The Poster Boys

This month, The Poster Boys take a second trip back to eastern Europe after the second world war to look at the history behind the rise and decline of the Czechoslovak film poster. Brandon and Sam weave in and out through the late 1940s down through the early 1990s to shed some light on the the world the artists of post-war Czechoslovakia inhabited and the designs they created for some of cinema’s most treasured films. A special thanks to Jozef of www.jozefsquare.com for his help in researching this episode. SHOW NOTES & LINKS Folklore Film Posters Terry Posters Jozefsquare Czech Film Posters of the 20th Century by Marta Sylvestrova Flashback: Czech and Slovak Film Posters 1959-1989 Milos Forman - Regis dialogue with Scott Foundas Movie Poster of the Week: Milos Forman’s “Loves of a Blonde” and “The Fireman’s Ball” Movie Poster of the Week: “Une femme douce” and the Posters of Olga Poláčková-Vyleťalová Music selections: “Bass on Titles” theme; “Strip Teas” by Jiří Šlitr & Jiří Šust, from the Sedmikr

In honor of Janus Films’ centennial retrospective of Ingmar Bergman’s Cinema, the Poster Boys survey the film posters of the influential and iconic Swedish auteur. From arthouse classics like THE SEVENTH SEAL and CRIES AND WHISPERS to overseas sensations SUMMER WITH MONIKA and PERSONA, Bergman’s films saw creative and visionary poster designs in Germany, Poland, Japan, Italy, the Czech Republic, and the US, providing a veritable international poster tour for listeners and cinephiles this month. SHOW NOTES & LINKS The Headless Women Project Hall of Femmes Klimowski Poster Book Movie Poster of the Week: the Best of Bergman Movie Poster of the Week: “Wild Strawberries” and the posters of Jerzy Flisak Music selections: “Bass on Titles” opening theme, Schumann Piano Quintet, op. 44 in E-flat major (2nd movement), It's You I Like by Fred Rogers Follow Brandon Schaefer at @seekandspeak, and Sam Smith at @samsmyth. Special thanks to producer Adrian Cobb.

After a small break due to technical difficulties, The Poster Boys are back! This month, Brandon and Sam dive into the work of renowned artist Barbara Kruger, looking back to the beginning of her career as a designer to see how she used her training as an art director at Condé Nast to bridge the gap between fine art and graphic design. From posters to billboards to editorial art, the boys discuss some of their favorite pieces, and examine how form and content can be used as a force for good. SHOW NOTES & LINKS Edel Rodriguez - Meet the Preeminent Illustrator of the Trump Era Barbara Kruger in Her Own Words Barbara Kruger Forever (Feb 2, 2018) Barbara Kruger: Thinking of You Barbara Kruger Music selections: “Bass on Titles” opening theme, audio excerpts from “Barbara Kruger in her own words” (National Gallery of Art). Follow Brandon Schaefer at @seekandspeak, and Sam Smith at @samsmyth. Special thanks to producer Adrian Cobb.

The Poster Boys discuss the 2017 Year in Movie Posters. Designers Brandon Schaefer and Sam Smith select the theatrical posters, teasers, and campaigns that caught their eye this year, discussing design trends, film branding, the importance of context when comparing agency work to freelance work, and reflecting on their own personal experiences as poster designers in 2017. SHOW NOTES & LINKS Graphic Design Criticism as a Spectator Sport by Michael Bierut Music selections: “Bass on Titles” opening theme. Follow Brandon Schaefer at @seekandspeak, and Sam Smith at @samsmyth. Special thanks to producer Adrian Cobb.

It’s an extra special light episode centered almost entirely around dead trees! This month, Brandon and Sam try something a little different in time for the holidays: they look at some of their favorite art and design related books published (or found) throughout the year and do their best to suggest them as gifts, while making impassioned arguments for local libraries along the way. SHOW NOTES & LINKS Visit theposterboys.tumblr.com to for links to our holiday gift selections. Music selections: “Bass on Titles” opening theme, O Tannenbaum and Christmas Time Is Here by Vince Guaraldi from A Charlie Brown Christmas. Follow Brandon Schaefer at @seekandspeak, and Sam Smith at @samsmyth. Special thanks to producer Adrian Cobb.

Find a flashlight and a blanket to hide under, because The Poster Boys are taking a Halloween themed trip down memory lane with the work of Stephen King. This month, Brandon and Sam discuss their favorite book covers and film posters from (and based on) the bestselling author’s more chilling tales, diving into the differences between marketing a story for print and film while reminiscing about how inescapable King’s presence was when they were growing up. SHOW NOTES & LINKS James Jean Interview Olimpia Zagnoli Skillshare Astro Alphabet Music selections: “Bass on Titles” opening theme, Boadicea by Enya from the Sleepwalkers OST, Tangerine Dream by Crystal Voice from Firestarter OST. Follow Brandon Schaefer at @seekandspeak, and Sam Smith at @samsmyth. Special thanks to producer Adrian Cobb.

This month, Brandon and Sam journey back into their own lives to discuss how they first got involved in design, and the ways in which their process has changed over time. From school flyers to fake toy packaging, the boys share stories from their childhood and discuss how they both went from designing film posters for fun to making it into a career. SHOW NOTES & LINKS Carnage for Kids Music selections: “Bass on Titles” opening theme, Great Southern Land from the Young Einstein Original Soundtrack, excerpt from Mr. Rogers draws a house. Follow Brandon Schaefer at @seekandspeak, and Sam Smith at @samsmyth. Special thanks to producer Adrian Cobb.

Grab your lunch, pack your books and get ready for the first day of class! This month on the show, designers Brandon Schaefer and Sam Smith head back to the halls of academia, diving into some of the most notable posters for films centered in or around the school. From Pretty in Pink to Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, the boys look back at their favorites while trying to piece together the process behind some of the genre’s most iconic pieces of key art. SHOW NOTES & LINKS Sela Lewis / The Papyrus Problem: Hating the Use of Everyday Design Paperbacks From Hell Chip Kidd Book Two The Moderns X Rated National Theatre Posters Music selections: “Bass on Titles” opening theme, Back To School by Jude Cole, Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want by Dream Academy, In Time by Robbie Robb feat. Marcus Wright. Follow Brandon Schaefer at @seekandspeak, and Sam Smith at @samsmyth. Special thanks to producer Adrian Cobb.

With War For the Planet of the Apes now in theaters, designers Brandon Schaefer and Sam Smith look back at the film poster history of the long running franchise. Starting from the original 1968 classic and moving through the subsequent sequels, remakes, and reboots, the boys discuss how deeper approaches to creating poster art can play second fiddle to more commercial directives when promoting a blockbuster, and the ways in which the marketing for a series can change (or stay the same) over time. SHOW NOTES & LINKS Silent London - Silent Film Posters Design. Revolt. Rainbow. The Design Work of Willy Fleckhaus Simian typeface at House Industries Very Nice Industries - Ed Benguiat (video) Music selections: “Bass on Titles” opening theme, "The Hunt" from Planet of the Apes Original Soundtrack by Jerry Goldsmith, Planet of the Apes The Musical excerpt from The Simpsons. Follow Brandon Schaefer at @seekandspeak, and Sam Smith at @samsmyth. Special thanks to producer Adrian Cobb.

With the return of Twin Peaks after 26 years, designers Brandon Schaefer and Sam Smith look back at the posters that have accompanied the many films of David Lynch in their first director-themed episode. From Eraserhead to Inland Empire, the boys discuss how Lynch’s unique cinematic vision has been marketed both in the US and abroad since 1977 while looking at the role a one-sheet plays in honoring a filmmaker’s work. Plus: listener feedback and a few words on the state of the superhero movie poster in 2017. SHOW NOTES & LINKS What David Lynch’s Use of Typography Reveals (or Doesn’t) Fred Davis’ comps for Mulholland Drive Music selections: “Bass on Titles” opening theme, “In Heaven” from the ERASERHEAD original motion picture soundtrack, Twin Peaks theme by Angelo Badalamenti, “Shadow” by Chromatics. Follow Brandon Schaefer at @seekandspeak, and Sam Smith at @samsmyth. Special thanks to producer Adrian Cobb.

Best known as a designer and later director of the Office of Publications at MIT, Jacqueline Casey created some of the most striking graphics for lectures and events at the prestigious school for over 30 years. This month on the podcast, Brandon and Sam look back at the work and career from one of America’s most prominent practitioners of the Swiss Style before opening the Flat File and discussing the film posters created for Stanley Kubrick’s 1968 science fiction classic, 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY. SHOW NOTES & LINKS WOMEN OF GRAPHIC DESIGN MID-CENTURY MODERN WOMEN IN THE VISUAL ARTS by Gloria Fowler, illustrated by Ellen Surrey The Beauty of Letterpress - Lustig Elements RIT Graphic Design Archive RIT Library - Images The Humanistic Designer: Jacqueline Casey Woman at the Edge of Technology Meggs’ History of Graphic Design Women in Graphic Design Cooper and Casey at MIT Designer Jacqueline S. Casey Dies at 65 Posters: Jacqueline S. Casey - 30 Years of Design at MIT McCall Studios - 2001: A Space Odys

This month, designers Brandon Schaefer and Sam Smith look at the iconic and unsung film posters created for Janus Films in the 70’s by Dot Graphics, the award-winning Denver-based design team of Lee Reedy and Robert Clayton. Across over two-dozen posters, Dot Graphics created bold and powerful key art for masterpieces of foreign cinema, showcasing their skill in typography, illustration, and art direction, old-school and computer-free. Years before the launch of the Criterion Collection, Reedy and Clayton foreshadowed a new graphic approach to film advertising in the arthouse industry. PLUS: a look in the Flat File at Dot’s one-sheet for KING KONG and the many other posters for the 1933 classic. SHOW NOTES & LINKS Connecting the Dots: Dot Graphics and Janus Fims Lee Reedy Agatha Christie illustrations by Tom Adams Music selections: “Bass on Titles” opening theme, “The Magic Yard” from the VALERIE AND HER WEEK OF WONDERS original soundtrack by Lubos Fiser; KING KONG original soundtrack by Max Steiner. Fol

The best movie posters of the 90’s, on the new episode of The Poster Boys. Designers Brandon Schaefer and Sam Smith reflect on their favorite one-sheets produced in the 90’s, discussing the posters that made impressions on them as kids, those that had a formative impact on their design sensibilities, and those that still hold up today for their branding, balance, use of photography, and iconic power, from THE ROCKETEER and HOME ALONE to NAKED LUNCH and Akira Kurosawa’s DREAMS. SHOW NOTES & LINKS Vic Fair Interview Alan Aldridge Interview Twelve Monkeys Documentary (Poster Section) Music selections: “Bass on Titles” opening theme, Peter Gabriel and Deep Forest - “While the Earth Sleeps” from the STRANGE DAYS motion picture soundtrack. Follow Brandon Schaefer at @seekandspeak, and Sam Smith at @samsmyth. Special thanks to producer Adrian Cobb.

This month on The Poster Boys, Brandon and Sam head back to the 1920s to look at the incredible film posters born out of the Russian Revolution and the work of two of Russia’s most prominent designers in particular, Vladimir and Georgii Stenberg. Despite a tragically short career, the Stenberg Brothers crafted over 300 posters during a period fraught with societal and technological change while becoming the pioneers of design and advertising techniques used throughout the world to this day. Also in this episode: a look in the Flat File at the poster designs for Buster Keaton’s silent comedy classic, THE GENERAL. SHOW NOTES & LINKS Stenberg Brothers: Constructing a Revolution in Soviet Design Movie Poster of the Week: The Posters of the Stenberg Brothers Part 1 Movie Poster of the Week: The Posters of the Stenberg Brothers Part 2 Movie Poster of the Week: the Posters of Dziga Vertov Interview with Vladimir Stenberg The Daily Stenberg Russian Film Posters 1900-1930 Film Posters of the Russian Avant-G

For The Poster Boys’ first episode of 2017, designers Brandon Schaefer and Sam Smith look at the life and work of Georg Olden, one of the most prominent and influential black executives in the American advertising business. Olden designed and art directed countless television title cards for CBS television which embodied the most timeless qualities of modern graphic design, and additionally designed for the Office of Strategic Services before it became the CIA, for the conference that founded the United Nations, and became the first African American to design a stamp for the United States Postal Service. Also in this episode: a look in the Flat File at the poster campaigns for Sidney Lumet’s TV-industry satire NETWORK. SHOW NOTES & LINKS Alexander Girard: A Designer’s Universe (Vitra Design Museum) Hecho en Cuba: Cinema in the Cuban Graphics (Silvana Editoriale) Tove Jansson: Work and Love (Penguin UK) Sandy Dvore: A Career Retrospective at Art of the Title AIGA Medalist: Georg Olden Advertising Age:

Designers Brandon Schaefer and Sam Smith look back at 2016’s most interesting and iconic theatrical movie posters, each selecting a large handful of their favorites to discuss while reflecting on trends in the world of film poster design, ever-changing amidst the growth of the on-demand streaming industry. Plus, Sam asks Brandon about some of his experiences and reflections having designed over fifty finished theatrical posters this year. SHOW NOTES & LINKS Adrian Curry’s Movie Posters of the Year at The Notebook Music selections: “Bass on Titles” opening theme; CHRISTINE original score by Danny Bensi and Saunder Jurianns. Follow Brandon Schaefer at @seekandspeak, and Sam Smith at @samsmyth. Special thanks to producer Adrian Cobb.

This month on The Poster Boys podcast, designers Brandon Schaefer and Sam Smith look at the diverse work of Polish poster artist Barbara Baranowska, also known simply as ‘Basha.’ An essential voice in the Polish Poster School (see also last May’s episode for more), Basha created a chameleonic oeuvre while living in post-war Poland and France through the 60′s and 70′s, including iconic posters for films ranging from Zulawski’s POSSESSION to WILLY WONKA. The Poster Boys also chat about some books and designs that have caught their attention lately, and open the Flat File to look at the posters for Orson Welle’s monolithic masterpiece CITIZEN KANE. SHOW NOTES & LINKS The Art of the B-Movie Poster Sam’s Myth: 1000 Polish Book Covers Polish Culture: Barbara Baranowska Daniel Bird on Polish Posters Music selections: Bass on Titles theme, Possession Theme by Andrzej Korzysnki, Xanadu by Olivia Newton John and E.L.O. Follow Brandon Schaefer at @seekandspeak, and Sam Smith at @samsmyth. Special thanks to produ

Best known for their gothic horror, Hammer Films produced motion pictures from the late 1950s until the 1970s that have since become classics of the genre. In celebration of the Halloween season, The Poster Boys look at the history surrounding the posters from several of their more notable releases. From The Mummy with Peter Cushing to Dracula AD 1972 with Christopher Lee, Brandon and Sam discuss the changes in marketing over the years, and examine some of their favorite pieces of Hammer key art from all corners of the world. SHOW NOTES & LINKS 1980’s Horror Movie Poster Logos and Typography British Film Posters Tom Chantrell and Unfilmed Hammer Posters The Wrong Side of the Art Film on Paper - Interview with Vic Fair Film on Paper - Interview with Shirley Chantrell A History of Horror with Mark Gatiss Music selections: “Bass on Titles” opening theme; Tristram Cary, opening title music from Quatermass and the Pit. Follow Brandon Schaefer at @seekandspeak, and Sam Smith at @samsmyth. Special thanks to pr

Drawing from their experience as poster designers, hosts Brandon Schaefer and Sam Smith take a general look at the ins and outs of film poster design in the 21st century, and how commercial factors like billing blocks, logo placement, and actor likenesses have shaped poster design from the 70’s to today. The Poster Boys also chat about some books, sites, and poster designs that have caught their eye recently, and then open the Flat File to take a look at the poster art for Steven Spielberg’s JAWS, including the iconic key art by painter Roger Kastel. * Part I can be heard in our May 2015 episode (Episode 6). SHOW NOTES & LINKS Cedok Zakka Store JozefSquare - Czech movie posters Art of the Title - Ruthless People by Sally Kruikshank Posteritati Gallery - Keiko Kimura posters for Rialto Pictures Lars Muller A5 Series - Best German Posters The Poster Boys - Film Posters in the 21st Century (Part 1) Cozy Lummox - The Sweet Smell of Success DVD cover process Collector’s Weekly - Who Stole JAWS? Melville Ho

On this month’s episode of The Poster Boys podcast, designers Brandon Schaefer and Sam Smith look at the inspiring life and iconic work of Dutch designer Dick Bruna, from his hundreds of book cover designs to his children’s books and characters, and his designs for his home town of Utrecht in The Netherlands, from whence host Sam brings a report from his recent trip. Plus: This month in The Flat File, the book covers and poster art for PSYCHO. SHOW NOTES & LINKS Dick Bruna / Miffy official website Original book covers by Dick Bruna Psycho Title Sequence Music selections: “Bass on Titles” opening theme; The Rainstorm from Psycho by Bernard Herrmann; La Vie En Rose by Edith Piaf. Follow Brandon Schaefer at @seekandspeak, and Sam Smith at @samsmyth. Special thanks to producer Adrian Cobb and to our presenting partner, AIGA’s Eye on Design blog.