the codes and conventions of a movie poster

1. I have research movie poster codes and conventions to enhance my
understanding and knowledge of how film production companies advertise a
film effectively through the use of film posters.

2. Movie posters only have one main image
– which is usually at the centre of the
poster or is the full size of the poster.
One image is used to highlight the
audiences attention to the main aspect
of the film.
For example, this film poster displays a
rose for the image; this denotes a flower
and immediately love is connotated to
the film.
Codes + conventions:
ImagePrior to the films release there are two movie
posters made – one features the main
character while the other features a
metaphor or significant item concerning the
film:
The lighting of the image usually annotes the genre of the
film itself – the ‘black swan’ movie posters used a mixture
of dark and light colours to express the mystery of the film
to the audience.
Direct address is frequently featured on movie posters to
appeal to the audience directly e.g through eye contact.

3. Codes + conventions:
Title
The title of each film is usually
positioned below the main character
within the image.
The title is not the main focus on movie
posters but it stands out among all other
text that appears on the poster.
The title appears in bold interesting and
attractive font contrasting the genre of
the film:
Horror – title appears
unease and spooky.
Love – title appears
fun and happy.
Movie posters must print the films’ title as the
audience have to be informed of important details
of a film that they can research or ensure they
watch that specific film.
However, there has been few releases of movie
posters of a film where the title of the film was not
printed. This can only happen if the film has a
massive niche audience, a franchise, and where the
film itself is being talked about a lot.
An example of this is the Harry Potter franchise. The
final film in the
series; ‘Harry Potter
and the Deathly Hollows
Part 2” released their
movie poster without
the title of the film as
the film was widely
expected by audiences
because the blockbuster had previously been so
successful.

4. Codes + conventions:
Text
Different text is used on movie posters;
text appears in small fonts on the
bottom half of the poster which includes
simple but specific details concerning the
film such as:
•Ratings
•Awards
•Date of release
These details are printed in small print
usually as although vital for the audience
to know all about the film they are not
important for luring a audience in the
view the film.
The information is not exciting and so
the font used does not attract the
audience is any given way. Instead, the
font is clear and small – only readable at
arms distance and so does encourage
the audience to read the movie poster at
close glance, intriguing an interest in the
film.
Many times movie posters do not specify the
specific date at which the film will be released;
instead in a slightly bigger font it may read,
“COMING SOON” which aids the excitement for
release of the film.
In the small print of movie posters a list of the directors,
producers, production company, soundtrack and screenplay is
listed as legal requirements to allow the audience to
recognise all those involved in the film.
Most often the small print on movie posters is not read as it is
not presented effectively to sell the film to the audience.
Attention is not diverted to the small print
in the movie poster ‘Shutter Island’ yet it
takes up quarter of the poster.

5. Codes + conventions:
Taglines ‘quotes’
Quotes or taglines are often used on
movie posters to emphasis a hint to the
plot or storyline of the film.
Taglines are short and effective and
often relate to the title of the film.
‘The Lovely Bones’ movie poster had a
tagline that read; ‘The story of a life and
everything that came after’. There is a
clear connection between the title of this
film and its tagline – the audience can
recognise there has been a death
(‘bones’ and ‘everything that came
after’).
The film ‘Alien’ released their movie
poster with the tagline ‘In space no one
can hear you scream’ which connects the
title of the film and the tagline – the
audience are now aware space is the
location and aliens are the subject.
Some movie posters use quotes that help the audience identify a film such as the
film ‘Forrest Gump’, the tagline on the movie poster read, ‘Life is like a box of
chocolates’, which became the famed quote of the film. These words were
repeated throughout the whole film and so the film is often quoted using the
tagline because it added to the quality of the film.
Taglines are important on movie posters as they can be later linked to the success
of a film – just like the ‘Forrest Gump’ example. The film, and its tagline, is
considered a classic.