Evaluation for Media Controlled Assessment Film Poster

1. Kira Moore GCSE Media
FILM POSTER EVALUATION

2. RESEARCH
My research allowed me to look at the different
genres of films and how they generally looked.
From this I could use the conventions when
creating my own poster. I found that throughout
all of the styles of film poster a general rule was
three colours with the title central and at the
bottom. However this did vary.
Generally it was a mid shot of the main actor with
a background behind them. If it was a group
franchise then you had the main supporting roles’
faces towards the background with the main
characters more central and larger.
I found this out through my research and
analysing several posters pulling bits from each
to make my own poster.
The teaser research I did was to a lesser extent
as there was a lot less to include. Enough to
suggest what the film could be about but not
enough to give anything away.
So , in summary, my research was very useful as
it allowed me to pull sections and conventions
from different posters and use them in my own to
make a professional looking piece.

3. MARKET RESEARCH
After researching my target audience I created a audience profile that detailed the
audience I was aiming my film at. Much of my idea behind the general plot is pulled
from different books and films so my research was on people who would like these
kinds of things. Namely, paranormal and supernatural films such as the mortal
instruments in particular.
One of my main ideas for the poster came from the cloud atlas poster as it
represented not only my target audience but also many of the conventions I wanted
to use as, like my film, it contains many different stories within one.
It uses subtle mise-en-scene to suggest the different stories apparent from the use
of costume. This is reflected in my poster.
Other market research I did was ask some people about what they though made a
good supernatural/action and from the answers I was able to derive some of the
main trends people like to see within my chosen genre.

4. While making my poster I realised the effects I wanted
to use weren’t available on Photoshop so I had to work
around it. The lighting I needed was also difficult to find
but I did eventually find images that reflected the lighting
on my main characters. The background characters
didn’t matter as much as I blended them into the
background to show they weren’t a huge part of the
story.
Another thing I changed was the amount of images I
was originally going to use. When I put the poster
together it looked too busy and chaotic so I cut the
images back and included only the important ones that
worked. I also change some of the original images such
as the apple becoming a hand holding one so that it
looked more natural.
I replaced the missing images with character images
which I thought would clarify the plot more. They looked
better and more organized than just the random,
unordered pictures of random objects. However I was
going for a busy look to reflect the films nature.
CREATIVE DECISIONS
As I added the new images of characters I found a
certain blending tool which took only parts of their faces
out and used this as it made the images look as though
they were disappearing into the background.
The font I used was to reflect the base on the plot with a
story font. Handwritten fairy-tale font. I looked on
dafont.com for inspiration but was able to find what I was
looking for readily available on PhotoShop. If I was going
to change anything it would probable be to make the
images in the background wither all grey or more grey so
that they blended more and fit with the 3 colour
convention of most film posters.

5. CODES AND CONVENTIONS
Three Colours
(Red, Black and
White)
Film name central and at the
bottom of the posterMid-Shots of main
characters central
Small printed credits that
don’t stand out
Age Certificate at the
bottom corner
Supporting roles
characters at the sides in
the background
See research for detailed
analysis on conventions.
Background links to
settings in the film
Costumes links
to time period
settings
I didn’t include film companies
or actors names as I think it
would take away from the main
plot I’m trying to convey and
that it is eye-catching enough
without having to draw in an
audience with ‘big names’. I
have included them in the
credits and believe that to be
enough. Plus some people will
recognise famous faces just
from their appearance on the
poster.
Catchy slogan central along the
top.
Iconic images
relating to genre and
the plot of the film

6. COMPARISON TO ONE IN MY CHOSEN GENRE
Similarities:
• Multiple characters
• Different backgrounds on top of
each other to show different
elements of the film
• Title and credits central at the
bottom
• Costumes reflect different time
periods
• Props and icon used to show
different eras and storylines
• Characters central
• Age restriction listed
• Main characters have mid-shots
• Layers blended to form one
image
• All characters are shown in the
same or similar lighting
Differences:
• No actors listed
• Mine has a slogan
• All characters are separate
• Darker colour scheme
• Not original font
• Darker lighting on characters
• Not all characters central
• No sun glare or source of light
evident
• No release date
• No company logo
• Credits stand out more on the
Cloud Atlas poster
• All my supporting characters
are blended to the
background not central

7. RELATION TO TARGET AUDIENCE
Due to my popular theme the main audience would consist of people that had already seen films similar. My film is
aimed at both male and females of the age 13 and up. This means that to draw their eye sex appeal and the
promise of something supernatural has to be employed. By using attractive males and females on the poster it
appeals to both males and females and by having the wolf silhouette, pentagram and castle it shows a
supernatural element. The pentagram is also used in the popular TV show Supernatural so people that watch that
will look at the poster even though it isn’t about that TV show.
The dark colouring leaves mystery and sinister connotations. This draws my chosen audience in as they would
have to look twice to properly see the poster and piece together what it was about. Using the costumes from
different time eras also adds mystery as well as hinting again to the plot. By placing the girl in the centre of the two
boys we create the sense of her not only being the main character (and so appealing to girls as the protagonist is
a girl) but also knowing the two dark and brooding figures behind her.
At the minute every successful book or film has had one cheery good guy and one dark bad boy both vying for a
girl’s affections. It creates tension and means that the girl must choose. When looking at this poster that
subconscious message is conveyed and so draw in the target audience of teenagers.
By having the different settings it hints to action which appeals to males as well as all of the pretty girls included in
the poster.
By using a question as the slogan it creates curiosity which adds to the mystery. Alongside this the promise of
something paranormal (the wolf and the apple) creates curiosity.
Overall, without the audience even being aware of it, the poster will leave the onlooker curious, drawing links
between the characters and looking for a plot which explains the variety of costumes and settings. It draws them
in with the bold colours in contrast to the dark background and hints to just enough of the plot to leave them
interested even without the big names. This all related to the target audience as things that are light are often
related to comedies but this is more of a sci-fi/fantasy action thriller so the dark colours reflect this and draw in
people who are interested in darker films.
The age of the actors reflects the age of the target audience making it more relatable and interests them as they
are all attractive.
See audience profile for target
audience analysis.

8. SUCCESS
I think my poster were successful as I was able to achieve a semi-
professional finish on them and (as show previously) they fit with most
of what I was trying to achieve through the codes and conventions of
my chosen genre and fitting with my target audience.
Some things I would change if I did this again would probably be the
lighting on the main characters as, while effective to create and air of
mystery, they are supposed to draw the eye but I find they blend
slightly too much with the background. It is clear that they are there
just not that they are as important as they should appear.
I am pleased with the overall aesthetic of the posters as the message of mystery and supernatural parts is put across
clearly without them looking overly amateurish or too disjointed. The teaser shows the main theory behind the plot and
the main characters without giving too much away about the actual film. The poster gives just enough to leave the
audience interested and curious. It was the first time I used Photoshop making these posters and I thing that I have
done an overall good job making them look realistic as one image and not lots of separate ones layered over each
other.
I wanted to include a sun glare off of the title but was unable to due to restrictions on photoshop and the time limit. I
think that if I had it would’ve made it look too busy anyway. I like the effect created with the different fonts and colours
along with the different shots of the characters included.
Given more resources I would have made it look completely professional by refining the edges on things and having
actual models in period clothes instead of layering the clothes over the models. I would also have included more than
just one original image so I could get all of the lighting to match making it more realistic again. However, I think give the
time and resource I have done a good job and created two posters that I am proud of and reflect my initial ideas.