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heisenbergchronicles · 6 years

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APPRECIATION & INTERVIEW

Better Call Saul episode posters by Matt Talbot After 4 nearly years, I thought it was time to catch up with Matt Talbot about his Better Call Saul poster project. The last time we talked during Season 1, Matt was deep in the hustle of making his name as an illustrator: juggling a full-time job, freelance projects, as well as band. Finding time for personal projects like this one can be a significant challenge. (Not to mention surviving the death of your tools: During Season 1 his Mac laptop died, and this season, his Wacom tablet bit the bullet). But despite these challenges, the 43-year-old New Hampshire native has persevered to create a clever and thoughtful series of episode posters that has garnered considerable attention, and brought with it new high-profile clients and art exhibitions.

First, congratulations on all of your success and recognition with this series of posters. It’s well-deserved. What’s been the most gratifying feedback you’ve received? Thank you! Every interaction I’ve had with anyone from the show has delighted me. I've been surprised by all of the cast and crew members who have said nice things – every note I’ve gotten has meant a lot to me. That being said, Michael McKean randomly tweeting at me that he has my poster for Chicanery hanging in his home blew my mind. I was eating dinner when my phone showed the notification and I literally jumped up from the table. I’ve been a fan of Michael’s since I saw Spinal Tap in the ‘80s and never in a million years would I have guessed I’d make something he valued enough to hang in his home.

Tell me about your contributions to Gallery1988 exhibitions. How does that process work? It's a pretty simple process. They invite me to be part of a show, and I make something to send them. I’m very excited for the opportunity to show there, and I feel like it’s a milestone in my art-making career.

Across the 4 seasons, which BCS posters are your favorites? Which one are you most proud of? I’m particularly fond of Rebecca, Rico, Marco, Switch, Sunk Costs and Something Beautiful. Oh man, it's hard for me to evaluate my own stuff. I tend to like the posters where I find a way to get a different take on something they did in the episode. I would say that “Sunk Costs” is also one of my favorites because I did something differently than how they shot it, and because Mike is so recognizable even from the back. I was also pleased with “Off Brand” because it was when I finally figured out how to draw Bob Odenkirk.

How has your process for creating these posters evolved over 4 seasons? When I started this project I had a vague idea that I would focus on scenes rather than portraits or likenesses, but that didn’t even last half a season! The characters were too good not to include. In that way, the posters have evolved in my willingness to draw characters, and also, hopefully, my ability to draw them.

My process is now something like: Watch the show on Monday; think about it on Tuesday, figure out what stood out to me and do a thumbnail sketch or two; draw it on Wednesday night; post it Thursday afternoon. I’m a bit faster at drawing these now compared to when I started. And I’m a bit more decisive on choosing which subject matter to depict.

There have been quite a few changes on the visual side of Better Call Saul over the last 2 seasons. New directors (Minkie Spiro, Daniel Sackheim, and Andrew Stanton), a new cinematographer Marshall Adams, even new cameras. What are your thoughts on how the show’s visual grammar has evolved? Has any of this impacted your posters from Seasons 3 & 4? I try not to just redraw literal scenes from the show, and I don’t need to tell you that they shoot the show in an incredibly beautiful way. I mean, they always, always, pick the best angle, the best shot to capture something. For that reason, it’s sometimes hard to to come up with another take on a moment from the show.

That being said, the visual style hasn’t really impacted my posters as much as the evolving subject matter has. The show, I think, is substantially darker than it was in the early going. It was easier to depict Jimmy’s hi-jinx in the first couple seasons. But with Chuck’s deteriorating mental state, the cartel stuff, Mike going deeper into Fring’s world and of course, Jimmy’s loosening sense of morals, the funny moments are harder to spot. That’s lead me to some more somber layouts and color choices.

We didn’t discuss this in our first interview. Which typeface are you using in your posters, or is this custom typography? The main logo and episode titles are set in Sign Painter, from the excellent House Industries.

The Heisenverse is known for it’s color theory and use of color. How has that impacted your color choices in these posters? I’ve kind of adhered to their blue=good/red=bad symbolism, but I also try to balance out colors between episodes and not repeat myself in sequential posters.

Many of your posters (especially ones this season) use a monochromatic, or simple palette of 1-2 colors. Tell me more about why you chose that approach. Is this a signature of your style? I’ve seen this approach in a lot of your work. You know, in the early seasons, I was trying to use simpler color palettes, but I wasn’t very disciplined and I got away from that. I’m trying to stick to a more consistent style in season 4. It is a conscious decision. I also feel like with the week-to-week nature of this project, it helps quickly set apart each poster. And, I really do love limited color palettes. Giving myself color constraints helps me figure out different ways to solve layout problems.

I’ve heard other illustrators say that Bob Odenkirk’s facial features are tricky to capture. Do you share that sentiment? Which characters are more challenging to illustrate? I do agree with that. I had a really hard time with him at first. I kind of think I have a better handle on it now, but I’m always trying to get better. I feel like if you can get his mouth right, it goes a long way.

I found Hector hard to capture both times I drew him. Mike, on the other hand, is just pure fun to draw. Jonathan Banks is so distinctive and iconic.

What’s been the most difficult poster thus far? Why was it challenging? Maybe it’s because a lot of time has gone by, but I can't think of one that stands out as having been really difficult.

Francesco Francavilla did alternate posters for some of his Breaking Bad posters. Inevitably, when artists look back at their work, they consider revising or redoing it because of a variety of reasons – their point of view has changed, their skill/style has evolved, or maybe they were never truly content with the final product. Looking back at 4 seasons worth of posters, are there any that make you want to scratch the revision itch? Yeah, more than I would care to admit. I would really like another crack at Amarillo. I know I could do a better job and that drawing is just super flat. In season two, I decided to to experiment with style and I kind of wish I hadn't. I like Cobbler, but I wish I had drawn it in my normal style. I would redraw Nailed for sure. Oh man, if I start going down this road it's not going to end well, so I'll just stop.

You mentioned earlier this season you were excited to draw Track Suit Jimmy. Who or what haven’t you drawn, that you are eager to illustrate? Howard! It bums me out to no end that I haven't drawn him, but it just hasn't worked out. And I need to include Kim more. It's kind of criminal that her face only appeared for the first time in a poster this season.

What’s your opinion of Season 4? Tell me about your favorites – episode, scene, character. I think season 4 is brilliant so far. The Kim/Jimmy relationship has deepened so much this season, and feels so real, but full of inevitable heartache. Oh, the flash-forward to Breaking Bad’s timeline was amazing. Mike doing his audit in the Madrigal warehouse. Really, anything Michael Mando does on screen. It's hard to pick. I so enjoy the deliberate pace of this show.

Where’s your favorite place to discuss the show? I honestly don’t talk about it too much online, though I lurk in a few places and read a lot. I actually discuss it mostly with my wife!

I know you get this question a lot, so let’s cover it here so folks understand: Do you have plans to sell any of this work online? I really appreciate that people like it enough to want to buy it or hang it, but I don't plan to sell the Better Call Saul posters online. I’m doing this for fun, not to make a buck off the show, and I don’t own the rights to sell it anyway.

What’s next for Matt? Do you have any other poster or illustration projects in the works? Is you band performing soon? I have several more pieces for Gallery1988 shows coming up. I’m pulling together an art show at a local brewery for whom I design all of their labels and stuff. I’m patiently waiting for a t-shirt I designed for one of my all-time favorite movies to be announced. And for the past several Octobers, I spent the month drawing a horror poster per day. I’m not sure if logistically I can do that again this year, but I’ll probably fit at least a few in. We’ll see how it goes. Sadly, with all of my illustration work, I haven’t had any time for music making, but someday I hope to get back to that!

Follow Matt: Web site / Tumblr / Twitter / Dribbble / Instagram / PosterSpy

– Interview by Shayne Bowman, Heisenberg Chronicles

#better call saul #artist interview #matt talbot #mine #heisenberg chronicles #illustration #fan art #posters #favorites #mattrobot #bcs season 4 #gallery1988 #g1988 #house industries #sign painter

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belladonnachaos · 7 years

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Dear Air

Chapter 16

AN: HEY GUYS GUESS WHO IS BACK??? ME!!!!!!!!!!!!! So I took a break after school ended trying to get my life back on track ans trying to think of way to get this story to make sense. Especially when a fellow friend, potato, told them about the guys and their glasses problem. That was the only thing overlooked for some reason, which is pretty stupid on my part because, yes hello, I WEAR THEM TOO. So that got me think on what to do wit that and here it is. The guys and pretty much ever youtuber that has to wear glasses had started to therm instead of contacts due to the threat of them being kidnapped at what gets the unknown their fancy. Which means I may have to redraw Dan and Phil for I know they two wear glasses. I'm not too sure on Felix, Lix, Jp and Pat either, so any of you lovely know please tell. If not its all good, I'll just have to dig through stuff and/or ask them on twitter. Also Gar doesn't need to be drawn for he is a wolf pup after all. So this is my take on them having glasses, they always had them since they woke up and yes even the girls have them, well those that need them. I will more likely be posting at a regular time every Monday, but if something comes up I will post on a Tuesday or Wednesday with my other to current stories. See you all next week for another chapter of Dead Air where everything is starting to get extra good.

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As for the guys, we know nothing of them so no news is good news, but I wouldn’t believe that here. For if there was a hell, this would be it.”

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3rd Person POV:

Mark looked around him again eyes going to from where Wade and the other where to the floating blue/green forms to the tiny box at his feet. He had just awoke from a feverish state after being kidnapped by a psychotic demon when before that he was taken against his will from his home and dropped into a weird world. Honestly he felt a bit overwhelmed and confused at home much has been happening since he was taken away kicking and screaming. Sighing softly Mark ran his hand through his hair, letting it fall onto his face rubbing it as he was thinking when suddenly realized something. His glasses, he was missing his glasses. He frantically check on his person to see if somehow they were hidden in a pocket of his.

“Fuck fuck fuck, this bad” he whispers softly as he looked on his person still.

This got Wade attention who came over to check on his friend, waving off the concerns of the others though a certain little wolf pups follows him anyways. Gar starts to sniff Tim when they get to Mark, while Wade looks over his friend.

“What’s wrong,” he asked oping it wasn’t shock or even another injuring they somehow missed.

“My glasses, I don’t have my glasses on me, I’m so screwed. Without them I can’t see shit or even be useful.” Mark seem so lost, it was true that without his glasses he wouldn’t be able to do much.

Sighing Wade grabbed his backpack that he still had on, opening it he dugged through it until he came upon what he was looking for, a pair of glasses. He had them over to Mark who looked relieved at the sight of them, checking them over for cracks or scratches on the glass. Mark looked confused at why Wade would have them or why they were still intact.

Amused at his lost expression his expression turned a bit somber as he remember where he found them “The morning you were taken as we looked around for clues as to what could have taken you. They were laying in a pile of dirt that showed signs of a struggle.” Wade sighed once more, pushing his own glasses up as they tried to slide down his nose. Gar yipped at his ankles, wanting to be picked up or petted, he didn’t know so he picked him up and placed him on his lap. Mark quickly placed his glasses onto his face, blinking rapidly as his eyes adjusted to the clearness they brought, finally everything was clear as day. He surprised Wade and Gar as he gave Wade a huge hug, “thank you man,” he whispered.

The others take this as a sign to come, ghosts and humans alike, everyone sitting down or floating above the ground to make the illusion that they were sitting. It was time to make introduction to each other and exchange notes on what has been happening. Tim had jump into Mark’s lap to studying the human/wolf pup hybrid that was Gar who was in Wade’s lap also studying the tiny box. Introductions had to be made between marks the new people, well ghost, who came to save him from that demon. Also the ghost had to explain something to them, something that needed to happen and something that wouldn’t make them any happy of where they are right now.

Marked looked at the ghosts who were all around them in the circle then looked back at felix who just gave him an amused look. “So um, who’s the new people and where did they come from?” Sparing a look to the ghost and then another one to Felix who was just grinning at this point from Mark’s confused and unsure face.

Then Mark shifted his his gaze to the cute puppy that was trying to play with Tim while the little box seem calm at being licked and pawed at.“Also who’s the cute little puppy Wade has cause it's such a little cute puppy, oh yes he is.” Which got amused snorts and ;laughter from everyone else as Mark cooed at Gar who was happy from the positive attention he was getting. He even allowed the man to give him a few pets and scratches behind his ears before moved over the taller man’s hand demanding to be petted.

Soon after he was introduced to the other ghost, the two closest to Wade were Pat and Jp, who was a different color from the other, a mixture of green and blue. In the middle of both Felix and Bob was a face he was very familiar to, Lix, fellow friend and animator. On Felix’s other side there were two people he briefly cross path with, Dan and Phil. Last but not least was the little puppy, who Mark learned was another friend of Wade and someone he met before, Gar who for unknown reasons became a wolf pup instead of a ghost like his fellow friends. Now came the time the others, especially Felix, were dreading. Time to shed some light on what was happening and what else was in play, for where those had fail these four would accomplish the feat.

“Now that the instructions are out of the way, it’s time to tackle a very heavy subject matter. Something that affects us all in where we are as of now. Something that I was looking into before I was killed off from sniffing around the wrong kind of trouble. However fortunately with me being a ghost allowed me to get to place that wouldn’t be available to me while alive.”

Felix paused a bit, allowing the guys to take it all in and process it for there was still a bit to explain and the others had to put in their own input too, except Gar of course. Hopefully they four go to do what they what they seven couldn’t do in life or dead with the others that came by.

“ Back when I first came here, when only a few were being taken at a time, the group I was with had heard rumors of what was going on here. They were actually going to look at something they heard about days ago. The rumor is that someone from our world was apparently jealous and envious of what we did. So what they insanely though to do was get rid of all us with demons.”

At that word, everyone was just staring disbelief for demons couldn’t be behind this, right? For how else can you explain where they were and the demons/monsters that wandered free. This all felt like some weird trippy dream that they couldn’t get free of.

Pat spoke up before Felix who had just opened his mouth could speak, “there is was talk of four people going up against the two main demons who are behind this all. It was spoken that they will find the clues and piece everything together to find the original person in this misfit world as they pose as someone who was kidnapped. They said there was two was to get everyone and everything back to the way it was.” He shifted his gaze and sighed sadly, “someone had to give themselves up, soul mind and body.To selfless be the one that will never make it back to their love ones but will allow everyone to get back to theirs. All those who died will be back, time will be rewinded and this would have been all a dream. Except for the death of the one who gave themselves up, but not really for they never would have existed in the first place.”

Pat had muttered the last few words quietly but everyone heard them, to have never existed. Could one of them actually do that, give up everything they have ever worked for? To give up their life, friends and family? The community the built from the ground up. To give up everything that made them? What helped thousands or even millions of people to bring back many who had died and lost their lives to some jealous envious person who did all of this out of spite? Could they really do that? For if they couldn’t then more and more people would die. That’s alright for someone in the group was already think that they will give up themselves for the best of everyone else for they could go on know there was something that was able to be done.

#Dead Air #New chapter #youtuber fanfiction #youtube fanfiction #my writing #writing #sorry this took so long to write and post

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