Movie Posters Have Changed Dramatically Over The Years

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What draws you to a film theatre? The Stars, the hype (created by media) or the film itself, or may be an illustration or a preview image of the film, which grabs your eyeballs at first and that instigate you to decide whether or not to watch the film. The towering images of your heartthrob star bravura on vinyl banners, billboards or dangling portrait behind buses are considered as the first look of the film and they are the iconic Film Posters. They are meant to attract, captivate and grab the attention of the viewer with the stunning illustration of the forthcoming movie. They are considered to be an important tool of film promotion and even in digital age they are absolutely incomparable.

Previously movie posters were considered to be an artists' illustration of a film. It is the artist who creates such posters by depicting the most suitable and attractive images from the film and express it on vinyl banners or window cards. However, the illustrator has to abide by certain parameters instructed by the film directors or producers (or sometimes even the actor/actress). Even now in the digital age where artist's paint brush is replaced with Photoshop software and digitized printers have taken over rotary printers, the trend of limited liberty of poster artists even continues. Whichever way it is viewed, the sphere of film promotion has broadened with TV channels, internet, promotional events, but the captivating ability of the smartest graphic posters enthralls the audience even today. It escalates their temptation for the film and they rush to book a ticket. That's where this promotional tool is still a winner in the age of satellites and ipods.

Original movie posters are not only a mere promotional tool, they are considered to be great collectible items as well. They hold a special mention in the history of films not only in Hollywood but all over the world. Before 1940, the hand drawn posters were maintained by producer's offices or the studios. Before the release of the film they were distributed from the exchanges to different cities all over the country. In some cases the big city theatre owners, visited the exchange offices, picked up the films and the posters just before the show. While in small towns, the theatres received their films and posters via the Greyhound buses and the posters used to dangle at the front or rear of the bus to promote them to the masses. The process continued and by 1960 the theatres started offering the collection of posters and soon they began to be considered as rare collectible items. Be it lobby cards, teaser posters, character posters or posters of any sizes, all iconic posters are great collections which worth in some cases, millions of dollars. However, recent film posters don't seem to hold such promises.

According to many notable film poster artists, the original movie posters don't appear inspiring with artistic waves. Whether it is the declining quality of the film or the artist's illustration in general, they are considered to be mediocre Photoshop jobs or just floating-head posters. However, in theatres & multiplexes a cinematic experience ceases unless the smell of pop corn mingles well with posters of starlets and sirens - even today.

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