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.

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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 Sedmikrásky (Daisies) soundtrack.

Follow Brandon Schaefer at @seekandspeak, and Sam Smith at @samsmyth.

Special thanks to producer Adrian Cobb.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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 Odyssey Robert McCall Sketches Interview with Robert McCall

Music selections: “Bass on Titles” opening theme, “Also Sprach Zarathustra” by Eumir Deodato; The Blue Danube from the 2001: A Space Odyssey original soundtrack.

Follow Brandon Schaefer at @seekandspeak, and Sam Smith at @samsmyth.

Special thanks to producer Adrian Cobb.

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.

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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.

Follow Brandon Schaefer at @seekandspeak, and Sam Smith at @samsmyth.

Special thanks to producer Adrian Cobb.

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.

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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.

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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-Garde Russian Revolutionary Posters

Music selections: “Bass on Titles” opening theme, clips from Man with a Movie Camera.

Follow Brandon Schaefer at @seekandspeak, and Sam Smith at @samsmyth.

Special thanks to producer Adrian Cobb.

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.

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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: Meet One of the Pioneering Blacks in the Ad Agency William Nunally on Georg Olden History of Graphic Design: Georg Olden Encyclopedia.com - Georg Olden Art Directors Club: Georg Olden Breaks the Chain Steven Heller: The Eyes Have It Ebony Magazine: Georg Olden Georg Olden appears on “I’ve Got a Secret”

Music selections: “Bass on Titles” opening theme, clip from Sidney Lumet’s NETWORK.

Follow Brandon Schaefer at @seekandspeak, and Sam Smith at @samsmyth.

Special thanks to producer Adrian Cobb.

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.

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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.

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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 producer Adrian Cobb and to our presenting partner, AIGA’s Eye on Design blog.

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.

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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 producer Adrian Cobb and to our presenting partner, AIGA’s Eye on Design blog.

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).

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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 Hosue - 40 Years Later, the Book Jacket for Jaws Movie Poster of the Week on Andrzej Dudinski

Music selections: “Bass on Titles” opening theme; Ruthless People by Mick Jagger; Theme from Jaws.

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.

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.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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: “Bass on Titles” opening theme; Clips from Sister Corita: We Have No Art; The Beatles, “A Hard Day’s Night.”

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.

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.

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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 to producer Adrian Cobb and to our presenting partner, AIGA’s Eye on Design blog.

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 Art of Cuba OSPAAAL The Danish Film Institute’s Cuban Poster Collection Out of the Bachs Soy Cuba Cuban Poster Art Steven Heller on Cuban Film Posters Art of Posters for Films, the Cuban School Eduardo Munoz Bachs Web Memorial The Posters of the ICAIC The International Institute of Social History It’s Nice That on Cuban Film Posters Brandon at The Art House Sam on Antonio Pérez Ñiko at Sam’s Myth Antonio Pérez Ñiko’s personal blog

Music selections: “Bass on Titles” opening theme; Los Caneyes, “Suspirando por el Chikichaka;”* Stolen Kisses original soundtrack by George Delerue; Juan Pablo Torres y Algo Nuevo, “Son a Propulsion”* (*from Si Para Usted: the Funky Beats of Revolutionary Cuba Volumes 1 and 2, Light in the Attic Records)

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.

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 in Love” from The Original Soundtrack by 10cc.

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.

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, and Sam Smith at @samsmyth.

Special thanks to producer Adrian Cobb and to our presenting partner, AIGA’s Eye on Design blog.

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.

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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 selections: “Bass on Titles” opening theme, Star Wars and Other Galactic Funk by Meco.

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 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, and Sam Smith at @samsmyth.

Special thanks to producer Adrian Cobb.

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” opening theme, The Children by John Barry, The 39 Steps Opening Titles, Rossellini's Journey To Italy, Les Quatre Cents Coups (The 400 Blows), Smile from Modern Times.

Follow Brandon Schaefer at @seekandspeak, and Sam Smith at @samsmyth.

Special thanks to producer Adrian Cobb.

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.

Special thanks to producer Adrian Cobb.

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 Komeda.

Follow Brandon Schaefer at @seekandspeak, and Sam Smith at @samsmyth.

Special thanks to producer Adrian Cobb.

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 @seekandspeak, and Sam Smith at @samsmyth.

Special thanks to producer Adrian Cobb.

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 Adrian Cobb.

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.