Codes and Conventions of Film Posters

What I Will be Analysing the Chosen Poster for? Written language Typography Photos and illustrations LightingCamera angle and shotColour schemesLayout

The colour scheme- This K-Pax poster uses a base of 4 colours; red, white, blue and black. This allows the attention of the audience to be directly drawn towards the characters present. Also the red base on one characters and the blue on the other may symbolise conflict or opposition between these two characters and this makes the audience wonder about the relationship between these protagonists.

The Layout- The layout for this poster is quite simplistic, with no true setting in the image in the background meaning that once more the attention is draw directly to the characters in the shot this implies that they have great importance to the narrative of the film. The actor’s names are at the top the poster this again suggests how the film is heavily based around the actors involved and great importance is placed on the roles they play. The message this layout represents is nonverbal code and uses positioning and imagery to subtly get its message across.

The Imagery- The images used are mid shots meaning that the focus is mainly drawn to the posture and facial expressions of these two characters. There are also the same binary oppositions in the imagery as there were in the background. The red colouring of Kevin Spacey a warm and endearing colour coupled with a contented look on the actors face signify that he is a peaceful character and a force for good. Opposing Jeff bridges is in a hunched position and his character is under blue lighting connoting to the audience that perhaps that he is a force for evil in this film.

Typography- The font used in in title is the largest in the poster and therefore draws attention to it. The lighting strike nature of the X adds to the audience perception that this is a sci-fi film as the style of the title is stereotypical for this genre. This is verbal coding. The positioning of the text (over Kevin Spacey) suggests that the sci-fi nature of the film has more to do with him than Jeff bridges.

The tag lines typography is very simplistic with block capitals possibly suggesting that it is still important but that the director or creator didn’t want to draw attention to far away from the title. Also the technical and corporate information at the bottom of the page is also in a very simplistic nature once again signifying the potential importance of the title to the narrative.

The language in the tag line is very basic and takes on a philosophical tone: ‘Change the way you look at the world’ suggesting that the film is an experience that may change people’s views. It also gives a hint at the genre once more so that it may also be a mystery and sci-fi giving the film depth and enticing the audience to go and see it.