Movie posters can be seen displayed on billboards, inside cinemas, in magazines, on the internet, and even on the sides of public transport. But it is important to consider the effects movie posters have on us as consumers. A movie posters main priority is to advert a film production before it is due to be released. The goal of a poster essentially is to “sell” the movie—to make us (the paying customer) want to see it. Typically, film posters may have the movie title in a big and bold font. Images of the movie’s attractive actors are usually featured. In addition, the actors’ names are included on the poster to remind you that the movie has highly-regarded actors (bankers). Designs, colours, and fonts are used to appropriately reflect the mood and tone of the film. Furthermore, a film poster would most likely include a catchy sentence (tagline) that provokes the consumers interest and makes the plot seem intriguing. The visual elements on a movie poster can convey powerful messages. The best posters may make the audience anticipate an upcoming release. The worst ones may not have a persuasive effect at all. By analysing movie posters, you can gain a richer understanding of the elements that effectively grab the attention of spectators and sell the movie’s story—even before viewers see it for themselves.Questions my group and I should consider when creating our own movie posters...
Is the movie title prominently featured? Is the text easy to read?Are the main actors shown? If so, which ones? What do their appearances and expressions convey about the movie?
What is the design of the movie poster? Does it accurately reflect the mood and tone of the film?
What other images are included? What do you notice about the framing of the images?
What text is shown on the poster? Is there a catchy tagline? If so, what does it tell us about the film?
Is there any other important information included on the poster? Is the film poster persuasive enough for our target audience to want to go and see our film?
Framing - The positioning of objects, actors, and text within the frame of a poster to achieve a particular effect. For example, a movie poster for an action film might feature the main actor framed in such a way as to make him seem attractive, strong, and invincible.
Mood - The feeling created for a viewer by the director’s use of details, music, and cinematography.
Slogan/Tagline - A catchy and memorable phrase or sentence on a movie poster. An effective slogan should convey the mood, tone, and main idea of the film without giving too much away. It should capture viewers’ attention and make them interested in the story.
Tone - The filmmaker’s attitude as reflected in the movie—ironic, serious, and so forth.
