From their small, separate start on the silver screen in the 1940s to joining forces for one of the most anticipated epics hitting theaters in 2016, Batman and Superman have woven in and out of cinematic history for over 70 years. Leaving in their wake a plethora of film posters, the Poster Boys look back through the key art that defined each cinematic interpretation of two massive cultural icons and use their highs and lows to examine the constantly changing trends within the industry.
SHOW NOTES & LINKS
The Dissolve: How the 1989 Batman logo helped set the course for superhero movies, by Noel Murray
Music selections: “Bass on Titles” opening theme; Batman TV serial opening theme by Lee Zahler, Batman TV theme by Neal Hefti, Superman original soundtrack by John Williams, Batman original soundtrack by Danny Elfman, The Dark Knight Rises original soundtrack by Hans Zimmer, Man of Steel original soundtrack by Hans Zimmer.
Follow Brandon Schaefer at @seekandspeak, and Sam Smith at @samsmyth.
Special thanks to producer Adrian Cobb and to our presenting partner, AIGA’s Eye on Design blog.

16: Batman v Superman

The Poster Boys are Brandon Schaefer and Sam Smith, two designers who get together and discuss all things graphic design, share their influences, and explore and celebrate the titans of poster design history. Schaefer and Smith both work as poster designers in today’s film industry, working with clients including The Criterion Collection, IFCFilms, Oscilloscope, Death Waltz Recording Company, and Janus Films. Look as you listen by following theposterboys.tumblr.com.

Arts

Literature

Performing Arts

Design

Food

Fashion & Beauty

Visual Arts

TV & Film

For the final episode of The Poster Boys, designers Brandon Schaefer and Sam Smith round up the most notable movie posters of 2019, celebrating some of their personal favorites while reflecting on general trends in key art, festival posters, design agencies, and other aspects of the industry. The Poster Boys are now offering bonus episodes and exclusive content on Patreon in addition to their regular episodes. For these episodes plus much more exclusive bonus content, visit Patreon.com/theposterboys. SHOW NOTES & LINKS Movie Poster of the Week Screen Fonts Posterized Propaganda Posterwomen Newsletter Posteritati JozefSquare Music selections: “Bass on Titles” theme; Prelude from The Last Black Man In San Francisco; God Gave Rock And Roll To You II by KISS. Thank you to our patrons: Aschley Fish, Logan Norris, John Paino, That Robot Guy, Jay Shaw, Midnight Marauder, Dylan Marchetti, Christian Laliberte, Lee Turner, Mike Guzman, Jason Suzuki, Ben Toupein, Jacob Lindström, Maddox Finkel, Matthew McCarthy Film Art Gallery, DRW, Matt McKee, Matthew Goodman, Dafna Pleban, Max A. Butler, Alex Kintzle, Robert Ewing, Scott Saslow, Sean Greathead, Llenn Kohlman, Tim Cook, Joaquin Morin, Makiko, Marie Julian, Neven Udovicic, Nico, Bryan West. Follow Brandon Schaefer at @seekandspeak, and Sam Smith at @samsmyth. Produced by Adrian Cobb Support The Poster Boys on Patreon!  

59: 2019 In Review

With Martin Scorsese’s critically-acclaimed new film THE IRISHMAN hitting theaters and Netflix this month, poster designers Brandon Schaefer and Sam Smith take a look back at the posters of Scorsese’s filmography. From his early iconic classics like MEAN STREETS and THE KING OF COMEDY to his additional DeNiro collaborations TAXI DRIVER and RAGING BULL, as well as his genre diversions AFTER HOURS and BRINGING OUT THE DEAD and his recent string of Dicaprio-led hits like THE DEPARTED and THE WOLF OF WALL STREET, the Boys reflect on poster design trends from the late 70’s to today. The Poster Boys are now offering bonus episodes and exclusive content on Patreon in addition to their regular episodes. For these episodes plus much more exclusive bonus content, visit Patreon.com/theposterboys. SHOW NOTES & LINKS  Hat and Beard Press: The Art of Akiko Stehrenberger  Inside Martin Scorsese’s Movie Poster Collection MOMA: Scorsese Selects Alex Griendling’s unused designs for Shutter Island Music selections: “Bass on Titles” theme; The Ronettes - Be My Baby; Bernard Herrmann - Taxi Driver. Thank you to our patrons: Aschley Fish, John Paino, DRW, That Robot Guy, Jay Shaw, Midnight Marauder, Dylan Marchetti, Christian Laliberte, Mike Guzman, Ben Toupein, Jason Suzuki, Jacob Lindström, Matt McKee, Maddox Finkel, Matthew Goodman, Matthew McCarthy Film Art Gallery, Dafna Pleban, Sean Greathead, Alex Kintzle, Scott Saslow, Robert Ewing, Max A. Butler, Unsupervised Kids - Juan, Tim Cook, Makiko, Joaquin Morin, Marie Julian, Daniel Mouton, Nico, Neven Udovicic, Logan Norris, Bryan West. Follow Brandon Schaefer at @seekandspeak, and Sam Smith at @samsmyth. Produced by Adrian Cobb Support The Poster Boys on Patreon!  

58: Martin Scorsese

It’s the Movie Posters of the 70′s - PART TWO! This month on The Poster Boys podcast, designers Brandon Schaefer and Sam Smith complete their annual deep-dive into American film posters from an entire decade; this time: the 1970’s. In the second of an epic two-part special, The Poster Boys round out their list of favorite and noteworthy graphic designs from a tremendous decade of key art. The Poster Boys are now offering bonus episodes and exclusive content on Patreon in addition to their regular episodes. For these episodes plus much more exclusive bonus content, visit Patreon.com/theposterboys. SHOW NOTES & LINKS Keith Phipps’ “The Laser Age” column for The Dissolve Sam’s Myth - Process: CARLOS  Don Record: Hollywood’s Other Lost Title Designer Music selections: “Bass on Titles” theme; Bruce Langhorne - The Hired Hand original soundtrack. Thank you to our patrons: Aschley Fish, John Paino, DRW, That Robot Guy, Jay Shaw, Midnight Marauder, Dylan Marchetti, Christian Laliberte, Mike Guzman, Ben Toupein, Jason Suzuki, Jacob Lindström, Matt McKee, Maddox Finkel, Matthew Goodman, Matthew McCarthy Film Art Gallery, Dafna Pleban, Sean Greathead, Alex Kintzle, Scott Saslow, Robert Ewing, Max A. Butler, Unsupervised Kids - Juan, Tim Cook, Makiko, Joaquin Morin, Marie Julian, Daniel Mouton, Nico, Neven Udovicic, Logan Norris, Bryan West. Follow Brandon Schaefer at @seekandspeak, and Sam Smith at @samsmyth. Produced by Adrian Cobb Support The Poster Boys on Patreon!

57: Movie Posters of the 70’s - Part 2

Designers Brandon Schaefer and Sam Smith take an annual deep-dive into American film posters from an entire decade; this time: the 1970’s. In the first of an epic two-part special, The Poster Boys look at key art contributions by legendary illustrators of the era including Milton Glaser, Richard Amsel, Ted Coconis, and Jack Davis, as well as contributions from countless other designers and illustrators who created challenging and memorable poster art in an analog era long before today’s design technologies emerged. The Poster Boys are now offering bonus episodes and exclusive content on Patreon in addition to their regular episodes. For these episodes plus much more exclusive bonus content, visit Patreon.com/theposterboys. SHOW NOTES & LINKS  Movie Poster of the Week: The American Film Theatre Music selections: “Bass on Titles” theme, Finale by David Shire from THE CONVERSATION (1974), Music from TIME AFTER TIME (1979) by Miklos Rozsa Thank you to our patrons: Aschley Fish, John Paino, DRW, That Robot Guy, Jay Shaw, Midnight Marauder, Dylan Marchetti, Christian Laliberte, Jason Suzuki, Jacob Lindström, Ben Toupein, Matthew McCarthy Film Art Gallery, Matt McKee, Dafna Pleban, Robert Ewing, Unsupervised Kids - Juan, Alex Kintzle, Max A. Butler, Tim Cook, Makiko, Scott Saslow, Marie Julian, Daniel Mouton, Logan Norris, Nico, Neven Udovicic, Bryan West, Mike Guzman, Maddox Finkel. Follow Brandon Schaefer at @seekandspeak, and Sam Smith at @samsmyth. Produced by Adrian Cobb Support The Poster Boys on Patreon!

56: Movie Posters of the 70’s - Part 1

This month on The Poster Boys podcast, designers Brandon Schaefer and Sam Smith celebrate the movie poster designs of Dorothea Fischer-Nosbisch and Fritz Fischer, partners and unsung heroes who designed stunning posters and programs for Atlas Films in 1960′s Germany alongside like Hans Hillmann, Heinz Edelmann, and other members of their award-winning design collective NOVUM which they founded. Displaying a range of styles incorporating expressive illustration, typography, and photography, Fischer-Nosbisch’s work connects to modern-day film poster design in refreshing and inspiring ways. The Poster Boys are now offering bonus episodes and exclusive content on Patreon in addition to their regular episodes. For these episodes plus much more exclusive bonus content, visit Patreon.com/theposterboys. SHOW NOTES & LINKS  Film Kunst Grafik  The Poster Boys: Hans Hillmann  Music Production Podcast - Be PROlific The Beacon Cinema (Correction: Haunted Light poster by CITY SCUM) Music selections: “Bass on Titles” theme, The Third Man theme by Anton Karas Thank you to our patrons: Aschley Fish, John Paino, DRW, Jay Shaw, Midnight Marauder, Dylan Marchetti, Christian Laliberte, Jason Suzuki, Ben Toupein, Jacob Lindström, Matthew McCarthy, Scott Saslow, Matt McKee, Dafna Pleban, Mike Guzman, Maddox Finkel, Max A. Butler, Robert Ewing, Alex Kintzle, Juan Motoa, Unsupervised Kids, Makiko, Tim Cook, Marie Julian, Daniel Mouton, Logan Norris, Nico, Neven Udovicic, Bryan West. Follow Brandon Schaefer at @seekandspeak, and Sam Smith at @samsmyth. Produced by Adrian Cobb Support The Poster Boys on Patreon!

16: Batman v Superman

Download our free app to listen on your phone