Sharing My Crayons

The New K.I.S.S. Principle

I wanted to be in a band that gave bang for the buck.

I wanted to be in the band who didn't look like a bunch of guys who, you know, should be in a library studying for their finals

Gene Simmons of KISS

We've all probably heard of the K.I.S.S. principle: Keep It Simple, Stupid. I'd like to suggest a new version of that familiar axiom. I have admittedly struggled to make a more compelling acrostic than the original, but I think I'll land on Kick In Something Special. That really tells the story I want to talk about here.

If you were a boy growing up in the mid-seventies it's hard to imagine that you were not a fan of the band KISS. They had me hook, line and sinker. I honed some of my young artistic abilities drawing band members and the KISS logo. I played my Destroyer album until the vinyl almost turned white. And in sixth grade . . .

Yes, that's me in the middle as Peter Criss (with the rulers doubling for drumsticks). We were the last act to go on at the sixth grade talent show – and we rocked the house. Kids were chanting "Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!" while we setup behind the drawn curtain (complete with dry ice being fanned-in from just off-stage).

Say what you will about the band, but they have always been about kicking it up a notch (as illuminated in Gene's quote above). And I know, the cynic in us (OK, in me) says, "yeah, but it was only to make a buck." But it's actually more than that.

Gene Simmons may be a lot of things – but dumb ain't one of them. He has always been a keenly shrewd business man. He not only wanted to get merchandise to fans, he wanted a level of excellence they wouldn't find elsewhere. Gene knows that if you deliver a flawed product to your fans, then they will have no reason to keep coming back – and that is the key to the insane success of the KISS marketing machine.

KISS has over 2,500 licenses for the use of their image. Between 1977 and 1979 worldwide merchandise sales (in-store and on tour) reached an estimated $100 million – and that's in 1970's money! As an example of the Kick In Something Special idea, they were featured in their own comic book (in magazine format) produced by Marvel Comics in 1977 – but it was printed with ink that was mixed with samples of their real blood. I'm not kidding.

But my favorite example is a little-known story about bootleg albums. If you don't know, bootlegs albums were created from audience recordings during concerts. They were hugely popular at record shows and fetched insane prices. Due to the secretive nature with which these recordings had to be made, sound quality, as you can imagine, left a lot to be desired.

People were making a TON of money on KISS bootlegs (none of it going to the band of course) and the fans were getting inferior products, albeit rare ones. You can probably see where this is heading . . .

Enter the band, who secretly began making recordings of their own shows. But not just any recordings –recordings straight from the soundboard with infinitely superior quality to what was being done by audience members. To maintain the "allure" of an authentic bootleg, they never let on that they were the ones behind it. Instead of cracking down on these recordings as most other bands wanted to do, they made a boatload of money all the while providing their rabid fans with a quality product.

Personally, I love that story. And it has broader applications than KISS, music or even merchandising. In your efforts to excel, don't forget the fans of what you do. It may be your clients, your target audience – I'd venture to say it includes friends and family as well. You, your work, or your products or services have fans. They line the sides of the road that leads to success.

Take the time to really dissect what it is they want from you. How can you deliver in such a way that it fans the flames of their fandom. Do all you can to deliver – then Kick In Something Special.

Your fans are out there.

Behind the curtain.

Waiting for you to dazzle them.

Are they chanting your name?

The Art of Being Alien

"Four short words sum up what has lifted most successful individuals above the crowd: a little bit more. They all did what was expected of them and a little bit more"

A. Lou Vickery

I remember seeing the first Alien movie when it was released in the summer of 1979. I was 13 years old and I don't remember how I pulled off seeing it by myself since it was rated R (my mom dropped me off & picked me up), but there I was snuggled into my seat in the awesome Eastwood Theater.

I was not prepared for what I was about to see. If you've seen the movie, you can imagine where I'm going . . .

The movie's most famous scene is where, after an alien creature implants an egg inside one of the characters, the thing hatches and bursts right through the man's chest. Spun my head completely off my shoulders. The shock left me on edge for the rest of the movie.

The movie was a big success and spawned three sequels. In 2004 the creature battled another modern movie monster in the less-successful Alien vs. Predator, which itself spawned a 2007 sequel. These new movies are not high art by any stretch – but then again they don't pretend to be. Like 'em or not, the franchise is well-branded. You buy a ticket and you know what to expect: an extraterrestrial monster mash and bloodbath.

Which is exactly why I love what New Zealand movie channel SKY TV did earlier this year to promote it's airing of Aliens vs. Predator. They took an approach that was completely alien, if you will, and created a campaign that works so well because it is so utterly unexpected.

Check 'em out (click to enlarge):

I think these are just fantastic! In a very different way they caught me off guard as much as the "chestburster" (yes, that's it's "official" name) did 30 years ago in the Eastwood.

Never underestimate the power of the unexpected. Catching your audience off guard works best when you can play against what's expected. Reminds me of a great brainstorming exercise called 180-degree thinking (maybe I'll post about that sometime). Think against type. Yes, even against your established branding to a degree.

As the AVP (see, I know the hip little abbreviation for Aliens vs Predator) example illustrates, this sort of thing needs to be done both strategically and with excellence.

In what creative ways ways could a company or product's brand equity be leveraged to do something completely out of left field? Can you think of any examples you can share? If so please comment!

This sort of thing reminds me to stretch my imagination.

And that's a good thing to remember.

Preposterous Polish Posters A-Plenty

Life is like a box of chocolates . . . you never know what you're gonna get.

– Forrest Gump

You never know what's comin' for you.

– Benjamin Button

Hey, hey & Happy New Year! After an extended break I'm finally back with our last installment in the movie poster category (although I have one more tucked away in my hip pocket for a later post).

The quotes above can both evoke the proper mood when looking at this very odd little niche of movie poster design. Pleasant surprises – and something a little more ominous. Some are simply a refreshing look at familiar materials. And then some are just quite a bit bizarre and a little bit creepy. Some leverage a knowledge of the story to visually tell part of the story – and others make no sense in any context whatsoever.

Sounds fun right?

(click the thumbnail to open a larger view)

Let's dive in . . .

In Poland No One Can Hear You Scream

Sorry, I couldn't resist hijacking the tagline from the first Alien film. I get the first poster for The Shining and think that, while a tad bizarre, it still works. Now, I have seen the movie The Legacy (the second poster), and I have no earthly idea what a screaming cat in a nun's habit has to do with anything . . . at all . . . EVER!. And the screaming woman in front of Crocodile Dundee just gives that one a creepy stalker vibe.   

Channeling Saul Bass

If you remember Saul Bass from our initial movie poster post, you'll immediately recognize his influence on these designs. Very graphic approach, large blocks of solid color and a simple and understated aesthetic. I really like these. They are (left to right) The Day of the Jackal, Porgy & Bess and The Tall Men (a 1955 western).

Coming Soon to Your Nursey Wall

I think these posters for classic Disney films are quite charming. More art poster than movie poster. And the one for Dumbo feels to me to have a ring of truth to it – it's one of the most depressing movies I've seen. At least this isn't the happy little elephant with the big ears – which is false advertising. This is emotionally true while still being adorably cute.

Masks Are All The Rage This Season

And they go with everything! What is up here? First, The Return of the Pink Panther . . . uhhh . . . yeah. Next! Eyes Wide Shut: Never seen this but I understand it's a strange piece of cinema so this poster may be very fitting (but it's still a little creepy). And finally Gremlins, to which one can only reply: What?!?!

Mask Motif Feeling a Bit Tired? How 'Bout Lips!

The first poster for Some Like It Hot with Marilyn Monroe makes sense – half-way. I get the lips, iconic Marilyn and all, but the tin of sardines can opening thing they have going on . . . they lost me. Airplane: Funny film. Strange poster. They could have at least made the mouth smiling to convey a sense of fun. The last one for Poseidon Adventure (about a damaged cruise ship that flips upside down) at least makes some sense, and I like it as an example of dark twisted humor.

Yes Kids . . . These Are ALL Comedies

Although you'd never guess it from the posters! This falls into the category of just plain weird. Our first poster is for the 1942 comedy I Married a Witch with the beautiful Veronica Lake. Oddly enough, this poster communicates neither the humor nor the beauty – this borders on out-and-out false advertising. Perhaps they were trying to scare us into seeing it. The middle image is from The Revenge of the Pink Panther. Why Peter Sellers has exploding shoulders is beyond me. Looks like a torture film. And lastly, believe it or not, this is the poster for Tootsie. Yes, THAT Tootsie. The lighthearted comedy with Dustin Hoffman. The slimy, creepy factor here is completely off the charts!

Let's End on a Positive Note, Shall We?

After that Tootsie poster I feel we all need a palette cleanser. So I'll wrap things up with some posters that I think are just fantastic. This proves how truly "all over the road" Polish movie posters can be. I love these images. They are for Casablanca, The Piano and Roman Holiday. I'd hang these as art in my house. I may even try to track down a copy of that Casablanca poster for myself.

I had quite a few more that I wanted to share but didn't want to post something too overwhelming. If anyone's interested in seeing more please post a comment to that effect and I'll throw together a part 2 sometime down the road.

Monstrous Movie Poster Design

Martha Hunter: But Doctor, that theory doesn't explain why Jules' and Carson's minds have turned against us.

Dale Drewer: Preservation of the species. Once they were men. Now they are land crabs.

– Attack of the Crab Monsters (1957)

With dialogue like that, is it any wonder I love these kinda movies?

As promised last time, we're devoting an entire post to advertising for my favorite little corner of the cinematic realm – classic horror and science-fiction movie posters. 

And you might be surprised by the level of design in some of these. Some are just cheesy (and I love 'em for that), but some are really well-designed pieces of art. Either way, modern posters from this genre are a pale shadow (better than the metaphor I was going with originally) of the ones we'll look at here. Let's dive right in . . .

:: Attack of the Crab Monsters ::

I'm living proof of the effectiveness of this poster. I had seen pictures of the monsters in my Famous Monsters of Filmland magazine (any other monster mag geeks out there?) when I was the kid – and I had seen this poster. Made me desperately want to see the movie – and that's the point, isn't it? Saw it for the first time just about three years ago and as evidenced by this post's lead-in quote, I was NOT disappointed. It is quite the "classic".

:: Invasion of the Saucer Men ::

Love so much about this one. It showcases two hallmarks of monster movie posters from this era: 1) It makes the monsters look scarier than they really are in the film (they only stand about waist-high – but they DO sport the ginormous head though) and 2) it features sweet examples of the  "you-won't-believe-your-eyes" sort of call-out (think of these as starbursts of their day). I'm referring to the row of four red boxes along the bottom, each starting with the word "SEE". Doubtful these would work on today's jaded audience, but they must've worked back in the day. And when they say "See the Disembodied Hand that Crawls . . . !" they aren't kidding – and it grows an eye on top of it too! Suh-weet!

:: King Kong ::

Flat-out one of my all-time favorite movies of ANY genre. And they produced many posters for this. These two represent my favorites. With the style of illustration and period-specific color palette, this one just oozes all kinds of art deco goodness.

:: King Kong ::

So much to love about this! Love the power and energy all focused and contained in the very top portion of the image. Love the pilot climbing out from the smashed up plane who appears to be looking for a place to safely hit the silk. Love the narrow format. Love that the skyline in the background is curved to really enhance the notion of the action taking place at the top of the world. And love that this is now the third poster out of four to feature a swooning damsel in the clutches of a monster – if you sense a theme here, you may be onto something!

:: Murders in the Rue Morgue ::

Admittedly, part of the fun here is determining which two posters to pair up; finding a common thread, a visual link or interesting relationship. The bold use of color in this one gives it an other-worldly vibe. Very moody piece of work. And outside of a cape and fangs, Bela Lugosi has scarcely looked creepier. You can bet the gorilla in the background is up to no good too.

:: Dracula's Daughter ::

While both of these work great for horror films – highly stylized, strong light and dark contrast, eerie greenish skin tones – I really love how this poster utilizes a technique that made these films themselves so effective. The scary factor is heightened by only revealing a portion of what it is that's after you, and you're left to fill in rest in your mind.

:: The Mummy ::

I actually like this one more every time I see it. The juxtaposed type and figures strike a wonderful balance with each other and it serves to unify the piece as a whole. Love the added detail in words Karloff and Mummy. In a tale of two extremes, this poster for The Mummy fetched a dog-choking . . . wait for it . . . $453,500 at auction – while the next one . . .

:: The Day the Sky Exploded ::

Would have a tough time making a $9.99 opening bid on ebay! This is no great work of art, to be sure, but you have to admire the sheer audacity of it. Apparently the sky exploded on this day with gigantic microwave popcorn – hurtling steaming hot kernels at the freakishly wide-open eyes of an unsuspecting populous. Although, in fairness, they could be cotton balls. "Terror from the sky" indeed. 

:: The 7th Voyage of Sinbad ::

There was something else I could see on a movie poster as a young boy that would guarantee my behind in a seat besides cool looking monsters, and that was seeing the name Ray Harryhausen at the bottom. He is still the undisputed master of the painstaking process of stop-motion animation (animating small models of monsters a frame at a time). His name was assurance that the monsters would be spectacular and believable. I never, ever get tired of this movie - one of my all-time faves of any genre!

:: The Golden Voyage of Sinbad ::

Let's see . . . Centaur with one eye? Check. Said centaur locked in battle with a griffin? Very cool, and Check. Crazy six-armed statue come to life wielding swords in each hand? Check. Funky little bat-winged flying man-creature? Check. Ray Harryhausen's name at the bottom of the poster? Check. But y'know . . . you had me at "centaur". Could they have created a better poster to communicate the word "adventure"? I don't think so – this poster screams adventure! And look kids – it's filmed in Dynarama!

:: Frankenstein ::

Classic.

:: Frankenstein Meets the Space Monster ::

Not so much.

Although, in all honesty, the poster for this one does make me want to see the movie more.

:: Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939) ::

I love both of these posters for their sheer impact factor. Bold creative use of the color red knocks this one out of the park. In terms of reality this misses the mark: Notre Dame isn't bright red and there's no way the hunchback would be in that much shadow while the woman he's holding is that evenly illuminated – but that's why it works! All of these elements serve a larger communications purpose than representing reality. There's a great design lesson in that.

:: Not of this Earth ::

Bizarre looking monster. Fun, slightly quirky font. Use of the the phrase "Somewhere in the world stalks a thing that is . . .". But what sells this from an impact standpoint is the tightly cropped image of the woman screaming in terror. Wonderful composition of the hands. They were trying to sell an emotional impact on their audience, and they nailed it. Sounds like a design lesson in there too.

:: One Million Years B.C. ::

I can hear the pitch to the Hammer Studios exec: "Got a great idea J.B.! Bunch of dinosaurs chasing Raquel Welch in a fur bikini. We can save money on a script writer and have them just grunt and mumble like real cavemen would have done. We'll even use the money we saved to hire Ray Harryhausen to do the dinosaurs." J.B. asks to see the poster, then shouts "DONE!"

:: When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth ::

Hey, the boys at Hammer Studios are no fools – if it worked so well in 1966, let's give it another whirl in 1970. No Raquel Welch. No Harryhausen. No surprise – a less successful venture. Love the poster though. And nothing says stone-age adventure like actually carving your title out of stone.

Stay tuned as our next adventure takes us across the pond to check out movie posters from Poland! Yes, I said Poland. And no fair "googling" ahead either.

Dirty Harry Goes to the Movies

I know what you're thinkin'. "Is a ticket ten bucks, or only nine?" Well, to tell you the truth the price goes up so often, I kinda lost track myself. But being that this evening out will set you back $44 – and will blow a hole clean through your wallet, you've got to ask yourself a question:

Do I feel lucky?

Well, do ya, punk!!!

OK, maybe that's not the exact way that quote goes, but I couldn't resist. I also couldn't resist keeping with the firearm lead-in image theme of the past couple posts.

As mentioned last time, we're taking a little jaunt into the realm of cinema – specifically, movie posters. Researching my vast image archives and new resources, I'm excited about a couple little design diversions we get to explore here over the course of the next few entries.

The first is just a look at some classic posters that just rock from a graphic design standpoint. All these are pre-Photoshop works of art. Clicking an image will open a larger sample in a new window. Being the chatty brotha that I am, I'll add a bit of my insights as well. Enjoy!

:: Anatomy of a Murder ::

Couldn't decide to start or finish with this one. Designed by the great Saul Bass, this image ranks #1 on many notable "greatest ever" lists. Simple, powerful and iconic.

:: The Seven Year Itch ::

Speaking of iconic. The image and Marilyn and her (ahem) flowing dress is so iconic that you could swap out Yogi Bear for the chap in the background and no one would notice.

:: M ::

Chilling German film. Exemplary art from the period.

:: Dial M For Murder ::

Loves me some Hitchcock. Pivotal moment in the film. I love that unless you've seen the film you don't know enough about what's going on for it to be a spoiler image – but you know something bad is going down. Great use of the rule of thirds (remind me to blog about that sometime)

:: Dracula Has Risen from the Grave ::

Love this poster. The black & white image of the woman highlights the pink band-aids. This is just so tongue-in-cheek – even folks that aren't fans of the genre have to crack a smile at this. Very concept-driven for a movie poster.

:: Magnum Force ::

Another simple black & white design with a single instance of color for impact. The forced perspective really makes this one rock. Dirty Harry's big honkin' gun come right at ya tells you all you need to know about the movie – Clint's introducing crime to some .44 caliber smackdown!

:: Modern Times ::

This works almost better as just a piece of art than it does as a movie poster. Charlie Chaplain was such a mega-star of his time that you could have removed his name from the poster and still known it was him just from the small illustration of him walking away. Wonderful framing of the point of interest with the big mechanical gears.

:: City Lights ::

Chaplain again. And again just a silhouette and everyone knows who it is. Love the depth in the illustration and the dream-like quality of the city imagery.

:: Breakfast at Tiffany's ::

One of the most desired posters you'll find. Saw an original at a comic convention (I know . . . "geek check") selling for $5,000 (no, really). Great illustration of Audrey Hepburn in her most well-known role. Love the blocks of color and how they are used to accentuate the stars slender svelte frame.

:: All About Eve ::

Love classic films, but have never seen this. The poster makes it look like fun. Love the graphic treatment. The stars are really downplayed here in favor of story-telling graphic elements.

:: M*A*S*H ::

Another iconic image. As a designer this is one you look at and go "Man! I wish I had done that!" Decades later and I'm still impressed by how well this works. Inventive concept. Masterful execution.

:: Hook ::

OK, this poster is nice, but the real reason it's here is to be representative of the artist. Drew Struzan is flat-out the "stuff". He's a movie poster "soopah genius". Guarantee you've seen his work. Check out this nice fan site for a huge, chronologically organized sampling of his work. The guys does crazy Photoshop  collages – but without the Photoshop! Phenomenal illustrator.

:: The Man with the Golden Arm ::

We'll end where we started – with a couple more from Saul Bass. What I love about his work is that it is so graphic that it has a timeless feel to it. A great reminder to adhere to the KISS principle (Keep It Simple, Stupid).

:: Vertigo ::

One of my favorite Hitchcock thrillers - and another poster that's just a delight in it's ability to communicate with simplicity. Really could have done an entire post just on Saul Bass.

You may have noticed that for someone who loves classic horror and sci-fi movies that there were none of those (with the exception of the poster for Dracula Has Risen from the Grave, which really transcends the genre by having such fun with the concept). The reason for their absence is that they get an entire post to themselves. Looking forward to that . . . should be a lot of fun!