Blog

Category: Film

Name That Movie Book Trailer

by Danielle
Film / May 16, 2012

Name That Movie
100 Illustrated Movie Puzzles

Comments (0) | Tags: classic films movies

My Favourite Book of 2011: Dan (Publicity)

by Dan
Design & Typography + Film / December 19, 2011

Saul Bass: A Life in Film and Design

The bookstore I used to work at has sadly gone the way of many great independent bookstores in Canada and shuttered-up shop. It used to be on Toronto's Queen West in the days when the street was, well, "grungier" for want of a better word.

If you don't know the area, the store was near the Art & Design District and the Fashion District. It was right above Blackmarket, a vintage t-shirt store, across the street from MuchMusic, and around the corner from the AGO and OCAD. It rubbed shoulders with boutique stores like Fluevog, small eclectic music stores, a hip urban bike shop and 24-hour grocery store. The owner loved the Beats and was a film critic on the side. Unsurprisingly, a lot of our customers were interested in art, design, film, music, photography and style.

One thing I would get asked quite frequently (apart from "where's the washroom?", "can you turn the music down?" and "where have they towed my car?") was "do you have any books on Saul Bass?"

Along side Paul Rand, Saul Bass was one of the greatest designers of the 20th Century. Even if you don't recognise the name, you would certainly recognise Bass' distinctive (and much imitated) work on films like Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo, Otto Preminger's The Man With The Golden Arm and Anatomy of a Murder. And if you don't, you should: they revolutionized film title sequences.

If that weren't enough, Bass also designed logos and corporate identities for AT&T, Quaker Oats, United Airlines, Minolta and the Girl Scouts of America.

His output was remarkable.

Strangely, there were no (zero, zip, nada) books available on Bass for the longest time. It seemed almost unbelievable and customers would always look at me skeptically when I told them there was nothing on the shelves. I have to admit that most times I didn't even bother to look it up (which may have contributed to the skepticism) but that's because I knew there weren't any — I would be first in line if there was. You see, I love Saul Bass' work, especially his film work and his use of hand-drawn lettering. Bass' work is truly like no one else's. He was a design original.

You can imagine, then, how excited I heard about Saul Bass: A Life in Film and Design. From seeing it in the Lawrence King catalogue in April to when it was published last month, there was little doubt what my favourite book would be this year. Designed by Bass' daughter Jennifer, written by design historian Pat Kirkham, and weighing in at over 400 pages, the book doesn't disappoint. It is STILL the only book on Bass's work and is must-have for anyone interested in the history of design or film.

If you're only going to buy one honking great big book on American mid-century modern design for your coffee table this year, make sure it's this one. I'm just sorry my old bookstore isn't there to sell it to you.

Comments (0) | Tags: bookstores favourite books 2011 lawrence king raincoast saul bass

The Title Design of Saul Bass (A Brief Visual History)

by Dan
Design & Typography + Film / November 14, 2011

I've been waiting for a book about Saul Bass since I was bookseller (i.e. for a LONG time), so I was really, really excited when I discoved earlier this year that Laurence King would be publishing the gorgeous Saul Bass: A Life In Film & Design – the first book to be published on the great American designer.

Now it's finally in bookstores, Ian Albinson of the brilliant Art of the Title has put together a brief visual history of some of Bass's most celebrated work:

Amazing.

Comments (0) | Tags: cinema saul bass

Shakespearian conspiracy theories

by Natalia
Current Affairs + Film + History / October 31, 2011

I was pretty excited over the weekend to hear that Roland Emmerich's new movie Anonymous is out. I love me a good Elizabethan costume drama—the clothes, the language, the political intrigue! If you haven't heard of it, the film dramatizes the Oxfordian theory of authorship—the idea that Shakespeare's plays were written by Edward de Vere, the 17th earl of Oxford (who, as various people have pointed out, died several years before the publication of The Tempest).

The film has triggered a positively apoplectic response from the scholarly community; the New Yorker's David Denby calls it a story "so rotten that, as Shakespeare, or, rather, Oxford, might put it, the kites wheel and shriek rather than batten on so foul a carcass."

Personally, I find the authorship question rather silly—I prefer to read the plays for themselves rather than scan them Da Vinci Code-style for hidden clues to their composition. And why fabricate conspiracy theories when so much historically accurate skulduggery exists? If you like your Shakespeare spiced with criminal intrigue yet still backed up by rigorous scholarship, may I suggest:

The Shakespeare Thefts

Stealing the World's Most Famous Book

Click on the cover for more info!

Comments (0) | Tags: movie movies new yorker nonfiction shakespeare

Happy 20th birthday Laurence King!

by Danielle
Architecture + Art & Photography + Design & Typography + Film + Reference / August 12, 2011

Well Laurence King the publishing house, not Laurence King the founder himself (I think he's older than 20).

Established in London in 1991, Laurence King Publishing is now recognized as one of the world's leading publishers of books on the creative arts.

Their books are acclaimed for their beautiful design and authoritative text as well as the quality and care taken over their production. They publish books in the fields of art, graphic design, architecture and fashion; just to name a few.

Mark Lamster of Design Observer took up the chance to interview Laurence to hear his thoughts about the state and future of design publishing, and what makes a design book (and book proposal) successful.

...Even with this distinguished catalog, few Americans are likely to know much about King or his press, as until recently most of his titles were sold in this country by other publishers, who purchased their rights. I got to know him this way, both as a buyer and a seller, when I was an editor at Princeton Architectural Press. We worked on many books together — some winners, some losers — and it was always a pleasure. King is one of the true gentlemen of design publishing, self-deprecating and charming in the classic British manner... ~ Mark Lamster

Full article can be found here.

This Fall LK has some pretty amazing new books that I get to publicize (yep I do!). Please pre-order at Amazon.ca, Indigo. ca or take a walk to your local bookshop, they can order a copy for you. Below are just a few. There's planty more to come! I'll keep you posted!

And what's a blog without some cool Laurence King videos? Enjoy!

Comments (0) | Tags: architecture art design fashion laurence king photography

Art of Cars 2 Giveaway

by Danielle
Contests + Events + Film / June 13, 2011

Hi there,

As a publicist I sometimes get movie passes for give-away. This time I worked with Disney for a cross promo with Cars 2 and a book from Chronicle Books, Art of Cars 2. Disney was nice enough to send me a few.

So, I have one here (admits 2) for the Vancouver premier on Wednesday June 22, 2011, 7PM at The Scotiabank Theatre on Burrard st.

I also have a book here that I will throw in as well!!

To be entered:

A Lot of Heart

by Jamie
Film / May 25, 2011

Art of Cars 2

Do any movie studios still have any heart? Anthony Lane in recent profile in The New Yorker magazine (May 16, subscription required) thinks so and the answer is Pixar Studios, the makers of Toy Story, A Bug’s Life, Toy Story 2, Monster’s Inc. , Finding Nemo The Incredibles, Cars, Ratatouille. Wall-E, Up, Toy Story 3 and coming to theatres on June 24: Cars 2.

“Most of us, as we leave the theatre, can no more remember which company produced the film we just saw than we could tell you who manufactured the hand dryer in the men’s room. The exception is Pixar, the only studio whose products people actively seek out. Everyone knows Pixar.”

Pixar is based in Emeryville a small town just across the bridge from San Francisco, hometown to Chronicle Books, another company jammed full of talented people who march to their own tune. As with earlier Pixar films, Chronicle is releasing The Art of Cars 2 a gorgeously illustrated book that is filled with storyboard and original art from the new film. Thumbing through the pages of The Art of Cars 2 is the perfect visual accompaniment Lane’s of Pixar.

I am the father of four year-old and so know the Pixar “oeuvre” pretty well. Our favourite is Cars; for my son because he is lover of all things with wheels and for me (who doesn’t even have driver’s license) because the film is about making connections. My son thinks I am over reading the film (“stop talking daddy”), but I will stick to my guns on this.

The friendship between Lightening McQueen and Mater the rusty dump truck is replay of the archetype of the 'Prince and the Pauper' but also what it means to have best friend. While (endlessly) re-watching Cars I am reminded that in the western cannon far more pages have been filled by theorizing about de amicitia or “friendship” than on Eros or sexual love, because in many respects it is more essential. The film connects — race car and dump truck, small town and metropolis, old and young, red states and blue through the social capital of friendship. Wonderful stuff. Or as Doc Doc Hudson says to Lightening McQueen at the end of Cars: “You gotta a lot of stuff Kid!”

Comments (0) | Tags: animation cars film movies parenting pixar

May the Fourth be With You

by Brian
Animals & Nature + Art & Photography + Fiction + Film + Food & Drink / May 04, 2011

A long time ago… (last week)

In a galaxy far far away … (Downtown Vancouver)

We were presented with several brand new Star Wars books and products from several publishers which prompted someone to ask, “Is 2011 a Star Wars anniversary year?”

Silly, sales reps – EVERY year is a Star Wars anniversary year.

And no day better exemplifies that than today. May Fourth.

And while we’d like to think that the book industry is the omni-present gatekeeper of culture and higher learning, we can’t all publish the Atwoods, the Ondaatjes and the Gladwells. Which is fine by me. This intern here loves the quirky titles that spin off of pop culture icons. I’ll take the Zombies, the Bathroom Readers and the Darcy Romance line any day.

But that’s a blog post meant for another time.

Today it’s all about the George Lucas Empire – in book form.

Here’s a look at a couple of my favourites that have made their way to my desk.

The Star Wars Cook Book 1 & 2

Star Wars Cook Books These Star Wars themed recipes are great for all ages and feature scenes from each Star Wars episode using the recipes found inside.

The Wildlife of Star Wars

Do you remember all the sea life in the backdrop of Naboo during Episode 1? Or the various animals running around Tatooine? Me neither –but if you ever wanted to impress your friends at your next Star Wars marathon by yelling out “WHOA! Check out that Geejaw” during Return of the Jedi then yeah, this book is for you.

The Art of Star Wars Comics

Ok, I’m guilty here. I didn’t actually know there were Star Wars comics. But after flipping through some of the cover art in this collectible postcard set I have to say that I am intrigued and will be picking a couple up. Of particular note – Star Wars Purge: Last Stand of the Jedi looks pretty bad *ss.

The Art Of Star Wars: The Clone Wars

The concept art and lighting tests found within this book are amazing. It reminds me of the robots and monsters I used to draw as a kid except those were never made into a multi-billion dollar franchise. Maybe I should pick up a (shameless plug alert!) Doodle Sketchbook from the nearest indie book retailer…

The Sounds of Star Wars

At first glance I thought this book was something my 7 year old nephew might enjoy, but after flipping through the book I realized that this one is fun for the whole family. The sounds will keep anyone entertained (except for my pod mates who cringe at hearing lasers and Darth Vader breathing every 15 seconds) but the real value is in the behind the scenes look at what inspired Lucas and Ben Burtt to create Wookie language and speeder sounds.

After a quick review, I’ve decided I need to find a way to sneak these books out of the office for a closer read, I better practice my Jedi wave… “These are not the books you are looking for.”

Comments (0) | Tags: film star wars

Minka Documentary

by Dan
Architecture + Film / November 30, 2010

Minka: My Farmhouse in Japan

In Fall 2007, our friends at Princeton Architectural Press published Minka: My Farmhouse In Japan, the memoir of retired AP foreign correspondent John Roderick. Inspired by the story of this remarkable house and the memories it contained, and with seed funding from the Graham Foundation, Birdlings Films began work on a documentary film about John, his adopted son architect Yoshihiro Takishita, and the 250-year old house they shared.

The film is still a work in progress, but you can watch the trailer now and help support the completion of the documentary at the fund-raising site Kickstarter:

Comments (0) | Tags: architecture building film japan memoir minka

The Sounds of Star Wars

by Dan
Film / September 24, 2010

OK, confession time: There are some pretty big nerds at Raincoast — myself included — and so it was no surprise that joyous wookie roars echoed around the office when the much-anticipated The Sounds of Star Wars arrived on our desks!

In this illustrated history (it contains more than 300 photographs from the series!), legendary sound designer Ben Burtt explains the sounds of the Star Wars universe — from the first films to the animated Star Wars: The Clone Wars series — and an attached sound module with an exterior speaker (and headphone jack) lets you listen to the sound effects! Woo!

And if you are a fan of Stars Wars (and who isn't?), make sure you watch this AMAZING 6 minute film about the book and the guys who created the all those incredible sounds: