The film Submarine was released in 2010, directed by Richard Ayoade, also known for films such as The Watch (2012) and The Double (2013), and based from the 2008 novel Submarine written by Joe Dunthrone. The film is a coming of age drama based off of the protagonists quest to loose his virginity before his next birthday and to extinguish the flame between his mother and an ex-lover who has resurfaced in her life. Submarine was released in the USA and the UK on the 18th March 2011 and stars actors such as Craig Roberts as the leading role with supporting actors Sally Hawkins and Paddy Considine. During its opening weekend on box-office it grossed £244,476 in the UK, grossing $466,702 overall. Several production companies were involved in the making of Submarine, a few examples include Warp Films, Weinstein Company, Film 4. Submarine has been nominated for multiple awards also winning the BAFTA for Best Feature/Television Film in 2012 and Best Screenplay at the British Independent Film Awards in 2011.
Main Image:
This film poster displays one main image, a medium close up shot of the protagonist Oliver. This poster doesn't follow the rule of thirds which would argue that the best position for the main image of the poster would be right in the centre of it, as this is where your eyes are drawn first. Instead this poster positions the main image in the lower half of the poster. However it could be argued that the use of the abstract blue filter over the lower third of the poster creates a new middle for the poster therefore making the first place you look upon glancing the image is the protagonists eyes.
The protagonist in the image is looking just above the camera lens, this is effective as it creates direct mode of address. This allows the audience to built a rapport with the protagonist as it makes the audience feel like he is looking directly at them. This element of the poster is effective as it makes the audience more inclined to view the film as they will feel more connected to the protagonist. The use of a medium shot also gives the audience lots of information about the main character such as emotions, facial expressions, costumes.
The use of colour throughout this poster makes it eye-catching for the audience through the use of the repetitive colour scheme. The use of the three primary colours: red, yellow and blue is effective as these three colours are used throughout the whole marketing campaign therefore associating the film with the three colours. The use of the filter/block of blue links to the title of the film as it appears as if the protagonist has half his face underwater similar to a submarine, this also creates an element of abstract and creativity within the poster which is often seen in films within the coming-of-age genre and also reflects the themes present in the film. Being underwater also has connotations of anxiety and
Mis En Scene:
There is limited mis en scene seen within the poster. However in the foreground the protagonist is presented in school uniform. This implies to the audience that the protagonist is between the ages 12-18 years old, this is a stereotypical age for main characters within the coming-of-age genre this therefore immediately tells the audience what genre the film is. The fact that the protagonist is wearing school uniform would therefore suggest that the film is set in a school environment, this is also stereotypical of the coming-of-age genre. The blurred background of the poster would suggest that the protagonist is facing some psychological challenges and is disconnected from his surroundings.
How does it relate to the narrative?
The poster is designed to be ambiguous as it doesn't reveal any key elements of the film, the only thing it does tell us is who the protagonist is and the fact that he goes to school, this is presented through the uniform he is wearing. The use of the block of blue links to the title of the film 'Submarine' as it appears the protagonist is half submerged underwater. This block of blue and the theme of being underwater also has connotations of depression and anxiety as it creates the impression that the protagonist is trapped under heavy pressure. These themes link with the narrative of the film as these are some elements the protagonist struggles with. However the poster doesn't present the key element of the narrative, this being a romance, as stereotypically a film poster where a relationship is prominent within the storyline usually present the two characters in the relationship on their poster, however Submarine only presents its main character, therefore not hinting towards a romantic relationship at all as part of the storyline.
Does it conform or reject stereotypical conventions?
One way the poster rejects the conventions is the way they only feature the main protagonist on the poster and not the romantic interest. Stereotypically film posters based around a romance will feature both the people involved in the relationship on the poster as this immediately tells the audience there is a romance in the film. As a real media text the film poster includes many of the stereotypical elements generally included, for example it features: a main image, a quote from a review, a star rating, the title of the film, film credits, idents as well as production companies, directors, producers, actors names in small font at the bottom on the poster.
Lighting:
The film poster uses high key lighting thus creating a bright neutral tone to the film, this could reflect how the protagonist feels about romance and his relationship throughout the film. The use of the block of blue over the bottom half of the poster links to themes of depression and anxiety the protagonist struggles with throughout the film.
Font and Title:
The title of the film is presented in three lines, each in a different colour, this links to the ambiguity of the poster and adds to the 'original' tone of the film that is used to attract an audience.
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