[MOPO] Article In NY TIMES Regarding Poster Design Hey And Happy New Year Friends
January 1, 2006 Not Just Another Half-Dozen Pretty, Floating Faces By CHRISTIAN MOERK SINCE the dawn of film marketing, studios have relied on posters featuring "floating heads": as many movie star faces as can be crammed onto a single page. In 1927, for instance, state-of-the-art ads for "The Jazz Singer" featured two disembodied Al Jolson heads - one in blackface, one without makeup. Since then floating heads have become an industry cliché: the formula that once guaranteed success is now so ubiquitous that posters in that vein are nearly invisible. So what does it take to get noticed some 80 years later, especially when you're selling yet another horror film, without the luxury of big stars? Surprisingly, the answer may be fine art. Tim Palen, the executive vice president of worldwide marketing for Lionsgate - the company responsible for the gory "Saw" movies - was recently looking for a fresh campaign to introduce "Hostel," a slasher film that is to open on Jan. 6. Directed by Eli Roth, it is about a group of gullible and horny American males who find themselves in a Slovakian hostel, where promises of easy sex turn to gruesome snuff. Mr. Palen said he figured that a poster with mangled bodies wouldn't do the trick. So he dropped by the airy, tastefully decorated Chelsea studio of the Australian photographer Mark Kessell. A soft-spoken former physician who practiced medicine in Sydney for what he calls "several unsatisfying years," Mr. Kessell, 49, now takes pictures of things he's fully aware the larger public may not appreciate. One collection of daguerreotypes, "Perfect Specimens," shows the human body in its physical extremes; there are several shots of fetuses and old people near death. But it was Mr. Kessell's "Florilegium" (or "collection of floral images") daguerrotypes that caught Mr. Palen's eye: each image is close-up of a surgical instrument, so poetically rendered that it seems almost organic. Some of the macabre implements resemble exotic flowers. One, from a distance, could be mistaken for the horns of a gazelle. "We were sort of blocked, and all the pieces fell into place once I saw that image," Mr. Palen explained. A deal was made to use that daguerreotype, which actually shows a surgical clamp. It now appears in theaters and on widespread promotions. (Billboards for "Hostel" rely on a more conventional image of a masked tormentor with a chain saw, which, a Lionsgate spokeswoman explained, translated more easily to the horizontal format.) Mr. Kessell may seem an unlikely choice to sell unapologetic horror to a large youth audience; he has no interest whatever in popular culture. Over tea in his loft, the elegantly dressed Mr. Kessell confessed to not having seen "Hostel" or, indeed, to remembering the last film he had seen. "It may have been 'Dogville,' " he finally allowed. With a grin, he said that in selling his work to Lionsgate, "I am prostituting myself." But he added: "The money has to come from somewhere." And, he said, that money would be poured right back into an art project. In the process, his work is placed before an audience of millions. "I have a lot of trouble as an artist getting people to either look at my work or know my name," said Mr. Kessell, who generally finds that his pictures repel as much as they fascinate, much like the horror genre. "I'm interested in what makes us human," he said, "what makes our sex drive and the drive to violence the way they are. And what happens at the other end when we die." Bill Sienkiewicz, an illustrator, writer and director who has worked on movie posters for more than 20 years, said the tide was turning toward more provocative designs. "If there are any floating heads, it will have to be a decapitation," he said by telephone from his studio in Stamford, Conn., where he was working on a poster for the horror movie "Evil Aliens." Mr. Sienkiewicz, whose work has included posters for Clint Eastwood's "Unforgiven" and "The Green Mile" starring Tom Hanks, pointed out that some classic posters, like the one for Francis Ford Coppola's "Apocalypse Now," found a more artful way to use actors' faces. "It had headshots," Mr. Sienkiewicz said of the "Apocalypse" poster. "But it also had the ambience and the heat of the jungle, and the levels of desperation. There was lots of information in the poster that set the tone. You don't see that today." Universal Pictures' president for marketing, Adam Fogelson, agrees that a saturated marketplace has forced everyone to think differently about poster ad campaigns. "I would say that there is a mistake in equating artistic with distinct," he said, citing Lionsgate's creative use of two strategically hacked-off fingers to sell its "Saw" sequel as a good example of an approach that managed to do both. "Making something different or artistic for its own sake is not the answer I advocate. I am not in the business of creating art, I am
Re: [MOPO] Should Auld Acquaintance etc etc
Happy New Year! Ed and I would like to wish everyone a very HAPPY NEW YEAR and to thank everyone for their support during this most trying year. Things were not quite as festive down here. Unlike prior years when all our neighbors are out shooting fireworks, this year it was like a ghost town. It was a very subdued celebration -- particularly in light of the fact that the blue tarps covering our homes are FLAMABLE!!! Here's hoping everyone has a better 2006. Sue LearnAboutMoviePosters.com Toochis Morin wrote: Happy New Year All! Toochis --- Kirby McDaniel [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Happy New Year to all. Best Wishes from Kirby McDaniel at MovieArt, Austin www.movieart.net Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com ___ How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List Send a message addressed to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L The author of this message is solely responsible for its content. Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com ___ How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List Send a message addressed to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L The author of this message is solely responsible for its content. Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com ___ How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List Send a message addressed to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L The author of this message is solely responsible for its content.
[MOPO] NEW LISTINGS ON WALTER REUBEN MOVIE POSTER WEBSITE
Hello and Happy New Year! I have just uploaded a new selection of rare movie posters and lobby cards on my website for rare movie posters, www.walterfilm.com It includes: HORROR--posters and lobbies from DRACULA, FRANKENSTEIN, FRANKENSTEIN MEETS THE WOLFMAN, DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE (1931). COMEDY---posters and lobbies from BALL OF FIRE, HARVEY, LIBELED LADY, WOMAN OF THE YEAR. MUSICALS---titles include GIRL CRAZY (1943), GEORGE WHITES SCANDALS (1934), BROADWAY BABIES (1929). FILM NOIR---includes LAURA, OUT OF THE PAST, RAW DEAL, BLACK ANGEL, and JOURNEY INTO FEAR. And much more, so please have a look. You simply need to go to the top of the home page of website and click on WHAT'S NEW. Or go to http://www.walterfilm.com/products_new.php?osCsid=a5631a31045e5ed88cdef7d9051428b3 If you have never visited my site before, maybe you will find something that you would like. Sincerely Walter Reuben Walter Reuben, Inc. 500 North Harper Avenue Los Angeles CA 90048 USA Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (323) 651 3313 www.walterfilm.com Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com ___ How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List Send a message addressed to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L The author of this message is solely responsible for its content.
[MOPO] FA : French Movie Posters
Hello, I have a new ebay sale running with almost 150 French movie posters : Many French movie posters : Brokeback Mountain, Basic Instinct 2 advance, Chanel N°5 advertising with Nicole Kidman, King Kong, 400 Blows, Breathless, Alien, Ipcress Files, Aliens, Blade Runner, Batman, Amelie, Leon (The Professional), Nikita, Fistful of Dollars, Dirty Harry, Kill Bill, Delicatessen, Superman Returns, Harry Potter, Chicken Little, and many more ! You can see all these posters under my ebay name : fmp2000 or use the link below : http://search.ebay.fr/_W0QQsassZfmp2000QQhtZ-1 Do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. Happy New Year ! Alexis Rubinowicz French Movie Posters Tel : 011 33 1 47 58 10 58 Mobil : 011 33 6 11 21 02 55 Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com ___ How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List Send a message addressed to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L The author of this message is solely responsible for its content.
[MOPO] FA: 200 international posters
Happy new year! I have on ebay right now a selection of international posters, ending in 2 days. (yes the reduced listing day, but I also have reduced most, and many are listed for the first time on ebay) Some examples: KING KONG Fay Wray '33 rare orig German 1sh 1959 rerel. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemitem=7576146319rd=1sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AITrd=1 FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE Eastwood Leone German 2sh Casaro http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemitem=7575874768rd=1sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AITrd=1 KING KONG '76 large Polish 2sh poster 38x52 Erol art http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemitem=7576065304rd=1sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AITrd=1 GRAND PRIX '66 car racing / rare East German 1sh great! http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemitem=7575892641rd=1sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AITrd=1 7TH VOYAGE OF SINDBAD Harryhausen INDIAN 1sh '59 litho http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemitem=7575902166rd=1sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AITrd=1 PORGY BESS Dandridge, Poitier '59 great orig.Ger.1sh http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemitem=7576146907rd=1sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AITrd=1 CRISS CROSS Lancaster/De Carlo '48 film noir US 6sheet! http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemitem=7575856980rd=1sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AITrd=1 CHINATOWN Nicholson '74 Polish poster Klimowski art http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemitem=7576066044rd=1sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AITrd=1 LA NOTTE Antonioni Jeanne Moreau '60 rareGer.1sh StyleB http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemitem=7575911509rd=1sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AITrd=1 MON ONCLE Jacques Tati '58 original East German 1sheet http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemitem=7575947769rd=1sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AITrd=1 MANHATTAN Woody Allen '78 Polish poster Pagowski http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemitem=7576066788rd=1sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AITrd=1 ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST '68 orig. East German 1sh http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemitem=7575951240rd=1sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AITrd=1 BLOW UP Antonioni - orig. 1st Polish poster '68 Swierzy http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemitem=7576067177rd=1sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AITrd=1 STAR TREK '79 original East German 1sheet unique art! http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemitem=7575958159rd=1sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AITrd=1 KNIFE IN THE WATER Polanski '62 orig. EG 1sh LENICA art http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemitem=7575960425rd=1sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AITrd=1 LOLA MONTEZ Max Ophuels '55 rare orig. German 1sheet http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemitem=7575968785rd=1sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AITrd=1 REPULSION Polanski Deneuve '65 orig.Ger.1sh LENICA art http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemitem=7575975670rd=1sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AITrd=1 NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD Romero '68 orig.German 1sh http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemitem=7575988069rd=1sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AITrd=1 M Fritz Lang Peter Lorre '31 original German 1sh '65 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemitem=7575982410rd=1sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AITrd=1 IVAN'S CHILDHOOD Tarkovsky '62 orig.Ger.1sh LENICA art http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemitem=7575979940rd=1sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AITrd=1 THE NUTTY PROFESSOR Jerry Lewis '62 orig.German 1sh *B http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemitem=7575990366rd=1sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AITrd=1 FASTER PUSSYCAT KILL! KILL! Russ Meyer'67 Germanlobby card set of 24 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemitem=7576038075rd=1sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AITrd=1 ROCCO HIS BROTHERS Alain Delon'60 orig. Italian 39x55 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemitem=7576044499rd=1sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AITrd=1 THE TIME MACHINE George Pal '60 orig. Polish poster http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemitem=7576118980rd=1sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AITrd=1 THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR Steve McQueen '67 rare orig Ger.1sh http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemitem=7576127609rd=1sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AITrd=1 I VAMPIRI Riccardo Freda'57 rare orig.Italian locandina http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemitem=7576050031rd=1sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AITrd=1 MONDO CANE Jacopetti '60 original Italian 39x55 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemitem=7576134430rd=1sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AITrd=1 FAHRENHEIT 451 Truffaut Julie Christie '66 German 1sh http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemitem=7576137948rd=1sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AITrd=1 AGUIRRE Klaus Kinski Werner Herzog '72 orig. German 1sh http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemitem=7576059793rd=1sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AITrd=1 SEVEN YEAR ITCH Marilyn Monroe orig.German 1sh unfolded http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemitem=7576062290rd=1sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AITrd=1 GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH Cecil B. DeMille '52 US 3sheet http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemitem=7576131626rd=1sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AITrd=1 WHITE WITCH DOCTOR
