A2 Media - Double page spread analysis: Pirates Of The Caribbean

 

 

This review page is a double page spread. It consists of a text side and an image side, both of which taking up around about and A4 size. The two sides to 'overlap' as there are small amounts of text on the image side and vise-versa. There are 3 main columns of text, laid out in a simple gird format. This format is only interrupted by pull quotes and side bars.

The logo of the magazine doesn't feature on this review page but there is in information bar at the top in which there is a logo that is associated with this particular section of the magazine. This is strange as the logo is a part of the style of the magazine and is featured regularly in the rest of it. The page numbers are placed on the bottom, outside corners of each page.

The feature header is 'screen'. The header is the largest and therefore most important part . It is designed like this so that it will catch the attention for readers. There is a smaller title however that could be considered more important despite it being smaller, and that is the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' Part'. This is most likely more important as it informs the reader as to what they are reading.

The image on the second page is a direct pull from the movie. It seems to be unedited and is therefore serving the purpose of simply displaying the film to the readers. I also believe it is used to fault some of the actors in the film, such as Johnny Depp. The images size shows its relevance and importance to the article it is accompanying.

A2 Media - Photoshop task

This is one of the first task I attempted in Photoshop for my A2 year. We were tasked with using a 3d text and creating a contextual image to accompany it. I chose Sci-fi and used images of nebulas and space to accompany it. I used 4 separate images all together, the background image was a large shot of space filled with stars and is a deep blue . On top of this I then put a similar deep blue image of a nebula. Additionally on top of that I placed a nebula with a much deeper red hue. All of these combined create an illusion of infinity and depth.

I then created the 3d text using the built in tool and adjusted it to the proportions that I wanted. Finally on top of the text I placed a final purple image of a nebula. This blended well with the purple and created an attractive blend. I then decided that it would improve the aesthetics if I erased all the colour form the black backing off the text that made it look 3d to give it a more imposing position in the image.

Finally I took a soft and opaque eraser to the edges of the image and faded them out to add to the overall depth of the image.

A2 Media - Action Film Poster Analysis

               


The first attribute that links these movie posters are the imposing figures. On each of these posters there is at least one overbearing figure, usually the main character. This helps to set the tone for the movie as it puts the audiences focus on the character or characters  predominantly displayed. In order to assist this, there is often a glow or shimmer around these figures, really separating them and pushing them even more predominantly into the foreground. The colour scheme has a recurring theme of a usually cold colours, such as a blue hue. This helps to represent the slick, 'cool' nature of these films and perhaps even is an attempt to appeal to action films predominate audience, males.

Action films tend to have a little less then other films in the way of story and character development, and as such their titles tend to reflect this. Titles such as 'Battleship' or 'GI JOE' are short, snappy and straight to the point. This helps to again to appeal to the target audience. These titles are also of a contrasting colour to their backgrounds, allowing the audience to easily identify and view them.

The characters on the posters often have the same mode of address. If we look at Battleship and GI Joe, we can see all characters looking off into the distance rather then directly at the audience. This mode of address helps to create an atmosphere were it feels as though these characters are in actual danger, so much so that they don't have time to have a mode of address looking at the audience as their attention is focused on the danger.

The final point I would like to make is the overall darkness of these posters. While the main colour scheme is usually metallic blues and such colours, there is a distinct dark overtone, be it lots of black in the background or surrounding images etc. This, coupled with the 'glow' found behind the imposing figures is most likely a hint that they must overcome something great with slim chances at doing so in typical action movie style.

A2 Media - Horror Film Poster Analysis

Looking at the first two posters, The Return and Static, we see similar codes and conventions. Firstly the colour schemes are largely similar with cold, dark shades with minimal contrasting areas of white.
These are more modern films, contrast to this are the slightly older films. The right hand poster, The Gorgon, was released in 1965 which is apparent when looking even at the colour scheme by itself. It has a much larger spectrum of colours, including much brighter colours, but this obviously changed over time.

Another contrast between the time periods is in the font. The older poster has almost a dripping font that an audience today would laugh at rather then be scared by. The other two are much more plane and serious that match the tone of the movie. On the right hand side poster, The Return, the R is also reversed. This is a very clever detail for a number of reasons. First of all, the word return means to go back, so its a clever visual pun. However it primarily symbolises the inherent backward nature of this film. Even in the poster there is a hand inside of an eyeball, not the most straight forward of images.

Another point on these posters is their tag lines. They seem to be most commonly situated above the main image and title. I believe the reason for this is that it represents the pacing of these films. There is usually a lot of build up and character development before the actual horror aspects present itself, so a suspenseful tag line placed 'before' the main image and title visually represents this.

The final point that links all three images is a similar centre focused and imposing figure. Again this is almost foreshadowing in a way as it sets a dark and serious tone for the film. It puts an emphasis and a focus of importance onto the character, be it protagonist or villain. Regardless of role the character in question will always play a quintessential role in the film.

A2 Media - Sci Fi Film Poster Analysis

SCI FI

These sci-Fi posters all share a common theme in their colour scheme. A blue hue is a common denominator here, as it represents space, an important part of the Sci-fi genre. Another recurring feature is an imposing figure, either male or female, usually alone and surrounded by large amounts of empty space. This signifies a common genre specific theme of loneliness, either they are left alone or they're mentally alone but they're is a definitive tinge of loneliness in Sci Fi films. As well as having a blue hue, the colour scheme often reflects the cold tone of sci fi movies. Everything is cold and calculating and never usually 'heart warming' in any sense of the phrase, this is mimicked perfectly in the lack of any warm colours or tones in the movie poster art.   

 

These posters all seem to have a sizeable portion of the blank space around the focus dedicated to credits and other text, such as tag lines. For example on the interstellar poster, the ground beneath Mathew Mconahay has the title, tag line, credits and realise date laid across it. This seems to be a recurring theme in movie posters, especially in the Sci Fi genre where there is often plenty of empty space, to personify the loneliness aspect I referred to earlier, in which they can place it without taking anything away from the poster itself.

 

The final point I want to make is another recurring theme of a source of bright light. These movies often feature one protagonist overcoming impossible odds and the white light source represents the slim amount of hope said protagonistt has in over coming said odds. ( Despite the fact they always over come them no matter what but..)