Poster Research

Poster Research

• 1.
  Ancillary Posters Research Tesfah Watkins-Scott
• 2.
  Introduction  The SilentComedy Marcus & I will produce will need to also contain 2 ancillary products including a film poster and also a double page spread which will present a review for our actual short film. As we will be working on the 2 ancillary products ourselves, I need to make sure that the poster and review help advertise our short film to our target audience. Our main target audience will be mainly Afro-Caribbean viewers, however due to the fact that it will be a comedy too the audience will not be too secluded.  Due to the fact that the sub genre will be a silent comedy I feel that it is only right that I study several silent comedy film posters for my research to help me with the production of my ancillary products. This will allow me to have a better understanding about the mise-en-scene in this particular type of poster e.g. what the character’s facial expression should look like or the clothing and props that is included in each image.
• 3.
  1st Film Poster:Charlie Chaplin “The Kid”
• 4.
  The Shape thathas been used for the main image of the poster links in well with the conventions of an actual silent movie. This is because in original silent movies the editors would use various shapes for each transition to each scene. As you can see for the main image in the poster they have used an oval shape to surround the image which will tell the reader automatically that the poster must be advertising a silent movie. Furthermore, the poster also keeps the conventions of an original silent movie by using only black & white for the colour of the image. I think that doing so will allow the audience to have a rough idea of what the film will consist of. Also, the mise-en- scene that they have used for the main image is quite smart as it portrays what type of genre the silent movie will be. This is because the two characters are hiding behind an object without noticing some sort of guard behind them, which will portray some sort of humour to the audience. The masthead that they have used for the silent movie “The Kid” I feel actually links in well with the whole poster for a few reasons. Firstly, the masthead goes well with the colour scheme of the whole poster as it involves the colours yellow & black which can also be found on the main image and also one of the cover lines. Secondly, most titles that are presented for silent movies are conventionally quite bold, and you can see the masthead used for this poem follows the same conventions. Lastly, I like the way they have made the masthead stand out by creating a shadow effect behind each letter allowing the masthead to be one of the most appealing aspects on the poster.
• 5.
  The border thathas I feel that the background been used to surround colour used for this poster the poster, also follows does link well with the genre the conventions of a of this movie which is a silent silent movie. This is movie due to the fact that because, when most silent films involve lots captions are shown in of grey and dark colours silent movies normally when shown. However, I feel the text will have that because the poster has some sort of border to appeal to its audience the surrounding it which colour used for the appeals to the target background makes the poster audience. look quite bland and boring towards the viewers. Also, the font that has been used for the The font that has been masthead works well used for the cover lines I with the actual title of feel works very well with film “The Kid.” The font the whole design of the is quite dull silent movie poster. The however, due to the fact font is quite sharp and that it’s very bold and straight which I feel goes contains rounded & well with the mood of the straight letters tells the poster a due to the fact audience what type of that the font visually suits movie the film is going the genre of the film. to be.
• 6.
  2nd Film Poster:Laurel & Hardy “Towed in a Hole”
• 7.
  The font usedfor this particular poster I feel works really well with the genre of the silent movie. As soon as this silent movie’s target audience view the title of the film they will instantly know that the sub genre will be a silent comedy. Furthermore, the design of the font is very adventurous and unique. Because of this design the poster will appeal to the films target audience as soon as they look at it. The font is very rounded to give an almost child like feeling to the audience. Also, the layout of the title works well with the poster as both titles “Laurel & Hardy” have been placed in an almost curved position which allows the poster to seem more humorous. The main image that has been used for this poster is very unique. The image makes the overall poster look like a cartoon due to pencil drawn type of image. Also the mise-en-scene used in this image presents to the audience a sense of adventure and funny scenarios.
• 8.
  The masthead isvery effective towards the audience as it consists of a variety of font sizes The subhead that has been which allows the main section of the title to be used for this poster is quite emphasised against a smaller and less bolder effective to the audience. font. This is because the subhead has been designed to have a different font and font colour Also, the smaller to the masthead on the sections of the poster. title have been positioned next to each character which I feel has been done on purpose so that the two characters from the main image Moreover, the subhead are introduced that has been used also by the poster. uses rounded letters to support the masthead . I feel that this will keep the audience interested An italic font has been used to support as it has been designed the producers name. The font is quite to also support the sub appealing especially because it is not genre. too big like some other aspects on the poster. This would make the poster look to crowded and busy.