Posterwire.com is a movie poster weblog. From images of the latest Hollywood one-sheets to vintage movie posters, this film poster weblog hopes to offer a bit of insight into film key art.
Stop me if you’ve seen this poster composition before: Large images of movie star faces (often of a couple), with a small scene (usually at the bottom of the poster one-sheet) depicting some sort of action or scene. Sound familiar? In the film advertising industry, this is known as Big Heads Floating in the Sky. The “big headed stars” layout is so common it is often a point of criticism directed towards modern poster art. But that type of layout has been around since the beginning for one simple reason: stars sell movies. It was true for Casablanca, and it is even more true today. After all, if Paramount just paid Tom Cruise $20 million dollars to star in a “tent-pole” picture for the studio, you can bet they aren’t going to keep his a participation a secret on the film’s one-sheet art.
Hmmm…of the 20-odd film posters I’ve designed, I’ve managed to avoid it – until today. It happens to us all. Anyway, I’d be interested to know if you or any readers have any favourites…
I should also add that there’s generally a lot more legwork in designing a “big heads floating in the sky” poster than some more arthouse-style posters. So let’s spare a thought for the poor designer – you have a bunch of stills that you have to grade equally, do all the vignetting and, every designer’s least favourite job: the masking of lots of hair. Ultimately you find yourself working all hours for something you want nowhere near your portfolio. Great.
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