Boy is a short film released in 2011 that follows a 10 year old boy as he experiences a rite of passage with his dad that will change him forever. The short film was written and directed by Topaz Adizes, starring actors Finn Greene who's plays the 10 yea old boy and Jeff Wells who plays the father. The runtime of the film is just under ten minutes. Companies such as Blow Gun Films and ReKon Production helped with the production of the film. The short film ha been nominated for multiple awards such as the Discovery award at the Cannes Film Festival, the Bronze Horse Award at the Stockholm Film Festival and the SXSW Grand Jury award at the SXSW Film Festival all in 2011.
Main Image:
This film poster contains one main image, a close up of the protagonist looking directly into the camera. This image doesn't conform to the rule of thirds as the protagonists head is placed at the top of the poster and is therefore in theory not what the viewer would see first. The young boy in the poster is placed in the foreground, showing the audience the film is based on his story. The fact that the boy is alone on the poster also suggests that this film is about personal growth. Finally, the character in the main image is presented as looking directly into the camera, this is effective as is creates a direct mode of address. This makes the audiences feel as if the protagonist is looking directly at them, therefore allowing the audience to build a rapport with the protagonist. This will in turn make the audience feel more inclined the watch the film as they will feel connected to the protagonist, a key element in the narrative.
Mis En Scene:
In the background of the poster there is an abandoned desert setting connoting the protagonist is isolated in this film and is disconnected from his family and the rest of society. The use of a rural setting for the poster suggests a theme of nature in the film which has strong connotations of growth and is stereotypical of the coming of age genre. This is also reinforced by the green/yellow t-shirt the protagonist is wearing as the colour green also has similar connotations of growth. By having the protagonist holding a large shotgun in the image of the poster suggests that this character has been forced to grow up quicker than he should have and act older than his years. It also connotes to the audience that the protagonist has a broken or damaged relationship with his parents as a parent would generally not allow a young child like the protagonist of this film to hold an object so dangerous. The gun also implies that the protagonist is having issues connecting with his father as a gun is a stereotypically male object and is often used for hunting which is generally viewed as a stereotypically male hobby that fathers and sons tend to participate in to strengthen their bond. This would therefore suggest the protagonist is using this gun to win the affection of his father.
Conventions:
In terms of conventions this film poster both flouts and follows the modern codes of a film poster. For example the poster includes elements such as the use of a main image, film titles, film credits. However the poster doesn't include stereotypical characteristics such as a star rating system or quote from a reviewer, an ident, a release date, website or tagline. This could be due to the fact that the poster was from an independent film therefore it is unlikely the film would have had a well known media outlet rate the film as it wouldn't be necessary for the films target audience as it was released on the directors website without an exact release date set. Where as a typical convention of film posters is to display the starring actors names in large visible font as a way to attract an audience, this poster however displays the directors name in large visible font instead of the actors, this could be because the film stars lesser-known actors and therefore their names wouldn't be used as a device to build an audience, however as the director has directed short films previously, this could be used to draw in the audiences from his previous work to be interested in Boy.
How does it relate to the narrative?
This poster relates to the narrative as the poster displays the protagonist, the boy, as isolated through the deserted background, this is a key factor within the film as the plot follows a day with the protagonist and his dad as he takes him out to shoot a wolf, the plot of the short film is based upon the protagonists inner conflict to shoot the wolf. The protagonist is isolated as his father leaves him to go shoot the wolf while he waits in the car and smokes.
The use of the gun in the film poster also connotes to the audience that the relationship between the child and his parents is not supportive and loving as this wouldn't be an object a good parent would allow their child to hold. This reflects the relationship between the boy and his father in the short film as this isn't a supportive relationship. In the film the father seems very disconnected from his son, the boy seems resentful towards his father but also wants to win his approval which is why at the end of the short film he shoots the wolf. The negative facial expression on the protagonist in the poster also reflects his resentment towards his father and family as well his sadness about shooting the wolf.
Featuring the gun as a main element on the poster reflects the props purpose in the short film which is for the boy to gain respect from his father and overcome his youth.
Lighting:
The lighting in the poster has yellow and orange undertones imitating a sunset, this has connotations of endings and transitions as in the literal case sunsets transition from day to night. In terms of the short film this lighting could reflect the transition of the protagonist changing from an innocent boy to a boy with blood on his hands. It could also reflect the protagonist finally gaining his fathers respect. Sunsets also have connotations of nature which can presents themes of growth within film. As the light source is positioned from behind the protagonist's left hand shoulder this could represent him leaving his innocent past behind him as he now carries the guilt of killing the wolf with him.
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