World War Z Poster Analysis

This is a poster that looks as if it would be presented at train stations, cinemas or on billboards. This is indicated as the image is the main focus point and the name of the film is presented boldly and well defined. Also, the lack of text, tag line, and full credits suggest that it is a short taster for people travelling emphasising that you will find this poster either at stations, cinemas or billboards where people will be in passing or there temporally. The lack of poster technical conventions, illustrate that it is an early poster with the release information being ‘coming soon’, help to show that the date has not been decided, representing it as one of the first versions. (something to look forward too).

The image used is an aerial establishing  shot of New York, this suggests that its a global film. The image shows various different elements that relate to the genre of the film. The dark raise of smoke , bomb blasts, fire and dark black, yellow/orange colour scheme used suggest that it is an apocalyptic/dystopian film. The aerial establishing shot shows the destruction of what the film contains  with piles of ‘zombies’ climbing up these landmarks.

There are many genres represented on this poster of ‘World War Z’ which vary from zombie, dystopian, action and apocalyptic . These are shown through the iconography of piles of people, smoke, fire and the colours used in the poster.

The text is positioned on the right hand side of the poster connoting that the focus of the film will be the visual aspects. ‘Brad Pitt’ is interpreted boldly in white (which is an instant audience attraction) , as well as ‘World War Z’. The ‘Z’ emphasises the dystopian theme of the film, as displayed in a blood red.

The target audience for ‘World War Z’ would be a wide range of people, as the different genres within the film would attract various different people through the zombie, dystopian, action and apocalyptic  genres. Also, Brad Pitt would attract his fans and people that enjoy the films he has featured in.
 

This poster immediately strikes out the genres of action and dystopian from the main image. This image is of people piling up, trying to get to the helicopter indicating destruction, wreckage and mayhem, relating back to the genre of dystopian. Also, the main image of this poster is unique as its a black and white image. This is very powerful, meaningful and purposeful as black connotes darkness and death and white connotes purity and life. This main image does not resemble the films genres in great depth, suggesting that the producer is not willing to give anything away to the audience and its meant to leave the audience curious.
 

The target audience of this poster is less broad compared to the previous poster as not much of the genres of the film are displayed. From this poster, people that like action and dystopian genres would be the main  target market. Also, just like the previous poster ‘Brat Pitt’ is advertised which would bring another target audience (fans of this actor) 

The placing of this poster would be at a bus stop, buses or on a billboard. This is highlighted through the lack of  technical conventions on the poster as well as the main image being basic enough to take in and evaluate quickly. This poster is more recent compared to the previous one as it has the release information year and month. The placing of the text ‘World War Z’, ‘Brad Pitt’ and the release information are centre at the top and bottom of the poster which is clearly and easily shown, allowing for them to get the information across quickly to the audience compared to the previous poster that is in more depth. 

This poster immediately strikes out the genres of action, dystopian and apocalyptic. We instantly realise the guns and helicopters which highlight the action genre within the film. The dystopian aspect is shown  through the burning buildings and the smoke captured in the distance showing how dystopia is a massive part of the film. Apocalyptic is also resembled by the smoke and burning buildings along with the gun aspect as well. With these genres it will attract and appeal to a large amount of people  and influence them to watch the film due to the diverse range of genres. 
 

The main image is of the main character, ‘Brad Pitt’ who will be a massive selling point for the film. Its a long shot of Brad Pitt with his back towards the camera suggesting that he is subverting from the destruction that is portrayed in the  loose establishing shot of the background. As he is positioned on top of all the buildings looking down on the wreckage with a gun, it looks as if he is going to save the world by himself and also, as he is looking down at these buildings it portrays him as having a lot of power in the film.

The placing of this poster would be in magazines, bus stops, cinemas, train stations... This is indicated as these places are where the public will be able to grasp the full effects of the image by stopping and analysis the image and realise the small little details within the image. The text and technical  conventions highlight that the poster will definitely be placed in magazines, bus stops, cinemas, train stations.
 

Brad Pitts name has been repeated on every poster to draw and entice the audience to watch the film, as there are many fans of Brad Pitt that will go to watch the film just because he is in it due to how good of an actor he is.

‘World War Z’ has been shown similarly in all posters (font and colour scheme) as it reinforces the genres through the words and colours.