Film Posters

The role of Film Posters

• It promotes a film in an artistic way
• Appeals to a wider audience
• Displayed on billboards, cinema, online & magazine- global advertising
• It is essentially used to sell the movie to its audience
• The visual element can depict a representation of something and this can sometimes appeal to a certain type of audience
• Use of directors, producers and actors names appeals to a certain demographic of people

What is typically found on Film Posters?

• The protagonist or main topic of the film is identified
• A mid shot of the protagonist or topic is used to establish the genre, personality etc.
• Font used for the title usually reflects the genre e.g. horror, romance, sci-fi
• Lighting and colour: depending on the genre, e.g. horror would consist of low key lighting and dark colours
• Billing Block which is all the credits for the film, for example the production company
• Actors/Actresses' name is usually somewhere to grab the attention of people who like particular actors and actresses'
• Tagline, this is usually a snappy statement, used to grab the attention of the reader
• Release date used to inform the audience when they can catch the first glimpse of the film
• Directors/producers name to attract audience members who enjoyed their previous products

7 elements to a successful Film Poster

1. Attention- must grab the audience's attention and encourage them to take a closer look
2. Iconography- presenting the themes within the film without stating what they actually are
3. Interest- give the audience an incentive to figure out the moral of the film by encouraging them to watch
4. Appeal – create desire with fans and non-fans alike
5. Style- ensure your design is consistent to the them explored within the film to continually grab the audiences attention
6. Lasting Appeal – a look that suits other formats
7. Recognisability – if it’s a sequel, make it obvious