Tag: drew struzan

Top Ten Tuesday: 2011 Holiday Movie Geek Gift Guide

Welcome to the 2011 Holiday Movie Geek Gift Guide! What is this? No, it’s not my personal gift wish list made public in hopes that readers will bury me in their affection — although, I wouldn’t be disgusted if you did — no, this is guide to finding that perfect, special gift for the Movie Geek in your life. You know who I mean. We all have at least one friend who obsesses about movies, someone who spouts a movie quote or a director factoid every other breath. What does one buy a person so firmly entrenched in the culture of movies? I hope this guide helps you with your shopping ideas, but don’t expect to find the typical, no brainer ideas — such as gift cards — on this list. Continue reading Top Ten Tuesday: 2011 Holiday Movie Geek Gift Guide

Alamo Drafthouse & AMPAS To Archive Mondo Film Posters

Beverly Hills, CA – The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Margaret Herrick Library is partnering with the Austin-based Alamo Drafthouse theater chain to archive the company’s growing collection of original film posters designed by contemporary graphic artists. The first group of the Alamo Drafthouse’s Mondo posters arriving at the Herrick will include the latest print, a poster for the classic horror film “Frankenstein” (1931), created by Drew Struzan.

 

The Alamo Drafthouse began producing limited-edition silkscreen posters in 2003. Mondo, the company’s art boutique, now produces more than 120 posters annually, and through it prominent artists such as Martin Ansin, Shepard Fairey, Olly Moss, Tyler Stout and Ken Taylor are commissioned to create new art for classic films, as well as alternative posters for contemporary movies such as “Inglourious Basterds,” “True Grit” and “Thor.”

“We are always seeking out the unusual, and the Mondo collection certainly fits the bill,” said the Academy’s graphic arts librarian, Anne Coco. “We are looking forward to working with the Alamo Drafthouse to ensure that its contribution to the art of movie posters will be around for future generations to appreciate.”

This ongoing gift from the Alamo Drafthouse will be housed along with the Herrick’s existing collection of more than 38,000 movie posters.  The posters in the library’s collection are stored in climate-controlled vaults, and are scanned and entered into the library’s online catalog, where they can be viewed by the public.     

“We’re extremely grateful to the Academy for its interest in archiving Mondo’s poster collection,” said Mondo Creative Director Justin Ishmael. “We’re fans of movie art, first and foremost, and to have our artists’ work archived alongside some of the classics of movie poster art is an incredible honor.”

The Margaret Herrick Library poster collection includes a wide range of works created by noted graphic artists, such as the Stenberg brothers’ constructivist poster for “Man with a Movie Camera” and Wiktor Gorka’s arresting poster for the Polish release of “Cabaret.” The library also holds all of the film posters designed by Saul Bass, including his groundbreaking key art for “The Man with the Golden Arm.” 

ABOUT THE ACADEMY
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is the world’s preeminent movie-related organization, with a membership of more than 6,000 of the most accomplished men and women working in cinema. In addition to the annual Academy Awards – in which the members vote to select the nominees and winners – the Academy presents a diverse year-round slate of public programs, exhibitions and events; provides financial support to a wide range of other movie-related organizations and endeavors; acts as a neutral advocate in the advancement of motion picture technology; and, through its Margaret Herrick Library and Academy Film Archive, collects, preserves, restores and provides access to movies and items related to their history. Through these and other activities the Academy serves students, historians, the entertainment industry and people everywhere who love movies.

Posters: Courtesy Mondo/Alamo Drafthouse

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Review: THE ART OF DREW STRUZAN

For those of you who don’t know anything about Drew Struzan, you are about to be impressed. Actually, you might not recognize his name, but you should recognize his work. He has illustrated some of the most impressive and stunning movie posters over the years. Over 150 actually!

The book, THE ART OF DREW STRUZAN, shows us stunning works such as posters for HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER’S STONE, THE THING, BACK TO THE FUTURE, BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA, E.T. and HOOK. It touches on his feelings about the death of creativity in the film industry, which he does have a point, and even showcases never before seen works. The thing that I found most interesting about the book is that he is honest. He talks about his opinion on photo-shopped movie posters, studio executives, and all aspects of the industry. Not to mention that it is a beautifully written lament to his career.

I really can’t say enough about how beautiful his posters are. They aren’t just posters. They truly are works of art. The details and accuracy are wildly impressive. I love his enthusiasm as he talks about the most successful times of his career. By the end, he does get real, and quite bitter about the transition from artist rendered posters to the photo-shopped, creative-lacking posters that are around today, and the way the industry has turned more toward mass marketing than actual creative expression. In a way, he really is right! For example, his art for PAN’S LABYRINTH was rejected for being too artsy. Really? A ridiculously strange movie like that rejected an artistic poster? RIDICULOUS!!!

He illustrated some of my favorite films. Heck, I would be proud to drench my walls with his artwork. Maybe it’s my art therapy degree talking, but I think he is brilliant.

I could tell you over and over how AMAZING this book is, but I would rather you get off your hindquarters and go pick it up. You will be blown away.

OVERALL RATING: 5 out of 5 stars

Kick Ass ‘Inglourious Basterds’ Posters

inglourious basterds

Quentin Tarantino’s ‘Inglourious Basterds’ has come and gone, and it has kicked ass in theaters all over America.   Today, we thought it would be   nice to show you some of the posters the film inspired.

The one you see there at the top comes to us courtesy of Poster Wire and is designed by illustrator James Goodbridge.   It’s actually a completed piece of artwork that was unused for the film, and, as beautiful as it is, I can’t imagine why it was passed over for the posters actually used.   Luckily, as indicated by the interview on Poster Wire’s site, Goodbridge is still holding out hope that his illustration will be used somewhere down the road.

Next up are three poster designs brought to us by the fine people at Mondo Tees.

inglourious basterds 1

inglourious basterds 2

inglourious basterds 3

Fortunately, the three posters you see here are on sale over at Mondo Tees’ website.   Unfortunately, these things flew out the door like frisbees.   Currently, they are completely sold out, but keep checking back.   They might come up with a few more.

The first one up was from Print Mafia.   The last two were designed by famed illustrator Tyler Stout.   Each one has a different feel, but they are all equally cool.

Now, if we can only get Drew Struzan to come out of retirement long enough to design a HUGO STIGLITZ! poster, the world would be a better place.

Special thanks to the boys over at Gordon and the Whale for giving us the heads up on all these badass designs.

Drew Struzan Retiring! Every Poster Collector in the World Just Shed a Single Tear

Everyone may not know the name Drew Struzan, but you’ve sure seen his worked and probably loved it.   He’s been the artist behind some of the best poster art in the last 30 years.   He has worked on posters for everything from ‘Harry Potter’ to ‘John Carpenter’s The Thing’ to all six ‘Star Wars’ films to all three ‘Back to the Future’ films.

Word came today from theraider.net that Drew is hanging up his paint brush to spend more time with his family.

In his own words:

“Having been working at not working has produced a guy who could never return to illustration again.   It took a lot to attempt the idea of retiring from my 40 years of effort and sacrifice but now that I have, I am delighting in life as never before.   I had forgotten how to rest, to smell the proverbial roses and to see the future as opportunity.   I am grateful and honored to have had the opportunity to do all the work I did.   I am well pleased to have been able to give a give of beauty and peace through my artwork to so many throughout the world.   Now I have laid down the burden and have peace and happiness as the reward for my day’s labor.”

His work will be missed.   Visit his website, www.drewstruzan.com, to see a gallery of his works.