Pigs, Pimps, and Prostitutes, a boxed set of some fantastic early films by Shohei Imamura, is my favorite Criterion design of mine in quite some time. I'm especially happy with the type: all the title/headine type is hand-drawn; I even created a whole font set to finish off the menus and packaging. And how do you not love that slipcase cover image? And here's some shots of the individual covers; click to see them larger:
And while I'm at it, I should mention Wise Blood, too, which I also designed, though I can't take much credit for the cover--that brilliance is all Josh Cochran. I've been looking for an opportunity to work with Josh for a while now, and I couldn't be happier with the final results, he really knocked it out of the park. (The film is pretty great, too!)
UPDATE: Josh has generously posted some (or, actually, I think it might be all, unless I'm forgetting one) of his sketches for Wise Blood at his blog.
Josh also points out the coincidence that Wise Blood star Brad Douriff played Doc COCHRAN on Deadwood... I wouldn't think anything of it if it didn't follow so closely after hiring Ian DINGMAN to draw Bottle Rocket's DIGNAN. Is it possible I'm putting more work into these assignments than is necessary? Apparently I could do just as well by assigning projects via free association... ;)
13 comments:
Were you thinking of Pablo Ferro when you were playing with the type? :)
Mark--
You know what, I'm embarrassed to admit that I don't think I ever knew Pablo Ferro by name before, but definitely his Dr. Strangelove and Stop Making Sense titles were part of the influence for that type, sure, along with a few other sources(which were probably influenced by him in turn).
Thanks for making me take the time to google Mr. Ferro!
--Eric
Eric,
Incidentally, there's a font that was recently released via YWFT (here)
called Hannah that plays with the same sort of width manipulation that you do on your Imamura covers. Great minds must think alike.
I must say that I prefer your S, G, U, and ampersand, as well as the general weight of your hand-written lettering to Hannah's.
The individual covers are great, but the box cover is sheer genius. I've never seen an Imamura film but I think I'm gonna start right now just so I can have this.
Oscar--
Thanks! You absolutely should pick up some Imamura, you won't be disappointed--Vengeance is Mine might still be my favorite of his films, but Intentions of Murder (included in this forthcoming box) is possibly an even better film...
Mark--
Thanks for that link! Cool font! I like the varying widths idea, that's somewhat different than what I was aiming for but very cool.
I have never seen Wise Blood but am a big fan of Josh Cochran and think the final illustration/design of the piece is amazing. I will be buying the film just for that. Hopefully I enjoy it. If not, I have a wonderful piece of art.
Great blog. I love your covers for Criterion.
I'm going to pick up this film, Josh and yourself did a fabulous job. This is what happens when 2 talented and creative people work together and trust each others.
Stephane, Jonathan, "anonymous"--
Thanks for the kind words! And please do pick up Wise Blood--it really is a great film, weird and funny and mean and smart. Well worth watching!
--Eric
I was just pointing these covers out to a fellow designer the other day. Great work! love the type.
CRITERION IS THE BEST !!! THE BOXSETS ARE UNIQUE .THEY ARE LIKE PIECES OF ART TO ME.AND YOUR YOUR IS WONDERFUL!!
Yet another beautiful, beautiful cover. I wish I could have a subscription to Criterion just for the design (that would be an expensive subscription). Why can't I live in a world where I see this at bus stops instead of movie posters with the star's head cast in a warm and cool light?
Post a Comment