For the past couple months I’ve been looking to get into the movie business. I want to be a director and come up with original films. I was going to direct a short Star Wars fan-film, but then I realized getting the costumes and props is going to be a bitch.
Based on the Dr. Kenzo image I took the other day, it looks like I may end up making a horror film first, an original story a friend and I are coming up with.
This will be tons cheaper to film and easier to set up, which means we can get working on it a lot sooner.
I made this mock-up poster, and with that image alone, we’re fleshing out the story and we have tons of ideas already. My cousin saw the poster and he’s recommending me to a friend of his in Hollywood who is working as DA on a Jerry Bruckheimer film!
No.
Remove the butcher knife and the phrase “The doctor will see you now”. It makes it look like another stupid American “horror” film.
Like I said, this was simply a mock-up poster, I just used pics I found on Google Images. I made this before deciding to make an actual movie. Once I actually make it, it will look tons better.
Do you have any more suggestions? I really only added the butcher knife to break up the monotony of the black background and to make the title stand out more.
I would prefer something more simplistic to be honest.
I like the way you styled the title, but putting it at the bottom, in front of a photo, doesn’t draw too much attention to it.
I would put it in the middle of the poster, maybe with a black background rectangle from side to side, just to emphasize the title and it’s style. That would also create clear lines between the photographs, and you wouldn’t need to use the opacity transition between the photos (which seems a bit amateur).
Or you could also use plain black background, no photos at all, put the title as it is in the middle of the poster, and use a surgical instrument (as SumoSnipe suggested) to underline the title, or something. You could use a bloody surgical instrument, maybe with a drop of blood falling from it…
You just gave me a really good idea, the background will be a dark grungy hospital room (the movie takes place in an old abandoned hospital), with a scalpel or some other instrument on the ground with the blood drop.
Here’s an idea. Quit wasting time on the poster and make the movie first. Planning involves finishing a script, scouting for locations, working up a shooting schedule, figuring out lighting, finding a cast, etc. When the movie is done, if its good, someone else will make the poster. Unless your real plan is to be studio movie poster guy.
Some of the ideas are derivative of the poster, come up with a creepy poster and you can work elements of it into your script. I’m already working on all the other aspects. I’m not trying to make the actual movie poster now, just scouting ideas.
of course you can always put a casemods photo…
PLEASE KILL CASEMODS IN YOUR FILM
thank you
I agree on the butcher knife, but make it a surgical instrument…
If you want to make movies: just make movies. Don’t wait to hear from the Hollywood guys, just get a digital camera, some friends who will act for free and do it. Lot’s and lot’s and of examples directed who got started that way: Spielberg, Rodriguez, Nolan, Linklater, Kevin Smith.
Oh trust me, I plan on it. 😛
The Hollywood guys is just icing on top that could possibly speed things along a little bit. I’m still going to to go out and make this, regardless.
I was thinking of “Re-Animator” remake by Rob Zombie.
I don’t see why any hollywood guy would give you the time of day when all you have is a mock up of a movie poster. Horror films are a good way into the business though. They seem to find a market more effectively than any other genre by far. Make a short film, submit it to festivals, release it online. But please please please PLEASE do something original. Gore does not make up for terrible plot and shitty acting, bad lighting, unimaginative angles etc. There are a billion young men making crappy horror out there. Please do not be one of them.
Oh, and hire actual fx makeup artists, and give them time to do things well. Don’t just put blood on stuff. That sucks. Remember your audience, and please them.
And I cannot emphasize the importance of a good editor enough. Surround yourself with talented people, and learn from them.
And have fun!
The Hollywood guy would just be a way into the biz by doing art for movie posters, but it’s still a foot in the door. I should have been more clear on that.
We’re aiming for something original, not just another carbon copy of the typical horror/slasher flick. My writer is at work right now and we’ll go through a bunch of drafts before we finalize anything.
I’ve seen way too many shitty homemade films to make the same mistakes as them. I’m building the equipment to make it more professional looking: Lightboxes to diffuse lighting, a camera jib to get some nice crane shots, a unit to be a makeshift Steadycam. I’ll get wide establishing shots, mid-range shots and various close-ups (no extreme angles unless it is absolutely necessary).
Since this is going to be a personally funded film, I won’t have the money to hire makeup artists, but we’ll make do with what we have and make it look the best that we can.
I already have a horror movie aficionado to be a consultant and a friend who has previously done professional work on TV and knows the ins and outs of editing.
It might not turn out great (hopefully it will, though), but it will be one hell of an experience.