This document analyzes the conventions used in four different movie posters: "All Cheerleaders Must Die", "Zombieland", "A Haunted House", and "Piranha 3DD". For each poster, key elements like the main image, text placement, colors, and slogans are described. Common techniques like using bold text, reviews, and release dates to attract audiences are also discussed. Overall conventions like fitting the poster to the film's subgenre and creating narrative enigmas are evaluated.

1. Assignment 7:
Conventions Of Film Posters
Judy Ibelgauptiene
Katia Martins
Courtney Buabeng
Noor Naoum

2. ‘All Cheerleaders Must Die’

3. The image used is a
long shot of a
cheerleader which
links to what the film
is about.
A review is placed in
the top right corner to
try and attract
audiences.
The image connotes
death as one cheerleader
is seen on the floor
possibly dead and the
other sitting in a chair
splattered in blood.
The slogan is the
second biggest text
and placed above all
the credits.
The mast head is
seen in the centre
of the poster, this is
to draw attention
to the title and
image.
The text is placed in
non distracting
places to keep
attention in the
centre. This is also
done by making the
title big and bold.
The colour red is
used to symbolize
pain and death.

4. Narrative enigma
created: why is she
still alive?
Why must all
cheerleaders die?
The MES is a
cheerleaders outfit
which links to the
title and theme of
the poster. The
colour palette used
also links in with the
uniform (red, white
and black).
This poster fits its
subgenre as there is
blood (horror) and its
based on
cheerleaders
(comedy).
The production
and distribution
company are
mentioned first in
the billing and
then all the actors.
The film is said not
to be rated yet.
Simple but informative.

5. Zombieland
(2009)-
(comedy/horror)

6. Main character
names are sued here
in bold to attract
audiences attention.
The title
“Zombieland” is in
big bold font to
attract the audiences
and attention and to
be recognisable to
them.
Weapons connote
violence and the
colour symbolism
red connotes
blood therefore
death and pain.
The slogan “nut up or shut
up” is just under the main
title showing its importance,
its short but sharp and has
big meaning towards the
film itself.
The release date
stands out between
the credits as is it
very important to
audience to know
when the film is
going to be released.
The credits are
at the bottom
in order to
thank whoever
was apart in the
film such as the
distribution and
production
companies.
The main image is a
long shot of the four
main characters that
work together to fight
the zombies in the film
this is also shown by
there weapons.

7. ‘A Haunted House’

8. The close up shot
establishes the main
characters of the film
and the figure in the
background doing a
‘peace’ sign conveys the
subgenre of the film.
The texts are the
names of the main
characters and are
written in white to
stand out from the
black background.
The bold writing and red
font of the mast head
on a black background
establish the horror
genre and it is placed on
the bottom half of the
page to draw attention.
The frame of the
main image is a
camcorder to portray
the main feature of
the film is do with
filming “paranormal
activities.”
The slogan
demonstrates the
element of comedy
and is placed before
all the features on the
page.

9. ‘Piranha 3DD’

10. The subheading is
placed on the top in
bold red font. The
red font can portray
an idea of danger.
The contrast between
the lady relaxing and
the dangerous
piranhas is quite
obvious. This is due
to the colour palette
being mainly red and
the contrast between
the calm blue.
The long shot of the
woman enables the
audience to establish
that she is a victim.
The slogan is almost set as a threat
to the audience. By using ‘you’
they are almost drawing the
audience into taking part. This can
attract a mass audience because
the audience can associate
themselves with this experience. It
also foreshadows the horrific side
of the movie.
The main focus is set on
the image of the piranhas
and the text. This is
because the audience
become aware of the
actual horror within the
movie.
The distribution companies,
production companies, the
billing and all the actor
names are placed at the
bottom so too much
attention isn't taken away
from the main text and
image.
The torn up background
portrays this idea of
human slaughter and an
idea of a dystopian
narrative.

11. Narrative enigmas:
Why is the lady still feeling
peaceful and hasn’t been
attacked/killed?
Why are they coming to the
water park near us?
The subtitle and the
slogan match the main
title which portrays the
idea of blood and danger.
The subtitle being placed
on top of the woman is
almost a subtle warning
to her.
This poster fits its
subgenre well because
the main image is based
on blood and piranhas
which is to do with
horror. Whereas the
text 3DD portrays the
comedic side of it.