Another movie post.

Basically three-quarters of my blog posts have been about movies.  I'm really that lame.  Anyway, new DVD's are coming out this Tuesday, among them two big Oscar names:  Slumdog Millionaire and Doubt.  The latter of these was a must-see for me as a self-described Meryl-ophile...I won't give my review of the movie itself (suffice to say that the acting was phenom but some plots are just meant to stay on the stage), but rather I'll focus on the graphic design aspect of the film.  Here are the two covers released for Doubt's DVD debut:

The designs clearly demonstrate two different moods pertaining to the plot as well as the actors involved.  On the left we have something of a trinity going on where our eyes are drawn to the two most famous faces, Meryl and Philip Seymour Hoffman, before going to Amy Adams, who is the lesser-known star on the rise.  Because of the way we've been conditioned in our culture and the Z-pattern we follow from left to right, we see Meryl, then Philip, and lastly Amy.  The tone of the cover is also noteworthy, as it is shadowy and somber, two words that could very accurately describe the overall tone of the film.

The second cover doesn't seem to illustrate any sort of celebrity hierarchy, save for the part where Meryl Streep's name is highlighted at the top for her nomination.  The images themselves only serve to illustrate the plot of the movie, which features Amy Adams' character being torn between the diverging stories given by PSH and Meryl.  The color (or lack thereof) in this second design is stark, harsh, and dividing, with black-clothed figures against a purely white backdrop.  There is no hint of the "shadowy" or "somber" tones of the previous piece, which is perhaps a less honest portrayal of the movie itself.  That said, graphically speaking I'm fonder of the second cover.  I find the layout to be more interesting, and if I knew nothing about the movie, I would be more likely to pick it up for closer inspection as opposed to the first.  I mean, if it didn't have Meryl, that is...her movies could have blank covers and I'd still be interested.  Point is, I prefer the second.  Thoughts?  Agree?  Disagree?

Kelsey McCarthy Poster

Event/Issue: My poster was designed to promote the Vera House's "Walk a Mile in Her Shoes" event. The event is national, with different nonprofits hosting it in different cities; in Syracuse the Vera House is the sponsor. The event entails men walking about a mile in women's high-heeled shoes. For the Vera House it marks the beginning of their White Ribbon Campaign, which is a month-long campaign to raise awareness about domestic violence and sexual abuse. I chose this event, because the Vera House is a well-known and respected nonprofit in the local Syracuse area. Also, I think it's important that people be aware of the remaining presence of domestic violence and sexual abuse against women.

Visual Message: I hope that the design of my poster immediately catches somone's attention and brings a slight bit of humor to a very serious issue. I hope that the image of a tatooed man in pink heels initially grabs their attention and makes them smile, but that they then realize the serious nature of the event. 

 Audience: The poster would be placed all around the local Syracuse area. It would be on the campus of SU as well as other local places in Syracuse like Wegmans where there are a lot of adults. 

Design Strategy: I hope the design of my poster catches someone's eye as they wonder why a tatooed man is wearing pink heels. I think the image is very humorous but the questions underneath it "Is he tough enough to walk in her shoes?" gives it a more serious tone. It is meant to remind people that there are still too many instances of sexual abuse and domestic violence that occur. It is also meant to empower women by suggesting that an abused women is "tougher" than a strong man (despite his dragon tattoo). I used all capital letters to affirm the urgency of the situation. 

And the Oscar goes to...

The Oscars are the most important time of the year for anyone involved in the film industry. These awards have set the standards for any and all films that have been made over the past 81 years. The award show is more elaborate than anyone can imagine. Designer dresses pack the red carpet and anybody who's anybody is there. So naturally the advertisements, posters, and promotion material have to convey a feel of regality. The poster to the left is the for the 2009 Oscars, coming up on Sunday. The design for this poster personifies the Oscar trophy by putting him on stage, as if it was a star receiving an award. The colors of black, white and gold also help give this poster an elegant feel. Previous years' posters has given the same feel of sophistication, elegance and class. Every poster has the signature Oscar on it, but it is always done in a different way. Look at last years poster. For the 80th anniversary show, the designer used film strips to create Oscar. I think this design was very creative and really catches your eye. Going back to the 80s, you can still see consistency in the feel of each poster and the Oscar. The Oscars, and its posters along with it, are so vital to American culture that they are sold online at various websites.