Screenwriting : Teaser Posters by Rebecca Jean-Carroll

You can take a look in my profile, under loglines. I did this a long time ago and to be honest with you, I had no idea it was called teaser poster. If you want I can recommend a free software I used to create my posters.

Check this out; the best posters on Script Revolution.

Also; here are my own.

It's an incredibly powerful way to communicate a concept and tone if you embrace it. A picture says a thousand words and all that. Music albums/singles don't need images but they have a huge impact. Books don't need anything but a title but take the covers very seriously. Much like pitch decks and show bibles, you've got to find every edge you can compete on in today's market. Anyone one who thinks a "great script" grows legs by itself and starts circulating, especially if you live outside of LA and a complete unknown, is living in a fantasy world.

Over 50% of the scripts that are optioned/sold on Script Revolution had poster images before they were picked up.

You can find people on Fiverr or take a shot at it yourself on Canva.

Personally, I'd avoid using dream casting. I'd use images of people who look like the characters. I'd also be VERY WARY of a producer asking for a poster unless they were hoping to add it to their pitching materials or something like that. It's an odd request that needs qualifying.

Rebecca, I started making my own teaser posters last year...and I doggone LOVE doing it!

Having my own stuff on Script Revolution (in addition to here on Stage 32) gave me the impetus to create my own posters, so I downloaded a program called GIMP (one of Canva's competitors).

CJ's right about posters as powerful tools to help define the scripts you write. And for me, making the posters is just as fun as writing the screenplays themselves.

All the VERY BEST to you, Rebecca! Glad you're here on Stage 32!

CJ is correct go to screen revolution. It is a teaser poster. It isn’t the final product. I go to pixabay and find an image that I think sums up the film and then do a bit of an edit.

This one for my script “Unfare”. I could add a tag line to it if needed.

I hired an up-and-coming Concept Artist to work up some pieces for me. I wrote her a precise of what I was hoping to convey and got a notary to write up a contract for 6 pieces. 100$ a piece, plus an extra 50$ should I go ahead and use one that works.

Pretty amazing artwork. A nice addition to her portfolio as well.

Hey Rebecca.

Well I'm a person who loves to start thinking of a project visually early on so I start creating art early.

Also as someone who worked in graphic design for some time I kind of enjoy it.

But the main difference is that a teaser poster or art usually utilizes assets that are free or at least available and art for the final project contains pompously made assets for that particular project.

Sometimes we take a photo of something that relates to the story or find a stock photo I can work with.

But for a project I usually schedule a photo shoot during filming to create the assets that we need to create artwork.

Here are a couple of mine.

I've used Snappa. It's another Canva competitor that's free and fun to use. I'd highly recommend checking out Script Revolution for inspiration. Good luck!

Try Fiverr.com. You can hire someone to create a poster for you. I haven’t used them yet but a lot of screenwriters on ScriptRevolution.com have.

Thanks everyone : ) for the recommendations and tips. Super helpful. Gonna give it a go. Quite excited.

I agree with Colette. I used Fiverr for everything. They have really great talents. Now I hire my daughters since they are willing and capable digital artists. I wouldn't try on your own if you aren't familiar with the techniques. You want to present your best product.

It is not a dumb question but if a producer asks you for a poster that would indicate the producer is.

I find a poster helps get attention to my work. Many that stumble across a script see it as a tedious job to check it out. I first hired someone to make one for me but since I am usually financially strapped most days I started to create my own. Writers now a days have to wear many hats to get there scripts noticed. We as writers have to be able to use any tool at our disposal and a poster is a huge plus to get attention. I not only use my posters for contests but also for hosting sights like scriptrevolution.com and Stage32. I also use them for backdrops when doing Zoom presentations of my work.