The Poster Boys

Spanning a decades long career with over 130 film posters to his name, illustrator Bob Peak has left an indelible mark on audiences everywhere. This month, Brandon and guest host Jay Shaw dive into the career of the man who has been called “the father of the modern movie poster” and examine the other areas of American culture that felt his unique touch throughout the years. They also crack open the Flat File to look at the art and design for the 1975 Norman Jewison Sci-Fi dystopian film Rollerball. SHOW NOTES & LINKS Bob Peak + Shop Illustration #6 The Life and Art of Robert Peak by Thomas Peak When Illustrators Wanted to be Bob Peak by Steven Heller The Posters of Matthew Peak Music selections: “Bass on Titles” opening theme; Toccata and Fugue in D Minor; Andre Previn. Follow Brandon Schaefer at @seekandspeak, and Sam Smith at @samsmyth. Special guest host Jay Shaw. Special thanks to producer Adrian Cobb and to our presenting partner, AIGA’s Eye on Design blog.  

This month The Poster Boys continue with a look back at their favorite movie posters ever. In the second of a two-part episode, Brandon and Sam reflect on the film posters that have left a lasting impact on them in recent years, including those by artists from Poland, the Czech Republic, Germany, and Cuba, and some of Hollywood’s most striking one-sheets from Silence of the Lambs to Rosemary’s Baby. SHOW NOTES & LINKS Movie Poster of the Week: “Une femme douce” and the Posters of Olga Poláčková-Vyleťalová Movie Poster of the Week: "Le feu follet" Music selections: “Bass on Titles” opening theme; Blow-Up original score by Herbie Hancock. 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.

This month Brandon and Sam look back at their favorite movie posters ever. In the first of a two-part episode, the Poster Boys reflect on the movie posters of their childhood and the designs that captured their imagination growing up, from the art of Faerie Tale Theatre to Robocop and The Rocketeer. SHOW NOTES & LINKS Art of the Modern Movie Poster, Judith Salavetz, Spencer Drate, and Sam Sarowitz, with text by Dave Kehr, Chronicle Books Faerie Tale Theatre artwork gallery John Mattos film posters Music selections: “Bass on Titles” opening theme; The Rocketeer original score by James Horner. 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.

This month The Poster Boys look at the life and art of Corita Kent. A nun and teacher at Immaculate Heart College, and beginning in 1964 the chair of its art department, her silkscreens combined religious language with that of American advertising culture and the spirit of 60’s modern art. As a teacher, her philosophy and class exercises brought a radical and fresh perspective not just to the spiritual ideas of the church but to the artistic and creative process overall. Brandon and Sam reflect on her teachings and work, then open the Flat File for a look at the posters for Richard Lester’s feature-length Beatles film A Hard Day’s Night. SHOW NOTES & LINKS Corita Art Center AIGA: The Nun’s Story Sister Corita: We Have No Art, a 1967 documentary by Baylis Glascock Become a Microscope: 90 Statements on Sister Corita, a film by Aaron Rose Design Observer AIGA’s Gold Metal Recipient NPR - The Nun Inspired by Warhol New York Times - Warho’s Kindred Spirit in the Convent Facsimile Magazine Music selections: “Ba

From their small, separate start on the silver screen in the 1940s to joining forces for one of the most anticipated epics hitting theaters in 2016, Batman and Superman have woven in and out of cinematic history for over 70 years. Leaving in their wake a plethora of film posters, the Poster Boys look back through the key art that defined each cinematic interpretation of two massive cultural icons and use their highs and lows to examine the constantly changing trends within the industry. SHOW NOTES & LINKS The Dissolve: How the 1989 Batman logo helped set the course for superhero movies, by Noel Murray Music selections: “Bass on Titles” opening theme; Batman TV serial opening theme by Lee Zahler, Batman TV theme by Neal Hefti, Superman original soundtrack by John Williams, Batman original soundtrack by Danny Elfman, The Dark Knight Rises original soundtrack by Hans Zimmer, Man of Steel original soundtrack by Hans Zimmer. Follow Brandon Schaefer at @seekandspeak, and Sam Smith at @samsmyth. Special thanks t

This month the Poster Boys survey the Golden Age of Cuban Posters, created during and after the Cuban Revolution. In addition to the iconic social and political posters that celebrated Cuba’s cultural pride and solidarity with other nations, hundreds of silkscreen film posters were produced during the 60’s which reflected the distinct styles and humble ingenuity of Cuba’s poster artists. Brandon and Sam reflect on the processes of these artists and appreciate how much their posters have influenced their own personal philosophies as designers. The Flat File looks at the Cuban poster for STOLEN KISSES, a top design of Sam’s, and the other international posters for Truffaut’s 1968 film. SHOW NOTES & LINKS In Print: Revolucion!: Cuban Poster Art Soy Cuba: Cuban Cinema Posters From After the Revolution Mira Cuba: The Cuban Poster Art from 1959 The Cuban Image: Cinema and Cultural Politics in Cuba The Art of Revolution Online: Giselle Monzón screenprinting posters at the ICAIC Cuban posters with Giselle Monzón

For their first episode of 2016, the Poster Boys depart from the world of one-sheets for a quick spin around some of music’s most visually engaging album covers courtesy of the design powerhouse Hipgnosis. From Led Zeppelin’s Houses of the Holy to Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon, Brandon and Sam explore the prolific career of a small design studio working out of London’s Tin Pan Alley from the late 1960s until the early 1980s. They cap things off with a return to the world of film, where they open up the Flat File and find a surprising amount of unused work for Ron Howard’s 1984 comedy, Splash. SHOW NOTES & LINKS Little White Lies tumblr Mobil Masterpiece For the Love of Vinyl Taken by Storm Splash blog - Theatrical poster comps Music selections: “Bass on Titles” opening theme, “The Song Remains the Same” and “The Rain Song” from Houses of the Holy by Led Zeppelin, “Pigs (Part 1)” from Animals by Pink Floyd, “Love Came for Me’ by Rita Coolidge from the Splash Motion Picture Soundtrack, 10cc - “I’m Not

To close out their first year, the Poster Boys reflect on theatrical film poster design in 2015, sharing some of the pieces that caught their eye throughout the year and discussing the industry’s recent tropes and trends. They also take a break to talk to the artists behind two of their favorite posters of the year (Anna Katrina Bak for Queen of Earth, and Erik Buckham for The Assassin) before wrapping up with a look back on the process behind some of their own posters that they tackled in 2015. SHOW NOTES & LINKS Adrian Curry’s Best Movie Posters of 2015 Erik Buckham Anna Katrina Bak CHIPS Adam Maida Midnight Maruader Akiko Stehrenberger The Boland Design Co. Mister S White God Process Post The Lobster at Creative Review Sam’s Kumiko the Treasure Hunter silkscreen poster available at Posteritati Music selections: “Bass on Titles” opening theme, "Sinking" from Queen Of Earth by Keegan DeWitt, "Rohan" from The Assassin by Bagad Men Ha Tan and Doudou N'Diaye Rose. Follow Brandon Schaefer at @seekandspeak, a

Ahead of the release of the latest entry in the Star Wars saga, the Poster Boys pull out the history books to uncover the story behind nearly forty years of Star Wars poster art. From Howard Chaykin’s first teaser in 1976 all the way to LA’s one-sheet for The Force Awakens in 2015, Sam and Brandon look at the way designing and commissioning posters has changed with each passing year while digging into some of the franchise’s most unsung heroes. They also touch on their own history with the films, and how their understanding of the design surrounding them has evolved over time. SHOW NOTES & LINKS CORRECTION: The poster and sketch for the Star Wars NPR Radio Adaptation was created by Celia Strain. In this episode we mistakenly identified the artist as Celia Strong. The Poster Boys regret the error, and encourage listeners to see more of Celia Strain’s work at celiastrainillustration.com. The Star Wars Poster Book by Steve Sansweet Suzy Rice on designing the Star Wars logo Anatomy of a Star Wars Logo Music s

This month, the Poster Boys look back at 45 years of design history at Penguin Books. From the company’s early years under the direction of typographer Jan Tschichold all the way to the end of the 1970’s with art director David Pelham, the prominent UK publishing house maintained a reliable brand identity underscored by countless striking book covers. Inspired by one such design, the boys also take their monthly dip into the Flat File to look more closely at the poster artwork for Stanley Kubrick’s A CLOCKWORK ORANGE. SHOW NOTES & LINKS AIGA’s Eye on Design Blog We Buy Your Kids Mobil Masterpiece/a> Penguin By Design by Phil Baines Penguin by Designers and The Penguin Collectors Society Jan Tschichold - Penguin Composition Rules A Smile in the Mind by Beryl McAlhone and David Stuart Penguin Science Fiction Pelham Science Fiction Music selections: “Bass on Titles” opening theme, March from A CLOCKWORK ORANGE and Title Music from A CLOCKWORK ORANGE by Walter Carlos. Follow Brandon Schaefer at @seekandspeak,

This month, The Poster Boys take a break by sitting down and having a chat with Mondo creative director Jay Shaw about the role of film art in the 21st century. Together they discuss some of Jay's favorite posters and title sequences, as well as the differences between the work done by Mondo and traditional one-sheets. They also dive into the process behind getting challenging art out to the public and whether or not it has a place in advertising blockbuster films, and close the episode out by opening the Flat File to compare key art from 1978’s Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Also, Sam introduces a new segment! SHOW NOTES & LINKS Jay Shaw Mondo Bullitt title sequence Final Destination 5 title sequence Music selections: “Bass on Titles” opening theme, Hole In My Heart by Cyndi Lauper, INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS original score by Denny Zeitlin. Follow Brandon Schaefer at @seekandspeak, and Sam Smith at @samsmyth. Special thanks to producer Adrian Cobb.

This month, The Poster Boys celebrate the efforts behind the Criterion Collection in bringing the best classic and contemporary films to cinephiles across the country. Sam talks with esteemed designer F. Ron Miller about his career and the work he’s done with Criterion, while the boys each share and discuss ten of their favorite Criterion cover designs from the collection. Plus, some surprise guests chime in with their own picks. SHOW NOTES & LINKS Criterion Designs Criterion Designs posts at Criterion.com Aesthetic Apparatus interview at CriterionCast Eric Skillman on designing The Man Who Knew Too Much F. Ron Miller on designing 3 Films by Rosselini F. Ron Miller on designing Safety Last F. Ron Miller on designing Lonesome F. Ron Miller on designing The 39 Steps F. Ron Miller on designing Anatomy of a Murder F. Ron Miller on designing Kiss Me Deadly Jason Hardy on designing Rosselini’s War Trilogy Designer of the Week: Jason Hardy Sam Smith on designing Modern Times Music selections: “Bass on Titles” op

This month, The Poster Boys tackle the illustrious career of America’s preeminent Modernist designer, Paul Rand. Best known as the creator of IBM and ABC television’s trademarks, Rand is often said to be the father of modern graphic design, having redefined the way an entire industry approaches everything from posters to book covers. The boys also open the Flat File to look at the posters from 1984’s time traveling cyborg thriller: that’s right, it’s James Cameron’s The Terminator! SHOW NOTES & LINKS RIP The Dissolve Sam’s “Frames” column at The Dissolve Christian Annyas, The Movie Titles Stills Collection Joe Caroff Designs Christopher Lee Matt Lyon (C86) Geoff McFetridge’s School Play Posters Mondo x Phantom City Creative’s Godzilla Statue Miggs B Interview with Paul Rand (3 parts) Art Chantry Speaks NeXT Presentation Booklet Paul Rand Website Music selections: “Bass on Titles” opening theme, The Terminator Theme by Brad Fiedel. Follow Brandon Schaefer at @seekandspeak, and Sam Smith at @samsmyth. Speci

This month, The Poster Boys look back at the career of celebrated German designer Hans Hillmann. Considered by some to have been the Saul Bass of Germany, Hillmann designed 130 posters for film between 1952 and 1974 that has left a mark on some of cinema’s greatest achievements. Also in this episode: a peek into the the Flat File to look at the various posters for Godard's BREATHLESS. SHOW NOTES & LINKS Film Kunst Grafik The Art-House: The Beautiful Posters of Post-War Germany Dot Graphics and Janus Films Hans Hillmann interview Movie Poster of the Week, Hans Hillmann Four Directors Pay Tribute to Hans Hillmann Hans Hillmann, exhibition video Posters by Hans Hillmann for Jean-Luc Godard’s Films by Rick Poyner Music selections: “Bass on Titles” opening theme, POSSESSION original score by Andrzej Korzynski, CUL DE SAC original score by Krysztof Komeda. Follow Brandon Schaefer at @seekandspeak, and Sam Smith at @samsmyth. Special thanks to producer Adrian Cobb.

This month, The Poster Boys pause to consider the contemporary movie poster and its changing role in the Video-On-Demand marketplace. Featuring an interview with designer Alex Griendling, discussing his work with large ad agencies on campaigns for films including The Dark Knight and Watchmen. SHOW NOTES & LINKS The Lubalin Center Adrian Curry's Cannes Poster roundup Alex Griendling Music selections: “Bass on Titles” opening theme, "Beautiful Mechanical," yMusic. Follow Brandon Schaefer at @seekandspeak, and Sam Smith at @samsmyth. Special thanks to producer Adrian Cobb.

This month, The Poster Boys take a trip back to eastern Europe after the second world war to uncover the crazy, mixed up world of Polish film posters. Brandon and Sam weave in and out through the 1940s down through the late 1980s to shed some light on the artists of Poland and the designs they created for some of cinema’s most treasured films. Also, the guys open the Flat File to look at a few of their favorite Polish film posters. SHOW NOTES & LINKS The Other Side of the Poster Polish Film Poster: 100th Anniversary of the Cinema in Poland (Dydo) Classic Polish Film Poster Database Eyesea Posters Freedom on the Fence Art of the Modern Movie Poster Sam’s Myth on Polish posters at The Dissolve Polish Posters at Sam’s Myth Additional Resources and texts: Western Amerykanski: Polish Poster Art and the Western, ed Kevin Mulroy Konfrontace Projekt AH Film Posters in Poland Music selections: “Bass on Titles” opening theme, POSSESSION original score by Andrzej Korzynski, CUL DE SAC original score by Krysztof Kom

This month The Poster Boys celebrate the philosophy of Bob Gill, the beloved and legendary designer who created his own language of visual problem solving. Brandon and Sam discuss Gill's influence on their work, his rules and vocabulary of design, and his client relationships, from small businesses to Hollywood film studios. SHOW NOTES & LINKS Graphic Design as a Second Language by Bob GillForget All the Rules You Ever Learned About Graphic Design: Including the Ones in This Book by Bob GillBob Gill's WebsiteEverything Is Design: The Work of Paul Rand Music selections: “Bass on Titles” opening theme. And Justice For All Orignal Soundtrack. Follow Brandon Schaefer at @seekandspeak, and Sam Smith at @samsmyth. Special thanks to producer Adrian Cobb.

This month, your hosts Brandon Schaefer and Sam Smith look at the iconic poster work of Drew Struzan, the prolific painter behind the famous one-sheets for Back to the Future, Indiana Jones, and Star Wars, among many other hits of the 80’s and 90’s. The Poster Boys also respond to some listener feedback, and open the Flat File to look at how Struzan, Richard Amsel, and the Polish poster school interpreted Raiders of the Lost Ark. SHOW NOTES & LINKS Adrian Curry’s Movie Poster of the Day - Tumblr Adrian Curry’s Movie Poster of the Day - Facebook Adrian Curry’s Movie Poster of the Week at MUBI MARTIN soundtrack - Ship to Shore The Art of Drew Struzan - Titan Books Forget All the Rules You Ever Learned About Graphic Design: Including the Ones in This Book Bob Gill talk Music selections: “Bass on Titles” opening theme, BACK TO THE FUTURE PART II original score by Alan Silvestri, THE POWER OF LOVE by Huey Lewis And The News, RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK original score by John Williams. Follow Brandon Schaefer at @s

In their second episode, the Poster Boys talk about their favorite movie posters of 2014, speculate on the enigmatic posters for Stanley Kubrick’s THE SHINING, and wrap up their two-part discussion of the life and work of legendary designer Saul Bass. SHOW NOTES & LINKS The Making of Under the Skin with Neil Kellerhouse Adrian Curry’s Best Movie Posters of 2014 at MUBI Archie Boston Interview with Saul Bass Bill Gold: Posterworks by ReelArt Press Why Man Creates Quest Kubrick’s Gold Story by Rob Ager Part 1 Part 2 Tom Bauvais interview with Film On Paper Philip Castle interview by Steven Mepsted Music selections: “Bass on Titles” opening theme, QUEST original soundtrack by Elaine Bass and Berrington Van Campen, THE SHINING original soundtrack by Wendy Carlos and Rachel Elkind, WHY MAN CREATES original soundtrack by Jeff Alexander. Follow Brandon Schaefer at @seekandspeak, and Sam Smith at @samsmyth. Please send any questions or feedback to [email protected]. Special thanks to producer

In their premiere podcast, the Poster Boys discuss the work of Saul Bass in the first of two-part episode on the design legend. They also chat about some new design books that have inspired them lately, and open the Flat File to discuss the various international posters for Alfred Hitchcock’s VERTIGO. SHOW NOTES & LINKS Saul Bass: A Life in Film and Design Brandon's "The Art House" column at Film.com Sam's process posts Ed Emberley by AMMO Books John Alvin by Titan Books Adrian Curry on VERTIGO posters See Saul Bass' MAN WITH THE GOLDEN ARM designs, ADVISE AND CONSENT designs, the VERTIGO posters from the Flat File, and more at theposterboys.tumblr.com. Music selections: Bass on Titles opening theme, THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN ARM theme by Elmer Bernstein, VERTIGO theme by Bernard Hermann. Follow Brandon Schaefer at @seekandspeak, and Sam Smith at @samsmyth. Please send any questions or feedback to [email protected]. Special thanks to producer Adrian Cobb.