In a remarkable project with Canal +, PlanetFab Studio was entrusted with the task of designing theatrical key art for the release of the feature film Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, directed by the acclaimed Tomas Alfredson. This espionage thriller, boasting a stellar cast including Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Tom Hardy, and John Hurt, and adapted from John Le Carré’s renowned novel, presented us with a unique canvas. Our challenge was to encapsulate the film’s intricate narrative and its atmospheric tension in visual form. The resulting key art explorations not only pay homage to the film’s nuanced storytelling but also resonate with the depth and complexity of its characters, echoing the suspense and intrigue that lie at the heart of this cinematic masterpiece.
READ MORE +In conceptualizing the visual campaign for “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy,” we were inspired by the enigmatic and cerebral essence of the espionage thriller genre. Our approach was to encapsulate the tension and ambiguity that pervades the narrative, creating a series of posters that are as cryptic and multifaceted as the film’s storyline.
We harnessed the power of minimalism, allowing stark contrasts and bold typographical elements to speak volumes. The selective use of redaction lines in one design was a nod to the obscured and clandestine nature of intelligence work—information is both a weapon and a shield, with the truth often hiding in plain sight. This visual metaphor invites the viewer to peer beyond the surface, to seek the unrevealed and the hidden.
Our artistic journey led us to embrace a pixelated representation of the film’s protagonist, signifying the fragmented and often digital nature of modern-day spycraft. Like the intricate process of gathering intelligence, the image invites the audience to step back and consider the bigger picture that emerges from the individual pieces of data.
Incorporating iconic spy imagery, we played with silhouettes and targets to further the narrative of surveillance and danger. The designs evoke a sense of disorientation and the dizzying chase for truth, much like the perplexing and perilous path a spy must navigate.
The strategic use of a chess motif in another poster reflects the high-stakes game of strategy and subterfuge central to the film. The looming figure over the chess pieces symbolizes the overarching presence of power, manipulation, and the calculated moves that define the world of espionage.
Through these designs, our intention was to create a visual lexicon that is immediately arresting yet retains an air of mystery. We sought to draw viewers into the layered depths of the story, using design as a silent narrative that complements the film’s sophisticated storytelling. Our posters are not merely promotional materials; they are an invitation to explore the shadowy realm of “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy,” a realm where nothing is as it seems and every detail could be a clue.
READ LESS –
