The document discusses film poster conventions and provides examples from various movie posters. It identifies common elements of posters like the main image focusing on characters, placement of titles/credits, inclusion of taglines, and release dates. The document also discusses where posters are displayed publicly and how their visuals aim to attract wider audiences. Genre conventions and their similarities/differences are outlined as well. Priorities for posters like main actors, film name, images, and dates are identified as most important for audience interest and information needs.

1. Assignment 8: Film Poster
Research
Katia Martins

2. Give evidence of a range of film posters you have
researched.
Oculus
(2013)
Horror
The
Theatre
Bizarre
(2011)
Horror
The Last
Exorcism Part 2
(2013)
Drama/Horror/
Thriller
Alice In The
Wonderland
(2010)
Adventure/Family
/Fantasy
The Unborn
(2009)
Drama/Horror/
Mystery
The Proposal
(2009)
Comedy/Drama
/Romance
Four
Christmases
(2008)
Comedy/Drama/
Romance
The Avengers
(2012)
Action/Advent
ure/Sci-fi
Les Miserables
(2012)
Drama/Musical/
Romance
Skyfall (2012)
Action/Adventure

3. Put your posters into film genre categories and
identify some common icons in each genre
• Horror- the horror posters all portray abnormal
things and extreme flexibility and bleeding.
• Drama- the drama posters all show the
characters usually 2 this is so we see who the
main actors are and also gives a small clue on the
background of the film.
• Action- the action posters all show a lot going on
and we can see their weapons which is what they
use to protect themselves.

4. What are the different types of film posters?
• Character posters
• -Little information about the film and usually just focus
on the character as a way of selling the film through
this image.
• Main posters
• -This poster usually contains the most vital information
that we need to know about the film such as the film
name, the release date, the actors and the director of
the film.
• Teaser posters
• -Reveal very little information, and only ‘tease’ the
audience with given a hint about the film. Theses are
promotional posters for the film.

5. Where do film posters get shown and why?
• Billboards
• Side of the bus
• Bus stops
• Train station walls
• These posters are placed in these places
because they will be seen by a lot of people.
• There very big therefore they’ll catch peoples
attention.
• They are placed where people are usually
waiting meaning that they're will be bigger
chance of them reading the information on it
such as the title and the release date of the
film.

6. What is the typical size for posters?
• The typical poster sizes is called “One
Sheet”(27inches by 41 inches)- portrait
format.
• Billboards- (246 inches by 108 inches)
• Bus stops and underground posters- (40
inches by 60 inches)-portrait format

7. How are posters appealing/attractive to the audience?
The posters are seen as appealing to the audience by the use
of MES through the main image of the character. The
audience are attracted because the poster only gives out
vital information such as the name of the film and the
characters in it, therefore the audience are left with
enigmas such as, what happens in the film? What is the
film about? What life does each character have?
Does the appeal/attraction differ than that of the
poster?
The attraction of the poster is aimed at a wider audience than
that of the trailer. Anyone can see the poster as it is
advertised in public places. This means that the poster
cannot be aimed at any particular audience therefore must
be aimed at everyone to gain a wider audience.

8. What are the conventions?

9. Main Image
The main image on the poster is usually an image of
the main character/s, this is so that the audience
knows who the characters are.

10. Titles/Credits
Credits are usually
placed at the
bottom of the
poster and they are
used to give credit
to some of the
important people
(actors/producers/
distributors/makers
of film). The
director usually has
a different place in
the credits.

11. Tagline
Some posters have
taglines to make the
reader think about
the message behind
the film. They usually
give the audience
enigmas.
‘Fight.Dream.Love.Hope’
‘You see What They Want
You Too See’

12. Release Date
The release date is usually at the bottom of the poster.
Usually there is a specific date but some posters want
to tease therefore they just have ‘coming soon’.
‘The Last Exorcism Part 2’ has ‘March 2013’ this is the
way of keep the audience involved on their website to
keep an eye out when the release date is.

13. What are the similarities of conventions in similar
subgenres?
• Horror Thriller
-Follows one or various characters life
-There's always a problem or dilemma in a characters life
• Drama Thriller
-Follows one or various characters life
-There's always a problem or dilemma in a characters life

14. What is the difference of conventions between
different subgenres?
• Comedy Drama
- Funny episodes occur with a serious meaning
-usually follows a family or a group of friends adventure.
• Romance drama
-Always someone or something against the relationship
-Main character falls in love

15. Priorities: What do some poster prioritise
• The 4 most prioritised things in a film poster is:
1. Main actor names
2. Film name
3. Main image
4. Release date
These 4 things are the most prioritised
things in the film poster because they are
what the audience needs to know the most
before watching the film and they are also
what will interest the audience in doing so.

16. Summarise how your film posters reinforce
conventions
• My chosen film posters reinforce their
conventions through the main image. The film
poster for Skyfall reinforces the conventions
because the main image hints out to the
audience that the film will have action and
adventure due to the weapon and the red
blood connoting death and crime.