Movie Haas

So it was a little touch and go for a while on Friday. I got a call around 4/4.30 from Chris to say Gary had had trouble getting out of Dublin and was running late (images of riotous designers appeared in our minds). But, of course, we needn't have worried; he got here and was ready to go pretty much on time.

Now you must understand, I'm not a Helvetica purist, I'm not a hardcore modernist or anything like that. In fact, other than rising to the implied Lars Müller challenge or being prescribed its use by corporate guidelines, I'd be unlikely to choose the font really, taking the Spiekermann position that there's plenty of more interesting typefaces to use. But for what it's worth, I thought the Helvetica film was a very beautiful piece of work.

Whether you're a lover or a hater it's a film about graphic design and as someone who lives and breaths graphic design, that's just about as perfect a film as I could imagine.

Packed full of typographic details and history (including visits to the Linotype archives and the former Haas Type Foundry), opinions from notable and iconic designers, and of course, Helvetica used and abused; it was nicely paced and sensitively produced, with a great soundtrack. I'm no film pundit, so I won't say much more, other than if you don't get to see it on a big screen get the DVD when it's released in October.

Best bits? Michael Beirut's Coke Ad comparison got the loudest laugh. Wim Crouwel, Experimental Jetset and Massimo Vignelli championed Helvetica brilliantly; the latter snearing at "the disease that was called Post-Modernism". While Spiekermann slammed it's ubiquity, despairing that "...you have to breath so you have to use Helvetica?" and Paula Scher blamed it for both the Vietnam and Iraq wars.

Worst bits? Well, it had to end sometime. Actually, I wouldn't have missed David Carson's contribution if I'm being very honest.

On a personal level I thought it was an ace night and can't wait for the DVD. Gary was a top bloke so even though I imagine he's far too busy to read this: BIG THANKS for coming to Belfast Gary. Special thanks for the badges!

Extra special thanks also have to go to the brilliant Chris Murphy for doing all the hard work and organising the event, and to both Fallt and the Creative Entrepreneur's Club for underwriting it.

And if you were there, thanks for coming!

Comments

[Christopher Murphy]

Thanks so much. It's worth noting (publicly) that we wouldn't have brought 'Helvetica' to Belfast if it weren't for the persistence of one Mr Weston (purveyor of this fine blog). His regular reminders that I needed to chase up Mr Hustwit did the trick.

I also appreciated Gary, a truly down to earth and likable person, taking time out of his busy schedule to come to Belfast.

All in all it was a very enjoyable night. It was great to see a sizable and dedicated design audience attending, proving that we have a well established, growing design culture in Belfast. Long may it continue.

The top moments for me? The aforementioned Michael Beirut on Coke's advertising (very, very funny). In fact Beirut's comments on corporate branding in the 60s and 70s were all very funny, not to mention on the ball. Mr Spiekermann, down to earth with a bang, always a knockout with a Belfast audience. Last, but not least, Jonathan Hoefler and Tobias Frere-Jones - exactly how I'd imagine them to be.

[Ben]

Great review.

How do we get this film to London then? Is it already coming? Can Mr Weston pester Mr Hustwit for me?

[so young, so pretty]

We need someone like you in London to organise a screening down here.

[Richard]

Gary's showing the film at BritDoc in Oxford (July 25-27). I'd suggest someone tries to get him to London either side of those dates. We just took advantage of the fact that he was already in Dublin.

I'm amazed there isn't a London date already. Anyone can email him through the film website. Stephen Coles organised a screening in the US and he said just do that but be patient; Gary's all over the place at the moment.

[grafikcache]

I attended the Belfast screening..great turnout and a good show even if it were a little geeky in places. Interesting to see the arguements for and against helvetica throughout the doc. I was still left undecided at the end whether I loved it or hated it yet my badge told me I hated it.

Highlights- Spiekermann, the Freitag bags and the soundtrack was excellent.

Belfast needs more talks like this and with a great new lecture theatre..there is no excuses.

Had to laugh at the prizes..Im convinced someone sneaked next door into the mac lab and pulled off the 3 weights off a student machine for the giveaway.

[comprar abercrombie]

Muchas gracias. Vale la pena mencionar (públicamente) que no nos han traído 'Helvetica' a ​​Belfast si no fuera por la persistencia de un señor Weston (proveedor de este blog muy bien). Sus recordatorios regulares que necesitaba para perseguir a Sr. Hustwit hizo el truco...