How to Make a Horror Movie Poster
- 1). Get your mind in a creative place. This is a very big step for your movie. The poster is going to be one of its biggest calling cards to the public. It'll be on display and plastered on the walls of your fans. It could even end up as the cover for the DVD, which will sit on shelves for years to come. You want to make sure that you get it right. So do whatever it is that you do when you're trying to get the creative juices flowing. Read the script of your film. Watch some of the pivotal scenes. Listen to the musical score. The canvass is blank, and you're going to have to fill it. Don't "phone it in." Make sure you come to the table inspired and full of ideas.
- 2). Be clear about your film's artistic "vision." This is NOT a time to be second-guessing yourself on "what the movie is really about." Frankly, you should know that before the cameras start rolling. At this point, the artistic vision of the film should be clear. The "look" and "tone" clearly defined. Your poster is going to have to reflect these things to your potential audience. With horror movies, it's generally best to create a mysterious aura with your poster, while creeping them out at the same time. This movie isn't a sprawling epic. It's a fright-fest, and the poster ought to reflect that. So take some suspense, a healthy dose of raw terror and mix them both together with an image that captures one of the iconi" aspects of your movie. This is the best place to begin.
- 3). Put the pieces together. If you're designing this poster yourself, you're most likely going to need a program like Photoshop to create it. Have all the components prepared in advanced (possible photos, fonts and color schemes). Start piecing them together like a puzzle. At some point during this process, the poster will begin to materialize in front of you. At this point, all that's required is some simple tweaking till it looks perfect. Even if you're completely satisfied with the completed poster, save it, and do some alternate versions as well. Maybe you can build off the brilliance of your first idea and create something even better. Plus, having more that one option is always a good thing.
- 4). Print it. Unless you happen to have a printer that prints 24-by-36-inch prints, you're going to have to take your design to a professional. Just print a few copies the first time. See what the initial reactions are. If they're all positive, move ahead with the large order of prints. Make sure that you get some sort of discount for the mass-print job. Other than, you're done. The last step will be plastering your poster any and everywhere that you can.
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