Curio: Seeing Silhouettes

Alexa here. Although they were an 18th Century craze,  silhouettes are a familiar sight in our collective film memory (James Bond openers, Elliott and E.T., even Mystery Science Theater 3000).  Cut paper silhouettes that harken back to the history of the medium are making a crafty comeback, so it seems silhouette designs are popping up everywhere from posters to porcelain. Here are some particularly nice backlit movie icons that follow the trend.

Jack and Rose, Jack and Sally, Hiccup and Toothless, handcut by Isabel Talsma.

A little Alfred Hitchcock, Jean Luc Godard and All About Eve after the jump...

Click to read more ...

Curio: Witches Brew

Alexa here, chiming in for The Witches of Eastwick week. The film remains one of my 80s favorites, a strong showing in an especially strong year for women in film (Moonstruck! Broadcast News!). Veronica Cartwright's second-most-famous gross-out scene had me off cherries for 10 years, minimum, so I was surprised that no one has designed a minimalist cherry poster for the film yet. 

Custom poster design by Alex Kittle.

Instead, the climactic voodoo scene seems to inspire artists the most. Here are some of the better voodoo poster designs, and one voodoo curio, in honor of the frizzy-haired trio...

Click to read more ...

Curio: Visions of Prometheus

llustration by PJ McQuade.

Alexa here.

Since the first teasers and trailers for Prometheus arrived I've been firmly in the YES camp.  Take the implications of providing a practically Precambrian timeline for a seemingly familiar alien species, and add all the apocalypticism of a season of Buffy and you are left with me trying to preorder my tickets in March.

Nathaniel has pointed out that Ridley Scott, with his background as an art director, always delivers when it comes to the look of a film, so for a visual fetishist like me even his poor efforts have their appeal (Legend is a Sunday afternoon favorite).

I've been hoping that all the anticipation would galvanize some artists and designers out there, and I haven't been disappointed.  Here are some intriguing creations I've spied in advance of the release.

Illustration by Miguel Delicado.

Click for more posters...

Click to read more ...

Curio: Alternative Moonrise Kingdom Posters

Alexa here. When JA pointed out how lovely the Moonrise Kingdom poster is it reminded me of all the indie versions materializing everywhere.  This is no surprise, since Wes Anderson films typically draw more fan art than almost every other release combined, but what does surprise is that I still prefer the lush intricacy of the studio one-sheet. Judge for yourself: here are some of the better alternative designs, many of which were solicited by ShortList Magazine.

Symmetry-inspired design by Ben Whitesell.

Sartorial emphasis by Laura Perm-Jardin.

Click for more designs...

Click to read more ...

Curio: Overlook Ephemera

Poster design by Matt HightowerAlexa here. 32 years ago this very week, Stanley Kubrick's adaptation of The Shining opened in theaters. Kubrick's masterpiece received mixed reviews and, at least initially, the audience was similarly befuddled.  (My parents love to tell me that when they saw it opening weekend the audience frequently erupted in laughter.)  

It was nominated for two Razzies and zero Oscars.

Despite Stephen King's continued distaste towards it, the film's intrigue continues to grow (for evidence, just watch Room 237). I thought it the perfect time to mention one of my favorite Tumblrs, The Overlook Hotel, a wonderful archive of ephemera, fan art, interviews, and video related to the film.

Like this Scatman Crothers portrait "Shine Baby Shine" 

“Shine Baby Shine” by artist Quyen Dinh.

Click for more Overlook treasures including caricatures and letterhead. 

Click to read more ...