Film Poster Research

By: Annamaria Noto

Horror posters

o All the poster use the idea of minimalism and simplicity, as four of them have a face in focus and close up.

o The majority all have a focus on eyes, conveying a sense of being watched making you feel unsettled.

o The colours; black and white are mainly used, with some red.

Action posters

o All the posters show the main character/s holding a gun.o Most of them seem as though the characters are at a climactic point, where all the

action is about to take place.o The colour black is mostly used, with a couple of other colours.o No close ups/ extreme close ups like in horror posters, instead action posters use a

mid shot.

Comedy posters

o Various colours are used that make it look more lively.o Mid shot – full shot is used to show the full image/setting.o The image tends to be different to fit the storyline of the film.

Drama posters

o The setting of the story line is hinted at through the images e.g. The Revenant shows a cold/wintery setting in a forest.

o Dark colours are generally used.

What are the different types of film posters?

Teaser Film Posters – These show minimal details and little information for the early promotion of the films.

Character Film Posters – Using a main character (typically a well-known actor) attracts a mass audience.

Main Film Posters – this poster includes all relevant information about the film e.g. release date, social networking and character names.

Where do film posters get shown and why?

Film posters are usually found in places such as:• Billboards• Public transport (e.g. on buses)• In cinemas

• The posters are in locations that are exposed to a large number of people which allow for the potential to gain a mass audience.

• The posters are large in size with a bold font and minimalistic action.

What is the typical size of posters?• The standard poster size is

called one sheet (27 by 41 inches) in a portrait format.

• Bus stop or subway posters are typically 40 by 60 inches also in a portrait format.

• Billboard posters are 24 sheet, 246 by 108 inches normally in a landscape format.

Does the appeal/attraction of a trailer differ to that of a poster?

• Posters create enigma codes through the image, use of MES, bold font and slogans. This intrigues the audience and leaves them with questions.

How are posters appealing/attractive to the audience?

• The attraction of a poster differs to that of a trailer as it is aimed at and accessed by a wider audience as it is advertised everywhere.

What are the conventions?

Main image

Where?:• The main image occupies the whole poster, and the person or object in focus is in the

centre.

Purpose of main image:• So that the audience know who the main character/s are.• The audience know who the main actor/s are in the film – a well known actor attracts

a mass audience.

Actor names

Where?:• The actor names are usually at the top of the poster or near the film name. They

tend to be in capital letters and be more or less the same size as the film name.

Purpose of actor names:• To give credit to the main actor/s.• To attract the fan of the actor/s if they are well-known.

Titles/credits

Where?: • The credits are usually placed at the bottom of the poster, and is in small print. The titles can

be anywhere (towards the top/bottom or in the middle) and the film title is the largest text on the poster.

Purpose of titles/credits:• To give credit to the most important people involved in the overall production of the film.• The director’s name and quotes from critics are usually in a more noticeable place on the

poster, and tends to be a larger font size. (A certain director may have a certain style which will appeal to a certain audience, and positive quotes from critics will attract a larger audience).

Release date

Where?:• The release date is usually placed at the bottom of the poster, under the credits. But

it is a slightly larger and bolder font than the credits.• (On a teaser poster the release date says “coming soon”, but on the main poster the

actual date is specified.)

Purpose of release date:• So that the audience know when the film will be released.

Tagline

Where?:• The tagline is usually at the top or bottom or on the side of the main image. It

tends to be in quite a large and bold font, but not as large as the film title.

Purpose of the tagline:• To create enigma codes and intrigue the audience as the tagline must be an

important message in the storyline of the film, or the main message/moral to the audience.

What is the difference of conventions between different sub genres?

Romance Drama• The poster usually shows the

couple which the plot is based around.

• The main characters fall in love and issues/problems occur prohibiting the relationship.

Action Drama• The poster usually shows the

main character. Darker colours are used.

• There normally is a car chase. • Usually someone gets killed.

What are the similarities of the conventions in similar subgenres?

Action Horror• The main character is

usually a mysterious and often a male.

• Someone usually dies

Crime Horror• Again, the main character is

usually a mysterious male.• Again, someone usually

dies.

What are the 3 most prioritised features?

1. Name of the film2. Name of the main actors3. The release date

Summarise how your film posters reinforce conventions

• Conventions and stereotypes reinforced through MES. For example, through costume, make up etc. The lighting and colours used emphasises the horror genre. E.g. Red - has connotations of danger and is often symbolic of blood (which is typically associated with horror.) Black – symbolic of darkness which limits the your ability to see – makes the audience vulnerable. Placing the audience in a vulnerable state is typical of t horror, as horror plays on society’s fears.

How do some film posters challenge the conventions of film posters?

Bold colours typically associated with horror are not obvious e.g. black and red. Instead more subtle shades are used with minimalism.

The main character is not the main focus of the poster, and also not in the centre.

The main actor’s name is not on the poster.

The tagline is in very small font, when it is usually not much smaller than the film title.