Research into similar products: Ancillary Products: Film Posters

As well as the moving image product that we will have to create, we have to create two ancillary products which are a film poster and front cover of a film magazine. In this blog post, I am going to be analyse several film posters so I can compile a list of the generic codes and conventions of film poster. A film poster is used a promotion method for a film. Film posters are used in magazines, on billboards, on bus stops etc.

 

The main image used on this film poster is a photo of the main character in the Black Swan. There are feathers on the top of the poster which suggests that the film is something to do with a bird and the woman's face is cracked like china. This is used to reveal a little bit of the fate of the character in the film. On the film poster, there is a quote from a UK film magazine that says "AN EXTRAORDINARY INTOXICATING MASTERPIECE". The quote is a reliable as it is from a well known film magazine. Awards are always put on the film magazine like the main character of Black Swan is Academy Award Nominee Natalie Portman. This makes audiences want to watch the film because they will expect the acting to be good and award winning. There is also the small print that includes information for the audience but in small text so it doesn't divert from the main image. This tells us any information such s producer or director. The actors are written at the bottom of the poster just above the title of the film. These give extra information to the audience and make them want to watch the film.

The main image on the film poster has the main character from the film with bruises on his face which would make the audience want to know what has happened to him. The tagline for the film poster is "How Do You Wake Up From A Nightmare If You're Not Asleep?" which is directed to the audience and makes the audience want to know what happens. The small print is used to give information to the audience about the film. 








Codes and Conventions of a film poster:

• Image - a film poster always contains a main image that is used to attract audiences. The main image is either a still from the film or a character or iconography that reveals the films genre.
• Title - a film poster usually has the title of the film on it so people know what the film is called and so they can find out information on the film
• Director and Producers - especially for well known directors and producers they are displayed as a main selling point of the film
• Actors - Well known casts are usually on the film poster to sell the film further
• Quotes, Recommendations and Ratings - once a film has been screened to critics, film posters are recreated to include the positive reviews, ratings, feedback and ratings
• Awards -  an award is good to include on film poster as it would make audiences be more interested in seeing the film as it is award winning so must be good
• Taglines - in film trailers, taglines are used to emphasis something about the film as well as hint to the audience what will happen. They are also quite memorable.
• Dateline - so the audience will know when the film is out
• Small Print - normally contains the directors name, producers, actors, soundtrack,, production company, screenplay, rating, website and much more. It is written in small text so nothing is taken away from the image

This is the small print from the film poster of Fight Club