Theatrical-sized poster (27x40" at full size)
The goal here was to capture the essence of 1970s pinball culture in design, palette, and atmosphere, all while placing the welcoming smile of the film's subject – Mike Loftus, owner of The Ottawa Pinball Arcade – front and centre.
The design takes cues from vintage pinball artwork customs, including the once-ubiquitous "bonus ladder" (the series of circular indicator lights climbing vertically up the left).
Spec Poster, Alternate Design
Prior to the unveiling of the final poster, I experimented with a more contemporary design. I ultimately abandoned this, as it felt anachronistic, though this poster did accompany the film for the first one or two festival appearances.
VFX Stills
I employed a mix of graphic design and visual effects to seamlessly incorporate the opening credits into the barrage of pinball action that starts off the film. I did so by digitally replacing text found in footage of the real-life machines with credits in a matching (and appropriately weathered!) style.
Deliberate care was taken to match the aesthetic of the original text found on these vintage machines, right down to the font, strokes, and placement. The goal was that even someone who grew up staring at these playfields may not immediately realize the real graphics had been altered.
