The Cinema Experience - Escapism at its best

The Oxford Dictionary defines escapism as "The tendency to seek distraction and relief from unpleasant realities, especially by seeking entertainment or engaging in fantasy." The genre of science fiction is one form of escapism. As a genre for film, it entangles the audience into the imagination of a team of people from behind and in front of the camera. The science-fiction movie is born from the painted words of an author's written vision alongside a director's interpretation. The vision is shared amongst the amazing talents of movie poster artists, cinematographers, costume designers and out of this world musical composers. We swathe ourselves into the folds of escapism and lay before its artistic representation limited by area, time, and space upon a screen.

It was in April 2018 that the Martigues Science-Fiction Film Festival (MSFFF) premiered, the first of its kind in Martigues, France. The event showcased the strong presence of France in the science-fiction genre of comics, novels, film and across social media platforms. The beautiful location was friendly and welcoming, the small shops decorated their storefront windows with movie themes whilst providing shade to visitors and locals who came for the festival.

Countless movies were screened across several theatres in Martigues of which we were able to attend three screenings: Small Soldiers (1998), 2010 (1984) the sequel to Space Odyssey 2001 and Soylent Green (1973). The impact of viewing these classic science-fiction films on the big screen advanced the meaning of cinemas during this experience. Cinemas are a stage of action, where the imagination of others is projected and made accessible to many. Cinemas offer a place and opportunity to relive or enjoy films of all ages. The theatrical experience enables you to get as close to the art as possible in an atmosphere that can be unifying where you sit side by side with fellow attendees sharing experience and emotion through art.

The guest of honour, director Joe Dante was a daily presence at the MSFFF. Having directed movies such as Gremlins, Small Soldiers and Inner Space, Joe Dante’s creative work touchesupon the comedic aspect held within the realm of science-fiction whilst addressing the hidden possibilities of natural and human invention and evolution. Getting the chance to see Small Soldiers on the big screen enabled an audience, nearly a quarter of century later after its initial release, to relive the 90s escapism where you and the screen filter out the world around you and supplant you within the atmosphere of an earlier time period. Watching a former release in a renewed cinema experience enables you to travel for a moment into a captured visual field of time and space. Joe Dante’s films have presented us with his vision of cinematic expression where an audience can experience evolved states of existence and invention, its expression of dangers, challenges and overcoming seemingly impossible obstacles. Science-fiction enables our mind to think farther away and ahead into an infinite realm of possibilities. That is what cinema offers us, escapism. We cheer for the positive outcomes and are heavily rewarded when they are won at last, and we grieve when the greater outcome is lost.

As the months move forward with the possibility of once again attending a local cinema we look toward another moment of escapism. It is here where we can share experiences of artistic expression and interpret the screen's story through the lens of our own experience, desires, inner conflict, and hopeful resolution. It is in this that we might be able to renegotiate the world around us as we recover from so much change, and in this former familiarity we can sit together and return to a source of cinematic comfort and inspiration.

**MARTIGUES SCI-FI FILM FESTIVAL KEY ART POSTER - ARTIST PROOF**
**Original lithographic print from the MSFFF event. Limited edition, event exclusive.**
**Limited posters available now exclusively from the artist. Visit the** shop here.
23x33" (approx) Lithographic Print. AP (Artist Proof) Signed by the Artist
Officially licensed poster from the event features guest of honour Director Joe Dante and other guests at the event including writer Benjamin Legrand, Director Marc Caro and Illustrator Paul Shipper
Ships Worldwide.

Masters of the Illustrated Film Poster 2020 - The SDCC@Home Special

Sit back, and enjoy this rare, almost fireside chat amongst some of the finest illustrators in the film poster field from the last 50 years!

Interview with prestigious Illustration Magazine

In case you missed it, I was recently interviewed in Issue 66 of Illustration Magazine. The magazine is well known amongst illustration lovers and collectors. Predominantly showcasing the illustration work of the Golden Age, highlighting the incredible artists and their craft from this period who are sadly no longer with us. Publisher Dan Zimmer is helping keeping the art alive and well.

I am incredibly honoured to be the first living illustrator to grace the magazine with an interview and showcase of some of my own work across 20 pages. Author Stephen Jared talks to me about growing up and the early part of my life; through school, college and university to working professionally today.

I encourage you to get a copy or if you are a fan of illustration, go ahead and get yourself a subscription - published quarterly, it is an absolute must! A wonderful archival magazine that will be cherished in anyone’s collection.

Here is a little snippet from the interview:

Many thanks to Stephen Jared and Dan Zimmer for making this happen.

You can get a hard copy or digital download of the magazine here: Illustration Magazine #66

When your childhood influences can shape your future career

It’s a time-old tale - what if you were to time travel back in time to tell a 13-year-old you the things you are getting to work on today… oh boy!

Scrapbook 1984/85

Sketches and Paintings - Early 1990's

Star Wars Painting 1997

John Williams Tribute painting 1998

Raiders of the Lost Ark 20th Anniversary 2001

Some advice I would likely give to myself would be to never be ashamed of the things you love and enjoy while growing up. Let the TV shows, the movies, the books, comics, toys and games wash over you and become engrained in your existence, it usually is coming from the right place, deep in your heart and soul. There were times growing up where I can remember being made to feel that I shouldn’t be into certain things any more - ‘grow up!’ they would say. There is peer pressure that can stop you from being into something you enjoy too. One thing I have found is that the things we are into as children can shape your future if you don’t give up on them. The stuff you loved growing up, you can continue to enjoy as you go throughout your life. In essence, the memories you have, however rose-tinted they may be, can define your future. No one can know where your path through life will lead to or end up - but we can steer towards our own interests to shape our own futures in the hopes that our choices can help make the world an even better place.

At this stage of my life and career, I feel very humbled and grateful for the opportunities that have come my way. Growing up dreaming about working on official work for something like Star Wars, to actually being hired to create art for the franchise! 🤯 I still find myself in awe of the enormity of this even happening in reality … Is it fate at hand, coincidence, has prayer got something to do with it or is it merely willing things to become a reality? It is hard to put one’s finger on it. It could be all of the above. All I can really suggest is that it has been a dream of mine to do this kind of work. Without knowing how to even make it become a reality, keeping the faith has been my mantra. Never giving up despite any naysayers. Believing there is even the slightest possibility.

“If you build it, they will come.”

Be passionate, be consistent. Work hard. Never give up.