The document analyzes and summarizes two silent comedy film posters: Charlie Chaplin's "The Kid" and Laurel & Hardy's "Towed in a Hole". Key aspects discussed include fonts, images, colors, and how conventions are used to appeal to audiences. Research conclusions note techniques like black and white coloring and facial expressions that will be considered for the author's own silent comedy poster. Studying successful posters allows understanding of how to advertise to the target audience through implicit visual elements.

1. Ancillary Posters
Research
Tesfah Watkins-Scott

2. Introduction
 The Silent Comedy 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.
 While I am planning to make my own silent comedy short film, I decided to
research silent movies with high profile silent comedy actors for example Charlie
Chaplin and Laurel & Hardy. Therefore I feel that my very own research should
include these particular silent comedy actors.

3. 1st Film Poster: Charlie Chaplin
“The Kid”

4. The strapline that has been used for this
particular magazine poster has been
made to look very appealing towards the
target audience. Even though the
strapline is quite dull visually, due to the
fact that it says “CHARLIE CHAPLIN” will
make the poster more successful. This is
because this particular actor is very
famous for his particular silent movies
during the 1920s.
Even though this strapline will be very
effective I feel that it may distract
members of the audience when they view
the actual poster. This is because, they
have made the strapline almost the same
font size as the masthead which has been
used. This may cause issues due to the fact
that the masthead should be the main
appealing aspect on the poster because
that’s the topic being analysed.

5. The Shape that has 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.

6. The border that has 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.

7. 2nd Film Poster: Laurel & Hardy
“Towed in a Hole”

8. The font used for 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.
I can see that this poster has stuck to the
conventional aspects of silent movie posters by
making the poster black & white. This will appear
to their target audience at an instant due to the
fact that their audience watch silent movies which
are conventionally black & white also.

9. The masthead is very 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.

10. Poster Research Conclusion
 Due to this research I have found that the two posters
use some implicit techniques so that they can appeal to
their audiences through the conventions that they have
stuck to such as the black & white poster colour and
also the facial expressions that have been used in the
main images.
 When creating my very own silent comedy poster I will
need to take these particular techniques into
consideration so that my poster will be visually
appealing to my target audience and therefore be
successful.