This document provides a history of film posters. It discusses how film posters have been used since the earliest films to promote and advertise movies. Studios produce multiple posters that vary in size and content for different markets. Early posters typically featured illustrations rather than photos and focused on imagery related to the film rather than the actors. Modern posters often highlight the main stars through photographs. Posters are displayed in theaters and public spaces to promote upcoming films and can also be used in advertising through other media like websites and DVD packaging.

1. HISTORY OF FILM
POSTERS
By Nathan Brown

2. A film poster is a poster used to promote and advertise a film. Studios often print several
posters that vary in size and content for various domestic and international markets. They
normally contain an image with text. Today's posters often feature photographs of the main
actors. Prior to the 1990s, illustrations instead of photos were far more common. The text
on film posters usually contains the film title in large lettering and often the names of the
main actors. It may also include a tagline, the name of the director, names of characters, the
release date, etc.
Film posters are displayed inside and on the outside of movie theaters, and elsewhere on the
street or in shops. The same images appear in the film exhibitor's pressbook and may also
be used on websites, DVD (and historically VHS) packaging, flyers, advertisements in
newspapers and magazines, etc.
Film posters have been used since the earliest public exhibitions of film. They began as
outside placards listing the programme of (short) films to be shown inside the hall or movie
theater. By the early 1900s, they began to feature illustrations of a film scene or an array of
overlaid images from several scenes. Other posters have used artistic interpretations of a
scene or even the theme of the film, represented in a wide variety of artistic styles.

3. On the left is John Carpenter’s “The Thing” from 1982,
and on the right is “The Dressmaker” 2015. The contrast
between the two reflects the difference of old and new
film posters as a whole. The style of the early 80s and
late 90s is very artistic and something to be admired on
its own. It’s encoded with references to the film and
doesn’t use any actors to draw in attention, just pure
focus on the ‘thing’ and what it could be, building hype
and interest. The Dressmaker on the other hand is just
trying to fit as many famous actors as they can on to the
poster to maximise exposure and draw fans in purely on
face value, no real thought went into it. Today’s posters
show off awards and reviews to win over opinions and
audiences without showing them anything interesting.
Although today’s audience is meant to be very active
(uses and gratification) in deciding what they want to
watch, but they appear to be heavily influenced by what
other people say (reviews/awards).