Poster Per Diem: Damien Wake's "Cosmopolis" Concept Art

For those wondering what the hell "Poster Per Diem" is / means / smells like, here's my not at all concise description. If you visit this site with any regularity, you already know I tend to write reviews for film and television inspired prints that are either currently on sale or are about to go on sale. And while I'll still be pouring the majority of my efforts into these sorts of posts, my daily "Poster Per Diem" feature will focus on awesome prints that have since sold out, never existed in the first place (AKA concept posters) or just bears mentioning. In other words: this is my chance to say, "I never got a chance, for whatever reason, to write about you on this here website, but I think you're really purty and I want to let the world know." Or something like that. Oh, and Per diem is latin for "per day" or "each day."

Cosmopolis Concept Art
Damien Wake
Not for Sale

In honor of Cosmopolis' release this weekend, I wanted to showcase this excellent concept artwork by Damien Wake. For anyone who has read the book, or, hell, even the seen the trailer, you can tell how spot on Wake's design is. Unfortunately, this isn't something you can purchase, however, you can learn more about the artist by visiting damienwake.com.

Poster Per Diem: Ibraheem Youssef's "Prometheus" Movie Poster

For those wondering what the hell "Poster Per Diem" is / means / smells like, here's my not at all concise description. If you visit this site with any regularity, you already know I tend to write reviews for film and television inspired prints that are either currently on sale or are about to go on sale. And while I'll still be pouring the majority of my efforts into these sorts of posts, my daily "Poster Per Diem" feature will focus on awesome prints that have since sold out, never existed in the first place (AKA concept posters) or just bears mentioning. In other words: this is my chance to say, "I never got a chance, for whatever reason, to write about you on this here website, but I think you're really purty and I want to let the world know." Or something like that. Oh, and Per diem is latin for "per day" or "each day."

I'm a little behind on these. Alright, more than a little behind on these, so let's see if I can catch-up tonight.

Prometheus Movie Poster
Ibraheem Youssef
18" x 24" (Giclée) - Signed and Numbered
$95 - Limited to 20

I may be in the minority here, but I enjoyed the hell out of Prometheus. Yes, the characters made some of the most mindbogglingly boneheaded decisions possible, but I loved the world, the aliens, the overwhelming sense of dread, and the absolutely stunning visuals. It appears artist Ibraheem Youssef did as well, since he created the minimalist masterpiece you see above. The print is currently available through ibraheemyoussef.com and you can keep up to date with Ibraheem's work by following him @ibraheemyoussef.

Heads Up: Dave MacDowell's "Abide in Wonderland" Art Print

I'm guessing you've probably seen The Big Lebowski. After all, when it comes to cult films, the movie's kind of a big deal. I mention this because there's one scene in particular I briefly wanted to discuss. It's not really a spoiler or anything, but it'll probably make more sense if you've been witness to "The Dude's" bowling-centric dreamscape. That's right, I'm talking about Gutterballs! Gutterballs? Yes, Gutterballs! Gutterballs is a film, but it's not really a film, it's actually a dream that "The Dude" has after being incapacitated by a medicinally enhanced (read: drugged) White Russian. Confusing enough for you? The Gutterballs dream sequence features a dance number, Saddam Hussein, Maude Lebowski as a viking and a floating "Dude" slowly gliding down a bowling alley lane, all set to Kenny Rogers' amazing "Just Dropped In (to See What Condition My Condition Was in)." Why did I dredge all of that up, you ask? Here's my theory: I'm convinced that Dave MacDowell's hilarious Lebowski-inspired "Abide in Wonderland" print is a missing scene from the dream / film Gutterballs. Maybe it's still on the cutting room floor? Who know's (I certainly don't), but that's the story I'm going with. Now grab a hookah pipe and check out the poster below. Please remember: it's puff, puff, pass.

"Abide In Wonderland" Art Print
Dave MacDowell
18" x 24" (Giclée) - Signed and Numbered
$50 - Limited to 100
Inspired By: The Big Lebowski

Dave MacDowell's "Abide In Wonderland" art print will be available on Friday (8/17) at 1 PM PT through Spoke Art's online storefront. The poster costs $50, is limited to an edition of 100 and measures 18" x 24". You can find out more about Spoke Art by visiting spoke-art.com, their Tumblr, and following them on Twitter @spoke_art. To see more of MacDowell's work, head over to macdowellstudio.com. By the way, just realized the carpet has "PEE" written on it. Love it!

Movie and a Poster: "The Raid: Redemption"

The basic premise for "Movie and a Poster" is that I'll briefly write about a recently released film (theater or home video) that I'm rather fond of and then jot down some of my thoughts about a cool poster for said film that you, yes you, may be able to purchase at some point in the near future. In a perfect world this would be a weekly column featuring a new release every seven days, sadly such a world does not exist, but you can bet I'll do my best to publish a "Movie and a Poster" every few weeks from here on out.

THE MOVIE: THE RAID: REDEMPTION

The Raid: Redemption [Blu-ray]

SYNOPSIS: A SWAT team becomes trapped in a tenement run by a ruthless mobster and his army of killers and thugs.

WHY YOU NEED TO SEE / OWN THIS: Don't let the Blu-ray's crappy direct-to-video-looking artwork fool you! The Raid is a must see non-stop action-packed videogame / movie 101 minute lesson in how impressive Indonesian martial arts look on screen when used against hordes and hordes of knife and gun-wielding drug dealers. Now, if you're looking for a deep plot, stop, this film doesn't have any of that nonsense. But what it lacks in complexity, it more than makes up for in physics-defying stunts and relentless thrills. And really, we can't spend every day trying to piece out who Keyser Söze is or figure out exactly what the hell the island in Lost represents, can we? Sometimes you need to bask in beautifully choreographed carnage and enjoy it for what it is - beautifully choreographed carnage. Not a fan of subtitles and / or foreign languages? First off, shame on you, you're missing out on some of the best films that cinema has to offer, but fear not, because, again, the action here is so compelling and so central to the movie that you can get by just fine without the understanding what anyone is saying. If you haven't picked up what I'm putting down, here it is: I really liked this movie and can't wait to revisit this action masterpiece on Blu-ray. Now, do yourself a favor and buy The Raid: Redemption. A quick warning to those of you who decide to take the plunge and watch this film: seeing The Raid will make you want to be a badass and probably try something your body isn't capable of doing, similar to how people felt after watching District B13 with all of its parkour shenanigans. Please ignore those urges and continue to re-watch this film until you either pass out from exhaustion or your appetite for ass kicking has been sated, you'll be the happier (and much less sore) for it.

THE POSTER: Jock's THE RAID: REDEMPTION Poster for Mondo

The Raid Movie Poster
Jock
20" x 36" (Screen Print) - Numbered
$45 - Limited to 275

I love this print! In my opinion, it rights all the wrongs committed by the horrendous US Blu-ray and DVD cover. And it doesn't hurt that comic artist Jock is the absolute perfect guy for the job given the film's insane comic book-like action. The poster's gritty take on the tenement building does the film's dilapidated setting justice and captures the bleak situation that Rama finds himself in to a tee. This is a must buy for anyone who's a fan of the film.

Jock's The Raid: Redemption movie poster will be available on Thursday (8/16) at a random time through Mondo for $45. The print measures 20" x 36" and is limited to an edition of 275. Be sure to follow @mondonews for the exact drop time. To learn more about Jock, head over to 4twenty.co.uk and follow him on Twitter at @jock4twenty. And if you haven't already seen The Raid, what's wrong with you? Go watch The Raid!

Write Up: New Flesh's "No Mercy" Art Print

Every non-Gallery 1988 poster release this week is living in the shadow of the cultural behemoth better known as "Crazy 4 Cult." Depending on your daily web browsing habits, you may have already seen a ton of preview pics from the show, but this, my friends, is what you've undoubtedly been waiting for. Think back: The Last Emperor just won nine Oscars, Sonny Bono became the mayor of Palm Springs, the Soviet Army began withdrawing from Afghanistan, and a George Lucas-produced, Ron Howard-directed, Warwick Davis-starring film called Willow just opened in theaters. Oh, you were only six when that happened and don't remember any of those events? Same here. However, I do remember seeing Willow on VHS years later and having a damned good time watching Warwick Davis and company battle, evade, and ultimately overcome Queen Bavmorda and the terrifying General Kael. Friends of the site, New Flesh Prints, have created an intimidating new poster for this year's New York-based "Crazy 4 Cult" show, celebrating the skull mask-wearing, army-leading Kael in all his lethal glory. Behold!

"No Mercy" Art Print
N.E. (New Flesh Prints)
18" x 24" (Screen Print) - Signed and Numbered
Limited to 80
Inspired By: Willow

Chilling, right? As you know, I've been a huge fan of the now prolific New Flesh guys since day one and have seen their artistic offerings evolve in some amazing ways, but I think my favorite New Flesh posters have been their film inspired art prints. The art print format allows N.E. to really stretch his creative muscles, producing beautiful compositions while allowing him to play with negative space, which can be hard to do with all of the formatting that normally goes into creating a proper movie poster (e.g., film title, tagline, cast info, company credits, etc.) "No Mercy" captures the dread that General Kael exudes in the film and makes a point to show just how inseparable he and his steed were. I've learned that this print will also feature two metallic colors, so you know it's really going to pop no matter where you hang it. Finally, and I'm not sure if this was planned, but I love the fact that a print inspired by a film from 1988 is premiering at Gallery 1988 - there's a nice symmetry there.

N.E.'s "No Mercy" art print will be available at tonight's "Crazy 4 Cult" show in New York. If the print doesn't sell out at the show, the remaining inventory will be made available at gallery1988.com, so be sure to sign up for G1988's newsletter and follow @Galleries1988. To learn more about the folks behind this print, check out newfleshprints.com and follow @newfleshprints and @nenewflesh on Twitter. Good luck!

Poster Per Diem: Victor Vercesi's "Tonari no Totoro" Art Print

For those wondering what the hell "Poster Per Diem" is / means / smells like, here's my not at all concise description. If you visit this site with any regularity, you already know I tend to write reviews for film and television inspired prints that are either currently on sale or are about to go on sale. And while I'll still be pouring the majority of my efforts into these sorts of posts, my daily "Poster Per Diem" feature will focus on awesome prints that have come and gone, never existed in the first place (AKA concept posters) or just bear mentioning. In other words: this is my chance to say, "I never got a chance, for whatever reason, to write about you on this here website, but I think you're really purty and I want to let the world know." Or something like that. Oh, and Per diem is latin for "per day" or "each day."

Tonari no Totoro Art Print
Victor Vercesi
Multiple Sizes (Giclée) - Open Edition
Price dependent on size
Inspired By: My Neighbor Totoro

Victor Vercesi's Tonari no Totoro print is breathtaking and easily one of the most beautiful Miyazaki inspired works of art I've ever seen. If you're a fan of My Neighbor Totoro, then this should be a no brainer. Even if you're not a fan of My Neighbor Totoro, you should still pick this one up - the art is that good. You can purchase this print through Society 6 for a fairly reasonable price and forever impress house guests with your impeccable taste in art. To learn more about Victor, check out his Tumblr page and buy lots and lots of his posters through his store.

Heads Up: Sam Smith's "Citizen Kane" and "Gone with the Wind" Movie Posters

Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn. Alright, alright, that's a complete lie, because I'm damned excited about artist Sam Smith's Gone with the Wind AND Citizen Kane posters. For those who don't know about the multi-talented Smith, here's the deal: he's drummed for Ben Folds (you can see him in the "You Don't Know Me" music video), he's responsible for some of the coolest Criterion Collection packaging around (exhibit A: World on a Wire, House, Modern Times, Kuroneko, and Solaris), he's created a ton of gig posters (his Tim and Eric print is the standout for me), and, oh yeah, he's a total cinephile. Yeah, I'm jealous too. Check out the moody movie prints he made in cooperation with Spoke Art for the Castro Theatre's 90th anniversary below.

Citizen Kane Movie Poster
Sam Smith
18" x 24" (Screen Print) - Signed and Numbered
$40 (Separately) / $70 (Set) - Limited to 100

Gone with the Wind Movie Poster
Sam Smith
18" x 24" (Screen Print) - Signed and Numbered
$40 (Separately) / $70 (Set) - Limited to 100

Sam Smith's Gone with the Wind and Citizen Kane posters are currently available through Spoke Art's online store for $40 separately or $70 for the set. Both prints measure 18" x 24" and are limited to an edition of 100. Head over to samsmyth.blogspot.com for more info on the artist and be sure to follow him on Twitter @samsmyth. And if you like what you see here, be sure to visit spoke-art.com, sign up for Spoke Art's newsletter, and follow them @spoke_art.

Heads Up: DoomCMYK's "3 2 1 Let's Jam" Art Print

If you read the phrase "3 2 1 let's jam" and immediately thought of one of anime's most lauded series, then congrats, you and I can officially be friends. DoomCMYK has created a fantastic ode to Cowboy Bebop, with what looks like a bit of Daft Punk / Tron: Legacy added for good measure. Seeing this print reminds me of how few Cowboy Bebop posters I've seen at all. What gives Internet? Get on that!

"3 2 1 Let's Jam" Art Print
DoomCMYK (Robert Mangaoang)
18" x 24" (Giclée) - Signed and Numbered
$27.99 - Limited to 30
Inspired By: Cowboy Bebop

You can purchase DoomCMYK's Bebop inspired "3 2 1 Let's Jam" art print through his Etsy store for $27.99. The poster measures 18" x 24" and is limited to a tiny edition of 30. To learn more about DoomCMYK, check out doomcmyk.com and follow him on Twitter @Doom_CMYK. Somehow a post about Cowboy Bebop doesn't feel right without this bit of video...

Best Of: Gallery 1988's "Jeff Boyes, Joshua Budich & Jay Shaw" Art Show

I'm absolutely gutted that I couldn't make it to last night's show at Gallery 1988 Venice. I had planned to be there and finally meet some of my favorite artists, unfortunately, some wedding preparations necessitated an emergency trip to the Bay Area. So here I am, sitting on my mom's couch trying to put this post together, with her 60 pound Australian Shepherd staring at me in ways that aren't entirely comforting. But enough of my whining, what I'm really here to talk about are my favorite pieces (that are still available) from the recent Jeff Boyes, Joshua Budich and Jay Shaw art show. Note - as of this writing all of these prints are still available for purchase.

The Conversation Movie Poster
Jay Shaw
18" x 24" (Screen Print) - Signed and Numbered
$30 - Limited to 100

All the President's Men Movie Poster
Jay Shaw
18" x 24" (Screen Print) - Signed and Numbered
$30 - Limited to 100

Blow Out Movie Poster
Jay Shaw
18" x 24" (Screen Print) - Signed and Numbered
$30 - Limited to 100

Jay Shaw's paranoia-themed movie posters are deviously brilliant in their execution. From a distance they're deceptively simple, but as you edge closer, all the minuscule details rise to the surface often completely changing your understanding of the artwork altogether and / or strengthening the poster's connection to the film. Case in point: Shaw's All the President's Men print. From afar, we're clearly seeing a somewhat distorted picture of Richard Nixon, but on closer inspection, it becomes evident that the President's head is completely made up of characters that you might find on a, oh, I don't know, typewriter! (I'm also reminded of all the ASCII art that was so popular back in the dial-up days of the Internet, but I'm guessing that's more likely me projecting than the artist's original intent.) It's a print that works on multiple levels and is easy on the eyes while also being tonally in check with the movie - a combination of elements which are quickly becoming a hallmark of Jay's art. Ultimately, Shaw's more stripped-down design for The Conversation ended up being my favorite of his. Not only because it's a poster for The Conversation (which is freaking amazing in and of itself), but it also concisely boils down the entire film and Hackman's character to a single simple image, while making the typography integral to the design instead of sticking it on as an afterthought. I think it's safe to say that this star will continue to rise, that is, if he doesn't collapse from exhaustion brought on by his nonstop work ethic! All of Jay's posters (sans his Invasion of the Body Snatchers print) are still available through Gallery 1988's website. To learn more about Mr. Shaw, sometimes known as Iron Jaiden, visit kingdomofnonsense.com and follow him @tweetofnonsense on Twitter.

“L.A. Massacre” Art Print
Jeff Boyes
18" x 24" (Screen Print) - Signed and Numbered
$50 - Limited to 60
Inspired By: Thrashin'

I've never seen Thrashin', but that doesn't really change the fact that I think this is a radical print. You've got to admire Boyes for even choosing to posterize this film. It should be dumb, it should be corny, it should be a big fail, but Jeff has managed to make something fun and cool without having to lean on the "it's cool because it's ironic" crutch. The artist also did one hell of a job depicting a young Josh Brolin (especially that hair) and Robert Rusler, and I've got immediate respect for any poster that uses split-fountain printing in a way that actually adds something to the artwork, which I think the red / violet skyline does admirably. This is the first time I've written about Jeff Boyes on this site and I'm thinking it certainly won't be the last time. Jeff has a bunch more prints available (including this one) through Gallery 1988's online storefront right now. You can see more of Jeff's artwork at visualtechnicians.com.

"Tetsuo" Art Print
Joshua Budich
18" x 18" (Screen Print) - Signed and Numbered
$40 - Limited to 75
Inspired By: Akira

"Dave" Art Print
Joshua Budich
18" x 18" (Screen Print) - Signed and Numbered
$40 - Limited to 75
Inspired By: 2001: A Space Odyssey

"Optimus" Art Print
Joshua Budich
18" x 18" (Screen Print) - Signed and Numbered
$40 - Limited to 75
Inspired By: The Transformers

I don't have too much more to say about Joshua Budich's posters that hasn't already been written in my review of his "Tetsuo" print (you can read it by clicking here), but I will say this: out of the three artists at this show, I think Budich had the most interesting and experimental theme. There's no denying that Boyes and Shaw brought their A-game, but I was extra impressed by Joshua's "Sistine Pop" series and his continuing evolution as an artist. All of Budich's posters are still available for purchase through Gallery1988.com, and you can visit joshuabudich.com for more info on, that's right, Joshua Budich.

Poster Per Diem: Martin Ansin's "THX 1138" Movie Poster

For those wondering what the hell "Poster Per Diem" is / means / smells like, here's my not at all concise description. If you visit this site with any regularity, you already know I tend to write reviews for film and television inspired prints that are either currently on sale or are about to go on sale. And while I'll still be pouring the majority of my efforts into these sorts of posts, my daily "Poster Per Diem" feature will focus on awesome prints that have since sold out, never existed in the first place (AKA concept posters) or just bears mentioning. In other words: this is my chance to say, "I never got a chance, for whatever reason, to write about you on this here website, but I think you're really purty and I want to let the world know." Or something like that. Oh, and Per diem is latin for "per day" or "each day."

THX 1138 Movie Poster - Open Edition
Martin Ansin
12" x 18" (Giclée) - $20
18" x 24" (Giclée) - $40
24" x 36" (Giclée) - $60

This poster has been available through inPRNT for quite a while now, but I think it stills bears mentioning since it's a gorgeous Martin Ansin movie poster. Did I mention this was a Martin Ansin movie poster?! I've only ever been able to see the version of THX 1138 that George Lucas "updated," but even that was a joy to watch given its refreshingly spare dystopian tale and minimalist aesthetic. If you're interested in picking this poster up, head over to Ansin's inPRNT store. And for more info on the man who made this, you can visit martinansin.com and follow him on Twitter @martinansin.

Write Up: Joshua Budich's "Tetsuo" Art Print

Have I ever mentioned how much I love the animated masterpiece Akira? Oh, I have? Well, then my next statement won't really come as a shock to anyone. Ready? I'm a huge fan of Joshua Budich's newest Akira inspired print. There. I said it. But before I dive into why I like this poster so much, I thought it might be helpful to understand where the artist was coming from when creating "Tetsuo" and his five other works that are set to be officially unveiled at tomorrow's Gallery 1988 show (the following was taken from joshuabudich.com):

"My theme is an attempt to marry my study and love of the classical Renaissance masters (personal fav Michelangelo), with all my childhood obsessions and influences from pop-culture/toys, etc. So, I placed bigger-than-life characters within the Sistine Chapel environment, elevating them to an even grander iconic stature. Similar to the way Michelangelo did with the biblical Prophets and Sybils."

Now, we can dive in!

"Tetsuo" Art Print
Joshua Budich
18" x 18" (6-Color Screen Print) - Signed and Numbered
$40 - Limited to 75 (40 Available at the Show)
Inspired By: Akira

Yes, Budich's print is inspired by Akira, which immediately means it has an in with me, but what really puts this artwork over the edge is the concept. The idea of combining the religious / sacred with a piece of pop culture, which many would consider trivial in comparison, fascinates me to no end. I may be approaching this more academically than intended, but it does in a lot of ways reflect the importance that we, as a society, have placed on movies, television and toys in this day and age. I'm not saying that's a bad thing or good thing, but it's definitely something. In terms of execution, I love how Joshua uses color and action to differentiate these two worlds. On the one side, we have the dynamic tenants of Neo-Tokyo, who are soaked in a vibrant red and masculine blue, and locked in fierce combat, on the other, we have a beautiful, but mostly sedate, carefully constructed background. Ultimately, these two worlds collide to create something I think is pretty damn cool and puts a worthwhile new spin on a property that's awesome to begin with. So yeah, I really like it.

"Tetsuo" Art Print (Process Shot) - Taken from Joshuabudich.com

Budich's "Tetsuo" print will be available for purchase on-site at Gallery 1988 Venice tomorrow (8/2) at 7 PM Pacific for $40. 40 of the total 75 will be available through the gallery, with the remaining 35 being sold at a later date. To see more of Budich's work and sign up for his newsletter, head over to joshuabudich.com and follow him on Twitter @jbudich. Neo-Tokyo is about to E.X.P.L.O.D.E!

Heads Up: New Flesh's "Notorious" Movie Poster

I rewatched Charade, also known as the best Alfred Hitchcock film that Hitchcock never directed, the other day and was reminded of just how amazing / charming Cary Grant could be. Which got me thinking: I've already seen Grant in a Hitchcock-free Hitchcockian tale, why on Earth haven't I revisited the Cary Grant films that were actually directed by the Master of Suspense!? I'm talking Suspicion, To Catch a Thief, North by Northwest, and of course Notorious. Leave it to the gents at New Flesh Prints to remind me just how badly I need to see the Bergman-Grant-Hitchcock collaboration, as it's probably been a good ten years since my last viewing.

Notorious Movie Poster
N.E. (New Flesh Prints)
18" x 24" (Screen Print) - Signed and Numbered
Limited to 80

I've included the clip that inspired the poster below for your viewing pleasure. I think you'll find that N.E. really captured the scene's tension with his monochromatic design.

Makes you want to watch the film, doesn't it? Beyond some clearly exceptional artwork, N.E. was also generous enough to explain his motivations in creating the poster:

"The approach to Notorious is slightly different from the other Hitchcock prints New Flesh has done in the past. While all of the prints have been an interpretation of Hitchcock's cinematic grammar and have included matching billing blocks; this print is more of a literal visual representation of the film. The contradictory image of the key and the oversized wedding ring was too powerful to pass up. The use of tight closeups in this film are about as perfect as has ever been done and the silver quality in the B&W cinematography demanded use of metallic inks. Although less colorful and abstract than the other Hitchcock prints I feel like it represents the emotional core of the film."

New Flesh's Notorious poster will be going on sale tomorrow (8/2) through their online storefront at 10:30 AM Central. The poster measures 18" x 24", is limited to an edition of 80, and will probably cost somewhere around the $30 mark. If you haven't already, be sure to visit newfleshprints.com and subscribe to their newsletter. You can also follow the New Flesh folks on Twitter @newfleshprints and @nenewflesh.

Heads Up: Randy Ortiz's "The Goonies" Movie Poster

I'm not going to lie, seeing Randy Ortiz's The Goonies poster makes me want to dance the Truffle Shuffle in the worst kind of way. This print is brimming with so much life and decrepit detail, I can practically feel the mist created by that eye-popping skull waterfall (skullfall?). I believe this is Randy's second Mondo poster to date (the first being his Xenomorph-friendly "Lord Necronom" print) and it looks like he's upped the ante in pretty much every conceivable way here. I'm hoping to see a lot more of this guy's work in the near future. Goonies never say die!

The Goonies Movie Poster
Randy Ortiz
24" x 36" (Screen Print) - Numbered
$45 - Limited to 320

Not convinced? Here's some jaw-dropping images that document the making of this beautiful print.

Ortiz's The Goonies poster will be available tomorrow (8/2) through Mondo at a random time. The poster measures 24" x 36", is limited to an edition of 320, and costs $45. To find out the exact drop time, make sure you're following Justin Ishmael @mondonews and making good use of that F5 button. And for more Randy Ortiz goodness, head over to damnthedesign.com where you can see tons of amazing process shots. You can also follow Randy on Twitter @damnthedesign. Good luck grabbin one of these!

Poster Per Diem: Alexander Iaccarino's "Akira" Movie Poster

For those wondering what the hell "Poster Per Diem" is / means / smells like, here's my not at all concise description. If you visit this site with any regularity, you already know I tend to write reviews for film and television inspired prints that are either currently on sale or are about to go on sale. And while I'll still be pouring the majority of my efforts into these sorts of posts, my daily "Poster Per Diem" feature will focus on awesome prints that have since sold out, never existed in the first place (AKA concept posters) or just bears mentioning. In other words: this is my chance to say, "I never got a chance, for whatever reason, to write about you on this here website, but I think you're really purty and I want to let the world know." Or something like that. Oh, and Per diem is latin for "per day" or "each day."

Akira Movie Poster
Alexander Iaccarino
11" x 17" (Giclée) - Signed and Numbered
$25 - Limited to 100

I love me some Akira goodness and I'll take it wherever I can find it. Case in point: Alexander Iaccarino's impressive Akira poster. I've never heard of this Alexander character, but 411posters showed me the light. I was immediately taken by the artist's level of detail and the insane amount of characters and content he was able to fit within the poster's boundaries. While the 24" x 36" version of this print is sold out, the smaller 11" x 17" version is still available through his storefront. To learn more about Mr. Iaccarino, be sure to visit thatkidwhodraws.com.

Write Up: Brandon Schaefer's Mel Brooks Movie Poster Set

"What's better than one Mel Brooks movie poster," you ask? Easy. Two Mel Brooks movie posters! Spoke Art, who's been working with the historic Castro Theatre in San Francisco to promote some recent screenings, has just released two incredible prints by artist Brandon Schaefer for a very, very reasonable price. In order to properly express myself I tried to find a clever quote from either Spaceballs or Blazing Saddles that accurately captured my excitement, but somehow "I am your father's brother's nephew's cousin's former roommate" wasn't really doing the trick. In lieu of the perfect quote, I think I'll just ramble on about how much I like these prints. Read on if you dare!

Spaceballs Movie Poster
Brandon Schaefer
18" x 24" (Giclée) - Signed and Numbered
$40 (Separately) / $60 (Set) - Limited to 120

Blazing Saddles Movie Poster
Brandon Schaefer
18" x 24" (Giclée) - Signed and Numbered
$40 (Separately) / $60 (Set) - Limited to 120

With every Brandon Schaefer poster I see, I love his work a little bit more, which has always been a bit of surprise to me given how I'm not usually one to fall for prints that prominently feature photographic elements. But sure enough, I've been consistently blown away by what Schaefer and fellow cineaste Jay Shaw have been doing recently and could easily add a ton of their artwork (and probably will) to this year's "Top 20" list. With that said, I'm not trying to place a box around what Brandon does. In fact, I'd say it's pretty clear by looking at the prints above that he doesn't necessarily lean on one style over another. It's his ability to change and adapt that makes him such an interesting artist to follow, and the only real through-line I can spot when it comes to Schaefer's work is his obvious love for the moving pictures. Both posters are relatively straight to the point, but manage to articulate the films' joke-a-minute construction with their iconic (and bizarre) characters / situations. If I had one complaint (and it's a pretty minor one), it would be that these posters weren't screen printed, especially the Spaceballs print, but honestly, they'll still look super sharp screen printed or no, so don't let that dissuade you from picking up the set.

These posters are currently available (yes, right now) through Spoke Art's store as either a set or can be purchased separately. Just a heads up though, you're saving $20 if you get the set, so it's a bit of a no-brainer in my opinion. Both posters measures 18" x 24" and are limited to 120. To see more of Brandon's work, be sure to visit seekandspeak.com, his Tumblr page, and his continually impressive contributions to the Silver Screen Society. You can also follow him on Twitter @seekandspeak. It probably isn't a bad idea to follow @spoke_art on Twitter and subscribe to their newsletter while you're at it.

Poster Per Diem: Robert Wilson's Mountain Goats Gig Posters

For those wondering what the hell "Poster Per Diem" is / means / smells like, here's my not at all concise description. If you visit this site with any regularity, you already know I tend to write reviews for film and television inspired prints that are either currently on sale or are about to go on sale. And while I'll still be pouring the majority of my efforts into these sorts of posts, my daily "Poster Per Diem" feature will focus on awesome prints that have since sold out, never existed in the first place (AKA concept posters) or just bears mentioning. In other words: this is my chance to say, "I never got a chance, for whatever reason, to write about you on this here website, but I think you're really purty and I want to let the world know." Or something like that. Oh, and Per diem is latin for "per day" or "each day."

Mountain Goats 2012 Gig Poster #1
Robert Wilson IV
18" x 24" (Screen Print) - Signed and Numbered
$30 - Limited to 100

Mountain Goats 2012 Gig Poster #2
Robert Wilson IV
18" x 24" (Screen Print) - Signed and Numbered
$30 - Limited to 100

These aren't necessarily movie related, but damn do they feel cinematic. Comic artist Robert Wilson IV created something which brings to mind many of my favorite post apocalyptic properties, including Mad Max, Escape from New York, all of the Fallout video games, DMZ, Wasteland and Y: The Last Man. In other words: these posters do more than just advertise what were surely kickass shows, they tell a story. There are a handful of these prints still available at Nakatomi Inc, so now's your chance if you're interested in grabbing one. To learn more about Robert Wilson IV, be sure to visit robertwilsoniv.com, his deviantART page, and follow him @robertwilsoniv.

Poster Per Diem: César Sebastián's "Eastern Promises" Movie Poster

For those wondering what the hell "Poster Per Diem" is / means / smells like, here's my not at all concise description. If you visit this site with any regularity, you already know I tend to write reviews for film and television inspired prints that are either currently on sale or are about to go on sale. And while I'll still be pouring the majority of my efforts into these sorts of posts, my daily "Poster Per Diem" feature will focus on awesome prints that have since sold out, never existed in the first place (AKA concept posters) or just bears mentioning. In other words: this is my chance to say, "I never got a chance, for whatever reason, to write about you on this here website, but I think you're really purty and I want to let the world know." Or something like that. Oh, and Per diem is latin for "per day" or "each day."

Eastern Promises Movie Poster
César Sebastián
Not for Sale - Concept Art

I love Eastern Promises! You've got a badass Mortensen, a weasely Cassel, and one of the strangest and most intense knife fights to ever take place in a bathhouse (though, to be fair, I'm guessing there are only maybe like two bathhouse knife fight scenes in the entirety of cinematic history). Nikolai's two-fingers-against-the-throat gesture (sign language for I'm gonna git you sucka) is masterfully depicted by artist César Sebastián and really highlights the shadow and subterfuge that make up such a huge part of Viggo's character. To see more of César's brilliance, be sure to checkout his blog and deviantArt page.

Poster Per Diem: Christopher Lee's "Star Wars" Movie Poster

Quick note: Apologies! I didn't put together a "Poster Per Diem" for Tuesday or Wednesday this week, so I'll be posting three of them today. Now, on with the show!

For those wondering what the hell "Poster Per Diem" is / means / smells like, here's my not at all concise description. If you visit this site with any regularity, you already know I tend to write reviews for film and television inspired prints that are either currently on sale or are about to go on sale. And while I'll still be pouring the majority of my efforts into these sorts of posts, my daily "Poster Per Diem" feature will focus on awesome prints that have since sold out, never existed in the first place (AKA concept posters) or just bears mentioning. In other words: this is my chance to say, "I never got a chance, for whatever reason, to write about you on this here website, but I think you're really purty and I want to let the world know." Or something like that. Oh, and Per diem is latin for "per day" or "each day."

Star Wars Movie Poster
Christopher Lee
16" x 20" (Giclée) - Signed
Sold Out

The Empire Strikes Back Movie Poster Christopher Lee 16" x 20" (Giclée) - Signed Sold Out

Return of the Jedi Movie Poster Christopher Lee 16" x 20" (Giclée) - Signed Sold Out

If the Star Wars and Schoolhouse Rock! met at a bar one night, got really, really drunk (like blackout drunk), grabbed a room at the local Super 8 and made messy, kinky, beautiful, unprotected love, their child would probably look something like these prints. Artist Christopher Lee (not to be confused with the Hammer Films legend) was able to capture all the fun parts from the Star Wars series and made something that every nerd needs to own. You can find more of Christopher's artwork at thebeastisback.com and follow him on Twitter @thebeast_isback.
Also, I'd like to give a tip of the hat to reader Robert Sheppard for pointing me toward some really awesome artwork (including these fantastic Christopher Lee prints). As an FYI to everyone out there, if there's a an awesome print you want me to write about, send me a line at posterocalypse@gmail.com. I may not write about it, but then again, I might.

Poster Per Diem: Simon C Page's "Castle in the Sky" Movie Poster

For those wondering what the hell "Poster Per Diem" is / means / smells like, here's my not at all concise description. If you visit this site with any regularity, you already know I tend to write reviews for film and television inspired prints that are either currently on sale or are about to go on sale. And while I'll still be pouring the majority of my efforts into these sorts of posts, my daily "Poster Per Diem" feature will focus on awesome prints that have since sold out or never existed in the first place (AKA concept posters). In other words: this is my chance to say, "I never got a chance, for whatever reason, to write about you on this here website, but I think you're really purty and I want to let the world know." Or something like that. Oh, and Per diem is latin for "per day" or "each day."

Laputa: Castle in the Sky Movie Poster
Simon C Page
24" x 36" - Numbered
Unsure of Edition Size

Laputa: Castle in the Sky Movie Poster (Japanese Edition)
Simon C Page
24" x 36" - Numbered
Unsure of Edition Size

Today's "Poster Per Diem" is a twofer. As you may already know, I'm a sucker for anything Miyazaki and for my money Simon C Page's Castle in the Sky may even rival Moss' Studio Ghibli posters. For more information on the artist, be sure to visit excites.co.uk and follow @simoncpage on Twitter.

Poster Per Diem: Scrojo's "Dr. Stangelove" Movie Posster

For those wondering what the hell "Poster Per Diem" is / means / smells like, here's my not at all concise description. If you visit this site with any regularity, you already know I tend to write reviews for film and television inspired prints that are either currently on sale or are about to go on sale. And while I'll still be pouring the majority of my efforts into these sorts of posts, my daily "Poster Per Diem" feature will focus on awesome prints that have since sold out or never existed in the first place (AKA concept posters). In other words: this is my chance to say, "I never got a chance, for whatever reason, to write about you on this here website, but I think you're really purty and I want to let the world know." Or something like that. Oh, and Per diem is latin for "per day" or "each day."

Dr. Stangelove Movie Poster
Scrojo
20" x 26" (Screen Print) - Numbered
Sold Out - Limited to 100

I've seen a few Dr. Strangelove prints in my day, but I can say this is easily the most awesome of the bunch. Scrojo masterfully uses negative space in order to draw the viewer to Sterling Hayden's crazed Brigadier General Jack Ripper and his apocalyptic cigar smoke. This is one poster that I always wish I had gotten back when it was a bit more affordable. Here's hoping Scrojo does a few more movie / television inspired prints in the near future. Head over to scrojo.com to learn more about this talented dude.