Research: Original Posters & Reference Pictures

Below are the images concerning the twelve films I had selected, to help me with the designs for my main poster. I also looked up the poster for the film 'Drive' to help me understand better the layout of film credits on a poster.

The Amazing Spider-Man

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEmdBEjqtWXHpd-gsx1JA4GGNeJwdEFJbXZu8hjdIrFYqil5OsztfESIfQgSdt8wtKd4uEHms7OhrZjRdIyRbEJPJpRP77Yg8m4n7krFAB4ghudIadMsAponTmY8-TM0H7u-OZLTd4Xqic/s640/The+Amazing+Spiderman+Poster.jpg

http://abovegroundmagazine.com/images/photographs/the-amazing-spider-man-new-poster.jpg

http://reelmovienation.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Lizard.jpg 

Drive

http://cdn.mos.totalfilm.com/images/d/drive-2011--03.jpg

Journey To The Far Side Of The Sun (Doppelgänger)

http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/1/adg/covers/dru500/u593/u59306cwcaj.jpg?partner=allrovi.com

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/0a/Doppelgänger_(1969_film)_poster_art.jpg

http://images.moviepostershop.com/journey-to-the-far-side-of-the-sun-movie-poster-1969-1020209040.jpg

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRd2329qpI-IOoL-aUYFhGBFvG_A1zaMPIb1c9Aqck4Ug4_HFdab6mwZFDDtWSMiPViiqq0NUIl4ux9dxO0fXTDj1bH97qfAF4P8wyc-_QEazRuUuLxZRCvovvXO86VD7O_uFGVy_Wio8/s1600/Doppleganger+in+Space+copy.jpg

Star Trek Into Darkness

http://movies.trekcore.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=607

http://sequart.org/images/star-trek-into-darkness-poster-excerpt.jpg

It's a Mad, Mad Mad, Mad World

http://hometheaterforum.cl.ipsdns.com/uploads/gallery_286742_24_499262.png

http://www.americanartarchives.com/davis,j_mad_world1963.jpg

http://www.bfi.org.uk/sites/bfi.org.uk/files/styles/full/public/image/its-a-mad-mad-mad-mad-world-1963-002-poster.jpg?itok=sbHjeN97



Noises Off

http://www.impawards.com/1992/posters/noises_off_xlg.jpg



Gladiator



http://www.impawards.com/2000/posters/gladiator_ver3_xlg.jpg



https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0NnDMJBU0HUcNU-c-iABG2sBHek21qrDHiskB6NOS8jJd-bA3imrQUjJPSYrq4pXdsR4hPmRf86kOS-_fXMyrpvAg85-apiUog6PqwYu8OeBp_KWQV5z4_0gARQIXn8Dn8f_ymP0YTHQ/s1600/Gladiator_1.jpg



War Of The Worlds

http://www.impawards.com/2005/posters/war_of_the_worlds_ver2.jpg



http://www.impawards.com/2005/posters/war_of_the_worlds_ver4_xlg.jpg



Skyfall

http://www.impawards.com/2012/posters/skyfall_ver8_xlg.jpg

http://www.impawards.com/2012/posters/skyfall_xlg.jpg



Fantastic Voyage

http://www.impawards.com/1966/posters/fantastic_voyage.jpg

http://wellmedicated.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/fantastic_voyage.jpg

http://www.rochesterfantasyfans.org/reality-posters/3-01-17.jpg

Interview with Film Projectionist 29/7/14

To further my research into film posters, I talked with Robin Smitten, who works as the projectionist at the Theatre in Chipping Norton and has a keen interest in film posters. Prior to meeting him, I established some key points I wanted to discuss with him:

1.     In what ways are film posters led by symbols? (e.g. Major actor or actress)

2.     Which film genres would require narrative elements displayed in film posters?

3.     How do you arrange and balance the imagery in a film poster?

4.     Is there a specific layout for film posters? (E.g. Position of Title and Credits)

5.     How would change of tone and colour affect the mood of the poster?

6.     Is the logo required to stand out from the rest of the poster to attract attention?

Notes on Robin Smitten’s Comments

·      Poster should consist of three things:

1.     Title

2.     Plot

3.     Mood

·      Some posters will only be seen at a glance. E.g. Poster on moving bus.

·      Most modern film posters are led by images of Actors and Actresses’ faces. Well-known stars attract attention of passers-byes.

·      More established films, such as James Bond, are led by icons. Such as Bond character and ‘007’ icon.

·      Ideas for Final Designs – ‘Plan 9 From Outer Space’. Use ‘9’ as icon.

·      Colour tone and shading can affect mode of poster. E.g. Dark toning for last ‘Harry Potter’ emphasises dark tone of film.

·      Posters reused for DVD covers. Perhaps loses feel of film poster.

GD Associates Meeting – 15/8/14

These are the notes I made from my second meeting with GD Associates:

1)   E.T – Has two symbols. ‘Touching fingers’ for original posters + ‘Flying bike’ for reissues.

Later James Bond posters focus more on character. (E.g. Casino Royale)

Early posters sell by Actor’s name.

More recent posters can be more easily adapted into DVD covers.

2)   Narrative element depends on plot (E.g. Plot twist – ‘The Sixth Sense’). Simple poster can keep plot twists secret.

Other films like ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ are not so bothered about plot secrets and sell by both actor and narrative elements.

3)   Arrangement and balance depends on images available and tone. Tone of poster has to reflect tone of film (E.g. ‘I Am Legend’ + ‘The Pirates’).

For example, ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’ reflects character and darker tone.

Poster success depends on selling film.

4)   No obviously specific layout. Perhaps include cast names, title and quote. Logo has to stand out if used.

‘Casino Royale’ led by actor and icon.

5)   Key features of poster depend on actor/actress and whether film series is already established (I.e. Franchise).

Key elements can include date, quote, title and actor/actress.

Sales can be boasted by including ‘3D’.

Taglines rarely used. Perhaps more commonly used for comedy films. (E.g. Ghostbusters)

Directors name inclusion depends on rate of success.

‘Pulp Fiction’ designed like magazine cover.

Film Choices For Poster Design

The basis of my idea was to design a new poster for an already existing film to gain new interest. I decided that I would either design a more modern poster for a relative old film or I would design a more narrative-led poster for a fairly recent film. To help me decide which film I would design a new poster for, I looked at the various DVDs that my family and I own, and I narrowed down to these twelve films, which I felt would sell better with a new poster to advertise them.

1. Fantastic Voyage
   
2. Journey To The Far Side Of The Sun
   
3. War Of The Worlds (2005)
   
4. Ed Wood
   
5. Red Planet
   
6. Star Trek Into Darkness
   
7. Skyfall
   
8. It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
   
9. Noises Off
   
10. The Avengers (2012)
    
11. The Amazing Spider-Man
    
12. Gladiator
    

References

Fantastic Voyage / Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea. (2003) Directed by: Richard Fleischer, Irwin Allen. [DVD] UK, Twentieth Century Fox.

Journey To The Far Side Of The Sun. (2008) Directed by: Robert Parrish. [DVD] UK, Universal Pictures.

War Of The Worlds. (2005) Directed by: Steven Spielberg. [DVD] UK, Paramount Home Entertainment.

Ed Wood. (2002) Directed by: Tim Burton. [DVD] UK, Touchstone Pictures.

Red Planet. (2001) Directed by: Antony Hoffman. [DVD] UK, Warner Home Video.

Star Trek Into Darkness. (2013) Directed by: J.J. Abrams. [DVD] UK, Paramount Home Entertainment.

Skyfall. (2013) Directed by: Sam Mendes. [DVD] UK, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. (2002) Directed by: Stanley Kramer. [DVD] UK, Twentieth Century Fox.

Noises Off. (2004) Directed by: Peter Bogdanovich. [DVD] UK, Touchstone Pictures & Amblin Entertainment.

Avengers Assemble. (2012) Directed by: Joss Whedon. [DVD] UK, Marvel Studios.

The Amazing Spider-Man. (2012) Directed by: Marc Webb. [DVD] UK, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

Gladiator. (2004) Directed by: Ridley Scott. [DVD] UK, Universal Pictures.