Wild Fridays: [Laurent Durieux]

Simon Wild discusses the allure of illustrated film posters with a look at Laurent Durieux

Designer Laurent Durieux creates stunning and immersive film posters that often feel like they are exploring deleted scenes from the films they portray.

I have often considered Lauren Durieux as a digital Drew Struzan; the incredibly talented poster designer whose photo realistic hand painted images fronted nearly every major blockbuster of the Eighties and early Nineties. It was a golden age for illustrated film posters. Laurent clearly takes this as his inspiration and seems to be passionate about re-capturing some of it in his own work.

The current trend in film poster design now (and has been for a long time)  is primarily photographic, with film studios opting to use the stars they paid millions for to sell the film. It’s easy to see why; film making is a risky business. But I tend to get more excited when a film’s promotional campaign is more illustrative. Somehow it is more alluring and leaves much more to the imagination. I can’t be alone in feeling this? That is why Laurent’s posters are so enticing to look at.

Rich in colour, light and the promise of a captivating narrative. The very foundations that cinema is built on.

Let’s put graphic art back at the heart of cinema.

Happy Easter!

simonwild.com #WildFridays