Film Posters

Film posters are used as a form of advertisment to capture the audiences attention.Studios often print several posters that vary in size and content for various domestic and international markets. They normally contain an image with text.Today's posters often feature photographs of the main actors. Prior to the 1990s, illustrations instead of photos were far more common. The text on film posters usually contains the film title in large lettering and often the names of the main actors. It may also include a tag line, the name of the director, names of characters, the release date, etc. Film posters are normally displayed outside cinemas or dispersed randomly around towns. However, film posters are becoming less frequently used due to most of the population having access to the internet and would rather watch a film trailer than look at a poster as a trailer tells the audience more about the film. 

This film poster displays the two characters in which have a teen romance throughout the film, Ronnie and Will. The poster is simple, but effective. The image of the two characters hugging whilst walking by the beach at the bottom shows that the storyline includes romance, and the fact that Ronnie has her arms wrapped tightly around will, suggests to the viewer that she is vulnerable and reliant on him. The image of the two characters above the title that are faded in can be seen as contradicting the bottom image. The two characters are facing away from eachother which suggests that they have some troubles throughout the film. The facial expression on the female characters face suggest that she is unhappy or distressed. The main colours used on the poster is yellow/orange which sets a calm mood. It may come to the viewers attention that the sun is between the two characters, which could mean that through the troubles the sun will come shining through; meaning everything will eventually work out. There is a short passage on the poster giving an overview on what the film is about, which is effective as it doesn't give away much about the film. 

This film poster is very simple, but works well as it does not give much away from the film. The main character in the film, which is Will Smith is displayed on the poster using a close up shot. The backdrop/background behind the character seems more significant that the actual man in this poster. In red font it says in small font 'Seven Strangers, Seven Names, One secret.' These little phrases tell the audience that the character of the film has a significant relationship with seven people, but does not give away what may of happened in the film. The clothes in which the character is wearing displays that he may be a professional man, an ordinary man. He could possibly be a buisness man that is holding a secret in which he tries to remain normal to hide. The use of red font is effective, it suggests danger, hurt and maybe violence. 

This film poster in my opinion is really effective. The colours reflect that the film is mysterious, confusing and gloomy. The island on the poster which is Shutter Island looks very isolated and imprisoned, which is exactly how it is portrayed throughout most of the film. The words 'Someone is missing' is on the poster which suggests to the audience that the film may be dangerous, if the person missing is from the mental asylum. The rain pouring down on the island suggests to the audience that there is danger awaiting, due to a storm being associated with tragedies. The title 'Shutter Island' is in red font and the edges are blurred slightly which suggests to the audience that pain could be involved in the film and maybe even as essence of gore. The colour red is usually associated with evil, pain, hurt and danger, therefore the title being red tells the audience a lot. The expression on the character on the poster played by Leonardo Dicaprio suggests that he is angry, or maybe confused. The fact that he is holding a match stick that is alight suggests he is searching for something, which ties in with the fact that in the film he is looking for a patient who has escaped.