Ancillary Task - Film Poster Conventions

A film poster is used to market the product and is a suggestion to the films genre in order to attract members of the audience during it's distribution.  It should be eye catching and captivating, with an intriguing focal image that could perhaps show one of the characters, which may be played by famous actors or actresses.  A large readable title is usually present, with a tagline present - and a reslease date - a 'teaser poster'.  The way that a film poster is constructed will usually suggest the genre of a film; such as a mainstream, chick-flick rom com would present the 'blonde bombshell' all dressed in pink as a focal point.  An Indepenent film poster would differ as it may be more intriguing with a variety of medias used to create it; such as a painting, sketch or a minialistic approach to prop use.

(500) DAYS OF SUMMER - 2009

Comedy drama feature with Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt is an Independent production distributed by Fox Searchlight Pictures and was premiered at the 2009 Sundance Festival.  It's teaser poster suggests conventions of how a poster can be used to distribute a product through use of images and titling.

1.  A title placed at the centre of the image being a main feature - 500 is in large bold print being a focal point, suggesting it is of importance to the storyline.

2.  The blue background of the poster is of calm nature and creates a simple effect, being a dominant colour of the poster.

3.  A usual familiar film poster convention is a film critic response - a positive response with a high star rating that usually persuades an audience to see it, and depending who the quote is by would imply the genre of the film.

4.  Short, dramatic tagline is used to sum up the storyline - this way almost quirky as a suggestion to the comedy aspects of the film.

5.  The certificate of the film is required on the promotional poster of the film by the Motion Picture Association. This film will contain mild language and references. Certified at 12A.

6. The names of the two main actors are placed below their image at the bottom half of the poster. Mainly due to the fact that the cast is well known but also to promote the actors.

7.  The credits of the film are often featured at the bottom of the poster is faded out font colour and in a smaller font; suggeting distributors, studio, cast, director etc.

8.  The main character of the film is then the main image on the poster that focuses the audience in to learning more about his soft, comedic, body language. Looking down on his t-shirt that contains “good memory” images of his relationship, displayed on the centre of the poster.  The main image takes of at least two thirds of the poster, placing emphasis once more on the main character.
 

ANCILLARY TASK

In order for me to create an effective film poster for my short feature I should consider the style of film and it's conventions to portray those elements effectively.  For example, being an independent, surrealist feature, I will immediately not aim to conform to stereotypical genres of movie posters, straight away for example I think props will be useful.  With the clocks used as an indication and importance in the film, the concept of time drives the piece and overrides the main character.  The plot is emphasised through concept which defines the character development, not through the character themselves.  I feel that keeping the poster for 'The Persistence of Memory' simple, will have a more effective outcome and is more intriguing to the audience.  For example; a white, blinding background with the images of the clocks in the centre are a suggestion to the audience that the concept of time is extremely relevant - these props are crucial to the communication of my film concept.