Minimalist Movie Poster Project
My minimalist movie materials include a poster, a movie premier ticket, and a ticket package, all inspired by a theoretical movie narrative I created. In the movie, the main character is a first-generation American who leads a culturally divided life: an Ethiopian-American church-goer who seldom questions her elders, and an American teen who parties with friends and deceives her parents.
Eventually, she is caught sneaking out to attend a party with illegal substances. Unaware of her life outside the home, her parents are shocked and furious. Coming from conservative religious backgrounds, they cannot fathom why she would go behind their backs to do such a thing, and look at her as if she is unrecognizable. Filled with disappointment, they send her on a trip to their home village in Ethiopia, hoping she will better understand her culture and why they raised her the way they did.
While in Ethiopia, she learns more about her ethnic identity and gains lessons in hard work, perseverance, and faith while spending time with distant relatives. In the end, she leaves Ethiopia with a renewed sense of self-confidence and returns home with a deep admiration for her culture.I designed all of my movie materials using Adobe Illustrator. For my color scheme, I chose warm tones to reflect the feelings of happiness, joy, and love in the scene depicted on the poster. The title font is inspired by the ancient Ethiopian script, Ge’ez. My package and ticket share the same warm palette, with the movie premiere ticket modeled after an Ethiopian Airlines boarding pass and the ticket package resembling a dual-sided passport—symbolically weaving together both sides of the main character’s identity.
The scene depicted on my poster captures the moment the main character begins to see the world through a new lens of appreciation. The main character’s trip being during the height of the rainy season in Ethiopia, the days are long and humid. While hiking to her grandfather’s village atop a mountain, she pauses to take in the panoramic view of the valley and distant peaks. At first glance, everything seemed dull beneath the grey sky. Then, the clouds part to reveal a beaming sun. Instinctively, she raises her hand to shield her eyes, soon realizing she cannot remember the last time she felt warmth like this. Slowly, she then spreads her fingers and allows the sun to kiss her face. Looking back at the once-gloomy landscape, she now sees healthy soil and vibrant pastures.
