Kino4: If (1968)

"One man can change the world with a bullet in the right place."- Mick Travis (Malcolm McDowell)

Tonight was the second screening of the Kino4 film club and this time it was "If" by Lindsay Anderson. Although I have seen this film before I thought it would be good to watch it again, and to hear other peoples opinions and takes on the film.

Overall I found the film to be quite odd and although there was a plot to the film at some points it felt like the direction was going off the point. I did enjoy the film and I think watching it the second time helped me understand things I hadn't before.

There were some really nice little parts in the film, attention to detail bits that made the film quirky and different to anything I have seen before. Although Malcolm McDowell is in both If and clockwork orange I found there to be similar elements in both the films.

This film includes whips, Scum, fagging, bullies and beatings! It's an interesting watch!

Johnny Hardstaff

Amongst Johnny Hardstaff's work we can clearly see that the sketchbook pages he produced during the 1990's/92 are lively and full of exciting shapes and images. This "master body" of work he has created is fueled by the vast interest he has on subjects such as imperialism, different cultural inputs and especially the good and the bad that is in the country.

Johnny described how he is also interested in semiotics and how the adverts he creates have an effect on people.

"Graphic design is a weapon"

I really like the sketches johnny produces as part of his journey to get to the final design.

I enjoyed listening to Johnny talking about his work and the things he has been involved in. I found it very refreshing listening to him honestly give his opinion on his work and the industry, it was nice to be talked to and not at!

Fluxus

Fluxus. What is it all about?...

I became aware of the Fluxus manifesto whilst doing the workshops in second year, when I was in Sue's Modern Myth Lab. Ever since investigating into it, and creating one of our own I have been interested in the contents of the boxes Fluxus are renowned for. It's filled with cd's, posters, statements, written pieces, games, tape measures and even food!

I really like the way there is almost anything in here and its not only just for one person. Everyone has their specialities and when it comes to design we are all good at one aspect. Here it enables people to chip in with their own style and specialist areas.

Garth Marenghi's "Dark Place"

Matthew Holness and Richard Ayoade

Recently I've been re introduced to Garth Marenghi's dark place, when searching for something to watch online. I forgot just how funny and bizarre the program was!

Dark place is presented as a lost classic: a series produced in the 1980s, yet never shown until now.Garth Marenghi's Darkplace is a comedy series made for Channel 4 by Matthew Holness and Richard Ayoade. Following on from the characters' success at The Perrier Awards the show revolves around fictional horror author Garth Marenghi (played by Holness) and his publisher Dean Learner (played by Ayoade).Darkplace parodies numerous aspects of 80s low-budget television, including fashion, special effects and music.

As it was broadcast late night with very little advertising, Darkplace was met with poor viewing figures. The episode I last watched was the one below. I've put the plot description there so you can get an idea of how out there and bizarre it is!

The Creeping Moss from the Shores of Shuggoth:

Dr. Sanchez's life is in danger from a patient with a fairly bad off-Earth broccoli infection. It's down to Dr. Rick Dagless, M. D., to save his buddy - and the world. Or if all else fails, come up with a delicious way of using excess broccoli. It won't come to that, though.

Have a watch!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sfetxyzxuc

Manchester Museum : A fox in a headlight.

My initial idea for the silent brief was "A fox in a headlight", the way it is still and silent with shock, almost like the light captivates the fox. i really liked the idea of looking into animals and wildlife and this is where I came up with the idea of endangered and extinct animals, or animals that have been preserved (either stuffed or made for educational reasons). I also wanted to look at the anatomy, and the internal (skeleton) not just the external of both animals and humans.

The idea behind this is something profound. The thought of being alive and then silence playing the part of death.

I then thought about visiting the Manchester museum where I could have a closer look at the subject and take some photos for referencing. I really enjoyed these couple of hours, and found it interesting as well as educating myself again! It was very helpful towards my project and although I have been sketching from the images, I will be returning to draw in the near future.

Edward Hopper : Summer Evening 1947

Summer Evening 1947

During the re search period of the silence brief I wanted to look at

Hoppers paintings as since last year and studying him for my "uncanny" essay I have been very interested in his work. 

I found this image and it went well hand in hand with an idea I had during mind mapping. The idea of words that are not said, or not spoken. Maybe things that people want to say to one another but never get round to saying. The silence between couples. I also just really liked this image. It's such a compelling image with such a lovely setting.

kino4: "Good Night And Good Luck" poster

Kino4 Final Poster Design.

After having slight trouble with adding type to the illustration I had created, I found a couple of type faces that I thought looked good with the linear drawing. I decided on a plain but rather bold type to create the name of the screen club Kino4 and the names of the actors who star in the film.

I then put the name of the film on the large circle over Murrow's head, and thought it was relevant as he always ends his broadcasts with "Good Night And Good Luck". The script text is acting as a type of dialogue as well as the title.

I'm happy with the final design, and would like to have a go at doing a set of posters using the same style.