Conventions of Film Posters

After researching many different film posters i discovered that their main aim is to promote and advertise the film and to provoke the audiences interest in the film with the final outcome being to encourage them to want to go and see it, this is achieved by the conventional elements that are placed in every movie poster in order to interest the audience and for the poster to stand out and be eye-catching, these include;

The Main Image-

• The Main image of the film poster is usually, as in film magazines, a CU, however LS's are also frequently used. They are usually big images which suggest a great deal to the audience about the characters personalities whilst also providing a brief insight into the storyline of the film.

Background-

• The background of film poster is usually for a horror / thriller quite dark and sometimes threatening, whereas for action films the background is usually an image of devestation and destruction with explosions and fires whereas for comedy film the backgrunds are usually quite bright and eye-catching to the audience

Title of the Film-

• The title of the film is usually displayed in a bright, bold and big font in order for it to stand out from the rest of the text and demand the audiences attention. This is the most vital piece of information on the film poster as if audiences do not know the name of the film which the poster has interested them in, then they ultimately cannot go and see the film.

Film Stars Names-

• These are usually displayed somewhere close to the title of the film so that it is clear for the audience to see who is starring in the film as if the film has big named hollywood stars this can have the effect of encouraging the audience to see the film due to the hollywood stars who are appearing it which makes the audience feel relaxed that the film will be good otherwise these hollywood stars would not be involved in it, whilst also allowing the audience to see that stars of the film if they enjoyed the film and the actors performances.

Pugs-

• Generally placed towards the bottom of the film poster in a plain and small font, telling the audience who has been involved in the production process of the film from the actors and directors and producers to writers and editors.

Release Date

• This is the second most important piece if information on the film poster, this is usually produced in a bold and bright font and is usually placed somewhere close to the bottom of the film poster. It is usually produced to have the effect of catching the audiences attention so that they can clearly see when the film is to be produced.

Recommendations-

• These help to sell the film to the audience. The recommendations from other well known media institutions such as film magazines, newspapers and websites can help to encourage the audience to see it due to the good reviews these other reliable media institutions providing the film with a good review which has the effect of relaxing the audience that the film must be good for these institutions to have stated good things about it.

A " " film-

• The directors name is usually mentioned somewhere on the film poster to show the audience who was behind the film, as the director is basically the vision for how the film will look, therefore the name of a well-known director such as Quentin Tarantino would have the effect of encouraging the audience to go and see the film as this established director whose works they may have already seen previously and liked is behind the film so it will be good, it also has the effect, in the same way as that of the film stars names of showing the audience who is behind the film so if they enjoyed the film they then know to look out for more of this directors works.