Poster Analysis

Dear John:

What genre is the film?
The genre of the film is a Drama, Romance and War, because it has three genres it can go into it is classed as a hybrid film.

Which genre conventions are referred to?
The genre conventions referred to in this film poster is that the two characters are on a beach and that is a romantic setting, also the two characters body language is that they are cuddling showing that they are together and in love. The bit of grass that is in the image, is acting as a sort of barrier from the two characters and the audience because of the characters intimacy. Because it is a male and female it shows that there is love involved.

Which conventions of the form are used?
The conventions of the form of this film poster are that it has a credit block and has a tag line included on it also. There is also a date on when the film is being released. It has the title of the film and it is off centre and is big and bold. On the poster they have also included the two main actors names, so that it will attract people to watch the film. It has the image of the two main characters.

Describe the mise-en-scene in detail including location, lighting, costume, make-up
The mise-en-scene of this film poster is that the location is on a beach, which is a romantic setting, it helps to portray that the film is romantic. The lighting used is bright but soft and it helps to suggest romance, love and hope. The clothing used on the actors is casual clothing and makes it look more realistic. Make-up used to make it as realistic and natural as possible, they want them to look beautiful because it is a romantic film.

What symbols are used in the poster? Do you need audience foreknowledge to decode the symbols?
The name of the film ‘Dear John’ has an intertextual reference because a Dear John letter is to tell someone that their relationship is over or that they are leaving. The audience does need foreknowledge to decode the symbol of this film poster.

What are the main figures/objects/background of the poster? Are they represented photographically?
The main feature on this film poster are the two actors that are hugging, they have been represented photographically. The background of the film poster is a beach, which is helping to portray what they film is about.

How does the layout of the poster affect its message?
They have included a rule of third for the layout of the poster, his eyeline is on a line of a third and they have left aligned the name of the film poster and the credit block because then it is showing that the two characters are in love and that it is more powerful, they have also put that on a third of the film poster. The two names of the actors are at the top of the film poster because they are the main characters and that is what will help attract an audience and they have his name in line with him and her name in line with her. The layout affects the message because it is helping to show that love is a big, strong part of this film and that it is trying to push through.

Describe why the designer has used the particular typeface.
The designer has used that particular typeface because it is simple and it doesn’t detract from the message of the film which is romance. They have repeated the colour of the text throughout the poster.

What visual camera techniques have been used?
The visual camera technique that has been used is head height/straight on because they are trying to make the image look as natural as possible.

Are the messages in the poster primarily visual, verbal, or both?
The messages in the poster are primarily visual because you get the main message from the image rather than the text.

 
Who do you think is the intended audience for the poster? Why?
I think that the intended audience for this film poster is for teenagers and adults because of the genre it is which is romance, drama and includes a bit of war.

Given that all movie posters have the same purpose - to get audiences to go see a movie - what persuasive techniques does the poster use? 

The persuasive techniques the poster uses is that it uses a question that makes you question what you would do and it also uses a famous well known actor that would make you want to see the film. Also because it is from the author of the notebook.

What USP is used?
The unique selling point of this film is that the person who wrote this, is also the author, who wrote The Notebook, which is a best-selling book. Also another USP is that Channing Tatum is in this film and he is also known for other big films that he has been in for example The Vow.

What pleasures (gratifications) are promised by the poster?
The film poster promises that they film is going to be romantic and that the two actors on the poster are the couple in love.

How is attention gained (humour, shock, surprise familiar face of a star)?The audiences attention is gained because there is a familiar face of a star on the poster, if people recognise who the actors are that will make them want to see the film because they know who they are.

How does the tagline work? (humour, pun, alliteration etc?
The tagline is a rhetorical question, which gets the audience thinking about what the film is going to portray and it helps them to understand a bit more about the film.