This page all my deconstruction work. This includes deconstructions for film posters, magazine covers and finally film trailers.
Poster Deconstruction
"Shutter Island"
- Title: Evident in every film poster. In this case in red print and jaded lettering, representing a scary theme.
- Actors/Actresses: Usually evident if there is a star cast or a big name actor. This is a selling point for any film, in this case Leo DiCaprio. The poster also reveals the director being Martin Scorsese, another big name used as a selling point.
- Release Date: Usually used in the main film poster before the film is released, in this case October
- Tagline: Taglines are usually always used to help set the genre of the film. In this case the tagline is “Someone is Missing” which has adds an essence of darkness and mystery to the poster.
- Screen Capture/Picture: Always present and used to set the scene of the film within the poster in order to give off the genre. In this case, Leo DiCaprio is standing with a fixed, confused expression holding a match which sends off a message of mystery darkness. This is then backed up by the shot of the island; a dark, eerie and secluded place in the middle of the ocean amongst a heavy storm.
- Credits: Always present, again show the various individuals surrounding the film. Company logos are also usually included to show who was involved in funding etc
- Title: As with any kind of poster, the title of the film is always present; “The Dark Knight” is no exception. The title also includes the iconic logo of Batman which people will be able to relate to.
- Credits: There is a minor use of credits giving a basic outline of the companies involved rather than the original film poster which will contain actors/actresses, directors etc
- Release Date: There isn’t normally a release date on a teaser poster as it often comes out way in advance of the film itself. In this case, and many other, it simply announces its “Coming Soon”
- Screen Shot/Picture: The picture is always going to be present on any film poster, in “The Dark Knight” teaser poster we see the iconic image of the Batman looking out onto the infamous Gotham City. This is effective as people will instantly relate to the Batman series and the city it is surrounded by.
Poster Deconstruction - Related Genre
With "28 Days Later" being a similar product to ours, I feel it's poster would be good to examine.
- Title: As with any film poster the title is present. It is presented in bold white lettering with a quarantine style logo behind the text as an added graphic fitting the genre.
- Release Date: “Your Days Are Numbered” is displayed ahead of the release date of the film. This is effective as it engages the audience so they feel involved with the plot. This could also qualify as a tagline for the film. Similar to the title, the lettering is printed in a bold white style in order to fit the genre.
- Screen Capture/Picture: The imagery in the poster helps set the genre of the film for the audience. The red background helps illustrate blood and horror. The picture of the eyes also shows that the plot may involve supernatural beings and that there is a kind of evil in the film. The image of the man walking past Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament shows the obsoleteness of human civilisation.
- Credits: In this example there are not too many examples of company credits or specific people. However, there is a company logo in the bottom right corner of the poster along with the line “From the director of “Trainspotting” & “The Beach”” which many would know to be Danny Boyle. There is also a quote from a popular newspaper expressing the expressing a positive opinion over Danny Boyle’s product. The website of the film is at the bottom of the poster in order for the audience to find out more about the film should they wish.
“The Crazies”
- Title: The title is presented in a quarantine style, allowing the audience to get a feel for the film and therefore introduce the disease being the main issue throughout the film.
- Release date: In addition, the date is also in a quarantine style with logos attached really expressing the genre and storyline of the film. It also includes the phrase: “catch it in cinemas” in order to again give away the disease style feel to the audience.
- Credits: As in many film posters, there are credits of producers, directors, actors/actresses and of the film companies also. The website is also present should the audience want to visit the website.
- Tagline: The tagline again gives away the genre and a vague idea of the plot. “Insanity is infectious” also uses alliteration in order to seem more appealing.
- Screen Capture/Picture: The imagery shows a deserted town but for a small girl wearing a mask. It contrasts sanity and an everyday town to insanity and complete desperation.
"Dawn of the Dead"
- Title: The title "Dawn of the Dead" is in big, bold, black, capital lettering.
- Credits: In this particular poster, only the credits of the main actors and actresses are visable.
- Tagline: "When there is no more room left in hell, the dead will walk the earth."
- Graphics/Imagery: Lots of colour representing the division between evil/death and good. Zombie figures facing the audience.
Sky Magazine – Sky magazine is delivered to Sky customers every month bringing them up to date with upcoming shows, films, sport and interactive features. It is a perfect example of a contemporary magazine and this particular issue that I have chosen to deconstruct.
- Title - The title of the magazine will always be present and will always have the same logo or style in order for customers to recognize the magazine instantly. In this case, it’s easy to see that it is a 43 page TV guide for Sky. The title will also be accompanied with the issue date.
- Picture/Graphic - The most notable element on any magazine cover will be the featured image. The star system is often used in this instance as a way to attract customers. In this example, many people will be drawn in by the image of Johnny Depp posing as his character from the film “Pirates of the Caribbean”. The name of the film is also in bold white lettering in order for fans of the film to be attracted to the magazine or article.
- Featured Articles - As well as the main there are a number of various other articles which are used to draw in audiences. Being a magazine based on various channels and shows, there is a wide range of articles which help to interest the reader. In this example, there are listings and previews for a number of sport matches, and TV dramas. With cricket matches being featured alongside “Sex and the City”, the magazine will draw in a wide audience from both sexes and of different ages.
- Layout - The title of the magazine and the featured articles are all overshadowed by the main aspect of the cover; in this case being Johnny Depp, which will act as the main selling point.
Empire Magazine - Empire magazine is a subscription magazine based on film.
- Title - The title of the magazine will always be present and recognisable. In this case, Empire is written in bold red letters. Again, the title is accompanied with the magazine tagline, price, date and website.
- Picture - The main feature of the magazine in this issue is James Bond/Daniel Craig of which there is a full length image of him from the latest film.
- Featured articles - Alongside the main feature of James Bond, the magazine cover advertises a number of other articles within the magazine. The cover also makes it out to be the best for access to exclusive interviews and pictures from the Bond film by using lines like "Unbeatable Access" and "007 Picture Special!"
- Layout - Being the main selling point of the magazine, James Bond is clearly displayed and advertised. This includes the picture, the film title spread across the page.
Dawn of the Dead Trailer
The beginning of the trailer introduces the setting of the film in which the neighbourhood seems very normal and calm. This contrasts the change in mood of the film.
This change changes the speed, tone and mood of the film. The panic being associated with the characters is related with the audience through the sudden change in pace and the rate of shots.
There isn't a notable soundtrack used, yet there is an array of instruments that are used in order to create the tension and horror.
The tagline is also used to create this tension and horror as it is presented in two parts and if to to suggest that the audience are in danger with the words "The Dead Will Walk The Earth".
Saw Trailer
- Many dark and mysterious shots are used at the start to show the horror and evil of the feature film. This creates tension and forces the audience to ask questions. This builds further as more frequent and jumpy shots are used to express the horror and thrill of the film. The victims of the film are shown throughout the trailer, yet the antagonist of the piece is not. This again leaves the audience with more questions. There are a number of words that appear such as “madman” which help the audience understand that the film will include a psychopathic antagonist murderer.
- We hear many of the characters in the film asking questions at the start, almost putting the audience in their shoes. This is another way in which the trailer builds tension as the audience want to know what is going on. The shouting and screaming of the characters also expresses panic. Music builds midway through, similar to a heartbeat again illustrating panic and tension. This music continues throughout in order to consistently build tension for the audience.
- Other ways in which the audience is drawn in is through the taglines used. In this instance “it’s his game, and it’s your move” engage the audience, making them feel involved in a “what-would-you-do” scenario.
- As with many modern film trailers, company and production team logos will be present in order to illustrate their involvement in the film. If a film is a success, they will profit, gaining some of the credit for the films original success. In this case, Lionsgate Films and Twisted Pictures are the companies featured.
