Coursework: Film poster research and pre-production

Coursework: Film poster research and pre-production

With our film trailers in production, we need to turn our attention in class to the second half of the brief - print.

The three film posters are as important as the trailer in terms of marks so it's vital we properly research and plan our print production work.

What do you need to produce?

You should create three posters to help promote the same feature film. You should identify the typical placement locations for each poster.

Each poster should be different and target a specific segment of the target audience. Specifically:

·         Fans of the genre

·         Females

·         Males

The posters will be used to promote screenings of the film at a local film festival and the layout and design of each poster should be appropriate for its intended location.

Each poster should use a different image but the advertising campaign should appear coherent. Audiences should recognise each poster as being part of the same campaign.

Minimum requirements

·         Appropriate layout and design choices for each poster

·         Three different posters, each identifying a specific segment of the target audience

·         A common visual style to the overall campaign creating a recognisable brand for the film

·         At least three original images across the three posters with a different dominant image in each poster – these must be images generated specifically for the posters

·         Images should be created and chosen to appeal to the specific segment of the target audience

·         Appropriate choice of tagline for the film and each poster

·         Appropriate choices of font, type sizes and colours to create meaning

·         Appropriate consideration of the industrial context of production

Film posters: Research and planning tasks

Create a blogpost called 'Film poster research and pre-production' and work through the following tasks to complete your research and planning for the print side of the brief:

Film poster conventions

Do some generic research on film posters.

1) List the key conventions of a film poster.

close up

focused shot

blurred background 

setting 

main character
text

2) What makes a film poster instantly recognisable?

the way the picture is taken regarding focus of the camera and a common theme such as a burred background also a close up or medium close up shot significantly helps identify a film poster.

3) What are regarded as some of the best film posters of all time? Why?

1. THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (1980)                                           

“As film poster go, Star Wars are undoubtedly the most recognisable. Every summer blockbuster is a recreation of the original posters that Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back had. Look at any summer blockbuster and there's either a rejigging of this poster right here or some subtle nod towards it. It's iconic - and with good reason.”

THE SHINING (1980)

“Stanley Kubrick was known for his insane level of detail and his control of every single aspect of a film. In fact, he personally wrote the taglines for all of his films. If anyone's seen the fantastic documentary Room 237, they'll know this poster was specifically referenced as evidence of The Shining's hidden meaning. According to the documentary, The Shining is actually about the genocide of Native Americans and the 'Tide of Terror' was a reference to it.”

THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO (2012)

“This poster, however, is very cool because it's minimalist and yet - for those who've read the book or are familiar with the story - will get the references pretty quickly. It's sleek, elegant, cold and clinical - just like Lisbeth Salander and David Fincher's direction”

4) Look back at your statement of intent. What are you planning to produce in terms of your film posters? Can you take inspiration from your research above?
i will look at other films in this genre and based my posters around the key conventions i can identify in those posters i will also be using my research above to help identify ways to better my film posters

Film poster research - genre

Go back to the five film trailers you researched in your chosen genre (and additional films if you wish). For each film, find at least three different film posters for the film and analyse the following:

1) What conventions are the same on each poster for the same film

The film's consistent branding 
the type of shot used in the posters

The tone the poster sets for the fil whether through filers or through the setting of the poster

2) What differences can your find between the alternative posters for the same film?
different quotes and maybe a change of scene of focus of the image such as one has a establishing shot giving potential viewers an idea of the scene.

3) What target audience do you think each poster is targeting and why? How can you tell?
My target audience will be between the ages of 16-22 and are likely to fit the category of C2DE as they are most likely to have a sense of personal identity with my production.

4) What can you use from these posters in your own film poster planning and production?
I can take aspects of the settings and the tone of the images and use it to help style my film posters
Planning and sketching

1) Create a spider diagram or bullet point list of everything you plan to include in your film posters AND all the ways you could target the three target audience segments outlined in the brief: fans of the genre, males, females. Make sure you also create a local film festival in order to meet this aspect of the brief.

2) Produce an A4 sketch for your first film poster, adding significant detail in terms of text and planned images (you don't need to draw the image if you don't want to - but must offer a detailed text-based description if not). Clearly label which segment of the target audience you are aiming for with this poster and where the poster will be displayed (outside location, magazine or newspaper etc.) Remember that each poster can either be landscape or portrait and also needs to link to the local film festival that will be screening the film (see details in brief above). When you have sketched the poster, scan or photograph it and add it to your blogpost.

3) Produce an A4 sketch for your second film poster, clearly identifying the segment of the target audience this poster will be aiming at. Pay particular attention to details you will either keep consistent (to create a brand identity and cover the local film festival aspect) or change (to alter the target audience). When you have sketched the poster, scan or photograph it and add it to your blogpost.

4) Produce an A4 sketch for your third film poster, clearly identifying the segment of the target audience this poster will be aiming at. Pay particular attention to details you will either keep consistent (to create a brand identity and cover the local film festival aspect) or change (to alter the target audience). When you have sketched the poster, scan or photograph it and add it to your blogpost.


Photoshoot planning

1) Which of your characters will appear on each poster? If the characters will be the same on each poster, how will you differentiate the images?
the main protagonist and may feature others if not then i will differentiate my posters through setting and style along with the cover lines to go with it and even from portrait to landscape.

2) What images do you need for each film poster? Write a detailed description.

close up image of the main protagonist in multiple settings to help establish scene and tone of the film to the potential audience 
i will also use filters to add to the effect of my poster

3) Write a shot list for the photoshoot(s). Make sure you plan a variety of camera shots you will look to capture (medium shots, close-ups etc.) to give yourself flexibility when designing the posters in Photoshop later. Will the photoshoot be out on location or in school with the white backdrop and lighting?

Medium close up outside of school with a outdoor setting and natural lighting

Close up indoor outside of school with a plain back drop or faded images

Medium shot of my protagonist outside of school with a natural setting and lighting

4) What costume, props or make-up will you require for the photoshoot(s)?

This planning should take around a week - perhaps slightly longer if you are currently filming. However, it is absolutely critical that you complete this pre-production work if you are to create three professional-level film posters.