Deadlands 2: Poster Concept Art

[DjfunkmasterG]

http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/7205/poster6376297ya7.jpg

[capncnut]

Yeah, that looks okay. Nice tag line and title design too.

Mmm, but does the picture really 'jump out'?

http://www.dreadcentral.com/img/dvdgraphics/deadlandsbig.jpg

Now that was a great poster, I thought the colours and design was just right. I think a similar approach is needed for Deadlands 2 but that's just me though.

[DjfunkmasterG]

Well I am trying to use some set photos for promo posters. Here is another one.

http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/4351/deadlandsposter2atestmv5.jpg

[capncnut]

I would definitely say that is a vast improvement. :cool:

[bassman]

As capn has stated, I prefer the original film's poster. This second poster is an improvement, though.

Obviously I haven't seen the film, but when I personally think of a poster for this film, I think of something to do with a cinema. Maybe something relating to a theater seeing as how it's the set of the film? Just throwing it out there.

EDIT: Oh hell. After looking at the images again, I noticed that the first is the marquee of a theater. Now I feel like a moron. Maybe it should be more pronounced? I didn't notice it was a theater at first glance, so maybe it should be more up front and in-your-face?

[DjfunkmasterG]

Let me throw another one at you guys.


http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/4264/deadlands2bpostersw2.jpg

[Mike70]

i like this 3rd one quite a bit gary. it is (to me at least) more creative and much more artsy than the first two.

[capncnut]

Third one looks a little cluttered for my liking but I see the direction that you are going in. One thing I am noticing with these posters is that they all look a little off-centre. Again, maybe that's just me though.

I liked the original idea of the theatre and the film title splattered up in lights. I think if a number of zombie silhouettes were placed outside with their hands up towards the sign. Red moon in the background...

...hehe.

[Bub666]

I like the third one the most.

[DjfunkmasterG]

LAST ONE FOR THE NIGHT

http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/3636/poster4cw6.jpg

[Mike70]

let me correct myself - i now think this one is the best of the bunch.

[Danny]

i like the second one myself. and its good to see you didn't stick with the silhouette of hands reaching upwards again, by now thats been used in movies and videogames way, way too much. so its probably a good sign for the movie that your trying something different with the poster compared to other films were the reaching hand usually symbolizes unoriginality and cheapness in the last couple of years.

[capncnut]

Good stuff Deej, that last one is definitely my favourite of the lot.

[DjfunkmasterG]

One for you guys across the POND... the UK QUAD. Also if you have a widescreen Monitor this will work as a desktop wall paper



http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/7923/quaddl5.jpg

[capncnut]

http://thenastyboys.files.wordpress.com/2007/12/lloydchristmas.jpg

I-like-it-a-lot. :D

[Trencher]

I liked the poster in post number three the best.

[MinionZombie]

The UK quad, and the second one are the ones I like.

There'd be tweaks here and there of course, as you've only started putting them together.

I think the key with the cinema aspect is making it a central part of the image, but making it as clear and immediately identifiable as possible - perhaps shooting new photos of the theatre itself and combining those with the zombies.

Perhaps if also having the title on the marquee, have it in cinema marquee font as well.

Could you even perhaps shoot a special photo, at the cinema itself, with the title on the actual marquee? Then combine that with other pictures of the zombies, with only the foreground zeds being more detailed and the background ones being more silhouettes (without raised arms/hands though), just like lopsided body shapes.

So aye, that's what I reckon.

As for the second poster concept, I dig the featured zombie idea, it just needs more stuff around it - perhaps the cinema in a style like I was saying above.

The great thing about the poster for DL:TR was that it was immediately identifiable and you got it immediately, so like I was saying with the cinema concept in the poster, as long as it's really clear off the bat and is a main feature, then I think that'd be a nifty path to follow.

Just my thoughts.

Personally, I'm not keen on the mixed zombies with some being different saturations or thresholds or however you've fiddled with them, I recognise the effect, but can't remember it's name ... personally I'm not keen on that.

I think a fairly simple, but very strong image, is the ideal poster direction.

[DjfunkmasterG]

thanks for the feedback MZ.

For everyone here is a desktop wall paper if you own a widescreen monitor.

http://img395.imageshack.us/img395/2495/pwdtbgry6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


And here is the same image in another UK QUAD format.

http://img395.imageshack.us/img395/5994/newquadcompletehy2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[MinionZombie]

I really dig the female zombie with the eye lenses in, that's a central figure right there. I think it'd suit being in the centre ... maybe if you could get the marquee down below the image somehow, like all the zombies appearing out of a doom-laden sky or something.

Just random thoughts.

As for the title font, it's perhaps a tad too 'worn' if you will...duno though...hmmm. Fonts are insanely hard to get exactly right, I find myself spending an hour picking a font for title credits when I'm editing, or doing a poster for something.

I'm so ready to see this movie now. :)

[DjfunkmasterG]

Final UK Quad Concept. I think I am going to send this one out for Printing into 30x20cm Posters.

I really dig the UK style for Posters. I don't know why, but the size and shape kicks ass and gives you much more room to work with.


http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/6284/19x11newpostercustomlarmg4.png (http://imageshack.us)

[MinionZombie]

I really dig the UK style for Posters. I don't know why, but the size and shape kicks ass and gives you much more room to work with.


It's because we Brits are awesome. :D

Speaking of awesome, I'm diggin' the quad poster. :)

[DjfunkmasterG]

That last one is one of my faves MZ.

I thinks thats the one to go to print with. Just going to tweak the TEXT

I will make sure to send you one. My buddy works for a print shop and said he can do 1000 for like a few hundred bucks.

[MinionZombie]

Sweet dude. :)

[Danny]

ro be honest im not digging the quad ones, they look too busy, you gotta remember that less is more. the female form the 2nd one with the funny eyes is a spooky and powerful image. though with each one its improving. id just suggest using something like photoshop for a simple gradient opacity blend and stick with one overall tone to keep it together, all the differently lit shots, including the negative one just looks kind of cheap and just confusing overall. nothing centers it and it gives of an incomplete vibe. you gotta remember this is an ad for the movie so you have to make it count.

[DjfunkmasterG]

Thanks for the feedback guys. I am still looking at other ways to do it. I know the key to it is the zombie chick with the contacts, just trying to figure out if I want just her to be on it, or how I can make it all work. I have a nice panorama shot of the theater itself, and have used it in some of the posters I haven't uploaded to here, but you can find them in the photo gallery on the official website. www.playingwithdeadthings.com/Photo-Gallery

[MinionZombie]

The zombie chick with the eyes is the key, as well as the cinema I think - but the cinema in a really identifiable way - which is why I like the dudes up on the marquee, or just the marquee itself.

I think there's a limit to the amount of stuff both going on, and not going on, in a poster.

For instance, the Drew Struzan posters for the Indiana Jones movies - LOTS going on, but it's all based around a central figure - Indy. That sort of thing works and does allude to various scenes in the movie. But they're also immediately identifiable - so it's about finding something that gives a lot of information on a longer look, but is also able to give a straight punch to the face to tell you what it's about ... if that makes sense.

[DjfunkmasterG]

Not really a fan of those posters. I like a busy poster, but I don't think it all needs to be tied in personally. Although I stick with the conventional zombie film in terms of zombies and story, I prefer the unconventional in terms of artwork.

However, like I said I know she is the key it is just trying to find out how to work it all together.

So far my personal favorite has become this QUAD.

http://www.playingwithdeadthings.com/images/18x12_NEW_POSTER_A.bmp

I didn't embed it because it is very big and would not display properly.

Gary

[MinionZombie]

Aye I think that's my favourite of all the posters too. :cool:

I dig it.

[DjfunkmasterG]

Yeah that one isn't too busy, and it centers on the zombie chick, who by the way is a very hot girl without the zombie make-up... hell, she's still hot even with it on.

She was very cool on set and I am glad we had those pictures of her to use for the poster. I have a few others but she was the only one who got into zombie mode for her pic.