annotated process journal by Shuming Zhang

1 ANNOTATED PROCESS JOURNAL

THE DARK MAZE

ANNOTATED PROCESS JOURNAL

RESEARCH

4-15

IDENTITY

16-25

POSTER

26-30

CATALOG

31-35

ADVERTISEMENTS

36-37

MEDIA PACKAGING

38-39

WEBSITE

40-41

BUSINESS SYSTEM

42-43

TICKETS

ENVIRONMENTAL GRAPHICS 45 SOUNDTRACK

SCHEDULE

RESEARCH

Guy Ritchie DIRECTOR PROFILE Guy Stuart Ritchie (born 10 September 1968) is an English film director, film producer, screenwriter, and businessman, known for his British gangster films. He left his elite boarding school at age 15 and got entry-level jobs in the film industry in the mid-1990s. Ritchie eventually went on to direct commercials. In 1995 he directed his first film, The Hard Case, a 20-minute short that impressed investors who backed his first feature film, the crime comedy Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998). He then directed another cockney crime comedy, Snatch (2000). Ritchie's other crime films include Revolver (2005) and RocknRolla (2008). His British set gangster films have featured emerging stars, such as Jason Statham, Idris Elba and Tom Hardy. He then directed Sherlock Holmes (2009), its sequel Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011). Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998) was followed by Snatch (2000), this time with a bigger budget and a few more familiar faces such as Brad Pitt, Dennis Farina, Benicio Del Toro alongside returning actors Jason Statham, Vinnie Jones and Jason Flemyng. At the end of 2000, Ritchie married the pop superstar Madonna in Scotland, and proceeded to work with his famous wife on a variety of film and video projects, including the short Star (2001), made for BMW and co-starring Clive Owen, and the controversial video “What It Feels Like for a Girl,” which was called out for its violence.

LOCK, STOCK AND TWO SMOKING BARRELS A botched card game in London triggers four friends, thugs, weed-growers, hard gangsters, loan sharks and debt collectors to collide with each other in a series of unexpected events, all for the sake of weed, cash and two antique shotguns.

WHY I CHOOSE HIM

FILMOGRAPHY

His films often use non-linear narrative techniques

Lock, Stock and Two Smoking

to express chaotic violence and humor. I think this

Barrels, Sherlock Holmes,

kind of tension and seemingly unstructured film is

Sherlock Holmes: A Game

very interesting. And from the perspective of visual

of Shadows, The Man from

expression, the blurred and urgent shooting method

U.N.C.L.E. King Arthur: Legend

it uses is more authentic, but also makes the picture

of the Sword

more vivid. TRADE MARK

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Frequently uses narration, Filtered Overlays Numerous plot threads that intersect and assist in each other's payoffs Often works with Jason Statham, Mark Strong and Matthew Vaughn Often casts musicians (Sting, Goldie, Madonna, André Benjamin, Ludacris). Frequently employs the use of high-speed photography in action sequences.

ANNOTATED PROCESS JOURNAL

Violence, Madness, Humor

Cameron Crowe DIRECTOR PROFILE Cameron Bruce Crowe was born in Palm Springs, California, to Alice Marie Crowe (née George), a teacher and activist, and James A. Crowe, a real estate/telephone business owner. Cameron began his writing career as a 15-year-old high-school student, with articles on music submitted to Rolling Stone magazine, and only a few years later had his first script, for Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982). This movie was important for more than his career - his future wife Nancy Wilson had a small role in the film. Music remained important to him, with the rock band Pearl Jam playing a bit role in Singles (1992) well before they were “discovered”. His next movie, Jerry Maguire (1996), took over five years to develop - a chance photograph of a football player and his agent was the initial inspiration. It took some 20 drafts and near terminal discouragement that he would ever get it right before the film finally made it to the screen. And this time his wife composed the music.

JERRY MAGUIRE When a sports agent has a moral epiphany and is fired for expressing it, he decides to put his new philosophy to the test as an independent agent with the only athlete who stays with him and his former secretary. Jerry Maguire is a 1996 American romantic comedy-drama sports film written, produced, and directed by Cameron Crowe, and stars Tom Cruise, Cuba Gooding Jr. and Renée Zellweger. Produced in part by long time Simpsons producer James L. Brooks, it was inspired by sports agent Leigh Steinberg, who acted as technical consultant on the crew. It was released in North American theaters on December 13, 1996, produced by Gracie Films and distributed by TriStar Pictures.

WHY I CHOOSE HIM

FILMOGRAPHY

Cameron Crowe is one of the most important literary and

Say Anything..., Singles, Jerry

artistic film directors in the United States. His film style is fresh

Maguire, Almost Famous,

and warm. Through warm tones and music, the audience can

Vanilla Sky, Elizabethtown, The

relax. In his films, people can not see all kinds of shooting

Union, We Bought a Zoo, Aloha.

techniques, he uses a gentle and peaceful story to make the audience relaxed. Heart warmth.

TRADE MARK

THE DARK MAZE

Films feature pop songs by leading acts. His films frequently contain scenes where a character sings a song in a car. His films frequently have characters who are single parents. Frequently includes a song by the band Sigur Rós in his films.

ANNOTATED PROCESS JOURNAL

Warm, Gentle, Be moved

David Fincher DIRECTOR PROFILE David Fincher was born in 1962 in Denver, Colorado, and was raised in Marin County, California. When he was 18 years old he went to work for John Korty at Korty Films in Mill Valley. He subsequently worked at ILM (Industrial Light and Magic) from 1981-1983. Fincher left ILM to direct TV commercials and music videos after signing with N. Lee Lacy in Hollywood. He went on to found Propaganda in 1987 with fellow directors Dominic Sena, Greg Gold and Nigel Dick. Fincher has directed TV commercials for clients that include Nike, Coca-Cola, Budweiser, Heineken, Pepsi, Levi’s, Converse, AT&T and Chanel. He has directed music videos for Madonna, Sting, The Rolling Stones, Michael Jackson, Aerosmith, George Michael, Iggy Pop, The Wallflowers, Billy Idol, Steve Winwood, The Motels and, most recently, A Perfect Circle.

SE7EN When retiring police Detective William Somerset (Morgan Freeman) tackles a final case with the aid of newly transferred David Mills (Brad Pitt), they discover a number of elaborate and grizzly murders. They soon realize they are dealing with a serial killer (Kevin Spacey) who is targeting people he thinks represent one of the seven deadly sins. Somerset also befriends Mills’ wife, Tracy (Gwyneth Paltrow), who is pregnant and afraid to raise her child in the crime-riddled city.

WHY I CHOOSE HIM

FILMOGRAPHY

David Finch is very good at grasping the rhythm of

Se7en, The Game, Fight Club,

the film, the tone of the picture, and the hearts of the

Panic Room, Zodiac, The Curi-

audience. Most of the big films are focused on peo-

ous Case of Benjamin Button,

ple’s inner struggle and killing. Driven by the tense

The Social Network, The Girl

and rhythmic plot, gradually uncover the identity of

with the Dragon Tattoo, Gone

the murderer, which is very attractive to me.

Girl.

TRADE MARK

THE DARK MAZE

His films often end in a suicide, either attempted or successful. His films often have low-key lighting with green or blue tinted color temperature. Often displays end credits as slide shows (Fight Club, Zodiac, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) or scrolling downward (Se7en) rather than the traditional upward scroll. References to the band 311 (poster in Fight Club, cop car radio call in Zodiac). Stationary shot, unfocused background with character walking into focus.

ANNOTATED PROCESS JOURNAL

Suspense, Terrified, Struggle

DESIGN BRIEF

THREAD The darkness of human nature dips disturbed people into the abyss; no matter how they struggle, life becomes a theater for drama and tragedy. The darkness of human nature traps confused people into the maze of sin; no matter how they struggle, there will never be a happy ending.

TITLE File of Darkness

Dark Souls

Slide From the Edge of Darkness Soak in Darkness Shadow Maze Memory Cracks

Darkness Closes In

Dark Maze

Investigation of Darkness

Dark Descent Invasion of Shadows

Mind Descent

Twisted Maze

Labyrinth of Darkness

Imprisoned in Darkness

Dark Clue

SUBTITLE The perplexed are trapped in the dark maze in David Fincher’s films. There’s no way to get out of a maze without despair in David Fincher’s films. Explore the dark side of human nature in David Fincher’s films. Find the truth lost in the darkness in David Fincher’s films.

GUIDING NARRATIVE Who // I’m a Female bank clerks.

Who // I’m a detective who is investigating a serial killer.

Where // After midnight, I just finished overtime and walking

Where // I am in the killer’s basement.

through an underground passage.

What // I find some evidence.

What // Suddenly, I got a bad feeling...

Then // The evidence is disturbing and seems to have been

Then // Someone attacked me from behind, and I passed out.

deliberately left behind by the murderer... Materials Narrative // ...In this case, I’d want to pick a point

Materials Narrative // ...In this case, I’d want to pick a point

view of detective, I will look at the evidence and Investigate the

view of victim, and show a sense of nervousness and terror

crime scene.

before bad things happen. Surrounding environment is the main

THE DARK MAZE

breakthrough point.

ANNOTATED PROCESS JOURNAL

FILMOGRAPHY

DOODLE

Alien 3 Seven The Game Fight Club Panic Room Zodiac The Curious Case of Benjamin Button The Social Network The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Gone Girl

LOCATION

DATES

San Francisco, California

July 4

Regal Cinemas L.A. LIVE 14

The film festival will be held from July 4-6 2018,

The location will take place all across the Bay area, the

which leads up to the The date of Zodiac killer’s first

place where Fincher grew up. The significance with the

attack.

city is that Notorious serial killer who called himself the “Zodiac” and killed in and around the San Francisco Bay Area during the late 1960s and early 1970s.

DIRECTOR CONNECTIONS Taxi Driver & The Wolf of Wall Street His film more known for their depiction of violence and liberal use of profanity.

Knock Knock & Cabin Fever Martin Scorsese

Eli Roth

Twin Peaks & Lost Highway His films are desperately strange and alienating. Similar find the macabre in the mundane and

Similar use of violence and blood

violent and bloody horror films. In Bruges & Seven Psychopaths

David Lynch

David Fincher

Martin McDonagh

inserts the mundane back into the gruesome. Sin City & Once Upon a Time in Mexico

very R-rated and completely insane

Similar use of alongside ridiculously smart dialogue, boundless creativity and a frequent penchant for profanity. Directed Snatch & RocknRolla

Robert Rodriguez

Guy Richie

More violent and bloody Similar dark humor & editing style

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PHOTO STYLE

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GRAPHIC STYLE

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TYPE STYLE

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MASTER MOOD BOARD

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

IDENTITY

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Eurostile LT Std_Bold Condensed

IMPACT_ REGULAR

Tall Dark And Handsome_Condensed

Bebas Neue_regular

Rockwell (T1)_Condensed

American Typewriter_Condensed

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MZE

MZE MAZE

MZE

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MZE 20

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FINAL LOGO

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POSTERS

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FINAL POSTER

JULY

SEVEN

4–8

THE GAME

FIGHT CLUB

REGAL CINEMAS, LA LIVE 14

ZODIAC DISCOVER HOW PEOPLE’S THOUGHTS BECOME DISTORTED, AND LOST IN THE SHADOW OF HUMAN NATURE IN THE FILMS OF DAVID FINCHER.

GONE GIRL

THE DARK MAZE

THE

DARK

WWW.THEDARKMAZE.COM

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CATALOG

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