The document discusses different elements and layout considerations for effective film posters. It explains that posters typically feature a central striking image depicting a narrative conflict, supporting text elements like the title and tagline, and prominent actor names. Proper use of fonts, colors, symbols and placement of elements according to principles like the rule of thirds aims to attract attention and convey key information to the target audience in a brief glimpse.

1. FILM POSTER LAYOUT: Z
It is thought that when a consumer
looks at a film poster, they scan from left
to right in the form of a
Z
PRODUCER’S CREDENTIALS
THE TITLE
Why do they think this info is in the
key spots?

2. HOT
SPOT
HOT
SPOT
HOT
SPOT
HOT
SPOT
FILM POSTER LAYOUT: THE RULE OF THIRDS

3. Notes in the gap – why
those elements in the hot
spots?
Iconic symbol – the bat –
used on all merchandising
& advertising – instantly
recognisable
Flames signify dramatic
narrative – exciting
City location – people
under threat
Recognisable character –
iconic - franchise

4. POSTER LOCATIONS

5. You can choose to put the poster in a magazine which is suitable to the specific target audience

6. MAIN IMAGE
TITLE
ACTOR’S
NAMES
BILLING
BLOCK
TAGLINE
RELEASE
DATE
DIRECTOR’S
NAME
FILM POSTER LAYOUT: MAIN ELEMENTS
They arrange – write defs of
any like billing block that they
don’t know meaning of
Tell them about production
values
Get them to put in the purpose
of the main image – Do it now
on narrative conflict & enigma
codes – what is the narratice
conflict?
How does the tagline anchor?
What enigma codes?

7. MAIN IMAGE
TITLE
ACTOR’S NAMES
BILLING BLOCK
TAGLINE
RELEASE DATE
DIRECTOR’S NAME
FILM POSTER LAYOUT: MAIN ELEMENTS

8. PULL QUOTES & THE TWO STEP FLOW THEORY

9. Pull quotes are an important aspect of film
posters because they….
This is highlighted by the two step flow theory
which states that……..

10. MAIN IMAGES- NARRATIVE CONFLICT, TAG LINES & ENIGMA CODES
Because the audience for film posters are often a non captive audience – people
walking or driving, they need to have less text and a central striking image which
hooks the audience.
The image should establish the main problem or narrative conflict within the film.
In this poster, the narrative conflict is established through …………………………….
which signifies………………………………………………………
The tagline of the film anchors the meaning of the main image because it
establishes that…………………………………………….
Furthermore, the audience are hooked because enigma codes are created and
the audience are left wondering what the threat to the characters are and
whether they will survive.
- What conflict is obvious?
- What problem will the story revolve around?
How do you know?
- How does the tagline make the meaning of the
image clearer?
- What does it tell you about the storyline of the
film?
- What does it tell you about the genre of the
film?
- What questions are the audience left
wondering?

12. Because the audience for film posters are often a non
captive audience – people walking or driving, they need to
have less text and a central striking image which hooks the
audience.
The image should establish the main problem or narrative
conflict within the film.
In this poster, the narrative conflict is established through
the two characters who are poised to attack which
signifies that the narrative will revolve around them
attacking or protecting themselves from a threat. This
also signifies that the narrative will be action packed and
full of tension.
The tagline of the film anchors the meaning of the main
image because it establishes that these main protagonist
will need to go through a journey where they solve
problems in the past if they are going to fix the future.
This also signifies the sci fi genre of the film as it indicates
that time travel will be involved.
Furthermore, the audience are hooked because enigma codes
are created and the audience are left wondering what the
threat to the characters are and whether they will survive.
MAIN IMAGES- NARRATIVE CONFLICT, TAG LINES & ENIGMA CODES
- What conflict is obvious?
- What problem will the story revolve around?
How do you know?
- How does the tagline make the meaning
of the image clearer?
- What does it tell you about the storyline
of the film?
- What does it tell you about the genre of
the film?
- What questions are the audience left
wondering?

13. FONTS: TYPE, STYLE, SIZE EMPHASIS
• THE CHOICE OF FONT serves to create meaning. A sans serif font such as Comic Sans is more informal than a serif font such
as Times New Roman
• Large letters, especially in BOLD CAPITALS usually indicate something important. Bold texts stands out, capital letters even more
Another type of emphasis – italics are used to create the feeling of movement or urgency
• You also need to comment on coloured font by saying what you think the colour chosen signifies
FILM POSTER LAYOUT: WRITING ABOUT FONTS

14. TAGLINE:
Anchors the meaning of the main image
Hook – enigma code
BILLING BLOCK: Creative staff involved in the film (actors, producer,
director etc.)
Production values
ACTOR’S NAMES:
Star appeal
Typecasting
Credibility
Existing fan base
TITLE:
Name signifies
Font & colour
RELEASE DATE:
Summer – hols
Xmas – hols – leisure time
October – popular with horrors
Feb- Romances
MAIN IMAGE & OTHER IMAGES:
Non captive audience – less writing, more pics to hook
Genre
Narrative – a main problem or narrative conflict
Lead actor – star appeal etc
Enigma codes
ICONOGRAPHY OF THE GENRE:
Audience recognition
PULL QUOTES:
Two step flow
COLOUR:
Signifies?
Links to genre?
FONT:
Style – signifies?
Emphasis – what? Why?
PAGE LAYOUT:
Rule of thirds
Hot spots
The Z

15. Get them to choose a genre
Think of a narrative conflict
Give them a checklist of what’s to be included
Show them exemplar A* idea with examiner’s comments – pointing out how to do annotations & use of media lang
Get them to do a poster idea – best copy (can practise timed later)
Peer marking using mark scheme in exemplar stuff
Get them to do the Q on plot & genre – use of Todorov
Show them exemplar
Do Q evaluating film poster - use my sentence starters

18. CONVERGENCE
• More emphasis on graphics rather than writing
• Striking central image which signifies narrative
• Star appeal
• Film franchise (existing fan base)
• Tag line
• Convergent links to other media such as the film’s website or facebook / twitter
• Selling the production values – the credentials of the production company
The impact of a film poster needs to be immediate. This is due to the fact they are often in places which people
are passing like bus stops and billboards.

19. Striking main images are really important to film posters because….
As my main image I have……….(describe some signifiers and explain what is signified about the storyline / narrative)
This signifies that the central conflict within the narrative will be…
This is anchored by the tagline which signifies….
The lead actor(s)…is (are) prominent in this main image. This is because..(Actor’s name box)
This main protagonist would appeal to (age, gender, demographics, 4C’s)
Other actor’s names included on the poster are…These are placed… because…A female protagonist would appeal to… because…
I have included the director’s name (where) (why? Layout)
The billing block names the studios involved in the production of the film. Production values
Pull quotes from (who) are included (where) because (why?). This would appeal to audiences because (Two step flow)
In the hotspots of the film poster, I have included…This is because the audience’s attention drawn to these parts of the poster and I wanted to emphasise…..
I have used iconography of the genre in the image of….in the font style…in the mise en scene of (clothes, props, objects?)
The colours of… signify….
This makes the genre of the film recognisable to the audience and would appeal to (age, gender, demographic, 4C’s)
This also creates intertextuality with other… films such as… because…
Emphasising…. Promises the audience… (Katz and Blumler)
Furthermore, I have chosen a release date of… which is a popular time of year because…..
I used a bold font to emphasise this because…..
I chose a symbol of which would be sued on all of the marketing and merchandising of the film