I think they've talked about this before, but while I'm trying to figure out
what I want to do with my work, I find it both fun and helpful to commission
myself with different projects. It really helps to push me outside of the box,
test myself with new concepts and subject matter. So today I thought it
would be a fun idea to try designing a poster, namely a poster for a film-
which, of course, means I need to come up with a film to design the poster for.
Today's video is sponsored by Intel who have provided this beautiful piece of
equipment that has already transformed my creative process and I can't wait to
show you this all-in-one computer, the Microsoft Surface Studio 2 in action.
You will be blown away! I mean, just look at it. I legit gasped when I took this
out the box. But enough of that, serious work to do. As you know, the first step in
any creative commissions or endeavours is usually the brief. We'll need to know
the scope of what we're working on, any key imagery, themes, where the work will
be used... but in order to have a brief, my first-first step will be coming up with
the concept for the film which should answer most of the question that I just
mentioned. We're hopping into Google Docs, for me when it comes to writing anything
the best approach is to just start writing and doesn't matter if it makes
any sense. I could be thinking aloud, could be jumping back and forth ... so I'm just
gonna start brainstorming.
While I'm at it, I'm also just gonna have a look at some film poster examples, see
if that sparks anything.
Loving all this visual real-estate; it really makes such a difference being
able to have everything so crisp and clear in front of you, all the inner
workings in your brain just bouncing back and forth.
I'm getting thriller vibes. I think there's a lot you can do with that. Something maybe a bit indie,
bit artsy as well- the type of film that would have an illustrated poster.
Okay, here's what we've got- quick summary of the film; 'A young artist in a dearth of
inspiration lands a dream post as a live-in apprentice in the idyllic,
maze-like home of his hero, the famed and elusive sculptor-...' who I do not have a
name yet for...
Jackson... Hillier....
'....while his initial work days are spent tidying the
homes multiple sparse and minimal studios, it isn't long before the demands
from his ever-absent mentor become increasingly obscure and
disturbing. Torn between curiosity and unease, our young apprentice learns the
cost of pushing the search for inspiration to its limits...'
*ooooh*
Not sure about the end of that description but I can't get too deep into this, I'm not a
writer I am just trying to make a poster, not an actual film. So now we just need a
name. I'll look up some sculpting terms....
Alabaster? Quite like that. I do
like that word but I'm not sure how relevant it is to the film. Fifth-wheel?
That sounds more like a rom-com. Ooh sgrafitto!
I like the sound of that. Think that's to do with like
scraping back the surface of something to reveal kind of a relief design on it.
Scraping back the surface... I think that sounds quite relevant. Yeah, you know what,
we will go with sgrafitto. I think that works well with our film. Now while
I was trying to come up with ideas for the story,
my brain was gravitating more towards the imagery I would go for. I
started thinking about birds and different colours I'd use and
how the poster would look in the end rather than having the
story guide the imagery. With this story though, I did just have the story in mind
rather than the imagery which is more how you would approach a brief like this;
you're given the brief and then your visual ideas will start to come to mind.
Speaking of which, I did go ahead and start drawing up the brief. So the studio
who commissioned this poster are looking for a full-sized poster depicting the
imagery and themes of the film... which is called Sgrafitto...
Imagery should convey the tone of the film and entice potential viewers. Image
should also include important text. And I've just got a summary of the film here, a few
of the important visual elements and ideas. Got just three examples with
visual references that I might kind of lean towards and and some payment
details and timescale and deadlines just to make it a bit more realistic.
Okay, now the fun part!
That honestly never gets old. Anyway I'm in Photoshop now and I have a few ideas
floating around of what I want to do but just wanna flesh things out a bit more,
just something quick and loose. There was mention in the brief about
brutalist architecture and the images provided also showed some like classic
looking sculpture so I thought might be fun to combine those like harsh edges of
the architecture with the smoothness and kind of nondescript nature of those
really smooth marble sculptures, maybe using digital effects to kind of
splice things together. Splice the sculpture into the angles of the
building. I find the design of this computer so well thought-out and
beautiful. I mean just being able to switch back and forth so smoothly from
working in more of a drafting table setting or using it like a drawing
tablet, to just swishing back up to that upright position. And what Intel have
added here with that performance factor, that kind of versatility and ease of use
not only enhance that user experience but actually inspire creativity by
putting you in just the ideal environment for innovation and ideas.
Here all in one I have been able to create an entirely new ways, I can go
from artist mode back to standard work mode - except there is nothing standard about it
anymore, it's like enhanced work mode. For example, when I'm editing video, editing
photos, I have this fantastic amount of space, this beautiful screen, I can have
multiple workspaces in one. And of course, that processing power that you know so
much about by now.
Okay change of plan. I'm now thinking; big, imposing building
that's like backlit with like a light shining out and a silhouette of a figure
in the doorway... someone that looks like they could be a person but they could
also be a statue. Maybe just in like a an uneasy pose or
standing on a podium. Someone that looks really stiff - something a bit creepy -
and then they would have their shadow, and this is where we could incorporate
that lovely brutalist architecture as well. And then we'd have room, of
course, for the title up here which was Sgrafitto. I mean, this might look like a
jumble and a bit of a mess to you but it makes sense to me and it'll make sense
to you once it's all come together. I've been thinking in black and white this
whole time so I am thinking I'll stick with that for the final piece of artwork,
probably work in ink, maybe some coloured pencil, and then I'm gonna go in
with digitally with different tonal values so I'm not gonna worry too
much about that. I think it'll be fun to play with texture and gradients when I
get it in here digitally so I think that this is actually enough to get started
on the piece of art.
Now since this physical piece of work was smaller than what was asked for in
the brief, I have stand it at a much higher dpi just so that I'll be able to
scale it up and really edit in detail. I'm also going to be using
Photoshop to play with like adding colours and texture and to
just layer on various different elements. The processing power here is incredible
with the Intel Core i7 processor, I'm in Photoshop rendering multiple high-res
files with no trouble at all, all brought to life with this stunning 13.5 million
pixel true to life colour display. It creates such an immersive creative
experience, with intel's typical uncompromised performance.
Okay here we are! What do you think? Would you go and watch this film? You know what,
I think for my first ever movie poster, not that bad! Massive thanks again to
Intel for sponsoring today's video. This Microsoft Surface Studio 2 has
revolutionised the way I work. When I'm in those almost hyper-creative
moods, those tingly-finger-inspired moods, hands-are-moving-faster-than-my-mind-can moods
it's nice to know I have a computer that can keep up with me.
The high performance Intel brings to the table, as always, the driving force
behind all of it. So if you want to find out more about this computer and
Intel's latest innovations, there will be links below for you to do so.
Otherwise guys, I would love to know if you've ever tried to do your own
commissions or- if you're going to- what kind of theme would you follow. But
otherwise thank you so much for watching and I'll see you guys in the next video.
Bye!