Why don't they align actor & actress names with their photos in film posters?
I've always wondered why they don't do this properly. It seems wrong to me to place a different name on top of an actor's/actress' photo.
Why don't they align actor & actress names with their photos in film posters? I've seen this myriads of times.
An example:
Best Answer
It is probably a combination of the decisions of graphic designers (who may not agree with you that there is necessarily a 'proper' way to do this). Plus the order of names in credits and posters is carefully negotiated in contracts with the stars.
In the example above Nick Stahl probably got top billing, and negotiated his name to be first in all marketing, and then the graphic designers and marketing people wanted to put both the main star in the center of the poster, and slightly larger, and framed by the two women. They probably could have put Nick Stahl's name above the others and complied with the contracts, but a graphic design decision was made that the order of the names was unimportant compared to the overall look of the poster.
Pictures about "Why don't they align actor & actress names with their photos in film posters?"
Why do names not line up on movie posters?
The name order is determined according to the billing order, so it's contract-bound. The positioning of the poster elements is determined in a similar manner, except that there is no rule saying where should the actor/actress with the top billing go exactly (usually as big and centered as possible).Why do actors change their names in movies?
A performer will often take a stage name because their real name is considered unattractive, dull, or unintentionally amusing; projects an undesired image; is difficult to pronounce or spell; or is already being used by another notable individual, including names that are not exactly the same but still too similar.Why do some movie posters say with?
In a movie opening credits, among the major cast, cast members are listing one by one and will state some cast members as \u201cwith\u201d and \u201cand.\u201d It doesn't matter if they're A-listers or major characters.8 Letters - Why Don't We [Official Music Video]
More answers regarding why don't they align actor & actress names with their photos in film posters?
Answer 2
This is a great question and I think Ian nailed it - but I also wanted to bring up the classic story of The Towering Inferno:
Stars Paul Newman and Steve McQueen apparently argued intensely over who should get top billing. In the end the producers settled for a compromise: reading the film poster (which is reproduced as the DVD cover) top to bottom, Paul Newman is first, i.e. higher, or "top" billing. But reading left to right, Steve McQueen is first. The same applies to their photographs either side of the main artwork, McQueen on the left but Newman (marginally) higher up. Ironically, this billing format was an issue when McQueen was considered for a role in "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid."
Taken from MovieMistakes.com.
Answer 3
I think it's because the functions are separate. Agents determine the order of the performers' names for publicity, but the art work of the poster is not created until much later, probably just before the film is released. Since it may incorporate a scene or collection of screenshots that need to be aesthetically pleasing, the order of the names previously determined may not fit.
Answer 4
Its based on graphic design decisions:
TEXT- We, as occidental people (mainly) read from left to right, so the main actors name is almost always in that order, or top to bottom.
PHOTO- Visual hierarchy defines that the protagonist face (or an important element of the movie) is going to be the biggest, or at the center of the poster.
If the composition is more interesting than "centered" or "left to right", this "rules of thumb" could be changed, showing more of the story or the mood of the film.
Examples:
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.