Coursework: Film poster research and pre-production
The three film posters are as important as the trailer in terms of marks so it's vital we properly research and plan our print production work.
What do you need to produce?
You should create three posters to help promote the same feature film. You should identify the typical placement locations for each poster.
Each poster should be different and target a specific segment of the target audience. Specifically:
Each poster should use a different image but the advertising campaign should appear coherent. Audiences should recognise each poster as being part of the same campaign.
Minimum requirements
Film posters: Research and planning tasks
Create a blogpost called 'Film poster research and pre-production' and work through the following tasks to complete your research and planning for the print side of the brief:
Film poster conventions
Do some generic research on film posters.
1) List the key conventions of a film poster.
https://www.google.co.uk/search?safe=strict&ei=FyHkW-KYJtO4gQapjpnICA&q=what+makes+a+film+poster+instantly+recognisable+&oq=what+makes+a+film+poster+instantly+reconisable+&gs_l=psy-ab.3.0.33i10k1.420348.448266.0.449395.52.46.1.5.5.0.260.4009.23j12j3.39.0....0...1c.1.64.psy-ab..7.40.3347.6..0j35i39k1j0i67k1j0i131k1j0i20i263k1j0i22i30k1j0i22i10i30k1j33i22i29i30k1j33i160k1j33i13i21k1.76.pxGz5CW6Jco
2) What makes a film poster instantly recognisable?
The image of Marlon Brando’s Don Corleone is certainly striking — his black tuxedo fading into the all-black background – but arguably, the star of this poster is the instantly recognisable ‘puppeteer’ logo, lifted direct from Mario Puzo’s book cover, and designed by legendary graphic designer S. Neil Fujita. In simple black-and-white, it tells us everything we need to know.
Nicolas Cage has the look of a Lord Kitchener in this ingeniously simple poster for arms trafficking drama Lord Of War. At first glance, it’s a straightforward headshot. Look closer, and it’s a headshot in more ways than one: every fragment of The Cage is made up of bullet and shell casings. It’s a meticulous mosaic of militarism, and it works like a treat.
From the pen of John Alvin – an illustrator who pops up more than once on this list – comes this classic, as beautiful as C-beams glittering in the dark near the Tannhäuser Gate. The smoke trail from Sean Young’s cigarette doffs a cap to the film’s noirish disposition, while the cityscape and Harrison Ford’s future-gun hints at the cyberpunk future on offer.
Superbly riffed-on in the posters to both sequels, this artwork from master of the medium Drew Struzan takes all of the film’s iconic objects (Marty’s threads, the DeLorean, the flaming tyre tracks) and combines them in a single, stunning image. Plus he’s looking at his watch. Because time travel.
4) Look back at your statement of intent. What are you planning to produce in terms of your film posters? Can you take inspiration from your research above?
1st poster
actor is going to be in the centre of the poster to show how he is stuck between choosing football and the life of 'the hood'. both these aspects will be slip into two to show the binary opposition within the actors thoughts and feelings - appeals to fans of the genre
2nd poster
the poster is going to have a football pitch with estates in the back ground. the football pitch is going to be brightly lit up to show its a place where his talents can easily be shown. however, the estates behind will look as if its trying to over power the football pitch. the estate will be dully lit up to show how 'the hood' is trying to tempt him and stop him from living out his dreams - appeals to females
3rd poster
the poster is going to be of the long shot of the main character carrying a football while walking down the estate - appeals to males
Film poster research - genre
Go back to the five film trailers you researched in your chosen genre (and additional films if you wish). For each film, find at least three different film posters for the film and analyse the following:
1) What conventions are the same on each poster for the same film (i.e. the film's consistent branding)?
- main image have the film theme in the centre of the poster
- has the main cast within the theme word
- release date
- bold text to target a younger target audience
- distribution date
2) What differences can your find between the alternative posters for the same film?
- 2nd poster doesn't show ways of distribution
- 2nd poster doesn't have age rating
- Actor names
3) What target audience do you think each poster is targeting and why? How can you tell?
- teen age to middle age audience (12-24)
4) What can you use from these posters in your own film poster planning and production?
1) What conventions are the same on each poster for the same film (i.e. the film's consistent branding)?
- has a tagline
- has filming rating
- main characters in the centre of the poster
- list of actors
- title is in red which has connotations of blood/death
2) What differences can your find between the alternative posters for the same film?
- 2nd poster has no taglines
- 1st poster has no film ratings
- 2nd poster has no film restrictions
3) What target audience do you think each poster is targeting and why? How can you tell?
- teen age to middle age audience (12-24)
4) What can you use from these posters in your own film poster planning and production?
1) What conventions are the same on each poster for the same film (i.e. the film's consistent branding)?
- main post has a range of different characters who play different roles
- has release date
- use of a tag line
- use of reviews
2) What differences can your find between the alternative posters for the same film?
- 2nd has a banner which catches the eye as its more spread out
- positioning for curtain characters have changed
3) What target audience do you think each poster is targeting and why? How can you tell?
- teen age to middle age audience (12-24)
4) What can you use from these posters in your own film poster planning and production?
1) What conventions are the same on each poster for the same film (i.e. the film's consistent branding)?
- bright colours to show its trying to target a younger audience
- release date
- use of tagline
- use of iconography - made the film into a franchise instead of just a single film
- use of the female in the front can appeal to a female audience as well as a male audience (male gaze - mulvey)
- list of all the important cast members on the poster
- use of composition to show binary opposition between different areas
2) What differences can your find between the alternative posters for the same film?
- none
3) What target audience do you think each poster is targeting and why? How can you tell?
- teen age to middle age audience (12-24)
4) What can you use from these posters in your own film poster planning and production?
1) What conventions are the same on each poster for the same film (i.e. the film's consistent branding)?
- main character appears in the centre of all 3 images
- tagline along side the title of the film - shows a sequence
- colour scheme remained consistent2) What differences can your find between the alternative posters for the same film?
- release date
- film review ratings
- list of cast names
- range of casts on each poster
- banner which is used capture the audiences eye
3) What target audience do you think each poster is targeting and why? How can you tell?
- teen age to middle age audience (12-24)4) What can you use from these posters in your own film poster planning and production?
Planning and sketching
1) Create a spider diagram or bullet point list of everything you plan to include in your film posters AND all the ways you could target the three target audience segments outlined in the brief: fans of the genre, males, females. Make sure you also create a local film festival in order to meet this aspect of the brief.
2) Produce an A4 sketch for your first film poster, adding significant detail in terms of text and planned images (you don't need to draw the image if you don't want to - but must offer a detailed text-based description if not). Clearly label which segment of the target audience you are aiming for with this poster and where the poster will be displayed (outside location, magazine or newspaper etc.) Remember that each poster can either be landscape or portrait and also needs to link to the local film festival that will be screening the film (see details in brief above). When you have sketched the poster, scan or photograph it and add it to your blogpost.
3) Produce an A4 sketch for your second film poster, clearly identifying the segment of the target audience this poster will be aiming at. Pay particular attention to details you will either keep consistent (to create a brand identity and cover the local film festival aspect) or change (to alter the target audience). When you have sketched the poster, scan or photograph it and add it to your blogpost.
4) Produce an A4 sketch for your third film poster, clearly identifying the segment of the target audience this poster will be aiming at. Pay particular attention to details you will either keep consistent (to create a brand identity and cover the local film festival aspect) or change (to alter the target audience). When you have sketched the poster, scan or photograph it and add it to your blogpost.
Photoshoot planning
1) Which of your characters will appear on each poster? If the characters will be the same on each poster, how will you differentiate the images?
the protagonist we be a reoccurring figure in all the posters for the audience to gain personal identity with my protagonist. poster 1 will show how he's stuck in the middle between the hood life and the football field. poster 2 is going to be outside a local fast food shop where urban youth come together. the protagonist is going to be holding a football while talking to a female friend (right hand side). the (left hand side) is going to be a group of boys hanging outside the shop to show products of a broken environment. poster 3 is going to show the protagonist walking down the estate at night holding a football. there will be top down lighting from street lights to show all eyes are on him.
2) What images do you need for each film poster? Write a detailed description.
within each poster, there needs to be an urban element that is easy to recognise as soon as the audience sees the poster. This can be simple things like urban clothing to more challenging concepts like lifestyle choices. Also, each film will fundamentally be a way sowing how different lifestyle choices are affected by your surroundings.
3) Write a shot list for the photoshoot(s). Make sure you plan a variety of camera shots you will look to capture (medium shots, close-ups etc.) to give yourself flexibility when designing the posters in Photoshop later. Will the photoshoot be out on location or in school with the white backdrop and lighting?
poster 1
- over the shoulder shot of the protagonist looking through the football cages at the estate or medium long shot of protagonist playing football while the camera looks though the gates.
poster 2
- medium long shot of the protagonist talking to a girl (right) while a group of teenagers are crowding around the shop being a nuisance to society.
poster 3
- medium close-up of protagonist standing underneath a street light while wearing his football kit and holding a football in his hand.
4) What costume, props or make-up will you require for the photoshoot(s)?
- hoodies
- football kit (training kit)
- football
What do you need to produce?
You should create three posters to help promote the same feature film. You should identify the typical placement locations for each poster.
Each poster should be different and target a specific segment of the target audience. Specifically:
- Fans of the genre
- Females
- Males
Each poster should use a different image but the advertising campaign should appear coherent. Audiences should recognise each poster as being part of the same campaign.
Minimum requirements
- Appropriate layout and design choices for each poster
- Three different posters, each identifying a specific segment of the target audience
- A common visual style to the overall campaign creating a recognisable brand for the film
- At least three original images across the three posters with a different dominant image in each poster – these must be images generated specifically for the posters
- Images should be created and chosen to appeal to the specific segment of the target audience
- Appropriate choice of tagline for the film and each poster
- Appropriate choices of font, type sizes and colours to create meaning
- Appropriate consideration of the industrial context of production
Film posters: Research and planning tasks
Create a blogpost called 'Film poster research and pre-production' and work through the following tasks to complete your research and planning for the print side of the brief:
Film poster conventions
Do some generic research on film posters.
1) List the key conventions of a film poster.
- main image
- genre and audience
- iconography
- tagline
- reviews
- institutional details
- release date
- font
- colour
- setting
https://www.google.co.uk/search?safe=strict&ei=FyHkW-KYJtO4gQapjpnICA&q=what+makes+a+film+poster+instantly+recognisable+&oq=what+makes+a+film+poster+instantly+reconisable+&gs_l=psy-ab.3.0.33i10k1.420348.448266.0.449395.52.46.1.5.5.0.260.4009.23j12j3.39.0....0...1c.1.64.psy-ab..7.40.3347.6..0j35i39k1j0i67k1j0i131k1j0i20i263k1j0i22i30k1j0i22i10i30k1j33i22i29i30k1j33i160k1j33i13i21k1.76.pxGz5CW6Jco
2) What makes a film poster instantly recognisable?
- actor(star within the image)
- colour scheme
- costume
- setting
The image of Marlon Brando’s Don Corleone is certainly striking — his black tuxedo fading into the all-black background – but arguably, the star of this poster is the instantly recognisable ‘puppeteer’ logo, lifted direct from Mario Puzo’s book cover, and designed by legendary graphic designer S. Neil Fujita. In simple black-and-white, it tells us everything we need to know.
Nicolas Cage has the look of a Lord Kitchener in this ingeniously simple poster for arms trafficking drama Lord Of War. At first glance, it’s a straightforward headshot. Look closer, and it’s a headshot in more ways than one: every fragment of The Cage is made up of bullet and shell casings. It’s a meticulous mosaic of militarism, and it works like a treat.
From the pen of John Alvin – an illustrator who pops up more than once on this list – comes this classic, as beautiful as C-beams glittering in the dark near the Tannhäuser Gate. The smoke trail from Sean Young’s cigarette doffs a cap to the film’s noirish disposition, while the cityscape and Harrison Ford’s future-gun hints at the cyberpunk future on offer.
Superbly riffed-on in the posters to both sequels, this artwork from master of the medium Drew Struzan takes all of the film’s iconic objects (Marty’s threads, the DeLorean, the flaming tyre tracks) and combines them in a single, stunning image. Plus he’s looking at his watch. Because time travel.
4) Look back at your statement of intent. What are you planning to produce in terms of your film posters? Can you take inspiration from your research above?
1st poster
actor is going to be in the centre of the poster to show how he is stuck between choosing football and the life of 'the hood'. both these aspects will be slip into two to show the binary opposition within the actors thoughts and feelings - appeals to fans of the genre
2nd poster
the poster is going to have a football pitch with estates in the back ground. the football pitch is going to be brightly lit up to show its a place where his talents can easily be shown. however, the estates behind will look as if its trying to over power the football pitch. the estate will be dully lit up to show how 'the hood' is trying to tempt him and stop him from living out his dreams - appeals to females
3rd poster
the poster is going to be of the long shot of the main character carrying a football while walking down the estate - appeals to males
Film poster research - genre
Go back to the five film trailers you researched in your chosen genre (and additional films if you wish). For each film, find at least three different film posters for the film and analyse the following:
1) What conventions are the same on each poster for the same film (i.e. the film's consistent branding)?
- main image have the film theme in the centre of the poster
- has the main cast within the theme word
- release date
- bold text to target a younger target audience
- distribution date
2) What differences can your find between the alternative posters for the same film?
- 2nd poster doesn't show ways of distribution
- 2nd poster doesn't have age rating
- Actor names
3) What target audience do you think each poster is targeting and why? How can you tell?
- teen age to middle age audience (12-24)
4) What can you use from these posters in your own film poster planning and production?
1) What conventions are the same on each poster for the same film (i.e. the film's consistent branding)?
- has a tagline
- has filming rating
- main characters in the centre of the poster
- list of actors
- title is in red which has connotations of blood/death
2) What differences can your find between the alternative posters for the same film?
- 2nd poster has no taglines
- 1st poster has no film ratings
- 2nd poster has no film restrictions
3) What target audience do you think each poster is targeting and why? How can you tell?
- teen age to middle age audience (12-24)
4) What can you use from these posters in your own film poster planning and production?
1) What conventions are the same on each poster for the same film (i.e. the film's consistent branding)?
- main post has a range of different characters who play different roles
- has release date
- use of a tag line
- use of reviews
2) What differences can your find between the alternative posters for the same film?
- 2nd has a banner which catches the eye as its more spread out
- positioning for curtain characters have changed
3) What target audience do you think each poster is targeting and why? How can you tell?
- teen age to middle age audience (12-24)
4) What can you use from these posters in your own film poster planning and production?
1) What conventions are the same on each poster for the same film (i.e. the film's consistent branding)?
- bright colours to show its trying to target a younger audience
- release date
- use of tagline
- use of iconography - made the film into a franchise instead of just a single film
- use of the female in the front can appeal to a female audience as well as a male audience (male gaze - mulvey)
- list of all the important cast members on the poster
- use of composition to show binary opposition between different areas
2) What differences can your find between the alternative posters for the same film?
- none
3) What target audience do you think each poster is targeting and why? How can you tell?
- teen age to middle age audience (12-24)
4) What can you use from these posters in your own film poster planning and production?
1) What conventions are the same on each poster for the same film (i.e. the film's consistent branding)?
- main character appears in the centre of all 3 images
- tagline along side the title of the film - shows a sequence
- colour scheme remained consistent2) What differences can your find between the alternative posters for the same film?
- release date
- film review ratings
- list of cast names
- range of casts on each poster
- banner which is used capture the audiences eye
3) What target audience do you think each poster is targeting and why? How can you tell?
- teen age to middle age audience (12-24)4) What can you use from these posters in your own film poster planning and production?
Planning and sketching
1) Create a spider diagram or bullet point list of everything you plan to include in your film posters AND all the ways you could target the three target audience segments outlined in the brief: fans of the genre, males, females. Make sure you also create a local film festival in order to meet this aspect of the brief.
2) Produce an A4 sketch for your first film poster, adding significant detail in terms of text and planned images (you don't need to draw the image if you don't want to - but must offer a detailed text-based description if not). Clearly label which segment of the target audience you are aiming for with this poster and where the poster will be displayed (outside location, magazine or newspaper etc.) Remember that each poster can either be landscape or portrait and also needs to link to the local film festival that will be screening the film (see details in brief above). When you have sketched the poster, scan or photograph it and add it to your blogpost.
change poster concept
3) Produce an A4 sketch for your second film poster, clearly identifying the segment of the target audience this poster will be aiming at. Pay particular attention to details you will either keep consistent (to create a brand identity and cover the local film festival aspect) or change (to alter the target audience). When you have sketched the poster, scan or photograph it and add it to your blogpost.
4) Produce an A4 sketch for your third film poster, clearly identifying the segment of the target audience this poster will be aiming at. Pay particular attention to details you will either keep consistent (to create a brand identity and cover the local film festival aspect) or change (to alter the target audience). When you have sketched the poster, scan or photograph it and add it to your blogpost.
Photoshoot planning
1) Which of your characters will appear on each poster? If the characters will be the same on each poster, how will you differentiate the images?
the protagonist we be a reoccurring figure in all the posters for the audience to gain personal identity with my protagonist. poster 1 will show how he's stuck in the middle between the hood life and the football field. poster 2 is going to be outside a local fast food shop where urban youth come together. the protagonist is going to be holding a football while talking to a female friend (right hand side). the (left hand side) is going to be a group of boys hanging outside the shop to show products of a broken environment. poster 3 is going to show the protagonist walking down the estate at night holding a football. there will be top down lighting from street lights to show all eyes are on him.
2) What images do you need for each film poster? Write a detailed description.
within each poster, there needs to be an urban element that is easy to recognise as soon as the audience sees the poster. This can be simple things like urban clothing to more challenging concepts like lifestyle choices. Also, each film will fundamentally be a way sowing how different lifestyle choices are affected by your surroundings.
3) Write a shot list for the photoshoot(s). Make sure you plan a variety of camera shots you will look to capture (medium shots, close-ups etc.) to give yourself flexibility when designing the posters in Photoshop later. Will the photoshoot be out on location or in school with the white backdrop and lighting?
poster 1
- over the shoulder shot of the protagonist looking through the football cages at the estate or medium long shot of protagonist playing football while the camera looks though the gates.
poster 2
- medium long shot of the protagonist talking to a girl (right) while a group of teenagers are crowding around the shop being a nuisance to society.
poster 3
- medium close-up of protagonist standing underneath a street light while wearing his football kit and holding a football in his hand.
4) What costume, props or make-up will you require for the photoshoot(s)?
- hoodies
- football kit (training kit)
- football
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