19 Jul Film Poster Guide: How To Create A Great VOD Key Art For Your Indie Film

Creating a compelling movie poster is an essential aspect of promoting your indie film, especially on streaming platforms where visual appeal can make or break a viewer’s decision to click. Below is a comprehensive guide to crafting a standout key art for video on demand that will capture the attention of your potential audience and boost your film’s visibility.

Theatrical vs VOD Key Art

While this blog focuses on key art for Video On Demand (VOD) lets dive into how and why these posters differ from theatrical key art.

Theatrical posters are typically viewed in physical spaces, such as movie theaters or on large-format prints, where the viewer can take their time to absorb the details. These posters often prioritize dramatic, eye-catching imagery and can intricate details to captivate the audience from a distance and upclose.

In contrast VOD posters must be designed with digital consumption in mind. Streaming platforms often display movie posters in small thumbnail sizes, meaning clarity and immediate impact are crucial. For VOD, simplicity and boldness take precedence; the title, central image, and key elements must remain clear and compelling even when scaled down. Furthermore, VOD platforms typically require the removal of billing blocks and cast lists, accepting at most a tagline.

Understand Your Indie Film’s Essence

Before diving into the design understand the core themes, mood, and message of your film. Your poster should encapsulate the essence of your story, whether it’s a thrilling horror, a heartwarming romance, or a thought-provoking drama. Make a list of keywords and emotions that define your film to guide your design process.

Choose A Striking Image

The central image of your poster is crucial. It should be high-quality and emotionally engaging. Consider using a key scene, a powerful character shot, or a symbolic element of your film. The image should be clear even at at thumbnail size, as streaming platforms often display posters in reduced formats.

Choose Appropriate Typography

Typography plays a significant role in setting the tone of your poster but is also legible. Choose fonts that reflect the film’s mood. Ensure that the text is legible against the background image and avoid overlay decorative fonts that might detract from readability. Be mindful of the color of your title treatment. If you look at popular streaming platforms today, you will notice often posters have white titles. Other colors to consider are yellow, red, and blue. Keep in mind you, regardless of the color of your title treatment you will usually be required to produce a white version in addition.

Test At Thumbnail Size

Streaming platforms often display posters as thumbnails. Ensure your design remains effective and readable at smaller sizes. Shrink your poster and check if the title is still legible, and the main image and key elements are distinguishable.

Hire A Professional

If design isn’t your forte, consider hiring a professional graphic designer who specializes in movie posters. A well-crafted poster is a worthwhile investment that can significantly impact your film’s success on streaming platforms.

However, if your budget doesn’t allow hiring a professional, look into a platform like Canva. This platform allows you to easily create beautiful and professional graphics without needing any professional skills. While you can get a free membership, the paid plan grants full access to their library without watermarks, and still costs a fraction of what a designer would charge.

Ensuring Accessibility of Your Design Files

VOD platforms will ask for a variety of specs to fit their requirements. This means you need to ensure that your design is available in a format that is editable and layered, not just as a flat JPEG, PDF, or PNG. Keeping your poster design in its original working file, such as a PSD file, allows for easy modifications and adaptations to meet different platform specifications. This flexibility is crucial for making quick adjustments and ensuring your key art maintains its quality and effectiveness across various display formats.

Do you have a film you’d like to talk with us about? Contact us.