The document discusses different genres of film posters and common design elements used for each genre. For romance film posters, the main elements typically include a close shot of the two main characters, with the female character as the main focus. The color schemes, images, and text used aim to convey the romantic relationship at the center of the film's narrative. Analysis of five romance film posters shows common traits like positioning the characters close together and using taglines or backgrounds to provide context about the story.

1. Film Posters
Libby Jones

2. Romance film posters
Comedy film posters
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One of the first things you notice about
comedy film posters is the use similar
colours. They tend to use bright “artificial
colours”.
Characters that are smirking
A picture of an unusual situation such as
Jim carrey surrounded by penguins in the
first example.
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The main part of the posters shows a photograph
or shot from the film showing the two characters
in a close relationship. This is because the main
selling point and focus of a romance film is the
relationship between the characters.
The most predominant character is the female
(who is usually the main character). This is
because romance film usually target a female
audience. The male characters is often in the
picture to show the relationship but the female
seems to be the main focus. As seen in the images
above it’s the woman that is looking towards the
camera.

3. Action/Adventure film posters
Horror and thriller film posters
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Horrifying /disturbing or abnormal
images
Strong use of the colours black and red
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Common colours used to illustrate action films is
gold and ‘earthy’ colours such as blue, brown and
green.
Most adventure films posters are filled with
complex images this is done to show the filmed is
‘packed with action’

4. Crime film posters
Sci- Fi film posters
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The most obvious similarity between scifi film posters is the use of the colour
blue. The colour blue can often be used
in posters to show there is a sci-fi
element to the film.
The sci-fi posters include images which
either show a strange character you
wouldn’t expect to see in everyday life or
a futuristic looking object.
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Guns are one of the main iconography elements
used in crime films . Crime film posters usually
have an action shot of the main character(s)
partaking in some form of criminal act.

5. Documentary film posters
Musical film posters
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The posters are generally bright and
colourful and have a false/staged or
unrealistic look about them. They give
the impression of a theatre performance.
The film posters for documentary films don’t
really follow a pattern. The poster displays what
the documentary is about and there is a vide
variety of documentaries on different subjects.
•
Documentary film posters use real photographs as
appose to staged scenes or actors to show the
realism of the film.

6. What do all film posters have in
common?
The film title
usually the most visible
part of the poster design.
In most cases the title is
big and bold to allow the
audience to clearly see
and remember the
name.
Elements needed
to make a film
poster
The name of a well known actor
or director from the film
Sometimes if the film has a famous
actor, director or author their name(s)
are placed in a larger font than the
credits in the poster design. This can
be a selling point to the film or a way
of making the genre of the film clear.
The films ‘tagline’ and/or a
film review quote.
This is an advertising tool used to:
• Give the audience a clue as to
what the film is about.
• Link the film to previously
successful films that could
have the same
actors, director, production
company or a similar storyline.
• A slogan helps people to
remember the film.
• Good reviews help ‘sell’ the
film.
Image(s)
Credits
All the posters have ‘credits’ on them
usually at the bottom of the poster. I
don’t know what the actual font used
for this is but a similar looking font is
‘univers ultra condensed’ font.
Used to illustrate what the film
is about. In romance films their
tends to be one central image
this could be an image from a
photo-shoot or a still shot from
the film.

7. Analysis of romance film posters
1.) P.S. I love you
The white
background
denotes purity and
suggests there's an
innocents to the
narrative
The red title is the boldest
part of the poster . The
colour red connotes love
and passion. The
handwritten style of the text
could be a reference to a
letter(s) that is written in
the film.
The position of the
characters and their
facial expressions
suggests the
characters are in a
loving relationship.
Who is the poster aimed at?
the poster is aimed at adults who like
romantic dramas. I now this because the
poster shows two middle-aged characters that
appear to be in a mature relationship. There
appears to be a seriousness about the film
making it very unlikely for a child or young
person to watch.
What can we learn about the film from the
poster?
The image suggests the film is a romance.
There is only one main image which shows the
relationship between the two main characters
is what the film is all about.
My views on the poster
I like how basic the poster is and would like to
use this style in my own film poster. However I
would like to emphasise the characters dress
and location more when making a film poster
for the film 'letter for tom’.

8. Analysis of romance film posters
2.) Titanic
Juxtaposition
between the image
of jack and rose
and the titanic
which is mostly
coloured black .
This image shows the
characters are in love
because of how close
they are. The picture
has a low opacity effect
almost implying theirs
something ‘heavenly’
about the relationship.
The fact that the close
up image of the
characters is in the sky
could imply that they
have a very pure
relationship.
Alternatively it could
foreshadow the death in
the storyline.
The black bottom
of the ship takes
up most of the
poster. The black
implies the film is
tragic.
Who is the poster aimed at?
The characters in it are adults this implies the
story includes ‘adult themes’ making it more
appropriate for people over the age of 12.
The film also has historical context which could
appeal to people interested in the story of
titanic.
What can we learn about the film from the
poster?
The tagline ‘nothing on earth could come
between them’ reveals to the audience that
the film is a romantic drama.
My views on the poster
I like the layout of the poster and the way the
images are layered up because I think it visibly
shows what the genre and context of the film
without giving away spoilers.

9. Analysis of romance film posters
3.) Dear John
Because they are
well known the
actors are listed at
the top of the poster.
This image shows the
male character
embracing the female
character. Because of
this we assume it is a
romance film. Its typical
of for a romance film to
feature two main
characters.
What can we learn about the film from the
poster?
We can assume from the main actors in the
film that the film is going to be a romance. This
is because actors such as Channing Tatum tend
to act in similar films. He is well known for
playing the male love interest in many popular
romantic dramas.
Also there appears to be a faded image of a
beach in the background which links to the
idea of a romantic getaway.
My views on the poster
I think the actors are the main selling point of
the film because there is very little else in the
poster that explains the film.
It looks as though the title and credits have
been layout in the format of a letter .

10. Analysis of romance film posters
4.) Kate and Leopold
The tagline ‘if they
lived in the same
century they'd be
perfect for each
other’ is the biggest
giveaway as to what
the film is about.
We can see his costume
in the photo which
reveals to the audience
who the characters are.
What can we learn about the film from the
poster?
• The male character is in front of the female
which could be to show he is the main
character.
• We already know from the tagline that the
film has characters from two different time
periods. Because Leopold is wearing
vintage styled clothing we can assume he
is a character from the past.
My views on the poster
I chose to analyse this poster because the
genre and style is the same and the storyline is
similar. I like the golden colours used in the
poster.

11. Analysis of romance film posters
5.)The Time traveller's wife
As with most romance
film posters the
position of the
characters shows they
are in a close
relationship.
The patterned
background brings a
sci-fi element to the
poster.
What can we learn about the film from the
poster?
The layout of the poster is slightly different to
a usual romance poster arrangement. The
characters are laid on one side of the
poster, making the male character almost
upside down to the audience. This might have
been done to indicate that something unusual
is going to happen to the character in the film.
My views on the poster
I like the unusual layout of the poster because
it makes it stand out from other romance film
advertisements.

12. Poster layout Ideas
Layout one
Layout two
Layout three