Coursework: Film poster research and pre-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.
Title, tagline, main image, main character, setting, release date, reviews and ratings, institutional details, genre and audience
2) What makes a film poster instantly recognisable?
Actor as Main image, Title of film, Reviews around the poster, small print at bottom3) What are regarded as some of the best film posters of all time? Why?
The GoodFellas
The three charters seem shadowy over a dead body making them seem phantomj-like. This connotes to how much murder they cause.
The Godfather
The character's black tuxedo fades into the black background. The simplicity keeps the focus on this character showing his importance and dominance within the film.
Attack the Block
The tagline is well written and describes the film well. It also adds to the image above giving the viewer an idea of what they are looking up towards. Having them in front of the block of flats also adds to the binary opposition created by the tagline
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?
I plan on having a tower block in the background similar to the 3rd poster as I feel it will help set the scene for my film
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:
Yardie:
Ill manors:
Boyz n the Hood:
The Intent 2:
Attack the Block:
1) What conventions are the same on each poster for the same film (i.e. the film's consistent branding)?
2) What differences can your find between the alternative posters for the same film?
3) What target audience do you think each poster is targeting and why? How can you tell?
Some of the posters seem more artistic than others which indicates how they are trying to appeal to more people by making different posters with different visuals. Ultimately, they are probably trying to target the same target audience with the different posters, however people within this targeted group may have different preferences in artistic value on the posters.
4) What can you use from these posters in your own film poster planning and production?
I want to use the Block in the background similar to the poster in 'Attack the Block' as I feel it sets the scene of where the film takes place. It also gives the audience a sense of understanding of what the film we be based around and can see connotations on the content and characters which may be seen.
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?
I want to have the protagonist in at least 2 of my posters with a solo shoot on one of them. The second poster will feature the protagonist and the sidekick and only have 2 on the poster to keep it minimal. In my third poster, I plan on not using any characters, but just a simple shot of the scenery where the film takes place (a council estate).
2) What images do you need for each film poster? Write a detailed description.
In the solo poster, I want to have an image of the protagonist with his back to the camera looking up towards a tower block with his football boots in one hand and a knife in the other. The 2 man poster will feature the 2 characters in balaclavas with one of the characters lifting it slightly to reveal only half of his face. The final poster will be a high angle shot looking down on the whole of the area.
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?
Solo shoot (Outside):
4) What costume, props or make-up will you require for the photoshoot(s)?
I will need tracksuits, balaclavas, football boots, a knife and a duffel bag.
This planning should take around a week - perhaps slightly longer if you are currently filming. However, it is absolutely critical that you complete this pre-production work if you are to create three professional-level film posters.
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.
Title, tagline, main image, main character, setting, release date, reviews and ratings, institutional details, genre and audience
2) What makes a film poster instantly recognisable?
Actor as Main image, Title of film, Reviews around the poster, small print at bottom3) What are regarded as some of the best film posters of all time? Why?
The GoodFellas
The three charters seem shadowy over a dead body making them seem phantomj-like. This connotes to how much murder they cause.
The Godfather
The character's black tuxedo fades into the black background. The simplicity keeps the focus on this character showing his importance and dominance within the film.
Attack the Block
The tagline is well written and describes the film well. It also adds to the image above giving the viewer an idea of what they are looking up towards. Having them in front of the block of flats also adds to the binary opposition created by the tagline
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?
I plan on having a tower block in the background similar to the 3rd poster as I feel it will help set the scene for my film
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:
Yardie:
Ill manors:
Boyz n the Hood:
The Intent 2:
Attack the Block:
1) What conventions are the same on each poster for the same film (i.e. the film's consistent branding)?
- They all feature the films release date
- They have the same tagline throughout
- They have the name of the director and cast
- All feature the small print at the bottom
- They all feature the name of the film usually in the same font on all the posters
2) What differences can your find between the alternative posters for the same film?
- They sometimes showcase other characters within the film rather than just the protagonist
- Some alternative posters don't feature any of the characters
- Different setting and colour scheme
3) What target audience do you think each poster is targeting and why? How can you tell?
Some of the posters seem more artistic than others which indicates how they are trying to appeal to more people by making different posters with different visuals. Ultimately, they are probably trying to target the same target audience with the different posters, however people within this targeted group may have different preferences in artistic value on the posters.
4) What can you use from these posters in your own film poster planning and production?
I want to use the Block in the background similar to the poster in 'Attack the Block' as I feel it sets the scene of where the film takes place. It also gives the audience a sense of understanding of what the film we be based around and can see connotations on the content and characters which may be seen.
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?
I want to have the protagonist in at least 2 of my posters with a solo shoot on one of them. The second poster will feature the protagonist and the sidekick and only have 2 on the poster to keep it minimal. In my third poster, I plan on not using any characters, but just a simple shot of the scenery where the film takes place (a council estate).
2) What images do you need for each film poster? Write a detailed description.
In the solo poster, I want to have an image of the protagonist with his back to the camera looking up towards a tower block with his football boots in one hand and a knife in the other. The 2 man poster will feature the 2 characters in balaclavas with one of the characters lifting it slightly to reveal only half of his face. The final poster will be a high angle shot looking down on the whole of the area.
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?
Solo shoot (Outside):
- Low angle shot of protagonist holding knife and football boots in either hand, back turned to camera in front of tower block
- Medium shot of protagonist side on looking behind him while walking with duffel bag over back (facing camera)
- Using back lighting to create shadowy effect, have 2 characters wearing balaclavas with one character raising his balaclava. Medium to close up shot of both characters side by side facing the camera
- High angle establishing shot of council estate.
4) What costume, props or make-up will you require for the photoshoot(s)?
I will need tracksuits, balaclavas, football boots, a knife and a duffel bag.
This planning should take around a week - perhaps slightly longer if you are currently filming. However, it is absolutely critical that you complete this pre-production work if you are to create three professional-level film posters.
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