It’s been a while since I’ve done a Poster Spotlight, so I thought it’s time to do one as part of the Man of Steel Countdown!
I first noticed this poster last week when I came across a tweet from the movie’s official Twitter account. Here’s the beautiful poster titled…
Dark Side of the Man
…
Isn’t that awesome? I love the simplicity of the design, yet it has so much energy to it. Seems that fan-made posters are getting more and more creative these days, way better than the ones the studios churn out. I checked out the Barbarian Factory blog and was quite blown away by other poster designs featured there, including the ones for Star Trek (the JJ Abrams reboot) and The Lord of the Rings. I decided to contact the designer via Twitter and Parisian-based designer Patrick Connan kindly obliged for a quick Q&A. Read on:
1. How long have you been a designer & do you specifically do poster designs?
I am a graphic designer for almost 10 years, it has been 5 years since I worked for a very large Parisian agency specializing in the design of film posters. Being a huge fan of movies, I have to admit that I finally get to combine my two passions!
2. I notice you have a ton of film-related posters on your blog, when did you start designing those? I presume you also run the Geek Art website?
Indeed, as I said earlier, being passionate about cinema I like to give my perspective on a film that I liked and I eagerly awaits! I decided to work for me, in addition to my daily work in my office since the beginning of March this year. It came to me like that, all of a sudden I wanted to illustrate the bad-ass movies I loved as a kid, and then many other things, and since I can’t stop doing stuffs!!! No, I am not the manager of the Geek-Art.net site, but thanks to Thomas Olivri (Master & Commander of geek-art) my visibility on the net could be powered with my series on the Lord of the Rings, and for this, I can not thank him enough!
3. What tools do you use to create the posters?
I mostly use Illustrator and Photoshop to create my posters, and of course the layout using InDesign! I work with my tablet mainly. Once I have more space in my apartment I can finally get back to draw, because of lack of space I have to put it aside!
4. Are you a fan of Superman in general? What inspires you to design the Man of Steel poster?
I’m sure there are fans more diligent than me about Superman, however I adored watching old movies and series with Dean Cain and Teri Hatcher when I was a kid! I have never had the opportunity to read some comics, because in France there is not the same enthusiasm for them in the United States for example. For this poster I wanted to give a retro look, original and minimalist, and the parallel with the Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon seemed to flow naturally!
5. Tell us anything you’d like us to know about your movie poster design and when it’ll be available for sale.
- You can find all my creations on my site: barbarianfactory.blogspot.fr
- My shop is here: society6.com/BarbarianFactory or here for some special editions posters: geekartstore.bigcartel.com/
- Follow me on Twitter: @BarbarianFact
Thanks Patrick for the quick interview … and for creating such an awesome poster!
Now, before I sign off, I’ve got to share this final Man of Steel trailer. I’m running out of words already to express how I feel about this film… every trailer just gets better and better. So just watch it. now.
I know you want to 😀
Check out the other Man of Steel Countdown posts from the past three weeks
What do you think of the poster & this latest trailer?
FlixChatter Film Blog 
Wonderful artwork! And of course, love the new trailer. Thanks, Ruth 🙂
There are a bunch of fan-made posters on the web but this is one of the most original I’ve come across. Glad you like it, Michael. And the trailer… well I’m speechless!! 😛
That is just so cool! Great Q&A with the artist. I wonder if he ever runs into any copyright issues if he’s selling his movie posters?
Good question! I should’ve asked that. Hopefully Patrick’ll drop by and answer your question 🙂
PrairieGirl very good question indeed, if I have to ask the copyright of all the films that I want to work on, I think my job is to summarize nothingness! Every artist who wants to sell his art or at least try to make themselves known have to play with fire and tempt fate! Thanx for asking! P.
I stopped at this last trailer because I don’t want anymore new footage. But I trust it’s awesome!
I hear ya Nick. I’m usually in that camp too but I’m just so psyched for this film I don’t think anything would dampen it, ahah.
I love posters like this. Simple BUT stylish!
Indeed! And so original. I love how Supes bounces off the border of the poster!
All trailers and information is now being treated as spoilers, so excited! and only a week to go!
Ahah, nothing can spoil me at this point, though I’m holding off reading any reviews until Tuesday! Only 4 more days to go for me, wahooooo!!! 😀
Super jealous!
Hey, you got Star Trek 2 & Skyfall first!! 😀 I actually entered in a sweepstakes for an earlier screening (yesterday) but didn’t get it 😦
Aww, at least the release date is practically the same everywhere which I think should apply to all films 😀
Yeah, I think bigger budget films should be released worldwide within 2 weeks. I feel bad for people who have to wait a month after everyone else in the UK or US have seen ’em. I mean the potential for spoilers are huge!
HUGE I SAY!!!
Interesting posters. I’ve seen this types of posters online. They certainly are different that what you see at the theaters. As for the trailer – BRING ON MAN OF STEEL! I’m ready!
Four more days for me Keith!!! I take it you’ll be seeing it next week too w/ your whole family? 😀
We plan on ending our vacation by watching Man of Steel (as a family of course) the day after we get back. It’ll be a hoot!
Sounds like a great plan Keith! I’m actually taking a day off Wednesday after the press screening on Tuesday, I figure I need a day to um, recover from it, ahah.
LOL! Nice!!! I’ve done that very thing before. I’m anxious to compare reviews with ya!
That’s a cool poster, reminds me of this original poster of Donner’s Superman film: http://www.supermanhomepage.com/images/chris-reeve-movies/Superman-Movie-Poster-tb.html
But this one is more modern looking. Also, it’s nice of him to let you interview him about his work, some artists tend to be kind of an ass about talking about their work.
With all these clips and trailers, if the film opens with less than $100mil, someone will get fired at the studio. I might skip opening weekend since it’s going to be packed at the IMAX theater and I hate seeing films in a full theater.
Hi Ted! It does doesn’t it, I’m sure Patrick was inspired by it in some ways. Yeah, I’m glad he was kind enough to share about his amazing work.
I do think $100 is quite doable for Man of Steel. I read somewhere that they’ve made a boatload of money already ($170 mil) from all those promotional partners (http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/JoshWildingNewsAndReviews/news/?a=81001) That’s amazing! It already beat The Dark Knight Rises in that regard.
Nice post Ruth. That poster is awesome! I’d love to see a wall of posters like that at the cinema. Great interview as well. It was a very interesting read. I’ll definitely revisit the first two Superman films (if not more) before Man of Steel is released. 🙂
Yeah, if only the studios are more creative in making posters, I mean they have so much more money! Yeah I’ll be doing the same too Josh, as I plan to do one more Countdown post before the movie comes out next Friday 😉
Ruth, I love how excited you are for this movie. I really do. It’s making ME excited. Nice interview. Cool that you did it.
Thank you Nick, that means a lot!! I hope you’d enjoy the film. I know my gut says that I won’t be disappointed 😀 Glad you enjoyed the interview.
Very interesting article! I think his posters are cool. Nice, Ruth.
Thanks Cindy! It’s a cool poster indeed.
That is one snazzy poster. Cool Q&A, too, Ruth!
Thanks Eric, glad you like ’em!
Um….one word. AWESOME!!!!!!!
Great stuff Ruth, it’s so cool when you can actually talk to the people behind the art.
Yay!!! Glad you like that. As a designer yourself, I reckon you’d appreciate good design 😀