Prduction Log 05.11.09

Today i took my research into the next step, i have started looking at film posters and how they are used to attract and engage an audience. It has been interesting and a new step into the media industry for me, film posters are interesting in that they have such power in normally and average size. The examples i looked at used a few different techniques to attract it’s audience, The Dark Knight poster used the idea of fear to bring it’s audience together. The poster had a strong relation to terror which has a strong meaning in the US, it’s a strange and very controversial. One thing i shall remember when creating my poster is mode of address, I’ve always been under the impression that you should use a direct mode of address but when looking at posters and pictures with this in use you tend to get a very unnerving picture. I’ve learnt today that keeping an indirect mode of address for your primary image will avoid this, but with secondary subjects it will add more effect to use a direct stance.
Camera angle and stance can create massive connotations for the poster, If the subject leans in it can create the impression of anger and action. It’s very evoking and makes the subject look as though they are having a fight. A camera that is angled up will make the subject look bigger more powerful and important.

I feel i have made a good start to my research and shall follow it up with more extensive in look when i come to making the the poster.

Film Posters



The Dark Knight was one of the most renowned films From 2008, From looking at the poster it’s easy to see that the image is completely focused on the image. The picture featured in the poster is what is used to sell, this is the main attraction and is recognizable to most people who see the poster. The name with the Batman logo behind it is also another main symbol for the poster, it’s very iconic and will be acknowledged worldwide. The 3 things caught at first glance are the image, the title and the date. This is what the creator and production team are aiming to achieve, it;s a well known fact that the viewer of this poster will only see it for a maximum of 3 seconds, so they need to be able to get the audience to know the important parts in that time.
The image creates a massive impression for the target audience its is very different to previous Batman posters, there is a sense of evil and darkness. This obviously suits the film title and the theme of the film, but this will not be known by an audience unknown to the story and concepts of the movie. A low angle medium shot creates a mass of imposing power felt towards the Batman character, the stance also represents anger and power. The clenched fists and the angled down head puts the audiences view point of his enemy how is seen lower and not as strong as him. The fire in the building has some very dark connotations and to a certain audience, specifically the American audience it will have a large connotation of terror. A tall building burning will have a strong representation to 9/11 and may cause some distress for some people. The reason i feel this was used is to bring home the idea of a ’saviour’. Batman has always been one of the most realistic super heroes and it’s as though the producers are playing of this fact, it’s as though they want him to seem more real and idealistic. They have reflected this by using a direct link to an major terrorist attack which is recognized worldwide, so people will relate the disaster to the poster and see the character as a savior to a real event.
When you take a longer glance at the poster, the actors names are the second most predominant thing on the poster, stars and their representation are something that can sell a film, so this will be another thing the producers with want the audience to notice.
When it comes to making my poster i know have a starting line and a decent outline to what is most important, i shall focus mainly on getting an image fit for the poster. This picture will have to be challenging and a good relation to the theme of the film. We are looking for romance as our theme so this will definitely need to be reflected in our poster. Star names and release dates aren’t decided but they will be included in our poster as this is a standard feature of a poster. The one thing I’ve noticed with this poster is it’s impact, it’s a very powerful image and carries a very powerful message, this will get it noticed and it did. The film has made over $1 Billion dollars and is most of the most successful films of all time.

This is another example of a film poster. The main content here being, Image, title and then date. The image creates a representation for the film very easily, so again another example of the primary image and the impact it has on viewer and the impression you get on the film.

This poster has a strong denotation of strength power and anger, there’s a strong interaction with the audience in the image, The main character is leaning in and engaging the audience. The other two characters are using a direct mood of address interacting the audience with the film and the poster.