Fashion to Film

Fashion designer, Tom Ford, known for his revitalization of the Gucci brand now has another piece for his portfolio—a feature-length film.  A Single Man opens in the next few weeks in limited release and I can’t wait to see it. I am fascinated to see how the aesthetics of a fashion designer will translate into good filmmaking.  Based on this trailer, it looks like Ford may have found yet another niche in which to succeed.

A Contrast of Trailers

The two upcoming movies that I am most excited to see both happen to be about movies.  What has initially drawn me to these movies is not only the actors and directors involved but the fantastically designed trailers—and the two trailers couldn’t be more different.

Broken Embraces the latest film by Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar is teased with a simple, fairly minimalist trailer—forcing the viewer to devour the little bit of dialogue and visual preview they are receiving.  However, though simple it may be, it gets better with each watch as new details are revealed.

In contrast Nine the latest venture from Chicago filmmaker, Rob Marshall, is a visual, acting, and musical treat from the very start of the trailer.  There is nothing subtle or understated about it but that’s what makes it great.  It is everything the trailer for Broken Embraces is not; busy, flamboyant, and layered.

A New Slant on Harry Potter Advertising

I recently completed a whirlwind read through of all 7 Harry Potter books in the past 3 months and naturally can’t stop thinking about it.  As I’ve been reading the books, I’ve been watching (and re-watching) each of the movies.  I’ve been completely fascinated (and sometimes frustrated) how each of the different art directors and directors have chosen to express their visions of the book and the tone of the movie.  Watching them all within a short time span really allows to digest the enormous stylistic differences from film to film.  As the characters mature, so do the movies and the advertising.

The latest advertising for the just released DVD of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is no exception.  In fact I am completely intrigued by the largest shift in the graphic advertising yet — the introduction of the slanted logo and an extended cropping of the logo off the page.  I think this is brilliant!

Not only is the new graphic treatment of the logo an important visual shift but an important symbolic shift.  The Half Blood Prince is really where things start to become unsettled in the world of Hogwarts and more specially emotionally, physically and spiritually for each of the main characters.  This very simple visual adjustment is a perfect way to express the beginning of upheaval in a world that has to this point remained semi-stable.

I’ve included below the whole series of posters.  It’s fascinating looking at shift of tone and styling from movie 1 to 6—something that is clearly apparent throughout the films as well.

Movie 1 - Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone

Movie 2 - Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Movie 3 - Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Here is where things really start to get serious…

Movie 4 - Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Movie 5 - Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Movie 6 - Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Refreshing World-Class Campaign

Barack Obama is pictured in one several ads in a series targeting world leaders. Commissioned by Greenpeace and on Display in the Copenhagen, Denmark airport during the U.N. Climate Change Conference in Denmark.

I just ran across this ad campaign which is likely already getting many blog posts and attention.  There are few things I love more than Social Activism combined with Good Design.  Greenpeace gets big points for the commission of this sharp and bold ad campaign.  Kudos as well to Arc Communications in Britian for the ad campaign…now just get your website up (seriously—the ironic statement is pretty pathetic for an advertising firm that just conceived a world-class campaign.)

Read the Yahoo news article.

Mummers — Part of the Sequined Fabric of Philly

Love them or hate them — the Mummers are a part of the (sequined) fabric of Philadelphia. Growing up I remember watching the Mummers year after year on TV and being quite dazzled by the costumes and performances and this was the first year I’ve actually seen the parade in person. Yes, a large portion of the parade is more a drunken Mardi Gras a few months early, however it really is a triumph of creativity for many people, who may otherwise be considered not the most creative people. These are everyday guys (and some gals) ; blue-collar and white-collar workers, who take the greatest pride in putting together this storied spectacle to ring in the first day of the year. So in context, the quality of performance, the costumes and sets are astounding examples of local theatre and pure Americana at its best.

Here are a few shots from Broad street for your viewing pleasure.