Ancillary 1 - Poster research
What is a poster?
A poster is any piece of printed paper designed to be attached to a wall or vertical surface. Typically posters include both textual and graphic parts, however a poster may be either completely graphical or completely text. Posters are designed to be both eye-catching and informative. Posters may be used for many purposes. They are a frequently used to advertise (particularly of events, musicians and films), propagandists, protesters and other groups trying to give a message. Posters are also used for reproductions of artwork, particularly famous works, and are generally low-cost compared to the original artwork.
The modern poster, that we know of today, dates back to the 1840s and 1850s when the printing industry had perfected colour lithography and made mass production of the posters possible.
Conventions of a film poster:
• It must be eye catching and captures the audience's attention.
• There must be a focal picture that will draw in the audience to the poster.
• The title is displayed in a large, eye-catching font to make sure it is noticeable.
• It clearly defines the film’s genre.
• The poster should be designed to attract the largest audience possible.
• There is usually an indication of when the film is being released, for example; a date, 'Coming Soon', or 'Coming this Autumn'.
• Information on the Directors and Production Company is usually displayed in a block of text at the bottom of the poster.
• There could be reviews or titles of other products that the company has made.
Examples of posters from different genres:
The Simpsons (1989- )
The genre (cartoon/comedy) of this poster is clearly visible through the use of mise-en-scene, colours, the text and the characters shown. It is also shown through the way that the characters are positioned, for example the way that they are doing the 'conga' and the baby, cat and dog are included gives it a comedic aspect.
Red Tails (2012)
The genre (war) of this poster is clearly visible through its use of iconography as it's main features are the fighter planes and explosions, which are all part of the conventions of a war film. This poster also shows names of two well-known actors that are starring in the film, Cuba Gooding Jr. and Terrence Howard. It also shows a release date, January 20, and also has a block of text at the bottom to show who else is starring in it and who has produced it.
The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
The genre (hero/thriller) of this poster is visible by the insignia and the knowledge that the character in the poster is Batman. The poster also contains text (the legend ends) that adds to the atmosphere of the poster and suggests that this will be he last film or that something is going to happen. The poster also gives a vague release (coming soon) date and a block of text containing relevant information.
The Walking Dead (2010- )
The genre (horror/thriller) of this poster is visible by the use of colour and mise-en-scene. It is visible by the way that everything within the poster looks decayed and post-apocalyptic as half of the poster is dark and the other is lighter, showing a contrast between the danger and a safe haven for the character(s). The poster also sows the character running from something with his gun drawn, which also gives the audience a sense of danger. The poster also shows the date in which the show is being aired and a review, to show the audience that the show has good ratings.
Westworld (1973)
The genre (western/sci-fi) of this poster is clearly shown by the use of colour, images and text. The image shows the genre as it shows the 'gunslinger' but with robotic parts showing, enforcing the genre of the poster. Within the figure there is a different shot of a control room and a circular, monitor-looking image of two characters sat in seats. The text shows the genre too as it looks futuristic, showing the sci-fi aspect of the poster.