Student Work Analysis (Hayden Woodcock)

Ancillary Task: Poster Analasys, Se7en (William Guy)

Will has completed this textual analysis of the poster for the film Se7en as part of the research phase for our production.

Form Research: Film Trailer

Blackhat, Ancillary Website Analysis (William Guy)

Will has conducted this textual analysis of the website for the neo-noir film "Blackhat". Although he had been analysing material from the film "Se7en" it either did not have a website or the website no longer exists, so he has chosen a different (but still relevant) film for this analysis

Influencial Film Noir Films

The jazz non-diegetic soundtrack throughout this trailer is effective because it matches the time period. The upbeat fast tempo matches the tempo of the music and helps to connote a mysterious mood. I personally like the imperfections from the film, seen through the sparkly white dots because they create a pleasant old fashioned stint to the movie, positive for the older demographics for reminiscence. The black and white colour is a key convention for Film Noir and it works well with the white iconography used throughout, matching the conventional third-person voice-over.

This trailer is influential because of the old and traditional transitions due to the lack of technological convergence and advancement during century. However, even though some audiences dislike this, I think that they are necessary for providing a unique selling point to the film and something we can personally relate to through identity and social solidarity. Additionally, it is clear that they have followed the idea of a Detective as a protagonist through the theme of murder and from is clothing and the mise-en-scene centre around his frame within the shots. Lastly, the use of the gun as a prop adds variation and a modern day twist, perhaps developing the audience to stereotypical males that prefer violence and the action genre blended in.

We are planning on replacing the Film Noir conventions we will struggle with, such as: a Femme Fatale with horror conventions, to create a hybrid film that will not require challenges that seem almost impossible to solve. Therefore, I have been completing research into Classic Film Horror trailers to keep the period similar so that we are not blending different and complicated conventions.

This trailer is influential for many reasons. Firstly, it is a 1950 film set in a black and white colour palette because of the limitations of colour at this moment in time. Therefore, modern day conventions are not used and this trailer ultimately follows the traditions and conventions used in all genres during this decade, meaning that it shares many similarities with a classic Film Noir. Furthermore, sans serif typography is used to clarify the action, likewise all Film Noir's use this convention. Old fashioned transitions are used and we are planning on incorporating these in order to relate to the time period and the aesthetic look we want the audience to view. Lastly, a monster is used as an antagonist in this trailer so we are planning on following this convention to replace the Femme Fatale and the stereotypical villains in a Film Noir, but we are not planning on using a monster like this for obvious reasons! Instead, we are thinking of a Vampire or another monster that can easily be played by a male.

Film Noir Directors

Robert Siodmak was a German Film Director best remembered as a thriller specialist and for a series of stylish Hollywood Film Noirs such as: 'The Killers,' 'Criss Cross,' 'Phantom Lady' and 'The Spiral Staircase.'

Alfred Hitchcock was an English Director and Producer, also referred as 'The Master of Suspense.' He was involved in pioneering many elements of the suspense and psychological thriller genres. Additionally, his well-known films are: 'Psycho,' 'Vertigo,' 'Rear Window' and 'Rebecca.'

Frank Miller is an American comic writer, artist and film director best known for his dark comic books and graphic novels such as: Ronin, Daredevil, 300 and Sin City. All of his films have a unique plot and visual quality.

All of these directors are influential for their different ways of creating a film, and we want to apply all of their traits to our trailer: suspense, psychological elements, unique plot, visual quality and a stylish and traditional Film Noir. 

Sin City, Ancillary Poster Analysis (Hayden Woodcock)

Even though Eva Green's not a household name or a proven draw, the initial poster for "Sin City 2" was built around her image, in a clingy white dress that made her appear nude. The Motion Picture Association of America, the Hollywood lobbying group that oversees film ratings and movie advertising, balked. The controversy helped make the original artwork go viral, but that seems to have failed to persuade ticket buyers. Meanwhile, the controversy also kept Rodriguez and Co. from mounting a poster campaign in a timely manner. (http://www.moviefone.com/2014/08/25/box-office-sin-city-a-dame-to-kill-for/)

 

What are the main colours?

In this poster, the main colours used are black, white and red, which matches the films colour palate. The use of the white connotes purity and innocence, however it could also be encoded as cold, harsh and isolating. Therefore, the latter seems clearer since the character of Nancy has been edited with the colour white the most, and since she is represented as an important character through the framing. Whilst, these symbols could anchor the representation of a stripper. Furthermore, the colours signify the binary opposites of good vs evil and old vs new. As well as this, the abundance of the two opposites of the colour range suggests conflict between the characters. The use of the colours black and red connotes anger and blood, connecting to the use of violence, allowing this Neo Noir to be instantly recognisable because of the followed conventions.

 

What is the purpose of this poster?

The poster appears to have many purposes, which all advertise the film. Firstly, it establishes the Directors and the crew involved. Also, it clarifies the actors and the release date. Therefore, this would positively increase audience anticipation because it would create a 'hype' and the use of the cast and crew will either provide a diversion or entertainment and gratification in the way that many audiences watch a film for the actors and actresses involved and considering the Director.

 

What are the messages?

With the comic book style of the cover combined with the presentation that this is Frank Millers 'Sin City' sequel, one can tell that the tone will be desolate, isolated and violent, possibly taking the same bleak and apocalyptic colour scheme of the first film in order to create a similar atmosphere. Therefore, this would create the ideology that the characters narrative will either continue from the first film or the new characters background will relate to a particular sin. Thus, the audience will be aware that commiting a sin results in consequences.

 

What is the typography?

The main film's title uses a red, sans serif font, whilst Frank Miller and the second part of the film's title uses a white sans serif font. As a result, this provides juxtaposition within the colours because both have diverse connotations, creating another binary opposite. However, this typography choice is effective because it allows the background and the characters to match with the font, enabling a sense of combined narrative that involves intertwined plots. The register of the poster is also important, with the specific use of the word "Dame" instead of woman, girl, wife, signifies the power of the Femme Fatale. However, from this poster we may suddenly think that the Femme Fatale is Nancy, however the costume and the red lipstick seems to establish that Ava is the true films Femme Fatale. This sense of importance is reiterated through her being distinguished from other Dames, as "To Die For". In relation to this, the audience may conclude that the characters will have a similar objective of trying to attract her. So, this may increase the male audience gratification and reach.

What is the target audience?

There is one intertextual reference, with "Frank Miller's" being placed above the title, linking it to the previous Sin City Film. This has the effect of drawing in an audience which enjoyed the first film, which is likely a large proportion of action film fanatics due to it being considered one of the best action films of all time. The poster features Hollywood names such as: Jessica Alba, Eva Green and Bruce Willis, boasting a high valued cast, increasing the audience desire to view this film. The implied sexuality will also attract the male audience because they stereotypically prefer a sexual vibe within a film as it is believed that they gain more pleasure. The use of the modern day actors appeals to mainly a young audience, whilst the use of Rourke, Willis and Liotta appeals to the elder demographics and traditional action fans. Additionally, the use of the weapons as a prop will also attract the male audience because in particular males are stereotypical more aggressive than females and profoundly a gender that prefers the conventional violence.

Characters and background:

In the background of this poster, we see an urban setting, connoting another convention of this genre. Furthermore, this location establishes the main setting of the film and the snowy background is a polysemy reading because it could either signify a cold and dark atmosphere or connote that the characters are losing their senses both metaphorically and literally. But, the snow allows the white colour to blend and increases the brightness of the characters. In this poster, we see seven different characters, suggesting that this film involves many different narrative strands and character types because of the directors intentions of creating a community and complex plot. All of the male characters are interesting wearing similar characters, drawing parallel's between them, perhaps showing that they share traits. In this case, all of them appear to be represented as brave because their facial expressions are intentional and firm and their body language connotes masculinity, which is also anchored by the prop-a gun. Whilst, the female characters are very different in the way that we see a stripper, a Femme-Fatale and a violent assassin. The use of the different clothing represents the difference in class. Firstly, Ava's blue jacket represents a high class, connoting a wealthy character, whilst Nancy's lack of clothing and Gail's leather clothing provides these characters with a lower class. Consequently, we recognise another binary opposite perhaps relating to the clash between the characters. Also, as both Gail and Nancy are wearing black, this draws another parallel to the male poster characters, signifying that they are more masculine than Ava. Again, this represents a stereotypical female as the Femme Fatale is clearly fond of fashion and the opposite gender.

My reaction:

Overall, this poster is very effective because it maintains the comic book graphic style and it also creates an aesthetic style because despite black and white films often being boring because of the lack of graphic technique, this film is modern and the director chose to use this colour palate. Plus, this poster clarifies many well-known actors and portrays a large amount of detailed characters which provides me with pleasures because I prefer to watch a film that has many different characters I can relate to and enjoy, rather than one or a couple. Lastly, this poster instantly presents the genre because of the numerous of conventions I can already see, such as: black and white colour, urban setting, Femme Fatale, protagonists, the ideology of sins and the theme of violence.