Design a Movie Poster

In this video you will think about your audience's interests and preferences and create a movie poster that you think will appeal to them.

The goal of your movie poster is to make your audience want to see the film your group chose.

Graphic artists consider lots of elements when designing a movie poster.

It's not an easy task! You have to tell the story of a two-hour movie in just a brief glance.

First, consider the genre of the film.

Is it a horror story?

A romantic comedy?

Science fiction?

The film's genre will determine the mood and design of your poster.

For example, a poster for a romantic movie might use more airy, pastel colors, while a crime drama might have darker, bolder colors.

Second, think about which cast members you want to feature on your poster.

If the data showed that one actor was particularly successful, you might want to feature a large picture of them on your poster.

You might want to include just one actor's picture on the poster -- or all the cast -- or none of the cast! Smaller pictures usually suggest supporting cast members.

Consider what your audience will find appealing about the film.

If you are pitching a sci-fi drama, you might want to include images from space and an object that suggests there will be a mystery to solve.

Or, if you're creating a poster for a film geared towards children, you might want to make the design brighter, bolder, and more lighthearted.

To get ideas, search the internet for the best movie posters.

See if you can identify patterns.

For example, the most memorable posters often have very simple designs.

But you should design a poster that reflects your story and will appeal to your target audience.

To start, adjust the poster size to movie poster dimensions.

Movie posters are usually 27 by 41 inches.

Name the poster with your name and the movie title.

Change the background color for your poster.

Then, explore images on the internet and add at least one to your poster.

You can look for textures to use as backgrounds, pictures of actors, or other images that help tell your movie's story.

Resize the images and adjust the colors if you'd like, or add additional shapes and images.

You could even create a logo in another Google Drawing and insert it into the movie poster.

Add at least one image to your poster.

Then, add supporting images if you'd like.

Next, add text.

Start with the title of the movie.

Your audience needs to know the name of the movie they want to see! Add one or more text boxes and change the fonts and colors.

Lots of movie posters also have a tagline-- a catchphrase or slogan that tells the audience a little more about the movie, or suggests suspense or humor.

You might also want to include the names of the director and actors on your movie poster, especially if the data suggested that these elements would make your movie more successful.

Experiment with different font styles and sizes to create a poster you think will appeal to your audience.

Fonts can convey different moods, and using different sizes can help highlight important information.

For example, actors and directors with greater returns on investment are often listed in larger fonts, so that the audience can read their name clearly.

If you have time, check out extension activities for more techniques in Google Drawings.

It's easy to get lost in design, so keep track of the time you have for this activity.

Your poster need not be perfect at this stage.

Each member in your group should create their own poster for the movie your group selected.

In the next video, your group will give and receive feedback on each others' posters and you'll have a chance to make changes.

When you have a good poster draft, share it with your group members and your teacher.

Then, move on to the next video where you will exchange feedback.

Now, it's your turn: Open a new Google Drawing.

Rename the drawing with the movie title and your name.

Change the palette size to 27 by 41 inches, the typical size of a movie poster.

Design a poster that you think will appeal to your target audience.

Add a background color, the movie title, and at least one image.

Add additional images, taglines, and text if you'd like.

When you have a draft of your poster, share it with your group members and your teacher.

Then, move on to the next video where you will get feedback on your poster.