Alternative Movie Posters

Movie poster art isn't *quite* what it used to be. At least, not with the posters that you see at the box office.

Remember those classic one-sheets that were proudly hung for years in your college dorm or game room? "Animal House," "The Exorcist," "Silence of the Lambs," and "Vertigo"...just to name a few. Posters used to generate such a high level of curiosity in a film, often compelling you to see a movie purely based on the artwork. For me, this was "Pulp Fiction." Even before I knew the brand that is Quentin Tarantino, the film poster made "Pulp Fiction" a must-see event.

Very unfortunately, however, mainstream theatrical posters of the last 20 years have quickly degraded in quality. Today, studio-generated posters often merely communicate celebrity appeal (via airbrushed head shots), rather than generating true emotion or intrigue. In short, these posters just don't make your eyes pop like this once did.

Thankfully, over the last few years an underground network of designers, who also happen to be huge moviegoers, have been quickly bringing the "the art" back to the one-sheet. Each of these artists are generating stunning pieces not seen since the days of legendary poster artists Drew Struzan ("Star Wars," "Raiders of the Lost Ark") and Saul Bass ("Anatomy of a Murder," "The Man with the Golden Arm").

"Alternative Movie Posters: Film Art from the Underground," is the first book to document these visionary and groundbreaking designers. The book features 200 posters from 100 artists and over 20 countries, all with their own spin on what it takes to connect with moviegoers. Each designer has a difficult technique, whether it be minimalism, "Mad" magazine-style cartooning, technical hand drawing, or even movie posters created in the guise of book covers and arcade games.

Regardless of each artist's spin, the passion is the same. They all miss the classic one-sheet, and are spending endless hours creating brilliant pieces, which the hopes of reviving this nearly lost format...and perhaps grabbing the attention of their favorite filmmakers for a collaboration.

Below is a sample of 10 of these artists, along with their contributions to "Alternative Movie Posters." The book additionally contains an interview with each artist about their posters, art techniques, and favorite flicks.