FILM POSTERS

"Film posters have been used since the earliest public exhibitions of film. They began as outside placards listing the programme of (short) films to be shown inside the hall or movie theater. By the early 1900s, they began to feature illustrations of a scene from each individual film or an array of overlaid images from several scenes. Other film posters have used artistic interpretations of a scene or even the theme of the film, represented in a wide variety of artistic styles." 
Beginning in the 1980s, the American film studios began taking over direct production and distribution of their posters from the National Screen Service and the process of making and distributing film posters became decentralised in that country.
Also known as 'Key Art'.

So, what is meant by the term 'key art' or a film poster? A poster used to advertise a film; there may be several versions for one film, with variations in regards to size, content and country of production of the poster.

18-year old Mathew Carpenter from Australia established on the 'webdesignerdepot' website that there are 7 elements of a great film poster design:

1. Attention – jump out from the wall.

2. Iconography – showing without telling.

3. Interest – create an incentive to see the film.

4. Appeal – create desire with fans and non-fans alike.

5. Style – a look that’s consistent with the film.

6. Lasting Appeal – a look that suits other formats.

7. Recognisability – if it’s a sequel, make it obvious.

Bill Gold

Artist Bill Gold joined the advertising department of Warner Bros. at 21 and shortly thereafter created the poster for the 1942 classic "Casablanca,". Over the next 60 years, Gold designed or worked with illustrators on about 2,000 motion pictures such as, 'The Clockwork Orange' and 'The Sting'.

Types of film posters

Window card for the 1915 film, Birth of a Nation 
Lobby cards are like posters but smaller, usually 11 × 14 in (28 × 36 cm), also 8 × 10 in (20 × 25 cm) before 1930. Lobby cards are collected and their value depends on their age, quality and popularity. A teaser poster or advance poster is an early promotional film poster, containing a basic image or design without revealing too much information such as the plot, theme, and characters. The purpose is to incite awareness and generate hype for the film. A tagline may be included. There are some instances when teaser posters are issued long in advance before the film goes into production, although they are issued during the film development.

For a film with an ensemble cast there may be a set of character posters, each featuring an individual character from the film. Usually it contains the name of the actor/actress, with or without the name of the character played. It may also include a tagline that reflects the quality of the character.