Researching Film Posters - JAWS

• The simplistic look of this poster makes it very eye-catching. It sticks to a colour scheme of primary colours including red and blue on a plain black background.

• The primary image of this poster is Jaws in the water stalking a young girl swimming. This gives the audience a terrifying insight into what the film is going to be about.

• The biggest text on the poster is the title, written in red to symbolise the blood shed in the film. The second biggest text is the tag line anchoring the film; within this tag line the word 'terrifying' is used twice to re-enforce the genre of horror.

• The use of stars names in this poster are very minimal choosing just three of the biggest names in the film and locating them at the bottom of the page.

• Intertextuality – the poster looks a lot like a book cover further linking it to the 'number one best seller' the film has been adapted from. This way anyone who will have read the book can feel comfortable that the film will be close to the novel version. This use of graphology appeals to a particular target audience just like the red text and use of the word 'terrifying' appeals to horror lovers.

• The films information is all situated at the bottom of the poster in a diamond formation. This contains the co-stars, screenplay, music, novelist, director, producer and the film studio associated with the picture.

• The certificate is listed at the bottom of the poster quite bold and noticable. The certificate has also been cleverly used to further sell the film to the reader. The phrase 'may be too intense for children' will appeal to die-hard horror fans who want to want something disturbing and memorable.

Researching Film Posters - WANTED

• Colour scheme throughout of gold, burnt oranges, and browns. Looks like a fire or explosion has occurred. Linked the poster to the 'action' genre.
•  Purpose of this film poster is for ‘coming soon to cinemas’
•  3 best known actor’s names who are going to sell the film best and gain a bigger audience.
  

  Their names are almost as big as the title suggesting that mentioning their names is the best way to sell the film to the audience.
• Obviously an action poster film due to the guns and aggressive look/feel of the poster.
• The title is written in bold, gold lettering. It has been given a shine as though it is made from gold or metal suggesting a link to things such as money or most likely bullets.
•  Using a montage of images as opposed to one from the film. The two images together highlights what the film is about.
• The date of the film’s release is written digitally suggesting the film may have something to do with time or limits. This could also be linked to data and other anchors linked to the film itself.
• Film information such as producer and director are put into a diamond formation in very small writing at the bottom of the poster. The director is clearly not very well known or feels his name doesn’t need to be mentioned due to the A-list cast.
• There is a common theme of guns in this poster. This represents danger and power as well as rebellion and criminal activity. The size and style of the gun suggests she is a professional. It is not the type of gun a policeman would carry; she is most likely a gangster or assassin.
• Angelina Jolie is clearly the biggest star of this film and also one of the main characters. She is in the foreground and takes up the majority of the poster, attracting a male audience.
• She is also crouching down suggesting she is in hiding, waiting for something/someone. This further raises the assumption that the two characters are assassins.
• The numerous tattoos on Jolie’s arms suggest rebellion and outcast. She is clearly an extrovert and looks tough. She is not being portrayed as a feminine damsel in distress, but as more masculine, violent and dangerous.
• James McAvoy is in the background pointing his guns directly into the camera showing this film will have attitude and a very dangerous plot. It also implies his presence on the poster is not as useful as Jolie's in order to sell the film.

Researching Film Posters - PULP FICTION

 

• Intertextuality – following the form of a comic book. 
  

  General comic book theme, suggesting the film itself will follow that format of good vs. evil etc
• Colour scheme of black and red, very sexual and adult.
•  Parts of the image such as the gun and book have been edited to make it look as though it had been drawn, following the comic book theme
• The title of the film is the biggest text on the page a la comic book
• Targeting.By highlighting that it was the winner of the best picture at the Cannes film festive draws in a certain type of audience member.
• Quentin Tarantino’s name is highly visible, directly beneath the title to catch the reader’s eye.
• Long list of cast names in a bold, bright font. Biggest names at the beginning and end, starting with ‘John Travolta’ and ending with ‘and Bruce Willis.
• Very sexual image of a well known star lying on a bed. She wears a tight black dress, black heels and red lipstick she looks like a typical femme fatale. Her red nails are slapped across a book of the same title ‘Pulp Fiction.’ This suggests she is intelligent but also highlights what the target audience might be for this film. Since she reads it, other women will watch it and men will be attracted to her.
• Clear certificate rating in bottom left hand corner- Rated R (Restricted)
• Distribution Company’s logo clearly presented in the bottom right hand corner
• Image of the gun represents danger and rebellion. You can already tell the character is a bad person who shouldn’t be crossed. It also links the poster to the genre of crime or gang/gangster related film.

Chosen Certification

Since our film falls into the category of ‘psychological thriller’ it would not be suitable for any young children to view. Our film covers some serious topics which some young children may find disturbing or confusing to understand.

Based on the British Board of Film Classification the film would classify for a 12. It doesn’t contain any drugs, nudity or sex and no harsh language. However, it does contain one use of moderate language which is acceptable. The film also contains dangerous behaviour in the form of Megan locking her boyfriend in the car, but this scene is kept brief and is not shown for a long period of time. This could also come under the heading of violence as well since Megan’s boyfriend had his mouth covered with duct tape. However, the process of Megan capturing her boyfriend is not shown in the film and no physical violence is ever portrayed. There is some discrimination amongst males but this is behaviour is not glamorised. The theme is also quite mature, too mature to be a PG, but it is enough for a teenage to handle which is why I have settled with the certificate of a 12.

Since our film is not too disturbing or offensive, a 12/12a certificate would allow anyone under the age of 12 to be accompanied by an adult to view it, making it the adult’s responsibility to judge whether the child is mature enough to handle the topics of the film. However, the British Board of Film Classification suggests that a 12a certificate is only applicable to a cinema screening so this could be up for debate whether this could be put into practise at a Film Festival as well.

Researching the British Board of Film Classification

 

Whilst trying to come up with an appropriate certificate for our film, I did some research into the British Board of Film Classification to see what qualifies a film for a certain certificate. Here are the guidelines for each certification;

= Suitable for all

It is impossible to predict what might upset any particular child. But a ‘U’ film should be suitable for audiences aged four years and over. ‘U’ films should be set within a positive moral framework and should offer reassuring counterbalances to any violence, threat or horror.

If a work is particularly suitable for a pre-school child to view alone, this will be indicated in the Consumer Advice.

= Parental Guidance

General viewing, but some scenes may be unsuitable for young children.

Unaccompanied children of any age may watch. A ‘PG’ film should not disturb a child aged around eight or older. However, parents are advised to consider whether the content may upset younger or more sensitive children.

 

= Suitable for 12 years and over

Exactly the same criteria are used to classify works at ‘12A’ and ‘12’. These categories are awarded where the material is suitable, in general, only for those aged 12 and over. Works classified at these categories may upset children under 12 or contain material which many parents will find unsuitable for them.

The ‘12A’ category exists only for cinema films. No one younger than 12 may see a ‘12A’ film in a cinema unless accompanied by an adult and films classified ‘12A’ are not recommended for a child below 12. An adult may take a younger child if, in their judgement, the film is suitable for that particular child. In such circumstances, responsibility for allowing a child under 12 to view lies with the accompanying adult.

The ‘12’ category exists only for video works. No one younger than 12 may rent or buy a ‘12’ rated video work.

= Suitable only for 15 years or over

No-one younger than 15 may see a ‘15’ film in a cinema. No-one younger than 15 may rent or buy a ‘15’ rated video work.

= Suitable only for adults

No-one younger than 18 may see an ‘18’ film in a cinema. No-one younger than 18 may rent or buy an ‘18’ rated video work.

= To be shown only in specially licensed cinemas, or supplied only in licensed sex shops, and to adults of not less than 18 years.

The ‘R18’ category is a special and legally restricted classification primarily for explicit works of consenting sex or strong fetish material involving adults. Films may only be shown to adults in specially licensed cinemas, and video works may be supplied to adults only in licensed sex shops. ‘R18’ videos may not be supplied by mail order.

I had a hunch by the content of our film that a 12 would probably be appropriate as it contained mild swearing and quite a dark implication throughout as it was possible Megan would kill her boyfriend at any time. I looked on the British Board of Film Classification’s website (www.bbfc.co.uk) to check that our films content fitted in with the guidelines of a certificate ‘12’ film.

12A/12- Suitable for 12 years and over

Discrimination

Discriminatory language or behaviour must not be endorsed by the work as a whole. Aggressive discriminatory language or behaviour is unlikely to be acceptable unless clearly condemned.

Drugs

Any misuse of drugs must be infrequent and should not be glamorised or give instructional detail.

Horror

Moderate physical and psychological threat may be permitted, provided disturbing sequences are not frequent or sustained.

Imitable behaviour

Dangerous behaviour (for example, hanging, suicide and self-harming) should not dwell on detail which could be copied, or appear pain or harm free.  Easily accessible weapons should not be glamorised.

Language

Moderate language is allowed. The use of strong language (for example, ‘fuck’) must be infrequent.

Nudity

Nudity is allowed, but in a sexual context must be brief and discreet.

Sex

Sexual activity may be briefly and discreetly portrayed. Sex references should not go beyond what is suitable for young teenagers. Frequent crude references are unlikely to be acceptable.

Theme

Mature themes are acceptable, but their treatment must be suitable for young teenagers.

Violence

Moderate violence is allowed but should not dwell on detail. There should be no emphasis on injuries or blood, but occasional gory moments may be permitted if justified by the context. Sexual violence may only be implied or briefly and discreetly indicated, and must have a strong contextual justification.

Editing Sound

For the second half of our film we edited two of the characters voices to make them sound disturbing and possessed. Since our main character Megan was portraying someone suffering with a mental illness we thought it would be a good idea to overlap all the voices that had been used during our short film. We added echo to the voices and overlap them multiple times to portray the mental confusion that Megan is experiencing. We also played around with the pitch of the voices to make them sound more evil and sinister. We decided to make Katherine/the angel’s voice higher and childlike and Charlie/the devil lower and demonic.

Titles

Our opening titles are a mixture of two images; one being the tide washing in and out on the beach and the other being Megan scrubbing at the kitchen floor. We overlapped the two images and slowed them both down to a pace that best matched the motion of the tide. We chose these two shots because of how well they tied in with each other. The motion of the waves reflects the repetitive scrubbing of Megan (an affect of her OCD) when she has found out she has been cheated on and anchors the rest of the film.

For our film we stuck with the traditional white text on a black background. We felt this was appropriate because it looked more formal and serious to fit in with the message of the film; mental health is a serious issue. The black and white also looks very elegant and artistic which would be appreciated by the audience if it was to be distributed at a film festival like we have planned.