Research of film posters

Generic conventions of film
posters

• Title of film is always in the centre, either the bottom or the top. However it’s always above
the credits. It is usually the largest piece of text on the page, the font stands out from the
rest of the fonts as it fits with the narrative of the film. This is the most eye-catching thing on
the page other than the image.
• The credits are always at the bottom of the poster, this is usually a simple font, and the text is
very close together. They are positioned in the lower third of the poster. Which doesn’t
distract the audience away from the main image.
• The release date is always underneath the credits in a bold font that stands out.
• Medium/close ups are commonly used, also long shots are commonly used. The image is
always framed in the centre. The character in the images tends to use direct mode of
address, so the character is looking directly into the audiences eyes, this draws the audience
in, as the audience want to know what the character is thinking and whats going to happen.
Which makes the audience want to go and see the film.. The audience are able to see the
facial expressions and body language of the character.
• The antagonist is usually the main image on the poster, the direct mode of address creates a
sense of fear amongst the audience.
• Dark backgrounds are usually used on horror film posters, this fits with the genre. The dark,
dull colours create a sense of mystery and danger. It creates fear and anxiety because the
audience don’t know what could be lurking/hidden in the dark. Dark colours also give a sense
of coldness.
• A lot of red is used on horror posters, red is associated with danger, but also blood. Which
suggests that their will be some sort of violence that will occur in the film.
• The fonts used tend to very scruffy/rough looking, almost as if there has been some sort of
interference from the evil presence.

• Some posters have the names of other films that they have produced. They usually put in
films that have done well, and that have a good reputation amongst the target audience. So
if they like that film, it will encourage the audience to go and watch the film.
• On horror posters they tend to use a child as the main image, in horror films the child is
usually the most innocent and vulnerable character, so the child gets possessed and becomes
the antagonist. This is very unrealistic, you expect children to be innocent and vulnerable,
however on the poster they are portrayed as the complete opposite. Also objects like dolls
are associated with young children, which can make the audience feel uneasy. As they see
young children as vulnerable, they aren't able to look after and fend for themselves.
• High key lighting is used on the main image to make it stand out, this normally contrasts with
the dark background that is used. The high key lighting allows the audience to see the facial
expressions of the antagonists. Its like the protagonist is appearing from the darkness.
• There is usually a tag line on posters, which are in a big bold font. They link with the narrative
of the film. It is usually a quote from the trailer, and it sticks in the audiences mind, although
you get a sense of the narrative, it doesn’t give too much away. This makes the audience
want to go and watch the film.
• The credits usually start with the production company, and list the producers directors etc… it
also has the actors names. This is the smallest text on the poster. It doesn’t draw any
attention away from the main image, and title on the poster.
• In the main image the character is usually wearing normal clothing, for example in the
orphan poster she is wearing a dress with bows in her hair. This makes the audience assume
that she is innocent and vulnerable. Which makes them fearful as they know that bad things
are likely to happen to this innocent person. However they want to find out whats going to
happen so it draws them in.

Layout/structure
The title of film is in the last
third of the poster in the
centre. This is the most eye-
catching thing on the page
other than the image. The
title of the film is above the
credits.
The credits are below the
title of the film, they are
aligned in a central
position. They are in the
last third of the poster.
The release date is
underneath the credits,
and its in the central part
of the bottom third
Tag lines are placed at the top
and bottom of the poster.
The website for the film, is placed in the centre at the bottom of the poster, in a small font.
The image is framed in
the centre of the poster,
a medium close up is
used with a direct mode
of address
The production
companies logo’s are put
at the bottom of the
poster. On the right hand
and left hand side.

Font choices and text sizes
The title is the biggest text on the
poster, this is eye-catching and allows
the audience to know that it’s the title
of the film. The font used looks like girl
has scribbles/carved the writing into
the wall, its very scruffy and childlike.
This fits with the genre.
The second largest piece of text on the
poster is the main tag line. It helps the
audience to understand the narrative
without actually giving too much of
away. It lets the audience know that
something is going to happen to Esther
The font of the tagline is in a normal,
bold font. It stands out clearly. Also its
in white which makes the audience
assume that Esther is innocent and
pure.
The release date is in the same
font as the tagline, however the
release date is smaller that the
main tag line as it's not as
important. However the release
date is in bold as it needs to stand
out, so that the audience know
when they can go and watch the
film.
There is a rhetorical question next
to the release date; it's in the
same font as the release date.
However it's in a different colour,
the red contrasts with the white
tag line. The red connotes danger,
blood and evil, whereas the white
connotes innocence and purity.
This stands out as it's in a bold
font and in capital letters.
The credits on the poster are smaller
than the title, tag line and release date,
this is so it doesn't draw any of the
attention away to the main image and
title. The credits are small and very close
together, although they are in capitals
it's they are quite hard to read. They are
white, so the theme is maintained
throughout the poster.
The website for the film is in the same
font as the tag line and the release
date, so they have maintained the
font throughout most of the poster,
however it is one of the smallest
pieces of text on the poster.

Media language/Mise-en-scene and shot
typesA medium shot has been used on this
poster, this helps to show the
characters facial expression and body
language. She is positioned in the
centre of the frame. Also you can see
clearly that she is a child as the
audience can see what she is wearing
from the shot type. Also direct mode of
address has been used, which makes
the audience more connected with the
character, which makes them want to
go and watch the film
High key unaturalistic lighting has been
used on her face to contrast with the
dark background. This suggests that
what happens to ester isn't natural
which entices the audience to go and
watch the film.
The dark lighting in the background fits
with the genre of the film; it's as if the
character is appearing from the
darkness, which makes the audience
feel anxious as they don't know what
else could be in the darkness.
The green background fits with the
narrative of the film, green usually
connotes envy. This suggests that at
some point in the film Esther is likely
to be envious. Therefore the
background gives away some of the
narrative.
The character is wearing very childish
clothing; she has a dress on with bows
in her hair. The dress is green; the green
is used again to show that this character
has a streak of jealousy in her. Which
makes the audience intrigued as to
what is making her so jealous, which
encourages them to watch the film.
The bows in her hair suggest that she is
only still very young, this suggests that
she is vulnerable and innocent,
therefore making the audience
sympathise for her. The bows in her hair
are black which suggests that there is a
sense of mystery about her, and also a
sense of danger and possibly death.
This can make the audience doubt her,
because although she is wearing
childish clothing, the colours suggest
that she isn't as innocent as you would
think.

Esther is wearing what looks like school
clothes, which suggest she is still very
young. However the dress that she is
wearing, isn't very modern, its very old
fashioned. This suggests that she may
be a bit old before her time. This
contrasts with

Typical information in credits
• The major production company
• Other production companies associated
with the main one
• The actors/actresses
• Costume designer
• Music by
• Co-producers
• Editing by
• Production designer
• Director of photography
• Executive producers
• Produced by
• Story by
• Screenplay by
• Directed by

Layout/structure
The title is in the centre of the
poster, It's in the lower half of
the poster. Also the title is
tilted in its side. It's the most
eye catching thing on the page
The tag line is just underneath
the title, just to the right. The
text is a lot smaller. The tag line,
gives the audience an
understanding of the narrative,
letting them know that it's about
the house being haunted.
On the insidious poster they
have included previous films
that they have already
produced, that have a good
reputation. This encourages the
audience to go and watch the
film, because if they liked the
films mentioned, they will like
this film.
The credits are below the title
of the film, they are aligned in a
central position. They are in the
last third of the poster.
The release date is
underneath the credits, it is
in the centre. It's larger than
the credits and stands out
more; this encourages the
audience to watch the film.
The website address for the film is underneath the credits in the centre.
The production company’s logos
are put at the bottom of the
poster. On the right hand and left
hand side.
The main image of the boy is in
the framed in the centre of the
poster, a direct mode of
address is used, this makes the
audience feel like they know
the character better and have a
connection with them.
The background is an
establishing shot of the house.
This suggest to the audience
that the house is a key part in
the film.

Font choices and text sizes
The title of the film is the
largest text on the page; it's the
most eye catching part of the
poster other than the main
image. The title is sideways on
the poster; this is unusual and
suggests that things in the film
aren't what you expect.
Everything isn't in its exact
place.
The font is in a large, bold don't
that's fits in with the genre. It
has a very futuristic look to it.
The white suggests that the boy
is innocent and vulnerable;
however the S and I are in red,
this suggests that there is
danger and blood/violence in
the film.
The films that they have also
created are in the same font as
the rile, however it's not in a
bold font. Also it's a lot smaller
than the title. Also it's the right
way around, it's not sideways.
The better known film is larger
than the other one. This is to
encourage the audience to
watch the film, as the name of
the films catch their attention.
The tag line is in the same font
as the title, however it's not in
bold. It's a lot smaller than the
title and the other films they
have produced.
The credits are in a smaller font,
they are very close together. This
is so that it doesn't distract any
attention away from the main
things on the poster (the title,
the main image). Although they
are in capitals, they are quite
hard to read. They are white, so
the theme is maintained
throughout the poster.The website for the film is in
the same font as the tag line
and the release date, so they
have maintained the font
throughout most of the
poster, however it is one of
the smallest pieces of text on
the poster

Media language/Mise-en-scene and shot
typesA medium shot is used as the main
image of the boy, it is framed in the
centre of the poster. This allows the
audience to see his facial expressions
and body language. You can clearly see
that the antagonist is wearing. A direct
mode of address has been used, the
boy is staring at the audience, this
makes them feel unsettled. You can
clearly see that the character doesn’t
have any type of facial expression,.
You’d expect a child of the characters
age to be happy, however the boy is
the complete opposite.
Low key lighting is used; everything
is very dark and not naturalistic.
The dark lighting is used because it
fits on with the genre, it sets the
mood. It gives the poster a sense
of mystery and danger,
encouraging the audience to go
and see the film. The dark
background, suggests that its night
time and that most of the film
might be based around the fact
that things happen in the night.
This makes the audience feel
nervous as people don’t tend to be
afraid of the dark, and whats in the
dark.The character in the main image is
wearing night clothing, he is in a
dressing gown and the majority of it
is red. Red is associated with
danger, and blood, suggesting that
there will be violence in the film.
The boy looks young, this makes
the audience sympathise for him, as
they see him as vulnerable and
innocent.
The character in the main image has
very dark makeup, for example,
underneath his eyes are very dark. This
makes him look like there is some sort of
evil presence inside of him. Also the
darkness creates a sense of danger and
mystery.
The background is a long shot of
the house; this suggests that not
only the boy, but the house is a key
thing in the film. This gives the
audience an idea of what the film
is about. It also gives the audience
a chance to relate to the character,
as it seems very realistic. It looks
like an ordinary family home. This
makes the audience even more
sympathetic as they are aware
that this could be happening to
them. In the background you can
see that in the sky it looks like
there is a storm, this suggests that
things might take a turn for the
worst.

Research of film posters

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