Short Film Posters

George Lucas In Love: This short film poster uses the star wars film poster as an inspiration, due to it being a short film about one of the characters in the show. Other well known films that have used the same poster layout idea are Lord of the Rings, and Shakespeare in Love.

I'm Here: This poster uses one of the more common techniques of a couple on the cover to make the film look like a romance film, it is a little cliché. Other films that have also used this technique include; When Harry Met Sally, Ps I Live You, and Before Sunrise.

Across The Hall: This films feature poster doesn’t give much information in reference to is genre, as it looks like it could be a thriller, but also a romance due to its name and the layout of the characters at the top of the poster. The short film poster however, gives you more information as to who is in the film, and the genre because of the man on the corner looking rather scared of the other man in the hallway. The film poster for 1408 also used this technique.

Mainstream Film PostersSuperheroes: The ledge and hero.

A very common technique used in mainstream feature superhero films, are the hero standing on a ledge dominating over the city they are supposedly protecting, accompanied by their ‘helper’ or on their own stood in a stance that suggests protection.

Rom Com: Back to back, side by side

A cliché technique commonly used in rom coms, are the main couple stood back to back, or them stood next to each other with the title of the film splitting them apart. Those type of posters suggest a conflict in the couple, which gives the viewer an insight to the films genre. The posters with the characters back to back, suggest that the female has dominance in the relationship in the film, as it the female who is usually pulling her partner towards her.

Comparison: Mainstream and Short Film Posters

Short posters: These posters tend to be more creative and less ‘in your face’ they are simple ideas, much like the mainstream posters, but they are a little more clever in linking the poster to entice you to see the film. The short film posters do not need star names to entice someone to see their film, as they will have a much lower budget than a mainstream film, and therefore wont need to make as much money back. The film poster seem as though they have been taken from the film itself rather than shot at a photo shoot, as the lighting is not high key, this differs from a mainstream poster, as it gives you an insight to the film instead of just who the main characters are.

Mainstream posters: These posters tend to be very cliché and have the star names located somewhere that would have been an empty space on the poster as they need the names to interest viewers. The two main characters; who are celebrities are also very clearly shown in the middle of the poster and are the largest image on the poster, taking up most of the room on it.

Film Posters and Their GenreMystery Independent

Horror

The horror genre typically uses an eye or a close up of a face on their film posters. This can be the face of a victim or the enemy, with either one it shows a sinister look, or a cry for help in their eyes. These techniques are typical of the genre type, as it entices people to go and see the film, as it is kind of ‘in your face’ and that is one of the techniques used when making a horror film to let you know that it is of that genre.

Independent films are typically known for using a yellow background. This is typical, as it is designed to stand out from feature film posters due to the production and actors possibly being limited and a low budget.

Mystery films have a tendency to use a mosaic for the film poster, as usually it represents a lot of thinking and confusion; adding to the films narrative. Also the mystery genre has been known to use a close up of a plant in a forest or something of the kind. This also creates a sense of mystery in a different way to how the mosaic technique does. This lets the viewer know that it is a mystery film, but the narrative is possibly told in a different way.