ALTERNET POSTER

For this stage of our project, I made a selection of posters to chose from, inspired by themes and elements of posters we have deconstructed, of a similar genre to our own teaser trailer.

When planning our posters, I knew I needed to include:

• Typography

• Images

• Credits – actors names, director, production company etc.

• Quotes

• Release date

• Links – Facebook address, Twitter page, Website.

• Production company logo

• Catch Phrase

EDITED AND CREATING POSTER:

I ensured I had suitable images that were edited appropriately according to the theme of the poster. I used a website called iPiccy to edit my photos before placing them onto our poster designs.

I used Microsoft Publisher to create our posters as it is simple but allows the tools to make a professional product. After making a selection of typography’s, I chose ones that best matched the poster I was making.

For the credits I used MyFonts.com to find a suitable style, and copied segments of text as an image into publisher. I then grouped this all together to make a whole body of text.

POSTER 1

Images: I used a portrait photograph of our main protagonist for this poster, with a pixelated, electronic looking image of his fake online identity. I took this photo directly from the facebook account, corresponding to the idea that she is not a real character within the film, and instead, someone Matt has reinvented for himself. Matt's photo, on the other hand, is professionally taken to portray an ominous feel and mysterious representation of his dark personality.

Colours: Blue is a common colour associated with the internet as it has connotations of electricity, along with coldness and can appear slightly haunting. This is a feel we want to create as the film is a psychological drama based around a mysterious and unusual character. We also want to portray the dangers of the internet, therefore the dark colour scheme represents it in a more menacing image.

Layout: The image, which appears quite piercing, is placed almost in the centre of the page, causing it to stand out and draw you in. The typography is placed in a large font below it, and the release date at the bottom. These three pieces elements stand out almost immediately. The actors names are positioned along the top, which may entice the audience to see the film if they were well known for appearing in good films. Quotes are positioned beside the image so as the audience are unlikely to miss them. Any further details are at the bottom of the poster if the audience wish to read the credits or visit the links provide.

Typography: I used a simple typography for this poster as I feel the images were the most striking feature, and did not want to overcrowd the page. It still portrays themes within our films such as the idea of technology through the way it appears illuminated, as if on a computer screen.

Catch Phrase: I took the catchphrase from credits within our film as I felt it was very relevant to the character of Matt, who has stolen his online identity to become what he wants in reality.

Genre: Although elements of this poster portray the theme of technology within our film, and shows conventions of a psychological drama, it could also be confused with sci-fi use to its colour scheme and futuristic editing such as for the background image and typography.

POSTER 2

Images: I used the same images again for this second poster. Again, i thought it was more effective to use a profile picture for the 'fake' character to show her unknown identity. After placing the typography between the two photos, i also edited them as a whole by adding lines across the page like that of computer monitor, to put emphasis on the relevance of technology.

Colours: The colour scheme is still quite dark, like the first poster, however i added a slightly washed out filter and with a blue/green tone. I think this adds to the 'computer image' effect. I think this helps to portray the theme of the internet and social networking.
Layout: I tried to be slightly different with the layout of this poster by placing the typography directly the middle of the two images. This division helps to show how the internet as divided our characters personality and separated his online identity from his real identity. The release date is directly bellow the film title so these two pieces of information stand out to the audience. The actors name are isolated away from other texts at the top, which helps them to stand out and could entice the audience to see the movie if they were well known and highly rated. The quotes are slightly overlaying the male character portrait, making the positive feedback more dramatic. All extra information (credits, production company logo and links) is placed along the bottom.

Typography: I chose this typography as i think it was most relevant to the theme of the poster and makes it look more believable and real. The Facebook style banner immediately links the themes of social networking and its relevance within the lives of the people on the poster.

Catch Phrase: Again, i used the same catchphrase to keep it consistent to the previous poster, our website and the credits within out trailer. I positioned it in the search bar of the typography as i think this shows how the film revolves around social networking and allows people to 'become their fantasy'.

Genre: We feel this poster is much more effective in portraying the psychological drama genre through the use of images, colour scheme and editing as it looks like it was taken directly from a Facebook account via a computer monitor.

ALTERATIONS:

As we decided to use poster 2 for our final product, we decided there were element we could improve to fit the features of a film poster.

We ensured that the photos fitted more consistently together by straightening the eyes of the top photo to match the males eyes, then editing the colour so they fitted together better as a whole. I used iPiccy to re-do this then continued editing on Microsoft Publisher.

I also altered they layout slightly by adding a black rectangle behind the actors names so they stood out more against the picture. I then repositioned the links at the bottom so the whole poster flowed and looked more complete.

FINAL DESIGN:

Shelter Poster

Images:  This image used is of two men, laying next to each other in bed, with happy expressions on their face. This immediately tells us that the film will focus on their sexuality and relationship. There is also a banner, much like a piece of film tape, across the top, which shows us various other scenes from the film. It simply gives us an idea of the other characters involved as opposed to the storyline and is not entirely necessary, however, makes the poster more interesting.

Colours: Blue is used throughout the majority of the poster and this could show two ideas within the film. As it is based by the beach, and the characters meet through surfing then it could represent the waves. However, the more relevant idea that could be taken from this is that blue if a very masculine colour, and could represent the idea of a homosexual relationship, and how one character may feel that his masculinity would be taken away from him if he admitted to his sexuality.

Layout:  Award the film has one are placed all along the top. There is also a very positive quote about the film in the top right corner of the main image. All these factor towards causing people to watch it due to its success and the positive feedback it has received. There is a lot to look at over the poster; images, credits, text etc. Although it is crowded, it is interesting to look at and catches the audiences eye. The image and the title are the main focal point, telling you the most about the film.

Typography: The typography is simple and its relevance could be open to interpretation. The rough style of the font could be looked at as handwriting, i.e. from a love letter. However, it could also represent the involvement of art in the film, as this is one aspect that draws the characters together. This is supported by the use of brushstrokes in the background.

Catch Phrase: “Home is where you least expect to find it.” This phrase says a lot about the film and the idea of being unsure, or ashamed of sexuality. The character is in denial when he finds that he has developed feelings for another man as he did not expect this.

Genre: From the use of imagery we can immediately see that the film will be a romance, as the two characters are clearly a couple show through the scenery and facial expressions.

Untraceable Poster

Images: A blurry, pixelated image of a woman's face is used in the entire poster. When we look at it, it is as if we are look through a computer screen, rather than a print. This effect is also created through placing a mouse cursor over the image. These help portray the idea of technology within the film.

Colours: A blue filter is used across the poster, adding to the effect of looking through a computer screen, as the colours appear slightly faded or distorted.

Layout: all the writing and details are placed at the bottom therefore leaving the image clear, making the woman's face stand out. The woman is place further to the right which makes the image slightly more interesting as it is already so simple.

Typography: “Untraceable” is written in a blue font that looks like a form of electricity/flickering light. This could portray the involvement of internet or technology within the movie. The flickering effect also gives a more eerie feel.

Catch Phrase: “The FBI Cyber Crimes Division hunts down vicious criminals online… but the most dangerous one is hunting them.” This catch phrase is slightly long and may lose the viewers attention. However, it does create a sense of enigma and may cause the viewer to wish to find out more.

Genre: The woman's wet looking hair may give the idea that there was some form or struggle or a storm which has negative connotations and is a common convention of horror/thriller. Also, the cold blue tone and eerie font add the thriller/horror theme. We can also tell from the quite that crime/drama could also be a possibility.

iRobot Poster

Images: The image shows the protagonist in a confident stance in the foreground and an army of human like machines in the background. This portrays how it could be a war between humanity and technology. Also, the higher ratio of robots to humans could also show how technology is the stronger race and possible taking over.

Colours: The blue filter over the poster creates a cold, negative tone. It is also a very mechanical colour and could show the glow of the lights in the large army of technology.

Layout: The main protagonist is the first thing that catches our eye about this poster along with his name placed clearly at the top. As he is a well know and highly like actor, it may create a positive image of the film causing more people to want see it.  The rest of the poster is kept simple with little writing in the middle and title and credits along the bottom. This makes the image more striking and eye catching.

Typography: The typography is very simple and plain with little individual characteristics. This could represent how technology is very plain, defined clear and simple whereas humans have more personality and individuality. Although it is simple, its metallic colour and smoothness looks almost futuristic and industrial.

Catch Phrase: “One man saw it coming” This line tells us very little about the film however it could convey how the majority of us underestimate technology and put little thought into the power it has over us. It is placed under the title, keeping the rest of the poster clear for the image.

Genre: We can tell from the robots in the image and the futuristic font. The film will be set in a different time and could possibly be sci-fi or action.