Conventions found in Posters

Conventions Found in Posters

• Tagline - phrase/slogan, short and punchy - indicates the genre (eg. the word haunted would indicate horror), gives you a hint about what the narrative/storyline is going to be about (allows you to make assumptions).

• Name of the film - biggest text on the poster - font or colour will indicate genre.

• Production company logos.

• Website/Social media - usually at the bottom underneath the credits/billing.

• Rating certificate [not on every poster] - little bit of information next to the rating (eg. contains strong horror and menace) to explain why it has been given this rating, allows the audience to make an informed decision.

• Credits/Billing block - not usually on teaser trailer posters - towards the bottom of the poster, usually in the same particular font, the persons name is larger than their job.

• Format - where it is going to be released (eg. theatres and iMAX).

• Sound logos - different companies who have released the sound for the film.
• Indication of genre - colour palette, images (iconography - setting/props/clothing), font.

• Release date - might be specific or non specific (eg. coming soon or a season).

• Images - usually a single dominant central image.

• Reviews [only on posters that are released/soon to be, not on teasers] - often a reference to the genre (eg. so scary, in sheer terror), usually dramatic, has a stars rating (4 or 5 stars).

• Reference to existing films - influence people to see the new film if they enjoyed the previous films made by the same people.

• Name of the director - usually quite small.
• Name of stars - may influence people to want to see the film if they like one of the actors/actresses or enjoyed a film they were previously in.

• Reference to merchandise [not all films] - usually to do with the soundtrack album.
• Reference to source material - based on something that already exists (eg. a book/play).