The clothes that the characters wear tell us the era of the film. For example the woman is wearing a pencil calve skirt, a blouse and a pair of brogue shoes, also the man is wearing a suit. This indicates the time when men wore suits for everyday wear and when women always looked their best. Naturally, the women has got her hair in an old fashioned pinned back style, however this style is quite stylish for the era this conveys that the characters are middle class. The location or the mise–en–scene is indicated as an old fashioned setting, I realise this because of the props that are shown. For example old cars, and barber shops with ornings show the era, as in modern time we don’t have them. In addition and old fashioned lamps also designate the period of time.
The denotation of the colour red connotes passion love happiness; this is shown by the characters having a red glow around them. It highlights them making them stand out. It also separated them from the background, this, intrigues the audience and makes them think about why they are in colour. It is possible that the characters are in colour because it is symbolising the change from black and white to colour, it also illustrates the period of time which is 1950. However the background is in black and white and the clouds are grey. This could mean that the characters possibly have problems with their background, maybe their family don’t agree with their choice of partner. Pleasant Ville’s attitudes were very black and white, maybe they are advanced for that period, and It also is reflective on the era’s attitudes and beliefs. It also puts the point across that if things are in black and white that they are either right or wrong. Furthermore this could explain why the characters are in colour because they are going against beliefs. The headline is also in colour, it is in bold red letters. I think that it is bold to make it stand out but also to imply that everything is pleasant in Pleasantville. I get this impression by what the word looks like. It is symbolic to an American sign; it states that it is pleasant like a welcoming sign. Another point to make is that because it is such a close nit community everyone has to be happy even when they’re not. This again links back to the fact that the characters could have gone against that fact and that’s why they are in colour.
There are no conventions or a tag line. This could be indicating the era of the film also the individuality of it. Another point to make is that without the convections and tag lines the poster intrigues the audience and it is questioning. Also without hardly any writing on the poster it makes the point of the picture saying it all. It goes against the codes and conventions, keeping the poster looking like a welcome sign on a bill board.
The poster is relying on the film and not the actors. This might be because the actors are not famous or on the other hand it could be a boost for the actors. They could need the fame or lead it. This maybe the answer to why there aren’t any names or taglines on the poster. Also there isn’t any written information about the director this again could show that the poster is unique/individual by going against codes and conventions, creating mystery around the film. People may not tell that it is a film poster so may look it up on the interne, again, getting publicity.
Reviewing the way the characters are positioned the audience are encouraged to think that the man is in control and the woman is helpless and needs rescuing like a damsel in distress. I think this because he is standing with his legs apart leaning towards her very in command of her. She is standing leaning towards him with her hands on his chest very feeble. This tells me that they are positioned to represent the era because they are very stereotypical of what men and women were like in the 1950s.
The two main actors are from the same racial group (white middle class society). This may be because the film is trying to represent people of that era that they were the same a close nit community. However it may be because they are applying to that particular society.
Analysis of Pirates of the Caribbean
The gesture codes in Pirates of the Caribbean shows what type of film it is going to be. For example it has got head and soldier shots of the actors in the film, this shows that they are serious and not messing around. Also Johnny Depp is holding a sword and a gun in the shape of an X. This shows that he is the main character in this film as he is the only one with any weapons. Secondly the sword and the gun frame the main characters face, he is separate from the other characters. He is in a guarding position ready to fight. Men indicate to a male audience that there will be lots of exciting and thrilling action. Orlando Bloom is on the left of Johnny Depp, he looks very serious like he is not a person to mess with, and it is a connotation that he is a sly, evil character, by the way he is looking. Keira Knightley is on the end of the row behind the men. She looks very feeble; this implies that she may need rescuing at one point in the film. She is holding a locket. One might suppose that the locket is obviously valuable and plays a part in the film. I can tell this by the way she is holding the locket to her chest. Geoffrey Rush looks shifty sly he is blatantly different from the other characters. This shiftiness implies that he maybe a traitor. I can tell this by the way he is leaning away from Johnny Depp and the way he is smirking, it represents him not being a part of the others.
Keira Knightley is clothed scantily showing cleavage, she is looking seductive. Which are connotations of sex appeal, seductive, it is attractive to a male audience. This shows that she doesn’t fight in the film as she isn’t dressed for it. On the other hand Johnny Depp is dressed for a fight as he is wearing a bandanna, connoting that he is a pirate. Also it the title there is a skull in the centre of it. It is on two swords shaped like an X this illustrates the well known phrase that represents all pirates and skulls ‘x marks the spot’, connoting evil, wrong doing. It also has a bandanna on like Johnny Depp so it is implying that maybe Johnny Depp gets killed in the film, by having a representation of him as a skeleton. Furthermore, the skull has a gold tooth in and this symbolises richness. Underneath the title there is a scene of a fight taking place. There is a boat in the middle of it showing that there are pirates around which implies evil, underhand activities. Moreover the scene is on a coast by the sea this gives an insight to the audience that there is going to be fighting and its setting or mise-en-scene is on a coast. There are skulls and gold on the left of the fighting scene. This implies that the pirates are fighting for treasure. I know this because pirates hunt and kill for treasure and this shows that someone has to be killed for the skulls to be there next to the treasure.
The whole poster is black, this connotes darkness, evil, sinister. The main colour is red; this stands out on the black background connoting blood-shed and attracts the audience’s eye to the poster. What’s more the fighting scene at the bottom of the poster is in red, this indicates blood, violence. It implies this subtly as it doesn’t stand out in your face. The characters names and the date that the film comes out are in bold capital letters and are in the colour red. This makes the writing stand out as it is in a bright colour and on a black background, again in blood colour, almost daring you. The title is inside a scroll, this connotes that the film is about pirates and treasure to be found, as it is on old fashioned map paper. Connotations of fighting, telling the audience that this film contains an adventure. Also there is a skull in the middle of the title representing Johnny Depp. The word ‘curse’ in the title indicates the plot, danger and that the film is about lifting the curse.
The tagline on the film is ‘curse’, it connotes danger insecurity and mystery. Pirates of the Caribbean is the name of the film but also it has another title to tell the audience what that particular film is about. It implies that there are going to be more films out in the future by having two titles, also it represents a series of films.
At the top of the page are the names of the actors. Johnny Depp has his name on the left of the poster and his picture in the middle, this shows that he is a big star and wants people to know that he is the star in the film. I know this because the lead role name appears on the left. Also having your name on the left and your picture either on the right or in the centre is the most eye-catching place to put it. In addition the other names of the actors are opposite to their pictures; this again stands out and gets people noticing the difference. Overall Pirates of the Caribbean is trying to sell the film by the actors and not just by the poster. I identify this because the pictures of the actors are big and take up most of the poster. There is written information about the director and it is at the bottom of the page where most posters put their information.
In the poster we can see the faces of the characters; however they all have one side covered or blackened. This infers secrecy as to why they are hiding or what they are hiding. This draws in the audience by the fact that they are covered. Besides that the characters are positioned at the top of the poster this attracts the audience as they are big and bold and it is the first thing that you see on the poster, apart form the title. It is a good balance of cast and plot, cleverly drawing in plot fans and cast fans.
Looking at the way the characters are positioned the audience are encouraged to think that the men are in control and the woman is helpless and will need rescuing. I think this because they are looking very serious and are holding weapons where as she looks feeble and not in control. This tells me that they are positioned to represent the genre as pirates are mainly men and they fight to rescue women and to get treasure.
The actors are from the same racial group. This may be because the film is trying to represent pirates as the majority or pirates were white and scary.