Poster Research - Silent Things

Poster Research - Silent Things

Analysis

The names of the actors appear on this poster towards the centre and are rather understated as the images of the actors on the poster shows them in character and reveals to the spectator who they are more than just their name. Along with the names of the actors the other text is kept justified and away from the main images, yet seperating them. The text is placed over a plain background which makes it as easy to read as possible and looks quite prominent. As far as extra promotion goes, there are no references to other films, websites or release date. The main images used are of the main characters and make use of close up and medium close up shots at mid angle. There are no cultural references or a tagline on this poster which creates an enigmatic impression, leaving the spectator curious as to the plot of the film. At the bottom of the poster there is critics praise for the film which are made up of words such as 'Special Selection'. The title itself is larger than all other written text and the design is kept simplistic, the font is clear, colour is, again, simplistic and matches the colours within the film itself of the sand. This creates a sense of continuity throughout the poster. The billing block is generic yet still compliments the overall design in the sense that it is small and not too intrusive. The main image of the characters is placed over a photographic setting and are screen grabs from the film. There is no imagery drawn on the poster to keep it sophisticated and the lack of an age certification also assists this.

Media Language

• The poster makes use of medium close up and close up shots both at mid angle. 
• The colouring and lighting are high-key and of high tones yet still look saturated.
• Costume, hair and make-up along with setting, props and decor are very simplistic for both settings and characters.
• Titling on this film poster is bold but juxtaposed by the rather small font. 

Representation

• The use of the camera shots and angles on this poster create a subtle simplicity and draw attention to everything but the shot and angle, perhaps to create the representation of whats in the shots being paramount as opposed to the size and angle of them.
• The colouring and lighting again create an intriguing contrast to create the representation of the two characters contrasting as well, but still finding a mellowness between them, as shown in the colour.
• The simplicity and alienation of the costume, hair and make-up coupled with the setting, props and decor is rather calming and creates the representation of things being rather silent (in relation to the title).
• The titling juxtaposition creates the representation of things being on a more deeper level when it comes down to the relationship between the protagonists.

Audience

• Looking at the poster, I would assume the target demographic to be older teenagers to adults around the ages of 16 - 25. It is difficult to identify what sex the film is aimed at from the poster but I would say this would appeal more to females than males. The pschographic of the film would be people who are interested in short film of the realistic drama genre and are of middle class.

Narrative

• The narrative, as with the other films I have researched, is very difficult to apply to this short film poster. Looking at Bordwell and Thompson, some evidence of the plot of the film is given, showing two protagonists, a male and a female and the female looks rather distressed, perhaps showing the plot as her trying to figure out the thing that is worrying her; needing help from the male along the way. Barthes theory is particularly interesting with this poster. Some enigma codes created are about the characters, title, setting and perhaps even pathetic fallacy. Action codes are the characters and their clothing, hair and make-up.

Genre

Rick Altman

• Semantic codes within this poster are the two male protagonists. Costume, hair and make up are all iconographic of the genre along with settings, props and decor. The de-saturated colour is another semantic code in relation to the genre.
• Syntactic codes - The syntactic codes used are binary oppositions of male versus female and disability versus ability. We hope to use both of these binary oppositions within our short film.

David Buckingham and Steve Neale

• It is difficult to apply these theories to this film poster. However, I would say that the poster does negotiate and repeat the conventions of the genre of the film and of the poster. The font and the de-saturated colouring also adds to the genre, being very conventional.