Captain Phillips

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Advanced Problems II
UMSL Spring 2014 (instructor: Jen McKnight)

Project 1 – Motion Title (Captain Phillips)

Captain Phillips is a multi-layered examination of the 2009 hijacking of the U.S. container ship Maersk Alabama by a crew of Somali pirates. Based on a true story, the film focuses on Alabama's commanding officer, Captain Richard Phillips (Tom Hanks), and the Somali pirate captain Muse (Barkhad Abdi), who takes him hostage. The two men are set on an unstoppable collision course when Muse and his crew target Phillips' unarmed ship; in this ensuing standoff, both men will find themselves at mercy of forces beyond their control.

Poster and Packaging

The logotype that I've created is designed to represent Phillips' role of courage and leadership; essentially, he is the ship. Despite these strengths, he and his crew are left in a vulnerable position when a small, seemingly insignifcant pirate skiff approaches and boards. This is reflected by the poster's exploration of scale and proportion. The ladder binds the two elements, metaphorically drawing a parallel between Captain Phillips and the Somalian leader, Muse.

Motion Title

I wanted to explore a radar/mapping aesthetic to support the film's nautical and naval nature. The audio (Daft Punk – Fall) induces an appropriate feeling of intensity relevant to the film. The visual and sonic elements sync and deliver a sense of heaviness.

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