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Fake Love Letters, Forged Telegrams, and Prison Escape Maps

Designing Graphic Props for Filmmaking

Annie Atkins author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Phaidon Press Ltd

Published:19th Feb '20

Should be back in stock very soon

Fake Love Letters, Forged Telegrams, and Prison Escape Maps cover

Fake Love Letters, Forged Telegrams, and Prison Escape Maps offers an insightful glimpse into the intricate world of graphic design for film sets. Written by Dublin-based designer Annie Atkins, the book explores the often-overlooked details that contribute to the authenticity of cinematic storytelling. While audiences may not focus on props like invitations, letters, and tickets, Atkins emphasizes the importance of these elements in creating a believable narrative.

Atkins invites readers to discover her creative process, showcasing how each graphic prop is meticulously designed and thoroughly researched. The book illustrates the dedication that goes into crafting items that, despite their brief appearances on screen, play a significant role in enhancing the film's atmosphere. These props serve not only as tools for actors but also as subtle cues that immerse viewers deeper into the fictional world.

Through anecdotes and illustrations, Fake Love Letters, Forged Telegrams, and Prison Escape Maps celebrates the artistry behind graphic design in film. It highlights how even the smallest details can have a profound impact on storytelling, reinforcing the notion that every element in a movie contributes to its overall experience. This exploration of the behind-the-scenes work invites readers to appreciate the often-unnoticed aspects of filmmaking and the vital role they play in the audience's journey through the story.

'Annie makes the unreal seem hyperreal, and the real more supremely alive and utterly magical.' – Jeff Goldblum

'This is the notebook of an artisan who persistently moves forward on her own path – a wonderful guide demonstrating how on-screen realities are constructed out of forgery. After working as a production designer for many years, it's exciting to find a book dedicated to the essence of graphic design in film. It will be a great help to many juniors in the industry. No one should turn down the chance to peek inside a senior's notebook!' – Ha-jun Lee, Oscar-nominated production designer of Parasite

'A delightful, zoomed-in look at the behind-the-scenes work that goes into making props for movies. A treat for graphic design geeks, film nerds, and all readers interested in the creative process.' – Austin Kleon, the New York Times bestselling author of Steal Like an Artist

'Annie Atkins has an extraordinary gift for inventing graphic design for things real and imagined. Her work elevates the mundane into the irresistible. As prop designer, she expertly transforms everyday documents, passports, letterheads, telegrams, milk bottle tops, street signs, prison escape maps, and tea stains into movie stars.' – Louise Fili, graphic designer and author

'As much a love letter to the magic of movie-making as it is a showcase for Atkins herself. She's passionate about the tiny, telling details ... and just as passionate about the graft of her craft: there are spreads in her book devoted to everything from her collections of ephemera... to recipes for ageing paper ... to top it off, the book opens with a love letter to Atkins herself from none other than Jeff Goldblum.' – Observer

'Letters, signs, books, all manner of products, you name it: if they're in a film, particularly one not set in the present, they're all specially created by a graphic designer, and behind all that design is star creator Annie Atkins.' – Sunday Business Post Magazine

'Dublin-based graphic designer Annie Atkins explores her role in helping create a believable narrative for some of the world's best-loved stories.' – Design Week

'Dedicated to the craft of prop-making.' – GQ

'In her debut monograph, Atkins invites readers to dive into the detective work that goes into creating graphic props for films. With 200 color illustrations and abundant detail, this book takes readers behind the scenes to show the research and imagination behind the passports, tickets, packaging, and newspapers that populate your favorite movie sets.' – MyDomaine

'...a riveting, behind-the-scenes look into the ultra-detailed process of creating passports, street signs, tea stains, and hundreds of other on-screen ephemera. Opening with a love letter to Atkins from none other than Jeff Goldblum, this unforgettable book is at once a treasure for film buffs and a visual feast.' – Esquire

'An extraordinary read for any film buff or budding designer.' – Elephant Magazine

ISBN: 9780714879383

Dimensions: 254mm x 190mm x 20mm

Weight: 700g

208 pages