Visual Storytelling in Movie Posters
It takes one glance at a certain moment to immediately feel and see what's going on in front of your eyes. This is why visual storytelling is one of the most commonly used narrative art forms when conveying a message. According to Andrew Losowsky, "More than half of our brains is dedicated to the processing of visual input, and so pure text and numbers simply cannot convey information in as memorable or digestible a form as that of successful visual-based storytelling."
There are many different forms of visual storytelling including images. Images can come from photographs, infographics, posters, paintings and more. In this blog, I will look at visual storytelling told in movie posters.
"Get Out"
Right away, the black and white color scheme on the poster creates an ominous effect. The expression on the man's face and body language provoke feelings of discomfort and fear. This is an example of an emotional image done through dramatic storytelling. The composition of the man set right in between the black and white background with the caption "Just because you're invited, doesn't mean you're welcome," hints that the man may be stuck between two sides and can't settle into or 'get out' of one.
Star Wars
The "Star Wars" movie franchise is iconic, including its posters. Here, the story suggests that there is a persecutor, victim and hero. This is done through the drama triangle. In the background, we can see Darth Vader is the persecutor. To the right are the victims and in the foreground are the heroes. The movement and color scheme shows that this movie is action packed.
E.T.
This iconic movie poster falls under the non-dramatic category. Here, we see a human and alien hand interacting with one another, creating a light. We cannot see the facial expressions of the human or the alien. This creates a sense of wonder and curiosity for the audience. The poster indicates the alien and human will interact, but there is a lack of dramatic storytelling as there is more room for interpretation.
Barbie
Between the color scheme and expressions, it is clear this movie has a light and fun chick-flick feel. Here, the poster shows a "moment" of Ken looking at Barbie while she looks at the camera. This highlights Barbie's independence and Ken's obsession with Barbie, which is shown in the movie.
Ferris Bueller's Day Off
In this image, the close-up of the main character indicates we will be following his story throughout the film. The text also makes this an interactive image, as "Day Off" hints the film is about a high schooler skipping school. This is another example of non-dramatic storytelling.
Don't Worry Darling
In this poster, it captures a few moments, which are important in visual storytelling. In this poster, the moments give a utopian and mysterious feel. The image of the man and woman kissing with the fancy cars, homes and palm trees in the background makes everything seem ok. However, the plane crashing in the background indicates something bad is about to happen.
Home Alone
This poster is a combination of non-dramatic and interactive storytelling. The background shows the two burglars who are ready to rob the house while in the foreground, the main character Kevin is screaming. However, the text explains that Kevin can 'kick some butt,' meaning he will stop the burglars from stealing from the house while he's home alone.
Conclusion
Visual storytelling can be done in a variety of ways. It provides an audience with a message they can perceive quickly. Movie posters are one of the most important ways of selling a film as they introduce the audience to what they are about to potentially watch. If a movie poster lacks an enticing storyline, the audience will not be interested in knowing what's next.
References
Bergström, B. (2012). Essentials of visual communication. Laurence King.
Gitner, S. (2023). Multimedia storytelling for digital communicators in a multiplatform world. Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group.
Klanten, R., & Losowsky, A. (2012). Introduction. In Visual storytelling: Inspiring a new visual language. essay, Gestalten-Verl.