Dir. John McTiernan. Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger
BELOW: design process, from reference image trawl (only a few examples shown)
through to layout scamps, and more developed mock ups.
With the basic composition for the posters already partially decided on (title character coming in from left, with film elements strategically placed to compliment that main character. Film title & credits in bottom left-hand corner) i worked on sketches in the similar vein. Also, with the feedback on the collages i'd previously done in mind, i set about trying to apply that concept with Predator film elements. I have my doubts about whether the neon colour scheme really works with the jungle-based imagery or not.
POSSIBLE FILM ARTIFACTS TO FEATURE IN COMPOSITION:
• The Predator (Masked/Unmasked)
• 'Dutch' ( Schwarzenegger's character)
• Laser sighting (triangle or dots)
• Glowing green blood/Red blood splats
• Jungle plants and leaves.
• Predator weaponry ( spear, retracting wrist baldes, self-destruction arm gauntlet)
• Predator attire (body armour, mesh outfit, animal skull necklace )
• Human Skull and spinal column
• a CHOPPPAAAH!!!!
Already, before the sketch stage I'm having design decision obstacles, that i can't imagine many other people having issues with. Initial 'brainmetling' decision; With the mask or without the mask, which followes endless to-ing and fro-ing between PRO mask and ANTI-mask rationalising.Eg:
WITH MASK - Retains the aire of mystery that the character evokes in the film, until he finally removes it towards the end.
WITHOUT MASK - you can see full horror of his mandibled, alien face, more interesting than a metal mask?
WITH MASK - if i wanted to feature his laser sighting 'dots' in the image, then it would make sense to have him with his mask on, as that's where laser is generated from.
...it goes on, and that was just a debate in my own mind (and my brother) about what bloody hat he should be wearing! Other questions included;
• Should Arnold be in it?
• What weapon should the Predator be using?
• How retracted should the blades in his gauntlet be?
• If i wanted to feature his self-detonator instead, i would need to flip the mage as he wears it on his left arm, but then that would throw the composition out.
• Should i use red, 'human' blood on the leaves or florescent green Predator blood?
God i'm boring. In some ways I'm think I'm subconsciously (although very consciously) trying to cover all bases so any film nerds out there, potentially looking at the poster can't pick any holes possible 'inaccuracies'. Ridiculous thought process, and a large reason why my production process gets so slowed down; SELF DOUBT and CONTASTLY WANTING TO PLEASE OTHERS.
As i was trying to keep the imagery for each of the posters similar enough so they work together as a set, i also made mock-ups in keeping with the previous Robocop ' floating body part collages', just to get an idea if it would work as well with the Predator character and his limbs, weaponry and habitat. Even if the imagery in the 3 posters ends up looking quite different (in terms of the amount of detail i use), then at least i'll be sticking to the basic composition layout throughout, which i always break down into shapes whilst sketching initial roughs (see below).
Below: 'Floating Predator' collage options.
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