Wrap Party

The importance of titles: why fonts in movies matter | Title Design with Teddy Blanks

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Episode notes

Welcome to Wrap Party, the podcast that toasts the excellence of the creatives and craftspeople working behind-the-scenes on some of your favourite films and TV shows. This week, Teddy Blanks joins Rhianna and Michael to articulate the art of title design, perhaps not the titular role in the world of film, but a pivotal one nonetheless. Having designed titles for (don’t hold your breath): Lady Bird, Little Women, Mozart in the Jungle, The Lighthouse, The Farewell, Midsommar, Her Smell, Can You Ever Forgive Me?, Hereditary and many many more, there’s arguably no-one in the business better equipped to hype up the type(face).  SHOW NOTES WATCHING - Midsommar (film). Ari Aster's pagan horror about a young woman's entanglement in a Swedish cult, feat. sinister flowers and a bear scene to rival The Revenant. Watch on Prime Video.  - Mozart in the Jungle (TV series). A heady cocktail of a show exploring New York's classical music scene. Watch on Prime Video. - Hereditary (film). Ari Aster's horror about a family haunted by their ancestors' cryptic secrets: a film so existentially terrifying Teddy couldn't finish it in one sitting. Rent via Prime Video. - Lady Bird (film). Greta Gerwig's directorial debut about a young woman's turbulent final year at her Catholic high school. Rent via Prime Video.  - Little Women (film). Greta Gerwig's uniquely contemporary adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's 19th century classic, that sent Teddy down a bookish rabbit hole. Buy via Prime Video. - The Old Man and the Gun (film). David Lowery's gentle charmer of a crime movie saw Robert Redford give his final film performance, which in terms of font provided a "rare opportunity to tie a little bow in film history." Buy via Prime Video.  - Her Smell (film). Alex Ross Perry's electric portrait of a self-destructive 90s rock star. Buy via Prime Video. - Listen Up Phillip (film). A literary comedy from Alex Ross Perry that saw Teddy recreate Philp Roth-inspired book covers for a fictional author. Rent via Prime Video.  - Queen of Earth (film). A grieving young woman heads to her friend's lake house in Alex Ross Perry's unnerving psychological chamber piece. Rent via Prime Video.  - She Dies Tomorrow (film). An existential psychological thriller about a virus (timely or terrifying, you decide) from director Amy Seimetz. Rent via Prime Video.  - One Night in Miami (film). Regina King’s directorial debut has been acquired by Amazon Studios and we can’t wait to see it… - Back to the Future (film). The seminal time-travel adventure movie, with one of the most iconic movie logotypes of all time. Watch on Prime Video.  - Jurassic Park (film). Steven Spielberg's dinosaur classic, bearing a logo as unforgettable as the film itself. Watch on Prime Video.  - The Shining (film). Stanley Kubrick's chilling descent into madness begins with an appropriately icy title design. Watch on Prime Video.  - Eyes Wide Shut (film). Futura Extra Bold is the perfect typeface for Kubrick's erotic thriller, which is both bold and extra. Watch on Prime Video. - Fantastic Mr. Fox (film). Wes Anderson's vulpine animation features an appropriately intricate and belletristic title sequence Watch on Prime Video.  - Shaun of the Dead (film). Edgar Wright's cult zombie apocalypse comedy sees a style of design where the titles are baked into the opening sequence. Watch on Prime Video.  - Hot Fuzz (film). Simon Pegg and Nick Frost reunite for Edgar Wright's buddy cop comedy. Watch on Prime Video.  - The World’s End (film). Edgar Wright's pub crawl comedy, where a pub sign doubles up as the title design. Watch on Prime Video.  - Frozen (film). The smash hit musical animation employs a title...