Film Poster using the same image twice

When creating a film poster, it is important to contain and provide different conventions which may make the poster successful. A poster without, say, the use of a release date, isn’t particularly helpful to the viewer because they will want to know when they view the film.

Here is a list of different conventions which can be used in a movie poster:

1. Main Image 
2. Tagline 
3. Cast List 
4. Producer Credits
5. Age Certificate 
6. Title 
7. Release Date
8. Review
9. Star Rating
10. Social Network/Website

Things like a star rating, age certificate, social networking/websites or reviews, aren’t necessarily needed completely for the movie poster but should be included if required. The main points you want in your movie poster should be a title, the main image, a cast list, tagline, producer credits and release date- Even if vague (example, Summer 2016).

My 4 chosen genres of research for creating a film poster are Action, Sci-Fi, Horror and Comedy. My choice for these is justified by how popular these genres are today, most films are either of these 4 genres or are a hybrid of Action Animation or Romance and Comedy for example.

Connotation - an idea or feeling which a word invokes for a person in addition to its literal or primary meaning.

Action film connotations:
Explosions
Destruction
Super Heroes
Super Powers
Night Time Vehicles
Guns/Weapons Cityscapes
Athletic stunts

Action film posters generally feature athletic protagonists and antagonists in some sort of pose behind a cityscape, vehicular explosion or destruction of said cityscape. Other posters also feature the main character holding a weapons, usually a gun in modern films or in other cases, films based off of super heroes use the weapon they generally wield. Another common theme is a dark or night scape, which shows off the lights in the background but also brings the foreground out more, like the character’s clothes/costume for instance.

Sci-Fi film connotations:
The Future
Technology
Outer Space
Robots
Science
Space Ships
Exploration
Time Travel Conflict – Good VS Evil
Invasion
 Aliens

Sci-Fi film posters are on the opposite end of the scale, its main image and focus will be on capturing the essence of a futuristic and a world covered in new technology. It’s also in the best interest of the viewer to be able to see where the film is set, for instance, the setting for a film is in outer space. Therefore, the poster is likely to show that off and let the mind ponder as to what else the film could be like if presented with a big image of outer space and planets in the background. A sense of good vs evil can also come from a poster, a villain, Extra-terrestrial life or supernatural force being displayed against what the viewer can assume is the heroin or main character gives the feel and idea that two people or planets are at war with each other.

Horror film connotations:
Blood
Death
Killing
Villains
Victims
Haunted
Isolation
Monsters
Evil
Darkness
Gore
Weapons
Violence
Chasing
Ghosts
Phobias

Horror film posters have one purpose, to creep out the viewer whilst remaining in the constraints of what the film is about and also providing all relevant information needed. People usually fear of things that they don’t know much about or anything at all. Not all phobias are rational but things like clowns, spiders, the dark and the idea of necromancy frighten people. Monsters and other things like a haunted house or ghost are also great for achieving this effect. Horror is a good genre to make a poster for because you can let your imagination run loose and make something truly disturbing or gruesome to get viewers enticed and wanting to see what you have to show off.

Comedy film connotations:

Slapstick
CGI
Characters
Social Events
Naturalistic
Bright Colours
Sarcasm
Wordplay
Dark Humour
Language
Disturbing
Manipulation Subjects

Comedy film posters aren’t like the other three genres mentioned, in fact, sometimes a poster for a comedy film might be mimicking and copy an action or horror poster but in a way that its entertaining or funny to the viewer. Most posters feature the main characters or set of people associated with the main character and are all presented as equal and usually bright colours like a sky background or plain white or yellow background. What is happening in the background is entirely dependent on the theme of the comedy, whether its dark humour or slapstick.

My plans for this task:

My plans for this task is to create a horror film poster and also a comedy film poster using the images I have taken. My choices for this is because they both contrast from each other greatly. I also have chosen these genres so I can show off my ability and different Photoshop techniques I’ve learnt to create two different things from the same set of images. This also shows the power of editing and how much of an impact edited images can have for effect.

The results:

This is the original photography I used in order to create two film posters, the image is of my brother pulling a pose of shock and/or horror. With this picture I then cut him out of it which then let me use it in photoshop as it now had a transparent background.

My two chosen genres to create a movie poster on were Horror and Comedy, these genres worked well because of the face and pose my brother was already pulling. The horror poster features the typical conventions you'd see in one and the comedy poster is a twist on a serious topic turned light-hearted.

Above is my Horror poster, this was created on an A3 canvas and features my brothers photography along the bottom half of the poster. To create what is shown I used various different overlays and layer styles, for example, my brother has been given a orangey-red colour overlay as well as the layer style of dark like to blend and mix with the behind photograph.

Text was also edited, for the text I used a colour gradient, inner glow blending option as well as installed a custom font to achieve a scary or gruesome font. I didn't find this task but feel as if that if I was to revisit this task if I had more time, I would add more and implement more of what actual movie posters have.

This is my second poster which features the same image, however, this time I have used a different effect on the photograph. To make the effect shown here, I went to Image>Adjustments>Threshold and used a treshold of 121 to create a black and white effect.

I've also used a concrete texture and brush pack to create the fingerprint and outline that would usually be placed around a victims body in a murder. I've done this to clearly show the film is a crime movie. But because this is not what my chosen genre is, I included the murderer in the poster. This is where you'll notice that the poster also features a picture of a croissant with someones face on it and also holding a gun.

My title mixes in with the croissant nicely because its a play on words, the title "The Line Has Been Croissant" is meant to mean "The Line Has Been Crossed" but instead switche the last word to relate with the murderer of this hypothetical film. In hindsight, maybe a Hot Cross Bun might have been better, but maybe that's better left as a sequel for now.

Part 4 - Pin-pointing idea's and planning for a client

In order to pin-point my idea's in what I want to base my final photoshoot on I have constructed 3 different mood boards as well as location idea's and a few examples of what I could do from the internet. Under the mood boards and online examples, I will explain and show off why I like the photograph and also my own versions of the same genre explored.

Once I have decided which genre of photography I want to pursue, I will go more into what I want to achieve, showing off storyboards and the scenario given by a client as if it was in a professional manner. This will include location idea's and photo-shoot idea's alongside the story boards.

Moodboards for final shoot

A mood board allows you to explore and show off a certain style or idea of your choice. Usually a mood board will contain images which convey the idea you are trying to get across, but they can also contain different materials or pieces of text to also invoke this.

Idea’s for photo-shoot via genres:

I have chosen 3 different genres in which I want to create a photo-shoot on, these genres are Macro Photography – Small objects such as insects and arachnids portrayed in a greater than life size. Time-Lapse Photography – Images taken in a much lower frame rate which is used to create effect in the sky or subjects in motion. And lastly, Light painting – Where a slow shutter speed is used in order to create paintings in the air with light sources over time.

Macrophotography - 

Macrophotography Mood Board:

Location idea's:

My first initial idea for creating a macrophotography shoot would be to go to where I can find most of the things found in the mood board above. Places like gardens and and parks come to mind instantly, the wild life and things like insects are great to photograph because at level of detail humans eye insects is a fraction to what they actually look like. Macrophotography seems perfect for taking images of small creatures in a larger than life scale.

The main idea which was suggested to me was to take photographs of different eyes. Macrophotography captures a level of detail like no other and this is present in images of animals eyes as well as people. My photoshoot could be a comparison between peoples eyes and animals eyes where I can go into depth and talk about the visual differences in a poster form.

Time-Lapse Photography - 

Time-Lapse Photography mood board:

Location Idea's:

The first location that came into my mind was on a highway or a bridge that goes over a highway. With a tripod and slow shutter speed, I could capture the cars and other vehicles going past with their lights on at night. The slow shutter speed will capture these light in motion and reflect what you see above. 

Another location idea is a field or somewhere open and away. I can capture the sky as it moves, though better equipment to do this will have to be purchased or borrowed. I think the first idea is a lot more realistic and probable because i can do this with my current equipment and use a tripod to keep a steady shot.

Photograph busy area's where cars and other vehicles go past often, this and a slow shutter speed will create streaks on the road as the cars go past over time. To do this, I would use my camera  on a slow shutter speed and tripod, on top of this, the setting would have to be at night and dark where the lights of the cars will stand out. These photos could then be used in a double page spread of a magazine, showing off the shots I was able to take.

Light Painting Photography - 

Time-Lapse Photography mood board:

Idea's:

My first idea is using a pitch black room. In this room I can get others to use torches in order to create certain symbols, logos or letters. These can then be used to then create words or give the paintings a meaning behind them in a poster like way. For example, the letters could spell out different words and phrases which promote good things or being a good person.

Another idea is illustrating different motions and actions that people do, creating someone walking or pulling a pose is what I have in mind as well as recreating animals with the light source. This can be done in the same dark room or outside where someone will stand still pretending to walk a dog as another person draws the dog and leash as if the subject is holding it. This could be put into a magazine spread, promoting the work and art of light painting or a poster promoting safety when outside and crossing roads as the light painting acts as a clever trick for what you should be looking out for.

Client Information/Product Proposal

Below is a product proposal created in the style that it would of been handed to me from a client. It features everything I need to produce and do for the client to be happy and accept my work. In this particular scenario, I am hired by the headteacher of a primary school to compose a shoot on light painting which I will then need to create posters that not only show off the work but also teach the children step by step.

On top of this, I have been asked to perform and demosntrate this infront of the class live and encourage them to join in alongside having a whole lesson planned.

Product Proposal

 Date: 14th January 2016

Send to: REDphotos - photographers for hire
Attention: Alfie Mills, photographer
Location: 60 Hainaut Avenue, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, SS0 9HB

From: Mr E. Steverson
Location: 152 Weston Primlage, Southend-on-Sludge, Essex, SS5 5SS
Phone Number: 44444467

Dear Mr. Alfie Mills, It has come to our attention and an agreement that with your manager that you will be up for the job provided for us. To complete this job, we will require photographs of light painting and a tutorial poster on how children can learn and replicate this themselves.

You are also invited to meet the children personally as well as walk them through it, giving detailed instructions and a live performance of creating light painting as well as encourage and get the class participating in creating it.

Here is a short summary of everything you will need:

• A camera capable of a slow shutter speed as well as a tripod
• Light sources
• An interactive lesson planned out which the children can participate in
• A photoshoot you have done showing off this techinique of photographic practice
• 3 Posters which will show off to the children of the possibilities 

Thank you for being willing to help and complete this task, any questions you have may be forwarded to your manager who will get in contact with me. We look forward to your lesson on photography and light painting on the 22nd of January 2016

Kind regards - Mr E. Steverson 

Story Boards

Before doing my final shoot, we needed to create and draw up our own storyboards for the shoot we were going to do. My initial idea was to make a small and handy pamplet that children can use to understand light painting and a slow shutter speed. It'd also help children to make simple illustrations of either symbols or basic shapes as well as show the results of some that I had done myself.

Here, you can find both story boards and a small annotation under each one, telling you what the image is meant to be of.

Storyboard 1:

This is the first sheet of my storyboard, in this sheet I start of with some complex things to create with light painting but slow down and stick to easier things as idea's on what children were capable of doing came to mind. Storyboard 1 features such things like a group of love hearts and bubbles which would be draw with a torch under a slow shutter speed to create the light painting.

Storyboard 2:

Our second and final story board features 8 more common and simple symbols and illustrations that children would be able to draw. We have things such as a water droplet and a spiral which a child would be able to do with a little practice and help. Again, like the last story board, a small annotation that tells you what you're looking at has been written as well.

My Test Shoot

Before doing a final shoot I tried a mock up/test shoot to see if what I was going to do would work or not. As you'll see in the contact sheet, you'll know things didn't go too well or to original plans when referring to my story boards created earlier.

Contact sheet for test shoot:

 This shows my several attempts at creating the different objects shown on the story boards without success. There are a few reasons for this though, I will talk and explain about them a little bit in depth now.

My first problem was my camera, It was only a compact camera capable of a shutter speed of 16 seconds at absolute maxiumn, it was hard to either finish the illustration on time or i'd finish early than intended due to poor judgement of time. I'm not going to put all the blame on my equipment though, which leads me to my next point.

Drawings and creating a painting when you cant even see what you've done already is hard. Not only did I struggle with this but so did all of my brothers who gave this a try. Needless to say, our frustration and tempter was lost quick, noticable by how many pictures were taken. Bare in mind though, this still took over an hour alone and long with the ones that were so bad that I couldn't possibly wish to share.

In some of the images, you'll notice you can see a lot of the background, this is because of the different lights we had. One light flashed red and blue, it worked really nicely, if we could paint in the air... And the other light was way too bright, i'm pretty sure having to look at it as one of us drew with the torch caused a few headaches by the end of it.

So, what now?

Given the fact that even me and my brothers struggled with creating such basic shapes as a water droplet or bomb, I think its in my best interest to rethink what i'll be creating with light. For example, if I can't do these to a good standard, kids definitely won't be able to, and this will make what i'm basing my entire final shoot on a failure.

My new idea for a shoot is to create various different light streaks and patterns from just swinging and dancing around with the lights strapped to me or something similar to that. Like the spiral seen above in my contact sheet, it could lead to some nice effects and random cool looking patterns. This is good because not only will I be able to do this easily but it will also be easy for the children to do and complete.

I will still use the same two lights I used tonight in this post but believe the whole lighting of the background wont be that much of an issue. I believe this to be the case because the general lighting of the room occurs when the light has been left in the same place for too long, this makes it impossible to do small details and little circles for example.

My Final Shoot, Posters and Lesson Plan

My final shoot contains everything I did, my thoughts as well as completing the tasks given to me by my 'real' client. At the end I will also go over and evaluate my work, giving examples of what i'd perhaps to differently next time or change.

 This entire post will include:

• A contact sheet of my shoot
• My chosen photographs for three posters, why I chose to showcase those photographs
• The posters completed and thoughts on the posters
• My lesson plan requested by the client

 Contact sheet: 

The image above is of my contact sheet, in this shoot I took a total of 19 different pictures as well as used 2 different types of lights to create what is shown. From these 19 pictures, I shortlisted them all into 6 favourites. These favourites are what i'd use later on in my posters.

 My favourite 6 photographs:

My favourite photographs are as following -

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 Why did I choose these photographs?

I choose these photographs because they are the ones that look best and most appealing to me personally. I like the red and blue mixing with the white light featured in images 6 and 7 because they contrast and serparate themselves from eachother, given a hidden perspective of two sides to a story. The white light represents what is good in the world whilst red and blue represents whats bad and saddening. This also ties in nicely to how bright both the lights are, the white light is a longer stronger which shows that there's a lot to life and that most of it is good and not depressing or terrible.

The same sort of applies to images 5 and 9, these images feature just red and blue but does it in a different way. Image 5 is a spiral of the red and blue which was spun around on a string as the light switched between each colour, this made it look hypnotising and gave really cool effect. The same applies to image 9 as well, though there is no real defining shape or pattern shown, the red and blue are constantly conflicting and smashing into eachother. It kind of gives the feel of two futuristic planes in the air having an air battle with both lights representing one of the planes swooping around eachother. Atleast in my opinion it does...

Image 4 is something unique, the red and blue flashing light was spun in a constant circle to create the nice image and effect we see. The red and blue of the light mixed together to create a nice purple glow as the light was spun on a piece of string. I was actually quite surprised at the result of this and thought it looked pretty cool and unique compared to the others after I was done.

And lastly, image 14. Image 14 was a close calling, the majority of the last images look roughly the same and it came down to a matter of if whether the background or not was entirely visible. 14 seemed to suit this best as well as covered most area's of the screen whilst others were taken with the light being creating too high up or the light making the background be seen a lot more.

The 3 completed posters for my client:

My three posters have been created with the purpose in mind. The purpose and what was asked of me was to produce three different posters which would teach children on how to take their own photographs using light painting. All three posters also include an example of two images (2 of the favourite 6 mentioned earlier) alongside the easily understandable and to read instructions. This is done to not only show off my results but to also to provide an example of whats possible to be created from doing this.

Poster 1 - 

 Poster 2 - 

 Poster 3 -

My thoughts on all 3 of the posters - 

The first initial thought I had when trying to make all three posters was to be consistant but change smaller parts that would keep the children interested as the text stayed the same and was still there and readable. I did this by putting a 'Stroke' blending option over the white text as well as place it from one end of the poster to the other without it going off the poster or being unreadable. I also kept the text the same throughout to make it consistant and stick, I've written the text in such a way that its understandable by younger audiences as well. To do this, I had to use simpler language and also apply them knowing about shutter speeds already which would of been explained in the lesson planned out.

Whilst the text stayed consistant thoughout the entire three posters, the background and photographed examples didn't. The Background changed as to no lose the attention of the viewer, I used three different images of space and a nebula which I felt worked well with the concept of creating light painting. In retrospect, I felt as if maybe instead I could of used something more light oreintated but stuck with images of space as often it's colourful but still quite dark, like how the light in light painting lights up what usually would be dark.

All 4 of my posters, like mentioned earlier, also feature the six favourite photographs of mine chosen. There isn't much to talk about this one but it gives a nice visual aid to the children and what they'd be looking to make. It also gives an insight to whats possible and capable of being created.

My completed lesson plan:

Lesson Topic	Light painting for children.
Lesson Rationale	For the children to create an understanding and appreciation for photography as well as light painting in today’s world.
Standards	How to replicate light painting and how shutter speed works.
Evidence	Personal and group photographs taken where the children have taken part in creating the light painting shot.
Desired Results
Learning/ Teaching Activities	Introduction: Show off my own work to the children as well as online examples of what’s capable in this genre of photography. I will also engage and ask questions about basic and commonly known things about photography and cameras. Entry Point: I will then show the children how light paintings are made in an on-built studio which is capable of letting me do so. This will show the children how I do it and will let them see the result at a first-hand experience. Presentation of new information: Now I will go into more depth about shutter speed and how it works and how I created the photography taken beforehand. At this point I will also show off my created posters which the children can use as a reference to follow in creating their own light paintings later on as well as show off my own work a little bit more. After this, the children and I, alongside their regular teacher will par-take in creating several different light paintings, letting the children work together and some do it solo If there is enough time.
Materials Needed	A camera capable of slower shutter speeds, multiple torches and/or light sources, a black backdrop and frame for it to fall from, blackout curtains and frame to support said curtains.
Assignment / Follow-up	Review and go over every photograph taken and showcasing what the children have created via a whiteboard and projector in the classroom.

This is my completed lesson plan, it shows all the goals and objectives I set out to do, as well as whats needed in terms of materials/equipment as well as a guide on how I plan to lay out the lesson. I've included and created this as part of my product proposal given to me by a client I made, I liked the idea of teaching children how to do something i'm very fond of and enjoyed learning about myself. So the idea was kind of born that i'd create a proposal as if a client was giving instructions and guidelines to follow whilst incorporating this idea in with it.