Online Film Distribution

How To Analyse a Film Poster

When analysing any film poster you need to consider the following points:

Begin by identifying the film and date of its release.

• Types of poster:

The Teaser poster -This poster contains basic information to whet your appetite. It often does not indicate much about the plot, but may have a picture of the stars, and the name of the film.

The main theatrical poster- This contains information about the production personnel, the stars, and the distributors.

Video/DVD release poster - This one comes out when the film is released on DVD/video and often has all of the above plus short, one line reviews from relevant publications.

Identify the Genre

eg an action film will nearly always have images of guns/weapons, a Romance will always have the 2 lovers in very close physical proximity... etc...

Character Poster – this one features the main character. Remember that the posters could be a combination of two types.

• Images of the key settings and main characters. Title ? Stars? Where are the stars’ names placed? Why? Describe the key images on your poster. Why have they been chosen? Write about the images used and what they suggest? What do you think the film will be about? Who is the target audience?

• Narrative: What clues are there to the narrative? What impression do you get of the characters from their expression, clothes, props and genre conventions?

• Colours: Are are they relevant to the genre e.g. horror posters generally use dark strong colours especially black and red to represent death and evil. Romance tend to employ lighter pastel and warm colours such as pinks, purples and other warm shades. How do they attract the target audience?

• Layout: analyse how the images are laid out. Do you know what the plot, genre and/or theme is? If so, how? Most posters are portrait or landscape in shape. What shape is it? Discuss the title, font, typeface and graphics on the poster.

• Written Text: Is there a catch or tagline? Does it state the action and genre? Who do you think is the target audience for the film? Do we get information about who is in the cast, who directed the film, which company distributes it and promotes it etc? ? What does the certificate indicate about the target audience and the content of the film? Is there a website?

Edited from:

http://asanda2mediastudies.blogspot.com/2010/03/how-to-analyse-film-poster.html

FM2 - Specimen Exam Paper

A PDF file with an AS and A2 exam paper, resource material, mark scheme and guidance for what an examiner would look for in your responses can be found here. On this post is an edit of the sections/topics you will be responding to.

You will need to answer 3 questions (one from each section)

FM2: British and American Film

Answer three questions – one from each section.

Section A: Producers and Audiences

Choose one question from this section.

Either

1. Study Item A of the resource material, which includes:

- the home page of a fan website for the American star Will Ferrell

- table showing UK and US box office takings for two films starring Will Ferrell released

in 2006

- poster for one of these films; front cover of a magazine for one of these films.

Using this material as a starting point, and drawing on your own case studies, answer the following question:

What are some of the reasons for the popularity of US produced films for UK audiences? [40]

or

2. Study Item B of the resource material, which includes:

- press release: purchase of the Warner Village cinema chain by Vue in 2003

- programme for a thirteen screen Vue multiplex in Manchester (week in March, 2007)

- blog extract: 'Is Cinema Dead?'

Using this material as a starting point, and drawing on your own case studies, answer the following question:

Are the attractions of going to a cinema today sufficiently strong to compete against other ways in which we can now watch films? [40]

Section B: British Film Topics

Choose one question from this section.

British Film: Social-Political Study – 'Living with Crime' You should discuss a minimum of two films in your answer and base it on the following: 'Living with Crime'.

Either

11. Discuss the importance of choices made by key characters to the overall shape and development of the narratives you have studied. [40]

or

12. How important is location to the films you have studied for this topic? [40]

Section C: American Film – Comparative Study

Choose one question from this section. You should discuss a minimum of two films in your answer.

Either

15. Discuss some of the similarities and differences between the two films you have studied for this topic with particular reference to narrative and genre features. [40]

or

16. How far do the two films you have studied for this topic present similar messages and values? [40]