Fan Made Thunder Cats Trailer

There's dedication and obsession, in this case the fella that made this video has a ton of obsession.

It took him over a year and a half to build this video. You'll recognize many of the scenes from various different movies. That's because he photoshoped every single frame to get the actors to look like the Thundercats. Thinks about it, the video is 2:30 minutes long and there are 24 frames in a second, that's just ridiculous!

As for the final product. If you can get over the Troy, XMen and Riddick references it's a great Thundercats trailer, well done and great work!

Taking It To A Whole New Level

Just about everyone has seen this movie, but if you haven't it takes the "behind the scenes" to a new level. What's funny about this is that in the film the character, who's white, acts like a black man and later has to act like a black man in a vietnamese disguise, make sense?

So usually at this time of year all the studios launch their Oscar hopefuls by marketing the hell out of them. Tropic Thunder isn't Oscar worthy at all, but in context of the film's story it's hilarious. I really don't think they could have designed it any better. I love the understated look, playing into that serious drama feel. Robert Downy Jn. looks as though he's about to let loose and cry a river. And then the brilliant line above. Very cool, smart and very understated. All to get the web talking and increase DVD sales, well done.

AIGA Charlotte: Debbie Millman, A Struggling Designer

What can you add to Debbie Millman that others haven't already said? She's the quintessential designer, full of passion, energy and wit. Type in her name and you'll immediately find her website, blog plus numerous articles and write ups about her. She's everywhere and anywhere. So what can I say that hasn't been said before?

Let me reflect on the meeting for a moment. AIGA Charlotte invited Debbie back to Charlotte to discuss her latest book, How To Think Like A Great Graphic Designer. It's a series of conversations between Debbie and other famous designers that explore how they became who they are and what got them to this point. So last Thursday Debbie spoke her in Charlotte and she began to explain why she made the book. The genesis all came down to an interview some years ago where the journalist asked her what it feels like to be an overnight success. This really ticked her off since she had been doing the same thing for the last 25 years! She went on to explain all of her trials and tribulations of being a designer and how AIGA has been both friend and foe at different times in her life. Through it all it was the relationship she had between her fellow designers that got her though the tough times.

Now after listening to her speak I felt as though I had a connection to her. At the time I didn't know what it was. But after reflecting on it for awhile now I think I understand. The best way I can describe the core of what she spoke about was this. To love something so much and have to struggle each and every day to do it. The struggle she talked about comes from all sorts of different places. For some it's the clients; for others it's the budget or the lack of enthusiasm; maybe the inexperience; the lack of confidence; the misguided focus; the lack of communicating; and perhaps the feeling of being disregarded by our peers. All of these things can be overcome by having a dream and sticking to it. But a long the way we struggle to achieve it because of our own insecurities.

In Debbie's career she's reached a point and a volume of work that others can't deny and so she finally has what she wanted. But I've been doing this for 10 years now, 15 years less than Debbie Millman. I've some awards, though I've never been published and my peers think I'm a somewhat decent designer. But that's not good enough. I want to do inspiring work just like Debbie. Maybe I have to do this for 15 more years and go through a ton more crap before I get there. Perhaps I have to work with creatives like Debbie who will teach me how to live and breath creative better? Perhaps I'll never get there or maybe I will. That feeling of the unknown scares the crap out of me. And perhaps that's why Debbie and others like Stephan Sagmeister are talking to us all to provide a little inspiration to make it all worth it.

Or perhaps, just perhaps it's the struggle that makes the designer?

I wish I could find an example of what she talked about but it's not online. So the next best thing I could find is a video the AIGA just released. It's only hosted through their website so check it out here. It's a little something to get inspired.

Eerie: Moon

How else can you describe this poster? From what I understand the premise is about an astronaut stranded on the Moon for 3-years. After a while things go a little spooky when feelings of paranoia and solitude start to kick in.

The poster reminds me of Alien, which also used a theme of the unknown and loneliness. I also like the fact that the story is all about one guy to which the poster displays perfectly. I'm glad they didn't turn Sam Rockwell into a "big head" because so much more can be told through a poster when it focuses on emotions rather than who's in it.

It's a good beginning, I want to see more.