Erik Sharkey, the director of DREW: THE MAN BEHIND THE POSTER, wrote this lovely tribute article to illustrated movie poster art for THE HUFFINGTON POST. He very kindly mentioned Richard Amsel, as well as our documentary!
He also pays tribute to masters such as Drew Struzan, Roger Kastel, and the Hildebrandt brothers, along with the new generation of artists, including Mark Raats, Jason Palmer, Blake Armstrong and Paul Shipper.
When George Lucas departed Lucasfilm after he sold the company to Disney, he handed the reigns over to famed producer Kathleen Kennedy, who has produced some of the biggest films in history, including E.T. and Jurassic Park. Given her years of experience with blockbuster films, she is the perfect person to run the company, and both Lucasfilm and Disney have done an amazing job bringing Star Wars to a new generation while also exciting the original fans. The way they have rolled out trailers for new releases has been masterful. They have also brought in amazing directors like JJ Abrams and Gareth Edwards to direct the new films and have great leading roles for actresses like, Daisy Ridley and Felicity Jones. I love everything they are doing, but the posters.... Why leave behind the Lucasfilm tradition of beautiful illustrated posters for the new films?
Why, indeed?
Behold Struzan's poster for the 1997 rerelease of STAR WARS:
