

Film’s title

Well known US TV/film actor

Beautiful ‘princess’ torescue from the flames

Language -associations with magic/demons

Fighting the elements

Vast, dark landscape

Institutional infoFilm’s website

White male hero/protagonist

Conventional layout

Glossy Hollywood look; high production values

Brave, determined – looking ahead

Historical style typography, bold white contrast

Conclusions 1. The film’s genre conventions are made really obvious

2. Representation of gender reinforces social norms

3. Constructs the film as obviously ‘Hollywood’ in terms of its institutional context - use of CGI and high production values suggests big budget/ High Concept

4. The film has a main star, Nicholas Cage; he has status in the industry and good associations already with the genre

5. Ron Perlman provides wider interest so broadening the audience appeal

6. The film is being sold via its genre, its look and style, its actors and its promise of violent conflict

7. It therefore offers a high level of appeal to

• men

• fans of the action-adventure genre

• fans of Nicholas Cage

• fans of high concept, epic Hollywood films

8. As a result of the above, it is likely that this film will offer good marketability/playability to its distributor

TaskTask• In your groups, select one of the film posters and stick it on to

the sugar paper.

• You need to textually analyse at least 10 things on the film posters – refer to the conventions on film posters sheet.

• Each person in the group needs to write at least two points.

• Remember denotation and connotation.

PresentingPresenting

• You must now give feedback on at least five of the points you have analysed to the rest of the class.

Reviewing the AimsReviewing the Aims

• To be familiar with the layout of a film poster

• To be familiar with a range of conventions film posters use

• SEAL/PLTS: To be effective participators