Final Poster

(including GLTS / Studio 60 Mashup logo by Andrea Streeter)

My favorite projects usually happen when a client has a clear vision in mind and just needs help realizing it. Additionally, I love making wishes come true wherever possible.

Designers are often tasked with emulating something that is already well known. In this case Connor Ratliff wished for a poster in the style Drew Struzan.

If you are unfamiliar with the name, you certainly will know his work. Movies including Harry Potter, Star Wars, Back to the Future, HOOK, The Muppet Movies all owe some of their great success to the incredible poster illustrations done by Drew Struzan. Truly the greatest movie poster designer I can think of. My mind simply equates his work with quality products and I often find myself saying "wow that was him too" for so many of the things I grew up loving.  

It just so happened that I subscribed to Disney+ around this same time, coincidentally I had been watching Prop Culture (Season 1 Episode 8) about The Muppet Movie, and they visit Drew in his studio, and I happened to be watching it the same time Connor tweeted his request out into the universe.

The next day I was playing in VR in an app called SANSAR, where there are portals to many virtual worlds you can visit. I happened to jump into one all about Hollywood movie props in a virtual museum, I looked around and eventually exited the warehouse, to find that there was a connected exhibit. A virtual 3D gallery of the artwork of Drew Struzan. High quality, life size recreations of his sketches and final work, a tour of his studio where the work was done. HIGHLY recommended if you have a VR headset: 

https://atlas.sansar.com/experiences/hollywoodartmuseum/art-of-drew-struzan-the-studio-experience

All of this was too great of a coincidence for me, so the next day I knew what had to be done. I searched online and found an open directory of high quality Studio 60 cast photos and did my best to smush them all into one glowing ball of Drew Struzan inspired illustration goodness. The GLTS crew had already raised a ton of money for charity and provided so many laughs during the darkest time I can remember, I wanted to give back to Connor in some small way.

Patrick was first to react and got in touch. Initially I focused on a very straightforward Studio 60 cast tribute, but he came back with the great idea to incorporate the GLTS cast as well and use it for promoting the upcoming charity stream. We turned it into a "surprise" for George and Watto and I deleted the 'sclusie as seen above.

fun easter-egg: 2 differences from provided photos: Watto didn't have his glasses on and George had less of a beard in provided pictures. For whatever reason it was important to me that the beard length at the time was reflected in the poster, and I like Watto's glasses.

From Patrick:  @GLucasTalkShow raised $11,061.31 for @BCEFA during our 19h25m long Studio 60 Marathon, bringing our fundraising total up to $106,880.73

The George Lucas Talk show, currently on hiatus, provided much needed stability as the weeks in lockdown continued on and on. What started as a stage show adapted into a weekly internet show pulling hours regularly topping an Irishman in length. They have raised thousands of dollars for causes they believe in, and just by talking openly about their wishes, hopes, fears, they helped people along through the dark and to not give up.

September 20th happens to be my birthday, this was how I celebrated, with friends.

Anyone who has ever put on a weekly production knows how burnout feels. Anyone doing over 3 hours a week feels it more, and anyone who does monthly marathons topping 12 and 24 hours is just sort of inviting chaos into their lives. The GLTS crew logged more hours of content created than most do in their whole career, and their current break is much deserved. Happy to have played some small part. Happy their story continues...