In order to promote a film's release, many distribution companies will use a poster to grab the demographic's attention and draw them in to watching the film when it is finally released. These posters can be found in a number of places, such as bus stops, cinema promotion boards, magazine and newspaper advertisements and in many locations; walls. Additionally, for some institutions the posters are available to purchase for personal use. Below I have analysed several posters to enhance my knowledge on the typical conventions. I have also chosen to focus specifically on posters promoting the horror genre, as this is the genre I will be using for my final product.
HALLOWEEN (2007)
To the left is the promotional film poster used for Rob Zombie's Halloween. In the background of the poster, behind the mysterious, long-haired silhouette, is the face which is used on the murderer's mask. However, instead of the actual mask being used, characters and scenes from the film have been superimposed to create the 'skin' of the face. This mask has not only been used as it is a large part of the film, but also as it is sinister and emotionless, capturing the characteristics of the murderer. The text 'EVIL HAS A DESTINY' is dominantly placed at the top of the poster in a white font, contrasting with the dark background to ensure that viewers are able to read the text and stand out, as well as the phrase being very sinister in itself to manifest the nature of the film it is promoting. Like all stereotypical promotional posters, this poster follows the conventions of having the title of the film at the bottom of the poster, with distribution companies and other institutions that have worked with the producer in a smaller font beneath it. This font is typically used on promotional film posters to inform the audience of these companies, which it can be argued allows the viewer to recognise from the font the information they are going to receive. At the very bottom of the poster, there are well-known idents to help the demographic recognise who has aided in the production and distribution of the film, in addition to allowing a new audience to appeal to the film if they have enjoyed films from the same companies. The font for the title of the film is bold, simple and has a bright orange texture, this causes the title to stand out from the rest of the text while matching the theme of the poster. Evidently, there is a colour theme of orange and black - typical Halloween colours to match the theme and title of the film. Although the film was released two months before the actual date of Halloween, the film is set in the Halloween period which makes it acceptable and somewhat fitting.
SAW (2004)
To the right is the promotional film poster used for the first of many Saw films produced. The poster is pretty simple, yet it is also rather effective. At the top of the poster, a white, simple and capitalised font is used with a memorable quote from the film: 'HOW MUCH BLOOD WOULD YOU SHED TO STAY ALIVE?' This quote captures the genre of the film, in addition to hinting that it is also going to be gory - either drawing the demographic in to watch the ilm, or pushing them away, There is one central image on this poster which is captured from a scene of the film yet it is discoloured, creating the effect of a darker image and exhibiting the nature of the film. Although the image is dark, it is very detailed and you can see the fatal device which is attached to the character's face, again capturing the gory nature of the film. At the bottom of the poster, the title of the film is in the dominant colour of red, instantly catching the eye of those who will pass by the poster. The font is simple and bold, ensuring that it is easy to read both close-up and from a distance. Like the aforementioned poster, there are distribution and producer names beneath the title of the film which to some extent will increase the amount of people who become interested in the film if they have seen films by the same producers and distribution companies.
THE HILLS HAVE EYES (2006)
Although this poster advertises the same genre of film as the two examples given above, they differ greatly. The only dark colour used in this poster is that of the title of the film: a dark crimson colour which suggests the violent nature behind the film. However, the rest of the colours are softer pastel-like colours that aid in bringing out the colour of the font. The image on this poster is greatly detailed, contrasting from the dark and ambiguous images on the posters above - it is so detailed that you can see the dirt beneath the nails of the hand which is restraining the girl. By only showing the arm and hand of this character, ambiguity remains about the plot of the film which will draw in more people who will desire to find out the mysterious storyline of the horror story. Evidently by the expression of the girl's face, the thing which is holding her down is something quite frightening. The viewer of the poster is able to tell from this character that the nature of the film is going to be scary, and also enhances the interest of the demographic by creating an enigmatic question: who or what is the enemy that she appears to be so scared of? It almost arouses a strong human emotion which will be played on in the film - the fear of the unknown.
THE OTHERS (2001)
Like the initial two promotional film posters, The Others has a dark background, with dark colours being used for the background image. This poster connects directly to the Saw promotional poster, placing one image on the dark background which is placed to the left of the poster instead of centred, like the poster promoting Halloween. The protagonist of the film, Nicole Kidman, is the character used in the image, with an expression of fear upon her face. This captures the genre of the film, as well as draws in the attention of people who pass by the poster. As Nicole Kidman is a highly recognised actress who has been used in many films, it will appeal to a larger audience who have seen and enjoyed other films that she has appeared in. At the top of the poster, in a light font which contrasts with the pitch black background, there is a quote which hints at the storyline of the film but remains ambiguous for those unaware of the storyline. This ambiguity will draw in more of an audience as they will want to preview the film and find out what the quote means and why it was used to promote the film. This, like all of the above promotional posters, will have a slogan, quote or catch-phrase. However, the font used for the title in this film is not as simple or bold as the others. Indeed the colour contrasts greatly with the background to ensure that it is readable, yet there is an effect of a strange light coming from the letters in the word Others. This works great with the background image of the poster, in which Nicole Kidman is holding a lamp which is emitting a dim light. The demographic can recognise from this prop that the film is based in the past, appealing to those who enjoy period films. Moreover, this poster also uses the same typical font as the other posters to inform the demographic of the institutions involved in the production and distribution of the film.
HELLRAISER (1987)
Unlike the other posters I have analysed, this poster promotes a well-known film which has now been around for more than two decades. Evidently, the conventions of a promotional poster for this genre have changed very little over this period of time. There is a set colour theme on the poster, with large text in a crimson colour at the bottom of the screen to display the film's title. Crimson is a colour which carries connotations of blood, capturing the brutal events which occur throughout the gory product. This film also has famous quotations from the film: 'He'll tear your soul apart' and 'Demon to some. Angel to others'. These phrases alone allow the viewer some idea of the genre of the film. Additionally, there are chains in the smokey blue background with several splatters of blood on the wall. Again this manifests the genre of the film and allows the audience to prepare themselves for the gory nature if they choose to view the film when it is released. The main antagonist of the film is the character placed in the center-middle of the poster displaying his large part in relation to the film. This character has pale skin, wire and nails in his head - this of course makes it obvious that the character is evil. Unlike the majority of the other aforementioned posters, this poster gives some crucial details of the film through image. Evidently the viewer can work out that this is the leading evil character, the box in his head is obviously a supernatural object which is related to this character - these details are a crucial part of the plot, however the poster does not show the mass amount of gruesome imagery from the moving image, or any other details other than the basic, yet crucial ones.
To the left is the promotional film poster used for Rob Zombie's Halloween. In the background of the poster, behind the mysterious, long-haired silhouette, is the face which is used on the murderer's mask. However, instead of the actual mask being used, characters and scenes from the film have been superimposed to create the 'skin' of the face. This mask has not only been used as it is a large part of the film, but also as it is sinister and emotionless, capturing the characteristics of the murderer. The text 'EVIL HAS A DESTINY' is dominantly placed at the top of the poster in a white font, contrasting with the dark background to ensure that viewers are able to read the text and stand out, as well as the phrase being very sinister in itself to manifest the nature of the film it is promoting. Like all stereotypical promotional posters, this poster follows the conventions of having the title of the film at the bottom of the poster, with distribution companies and other institutions that have worked with the producer in a smaller font beneath it. This font is typically used on promotional film posters to inform the audience of these companies, which it can be argued allows the viewer to recognise from the font the information they are going to receive. At the very bottom of the poster, there are well-known idents to help the demographic recognise who has aided in the production and distribution of the film, in addition to allowing a new audience to appeal to the film if they have enjoyed films from the same companies. The font for the title of the film is bold, simple and has a bright orange texture, this causes the title to stand out from the rest of the text while matching the theme of the poster. Evidently, there is a colour theme of orange and black - typical Halloween colours to match the theme and title of the film. Although the film was released two months before the actual date of Halloween, the film is set in the Halloween period which makes it acceptable and somewhat fitting.
SAW (2004)
To the right is the promotional film poster used for the first of many Saw films produced. The poster is pretty simple, yet it is also rather effective. At the top of the poster, a white, simple and capitalised font is used with a memorable quote from the film: 'HOW MUCH BLOOD WOULD YOU SHED TO STAY ALIVE?' This quote captures the genre of the film, in addition to hinting that it is also going to be gory - either drawing the demographic in to watch the ilm, or pushing them away, There is one central image on this poster which is captured from a scene of the film yet it is discoloured, creating the effect of a darker image and exhibiting the nature of the film. Although the image is dark, it is very detailed and you can see the fatal device which is attached to the character's face, again capturing the gory nature of the film. At the bottom of the poster, the title of the film is in the dominant colour of red, instantly catching the eye of those who will pass by the poster. The font is simple and bold, ensuring that it is easy to read both close-up and from a distance. Like the aforementioned poster, there are distribution and producer names beneath the title of the film which to some extent will increase the amount of people who become interested in the film if they have seen films by the same producers and distribution companies.
Although this poster advertises the same genre of film as the two examples given above, they differ greatly. The only dark colour used in this poster is that of the title of the film: a dark crimson colour which suggests the violent nature behind the film. However, the rest of the colours are softer pastel-like colours that aid in bringing out the colour of the font. The image on this poster is greatly detailed, contrasting from the dark and ambiguous images on the posters above - it is so detailed that you can see the dirt beneath the nails of the hand which is restraining the girl. By only showing the arm and hand of this character, ambiguity remains about the plot of the film which will draw in more people who will desire to find out the mysterious storyline of the horror story. Evidently by the expression of the girl's face, the thing which is holding her down is something quite frightening. The viewer of the poster is able to tell from this character that the nature of the film is going to be scary, and also enhances the interest of the demographic by creating an enigmatic question: who or what is the enemy that she appears to be so scared of? It almost arouses a strong human emotion which will be played on in the film - the fear of the unknown.
Like the initial two promotional film posters, The Others has a dark background, with dark colours being used for the background image. This poster connects directly to the Saw promotional poster, placing one image on the dark background which is placed to the left of the poster instead of centred, like the poster promoting Halloween. The protagonist of the film, Nicole Kidman, is the character used in the image, with an expression of fear upon her face. This captures the genre of the film, as well as draws in the attention of people who pass by the poster. As Nicole Kidman is a highly recognised actress who has been used in many films, it will appeal to a larger audience who have seen and enjoyed other films that she has appeared in. At the top of the poster, in a light font which contrasts with the pitch black background, there is a quote which hints at the storyline of the film but remains ambiguous for those unaware of the storyline. This ambiguity will draw in more of an audience as they will want to preview the film and find out what the quote means and why it was used to promote the film. This, like all of the above promotional posters, will have a slogan, quote or catch-phrase. However, the font used for the title in this film is not as simple or bold as the others. Indeed the colour contrasts greatly with the background to ensure that it is readable, yet there is an effect of a strange light coming from the letters in the word Others. This works great with the background image of the poster, in which Nicole Kidman is holding a lamp which is emitting a dim light. The demographic can recognise from this prop that the film is based in the past, appealing to those who enjoy period films. Moreover, this poster also uses the same typical font as the other posters to inform the demographic of the institutions involved in the production and distribution of the film.
Unlike the other posters I have analysed, this poster promotes a well-known film which has now been around for more than two decades. Evidently, the conventions of a promotional poster for this genre have changed very little over this period of time. There is a set colour theme on the poster, with large text in a crimson colour at the bottom of the screen to display the film's title. Crimson is a colour which carries connotations of blood, capturing the brutal events which occur throughout the gory product. This film also has famous quotations from the film: 'He'll tear your soul apart' and 'Demon to some. Angel to others'. These phrases alone allow the viewer some idea of the genre of the film. Additionally, there are chains in the smokey blue background with several splatters of blood on the wall. Again this manifests the genre of the film and allows the audience to prepare themselves for the gory nature if they choose to view the film when it is released. The main antagonist of the film is the character placed in the center-middle of the poster displaying his large part in relation to the film. This character has pale skin, wire and nails in his head - this of course makes it obvious that the character is evil. Unlike the majority of the other aforementioned posters, this poster gives some crucial details of the film through image. Evidently the viewer can work out that this is the leading evil character, the box in his head is obviously a supernatural object which is related to this character - these details are a crucial part of the plot, however the poster does not show the mass amount of gruesome imagery from the moving image, or any other details other than the basic, yet crucial ones.
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