Idea update and inspiration

The updated idea for my trailer

Plot
My trailer is for a supernatural and psychological horror film; which involved a person being haunted by a series of creatures in his dreams - which then enter the real world. But it is unclear whether the main character is hallucinating the creatures, or whether they actually exist. The trailer leaves this as a mystery, so that the audience will want to watch it and find out. My main character represents the average person within my target audience. This is an average 20 year old male, who enjoys partying and socialising. He likes to have fun and occasionally takes a few risks.
After researching the causes of hallucinations, I thought that the event causing the nightmares could be; a traumatic accident, a drug addiction or a haunted possession. I will probably go for the drug addiction, because I don't have the budget for a flashback to a traumatic incident (e.g. a car crash) and the idea of a haunted object is extremely cliché. For example, films like 'The evil dead', 'The possession,' 'Annabelle' and 'Drag me to hell' all have cursed objects.
I haven't figured out where he'll get the drug from and whether it will be an addiction or a one time thing. I originally wanted a smoking-type drug because I think the smoke effect would make good visual effects. But I don't want to put the actor's health at risk and fake cigarettes are out of my budget. A pill is an easier option (I'll just use a vitamin).
I like the idea of lucid dreaming; where the sleeping person can manipulate their dreams and fulfil their wildest fantasies within their mind. My original idea included the main character taking a pill, which gives him this awesome ability - until his dreams turn to nightmares. But now, I realise that filming these 'awesome' lucid dreaming scenes isn't possible. Given the chance, a 20 year old male would probably choose to dream about living a luxurious lifestyle, or maybe exploring places of paradise. There's no way I can film this. Therefore, I adjusted the idea. Instead, the character will just take a pill, which messes with his mental stability and sense of reality.
It will give him sleep paralysis (the state of being trapped in a nightmare, unable to wake up) as well as insomnia. He'll start to blur reality with his hallucinations of being attacked by demonic creatures.
The plot progresses as one of the creatures starts to interfere with his real life. There’s a myth that if you astral project (where you see yourself sleeping in a dream), then your spirit need to get back to your body immediately, or a demon will take over it.
In my trailer, the main character will eventually astral project and a demon will take over his body; using it as a vessel to inhabit the real world. The plot of the film is for the character to find a way to get back to his life; while surviving in a world of demons.
I have an idea that the drug given to the character could have actually been a trick by the creature, who wanted the character to lose control of his mind - so that it could take over. Although, I haven't figured out how the demon would have given it to him in the first place.

Visual effects

-To main challenge will be creating the creatures. I have a few ideas on how they will look, but making the vision a reality will be difficult. I could either physically make them (with paper mache or clay), edit them (e.g. with photoshop and make them move) or use an actor with makeup.

I am not good at Fx makeup, but this is the quickest and easiest option. Because of my lack of skill in this topic, the outcome wouldn't be very visually impressive - but the movement of the creature would be fluid and realist. Unfortunately I don't know any makeup artists and hiring a professional is way out of my budget.

I am good at making 3D models with clay and paper mache, but they take a long time and I have quite a few to make. Also, they wouldn't be able to move a lot.

I think the majority of my creatures will be made in photoshop or after effects. I know how to create shadow effects and figures and how to add movement to an picture. It would better looking than an actor in makeup and it would be a quicker alternative to physical props. But if I had the time, I would choose to make props.

-Another visual effect includes the out of body experience. I want a scene where the character is sleeping, but his spirit emerges from his body. I can do this by filming him laying in bed and sitting up. But I can duplicate the footage and overlap it, making the second version more transparent to give it a ghostly effect.

-To get the best quality footage, I will film in the daytime and add a dark filter to make it look like evening/night time.

I made a Pinterest account: https://uk.pinterest.com/angelapigna1164/ with scary pictures that inspire me, for the pose and appearance of my creatures. The description of the images show the main reasons why I have selected the images. Here are some print screens;

The reason that I selected the image (top left) was because I want a creature who is cut in half. I like the gory blood on her, with the pale skin and eyes.
The image (top, right) is the effect I want for the astral projection scene.
I like the long, twisted limbs on the creatures (left).
The main demon (who overtakes the character's body) is bald, with a wide grin and bulging eyes. If I can't design this character, I will swap it for a shadow figure - which will still look intimidating and creepy.



Magazine plan
The main image for my magazine cover will be a shot of the astral projection scene. He will be lying in bed, with his spirit emerging from his body. This is intriguing and it conveys the main theme of the movie. I won't have any secondary images because I want it to look simple, professional and mysterious.

Poster plan
A lot of poster plans don't actually include the main character (e.g. 'Alien' and 'Cabin in the woods'). So I was thinking of maybe having a mysterious shadow figure (which is one of the creatures) as the main image. I imagine this will look unsettling and compelling. I could also add the pill in as the point of focus; since it is the element which causes all of this chaos.

Here is a PowerPoint, showing the most inspiring pictures for my magazine cover and poster.

Inspiration from Trailer extracts

1. A nightmare on elm street

I watched the trailer for this horror movie, because it relates to the theme of nightmares being integrated into reality. This is the premise of my own trailer.
I liked this shot, which shows the character being lifted out of her bed by a supernatural force. It reminded me of my astral projection idea. I like the lighting here. The blue glow from the window illuminates what's happening, but it's still evident that it's night time. When I film my trailer, I will use a blue filter for when the character is having a nightmare. This makes the nightmares distinguishable from reality, by giving them a colder atmosphere.

2. The conjuring

 This trailer inspired me because it had lots of intense scenes, where the creature is behind the main character, or when they come face to face with eachother. When the creatures appear in my trailer, I also want an intense build up, to give the viewer more adrenaline and therefore make the scary bits even more effective. The creatures in this trailer seem to appear in enclosed environments, where the character can't easily escape. This makes the situation more intense and unnerving. The pale face and dark features of the creature make it look ghostly and eerie in the darkness. It is more nightmare inducing than a gory, messy creature which resembles a typical zombie. This has given me more Fx makeup and prop inspiration for the design of my creatures. I think the shocked, frozen reaction of the main character is good too. If she had screamed and become hysterical, it would have ruined the slow creepiness of the scene. The trailer felt more mature this way. It didn't feel like a cheap slasher with bad acting and overreactions.

Ideas from other media platforms 

TV shows
In my audience profiling (secondary research), I found out that my target audience liked to watch TV shows; especially ones with dark, clever and original storylines. So I decided to see what editing styles (e.g. font, cinematography) I could copy and use in my own trailer.

1. Bates motel

This is the Motel sign on a dark, rainy day. Firstly, I like how creepy it looks - with the broken letters and the red 'vacancy'. It draws people in, but not in a warm and welcoming way. The rain really adds a dreary effect and the bluish sky looks almost surreal, as opposed to a typical grey one. The trees in the background really add an enclosed, mysterious effect which make you feel like you could get lost in there, or that there are things lurking in deep. The low angle shot makes the sign look daunting and intimidating; as if the motel itself has an overpowering force. They've used silver, sharp letters to give the place a cold atmosphere - making it blend in with the unpleasant environment. This contrasts a conventional vacancy sign, which may use warm orange letters to make the motel look like a cosy refuge from the harsh outdoors.
The slanted angle makes the sign look taller, since the top left corner of it appears to be raised. This again, goes with the intimidating effect. The close up shot makes the sign the centre of the attention.
In my trailer, I'm going to use rain and textured clouds, for a stormy effect. It is stereotypical for the horror/gothic genre, but it really creates an unsettling atmosphere. I like the silver letters and the tree silhouettes in the background. I'm thinking of using the sharp, silver letters for the credits and having some trees in the background of some of my shots.

 2. Teen Wolf


This show was apparently one of the most watched for people in my target audience. What inspires me is the costume choice for the male characters. The outfits they wear are smart, yet casual. They wear simple jeans, shirts, hoodies and jackets. It's exactly the kind of items of clothing that middle class young adults usually wear. My main character is going to dress very similar to these characters, but he will probably wear less stylish clothes with darker colours. This will reflect the cloudy state of his mind.

Websites 

1. Sinister

The images on this website are grey and black, with grainy quality and heavy shadows. The font at the top looks like the letters have been scratched onto the page; due to their skinny, jagged shape.
I like how there are two pictures of the main character. It shows 2 sides of him; his alert, fearful face and his ready, courageous bodily stance. I could use this idea for my trailer (e.g. in my magazine or poster) because there are two versions of my main character; his spirit and his possessed body. However, the jagged lettering at the top doesn't appeal to me because it looks cliché and can appear amateur. The title of the film at the bottom has a strong, solid font however. I also like how there's a blur behind the letters, which symbolise a ghostly presence.

2. Friday The 13th

With this website, I like how the stalker is against the background, as if he is hiding away and spying on the audience.
We can't see much of him because he is covered in so much darkness. We can mostly his mask and the outline of his body. But his mysterious and startling appearance still makes him the main point of focus. His clothing and hidden face is similar to the mysterious shadow creature in my trailer.
I also like the creators have used layers to create a 3D effect, thus making the main elements jump out at the reader.

Synergistic Marketing Research

Synergy is when a product is advertised on different media platforms; with continuing themes to achieve a recognisable brand and identity. This creates more public awareness, since people are more likely to remember the film, based on its unique and original style.

1. This is the advertising campaign for the film; Deadpool.

This is the poster for the film. It shows the main character laying on the title letters, looking relaxed and chilled out. The caption says 'wait till you get a load of me' which displays the confidence and quirky, egotistic attitude of Deadpool. The colour scheme is black and red because it matches his outfit. These colours connote blood and danger, which are themes in this movie since it is R rated. The simple white background makes the features stand out and draws more attention to the title and character. Deadpool is a lovable character, so he is all that's needed to draw in fans. Apart from his appearance, there is nothing else advertised on this poster. So the audience is left to wonder what the actual movie is about.

The DVD cover also displays the character in a humorous, quirky position (with the guns up his nose) and the words 'Wait till you get a load of me' are on the back of the cover. The repetition of this phrase on both platforms, makes it memorable and creates hype since we want to see how awesome Deadpool really is. His pose shows that he is unafraid of danger and is always relaxed in extreme situations. This makes his character original, thus standing out from other stereotypical protagonists. The black and red colour theme is also prominent on this cover; which makes the audience associate that design with this movie and his outfit. The only difference between this cover and the poster is that this background is much more describing. This is because the DVD needs to provide more information to sell the physical copy of the film to the viewer and convince them to watch it over the competition.

Here is a screenshot of the trailer. The narration speaks directly to the audience (much like the captions on the magazine and poster) and often breaks the fourth wall. Like the images used on both covers, the trailer shots are centred on the character. His humorous dialogue and behaviour matches his amusing body language in the pictures. He is indifferent and unafraid in the face of danger; which is probably because he's an indestructible fighting machine. He is completely confident in his powerful abilities, which relates to the egotism in his catchphrase 'get a load of me'. After displaying his amiable persona and impressive skillset, he certainly lives up to that hype.

The credits in the trailer are black and red, which again follows the colour scheme and matches the character's appearance.





2. This is the advertising campaign for the film; Dead Silence

This is the DVD cover. The main image is a puppet who stares menacingly at the audience. He is the face of the film, which is more effective than a human character since it is more creepy. There is a decayed, old female hand in front of the puppets lips. This relates to the title, as the hand is presumably from a corpse and the hand sign is signalling silence. Other noticeable elements include the black background, the blurred film title and the caption; 'you scream, you die'.











This is one of the movie's posters. We can see the puppet again, but instead of sitting idly, it is holding an old woman's head (who is clearly dead). It implies that the puppet probably killed her. This time, she is staring at the audience, much like the puppet was in the DVD cover. This create the theme of 'being watched' across both of the media platforms. The two characters seem to be one life form, as the woman is controlling the puppet, yet it is the puppet that seems to have a mind of its own.
The background here is also dark, but we can see more of the setting; which is a warehouse full of dolls. The caption; 'from the creators of saw' are repeated on this poster. This is a use of synergy as viewers will remember it as being a product of those creators.



Here is a screenshot from the trailer. Once again, we see the two same characters, which are recognised from the poster and DVD cover.
In the trailer we see how Mary Shaw (the old woman) died, we see her puppets and we see why being silent can mean life or death. These are linking themes between the trailer, cover and poster.
For example, the puppets were displayed on the poster and now we get to see who made them. We also see why the specific puppet that she is holding is significant.

Almost all of the scenes have a dark filter with a murky background. This is similar to the black backgrounds on the covers; where anything could be lurking in the shadows.
The credits of the trailer are silver, against a black background. This matches the font on the covers; thus creating continuity. If the design and editing style of the ad campaign where to change, it would change the audience's perception and awareness of the film. Without the recognisable elements, they could mistake it for a different film entirely. This makes it hard for them to remember, meaning the money spent on different advertising techniques (e.g. posters) would be a waste.
Spreading awareness wont work if the audience aren't aware of what the product actually is.

Magazines and audience appeal

A trailer only has 2-3minutes to sell the movie. During that time, they have to chose some of the best visuals to display so that the audience can see what kind of content they'll be watching. People are more likely to be interested in the movie by actually seeing clips from it - not by watching a 3minute video of someone talk about it. A minute 3 clip wouldn't even show the full interview.
In addition, a poster also has to be eye-catching if people are going to look at it in a public place. It cant have too much information because people wont be able to read it (e.g. if they were driving and saw a billboard ad).
On the other hand, a magazine provides more detail about the film than a poster or trailer. By having double page spreads, there is room to print long interviews with the cast and write detailed information about the film. This allows the reader to understand it better and become more intrigued.
They can't show clips, but they can still print impressive images to convince the audience to watch the film.
It also appeals to people who prefer to read, instead of watching TV or going on the internet. The reader may find it more pleasurable to take their time reading the magazine, instead of watching a rushed trailer. Another advantage is that unlike a trailer or poster; they can read the magazine anywhere. They may also prefer the informal, friendly style of the interview. Fans of the actor/director would be interested in their thoughts of the film and what the creation process has been like for them. They can read more about the character depth, the actor's opinions on the role and what the director is trying to achieve.
Furthermore. the magazine's audience is more specific than that of a TV or radio ad. While it can be argued that more people would see a public movie poster or trailer; magazines are sold all over the country and are often passed on to friends and family. A movie advertised in a high end magazine would also seem high quality.
The image above is the double page spread from Empire magazine. It is advertising the movie; Clash of the Titans. On one page is a large picture/poster of the film and on the other page is an interview with the director. The benefits of this spread is that it has more persuasive text (e.g. 'epic, unashamed creature feature') than a poster, as well as a secondary image. Usually posters have main image and very little (if any) text.
The introductory paragraph informs that the director is the same person who directed 'Avatar' and that the plot is about Perseus taking down Mount Olympus. In just the first chunk of text, the magazine has included the same amount of information that would be used in a trailer. Because more text is allowed, the writers can use more persuasive language to convince the audience that the film is worth seeing.
A magazine may not have sound, but it compensates by including a useful caption below one of the images to describe what is happening in the scene.
The spread also uses a variety of font designs to catch the reader's eye and draw them to the persuasive techniques. For example, the words 'Gods and monsters' are in large gold letters, sprawled across both the pages. The positioning of them has more connotation than the unified credits of a trailer. The fact that the word 'God' is higher than 'Monster' shows that the Gods are more powerful and mighty in the hierarchy of power. It also symbolises that the Gods are from heaven and the monsters come from down in the underworld.
The articles start with a large letter, which draws the readers eye to the start of the sentence. It therefore convinces the reader to read on. The gold font highlights the important parts, compared to the black writing.
In conclusion, magazines provide the audience with more detail and extra information on the film. This makes the movie more memorable by familiarising the reader with it. They can be just as visually stunning as a poster - but with more pictures.

Magazine textual analysis

1. Total Film magazine

Masthead: This is the largest text on the cover. The world ‘Total’ is inside the letter ‘F’ so that they have room to enlarge and emphasize the word ‘Film’.  

Graphics/effects: The lighthouse aligns with the straight line of the letter ‘m’ which morphs some of the elements into each other and creates an intertwined effect. 

Main image: This is a full body medium shot of popular actor Leonardo DiCaprio. He attracts his fans and people who like the movies he’s in. There are many enigmas on the cover, which make the reader want to turn the page and read about this mysterious movie. For example, he is holding a gun and standing over a dead(?) body looking defiant and perhaps a bit shocked. He is a police officer (evident by his belt), yet he has his fist clenched. Is he a bad guy? Maybe he’s driven by revenge or justice. The floral pattern on his tie could show that he is close to his family since it looks like a present. Maybe his family has something to do with the story’s plot.  

Background: The mist covers the background, which adds a dramatic effect and simplifies the layout, so it doesn’t look too crowded.  

The sell lines are there to give more information on the title of the cover stories. For example, a picture of the movie Avatar would be vague in what the article is actually about. But the sell lines show that the article involves an interview with the director, which is much more intriguing for the reader, especially as the interview is something they probably haven't seen before.

Skyline: hypes the sketchbooks up as the ‘greatest ever’ which would make the viewer feel like they had to see them to experience this sensation. It would also see that this is a once in a lifetime opportunity, so the reader would have to look inside or they wouldn’t have this chance again.  

The barcode, price and issue number are the smallest features on the cover because they are least eye-catching and intriguing. The price of the magazine is £4, which is the costlier end of the price range for magazines. This is why the creators wouldn’t want the audience being put off by the cost.  

The colour scheme is blue, grey and black and there are many shadows, silhouettes and dark patches in the images. These all fit the mystery genre and really convey the morbid, twist filled themes of the film. There are many things lurking in the depths of the story; disturbing things which the audience can’t wait to be revealed. 

2. Empire magazine


























The Masthead is also the largest piece of text on this magazine. The magazine company wants to establish their brand and imprint the name 'Empire' into the reader's mind, so that they become a regular reader of the magazine. If they didn't make the name so obvious, the reader would probably remember the interesting content of the magazine, but wouldn't recall which company it was made by.
The creators have placed the James Bond logo above the title, to associate it with the main cover story that it's advertising. It is a recognisable icon to fans of the franchise and people within the magazine/film's target audience. Therefore it doesn't just look cool, but it acts as another element to catch the reader's eye.
The background is the famous gun barrel, which is also a signature device at the start of every James Bond film. This iconic feature will also attract fans as well as people who are familiar with the visuals. All of these elements combine to make a Bond theme magazine, which is more than just advertising the main cover story. The dedication to the franchise means the magazine is celebrating the film, which implies that it probably has some Bond related merchandise inside.
Daniel Craig (who plays Bond) and his co-star are at the front, with a 2 person shot where both people are looking in opposite directions. This could mean that the characters are partners, but in this case, it is showing that they are enemies. Furthermore, the way that Craig is in front of the other, with his brighter suit and confident pose; shows that he is the hero. Meanwhile the other actor stands behind, in a black jacket, with half his face covered in shadows. Needless to say, the dark aura around him paints him as the villain.
The main sell line is the title of the movie, which has its own font and design. There is little explanation given as to what the article is about, but the reader can assume that there'd be lots of news about the upcoming film.
There is a plug on this cover, which highlights an original feature (such as a guest editor). This is a rare treat for the audience, which further prompts them to want this 'special edition' magazine.
There are many puffs under the title, which shows that the magazine is packed with interesting articles. This widens the fanbase for the magazine (by attracting fans of other films) and also shows that the magazine is good content value for the money.
The other two main cover stories are in a larger font, on the bottom. They won't attract as many fans as the main cover story, but they are still emphasised because they are unique stories.
This cover uses a red font to draw the reader's eyes to the highlighted focus points. It contrasts the dark, black background; which makes it more noticeable and also bring some colour to the cover. Red can also connote blood, danger and romance; which are all themes within the Bond franchise.
The issue number, price and date are there to inform the reader of basic information; like how old the magazine (and the company) is and how much they need to pay for the copy. It is in a tiny font, because its function is not to convince the reader to purchase the magazine.

3. Sight and sound magazine

This magazine has a slogan, which boasts that the magazine is 'THE international film magazine'. This makes it seem better than the competition, by advertising it as widely popular -with the word 'international'. It says 'The' which almost implies that it's the only popular film magazine. In any case, the slogan makes the magazine look high quality by implying that it has a large audience and high praise. This must therefore mean it's good.
The masthead only slightly bigger than the title. The yellow and red colours don't blend in to the background, but instead contrast the rest of features. This makes it stand out, without having to enlarge the letters and therefore distract the readers from the other elements. They warm colours show that the film may be morbid and cold, but the magazine is always warm and welcoming. It doesn't matter that the colours don't quite go together; the magazine has its own brand identity which is the same and therefore recognised on any cover.
Leonardo Dicaprio's character is the dominant feature of the main image. He is placed in front of the Masthead and behind the title. By just by looking at the state of the actor in his surroundings, the reader can predict the plot of the movie. The character is probably stranded in the snowy mountains, trying to survive while fighting off a deadly enemy. But the lack of explanation is there to create some mystery regarding the situation so that the reader has to read the article and find out more,
The foreground, background and middleground create a 3D effect; which literally stands to the viewer. The text in the foreground are at the top of the hierarchy of importance.
The picture does well to attract the audience, but the text is what really intrigues them to turn the page. The title and cover stories are in a white font, to blend in (and also stand out) in front of the artic themed visuals. The general lack of colour creates the sense of life being drained, which matches the character in the photograph.
The plug and puffs inform the reader of the other articles within the magazine. But they are at the bottom of the magazine, so that the picture looks lonely and more intense. It is taken more seriously without chirpy little captions surrounding and crowding it.
Conventions such as the price, barcode and date are there for practical purposes like scanning at the checkout and informing the reader of what to pay. They are put to the side so that they don't interfere distract from the persuasive features.

Poster layout and composition

Posters are often set out in a way that achieves a certain effect. Often, some posters have a 'combo' effect where they fit into more than 1 composition rule. In this post, I will explain the different layout/composition techniques and how they work.

1. The grid layout

By splitting the poster in half horizontally and vertically, the elements in the poster are equally divided into quarters. This symmetrical layout helps to centre the point of interest. In this example, the four main characters are make up the main elements within the fractions. They are the point of focus since the background barely had any room. A more complicated way to break up the poster would be to split it into even smaller squares.





2. The rule of thirds layout

This is similar to the grid layout, except the poster is divided into 9 equal squares, not 4. The four corners of the middle square are where the 4 lines intersect. In this poster, the character's face extends to four squares, which shows that it is the prominent feature of the poster. Even his hand on the steering wheel seems to be contained within a single square.
This type of layout balances the importance of certain features. If one feature takes up more spaces, it is supposed to be more important.





3. Circular/oval layout.

The circular shape of the images conflict with the rectangular shape of the poster itself. This example has 1 circles; a plain one with the title inside and one with the characters inside. The point of the circle is the most eye-catching, meaning the creators wanted the title to stand out the most.
This film revolves around a man who is trying to search for his daughter. The title and the way the images are placed could be a representation of how he is metaphorically going round in circles, not making any progress. The characters are squashed quite closely together, which implies that they are interlinked somehow. It looks quite claustrophobic in the circle. Jude Law and Anthony Hopkins are bigger than the rest, which shows that they are main characters.

4. The 'Z' layout.

The 'Z' shape refers to the position of the headline and company taglines. When they are placed at the top and the bottom (like this example), the reader's eyes follow the sentences. They read from the first word of the top sentence, left to right, then the first word of the bottom sentence - left to right. Their eyes therefore follow a 'Z' shape.
In most cases, the image will align to where the eyes are being led. For this poster, the reader's eyes will be diverted to the left as they look down towards the bottom of the poster. The main image happens to be placed in the left of the poster, so as to catch their attention.



5. Horizon line layout

This is a symmetrical layout, where the horizontal line would cut evenly through the midsection of the main image. In this poster, it would lie somewhere between the astronaut's waist and the top of the snowy hill behind him.








6. Perspective/vanishing point layout

This 'vanishing point' refers to the section of the poster that isn't noticeable to the eyes, since the other elements are drawing the viewer's attention. The cars in this poster use perspective to almost make them look like they're 3D and driving forward. They have been placed in the foreground, so the mountains and the road in the background are the 'vanishing point' since they are less noticeable.
This is a good way to certain features really stand out and look 3 dimensional.





7. Close up

This is where the main image includes a close up/extreme close up shot of the main character. It makes the relationship more personal between the viewer the character. This may not reveal much about the plot, but it does tell us something about their personality. In this example, Harry looks sweaty, anxious and possibly out of breathe. This creates speculation that he is up against some kind of danger.






8. Two person, romantic close up

This establishes and involves the audience in the intimate relationship between the two main characters. The close up shot connotes passion, playfulness and sensitivity.









9. Two person (not romantic)

This establishes a relationship between 2 main characters again, but depending on the film's genre, it is not always romantic. If they are facing opposite directions for example, it could show that they are against each other and have opposite opinions or goals that conflict.
In this picture, the characters are quite close and although they aren't looking in the same direction, they look like they are cooperating on their mission. It is a thriller film which has important looking characters. We can therefore assume that they are partners who are working together.




10. One person long shot

This immediately indicates who the main character is; but the distance between the audience and them may indicate that we may not get to them on a deep level. This type of shot allows us to see all of their body, which shows us what kind of person they are.
The character (left) is in a suit, so we know he is important and has a profession that involves business. We follow his story but do not really get a detailed insight into his innermost thoughts. Sometimes, the creators have the character against a plain background, with just their costume and some props on show. But other times, the background lets us know what kind of character they are and what lifestyle they lead. The background in this poster is dark and mysterious. This reflects on James Bond's personality.


11. Two person, medium/long shot

The appearance, positioning and pose of the two people in the shot give away lots about their relationship, status and profession. In 'Looper' the characters have each others backs. Since they're quite far away, there is room for a bit of background scenery, which makes our involvement with them less intense. It is unlikely that 2 characters in a long shot are romantically involved, since there is less of an intimate atmosphere.






12. Three people
This shows that the film is centred around these specific characters. This layout is often used when there is a love triangle between three people. It is a romantic comedy cliché. Often, the person in the middle will be the obstacle in the relationship between the other two.
In other genres, a trio of people can represent different personalities and stances. In this example, it would seem that Batman is the villain (due to the darkness around him) and that superman is the hero, with Wonder woman as his helper.
Superman is positioned in front of the other two, which says that he is the main character. He literally blocks the other two with his cape and his body; showing that he is the prominent feature.
In conclusion, a trio of people usually expresses a complicated relationship. The way in which the movie poster is designed can give us some obvious hints about it.

13 One person, describing background

In almost all of these layouts, there is a character who stands in the middle of a chaotic environment; looking ready to face the danger and survive.
This poster is no exception. From the view, we can see that the film is set in a modern, dystopian society. As always, the hero looks at his surroundings as he prepares to dive into the chaos.
There is always the element of mystery in these posters. We don't know why the world is like this or who the enemy is and we know little about the character. The character will usually have a weapon attached them, which in this case is his shield. Unlike some other layouts, this one gives away quite a few details regarding the setting and which character is the protagonist. But we know little about either.

14. Group of people, plain background

This implies that the film focuses on the lives and relationships of the characters shown. In the Harry Potter series, the characters are so well known that the image of them is enough to attract the fanbase. It doesn't matter where the characters go, the film follows the drama in their lives. The primary characters will usually distinguishable by being in the front or the middle of the group. The three main characters are evident by these positions in this example.
In many comedy posters, the group of people will be against a plain white background. Their body language and facial expressions will show what type of stereotypical character they are. A white background suggests a bright, uplifting film. Whereas this dark, misty background portrays a fearful, brooding atmosphere.

15. Group of people, describing background

A more detailed background doesn't just draw attention to the characters, but instead looks at how they fit into the action and what role they play. This example is obvious; the group is a league of superheroes (judging by their outfits and skillset) who are fighting one or more enemies in the middle of a crumbling city.
We see less of their emotions/relationships and more about the external factors that drive their story. This layout is mostly used when the characters have to team up against an overpowering force; be it a super villain, a monster or another army.



16. The triangle layout

Like any shape, the middle will create a focal point for the audience to see. In this example, Thor and his hammer are in the centre, underneath the other characters. He therefore breaks the unified formation and stands out against the rest. He is thus at the top of the hierarchy when it comes to character importance.
The other elements are at either sides of the triangle and often enclose the main element.






There are many films in the industry right now and producers are running out of ideas. Most of the ideas are being recycled, which is why films can be predictable - even by looking at the poster.
It is good to break away from typical conventions and find a new way to make the poster original, while still catching the viewer's eye. People get bored of the same typical layouts being repeated and will begin to think that all films look the same. A stereotypical layout for a horror movie for example, would look cliché and unoriginal. But a new way to advertise it (e.g. some impressive graphics) would make it look refreshing and interesting for a change. Audiences will always have a genre preference, but producers need to add new things to the category in order to maintain their fans.

Teaser poster VS theatrical poster

A teaser poster is released in advance to promote the film early and make people aware of its existence. Then when the proper poster and trailer is released, the audience is already hyped for it. They are simplistic, in the way that they only have a basic image and design, with very little information about the film. The mysterious element of the teaser makes the audience wonder what the plot is about, who the characters are and what themes are included.

Here is the teaser poster for the film: World War Z

This picture doesn't even have an image, the main graphics is just the title with 'Z' being the largest letter. Brad Pitt's name is at the top, to attract fans and let the audience know that this will be a huge film, since this A list star is in it.
All we can tell about the film so far is that there is en epic war, judging by its title. This is already exciting because we want to see all the devastation caused by whatever has caused this disaster. That's the second most intriguing feature; why is it called the 'Z' war and who is the enemy? What part does Brad Pitt play in this? We can assume that he is a hero, since he is the protagonist. But who does he have to fight? What is at stake here?
It is a sophisticated teaser, which doesn't need to display all its graphic content in order to gain attention. The star's name, intriguing title and release date are enough to show to get attention.

Here is the real poster for the film.
A predicted, we can now see the devastating state of the world. Judging from the guns, helicopters, smoke and fire; we can expect lots of thrilling action, explosions and crashes in the film. There is still lots of mystery in this poster, since we can't see the enemy and we don't know what exactly Brad Pitt's character is doing there and what he's looking at. The 'invisible' enemy makes the premise of the film more terrifying. It must be a super powerful force to throw the world into chaos. The producers are purposely not showing it to save the big reveal for the film; which is a very effective way to generates hype.
The design of the title and positioning of the star's name, are elements that have been carried on to this poster. They are almost identical, apart from the colour and sharpness of the 'Z' as well as the how visible Pitt's name is against the background. It is important to carry on some of the features, so that the audience will associate the earlier hype with this film. It builds a brand identity.
However, those features are less prominent on this poster, since they now rely mostly on the main image to capture the audience's eye.
The real poster has more information (like the specific release date) because it is closer to the film's release, so the audience needs to be aware of when/where it's coming out, if they want to go and watch the film.

Film poster positioning and sizes

Production companies use a range of different media platforms to get their film lots of publicity. Here are some examples of where they advertise and why these are good or bad strategies.

Place	Advantage	Disadvantage
Bus stops	It can’t be turned off (like a TV can). People waiting for the bus will almost definitely read it out of boredom if nothing else. They may be seen by lots of people in the buses. Many people are at bus stops, at all times of the day. The large, colourful designs are eye catching. It reaches a varied audience.	Bus stops often get vandalised. It is hard to appeal to specific audiences. People don’t always read bus ads. There are probably more people using social media/watching TV than waiting at bus stops. These are therefore more effective places to advertise. They might be costly.
Billboards	They are huge and eye-catching. They attract attention from all drivers and people passing by. They are also seen by masses of people in buses/trains etc… By advertising in such a grand way, it shows that the film is high budget and good quality. They also can’t be turned off or changed by people. They are placed in populated areas.	They are very expensive. They are taken down after a while. It is again, hard to target specific people with such a broad form of advertising.
Magazine	The ad can be placed in certain magazines to appeal to a specific type of audience. Magazine’s get lots of readers. Magazines are kept longer than newspapers, since they are placed in offices or passed around between friends and families. The higher the magazine’s status, the higher the perception of the movie. Magazines are sold nationwide.	Some people ignore the ad sections. The magazine has to agree to the sponsor. It can be costly. Magazines have to made months in advance, so the film company has to meet those early deadlines and be patient in the film’s release. Magazines are quickly outdated. The reader will probably read it once before buying the next issue in a week.
Cinema	A lot of people enjoy watching the trailers before the movie starts. They get to experience in high definition, with surround sound and popcorn. This makes the film look better. It is a guaranteed audience, with a room full of people. No one can change or skip the ads. The audience will be a certain target group, since they are watching a particular film. Unlike print ads, cinema uses sound as well as visuals to capture their audience.	People might forget about the trailer, after having watched many other trailers as well as the film they paid to see. The other trailers shown are competition. Half of the audience are arriving/going to the toilet or not paying attention at the time when trailers are shown. It might be expensive.

Film posters are printed in various different sizes, depending on where they will be placed.

1. Here is an example of a movie poster, advertised at a bus stop:


They are always portrait (due to the shape of the bus shelter), with a large, eye-catching main image and the important text at the top of the layout. This is because people are unlikely to see the bottom of the poster. Their size is 40x60 inches (1016x1524mm).













2. Here is an example of a one sheet portrait poster. They are 27x40 inches (508x762mm).

















3. Here is an example of a UK 'quad' sized film poster. These are movie posters which can be advertised on the side of buildings. Cinemas usually have framed quad posters on their walls to advertise upcoming films. A quad film poster is 40x30 inches (686x1020mm), in a landscape format.

Film posters purpose and effect

Adverts are constructed in a way that gives them meaning; which achieves a certain reaction from the viewer. All of the credits, the design, the colour scheme etc... have been selected for a reason.
Here are four examples of what the advertiser was trying to achieve and how they wanted the audience to respond;

1.

This credit informs shows the audience that the movie being advertised was being made by the same people that made another film. The creators wanted the audience to be aware of this, to show that the content/style of the film would be similar. The response being, that the fans of that movie would then be interested in this movie. By doing this, they are getting sales from an existing fanbase as well as extra profit from others who are interested in the movie.

If the first movie was good and successful, people will assume this one is the same standard. Therefore it assures good quality and popularity. It also makes the gives the producers more publicity and a good reputation.

 

2.

The names of the actors are always shown near the title. Sometimes they are even in a bigger font, to draw more attention to them. Fans of popular actors will watch the movie, in order to see their idol. This generates much revenue for the film company.

It looks good for the film company to have a star cast, since it implies a high budget, meaning the quality of the film should be high. An A-list celebrity wouldn't waste their time in a B-list movie.

Some actors have a reputation for certain roles. For example, Leonardo Dicaprio is often in very successful movies and his acting is very good. So the effect is that an audience would associate the film with a fantastic plot and good acting. Patrick Wilson is known for his roles in a few wildly successful horror movies. So if viewers see his name on a movie poster, they might automatically assume that it's in the horror genre.

 

3.

IMAX is a futuristic, high-tech movie theatre in London. It offers services like 3D effects, digital surround sound and the world's largest screens. It is placed on some movie posters to advertise the theatre and convince viewers to go there. It says 'experience' it in IMAX, which implies that going there would completely change how the film is viewed. For example, it makes it seem more superior than other cinemas and film copies, as well as implying that there is more to this 'experience' than simply watching the film.

4.

Audiences know what they're going to get when the film is associated within a well known brand. For example, Disney was created for kids, so the contents of the film is suitable for children. The fairy-tale storylines of Disney movies are predictable, the art style/animation is similar and even the length of all the films are the same. Parents know from past Disney films, that the content they will get will include humour, heart-warming moments, emotions and good morals.
Since Disney is the most popular children's entertainment company with lots of success in the past (e.g. frozen) parents know that the film they are buying will be very good indeed.
Another example of a well known brand is 'Marvel'. This production company releases comic book based films with famous heroes, superpowers and high budget action. They have built up a big fan base with their films, so they would be aiming their content at this target group, in order to satisfy their fans and remain successful in the industry.
Therefore, audiences definitely know what they're going to get when buying from this brand.