The document analyzes conventions used in thriller, drama, and thriller/drama film posters. For thriller posters, consistent use of low-key lighting and body language hints like a character running imply fear. Drama posters rely more on realistic features through natural lighting and plain backgrounds to engage audiences. Thriller/drama posters combine conventions like complex backdrops from thrillers and mix of lighting from both genres to represent the balance of themes. Overall, the author concludes that film posters focus more on a film's unique themes than strict genre conventions.

1. Poster Genre Research
Alexander Simpson

2. Thriller
Thriller/Drama
Drama

3. Thriller Film Posters
Taking a look at the thriller film posters on the slide above, the first thing which really
all of the film posters have in common in the consistent use of low-key lighting. As
low-key lighting is a consistent convention throughout thriller films, this have
translated into the film posters to help the audience get a feel for what the film might
contain. Looking into the use of characters on the thriller posters. Each character I feel
has a specific body language feature which hints to the audience a specific theme. For
example, in the film poster for the film “Taken” (which can be seen below) there is a
shot of the main character running away from something, This can be linked to
Barthes narrative theory – specifically the proairetic code as actions aren’t being
shown in a full. I believe that this connotes fear. Thriller film posters also generally
have a lot of substance, I believe that this can be seen in the representations of
characters show by the lower key light and editing/framing techniques used. For
example, memento shows a photo, within a photo within a photo. This could connote
that a character is a mess or has mental issues.

4. Drama Film Posters
In complete contrast to what I first noticed about thriller posters, drama film posters
have consistently been shown to have a more natural (in cases high key) light tone to
them. I think this is because they are relying on realistic features to make the audience
relate and engage with the story line. I also find that drama film posters don’t rely as
much on representation as much as the thriller genre. I think that this can be seen by
the constant use of plain backgrounds instead of a backdrop or setting with the
exception of the film silver linings playbook, in which the poster represents the
characters mental struggles, as well as the background, it can be said that less text is
shown on drama posters in contrast to thriller posters. This may be because the
appeal of drama films could be the characters whereas in thriller films people are
more interested in the story and themes.

5. Thriller/Drama Film Posters
Features which appear on both drama and thriller films again are evident in thriller/drama
films also, these being the use of actor promotion and titles, this being said it can be
argued that these features aren’t genre specific, but I still think it is worth pointing out.
Key features which I have picked up from thriller genre which have appeared in
drama/thriller posters include complex backdrops and representations. For example for
the posters limitless and roommate is shows the characters standing still with an effect
which makes the background seem active, this makes us feel as if the character is alone or
different. This being said, the backdrops does have relevance to the thriller genre, as the
use of familiar settings such as a city, or a university would be a relatable and realistic
setting, which fits in with generic drama conventions. A mixed of high and low key lighting
has been used. I think this could be an indicator on how prominent thriller conventions
would be in relation to dramatic conventions. For example the poster for shutter island
looks like it would have strong thriller themes such as suspense and fear.

6. Conclusion
In conclusion I feel as if both thriller and drama conventions can be seen within a
thriller/drama film movie poster. This being said I don’t feel that there are many strong
conventions which will be prominent throughout a genre and the film posters
produced. I think this is because each film has it’s own themes which it explores
regardless of genre. I feel that these themes will be much more prominent then genre.
An example of this could be for the film The Silver Linings Playbook. Although it is a
drama I feel that the themes of mental health stigmas and how this effects the
characters and how the characters feel towards each other (hinting to romance) are all
there in the poster regardless of what genre it comes too. That being said there are
trends which I will try to adhere too such a high/low key lighting and backgrounds to
show emotion that tend to be conventional to a genre as it matches the films
conventions. All in all, I feel that creating my film poster with the themes that I feel the
audience will find most interesting in mind will benefit the promotional factor of my
poster much more then if I just focus on adhering to genre conventions