SAUL BASS FILM POSTER

RESEARCH

‘Saint Joan’■ I really admired the mosaic styled background

in Bass’ film poster for ‘Saint Joan’. I thought it was really effective as the poster could have risked looking plain and empty without it. If I were to create a Saul Bass styled poster for my film ‘Loving You’, this is something that I would like to replicate as I could link in to my story line if I were to make the mosaic theme around love, technology of women.

‘Back to The Future’■ Bass is evidently excellent at using imagery in

order to portray the films he is creating posters for. The use of arrows symbolises the past and future in time is very effective in the title. This is something I would like to replicate in mine, but with the use of the female sign, as pictured below.

■ I also like the textured background for the poster, which is an idea that I was thinking about including my film poster when I was brainstorming ideas in the very beginning, as illustrated by the potential image I took from a screenshot of the first version of my film trailer.

‘Her’■ The film poster for ‘Her’ is very simply, yet

effective. It’s use of imagery effectively portrays the storyline which addresses the newfound issues of the digital era in which we’re living. Some of the issues raised relate to the technological issues I attempted to explore with my film ‘Loving You’. The imagery of the computer mouse is particularly effective as it is universally recognised. The imagery of the dismembered legs is also effective and visually appealing, and something that I would have liked to have explored in my own poster as it links with the dismemberment shots I included in my film trailer. However, I have explored other ideas which I think would be more appropriate for my film trailer as it links closer with the storyline, as discussed in my next slide.

My own Saul Bass inspired Film Poster■ I wanted to incorporate the motifs of the female symbols and the

female protagonist in my Bass inspired poster. I have been torn between two ideas which I will discuss in the following slides. Alongside these pieces of imagery, I want to include my films title: ‘Loving You’ in the bold and recognisable font that has been used in its film trailer. This way I can heighten my media product and ancillary tasks synergy. The colour I used for the title in my film trailer, is also in the same colour spectrum that Bass uses for the majority of his posters: Warm hued colours ranging from reds to oranges.

Idea 1

The title will be in capitals to draw attention to it, it will also be in the same font as the font used in my film trailer.

This would be the neck and shoulders of the central protagonist, who is wearing a necklace.

The necklace includes two female symbols which is to signify the same-sex relationship that my plotline is focalised around.

The girls head wont be visible, as the next extends into the clouds. These clouds symbolise how overwhelming life can be and is also an illustration of the phrase ‘head in the clouds’ as the central protagonist is the stereotypical loner, and this film explores the issues that she faces alone.

The drawings will be filled with block colours, instead of them being outlined. This is to clearly reflect Saul Bass as inspiration for my poster.

Idea 2

The title will be in capitals to draw attention to it, it will also be in the same font as the font used in my film trailer.

The keys are actually two female symbols which is to signify the same-sex relationship that my plotline is focalised around. The symbols being keys is symbolic of the idea that in order to ‘unlock’ Alice’s happiness, she must embrace herself, her sexuality, and ultimately her love.

The spacing on the final poster will be different as I will position the title at the top of the poster, and the images in the centre frame.

The keys and key hole will be drawn in black, as Bass’s drawings appear like silhouettes.

Which idea would be most effective for my target audience?

Idea 1 Idea 2

I asked my target audience which idea they preferred and thought was most effective. As illustrated in the pie chart, my target audience believed that my first idea was the most effective and eye catching poster image.

Using this research I conclude that I will be using my first idea. However, it seems a shame to make my second idea completely redundant due to its rich connotations. I will therefore, attempt incorporating my second idea of the keys into my first idea. Although, I will then run the risk of making my poster appear too busy and it will then lack simplicity which is at the heart of Bass’ works. If this turns out to be the case, then I will revert back to my first idea.

Saul Bass Inspired Poster Base ColourBass uses block colours as his posters base, a lot of then being warm hued. I decided the replicate this feature of his artwork in my piece, although I drifted more towards the pink part of the spectrum as it has connotations of passion and romance which are prevalent in my films storyline.

The colour is also very eye-catching which will make the poster more effective at drawing the audience in. Pink also has connotations of flirtatiousness, sexuality and women which also link to my films plotline.