Dryden Theatre hosts film series A Curious Type: Graphic Design in Film

Films of the April series focus on typography, title design, and advertising; includes feature film Helvetica

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Dryden Theatre at George Eastman House presents the series A Curious Type: Graphic Design in Film at the Dryden Theatre every Thursday April 3 to 24, plus the weekend of April 19 and 20. The series focuses on all elements of graphic design — television advertising, typography in film, title design, Modernist design, and "mid-century modern" design in cinema.

"Graphic design is an implicit part of the filmmaking process," said Michael Neault, associate programmer of the Eastman House's Motion Picture Department. "It is often so implicit, however, as to become obscured by some of the flashier aspects of movies. For this series, we're hoping to uncover the elements of graphic design in cinema by exploring artists and examples that exhibit great design."

The series starts with the German Bauhaus genre, which emerged in the 1920s. The school known for standardized architecture had a huge impact on art and abstract filmmaking. This is apparent in the work of Laszlo Moholy-Nagy and Hans Richter, which will be featured in a program of short films at 8 p.m. Thursday, April 3. Before the screenings, will be a lecture on the Bauhaus genre by RIT Professor R. Roger Remington.

For a modern perspective on design in television commercials, the Dryden will screen the British Television Advertising Awards 2007 at 8 p.m. Thursday, April 10. "These advertisements can be appreciated as miniature stories of great wit and ingenuity," Neault said.

Charles and Ray Eames, a husband-and-wife graphic design duo from Los Angeles, are responsible for the "mid-century modern" look. The couple best known for their industrial design has also made classroom and industrial films for major American corporations. A program of their films will be shown at 8 p.m. Thursday, April 17.

The series continues with Helvetica, Gary Hustwit's film about the most popular typeface in the world, which will dissect the science of how eyes read letters on a page with screenings at 8 p.m. Saturday, April 19 and 5 p.m. Sunday, April 20. RIT Professor Charles Bigelow will discuss the theory of typography before the April 19 screening.

"Even viewers who've never given a serif a second thought are in for an exclamation point of joy from such a well-designed documentary]," wrote Lisa Schwarzbaum, film critic at Entertainment Weekly, about Helvetica.

The final program in the series features Saul Bass, a master of title and poster design. Bass, whose credits include Vertigo, Casino, and Cape Fear to name a few, studied with Bauhaus designers in Manhattan before moving to Los Angeles. A selection of his best work will be presented at 8 p.m. Thursday, April 24.

A Curious Type: Graphic Design in Cinema Schedule:

8 p.m. Thursday, April 3
Laszlo-Moholy-Nagy & Bauhaus Films (program running time: 80 min.)
Program of short films include: Moholy-Nagy's LIGHTPLAY (1930), BERLINER STILLEBEN (1931), IMPRESSIONEN (1929); Richter's FILMSTUDIE (1925), RHYTHMUS 21 (1921), RHYTHMUS 23 (1923). GHOSTS BEFORE BREAKFAST (1927), RACE SYMPHONY (1928); Viking Eggeling's SYMPHONIE DIAGONALE (1924); and an excerpt from the 1936 feature THINGS TO COME.
Preceded by a 7 p.m. lecture on the Bauhaus from RT Professor R. Roger Remington.

8 p.m. Thursday, April 10
British Television Advertising Awards 2007 (UK 2007, 90 min.)

8 p.m. Thursday, April 17
The Films of Charles & Ray Eames (program running time: 90 min.)
Program includes: POWERS OF TEN (1977); HOUSE (1955); KALEIDOSCOPE JAZZ CHAIR (1960); IBM AT THE FAIR (1965); ALPHA (1972); TOCCATA FOR TOY TRAINS (1957); and the documentary 901: AFTER 45 YEARS OF WORKING (Eames Demetrios, US 1990, 28 min.), plus some surprises.

8 p.m. Saturday, April 19
5 p.m. Sunday, April 20
Helvetica (Gary Hustwit, U.S. 2007, 80 min.)
Preceded by a 7 p.m. discussion by RIT Professor Charles Bigelow on the history of typography (April 19 screening only).

8 p.m. Thursday, 24
Saul Bass and the Art of Title Design (program running time: 70 min.)
This program will examine the essential Bass titles, and will be followed by Bass' Oscar®-winning short, Why Man Creates? (Saul and Elaine Bass, US 1968, 30 min.).

Admission to each film is $6 general admission, $5 students and $4 members. For more information please visit dryden.eastmanhouse.org or call (585) 271-4090.

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