Controlled Assessment Analysis of 2 DVD Covers

On the DVD cover of the film P.S. I Love You, two actors are
shown holding each other closely. This not only shows intimacy
but desire too, signifying this film will be about love, which
therefore means it falls into the romance genre. By using
Gerard Butler on the cover, would mean a customer may
recognise him from previous films, which they liked, and may
possibly purchase it as a result. Although he has not been in
many romance films before, casting him as a main actor could
attract various and unlikely audiences, for example males who
had seen him in another film, wanting to see his role in this.
Hilary Swank would also attract a male audience, as they may
desire to be with her as would females with Gerard Butler.
Both of the facial expressions are happy, by Gerard Butler
smiling towards her, shows his love and compassion. Hilary
Swank is smiling away, yet still has her arms around him,
showing her love for him too. The body language signifies they
would be a couple (possibly married) as it displays their desire,
compassion and intimacy towards each other, again this shows
represents the romance genre. As their facial expressions are
not serious, this can signify that P.S. I Love You could be a
hybrid genre too, portraying an aspect of comedy. You could
also predict that both characters have light-hearted
personalities, which could mean a comical and enjoyable film;
which is not too serious.
Evidently, the title suggests the film will be about love, also it
could signify an involvement of letters/mail because you may
write P.S. at the end. On the blurb, P.S. I Love You is
highlighted again, this could suggest the film will include the
title many times and revolves around it. Gerard Butlers body
language/props and the tagline suggest the storyline revolving
around letters. The tagline is quite long, however may be
memorable as it mentions the word life therefore the
audience may think about it deeply and reflect. Adding to that,
the font appears handwritten which signifies the film will be for
an adult audience, as it many older people may write similarly
or identify with it. Also, people aged around 30-50 would relate
a lot to the film being based around letters. As the society we
live in today is surrounded by technology, many of the later
generations would not send handwritten letters in their youth.
This older audience may be engaged and feel nostalgic when
seeing the cover, thinking how they used to hand write

messages to loved ones. However, modern audiences would

not relate to the story, as their generation is much more
advanced than in the late 20th century when sending
handwritten letters was very common. A bold effect is used to
a certain degree, its not too obvious, yet catches your
attention. The font also looks as if the person writing was in a
rush, this could signify a catastrophe as the writer may have
been in danger. As the font is not old fashioned, it portrays the
film is in the present, not set in centuries ago.
The cover could relate to Vladimir Propps character theory,
the audience would recognise that Hilary Swank is the
protagonist she is smiling to the camera indicating she is the
main character and most likely the heroine who leads the
narrative and attempts to solve the disruption. Leading on, the
two friends next to Hilary Swank in the image on the back
cover could be interpreted as the dispatchers, helpers or
donors of the narrative seeing as they have a cheerful facial
expression, connoting theyre friendly with the protagonist and
wants to aid in her quest. Also, a different man is shown in a
still with Hilary Swank, the facial expressions are again happy
and content as if they are forming a new relationship
suggesting to the audience he could be the Prize at the end of
her journey. This relates to Todorovs narrative structure; she is
trying to find a New Equilibrium after the disruption. The
image of the Hilary Swank and the new relationship with actor
Harry Connick Jr. would suggest to the audience she wants to
find closure or a new beginning (battle for resolution) as she is
no longer with Gerard Butler. This image would signify to the
audience her husband may have left her or she unfortunately
could be a widow, the audience would feel sympathy towards
her and would want to know the outcome therefore purchasing
the DVD.
Cosmopolitans 5 star review is posted on the front of the
cover; this would impress the audience, especially readers of
this magazine and would persuade them to watch it. Marie
Claire also reviewed it with 4 stars, again this may persuade a
reader of the magazine to purchase it. Using these reviews on
the cover would attract people wanting to see a well-reviewed
film, trusting the magazines judgements. These two
magazines are targeted towards women aged 30+, so this
signifies the audience of the film would be around this age
range too.

The target audience for P.S. I Love You would be mainly

women ranging from the ages of 30 50 interested in romance
films. Middle/lower class females may want to watch this too,
as the film features an average waging couple living in an
average apartment, they may relate and identify with. The age
range would typically be from 30-50 as the a majority of the
roles are of that age bracket which is presented on the front
cover. It is obvious the two actors are older than 25 but
younger than 50, so the people around this age bracket would
relate. Alternatively, teenagers from 12 upwards may enjoy
this film seeing as the rating is a 12. Most of the younger
audiences watching would likely be mature and may have a
desire to be older too. Mainly white British/Irish/American
would relate to this film, persuading them to watch it they
would identify with the characters again, as Hilary Swank is
American and Gerard Butler is Scottish portraying an Irish role.
Straight females would be the main audience as they may be
attracted to the leading male role (Butler). Leading on, the
main audience would also be single women, desiring to be with
Gerard Butler, teenage girls may also find an attraction to him,
as he is portrayed as a strong but caring man. An image of Lisa
Kudrow is shown on the back cover, she is very well-known for
her character of Phoebe in the sitcom Friends; many people
would recognise her and may want to see her portrayed in this
film.

The cover for Grave Encounters 2 appears as a more

independent, horror film due to many reasons. Firstly, no
famous actors are shown on the front cover, this possibly

suggests that the film does not include any well-known cast
members. Also, as no critically acclaimed actors names
appear on the cover either, suggests that it may be an
independent horror film classing it as a hybrid genre. If any
famous actors were starring, audiences would perceive it as a
better film knowing it included people they liked previously,
have a successful career or more experience. No awards are
shown so this may make the audience think whether it is worth
watching or how successful the film is. However, there are two
reviews on the cover, this would encourage the audience to
watch the film knowing it has been praised by a professional
company. For example, Dread Central states the film is A
Sick, intense and scary white-knuckled spookshow this would
impress the consumer to watch it seeing as these words are
highlighted and they may trust the persons review. Saying
that, the website Dread Central is not very well-known, this
may suggest the independent genre again and if it had a more
popular reviewer, more people would be persuaded to watch it
knowing such a famous newspaper/magazine etc. liked it.
The facial expression of the distorted figure signifies the horror
genre again, as it appears extremely frightening. The creature
has human like-features, which relates to the consumer yet
appears terrifying due to the elongated mouth and
accentuated bones, which suggests prolonged distress or
violence. Also, the figure is climbing out of window, and the
camera angle presents him coming towards the audience this
could frighten them or encourage them to purchase it as it
may be more realistic/life-like. Saying that, the lighting used
and shadows emphasise the features of the figure, making his
mouth appear bigger and bone structure appear deeper the
producers did this so that the consumer will notice these first
or will be drawn to them. The low-angle/oblique shot
represents fear, stress and an attempt to run away from
someone as they may be chasing the recorder, meaning they
cannot hold the camera in a proper manner. Vulnerability is
displayed by using this camera angle; the recorder has no
escape, making the audience want to see the consequences. It
is also a point of view shot, suggesting the audience is in the
characters perspective and experience what this role is going
through. The target audience would feel engaged with the film
more, imagining theyre a part of it.
As the cover has the signature-recording overlay
superimposed, this would communicate to the audience the
film contains aspects of (perhaps amateur) TV or production.

By using this on the front cover suggest the audience is in the

film as theyre watching it or perhaps its found footage. The
font also connotes someone is running away due to the fade
around the wording; also the chosen red colour suggests the
film will contain blood and gore. It is a very dramatic and
horrifying front cover, meaning you can tell it categorises with
the horror genre.
Deleted scenes, interviews with the producers and the making
of Grave Encounters are all included in the special features. By
using these will persuade the consumer to purchase it as they
feel theyre getting more for their money. The lighting used on
the front cover has many shadows, this could communicate to
the audience that shots will often be in the dark, most of the
light is on the creature too, meaning they may had to use a
torch or another light source to see it. The dark is seen as
thrilling to some because of the unknown you dont know
what is around you. The audience may feel ever more scared
due to the dark scenes as they wont know what will happen
but want to find out.
Also, on the back cover, two of the stills suggest the dark as
well; that they wouldve needed a torch to identify their
surroundings. Above the blurb, a woman is seen presumably
dragged across the floor, pleading for help this image would
terrify the audience thinking what it may be like to be in her
situation. Her facial expression displays horror and
vulnerability, her hand is grasped as if she was using all her
strength to not be dragged again making the audience feel
how scary the situation would be, and therefore the audience
may want to see the outcome. A tilted camera angle is used
and you can also recognise the floor is in the shot - by having
this angle and the floor in the shot hints that the woman has
fallen as she was filming and also it may be in a very tight
space. Not wanting to be in the same situation, the audience
would feel startled by the image. The green hue of the image
(on the front cover too) also signifies the horror and
independent film genre, as if someone was filming it; the
colour means night vision was installed too, again suggesting
this film is always in the dark.
The target audience for Grave Encounters 2 would be mostly
teenagers to young adults who find an interest in the horror
genre. A majority of the target audience would be boys as
many of the actors are male too; saying that, teenage girls
may find the male roles attractive, or seeing them as

protagonists, desiring to be with a brave man. The age range

may be from 18 to 25 the rating is an 18 suggesting no one
under that age would like this film due to gory, terrifying and
violent scenes which is not suitable to a younger audience.
People older than 25 would not relate to this film due to the
younger actors casted, so they wouldnt be able to identify
with them as young adults would be. Alternatively, older
generations would not relate much to the film seeing as
technology is fairly new, and in their youth video cameras were
rare and only used by institutions. Mostly white ethnic
backgrounds would identify with Grave Encounters 2 as
virtually all actors starring in this film are white.
School/college/university pupils are a main target audiences
too, the blurb evidently states As film student meaning this
film will feature people of that age group who attend a place of
education. Again, young adults studying film would relate to
this too, or may find an inspirational aspect. Leading on, the
target audience would be those who had seen the previous film
Grave Encounters and would like to see the sequels
interpretation.