Prepare to dive into the captivating world of movie posters! These captivating pieces of art and advertising are a true reflection of the film industry's unique blend of commerce and creativity. Today, we're exploring the stories behind three exceptional posters, each with its own intriguing secrets and creative processes.
'Bugonia': A Visual Enigma
Graphic designer Vasilis Marmatakis, a long-time collaborator with director Yorgos Lanthimos, shares his creative journey for 'Bugonia'. Marmatakis reveals the director's unique approach, saying, "He never says anything; he just lets me explore freely."
The poster's focal point is a striking photo of Emma Stone, her head shaved, eyes skyward, and mouth open, leaving viewers wondering: Is she in awe, dying, being tortured, or experiencing pleasure? Marmatakis explains, "There are so many layers to this expression."
But here's where it gets controversial... Marmatakis' design incorporates blood and honey dripping down on Stone, suggesting violence and a crucial role for bees in the story. This abstract approach hints at the film's themes without revealing the plot, a strategy Marmatakis has employed in his earlier works for Lanthimos.
And this is the part most people miss... Marmatakis' designs are intended to entice, not alienate. He believes in the audience's ability to understand, saying, "I don't think I'll make something easy. I trust people will get it."
'No Other Choice': A Beautifully Twisted Garden
Lee Changzu, a key art designer at South Korean studio Steady, shares her strategy for Park Chan-wook's dark comedy. Her goal? To create a beautiful, yet strange, poster that reflects the director's work.
Initially, Lee envisioned roots wrapping around the characters, inspired by the protagonist's garden. However, upon seeing the finished film, she realized this imagery was too dark. So, she focused on the surface, highlighting the growing trees above land.
'No Other Choice' balances satire and political commentary, and Lee's whimsical poster reflects this tone. Many supporting characters reside in the branches, while the murderous Man-su stares at the viewer from the ground. Lee wanted to provoke curiosity and distill black-comedy aspects, creating an externally beautiful, yet internally twisted, image.
'Sinners': A Blockbuster's Subtle Approach
When promoting a major studio's blockbuster, it's tempting to highlight the popular intellectual property. However, Warner Bros.' 'Sinners' was an original idea, so the creative team took a different approach.
Susie Shen, executive vice president of creative advertising at Warner Bros. Discovery, explains, "Ryan Coogler is a big director, and his fifth collaboration with Michael B. Jordan is a significant event. So, we started there."
The campaign developed a series of moody, colorful posters that avoided revealing too much about Coogler's genre-bending story. The initial teaser poster, featuring Jordan's twin-brother characters, doesn't suggest a period or vampire film. Similarly, the principal 'Sinners' poster, created by Gravillis Inc., avoids obvious vampire signs.
Gravillis Inc. CEO Kenny Gravillis says, "We wanted to avoid audiences thinking, 'Oh, this is just a vampire film.' It's so much more." To hint at the sinister supernatural element, they added menacing figures in the background, keeping them subtle yet present.
For the main poster, the campaign chose a contemplative image of Jordan, implying a blend of action and drama. Gravillis explains, "It was about evoking the character's depth, showing he's more than just an action hero."
These movie posters are a fascinating blend of art and advertising, offering a glimpse into the creative minds behind some of this year's most anticipated films. What do you think? Do you prefer more abstract, enigmatic posters, or do you like when posters give you a clearer idea of what to expect? Let us know in the comments!
