How are Semiotics and anchorage used for film posters?

Semiotics is the study of signs and symbols, as well as the messages we read in them. Many film posters contain semiotics, in that the audiences quickly process a lot of information just by looking at visual imagery contained within them. These can be through the use of colour which can set the mood or feeling in our first look of the film poster, the titles and fonts used to catch our attention further in the poster when reading about it. Use of image can be important as well in the visual display towards audiences in that just by looking at the image it can tell a lot about the film and what audiences could be interested towards it. Another important feature towards attracting an audience is its layout.

Contemporary examples

Just from looking at this layout for the film poster I'Robot (2004)directed by Alex Proyas, it has garnered $144,801,023 worldwide thanks to film posters like this that grab the peoples attention due to its imagery. From looking at this poster we can see Will Smith as the main character on the foreground with rows of robots lined up behind him. This helps viewers better understand the plotline of the movie just by seeing whats on the poster, the angle by which these specific images are placed also adds a bit more attention to it towards passers by as this breaks away from traditional layouts of normal film posters. Which people more commonly see thus not grabbing their interest when looking at it. Another detail by which this poster grabs attention is the use of font it uses for its title, i,robot is similar to other well known names specifically i,pod because of this it helps people relate to the theme of technology that we today have grown accustomed to. Another way of using text to further pull the audiences interest is the use of taglines such as the one used by i,robot, "One man saw it coming", this gives a better image as to what is happening in the story for viewer. From looking at this poster we can only presume that; Will Smith plays as the main character and from seeing the badge on his belt it tells he plays as a detective, the tagline "one man saw it coming" is another give away to his profession as a detective and the fact that there are row upon row of robots standing in the background further links to the tagline and the main character as well as the fact the film is called i,Robot.

Classic examples

Image has been very important but films are often remembered for their tagline. Films such as Alien (1979) directed by Ridley Scott, is a great example of this, with the popular tagline "In Space no one can hear you scream". This tagline is a great way of emphasising what the movie is about in that it is a dark, sci-fi, horror. Because of its success the film has gone on to produce three more sequels Aliens (1986), Alien 3 (1992), Alien: Resurrection (1997) as well as two spin-offs Alien vs Predator (2004) and Alien vs Predator: Requiem (2007). The layout of this film is completely opposite towards the above example in that it follows a very dark and somewhat devoid backgroud this in a way emphasises the setting of the film being in space, with what appears to be an image of an egg on the foreground hatching. This image tells viewers of something stirring in space, something alien. The use of bright neon green mixed in with the black gives a very stark imagery of whats to come in the film, it also further strengthens the notion of this being a horror film, the bright light coming out of the egg gives viewers that feeling of wanting to know whats beyond it.