BRISTOL LIVES
Q&A
S
am takes being a movie buff to a whole new level. Not only does he collect and sell cult posters, but he also designs alternative ones – you can see his Bristol take on the Cary Grant/Hitchcock movie North by Northwest bottom right.
Hi Sam! What do you do when you’re not selling film posters? I’m a graphic designer at Hive at Paintworks. How did you end up selling movie posters? I started my online business Cult Film Posters when I began to run out of space for my own collection, and it seemed like something that wasn’t really available at vintage markets. It’s really taken off this year – I recently sold a poster of The Man with the Golden Gun to one of the stars of the film, Britt Ekland. How do you go about designing posters? Normally, the idea pops into my head while watching the film. From there, I draw a quick scamp, then design it up on my Mac and start to think how I might get it produced as a screen or giclée print. What’s the first film you ever saw? My uncle took me to see Jurassic Park when I was a kid, because I was obsessed with dinosaurs. I think it was at the cinema at Avonmeads. When did you start collecting film posters? I guess I was around 10, at a time when my local cinema, the Curzon, use to give out free cinema posters. I remember having Mars Attacks and Space Jam posters on my wall at home. Favourite all-time poster? It has to be Apocalypse Now by artist Bob Peak, as it really captures the essence of the film. Dinner party with movie luminaries, alive or dead: choose six guests Jack Nicholson, Sid James, Kurt Russell, Sigourney Weaver, Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder. It’s an eclectic mix of people, but it would make for an amusing night. What’s the most rare poster in your collection? I have an original 1979 Apocalypse Now US half-sheet and an original 1974 Turkish The Man With the Golden Gun poster. Both of these are hard to find now.
SAM BESSANT
He once sold a poster of a Britt Ekland film to Britt Ekland, he’s an out-and-proud Carry On fan and, as well as selling cult movie posters, he has a nice sideline in designing his own . . . Favourite all time film? It is, of course, Jurassic Park! Best non-film thing you’ve seen recently? I love the Wardrobe Theatre; their Eloise & The Curse of the Golden Whisk was brilliant. We love your Bristoland poster! Any more like this in the pipeline? I have a few more design ideas that I’ve started working on that are Bristol-related. I’m hoping to get them produced for the beginning of next year. Will we be seeing you soon at any Bristol markets? December will be busy, with the Folk House Festive Flea Market on Saturday 10 December and the Clevedon Curzon Cinema HAVE Market on Sunday 11 December. If you’re looking for a present for a film fan, then come along; we’ll be selling original posters from £10. Favourite place to see a movie in Bristol? I recently went to the new Everyman Cinema on Whiteladies Road, which was brilliant. Outside of Bristol, it would have to be Clevedon Curzon Cinema or the Little Theatre Cinema in Bath. Where in Bristol do you live, and what’s the best and worst thing about living there? I live in Bedminster at the moment, but soon to be moving to St George. The best thing has to
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be Upfest Festival and Windmill Hill City Farm. The only bad thing is getting stuck in a queue in ASDA on a Monday after work What makes Bristol brilliant? There’s always something going on, whether it’s a festival or a new play, so you never get bored. I’m really hoping the Bristol Arena will happen; I think it something that everyone in Bristol has wanted for a long time. Best place for a meal out? The Lion in Cliftonwood has a great atmosphere and does the best Sunday lunch in Bristol. Apart from design, what are you good at? My friends say I’m really good at choosing weird and wonderful things to do and see in Bristol . . . . . . such as? A Halloween event where there was an act which used real blood. Or watching theatre in cool venues like the Redcliffe Caves. Finally, tell us something surprising… I’m a huge ‘Carry On’ film fan.
For more www.etsy.com/ shop/cultfilmposters