Ancillary Product #1: Poster Research // Sci-fi (Hunger Games)

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay pt 1 (2014)

This is easily recognised as a character poster, used to signify the importance of the main character, Katniss Everdeen. Fans of the previous films are likely to instantly recognise this due to a number of factors, including the similar typography used for the title and the mockingjay symbol which acts as an icon for the series. 

The information, including the title, is placed at the bottom of the poster, aligned center as is seen on all conventional theatrical posters. This makes it easy for audience's to see that this is purely a poster, advertising the film. What's different to the typical 'template' for posters is that the tagline can be found below the title: "THE COURAGE OF ONE WILL CHANGE THE WORLD". Having been written in red, the tagline echoes the deep red flames behind Katniss. The colour further connotes violence, blood, and gore all of which are themes which come under the sci-fi genre. (Although these connotations primarily relate to thriller and horror, they have become increasingly associated with sci-fi films). This therefore informs us that the film will involve violence. As I've outlined before, the use of capitalised letters creates a dramatic effect, suggesting power, force, strength and brutality. The tagline further implies that Katniss is a pivotal character, and one who will affect the events of the narrative. 

The colours we find in this poster include very deep shades of red, orange, yellow, black and brown tones, all of which can be associated with fire and coal. Seeing as Katniss is from the fire district, District 12, the image and colours provide a relevance to her district. However it also implies that set in the narrative will be fire and war. On her back are arrows, paired with a bow. As a weapon, this connotes force and violence. The clothing/suit worn by the character is militaristic which strengthens our reading that there will be a war and that this character will rise to be the one who leads it. Moreover, the icon of a mockingjay is paramount to the storyline which is why it has been used; as an icon of resistance, suggesting that the film's narrative will rest on a battle to end all.

By involving such strong imagery therefore, we are given the reading that action is intertwined into the narrative and so we assume the film is a sci-fi film. The unusual addition of the wings suggests that fantasy is also involved in the film. By combining the two we're also made to believe that this is a sci-fi film. Essentially, the image is simple yet direct, telling the story through colour and iconography.