24X36: A Movie About Movie Posters
I wanted to quickly draw your attention to a very interesting movie, which is rather a documentary about movie posters. I think there’s not enough talk about posters on the blog, so I’m taking this opportunity to make it right.
Today, we love movie posters and there is a massive culture around it. Furthermore, I’m sure original, vintage posters of famous films are extremely expensive right now among collectors. That’s because we cherish the old and the traditional, including the drawing style of these types of visuals.
But it wasn’t always like that. While in the past there wasn’t an official job title for those who created illustrations for motion pictures, there was a constant need to provide this image to the public. This was mainly the first encounter with the movie and its subject. Before 1965 it wasn’t even customary to give the artist credit for his or her creations, regardless of how paramount it was in promoting the film.
What this documentary does is explore the birth, death and current resurrection of movie posters, as seen through the experiences of studio people, poster artists and overall key artist personalities. Its resurrection is reflected by the massive interest of the public. Fans of the cinema and illustrators are taking it upon themselves to create their own versions of ideal poster movies.
Now, I recommend you watch this because we are all graphics fans here. It sparked my curiosity but I confess haven’t seen it yet. I read some reviews from people who had seen it. They found it frustrating because it focused more on fan art and less on the history behind iconic posters. My advice is to give it a try and form your own opinion. There professionals’ takes on the subject that I think will be informative and worth your while.
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