2. •Our silent comedy needed to have a poster and
a double page spread to help advertise the film to our target
audience. I needed to market the film to the intended target
audience (people of Afro-Caribbean origin) whilst using the
techniques of the codes and conventions which original silent
comedies used for their posters.
•I believed that because our short film is based on the sub-
genre silent comedy its only right for me to research silent
comedy film posters. This will help give me a deep
understanding of the mis-en-scene of a poster, e.g. what the
character’s facial expression should look like, what font
should be used for the title of the film.
•Whilst planning to make a silent comedy short film, I
researched films on high-profile silent comedy actors such as
Charlie Chaplin and Laurel & Hardy. I thought I should do the
same and research two posters supporting Charlie Chaplin
and Laurel and Hardy’s posters.

4. This is the selling used in the poster
promoting Laurel and Hardy’s “Big
Heist in Venice”
The selling line uses speech
marks which possibly
indicates that somebody or a
group of people (possibly
journalists or critics) has
written a review judging the
film. This was done to
influence the audience to
believe that this film is “epic”
and a “must watch”
The font stands out from the
resulting to see the film in the
rest of the text typed on the
cinema.
poster as it is written in an
italic style. This is done to
This technique will be helpful
make the reader know that
in creating the poster of my
the selling line is important
ancillary products for my
and that they want the
short film as my intended
audience to take it seriously.
audience will be intrigued
The positioning of the selling line is another key factor in into watching my film due to
making the poster work effectively. It is right beneath the the way it has been
masthead which is going to be the first piece of text seen promoted as a classic.
by the audience. The designers of this poster knew that if
they put the selling line in this position, the chances are that
the readers will acknowledge it since they’ll read the
masthead first. Due to observing this poster, When it comes
to creating my own ancillary, I will aim to position my selling
line in a place where I know certainly that my reader will
scrutinise so they could feel as though my film is worth
watching.

5. The masthead is short yet detailed.
The font size of the masthead It briefly explains what the silent
is quite large so will comedy is going to be about
immediately grab the which is a “big heist” a robbery
attention of the reader. This is (which presumably Laurel & Hardy
done so that the reader could will be committing) and where the
know a little bit about the film film will be set in Venice, Italy
at first glance. (which relates to the selling line
where it says “…Italian Film Weekly”
This masthead is effective as they
are letting to the audience know
about the film without consuming
acres of the page space.When it
comes to creating my poster, I will
want to make the masthead stand
out by making it quite large and
bold and positioning it in a good
Like the selling line, the masthead is location for it not to be overlooked.
positioned in a very good place. It I f eel that the masthead should be
is the first piece of text underneath done in this way through
the picture of Laurel & Hardy. The researching this poster.
picture is arguably going to be the
first thing seen by the audience
and once they identify the picture
they will then identify the
masthead because it is the next
piece of text on the poster after
the picture.

6. The main image in this poster is The actor's names appears at
a medium shot of Laurel & The top of the page and it is
Hardy so that the reader could written in a large font. Because
notice the body language Laurel & Hardy were well known
portrayed by the duo. Hardy actors in those times, the readers
has a posture which shows that will be automatically attracted to
he is suspicious with Laurel with watching the film as they know
his hands on his hips and eyes that Laurel and Hardy are going
glued on to Laurel’s face. to be featured. Making their
Laurels face looks innocent names noticeable on the poster
which could mean that he is the will attract attention and will
main culprit in the “Big Heist in enlighten the reader and they
Venice”. You could see that the read every single word on the
facial expressions are poster.
emphasised which makes it
comical meaning it complies to The colour used in the poster is
the codes and conventions of a black and white which is relevant
silent comedy. I will need to to the silent era where films were in
make sure that my poster has black and white. Because our film
images with emphasised body is going to be in black and white it
language because it follows the will probably be best for us to
codes & conventions of a silent make our poster black and white
comedy so the audience would to make our audience know that
know what to expect when they the film will not be in colour.
go and watch the film.
The colour of the poster works out
that the text written in black sits
on a white background whereas The banner addresses the audience with an exclamation mark to
the text written in white sits on a emphasise that the film is coming out really soon. In addition to
black background. The colour this, the banner sits at the bottom of the page as the designers of
coordinates to create a simplistic the poster expects you to have read everything above gathering
effect on the poster which is for all the main pieces of the information. The designers has possibly
people to read and anticipate placed the cover line at the bottom of the page so that the
rather than making it look artistic. readers could rush of and make arrangements to see the film after
reading what its all about.

8. The clothes The Kid is wearing is
similar to the clothes worn by
Oliver Twist.
This poster of “THE KID” is different
compared to the one used for
“Big Heist in Venice” as the poster
uses animations to appeal to their
target audience. Because this
The familiar face of Charlie silent comedy involves a child, I
Chaplin and “The Kid” appears on believe the designers used
the poster as the main image in a animations to appeal to children
medium shot. Their facial as well as adults because they
expressions suggests that the duo know that children are interested
are worried or cautious about in reading/watching cartoons so
something which almost pictures they will be attracted to this
what is going to be seen in the poster immediately.
film. The clothes that the kid is
wearing may also be an indicator The techniques the designers used
of what is going to occur within to make this poster appeal to their
the silent comedy. target audience is something I
The clothes The Kid is wearing is need to bear in mind. Because
similar to the clothes worn by my short film is targeting a West
Oliver Twist which depicts the Indian audience, the patty may
Victorian era not so much the need to be seen as it is a West
1920s and we know that in those Indian delicacy and will relate to
days children like Oliver Twist were their way of life. Facial expressions
poor and performed petit crimes on the actors face will be a key
to get by and The Kid may also be marketing point as it will help the
mischievous hence the worried reader to know that the film is
face. going to be a silent comedy as
seen in “The Kid” and “Big Heist in
Venice”

9. Charlie Chaplin’s name is written larger
than the title of the film “The Kid”. I think
this is a marketing strategy because
during the 1920s, Charlie Chaplin was
extremely popular and letting
everybody know he is featuring in the
film will attract a large audience. This
technique is used for the last poster I
researched on Laurel & Hardy, the
names are visible to attract audiences
to watch the film which includes their
favourite actors. This technique is one I
need to employ
The selling line for The Kid just like the
selling line for Big Heist in Venice , they
both use speech marks. In this case, the
producers of the film quoted “Sure we
took a year to make!” in a cockily
manner emphasising how they made
such a good film in a short space of
time. This could make the reader feel
that they need to watch the film to see
if the producers comments are true
which is a good marketing strategy and
its quite unorthodox.