Analysing media ancillary products (Posters)

In our A2 Media coursework, we are required to make a trailer along with two ancillary products; a poster and a magazine cover. However to make a poster we need to be aware of different codes and conventions of of different posters and what elements in it the defines the genre and a movie itself.

Pathologist

By looking at this poster, we can denote that it is a slasher movie. As the whole poster is shaded in dark blue with the title appearing in red font, we can tell that it can be either a horror or a slasher movie. Elements that show that it is a slasher movie are:

• A person lying on the wall with a surgeon's overall. he seems to look terse and his face shown is half in shadow  
• Next to him lying are surgical tools usually for cutting or piercing skin. All this tools are also focused on the screen. By far we know that is a doctor or a medical student. 
• a sub topic that says everybody has a secret in a discreet way, as if whispering to those who look at this poster. This creates a sense of mystery as we can tel that there maybe some psychological problem with this particular doctor and he might perform surgeries on patient to harm them instead. 
• Too much of shadow on the poster gives it a mysterious look as if this person likes to stay in dark or as if some things are hidden from the viewer. 
• The title is shown in red color. Pathology means studying disease or diagnosing it however here pathology is representing to be more cynical.

On this movie poster other details include the name of the main character, and the details of the arrival of the movie in the same font and red color.

Casino jack

This poster shows that the genre of this movie will be comedy and to some extent crime. We can tell the genre and the main story of the movie by:

• Looking at the graphically designed the dome of the white house, some playing cards, legs of a woman showing as if she has tumbled headfirst in the white house., golf cart, airplanes and some American dollar bills. This graphical display is comical yet shows that this is about a scheming person who is directly involved with the president house. the golf cart, money and the woman is a stereotypical representation of riches and spending e
• The costume of the main character is in suit and tie and is wearing glasses and such formal attire is usually worn by people working in a white house. His posture however appear slightly smirking and shows that he is up to no good.
• The involvement in the politics is further emphasized with the president house stamp in the background. The background is shown as a spotlight directed on the main character which tells us that this whole movie is based on scams run by this single character.
• The title font is ordinary and plain however the topic defines the whole poster. Another subtopic that says that 'meet jack Abramoff-America's greatest lobbyist' Stereotypically lobbyists are known to accept bribes and are involved in corruption and this move exactly follows the stereotype. Another subtopic saying 'come see where your democracy went' shows that money laundering or gambling is taking place. 

The main character is mentioned in that subtopic in a quite interesting way and other information i.e the previous hit film made by the same filmmaker and also the release date.

Pineapple express

 This movie clearly shows that it a comedy movie with some element of crime in it. we can tell the genre of this movie is comedy because:

• Half profile of two main characters shown appear woozy, ecstatic and hyper which can be guess as an effect of smoking a joint or taking any drug. The expressions made by them are also comical. However we can tell the contrast between them by their appearance; The man on the right is all suited up and can be assumed as being the sensible one out of both of them while the man on the right appears visibly blazed and his appearance is also more casual.
• The background shown is of smoke rising which shows that this movie is about drugs. This movie breaks the convention of many movies based on drugs as they are all related to crime and are usually more serious and action packed. Here we can tell that on taking drugs, these people act moronic and stupid.
• The title 'pineapple express' is written in a plain font but the colour is red, which is standing out on the poster

Fish tank

 

Fish tank, we can tell is a drama movie as many drama movies follow a convention of showing more realistic versions of their main character in their habitat. The genre can be made obvious because:

The background of a city and the main character standing ahead can be assumed that the main character is heading out somewhere in broad daylight.

The expression on the main character is also of a rebel and her costume along with with the hood that she has worn are how stereotypically teenage rebel's dress up. 

The font 'Fish Tank' is written in Bold and the font is almost covering half of the poster.

Juno

This poster shows that it is a comedy and a drama movie:

• The background is a stripped orange and white which gives an offbeat look to the poster and we can tell that it is about kids or teenager and it is a comedy movie
• The font of the main title is also unconventional and is going with the background. The title is also green in colour contrasting with the background gives it a more funky look.. two inverted comma's given after a small description of the movie are also in that same font as of the main heading.
• the two characters facing in the opposite direction and standing looking confused and worried further define what this movie will be about. the boy is dressed in track suit and the girl is dressed like all teenagers dress conventionally and appears to be pregnant. Audience here can guess that both are apparently worried and confused about something. 

Easy A 

We can tell this is an another teenage comedy by the whole classroom appearances and the character's forlorn expression. the elements giving an idea of what this movie will be about are:

• The background of a chalkboard with profanities written in different handwritten fonts and the arrow pointed towards the middle where the main character is standing.
• The main character holding a page ripped off from a notebook is dressed like a teenager in school wearing casual clothes and makeup.. Her expression looking confused and pointing a paper towards the audience is similarly like any criminal or an offender who points a board with a serial number written on it, towards the camera for their pictures to be taken.
• Unlike other teenage movie posters, this poster shows more texts and the main story can be easily guessed with the handwriting of the main character on the piece of paper and with all the obscenities pointing at the main character.

Street Dance 3D

The genre of the movie street dance is teenage drama or musical as we can tell by:

• The lights and the background which is more of a platform or is more glamorous. we can also see the crowd in the background which shows that this movie is based on theatre or as the name implies, on hip hop dancing mainly done on streets. from this poster we can tell that a new culture is being bought on the stage. 
• The costumes of the actors and some frozen shots of dancers/actors dancing or somersaulting. 
• The font used here is quite imposing and in a 3D.