Research powerpoint for my FMP

1. FMP- Research
Abbie Nicholls

2. Existing Products- Saul Bass Vertigo
(1958)
• Vertigo is a thriller film by Alfred Hitchcock in 1958. Saul Bass created the unique poster to
promote the film as well as creating the title sequence. The film poster explores subjects
such as horror, anxiety and disorientation. The use of the red background with the hand
written lettering influences the poster to look thrilling and mysterious. The film poster looks
very vintage: the simplicity of the artwork along with the hand written title and simple colour
scheme makes the poster have connotations to artwork from the 20’s horror films.
• Whilst he designing the poster for Vertigo, Bass had already created movie posters and title
sequence for over 10 more films such as “The Man With The Golden Arm”. Bass has lots of
experience how creating posters at this point in his career and had discovered his unique
style. During his title sequences, Bass was the first to invent a new type of kinetic typography.
• “Bass was one of the first to realize the creative potential of the opening and closing credits
of a movie”. (Wikipedia).
• “These films were pioneers of the horror genre and created a film world of oblique angles
and vertiginous perspectives. The hand-drawn lettering for these films rejected the curves
and serifs of traditional typefaces for something altogether more edgy and visceral.” (The
Guardian).

3. Existing Products- Saul Bass Vertigo
(1958)
• The poster for Vertigo was produced in 1958. The civil rights movement began in America in the 1950’s. People were
speaking out against inequality and injustice. People wanted America to change and become more fair and end racism. I do
not think that the civil rights movement impacted on Bass’ work as it does not address these issues. Alfred Hitchcock was
very successful in the 50’s producing several films including ‘Strangers On A Train’ and ‘ North By Northwest’.
• “It is the first film to use the dolly zoom, an in-camera effect that distorts perspective to create disorientation, to convey
Scottie's acrophobia. As a result of its use in this film, the effect is often referred to as "the Vertigo effect". (Wikipedia).
• I think that the poster appeals to an older audience because the film explores subjects surrounding mental health and
acrophobia which a younger viewer would not fully understand. There are certain elements on the poster that suggest it is
targeted at an older audience. For example, there is not a lots of bright colourful drawings on the page that grab your
attention. There is only one drawing which the audience has to examine to understand what it symbolizes.
• There are several constructed meanings throughout the poster artwork. For example, there are two small portraits of the
main characters on the poster. They are the only photo-mechanical elements on the poster. Bass has done this to make the
characters seem more realistic as they experience psychological problems that the audience could possibly not relate to.
Because the viewer has no first hand experience with vertigo or acrophobia, we find it harder to connect with the
characters. Bass’ work has allowed the image of the characters to seem more real as it is the only photomechanical element
on the poster. Therefore, the viewer believes it is real.
• “The technical specification for the poster reads as a screen-print. The small photographic elements, hand-cut type and solid
bright orange are all indicators of this process”. (The Guardian). There are several literal meanings hidden in Bass’ work that
connect the audience to the film even further. For example, the drawing of the spiral in the centre of the page, leads the eye
to the characters in a hypnotizing way. Bass has included this effect to symbolize what the film is about but also to inflict the
disorientation effect on the reader. I think that this effect will entice any person of any age, gender or psychographic to be
interested in the film because it has inflicted a physical feeling on the reader unintentionally. The reader has now become a
victim of disorientation due to the power of Bass’ artwork.
• Bass tends to create artwork for films that are a drama, thriller or horror genre. This appeals to an older audience because
the films are not appropriate for children or young adults. Personally, I think that Bass’ work could possibly appeal to males
more than females due to the primary colour scheme that is used on his posters. However, I think that both genders enjoy
the poster equally because of the fascinating artwork. The block letters and hard lines can be harsh and give the poster a
structured tone which can appeal mainstreamer because the poster is well presented. If you were to purchase the Vertigo
poster now, the price ranges from £30 to £110. The poster appeals to someone in the middle/upper class because buying
merchandise for a film can be very expensive. The viewers of the film or people who purchase the poster will have a steady
income where they can afford to view the film in cinema or DVD and purchase merchandise for it.

4. Existing Products- Saul Bass Vertigo
(1958)
The poster created by Bass approaches
lots of various different subjects such as
anxiety, disorientation and horror. The red
background has connotations to danger
and blood which connects to the film. The
spiral that is in the centre of the poster is
supposed to confuse the reader but also
link to the film. However, it could
symbolize the Fibonacci spiral that
naturally leads your eye to the characters
in the centre of the page. The hand
written font on the poster has
connotations to 1920’s horror which is
what influences the poster to look
vintage. For the reasons suggested, I
believe that the poster is targeted at an
older audience because the themes that
are addressed on the poster are not
suitable for a younger audience. The film
is a thriller/horror genre, therefore the
poster connects perfectly and highlights
to the reader that it is not a light hearted
film.
I do not think that the poster appeals to
one gender or psychographic more than
another. I think that the poster is general
and can appeal to anyone. If you enjoy
horror or thriller films, you can see that
this is the genre that it is promoting
because of the style. Stereotypically, a red
movie poster promoting a thriller/horror
film would only appeal to a man, however
the film has been enjoyed by both
genders. Bass has not created a red colour
scheme to make one gender be more
interested in the film than the other: the
red colour scheme provides connotations
to subjects in the film as well as grab your
attention as it stands out. I think that the
poster appeals to a niche audience
because it is alternative and unique. Bass
does not follow conventions that are
commonly used on film posters such as a
vibrant colour scheme, photography and
minimal text. The front cover explores
many different subjects such as anxiety
and disorientation. I think this poster will
appeal more to a reformer because they
are curious about personal development
and growth. Because the poster and film
approaches mental health issues, this
allows reformers to learn more about their
own mental health and how it may effect
others.
The photo-mechanical element on the
poster.

5. Existing Product- James Verdesoto
Pulp Fiction (1994)
• Pulp Fiction is crime movie that intertwines different characters lives altogether. It was directed by Quentin
Tarantino. James Verdesoto created the theatrical poster for the film as well as producing movie posters for
Ocean’s Eleven and The English Patient.
• ““If you googled Pulp Fiction before Pulp Fiction, you wouldn’t find anything that resembles that poster. Pulp
fiction was about these cheap magazines where women were either femme fatales or sex slaves. Mia Wallace,
Uma Thurman ‘s character, is neither. She’s too cool.” ( Medium Art and Science). The film approaches subjects
such as sex, drugs and guns. The poster is targeted at an older audience because these subjects that are included
on the cover are not appropriate for a young audience.
• I think that the poster is targeted at young adults and older. The poster looks like a magazine advertising these
subjects which intrigue young adults. “It’s retro, but it’s kitsch as well. It’s very difficult to make adaptations in
modern, retro-themed posters. You make a tribute to the past, yes, but you have to catch contemporary audiences
with it.”(Medium Art and Science).
• James Verdesoto is explains that he enjoys looking for other artists such as photographers and illustrators in books
from the library. He enjoys finding the original source instead of finding alternative online.
• Verdesoto likes basing his work on the past so that his artwork can move forward. This is why the poster for Pulp
Fiction looks retro and vintage. When creating the film poster, he enjoys reading the characters and expressing
their feelings and emotions on the cover.
• The poster for Pulp Fiction gives the reader a strong insight into what the film is about. The themes explored on
the poster are only a small amount of themes that are incorporated in the entire film. The title of the film refers to
crime novels popular in the 20th Century for their graphic violence. Because there is a gun and cigarette on the
poster, the reader can presume what the film will entail.
• In 1994, crime and violence was on the rise. In America, there were many more gangs surrounding drugs and
violence which heavily influenced the film.

6. Existing Product- James Verdesoto
Pulp Fiction (1994)
• Uma Thurman is on the poster as she is one of the main characters in the film. She is posing on the bed
with a cigarette in her hand which influences her to look like a sex object. Verdesoto has done this to
symbolize her power as a woman but to appeal influence males to watch the film.
• I think that the way Verdesoto has designed the poster is aimed at males. For example, Uma Thurman is
placed in the centre of the page posing on a bed. This will interest the male audience. Furthermore, the
gun and the cigarette has connotations to crime, gangs and drugs which is a genre of film that would
traditionally interest males more than females. The poster has also been designed to look like a retro
comic or magazine, which stereotypically would have more male readers than female. I think that the film
is enjoyed by males and females, however it is targeted more at males.
• The poster is targeted at young adults and older. Young adults tend to struggle to fit in and get involved
with the wrong crowd. Adults may be able to relate to this and feel more connected to the topics
approached in the film. Another way the film appeals to adults is because it is full of action, drama and
crime which is what makes the film exciting and tense. The fast pace of the film interests adults as a way of
escapism from their everyday lives.
• The film is about gangsters that have a lot of money. Therefore, I believe that the poster can appeal to
anyone not involving their social economic. People that tend to live in poorer areas have a larger
percentage of violence, gun crime, drugs and gangs. I think that people who are in the lower class can
relate to the film and poster on some levels as they could possibly have connections to the themes in the
film. However, I also think that people in the working or upper class can enjoy the poster and film because
it exposes them to a world of crime they are not familiar to and excites them.

7. Existing Product- James Verdesoto
Pulp Fiction (1994)
There is a strong colour scheme throughout
the poster of Pulp Fiction: red, yellow and
blue. As I have seen used demonstrated
before, posters that have been constructed of
yellow and blue are often used to symbolize
power of the character displayed. The red has
connotations to blood, danger and love
which are all incorporated into the film. The
muted red and yellow also further develops
the retro feel to the poster as it influences it
to look like an old vintage magazine or comic.
The heading at the top of the page has what
appears to be scratches and worn pieces
which makes the poster look even more like a
vintage magazine. The title at the top of the
poster grabs your attention and gives the
reader an insight into the film. The
photograph on the poster is a medium shot
of Uma Thurman on a bed with a cigarette in
her hand and a gun in front of her. The
placements of these objects symbolize how
close and involved she is and the part she
plays in the film. The blue undertone creates
a mysterious tone as the viewer does still not
know everything about this character.
Verdesoto’s poster for pulp Fiction has
been changed over the years and is no
longer the same poster we recognize
with the film. The new poster features
much more text with the actors names
down the side of Thurman. Verdesoto
did not include as much text because
the main focus of the poster is objects
placed around Thurman. The
photography is the product of the
poster and it used to entice the reader:
not the actors names. The large graphic
font style stands out on the poster and
grabs the readers attention. The font
choice chosen has connections to crime
novels. The text is easy to read,
however the picture is much more
difficult to understand. There are lots of
hidden meanings that the audience has
to analyze before they understand the
film.
Uma Thurman is wearing all black with red lipstick which has been used to symbolize her
power within the film as well as portraying her in a seductive way. Verdesoto has done
this to interest a male dominant audience for the film and give them an insight into her
character. “Designer James Verdesoto notes that Uma Thurman’s character is stronger and
more modern than the femme fatales typical of the mag covers—something he portrayed
through her pose, long dress, and insolent stare.” (Medium). The direct eye contact has
been used to show Wallace’s power over anybody and make the reader feel weak
compared to her.

8. Existing Product- Lady Bird (2017)
• During my research, I found it very difficult to discover movie posters artists that base their work on photography. I
decided to analysis one of my favourite films poster and look closer at the techniques used.
• Lady Bird is a coming of age comedy drama film produced in 2017. According to IMP Awards, BLT Communications
distributed the poster. They have also created movie posters for Mary Poppins Returns, Fantastic Beasts and
Dumbo (2019).
• Lady Bird is a film about a teenage girl enjoying her last year of high school before she moves to university. A
strong theme throughout the film is religion as Lady Bird studies at a Catholic school. The movie poster design
features religion as the border of the image has different coloured boxes. The different coloured boxes symbolize
stain glass windows in churches.
• The target audience for the film is young adults who can relate to the film. The film discusses her difficult
relationship with her mother as well as trying to find love and fit in at school. She worries about getting accepted
into college or what college to attend which young adults can strongly connect to. They film find the film relatable
and enjoy it much more than an older audience.
• In the film, Lady Bird struggles with her finances and worries that she will not be able to afford university.
Therefore I think that the film can appeal to any socioeconomic as people who also have money issues can relate
to Lady Bird and find comfort in the film because everything turns out ok. Even if the audience can afford to go to
university, they can connect with Lady Bird and her worry of moving away from home and becoming independent.
• The film poster explores a range of subjects such as religion and independence. A cross is featured in the
background with also the hidden stain glass connotation to the image border. The side profile of Lady Bird
influences her to look very powerful and strong.
• “As Lady Bird’s director of photography Sam Levy remembers it, Gerwig hoped that the film would “look like a
memory.” ( Vanity Fair).

9. Existing Product- Lady Bird (2017)
• The strong side profile of Lady Bird tells the audience that Lady Bird is a strong women going through a
difficult time. She is trying to find her way through the world and create a future for herself. The side
profile highlights how strong and powerful she is and that she will be ok in the future. The side profile also
connects to the viewer as we see our self going through her experiences because they are so real. It
almost acts as a new platform explaining that the audience is going to be ok going through these
experiences as well: if Lady Bird can do it then so can we.
• I think that the film appeals more to a female audience because it is showcasing the troubling years
through a woman's perspective. Females can relate and connect to the film more as we place ourselves in
her shoes. On the other hand, I also think that the poster and film appeals to the males because they can
connect to elements of the film.
• Lady Bird is a film designed for teenagers and young adults to help them understand that they have the
confidence and strength to become independent and create a future. Any gender can connect with the
film and enjoy as it feels like a memory for them.
• In 2017, teenagers and young adults are expected to attend university to result in a successful job.
However, many teenagers are pressured with getting strong exam results and even being accepted into a
university. There is also the increase of pressure on teenagers in the 21st century to have the perfect body
and be popular. Social media plays a big part in todays society which results in even more pressure on
young adults. I think that the film is heavily influenced by the pressure of teenagers due to social media.

10. Existing Product- Lady Bird (2017)
The poster for Lady Bird follows much more
conventional theatrical poster techniques.
For example, there is much more text on
the poster than Bass’ artwork. There is the
actors names at the top of the poster with
the title at the bottom along with the
directors name, company names and
certificate. The designers have done this to
showcase the film as well as promoting the
actors and producers for their work. The
font of the title of Lady Bird is very bold and
unique. It stands out on the page because
the rest of the text is colourful. The text has
connotations to historic font and religion
which highlights major subjects in the film.
There is a tagline featured on the poster
which is common technique to entice the
audience. The slogan reads “ fly away
home”. Lady Bird is about a young adult
leaving home to go to university. This slogan
gives the audience an insight to what the
film is about.
There is a strong vibrant colour scheme used
on the poster for Lady Bird. The red, yellow,
orange and blue border has strong
connotations to a stain glass window in a
church. There is more religion connotations
on the poster such as the cross on the wall
in the background. The bright colour scheme
grabs your attention and influences the
poster to stand out. It also influences the
poster to look more retro and vintage and
the colours are slightly muted. The poster
for Lady Bird is photography themed which I
enjoy because some posters tend to be
graphic designed or illustrated. The close up
shot of Lady Bird’s side profile portrays her
as powerful and strong. The portrait shot
means that the depth of field is small. The
red highlights have been enhanced in her
hair to make her stand out against the
colourful border and text.
I think that the poster will appeal to a niche audience because it is unique and different to the posters produced in the 21st century.
Even though the poster features many typical conventions of a theatrical poster; it is still alternative. “I showed these reference
images to everybody—to our gaffers, to our colorists, to our camera crew—and we just tried to make it a family affair, so we could
all work towards executing and realizing this aesthetic of memory.” (Vanity Fair). Lady Bird is stuck in the same school uniform as
everyone in her school, except she is different. She needs to express herself therefore the has bright red hair and wears vintage
thrift store clothes. This expression of identity connects with teenagers and young adults as they try to find ways of discovering
who they are and what they enjoy.

11. Existing Product- John Alvin Website
• https://johnalvinart.com
• John’s website includes a piece of his artwork as the header on the first page. This clearly explains to the reader what type of
work Alvin created. The colour scheme for his website is very neutral: Alvin has done this to make the colour in his artwork
be more bold and vibrant against the simple background. There are many different elements to Alvin’s website that can lead
you to visit his work in much more detail. There are videos of Alvin creating and designing his work as well as interviews and
quotes from people that he has worked with such as ‘Jeffery Katzenberg, Walt Disney Film Studio Chairman, 2014’.
• At the bottom of the website, there is a border with his social media links which helps promote his work to a younger
audience. There is a sub-section of where you can purchase Alvin’s work. You can purchase limited edition pieces on canvas
for $595 or original concept art for $29,000. You can also purchase his book which features his artwork as well as sketches
and interviews.
• There is also a box that comes up on the website that is for signing up to a newsletter. I like this technique because it allows
the audience to receive promotions and experience elements of the website that others can not enjoy.
• I am unsure whether I will have time to produce a website to sell my film posers because I would like to mainly focus on this
element of my FMP. When looking at my feedback from my survey, the target audience purchases their film posters online
which means that the website would play a big part in my FMP. Personally, I think that Alvin’s website is not very interesting
to a younger audience which is more appropriate for my audience. The writing style is formal with lots of information which
may not interest young adults. The website acts as a legacy of John Alvin which is why there is so much accessible
information about his life and artwork.

12. Existing Product- Andrew Sebastian
Kwan Website
• https://andrewkwanart.bigcartel.com/
• Andrew’s website follows similar techniques and layouts to Alvin’s website. For example, at the header there is a famous art
piece of the artist to grab your attention and make the audience aware of artwork that the artist has successfully created.
The title is in the centre of the artwork which grabs the audiences attention. Once again, there is a box that appears when
you first visit the website which allows you to sign up for a newsletter to receive posters and sales alerts.
• When you visit his website, you are taken to the shopping page; there is not an introduction to the artist like there is on
Alvin’s website. His work is separated into different sections such as Anime, Marvel and Movie/TV posters. This gives a
structure to the website and makes it easy for the audience to find exactly what they are looking for. There is little
information bout the artist which leaves the audience wanting to know more about his inspiration.
• The colour scheme on the website is once again very neutral which is a common theme on art websites. This influences the
art work to stand out more against the blank canvas and grab your attention.
• There is a sub-section to the website where you can ask questions or contact Andrew’s team. Andrew personally addresses
the audience with first person which connects the audience to the artist.
• There is a side bar on the website where you can access different pages on the website such as ‘shop’, ‘about’ or ‘contact’. I
like the simplicity of the website because it mainly focuses on art and not so much about the creator. I find the website
inspiring because it showcases Andrew’s in a easily accessible way.
• His posters are usually $25 which is a similar price I would like to sell my alternative film posters for.

13. Existing Product- Saul Bass Website
• http://www.saulbassposterarchive.com/gallery/film-posters/
• The home page of Saul Bass’ website introduces the audience with an image of the artist as well as his autograph and small
paragraph about him and his work. Once again, the colour scheme on the website is neutral black and white so that the
artwork stands out and appears brighter and more vibrant.
• At the header of the website you can select what element of the website you would like to visit such as the ‘gallery’ or
‘about’. Unlike the other websites I have researched, Bass’ website it much more simple with little information. There is a
slideshow where you can look at several film posters he has produced in order, however there is no information about his
inspiration etc.
• There is not a box that appears on the website where you can subscribe to receive sales and offers like on the other
websites. I think that this makes the website seem more formal and professional and almost high end. I would like to include
this box on my website because it involves the audience more and influences them to be more interested in your work. If
you click on the ‘available works’ page there is then information of how to sign up to the mailing list. Underneath the images
on the slideshow, there is a link where you can purchase his posters for around $4000.
• I think that the poster is very simple with only few ways to involve the reader which I think creates distance between the
artist and audience. There is not a mode of address as the writer does not ever talk to the audience: even rarely about Bass
himself.

14. Survey
• I created a survey on Survey Monkey to understand my target audience and learn more about what style
of film poster interests them and why. The age range for my survey was 17-24 because this is my target
audience. The majority of the people that completed the survey fitted into the age bracket (18-24). 61% of
the people that completed my survey were males. 46% of people that completed my survey have not
purchased any film posters which means that the majority of people aged 18-24 would be interested in
buying my posters as they have purchased merchandise for films before. On the other hand, it also
suggests that my alternative posters would appeal to a niche audience as a high percentage have not
purchased a film poster.
• Another important question I asked the audience was ‘what genre of film are you most likely to buy a
poster for?’ The top answers were horror, thriller and fantasy. . I think that the audience are most likely to
purchase a poster for this genre is because the theatrical posters tend to be more creative with colour
schemes, graphics and hidden meanings. The audience would also be interested in sci-fi and romance for
the same reasons: the posters are always successful whether they be detailed graphics or simple yet
effective. This question is beneficial to me because I have found out what my target audience are most
interested in purchasing so this means that I can produce more posters targeted at these genres.

15. Survey
• Question number 5 was ‘would you rather the film poster have a detailed design or simple?’ 53% said they
would want detailed and 40% said they want simple. Someone commented on the ‘other’ box and
contributed their personal opinion in more detail: ‘Sometimes a simple design is all you need, but
depending on the film, a more detailed design is also good.’ Even though the options are tied, this has
helped me because I can now create a mixture of posters that have a more detailed design with more text
and photography editing skills used. However, on other posters the design can be much more simple to
interest everyone.
• A very important question that was essential to the survey was:’ would you buy an alternative film poster
that has been recreated by another artist?’ 92% said yes which is the percentage I was hoping for as my
proposal needs to interest the target audience otherwise it would not be appropriate or successful.
• Question number 7 was ‘how do you buy film merchandise?’ 75% of the audience responded that they
buy their merchandise online. I would like to create a website to sell my alternative posters on therefore,
this percentage is appropriate for my work.

16. Survey
• I then asked how much the target audience would pay for a film poster and 53% said under £10. This
question has been useful for me because I now know what price point I should make the alternative
posters so that the audience would want to buy them. 46% said that they would pay under £20, however I
think that the smaller prints of the posters can be under £10 and larger prints can be under £20 so the
audience has a wider range.
• The final question featured on my survey was ‘what would influence you to purchase a film poster?’ This
question is vital to my work because the answer can be the main subject of my work to interest the
audience and influence them to purchasing a poster. 69% said that they would buy a film poster if they
really enjoyed the film. This result is useful because I can create alternative film posters for very successful
films such as ‘Black Swan’ or ‘Dark Knight’. 53% answered that they would purchase the poster due to the
photography and graphics presented on the poster. This is important to me because I would like to create
alternative film posters based around my photography, therefore the audience must be interested in the
design. Furthermore, I can now experiment more on Photoshop with photography editing techniques as
well as learning how to create digital illustrations and graphics.
• Overall, my survey has been very useful to my research because I have learned more about what interests
them and what they would like to see on a poster. To develop my primary research even further I would
like to interview the audience with different visual representations of film posters to understand what
style specifically they would be interested in more.

17. Interview- Georgia Brown
• What style of film poster do you prefer and why?
I prefer simple designs for film posters because I think that they are the most eye catching and interesting to
look at.
• How important is the photography and graphics on the film poster to you?
The graphics and photography is extremely important to the poster because it is what grabs your attention and
makes you influenced to watch the film.
• What films would you purchase a film poster for or like me to produce?
I would love to see you recreate a film poster for Call Me By Your Name. It is one of my favourite films and I
would love a poster for it.
• What is your favourite film poster/ what is the most memorable film poster and why?
Call Me By Your Name is my favourite film poster because the picture is simple but yet relates to the film and
the colours work so well together.

18. Interview- Sophie Grantham
• What style of film poster do you prefer and why?
I prefer posters that stand out and have a good layout, they have to be eye catching and the title needs to be
clear so I can look more into the movie so it links to a trailer or a website. If its not interesting then it wont be
seen or viewed as much.
• How important is the photography and graphics on the film poster to you?
The photography and graphics on a film poster are definitely important as I like seeing the set or the main
characters as sometimes the people on the front can be a good selling point.
• What films would you purchase a film poster for or like me to produce?
In the past I have bought tones of film posters. They definitely have to look good enough to put up on a wall. I
have always seemed to personally buy posters with actors on that I like for example I bought posters with good
looking actors on such as Robert Pattison in Twilight and Jamie Campbell Bower in the mortal instruments.
• What is your favourite film poster/ what is the most memorable film poster and why?
The most memorable poster for me is the Mortal Instruments as it showed all of the main cast and its text and
quotes were really interesting. I also like the Greatest Showman poster as it looks full of energy.

19. Quantitative Research Summary
• For my quantitative research, I conducted a survey online and an interview because I wanted
to get a range of style of answers for my research. I thought these methods would be the
most successful way to learn more about my target audience and their opinion on film
posters and would give me the best results to move forward with into production.
• My survey allowed me to ask closed questions that restricted the audience to select an
answer that best suited their opinion on the product. The survey that I conducted was very
helpful to me because I grew a better understanding to what my audience would like to see
my produce, how they purchase merchandise and how much they would pay. The results
gave me feedback that I was hoping for as my audience is willing to pay under £10 for the
poster. My target audience is also interested in purchasing alternative posters that have been
produced by another artist.
• I also conducted an interview with Georgia Brown and Sophie Grantham to find out more
about my target audience. I included open questions where the audience can express their
opinions in much more detail. My results highlight to me that both interviewees enjoy a
simple design for film posters as they find it minimalistic but effective. This is useful to my
production because I am aware of what the audience would like to see and how to approach
the subject successfully.

20. Qualitative Research
When I was researching for artists that have produced theatrical film posters, I found lots of fan art of posters
on Pinterest. The audience enjoy creating their own art for the film because it allows them to symbolize what
the film means to them. Film posters are inspiring as the audience can remember their favourite scenes or
characters and base their poster on them. I wanted to create my own alternative film poster art because it
allows me to advertise what I want within the film as well experiment with my own photography and editing
skills. When analysing existing products, James Verdesoto has created one of the most iconic films posters that
has ever been created. The poster for Pulp Fiction is in nearly on every teenagers and young adults wall as the
film is symbol for growing up in the wrong crowd, action, drugs and violence. The film poster for Pulp Fiction is
incredibly successful and memorable to the audience and even features number 14 on Empires top 50 best film
posters of all time. “An image depicting a piece of pulp fiction itself (complete with cover creases, dog-eared
corner and 10c price tag) this design not only captured the film’s effortless cool but became one of the most
ubiquitous images of the mid-nineties. By 1994, you couldn’t enter student accommodation anywhere in the
country without seeing Uma Thurman’s smouldering gaze staring back at you.” (Empire). Saul Bass’ artwork for
Anatomy of A Murder also features number 32 on Empire’s list. “Another of Saul Bass’ many masterpieces,
matching his equally brilliant title sequence. The simplified, almost cartoonish shapes of a corpse sum up the
themes and premise of Otto Preminger’s courtroom drama efficiently and effectively; the simple, unusual
orange/yellow colour schemes makes it instantly recognisable.” (Empire). Bass’ film posters are some of the
most iconic film posters that have been produced and have inspired many artists to follow in his footsteps.
Many film poster artists have been accused of copying Bass’ style of artwork due to the simplicity and harsh
lines throughout. Film posters are featured on young adults walls as a piece of artwork. If the audience enjoys
the film, they tend to purchase merchandise for the film as it acts as a memory for them.

21. Qualitative Research- Pinterest

22. Production Research- Tutorials
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrx_Mz9v6-I (tutorial for editing an image into ash). I think that this tutorial will be
useful to me when making a film poster for a horror or thriller film as this is a creative way to make the poster seem more
mysterious and dramatic. This video is from a YouTube channel called ‘Photoshop Tutorials’ that has a range of videos with
different techniques that I could experiment with.
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Y3aIHxxkok (tutorial for editing cracked skin). Another video from the same channel
have produced a tutorial on how to create cracked skin. I like this effect because I have not experimented with portrait
photography or different editing techniques like this, therefore it would challenge me to something new. This tutorial would
once again fit perfectly for a horror or thriller film as it can complete this editing technique on a character. To create this
effect, I firstly need to begin with a portrait shot to duplicate. I also require a picture of cracks that I can overlay and blend
into the original image. Then by moving the cracks and experimenting with levels the cracks will blend in and make the
character look like a cracked doll for a horror film.
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34pTcSH06HA (tutorial on fantasy background). I think that this tutorial is important to
my work because I am going to be producing several posters for fantasy films as my results from my survey suggest that my
target audience are most interested in this genre. Using several different images, you cut out the subjects you would like to
edit. By dragging and dropping the subjects onto the new image, you create a Gaussian blur to manipulate the background.
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpkRDQ1rZdo (tutorial on vintage effect). This video is also from the same YouTube
channel which I will use in the production for my romance or drama film posters. To manipulate the image, I use a blue
colour overlay and then edit the opacity.
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQbK3Knw1pk (tutorial for editing nature or landscape shots). I have used this video
before to help me when producing nature or landscape themed products. This tutorial allows you to create a moody effect
on the photographs which adds further depth and highlights to the image. To achieve this, using the curves tool, camera
filter effect and the dodge and burn tool, you have an image with much more detail than at the beginning.
• When I am editing any of my photographs, I always use the camera raw filter to enhance the colours and brightness.
Furthermore, I experiment with the dodge and burn tool and curves, however these tutorials will allow me to learn new
ways of developing these techniques further to improve the outcome.

23. Production Research- Locations,
Models and Costume
• To take my own images for my alternative film posters, I am going to need to use a range of different locations. For example, for
drama or horror genres I would like to use the studio to take professional portrait shots that can then be manipulated with the
cracked skin or ash tutorial from YouTube. I would also like to be taking several photographs of landscapes, wildlife or nature. For
example, for the film Magnolia, I would like to use macro photography to capture the flower. For the landscape shots and wildlife
shots I will visit different locations such as: Castle Howard,( and the arboretum), Yorkshire Wildlife Park, Lotherton Hall, Askham Bog
and many more nature reserves as the provide spaces for wildlife and forests that can be edited to appear creepy and scary for a
horror/thriller film poster. These different nature reserves have arboretums and wildlife that I can use as my cover. For example, I
would like to photograph a black swan for the film. I have visited Lotherton Hall before and know that they have a wide range of birds
including black swans. I would also need to learn how to successfully capture water movements for film posters such as Shape Of
Water. To photograph the water, I will use the River Ouse which runs through town.
• I will be using models for some of the film posters but not all. They will mainly be used on the cover for genres such as horror or
thriller where I can manipulate the face. I would mainly like to focus on landscape shots as the models used are not in the actual film
and it would not make much sense for the audience. If I were to use a model it would be strictly long shots so that they act as the
character and are not fully visible to the audience: I will only use portrait shots for horror film posters where I will learn how to
manipulate the face using tutorials from YouTube. The models I will be using will be Georgia Brown, Sophie Grantham or Luke
Nicholls.
• For the majority of the films that I am going to recreate do not require strict costumes because I would like to create alternative
nature themed posters instead. This involves wildlife, landscape or nature themed shots. However, for films such as ‘Grease’ I will
need to purchase the iconic pink ladies jacket. A pink jacket from Forever 21 that is a similar style only costs £9. I will also require
several props when shooting for my posters. I would like to create a film poster for IT. This means that I will need to purchase several
red balloons that cost £3.49 on Amazon.uk. To purchase any props I will use Amazon.uk as it is cheap and has next day delivery. The
costume pieces will be bought in advance so that I am prepared for the shoot. I would also like to create an alternative film poster for
the film Candy, which means that I will need several different sweets to be included on the cover. The same thing applies when
producing covers for films such as The Notebook and American Beauty. When shooting for films such as The Purge or The Dark Knight
I would like to get experimental with face makeup which means I would need to purchase face paint from Amazon.uk for £3.

24. Production Research- Mood Board
Joker card for the
film The Dark Knight
My camera and a
macro lens

25. Production Research- Equipment
• Equipment required for my photo-shoots is a camera, alternate lens and tripod. I own a
Canon 1300D camera that will be used for the photography. I have used this camera for
several different projects previously, therefore I am comfortable experimenting with settings
on the camera with the intention to have professional photographs. I also own an alternate
lens that ranges from 75mm to 200mm so that I can capture wildlife or more detailed close
up shots. I will use this lens for films such as Silence Of The Lambs and Black Swan. I would
like to also borrow another lens from college that specializes in macro photography so that I
can capture in much more detail flowers or insects for the films Magnolia and Lady Bird. This
macro lens has a much larger zoom at. I need to purchase a tripod for my camera as it will be
extremely difficult to take close ups and macro shots hand held. I want the photographs to
look as professional as possible, therefore it is vital that I purchase or borrow a tripod from
college. They sell tripods on Amazon.uk for £26.99. Purchasing a tripod from Amazon.uk
would allow me to improve my photography in personal use as well as on the FMP. I have
several different sized camera bags at home that can safely hold all the lens when I am
moving locations for the shoots.

26. Production Research- Camera and
Lighting
• I recently attended a photography workshop that taught me how to change the settings on my camera to fully
capture the detail, depth and highlights to the image. To do this successfully, I will firstly change the depth of field
by making the f number small when capturing close ups so that the background blurs. When I am capturing
landscapes or long shots I will use a larger f number so that the full landscape is in focus. To change the lighting of
the photograph, I will take a test shot. If the image is too dark I will increase the brightness and retake the image. I
will always remember to turn the brightness back down to 0 as this will effect the rest of images. Another way to
improve my photography would be by experimenting with the exposure levels. On my camera, there is a setting
where you can create a ‘sunny’ effect or a ‘cloudy’ effect which means I can select these options if the
photographs are coming out too bright or too dark. Finally, I can adjust the focal point so that I can choose a
specific part of the subject to focus on so that the background blurs. All of these settings I have learned on the
Aperture Priority setting on my camera. However, if I were to take photographs of wildlife I would use that setting
on my camera so that the settings are already selected appropriately to the environment.
• For example, when I am capturing a photograph of a flower, the depth of field will be small so that the background
will blur. This means that the f number should be around F.4.5. I will adjust the brightness if the flower is
over/under exposed. Finally, I will adjust the focal point so that all focal points are inside the flower so that the full
flower is in focus.
• When shooting in the studio for portrait shots, the camera will once again have a small depth of field. However,
when adjusting the focal points, I will focus the main focal point on the eye as this draws the audiences attention
to the portrait and makes it look more professional.
• I will not only focus on the lighting when outside but also in the studio. There are lights in the studio that can be
adjusted so that the brightness is suitable to the environment. To ensure that the lights are on the appropriate
setting, I will take several test shots.

27. Books
• There are many Google Books that have been written about film posters and books produced by artists themselves sharing their
story. For example, Ian Haydn Smith has produced a book over 150 years of film poster history. The book addresses trends over the
years and how the film poster is successful at enticing the audience to viewing the film. This book has been extremely helpful for my
production because I have learned new skills and techniques that have been used to influence the audience to view the film. The
history that is showcased throughout the books highlights how posters began and what they were used for as well as sharing posters
from 1910.
• There is even a book dedicated to Saul Bass’ artwork and how he helped change the industry for film posters. “With more than 1,400
illustrations, many of them never published before and written by the leading design historian Pat Kirkham, this is the definitive
study that design and film enthusiasts have been eagerly anticipating. Saul Bass (1920-1996) created some of the most compelling
images of American post-war visual culture. Having extended the remit of graphic design to include film titles, he went on to
transform the genre.”
• A book that I find very helpful to the work I am producing is ‘Alternative Movie Posters: Film Art from the Underground’. The book
addresses how the film poster industry is changing and becoming more stereotypical with simple character head shots. This book
was written by Matthew Chojnacki who is a graphic designer. “Over the years the motion picture industry has (sadly) gravitated to
generating poorly cropped and heavily airbrushed posters that rely far too often on celebrity head shots. Thankfully, an underground
network of graphic designers and artists has reinvigorated the art of the movie poster, crafting stunning pieces for classic and cult
films. Here is the first comprehensive look at the movement, presenting this eclectic and dynamic medium through more than 200
eye-popping posters from over 100 cutting-edge artists, coupled with fascinating commentary and behind-the-scenes information.”
(Michael Chojnacki).

28. Secondary Research
Using the website YouGov, I researched different film distribution companies to find out more about my
audience. Firstly, I researched about Warner Bros. I found out that Warner Bros is more popular with
millennials than any other age group. Warner Bros is more popular with females than males. Overall, the
company has a 81% positive opinion. Warner Bros have released many films that I would like to recreate
artwork for which means some posters will appeal more to females than males. For example, Warner Bros have
distributed films such as The Dark Knight, Harry Potter and We’re The Millers. I also researched about Universal
Pictures. They have released films such as Scarface, E.T and Jaws. Once again, the results show that the
company is most popular with millennials and women. This research highlights to me that I need to recreate
film posters for films that have recently been released so that I can connect with my target market which is also
millennials. Unreality magazine addresses some stereotypes that the audience now sees on the majority of film
posters. For example, a comedy or romance film usually includes the two main characters stood back to back. A
horror or thriller film mainly has an eye as the poster and drama/romance feature a head in the clouds effect
with small bodies on the beach. “Above we have “Tiny People on the Beach, Giant Heads in the Clouds,” which
is a particularly ergregoius one. But the list doesn’t stop there, as there are plenty more comparisons to be
made. Chances are you’ve noticed them yourself, but now we have physical proof as to how much repetition is
really going on.”(Unreality). Most artists feel like film posters are becoming extremely unoriginal and are
following main stream media. “They have become as predictable and formulaic as the majority of films they
are designed to promote. Just as originality has become a rarity in cinema, it has become a rarity in poster
artwork, too – striking a heavy blow at the heart of a beloved cultural tradition.” (We Got This Covered).
Consumers want to showcase artwork and their appreciation for the film by having posters of their favourite
films on their walls. However, as posters are becoming more predictable less people are purchasing film
merchandise. This research has been useful for me because I know that my posters need to be unique and
alternative and express the art and creativity otherwise the audience will not be interested in purchasing any
film posters.

29. Audience
My alternative film posters are targeted at teenagers and young adults. From my research, I have
found that sadly the film poster industry is slowly becoming less and less creative. Films posters
are stereotypically a characters head shot highlighting their strong emotions throughout the film.
This means that they expect to see basic film posters that do not creatively promote the film. This
is why I would like to create alternative film posters to break these stereotypes and influence the
industry to become creative again. Young adults and teenagers engage with simple designs for
film posters because they are different and unique; they express different themes and contexts
that are not showcased on mainstream film posters. I want my posters to be a piece of art that
young adults and teenagers would like to showcase on their wall because it gives them good
memories of the film or inspires them to create their own alternative film posters/artwork.

30. Production Techniques
Once I have finished production, I would like to be able to create a website to sell my prints to the
market. When I created my survey, I asked the audience how they purchased their film
merchandise and 71% said that they purchase online rather than in store. This will engage with
my audience and be easily accessible for them to purchase. I also intend to showcase my work to
the public. I would like to rent out an exhibition space in York and create a Facebook page where
anyone can come and look at my work and give me feedback. Another way to showcase my work
to the public would be by producing my own portfolio book which includes all my posters which
people can give feedback on. Finally, I think it would be a good idea to create my own
merchandise such as stickers which could be distributed around York and reach a much wider
audience. It is a cheap and successful way to allow more people to see my work and give
constructive criticism. With my feedback, I will make further changes before I complete
production. I can adapt my work so that it appeals to my target audience as this is most
important. This feedback will help my work progress and be more appropriate.

31. Summary
The research that I have conducted over the week has been extremely helpful because I have a
better understanding of my target audience and the competition with film poster media. My
survey and interview was a primary research task that I set myself to find out more what my
audience would like to see me create, how much they would pay and what genre of films they
would want me to produce. Analyzing existing products allowed me to see what conventions
artists use to entice the viewer to watching the film or possibly purchasing the merchandise. I
then conducted some qualitative research which allowed me to examine fan art and look more
into what inspired the artists and the effect of film posters. The production research allowed me
to research tutorials on YouTube that I will use later on in production. This has introduced me to
new skills and techniques that I would have never thought to include in my work. After that, I
then researched about books that film poster artists and graphic designers have created. This was
helpful to my creative decisions because I learned about the history of film posters and how the
conventions have adapted over the years. Overall, my research has been extremely helpful with
production. My surveys and interviews have highlighted that I need to create a simplistic design
to entice the audience. I am going to incorporate a range of photography styles such as nature,
landscape, macro, wildlife and portrait photography

32. Bibliography
• Paul Rennie. (2008). Vertigo: Disorientation in orange. Available:
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2008/sep/26/poster.vertigo. Last accessed 28th Jan 2019.
• Juan Vinueza. (2013). A fifty-year old guy from Quito makes the world’s greatest movie posters.
Available: https://medium.com/@tocteman/a-fifty-year-old-guy-from-quito-makes-the-worlds-
greatest-movie-posters-8e332b1ec80c. Last accessed 30th Jan 2019.
• .. (.). Lady Bird Movie Poster. Available: http://www.impawards.com/2017/lady_bird_ver2.html.
Last accessed 31st Jan 2019.
• .. (.). BLT Communications Movie Posters. Available: https://www.cinematerial.com/companies/blt-
communications-i25. Last accessed 31st Jan 2019.
• JULIE MILLER. (2017). How Greta Gerwig’s Lady Bird Came to “Look Like a Memory”. Available:
https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2017/11/greta-gerwig-lady-bird-design. Last accessed 31st
Jan 2019.
• Abbie Nicholls. (2019) Target Audience Research Survey (conducted on 28.1.19)
• John Alvin. (.). Artwork. Available: https://johnalvinart.com/artwork/. Last accessed 4th Feb 2019.
• Andrew Sebastian Kwan. (.). .. Available: https://andrewkwanart.bigcartel.com/. Last accessed 4th
Feb 2019.
• Saul Bass. (.). .. Available: http://www.saulbassposterarchive.com. Last accessed 4th Feb 2019.
• .. (.). .. Available: https://yougov.co.uk. Last accessed 7th Feb 2019.
• .. (.). A Gallery of Inescapable Movie Poster Trends. Available: https://unrealitymag.com/a-gallery-
of-inescapable-movie-poster-trends/. Last accessed 7th Feb 2019.
• Sarah Myles . (2015). Movie Poster Trends: From Art To Boredom. Available:
https://wegotthiscovered.com/movies/movie-poster-trends-art-form-boredom/. Last accessed 7th
Feb 2019.
• Georgia Brown. (2019) Target Audience Interviews (conducted on 7.2.19)
• Sophie Grantham. (2019) Target Audience Interviews (conducted on 7.2.19)

33. Production Research Bibliography
• Photoshop Tutorials. (2018). Disintegrate into ASH Effect : Photoshop Tutorial. Available:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrx_Mz9v6-I. Last accessed 4th Feb 2019.
• Photoshop Tutorials. (2018). How to Create Realistic Cracked Skin using Photoshop. Available:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Y3aIHxxkok. Last accessed 4th Feb 2019.
• Photoshop Tutorials. (2013). Adobe Photoshop CS6 - [Vintage Effect] [Basic Way]. Available:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpkRDQ1rZdo. Last accessed 4th Feb 2019.
• Photoshop Tutorials. (2016). Fantasy Scene | Blur Background: Photoshop Tutorial. Available:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34pTcSH06HA. Last accessed 4th Feb 2019.
• Run N Gun. (2018). How to Create the MOODY FOREST Look in Photos: Photoshop LANDSCAPE
Editing Tutorial for EARTHY TONES. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQbK3Knw1pk.
Last accessed 4th Feb 2019.
• John Nugent, James Dyer. (2018). The 50 Best Movie Posters Of All Time. Available:
https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/best-posters/. Last accessed 6th Feb 2019.
• .. (.). Best Alternative Movie Posters. Available:
https://www.pinterest.co.uk/salvomrlonely/alternative-movie-posters/. Last accessed 6th Feb
2019.

34. Google Books Bibliography
• Ian Haydn Smith (2018). Selling the Movie: The Art of the Film Poster. .: White Lion
Publishing. p1-288.
• Jennifer Bass, Pat Kirkham (2011). Saul Bass: A Life In Film And Design. .: Laurence King
Publishing. p1-428.
• Matthew Chojnacki (2013). Alternative Movie Posters: Film Art from the Underground. .:
Schiffer Publishing Limited. p1-207.