Film Poster - Romance

Film Poster

Paper Towns

The trailer is immediately eye catching due to the bold blue in the background of the trailer that stands out against almost anything, this is conventional for romance posters as they nearly always have one bold colour as the background in the trailer. The focal point of the trailer is clearly the two characters faces - again conforming to conventions not only of having the two characters together on the poster but by showing their faces. Their faces almost entirely fill the poster which again is conventional of romance trailers, probably because they're the only real important characters, the film is about their 'love story' so they should fill the poster.

The title is written fairly largely but is not filled in, this makes it look more unique and interesting (possible connotations for the film) and is a more modern, different way of writing a film title but it stands out just as much as a block title would have done but is still subtle enough not to draw too much attention away from the characters faces, a block title may have been too bold. Also the font is quite interesting and is something aesthetically pleasing to look at.

Due to the background colour and focal point (characters faces) of the trailer the genre is clearly defined as a horror/thriller poster would have more low key lighting and less colour, a comedy would have more characters and a funnier tagline, and action would have more guns, explosions and characters, the only other possibility for this trailer is a drama but that's quite unlikely seeming as there's only two characters in the poster it screams romance. The tagline doesn't help distinguish between drama or romance as "get lost get found" could be about two characters journey (drama) or two characters journey together (romance).

A poster should be designed to attract as large an audience as possible and by putting these two actors faces as the focal point you draw in a large audience but also the line at the top "from the author of fault in our stars" - this is the same as writing films directed/produced by the same person, it draws a larger audience in because they love the author. This time it has double effect though because it will draw in people who liked the book and people who liked the film, double the audience. 

The audience are told it will be released in "summer 2015" which gives them time to note it down and look out for a release date nearer the time, issuing a release date too early can confuse people especially if it changes as they may forget it etc. so stating "summer 2015" is enough to give people a heads up and get the hype going for the film. There is no billing block though which seems to be a recurring trait in new trailers as social media sites are provided on the poster which can supply all the information needed about the film.

Theories:

Barthes symbolic and semantic codes are used, the girl is stood in front of the guy suggesting she is always one step ahead of him (conventional to romance stories, the guy has to chase the girl) Barthes action code is used to as their hair is blowing in opposite directions, perhaps this is about their respective trajectories in life never really crossing. An enigma could also be her hair, it's blowing over his face but also her own, clearly she has a hold on him but is she hiding something about herself? 

Conforming to conventions = bold background colour, shows love interests (and their faces)

Subverting from conventions = no billing block of info