[PPRD PORTFOLIO]

Just completed my portfolio as part of my PPRD unit. I've made it flow from Graphic Design work through to Illustration to experimental. I believe it works well and am happy with it as my pdf portfolio.

[LYME REGIS FILM FESTIVAL MEETING - POSTPONED]

Due to the (now annoying) snow this meeting has now been postponed to next week due to Marcus (the organiser) finding it difficult to travel down here.

Just received this email off Jo -

Good Morning Chris and James,

Due to the adverse weather conditions the meeting which we scheduled for today can no longer take place, as Marcus is having trouble getting here from Lyme Regis.
If it is convenient for you both could we meet at the same time next week? (That would be Thurs 12th March at 2pm). Please confirm if  you can make it.

Hope you are getting on well with your FMP!

Kind Regards,

Jo

I have replied confirming my attendance, just hope the weather is better!

[KUBRICK RESEARCH TRIP PLANNED]

After pretty much deciding to base my Professional project on Stanley Kubrick film posters, I thought there would be no better research than to go to the Stanley Kubrick Archive at the LCC. [link]

I was going to go today, but unfortunately when I phone to let them know that I would be coming it turned out that they were full! I however phoned back today and have managed to get a slot for next week Tuesday for myself and Chris. We are allowed to stay in there between 1-5pm, and I'm really looking forward to it.

From the website -
"The Archive of acclaimed film maker Stanley Kubrick arrived at the University in March 2007. Housed in the Archives and Special Collections Centre it has been open to the public since October 2007 and has received hundreds of visitors. The collection provides a unique insight into the filmmaking processes of Kubrick. Researchers can find out about a range of subjects including filmmaking techniques, photography, screenwriting and film marketing."

Sounds perfect for research, especially the film marketing section, but seeing the rest will also give me more of an insight into the films. I also want to visit the Vin Mag shop in Soho [link] as well, as I have heard it contains a lot of film and entertainment memorabilia, as well as magazine back issues. Fingers crossed it will be a good day.

[THE ART OF THE MODERN MOVIE POSTER]

I came across this book in the British Film Institute shop, whilst on the London trip. I had a quick flick through of it there and it seemed like perfect research for my Professional project.


After lots of shopping around on the internet I finally bought it for £25.99 off amazon. It arrived this morning and after another quick flick through it looks amazing and is going to give me lots of inspiration and knowledge into the design of film posters.

It has over 1500 international posters from 1945-2005 spread over 500 pages. The images of each poster is big meaning that I can see all of the details of the poster. One thing that makes this book stand out is that it is divided by design of countries. Looking at the different designs from Japan to Poland to United States to United Kingdom and even countries such as India is really fascinating. Another feature is that for some films it has a comparison of all the different designs from around the globe.
I can see myself finding this book really useful for research and inspiration, and I know that I will continue going back to it long after the Professional Project is finished.

[LYME REGIS FILM FESTIVAL LIVE BRIEF]

Have been approached by Jo regarding a new live brief for the Lyme Regis Film Festival. Not totally sure what the live brief entails, but I can see this fitting in nicely with my professional project.

It appears that it is Chris Walter and I being put forward for this, and there has been a meeting arranged for us to meet the organiser and to see what is wanted of us.

Jo emailed me this earlier -

Hi James and Chris,

Further to our conversation regarding the Lyme Regis film festival, I have arranged an informal meeting for you both on Thursday 5th March at 2pm with Jo Gardner and Marcus Dixon.
This will be an opportunity for you both to see what the project involves and whether you would like to be involved with it. Jo is the AIB cultural Co-ordinator and Marcus is the Lyme Regis Film Festival organiser. They would like you to bring along a selection of your work and to discuss how to develop the marketing material. For this event.
This is a really exciting opportunity and it would be great if you could make it. Please confirm if this date is convenient for you. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Kind regards,

Jo

I replied confirming my attendence.

[PORTFOLIO HELP]

Unfortunately I missed the hour long presentation today with Gellan Watt (MD of Thinking Juice), due to the lecture theatre being overcrowded.

However he agreed to give us Vis Commers a more one to one presentation and guidance after his lecture. From this I gained this useful guidance -

- Have around 6-10 pieces in your portfolio (8 is a nice number)
- Only put in work that you are proud of (don't try and fill in spaces with lesser work)
- Know your work, so if you are asked questions, you know what you are talking about
- Do not overcrowd pages
- Try and have a running theme of how you present it through the portfolio
- Do not overcomplicate pages - let your work do the talking
- Include pieces (such as greeting cards) within your portfolio as they look better 3d rather than flat
- Have a pdf format of your portfolio to send out to companies
- But only have a teaser of your work in case they want to see your portfolio - they don't want to see everything they've seen before.

Now need to get my portfolio together for the PPRD hand in!

[SCREEN BASED COMMUNICATION 2 RESULTS AND FEEDBACK]

Just received my assessment record back for this unit, and it seems all the hard work has paid off! I got a 67, my highest mark on the course yet.

The feedback that I received is as follows -

LO3 - the final website is very you. It is easy to navigate and displays your work very well; the design compliments your work well. The categorisation of the work is good, but I might make the initial slide show less relentless. This does show a very good use of software and a range of design abilities.

LO2 - you've worked through the design part of the project very well. Many of your logo solutions could have worked well, but you made some good choices. Your planning is robust and has clearly aided your decision making and you've described your processes well.

LO1 - you've amassed a lot of relevant information that show you've looked at the subject broadly, through this gaining a good understanding that will serve you well in the future.

Overall, it is all very good feedback. Now to take this onto my Professional Project...

[LEARNING AGREEMENT]

Today was our hand in for our learning agreement. Below is my synopsis of study for my professional project. I'm not completely set on a final idea though, so this is likely to be altered over time.

[Synopsis of study]
For my professional project I will be producing a series of six posters as part of an event for the British Film Institute. The British Film Institute is holding a celebration of cult classic films from the 20th century, and is holding a re-screening of six films. They have commissioned me as a Graphic Designer and Illustrator to produce a series of limited edition posters for these films, which will be shown in a solo exhibition as part of the event, and will then be sold in the Institutes shop. To accompany the exhibition I will also be producing an exhibition guide that will showcase and explain each individual poster and the reasoning behind each design.
I feel that as time has progressed the poster has taken a backseat role in the promotion of film, as trailers and TV commercials have become the major selling point.
Gone are the days of the iconic poster, consisting of exciting type and quirky illustration; leaving the viewer in awe not only of the film, but also the artwork. Modern film poster design now mainly consists of an iconic scene from the film in the form of an airbrushed photograph, with simple type and a simple layout.

My aim is to solve the commercial problem that has seen the poster no longer being major selling point to the audience, with the outcome being a series of iconic and unique posters.
I will be researching into previous poster design, and how different design movements, cultural issues and technological development have effected and evolved it. To gain a better understanding of today’s audience I will be producing questionnaires, which will act as primary research. I will watch and research into each of the films religiously to gain a clear understanding of each, which will influence my design, and the style and medium in which I produce it.
I will be experimenting with different mediums and design processes to produce the posters, as well as experimenting with different techniques to showcase the works, to make them stand out and be remembered by the audience.
My target audience will be large, as it will range from film fans, to appreciators of art and design across a large age range.

[TUTORIAL WITH SALLY]

Just had a quick tutorial with Sally regarding my ideas for my professional project so far. My feeling before the tutorial was that I need to take my idea to the 'next level'. I have a good solid idea to produce a series of film posters, but I need to add another dimension.

One idea that was brainstormed during this tutorial was to maybe produce a narrative poster, such as on a big wall. An example of a big wall that could be used, is the side of the brutalist architecture of the British Film Institute and The National Theatre. Both provide a lot of possibilities, and both tie in with my project. I will need to research into how buildings can become containers for visual communication. I feel that this idea also links in with my strong interest in street art, and guerilla advertising.

I will be able to do some primary research around the architecture of the British Film Institute and The National Theatre when I visit London in a few days. I believe that this new twist on my project adds the extra dimension that I needed.

[LEARNING AGREEMENT DRAFT]

As time has progressed the poster has taken a backseat role in the promotion of film, as trailers and TV commercials have become the major selling point.

Gone are the days of the iconic poster, consisting of exciting type and quirky illustration; leaving the viewer in awe not only of the film, but also the artwork. Modern film poster design now mainly consists of an iconic scene from the film, in the form of an airbrushed photograph, with simple type and a simple layout.

You have been commissioned as a designer and illustrator to produce a series of 6-8 posters for a solo exhibition. Your task is to produce your own posters based on film from the past and present. The posters must link is some way whether it is genre, director or actor.

You are required to research into previous film poster design, and how different design movements and cultural issues have evolved it. You are also required to try and solve the commercial problem, which has seen the poster no longer being the major selling point to the audience. You mission is to make the film poster iconic again!