Alternate posters, abandoned projects, and a tease of what’s to come from Mondo
The Mondo poster team of Mitch Putnam, Rob Jones, Jay Shaw, & Eric Garza discuss the creative process behind Mondo’s work and how they work with artists and arrive at final images. The panel will include a presentation of alternate concepts and a look at some of the biggest releases of the year!
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JAWS
- Jaws 2 was revealed as one of this year’s releases and came about after Laurent Durieux sent an email asking what Mondo thought about him “revisiting Jaws” — something appealing to many after his take on the first film has become very popular indeed. His initial sketch was VERY different however.
- It seems the interest sparked something of a Jaws series, so expect the third and forth installments to get a print. According to Jay Shaw, fans will be ShJocked to discover who takes on Jaws 4 (the Revenge).
- As for Jaws 3, Shaw himself will be tackling that one, and the “8 people who liked his Rocky III poster” will be very happy indeed. They’re getting the same again…but with a shark. As one of the 8, bring it Jay.
Pins
- Typically pin releases come as a set of three, save for earlier this year when a set came out made up of Moon Knight and Ghost Rider, but a third pin was mean to be included, Moebius. They couldn’t quite get it right, so it was scrapped.
Pint Glasses
- This year saw the release of a War of the Planet of the Apes pint glass from Eric Powell; however, the studio took a disliking to his original concept sketch deeming the ape to be “too violent, too aggressive looking.” When informed of this, Powell’s response was brilliant, and can be seen below, prior to his tweaking of the image.
- Typically Mondo reel out the glasses for the bigger releases, and many were left wondering where the release was for Wonder Woman. Well, fact is they tried, a lot, to get one done. Becky Cloonan was recruited to design, and her first brilliant take, drawing from ancient myths, was rejected. The second went the same way when the studios remarked “there are no arrows in the film”…there are. The final idea, was given positive feedback and after it went to final, a comment was made that she looked “too angry.” The result was people walking away from the project.
Canadians
- Justin Erickson of Phantom City Creative has long been nailing posters on two ends of the spectrum, horror and those inspired by classic animation. In continuation of his latter series, he took a piece depicting The Great Piggy Bank Robbery to final art; however, issues with getting approval from the estate of Robert Clampett meant it couldn’t get a release.
- Jason Edmiston, another talent from north of the border, has plans to continue his Batman ’66 series, notably with a depiction of the Penguin. However, work on his “Eyes” show, as well as a belief that there were better ways to use his time after a perceived lukewarm reception to the earlier releases, meant the continuation of the series was abandoned.
- Gary Pullin turned out a superb piece of album art for Stage Fright, a classic Giallo horror. However even with it all finalized and rights secured, they were pipped by another release which featured very similar artwork. The project again was scrapped.
- Randy Ortiz took on a hell of a project: Mario Bava’s Black Sunday, a revered horror classic. His concept revolved around a depiction of the film’s lead, played by Barbara Steele. The actress, now in her late 70s, was contacted directly for her approval over likeness rights. Her responses to sketches were less specific an more observational, with comments like “I look like I just left a thrift store,” “I look like I didn’t take a shower,” and for one of the final pieces, “I look like I’ve been electrocuted.” The final piece needed approval and the actress just ceased communication. Jay Shaw assured the audience she’s alive and well, but perhaps just lost interest. Another example of how some projects just end because a dialogue dissipates.
Marvel Cinematic Universe
- Mondo has shown love for every Marvel property so far, save one: Doctor Strange. It’s not for want of trying though.
- Daniel Danger actually reached out with a concept, one rejected by Marvel due to its drawing pieces from other art sources, despite no likenesses actually being available for him to incorporate.
- Florian Bertmer did a great take on the film; however, Mondo mistakenly took the piece to final before running it by Marvel, who rejected Strange sitting in the flying lotus pose. Despite it being iconic in the comics, it was not a visual in the film itself.
- Tomer Hanuka did a smart take, incorporating the ‘Mirror dimension’ aspect of the film. Marvel however remarked that it needed toning down, the effect making Strange look like an “alien giraffe.” Eric Garza mentioned they hoped to perhaps return to the piece one day.
Video Games
- Jay Shaw worked with Tomer Hanuka to craft artwork for Prey, a game from Bethesda/Arcane. He remarked how it’s often pretty hard to do such work, with often being unable to play the game, just having glimpses of concept art or a trailer to go off of.
- The intent was to make a poster, and after a lot of revision a piece was accomplished, but eventually used as an offset promo piece, not a screenprint.
Rejected Works
- Tomer Hanuka again, bad run of luck that one. Adapting a piece he originally did for the New Yorker, he did a poster for Captain Philips, one intended to go onsale during Mondo’s Oscars night. It was rejected on the simple basis that the studio required at lease two pieces for consideration. Mondo had only the one.
- Alan Hynes did a pass at a poster for Trainspotting 2 (T2). The result was a piece that incorporated a double entendre (#2), and divided opinion amongst the creative directors.
- Mitch Putnam commented on a idea by Joao Ruas for Full Metal Jacket that he described as the “saddest sketch he’s ever had rejected.” Considering the artist’s previous work on war films, it could have truly been something special. But the Kubrick estate nixed it, remarking that “if you’re going to boil the movie down to one image, this is not what you’re going to use.”
- Bonus Kubrick tidbit: Matthew Woodson’s 2001: A Space Odyssey, which was the hit of this year’s show, nearly got rejected by the brick estate too. They relented after some convincing that it did not “look like a cologne advert.”
- Sam Wolfe Connelly tackled one of the best TV shows of the past decade, turning in a few concepts for Hannibal. The ‘meat couch’ ideas were instantly rebuffed by Mondo, but they tweaked a few of the others. The final images just failed to click with the studio.
- Matthew Woodson, a native Chicagoan, relished the opportunity to have a go at Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. His concept used one of the more iconic moments of the film. However, problems were encountered due to a lack of likeness rights — apparently Matthew Broderick needs approval from behind too — as well as a wardrobe issue. Yep, that #9 Howe jersey Cameron wears in the scene couldn’t get clearance.
- Woodson had another abandoned project for the ‘Never Grow Up’ Disney show this year. When presented with a list of available licenses, he picked Talespin, just because as Mitch put it, he wanted to “just do fricking planes.”
- Boris Pelcer is a great talent, but not one to have done many posters for Mondo. He did a number of concept takes on Drive that won the approval of the audience, and apparently of Ryan Gosling himself. Sadly, Mondo realized that the licensing for Drive had been lost, so the concepts wait for the day they get it back.
- Rory Kurtz did a timed release in 2017 for The Dark Knight. There was an idea to do a ‘con-edition’, one inspired by the original marketing campaign for the film where the Joker defaced many of the marketing materials for the film. The general consensus was that the effort failed to advance the piece, so it was scrapped.
- Now for the most heartbreaking reveal of the panel. Rory Kurtz, La La Land. Yep, get a look at these stunners, and they’re SKETCHES! While the studio seemed keen initially, communication fell off and it was abandoned as time passed beyond the film’s release and Oscar period. If any Mondo guys are reading, revive these please.
- Stranger Things! An offer was made, for Mondo to do artwork for a soundtrack release…on tape. The issue was, they were asked on a Thursday, with final art needed the next Monday. They turned to Martin Ansin, who turned in the stunning piece below, one that “draws more from Carpenter than Spielberg.” The best thing to come out of the show in my opinion. Ansin was later recruited to do more work for the show, including a Monopoly set!
Batman the Animated Series
- Always popular with Mondo fans, the panel announced that Justin Erickson, long time illustrator of TAM print releases, will be doing a Batman gallery show in 2018. The audience were presented with three options for a Harley and Ivy print that will be made. C won resoundingly.
Steelbooks
- Releases were frozen for a little while because of a management change issue, but they’re getting back on track and 2018 should see a number of releases.
- Mondo is facilitating a release of Blade Runner 2049, aiding artwork but technically unaffiliated with their main steelbook line.
- Disney steelbooks are happening; the first two will feature artwork by Tom Whalen and Olly Moss!
- The first Mondo video game steelbook will get a release in 2018, for the new Far Cry game.
Other tidbits
- Game of Thrones — Mondo hopes to revisit the property, perhaps with another gallery show if possible.
- There’s intention to do some more character posters for A Nightmare Before Christmas, some issues in the past have stemmed from Tim Burton having direct approval over any pieces.
- Some special plans are in the works for Jurassic Park in 2018, with the film having its 25th Anniversary. Turning the Mondo Gallery into a Jurassic Park gift shop is one idea being bandied around. They’d love to release things that seem like “products found in the park.”
- More Shaw Brothers posters are on the way. Work was halted after a change in management at Celestial, but it’s back on track now. Gabz has already done Five Deadly Venoms!
- Mondo has the licence for Indiana Jones, but are waiting for the right artist to be available to work on it. Edmiston was hinted at.
A Grand Finale
- The event wrapped up in a slightly unexpected manner, a wedding proposal! Congratulations to the newly engaged couple!
Photos by David Delgado