Poster Analysis - Dilys Latham

Nowhere Boy

• The bright bold yellow title would quickly catch the viewers attention and stand out on a website or billboard in the street. The contrast between the yellow and blue is an effective use of colour to help grab a potential audience member's attention. 

• The tag line across the top allows the audience to learn a little about the film and the decision to include John Lennon's name helps to target those who are fans of music and show how the film may interest them. The colours also reflect the themes or coming of age and the characters experimenting as they discover who they are

• Three of the main actors in the film names are listed to show that there's fresh talent or audience favorites appearing

• The image of the boy in the center of the page is a very important component of the poster as it shows the audience what ear the film is set in and that the story will be based on this male character who the viewer recognized as being John Lennon. This is a clever marketing move as it will get the older audience interested in the film

• The listing of the production companies in the billbox at the bottom of the page makes the poster look more professional and recognizable

• The quote at the top of poster gives the audience reassurance in what they are going to watch and that it is worth it. The star rating is good as it is a very widely understandable exppresion and the audience will immediately know if the film is a success

Representation

Nowhere Boy is a film all about coming of age and the impact of living in a working class family. The lead character has no father and was left by his mother at a young age, the story follows him as he meets his mother and forms a band. The film is very much a representation of the effects of living with a working class society and the pressures of growing up.

In the poster the use of yellow and blue is very effective as they are contrasting colours and so reflect the characters rebellious nature and also his experience of his new adulthood. As the film was targeted at a teenage audience as well as an older market the posters colours effectively offer intrigue and vitality to the audience. 

The bold text used for the title is also significant as it reflects again the themes of growing up and striking out and away from the comforts of childhood. In the poster we can see the main character John is wearing turned up jeans which also helps to show his working class background and youthfulness. His hair has also been styled in a quiff which shows the era the film was set in and also helps to show that the characters still young and finding himself. 

Genre

The film follows the life of music legend John Lennon when he was young and it is set in the 50's/60's. The bright posters reflect this time as it was a time of adventure and daring chances. The contrasting colours reflect this idea and also show the film as being a music based as the 60's was an incredible decade in music.

The pictures of the two women placed either side of John Lennon is also effective as it shows the film is also of the social realism genre. These two women were very important in John's life and had a great effect on the music he produced which is what the film is all about, John's relationship with his mother who was unable to care for him as she was too young and didn't have much money.

This poster would effectively attract an audience to watch the film as it shows that there is a musical and fun element to it as they will see how the Beatles were originally formed but also a surreal realism part to it as it shows the truth of John Lennon childhood.

Narrative



The audience going to watch this film will most likely know who John Lennon is and understand that the film will be looking back at his life and his past. On the poster the actor who portrays Lennon looks relatively young so the audience are then made aware that this film will be concerned with the beginning of his life and the formation of the Beatles.

The audience will also be able to see that this film although retrospective will be looking at Lennon's life in chronological order as in the poster the actor is walking which suggests change and moving on. The slightly faded out women in the letters also lets the audience will also be introduced to the important women in Lennon's life and how their appearances throughout his life shaped him into being the man he was and the music he produced.

Audience

This poster is very bright and vibrant which would attract a younger audience to come watch the film which I think it is targeted for due to the themes of coming of age. The costume of the character would also help to target a more youthful of audience of perhaps 16-25 as it shows someone with unique style discovering who they are which is what many people of this demographic do.

 I also think the poster has been designed in a way that would attract an older market also, as above the title the black text references the lead character, John Lennon who in reality a real praised artists in the 60's. The decision to include this information on the poster will make sure that an older demographic looking at the poster will be aware that the film is about the man John Lennon and his adolescent life as he began to form the Beatles.

Media Language

The decision to place John Lennon at the center of the poster with no picture behind him is very significant as it shows his importance and that film will all be about him. This positioning has also allowed the two picture of the women be placed in the background which is significant as shows their importance in his life also.

The use of mise en scene in this poster has been used with great effect as it cleverly reflects the youth and diversity that helped Lennon become the great artist he was which will help intrigue the audience as they will know that the film praises him. The choices to use blue, yellow and black is crucial as they are big contrast just like John Lennnon's aunt and his mum who deeply influenced Lennon's upbringing which is what the film is all about. The costume of the two women also reflects this; his aunt has her hair up and jacket done up to the top whilst his mum has lots of skin on show and her hair is all lose. The effectiveness of this is so the audience looking at the poster are also aware of the social realism genre apparent in the film.