Menagerie Creative

Top 10: Box Sets for Movie Lovers this Holiday Season

Menagerie Creative — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 20:15:31 +0000

“We do not remember days, we remember moments. The richness of life lies in memories we have forgotten.” – Cesare Pavese

Where were you when you first saw Indiana Jones running away from the giant boulder? Who was watching with you when you saw the water glass shake in Jurassic Park and you knew something bad was going to happen?

Do those scenarios take you back to fond memories? If yes, than this is the right article for you. We’ve compiled our top 10 Blu-rays and DVDs that are perfect gifts for the movie lover in your life or yourself. These are truly worth your time. Whether it’s reliving the moments or sharing the moments with the next generation, these are the must-haves of the year.

We hope you enjoy this list and don’t forget to tell us your favorites in the comment section below.

1. Indiana Jones: The Complete Adventures

2. Jurassic Park: Ultimate Trilogy

3. Tarantino XX: 8-Film Collection

4. The Dark Knight Trilogy

5. Bond 50: The Complete 22-Film Collection

6. Marvel Cinematic Universe: Phase One – Avengers Assemble

7. Alfred Hitchcock: The Masterpiece Collection US Version

8. Alfred Hitchcock: The Masterpiece Collection UK Version

9. Harry Potter: Complete 8-Film Collection

10. Harry Potter: Wizard’s Collection

Menag“eerie” Creative sends Halloween Grievings!

Menagerie Creative — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 09:30:09 +0000

Join our fiendish friends in a celebration of devilish delights!
It’s right here, right now on Hollyweird Boo-levarde!

The drinks are chillin.’
The music is thrillin.’
And the guest list is killer!

9 Most Frightening Phobias in Marketing Today

Menagerie Creative — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 00:38:57 +0000

Primal. Instinctual. Instantaneous and progressive. Fear is the oldest and strongest of all human emotions. It catapults our minds and bodies into realms where predictability is turned upside down and the unknown assaults the senses. Fear occurs when anxiety takes the seat where comfort once sat. It’s also the catalyst which drives us forward in blinding rainstorms in spite of what may lie on the road ahead. Fear tells us when it’s safe to cross the street and how to drive our cars. Fear makes our hearts ricochet off our chest walls and our skin grow cold and clammy from sweat. Fear can debilitate and paralyze a body or infuse it with the strength of the mightiest of men. Fear tests our courage, our knowledge, our commitment.

So Why Do We Need Fear?
In humans, as in all animals, the purpose of fear is to promote and ensure survival. If we had no sense of fear, we wouldn’t survive for long. We’d walk into oncoming traffic, step off of rooftops and carelessly handle poisonous animals. In the course of evolution, those who feared the right things at the right time survived to pass on their genes. On Halloween, when fear and fright take center stage, we become that which we fear most – creatures, undead and uncensored inhibitions which remain closeted during the remaining 364 days of the year. We wear masks and disguise our bodies to trek freely among our worst demons without “fear” of being discovered. We walk among the marred, unsightly, flawed beings in a quest for small tokens to guarantee we are cast away for another year. For this one night we celebrate our faulty imperfections, step fearlessly into the darkness and embrace fear as kin.

How Do Artists Feed on Fear?
Since paleolithic cave paintings of the big hunt, man has had an uncanny ability to illustrate fear. Artists thousands of years and hundreds of generations following continue to unlock this core emotion, engaging their uniquely gifted talent to depict everything from Biblical narratives to 20th century psychological traumas. Today, marketers enlist creative minds to visualize how a product or service will help confront and overcome a customer’s worst anxieties. How do artists do it? In celebration of “All Hallow’s Eve,” we’ve identified 9 of what we believe are the most evident phobias marketers face today. Read along…if you dare and discover how creative professionals honor and temper marketing’s worst fears. Then, once you’ve mustered up your innate bravery, identify which brilliantly designed theatrical one sheet reflects each frighteningly fearful phobia.

1. Nyctophobia – Fear of the Dark: Actually, this is not fear of darkness itself, but the fear our imaginations create from the darkness. In the world of marketing this fear rears its ugly face when gut instincts battle the facts. The phrase “operating in the dark” comes to mind when overanxious marketers dive straight into campaigns based solely on facts, audience profiles and demographics. By seeing only the absolutes, the pre-existing trends, the overcrowded stage, inspiration and originality are stifled. Creative professionals listen to the voices of research, then embrace the darkness created by its silence. It’s in these quiet moments where imaginations chip away at the weaknesses and where innovation finds a new home.

2. Technophobia – Fear of Technology: Complex systems, computer viruses, the ghost in the machine, all feed an anxiety for technology. Science fiction films like Metropolis and Terminator and brilliant stories like George Orwell’s 1984 each confront how rapid advances in technology conflict with personal values of individual privacy and a simplistic lifestyle. Today, social media has become both the complex AND the personal machine. Crowd sourcing and open forums can quickly slice open gaping wounds where weaknesses are exposed, and opinions and chatter fly unfiltered, unabashed. Marketers must expertly chart the waters of these complex systems – and it all begins with a well-crafted ship. A sleek, well-designed vessel navigated by a resourceful creative team will temper even the most challenging technological storms. There is no room for fear in the sea of technology for these thrilling adventures are rewarded with unexpected treasures and the discovery of vibrant cultures.

3. Satanophobia – Fear of the Devil: Devil aside, satanophobia, like all phobias is a persistent and abnormal fear created by the mind as a protective mechanism. It’s essentially our reptilian brain entering fight or flight mode. In marketing this may show up as a fear to meet a deadline or budget, failure of a campaign or at worst, all three. When marketers fear the “devil”, campaigns become formulaic and stoic, trumping innovation and creativity. The solution? Collaborate with a trusted creative team and play devil’s advocate. Through communication and open-mindedness, ideas and solutions arise and solidify the fact that all fears, no matter scale or depth, can be conquered. Creative collaboration tempers all demons and brings forward clarity and truth. Ingredients? Courage, curiosity and tenacity!

4. Agoraphobia – Fear of Places or Situations: Often referred to as an abnormal fear of being in crowds, public places or open areas, agoraphobia can be nearly debilitating. In the world of marketing, this phobia plays into a fear of critics, unpredictable markets, or even new media. As a marketer, this fear halts the ability to push sense of reason and “comfortable” solutions aside. In other words, it stops the ability to “step outside of the comfort zone.” For analytical minds, this may also be a crippling procrastination to sift through endless research and commit to a finite solution. But for creative types, the grand open space and plethora of research break down brick walls of restriction and pave roads to innovation. Each face in the sea of a crowd has a unique story to share – an individual style, choice in clothing, actions, a distinct body language and speech – the possibilities are endless. This ocean of diversity is a refreshing thirst-quencher for a creative mind.

5. Maskaphobia – Fear of Masks: Masks distort appearance and hide facial expressions. They also often cover the mouth, making it difficult to identify who is doing the actual talking. In marketing these facades cloud communication, understanding and ultimately form a death mask shrouding weakness. Audiences see through the smoke and mirrors. They ARE paying attention to the man behind the curtain. Businesses cannot hide behind pomp and circumstance and a veneer of conformity. Dialog, open relationships and well-tuned ears are the catalysts to identifying with customers. When marketing shares a dialog with artists, pure creativity ignites and shreds all facades. Creative minds listen with each of the five senses then speak clearly from experience, authenticity and a connection from the heart.

6. Coulrophobia – Fear of Clowns: As the expression goes, the first step to conquering a fear is to name it. According to John G. Robertson, the term coulrophobia seems to have its name origin from the internet rather than from a published psychologist. So why is there a fear of the very beings designed to evoke joy and laughter – mostly by poking fun at themselves? Perhaps the fear of clowns surfaced because of the overgrowing skepticism of altruism. How can one be selfless enough to make fun of him/herself solely for another’s entertainment? The skeptic believes there’s an ulterior motive. This belief often plagues innovative marketing decisions as well. But, through the creative mind of artists, giving the fool the stage brings laughter to light and a selfless joy to the message. Seriously now, the Old Spice Man is simply today’s version of the clown…and he’s on a horse.

7. Pedophobia – Fear of Children: You may be asking how in the world can this phobia relate in any way to marketing. It’s simple. The essence behind pedophobia is a fear of being judged by someone who reveres or admires you. The presence of children can trigger a defensive wall rooted in the core of being of an adult, a mentor, an authoritative mind. Children view adults much like audiences perceive marketing as the all-knowing answer-givers. Children and audiences therefore are insatiably inquisitive, skeptical, but mostly on a quest for the truth, comfort and acceptance from those in authority. Like children, customers initially plant their skepticism in questions of “why” and “how.” They immediately search to identify purpose and reason without pre-conceived notions or pre-existing filters. One may believe they can hide meanings and messages from children, but their young, unfiltered minds memorize and soak up every detail like a sponge. Creative professionals are closely connected to this spirit of unrestrained curiosity. Artists, designers and writers each use their uncanny ability to not only ask probing questions, they also craft the pathways to connect through their experience, tools and talent. The creative mind speaks the truth through revelry and beauty – for children of all ages to embrace.

8. Claustrophobia – Fear of Enclosure: Restriction. Suffocation. Entrapment. These are symptoms of the anxiety of living in an environment without escape. It’s believed 5-7% of the world population suffers from claustrophobia to some degree. Imagine now that 5-7% of businesses suffer from it too. In marketing a business or product, claustrophobia represents the fear to make a committed decision – one that may limit choices, product features, segment audiences, and commit to specialization in a generalist economy. As in Al Ries’ Branding Law of Contraction, when a business focuses and embraces its uniqueness, even quirkiness, it naturally becomes stronger and more authentic. For creative professionals, specialization means clarity in brand personality and character. It means pushing aside overcrowded distractions and overused aesthetics. For artists, this means creating MORE value…LESS clutter and ultimately shaping a brand that breaks out of the trap of predictability.

9. Arithmophobia – Fear of Numbers: As human beings, we’re conditioned by numbers most of our lives. From grade school tests to credit scores, numbers quantify one’s success or failure. A number is absolute. It quantifies, defines and speaks the truth. It also pressures our decisions, actions and reactions. In marketing, numbers play a major role in every phase – from ideation to execution to evaluation. Deadlines, budgets, productivity percentages – when given enough influence and power, the “numbers” can quickly avalanche and suffocate the breadth and breath of creativity. How can marketing and creative join forces to battle this fear? It’s simple. Through clear communication and collaboration, marketers and creative professionals can embrace the beauty of the absolute, and use these truths to soar higher, farther and faster with each new endeavor.

Now, let’s see how well you’ve been paying attention. Can you identify each of the 9 phobias in these frighteningly delicious one-sheets? Let’s hear from you too? What other fears plague your marketing challenges?

Click HERE to view the one-sheets… if you dare…

Celebrating the Artist

Menagerie Creative — Sat, 29 Sep 2012 00:52:07 +0000

I’ve always seen it as the role of an artist to drag his inside out, give the audience all you’ve got. Writers, actors, singers, all good artists do the same. It isn’t supposed to be easy. - Henry Rollins

An artist’s life has not always been easy. Struggling through creative blocks, tight deadlines, and being misunderstood creates the roller coaster life that is not for the faint of heart. Filmmakers, writers, designers, composers, and many more ARE artists who live this tumultuous life.

Why would anybody want this kind of life? Because of the natural high of artist’s achieving a connection to their audience’s hearts. An enigmatic movie, an engaging book, masterfully composed music or a powerful design, audiences want to feel something and be part of something that speaks to them.

From the revenge-seeking composer Antonio Salieri (played by F. Murray Abraham) in Amadeus who is jealous of fellow composer Mozart, to the orphaned tinkerer Hugo Cabret (played by Asa Butterfield) in Hugo who discovers a link to his father, and the out-of-work writer Eddie Morra (played by Bradley Cooper) in Limitless who is given a power that writers only dream about, we’ve selected nine key arts that embody the struggles, success, and even challenges of creative beings known as artists.

Visit our Pinterest “Celebrating the Artist” Board for even more movie posters that show the good, bad, and ugly of living an artist’s life.

A Whole New Mind – Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the World

Menagerie Creative — Sat, 01 Sep 2012 03:50:01 +0000

It was nearly 10 years ago when I first heard Daniel Pink speak at the How Design Conference in San Diego. His leadership helping corporations, associations and creative innovators embrace the transformational economy of the 21st Century was gaining momentum in creative communities across the globe. Daniel’s presentation, directed to a gathering of more than 500 right brained thinkers, left us awestruck, inspired and most of all empowered. You see Daniel believed in us. He saw that the future of economics and a healthy society would be dependent on creativity.

In Daniel’s book A Whole New Mind he says “We are moving from an economy and society built on the logical, linear, computerlike capabilities of the information age to an economy and society built on the inventive, empathetic, big picture capabilities of what’s rising in its place – the CONCEPTUAL AGE. These people – artists, inventors, designers, storytellers, caregivers, counselors, big picture thinkers – will now reap society’s richest rewards and share its greatest joys.” Pretty powerful words!

In my opinion, A Whole New Mind is not only one of the most important reads for every visual artist, filmmaker and marketing enthusiast, but it should be required reading for every single college graduate. In fact, in the entertainment marketing courses I lead I’ve insisted upon it. If the book hasn’t shown up in your radar yet, allow me to share five areas Daniel touches on.

1) The 21st Century is experiencing for the first time a fusion of High Concept (the capacity to detect patterns and opportunities, create artistic and emotional beauty, craft narrative, and to combine seemingly unrelated ideas into something new) and High Touch (the ability to understand the subtleties of human interaction, to find joy in one’s self and to elicit it in others, and to stretch beyond the ordinary in pursuit of purpose and meaning.) How has this effected you and your contribution to our culture?

2) People who embrace the unique qualities of their analytical know-it-all left brain and their holistic, divergent right brain will more effectively adapt to change and challenge. In these transformational times of marketing and transmedial entertainment, how has this principle played into your decisions?

3) We’ve seen a rise in “once-exotic practices like yoga and meditation to the rise of spirituality.” We see it entering the workplace and more often in books and movies. In fact, an entire new community of coaches and passion directed leaders like Tony Robbins is growing larger everyday. Defining meaning and pursuing immediately happiness are core values of the “Now” Generation. Who are your personal inspirators?

4) For most of human history our lives were defined by scarcity. Today, abundance is a thread weaving through business economics and many cultures. There are more cars than licensed drivers. There are 72 hours of video uploaded to YouTube every minute. We even build storage units to hold the abundance of our stuff then create TV shows about it. But abundance has ”produced a premium on less rational, more R-directed sensibilities. For business, it’s no longer enough to create a product that’s reasonably priced and adequately functional. It must also be beautiful, unique and meaningful.” What choices do you make out of a desire for beauty and meaning?

5) Story and design have become recognized and relevant differentiators for individuals and brands. Stories share emotion and meaning through personal crisis and triumph – both powerful motivators for audiences seeking a new entertainment experience or consumers investing in trustworthy brands. Design thinking and the visual language of stories feed our right brains and bring more value to the decisions we make. When was the last time you paid more money for a product because it made you feel good? I’d be willing to bet design and story influenced your choice.

If these five little nuggets inspired you, I hope you decide to continue reading deeper into Daniel’s work. His latest book Drive has recently been called “Important reading…an integral addition to a growing body of literature that argues for a radical shift in how businesses operate.” And it’s next on my reading queue.

Cheers!
Cheryl

Experience the Spirit of the Hard-Working American with Our Labor Day Competitive Set.

Menagerie Creative — Sat, 01 Sep 2012 01:53:13 +0000

Labor Day weekend is here and as we all celebrate this special time with family & friends at the pool, beach or park let’s remember to pay tribute to the social and economic achievements of American workers – the lifeblood of our country.

Some of our favorite movies are stories about hard-working Americans who strive to succeed often against the odds for the sake of family, security and their own passion. From the persistent and determined Chris Gardner (played by Will Smith) in The Pursuit of Happyness, the empathetic Freder Frederson (played by Gustav Fröhlich) who tries to mediate the differences of the working class and upper class in Metropolis, and the struggle of Jerry Maguire (played by Tom Cruise) to live and work with a new purpose in the movie Jerry Maguire, we’ve selected nine key arts that embody the emotions, characters, and events that often face the American workforce.

Visit our Pinterest Labor Day Weekend Board for even more movie posters that take you inside the spirit of the hard-working American.

Creativity International’s 41st Annual of Print & Packaging Released!

Menagerie Creative — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 22:45:13 +0000

Creativity International Awards has just released their 41st Annual of Creative Print & Packaging. The categories include print, illustration, photography, typography, publications, green design, and packaging. Judges of the awards included many of the most influential leaders in advertising and design across the globe.

Michael Mrakovcic, Creativity Award Judge/Creative Director, recently commented, “They [judges] looked in awe as they surveyed the tables laden with some 5000 entries submitted by the global family of creative minds. The challenge? Seek out those ‘golden goose bump moments’ and share that creativity with the world.”

With an overwhelming amount of entries submitted globally, only 450 of those entries were regarded as having those “golden goose bump moments.” These prized entries are now part of the 418-page hard-bound annual Creativity 41 (Creativity Awards Design Annual, 41) available now on Amazon.

Out of the 450 esteemed finalists only one entry per category was awarded the prestigious Platinum award. The top 10% of each category received the Gold award, and the top 25% received the Silver award.

In the packaging category, the Platinum award went to Ignition Print for their Sex and the City: The Complete Collection. We are pleased to share that our very own packaging for It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Box Set was awarded the Gold, and Silvers were awarded creative firms Logo in New York and Brian Danaher/Made for Ending in Minnesota. Our

The Sound of Music Box Set was also acknowledged as a finalist.

Thank you Twentieth Century Fox for inviting our team to help visually brand and market these two iconic entertainment properties. It’s a privilege to create packaging that touch the hearts of millions of fans and audiences worldwide.

Filtering Clutter and Creating Believers

Menagerie Creative — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 00:20:00 +0000

“Sometimes I believe as many as six impossible things before breakfast.” – Alice in Wonderland

To believe is to possess one of the most powerful of all human emotions. The desire to believe drives our goals and nourishes our souls. We seek to believe meaningful, informed choices for ourselves, our families and the brands we engage. As entertainment marketers, we believe in the story of the film, the artistry of the filmmaker, the integrity of “the business” and above all the relationship with our audiences. Danielle LaPorte believes “Authenticity is a work in progress.” From my perspective, authenticity is just the beginning. “Authenticity” is trust in action. It creates and bonds relationships. And when carefully nurtured, it blossoms into belief — an emotion of the heart.

Belief is always rooted in purpose, also know as the “WHY.” But before that WHY can get the blood pumping and heart racing there’s some serious navigation that must occur. Before we can believe in others or connect with an audience who, will in turn, believe in us, a story must sift through layers of predetermined filters.

Let’s first define “filter”. “A FILTER” is a device used in removal of “undesired contaminants.” “TO FILTER” is to remove, to slow or partially obstruct the passage of said “undesired contaminants.” Wow, pretty heartbreaking when a brand or film we’ve invested love, time and attention to create and market is labeled a contaminant. But there it is.

Now we all know consumers demand choice. More important, is that they believe in their choice. As creative marketers and storytellers it’s our responsibility to give them the reason to believe – that path means learning to cut through three sets of pre-existing filters.

1) Forces of Nature These are the often static, yet universal filters that surround us from the day we’re born. Time, the instinct for survival and the infrastructures we work and live among are among them. Technology is included in this group because in spite of moving far past the age of technology it often continues to get in the way. Also included in these universal forces of nature are the cultural norms conditioned upon us based on our political, religious or moral upbringing.

2) Relationships Once a story sifts through the first level of filtering it begins engaging with social dynamics – group settings, environments, communities we belong to. If our tribe already include believers, we listen a little longer. When a message or story comes through a credible source or trusted relationship, we pay a hint more attention. And, if we regularly visit a stream of communication channels, whether TV, radio, email or even our morning newspaper, we take notice long enough to choose open or delete.

3) Personal Dynamics Finally, after navigating through the first two levels, we can almost hear the beating hearts of our audience. But to pass through this last set of filters takes far more than the old advertising adage of “Attention Interest Desire Action.” The brand story is met with an individual’s preconceived experiences, aspirations, personality type, mood and ego. Any one of these filters can swiftly block your message from reaching their heart.

Sounds like a lot of work right? So why do marketers, filmmakers, artists put so much time, energy and resources into reaching consumers?

Because IT’S WORTH IT!

When hearts connect, people commit. We believe! In the brilliant words of J.K. Rowling as told through the voice of Albus Dumbledore “It’s our choices that define who we are, not our abilities.”

By recognizing these filters, we invest our time and energy toward the stories and messages that cut through, that MEAN SOMETHING. We explore creative that innovates rather than imitates. Most of all we listen, building relationships and lasting conversations instead of reviewing metrics and quick conversions.

Are you a filmmaker with an original story and creative talent yet to find it difficult connecting to producers, film festivals, distributors and the hearts of your audience? Take a hard look at what you believe in, the voice you choose to express it with and the channels it echoes through.

This principle of Audience Filters is itself a very dense topic demanding a much deeper examination. We’ve identified over 15 different filters, each with it‘s own set of characteristics and challenges. A comprehensive ebook on the subject and specifically written with filmmakers and entertainment marketers in mind will be available very soon. If you would like to learn more, be sure to subscribe to our monthly publication Altitude and we’ll send you a link as soon as it becomes available.

If this resonates with you, we would love to hear your thoughts. What filter seems to be most dense surrounding you or your audience? What are you doing about it?

Our Next Book Review? It’s Your Call!

Menagerie Creative — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 22:42:07 +0000

If you’re like us, you can often be found browsing in the local bookstore and picking up the occasional best seller. Only problem, there’s never enough time in our lifespan to ingest every word lining our shelves. We found a solution! We’ve selected four books from leading authors that are fantastic reads for creatives, marketers, and filmmakers and we’re letting you choose which one we review – just for YOU! Whether it’s a book you’re on the fence about personally investing in or an author you’ve heard is well respected, or maybe the cover just appeals to you – simply post the title (from the list below) in our comments section and the title mentioned most will be reviewed next month. Happy reading!

1. The Art of Immersion – Frank Rose
“Frank Rose introduces us to the people who are rethinking the ancient art of narrative for a two-way world—people like Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse of Lost, James Cameron, Trent Reznor, The Sims creator Will, and dozens of others whose ideas are changing how we play, how we communicate, and how we think. From the marketers behind Nike+ to the scientists trying to realize the holodeck from Star Trek, The Art of Immersion captures the creative ferment that is driving a new era of experimentation in media.”

2. Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us – Daniel Pink
“Drawing on four decades of scientific research on human motivation, Pink exposes the mismatch between what science knows and what business does—and how that affects every aspect of life…he examines he three elements of true motivation-autonomy, mastery, and purpose-and offers smart and surprising techniques for putting these into action.”

3. Tell to Win – Peter Guber
“Historically, stories have always been igniters of action, moving people to do things. But only recently has it become clear that purposeful stories—those created with a specific mission in mind—are absolutely essential in persuading others to support a vision, dream, or cause…Guber shows how to move beyond soulless PowerPoint slides, facts, and figures to create purposeful stories that can serve as powerful calls to action.”

4. StoryBranding – Jim Signorelli
“Drawing on the persuasive power of stories, the author argues that a great deal of wasted effort is put into creating advertising messages that do too much ‘telling’ and too little ‘showing’. The author takes you step by step through StoryBranding’s six Cs—a process that shows how to approach the development of all brand communications the way story writers approach their characters, plots, and themes.”

It’s All in the Art!

Menagerie Creative — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 00:14:27 +0000

Boy the way Glenn Miller played
Songs that made the hit parade
Guys like us we had it made
Those were the days!

For those who grew up in the 70s this familiar tune could be heard every Saturday evening chiming across the homes of televisions viewers from Portland, Maine to Portland, Washington.

Archie Bunker, the television definition of a curmudgeon but ultimately lovable father, his adoring yet often strong-willed wife Edith, daughter Gloria and son-in-law Michael Stivic (Meathead) drew in viewers by the millions making All in the Family the first television show in history to top the Nielsen ratings for five consecutive years. The genius behind the shows success? The combined creative talent of writers and actors unafraid to tackle the generational clashes of religion, politics, social and political issues.

When Shout! Factory invited our team to capture the spirit of this cultural phenomenon for the Complete Season DVD packaging we immediately knew the key art was deserved of a classic Norman Rockwell / Richard Amsel inspired illustration. By engaging the talent of our good friend and gifted artist Cliff Cramp, together we re-imagined an iconic moment around the infamous chair…in a true Rockwellian flair!

What’s so rewarding about projects like this is the opportunity to explore beyond photography, beyond what already oversaturates shelves and tiny snapshots of online catalogs. A marketing strategy which honors the film, show or game with an inspired painting or highly stylized graphic transcends the $5 DVD bin at Wal-Mart and connects to the hearts of audiences through the art of illustration. When consumers register years in advance to events like Comic-Con to catch a sneak peak at artists at work and online image sharing communities like Pinterest garner millions of subscribers seemingly overnight, it’s pretty clear that supporting one artform with another strengthens the value and trust in both. When artists tap into emotional relativity and connectivity they create a far deeper relationship with audiences than any technician compositing photos and typography could. What kind of relationship are you looking for with your customers?