Making Faces - Jim Rimmer Film Project

New Screenings and a new Festival

2011-09-24T06:15:00.000-07:00

Making Faces has proven to not just be for die-hard letterpress or type enthusiasts. The screenings for the film have been somewhat deliberately low-key and applying to festivals has been an intentionally neglected part of the process. That is not to say that the film would not play well among other independent films and documentaries, in fact the general audience response has been tremendous. But the screenings have been focused towards design audiences and a variety of unconventional venues mainly because that was the primary audience the film was intended for and resources are too limited to engage in wider "pitching" of the film. The director Q&A sessions have been a good way to really get a sense of what people think about the film, and a few more will happen on the West Coast of North America through October. Screenings with Director Q&A include:

October 04-11 - San Francisco, CA
(Sponsored by TypeKit, Communication Arts Magazine and Dependable Letterpress)

October 21-11 - Vancouver, BC
(Sponsored by Simon Fraser University and the Alcuin Society)

October 25-11 - Victoria, BC
(Sponsored by Vancouver Island Chapter Society of Graphic Designers of Canada (GDC))

October 27-11 - Seattle, WA
(Sponsored by AIGA)

October 29-11 - Portland, OR
(Sponsored by Extensis, CC Stern type foundry, Museum of Contemporary Craft, KeeganMeegan, Peet/Kegler)

The Festival circuit has been off the radar, however Making Faces was invited to be part of "A Design Film Festival" in Singapore this November. We are happy to add the laurel leaves to the list of venues for the film.

Screenings in Europe

2011-08-23T06:48:00.000-07:00

A short series of screenings for Making Faces is scheduled for August 30-September 16. Starting with the Festival of Letters in Ljubljana, Slovenia and ending with the ATypI conference in Reykjavik, Iceland. Each screening will feature and introduction and Q&A session with director Richard Kegler.

Aug 30-11 - Festival of Letters - Ljubljana, Slovenia (subtitled in Slovenian)
(Sponsored by Tiporenesansa)

Sept 02-11 - Budapest, Hungary (subtitled in Hungarian)
(Sponsored by font.hu)

Sept 05-11 - Prague, Czech Republic
(Sponsored by Typo and Scrape Sound)

Sept 08-11 - Das Film Café - Berlin, Germany
(Sponsored by FontShop/FontFont and Mota Italic)

Sept 12-11 - - Copenhagen, Denmark
(Sponsored by Royal Danish Academy / Danish Faces

Sept 16-11 - ATypI Conference - Reykjavik, Iceland

More about Jim Rimmer and the Stern Type

2011-07-27T18:24:00.000-07:00

From 2009 when the Making Faces film was still far from finished, this interview with Jim was posted on the Fontshop Fontfeed blog

and

A 3 part interview with Jim on the Flurry Blog

plus

A new review of the Making Faces film on the Font Bureau blog makes me think the the true essence of what was trying to be accomplished with the film is understood.

RK

Multi-Lingual Support

2011-06-12T08:08:00.000-07:00

The Making Faces film has been getting some nice press, most recently and notably via Steven Heller's NY Times Graphic Content Blog

In advance of a series of screenings with director Q&A, there will be a subtitled version of the DVD made with 10 languages of subtitles. The support for this project has been tremendous and the generous amount of translation work from the international typographic community is truly amazing. I would like to thank each translator for their time commitment and dedication to see this preserved for posterity in many languages. In no specific order...huge thanks go to:
(Greek) Klimis Mastoridis and Niki Sioki / University of Nicosia
(Russian) Alexandra Korolkova / Paratype
(Italian) Sandro Berra / Tipotecha Italiana
(French) Patrick Griffin / Canadatype
(Portuguese-BR)Henrique Beier /
(Hungarian) Robert Kravjanszki / font.hu
(Slovenian) Denis Debevec and Marko Drpić / Festival of Letters
(Spanish) Juan Agustin "Txus" Marcano Torres / Unostiposduros
(Dutch) Yves Peters / FontShop
(German) Jay Rutherford and Gaby Kosa / Bauhaus Universität Weimar

Press Release

2011-04-21T10:07:00.000-07:00

'Making Faces: Metal Type in the 21st Century' a documentary film

'Making Faces' is a fascinating design documentary by Richard Kegler that captures the personality and work process of the late Canadian graphic artist and type designer Jim Rimmer (1931-2010).

Making Faces focuses on one man's dedication to his craft and relays the details of creating a metal typeface, while also conveying this passion to anyone who values the "hand-made" in today's world of convenience. Jim Rimmer's good humor and intelligent description of his process make it an enjoyable viewing experience for those who are even vaguely interested in how things are made.

In 2008, P22 type foundry commissioned Jim Rimmer to create a new type design, RTF Stern, that became the first-ever simultaneous release of a digital font and hand-set metal font. Rimmer was one of only a few who possessed the skills needed to create a metal font.

Shot in High Definition, this film documents the creation of a new typeface from the preliminary sketches through the cutting and casting of a single letter. The film offers a unique opportunity to share Jim's knowledge with the world.

Clearly anyone interested in type design, letterpress printing and graphic processes would see Making Faces as something inspiring and essential, as there are few films focusing on these topics.

--Richard Kegler is founder and lead designer of P22 type foundry. He is also currently director of the WNY Book Arts Center in Buffalo NY. Kegler has a Masters degree from the Department of Media Study and the University at Buffalo

available for screenings and appearances
45 minute film plus Q&A from director
Contact: p22(at)p22(dot)com

DVD Packaging & Blurbs

2011-03-17T07:41:00.000-07:00

The DVD master is going to the pressing plant and the case insert is on its way to the printer. Having 4 blurbs from 4 highly regarded associates is a great addition to the factual info printed on the case:

“The film is excellent ...truly wonderful! (Jim Rimmer is)
wonderfully charming and such an amount of detail to observe.”
- The Brothers Quay, filmmakers

“I’m not sure what impresses me more, Rimmer’s love and
devotion to his work, which is so beautifully portrayed
in this movie, or the fact that a fellow designer
took it upon himself to document it.”
- Rudy VanderLans, Emigre

“I think it’s a terrific piece of work.
For those of us who knew Jim, it’s a powerful
reminder of what we’ve lost. For all those who didn’t,
I think it’s a fine, true glimpse of what they missed.”
- Robert Bringhurst

"A pure process film on the true hands-on method of creating typefaces, as demonstrated by one of its last practitioners. 'Making Faces' is an important resource for typography students and experts alike."
- Gary Hustwit, filmmaker

2011-03-01T11:11:00.000-08:00

The Making Faces film has been finished and the standard DVD is in production and can be pre-ordered at a discount price for the month of March 2011. Much thanks to all who have helped and encouraged this project. We hope you like the final film.

Cast of Characters

2011-01-27T08:19:00.001-08:00

The Making Faces film follows Jim Rimmer through the cutting and casting of a single letter 'k'. Our friend Greg Walters of Piqua Ohio has cast up a quantity of k's for us from the very matrix that Jim is shown cutting in the film. One k will be included in each DVD package for Making Faces. We feel it is important to have this connection to the physical and include this souvenir casting. Pre ordering for the DVD will be set up soon and kickstarter backers will get the first copies when it is ready.

2011-01-01T12:31:00.002-08:00

The final cut of the Making Faces film has been completed. Now we are onto sound editing and color correction and preparation of bonus materials for the DVD. Screening dates and DVD ordering info will be posted soon. If you are interested in arranging a screening, please inquire at p22 (at) p22.com

Fabricación de Caras

2010-10-12T05:54:00.000-07:00

Making Faces will include subtitles in several languages. Because of the focus of the subject matter may limit the audience of this film, we do want it to still be accessible to type and design communities in many countries that have type founding traditions. We are working with various experts in the typography world to provide subtitle options in languages that may ultimately include: Spanish, French, German, Dutch, Russian, Greek, Czech & Brazilian Portuguese. We will not be using Babelfish.

November Screenings

2010-10-11T06:34:00.000-07:00

Making Faces will be screened in early November in Two Rivers, Wisconsin and Seattle, Washington. Both screenings will feature a Q&A session from film maker Richard Kegler.

The Hamilton Woodtype Museum in Two Rivers is presenting their second annual Wayzgoose Conference Nov 5-7 with a great array of speakers and ending with a screening of Making Faces.

The Seattle screenings are part of the Type Americana Conference and in conjunction with the Northwest Film Forum on Nov 12 and 13.

Two Jim Rimmer Films

2010-10-05T05:58:00.000-07:00

The Making Faces project was originally intended as a "how-to" film on type making with some definite glimpses of the character and personality of Jim Rimmer. It was shot with the intention of being a first person description of the process, from Jim with no narrator and no additional interviews. The most common question I get from people who have seen the unfinished cuts of the film is asking to see and know more about Jim as a person. Within the confines of the footage I shot and the subject matter of conveying Jim's process (both creative and technical) within an hour-long film, there is much material that could not be included. This compromise was tempered easily by a companion film that has been in production concurrently along with Making Faces.

From Lead to Gold: Portrait of Jim Rimmer, by Ryan Mah covers a much more intimate portrayal of Jim as a person and craftsman. Interviews with friends and colleagues help flush out anecdotes that Jim would be much too humble to ever express himself. Ryan's film is slated for a late 2011 release. We hope to arrange joint screenings of the two films to give a more complete depiction of Jim and his Art.

Dublin review and added footage.

2010-09-20T17:15:00.000-07:00

A review of the screening of Making Faces at ATypI in Dublin. If my rudimentary understanding of German (and Babelfish) is correct, reviewer Florian Hardwig gave this a thumbs up. The unfortunate thing (since I was not able to attend the screening myself and just discovered this) was that the latest cut of the film was not shown. Through a mix-up with very similar looking DVDs, it was an earlier version that was not as refined as the more recent cut. The good news is that it will be that much better to those who saw this version when it is finally done.

One added feature thanks to our friends at the RIT Cary collection will include footage from Frederic Goudy's 1930s film of his making of a typeface using a pantograph to cut the matrices: "The Creation of a Printing Type from the Design to The Print by Frederic W. Goudy"

Dublin Screening

2010-09-06T14:31:00.000-07:00

The Irish premier of the almost finished cut of Making faces will be presented at the ATypI conference Thursday September 9 at Dublin Castle following a talk by Robert Bringhurst on "A brief sociology, and maybe some pathology, of type design". The film will be presented by associate producer Carima El-Behairy. Final editing is nearing completion with the assistance of Mark Abney of Splice Here. Additional detail footage has been shot and historical footage will be included and then onto transcription for subtitle translations. Pre order info for the DVD will be announced soon with the confirmation of bonus footage that is to be included.

Making Faces Screening at Typecon - LA

2010-08-09T08:50:00.000-07:00

Making Faces will be screened at Typecon 2010 in Los Angeles. This will be the latest cut of the film. As with all best laid plans oft going astray, the film is not yet at the final stage of editing. Public screenings have been a great way to garner feedback and fine tune the film. If you are in LA for typecon, do stop by and say hello and feel free to offer feedback. The film is very close to being finished and the version to be screened will be very close to the final DVD release version.

Loxley font to support film project

2010-07-03T08:17:00.000-07:00

Loxley was one of two type styles drawn and digitized by Jim Rimmer shortly before he died on January 8, 2010. (The other style to be named "Rimmer", will be released at a later date.)

Loxley was designed to be used in a fine press edition of the classic folklore story of "Robin Hood". The town of Loxley, Sheffield is cited as the birthplace of Robin Hood. This project was to be a follow up for Jim's epic edition of Tom Sawyer for which he designed the typeface Hannibal, named after the Missouri town that was the birthplace of Mark Twain.

The style of Loxley is based on early Roman faces, such as the "Subiaco" type of the late 1400s that was also inspirational to Frederick Goudy for his "Franciscan", "Aries" and "Goudy Thirty" type faces. Loxley displays some of Jim's particular left handed calligraphy and is in a similar style to his "Fellowship" and "Alexander Quill" faces, both of which were made in metal and digital formats.

The metal font and book were never realized. As per Jim's wishes, P22 type foundry finished the digital type and all proceeds from the sale of RTF Loxley will be put towards the completion of the documentary "Making Faces".

Screening in Nicosia

2010-06-14T06:14:00.000-07:00

I have been fortunate enough to be invited to present Making Faces at the 4th International Conference on Typography and Visual Communication (ICTVC) in Nicosia, Cyprus. This will be the most complete version of the film seen so far, but not the final edit. Progress and feedback is encouraging. Assistance in sound and editing from the fine folks at Splice Here in Minneapolis are making this project come together quite nicely.
Thank you...everyone...for your support!

Jim Rimmer: On Making Things

2010-06-07T19:42:00.000-07:00

As editing progresses, there are more and more re-discoveries of great moments of Jim reminiscing and talking about his life and motivation for creativity. This one is a classic that all parents would cringe at and felt it was a good representation of Jim and his way of telling a story with a twinkle in his eye. This is one clip that may not make the main film but probably be included with DVD bonus features. I hope you enjoy it.

Kickstarter backer preview

2010-06-02T16:52:00.000-07:00

The 30 minute preview shown in Berlin can be seen via the Kickstarter page if you are a Kickstarter backer of the project (even $1). Support has been great but since there are still 13 days to go and you can essentially pre-order the DVD, get a font or other various levels of backing and rewards, we will happily accept additional backers. A separate funding source fell through so this Kickstarter thing has been a great help to get the film done. Did I mention I like Kickstarter?

2010-05-31T08:31:00.000-07:00

The annual European design conference TypoBerlin is possibly the largest, most organized and consistently interesting conferences I have ever been to. Along with type/design legends such as Jonathan Barnbrook, Carlos Segura, Erik Spiekermann, Rich Roat of House Industries and many other talented friends and associates, this years conference also featured the King of Ghana and Erik Kessels of the brilliant advertising firm KesselsKramer whose Hans Brinker Hotel Campaigns prove that truth in advertising can work even if the product is awful.
Avoiding any link between that last sentence and this next one...
I was given the opportunity to screen a working version of the Making Faces film at TypoBerlin on May 22. This was the first time more than a small clip has been shown in public. A 30 minute version of the film was prepared for this presentation with the assistance of Mark Abney of Splice Here. Since each 'chapter' is one step in the process of making the metal type, due to time limitations, a couple steps were not shown at all. Feedback from audience members after the screening was very helpful and additional assistance in translating for subtitles was enlisted. Considering much of the technical terminology used related to typecasting and printing is somewhat specialized and not in common use, additional support material even in English may also be needed.

In general, from what I could gather in spending a few extra days in Berlin, the phenomenon of letterpress revival occurring the North America is not yet at the same level in Europe. European associates have had photopolymer letterpress cards made in the US while in central Berlin one can find a job printer who will set your name and inexpensively print cards using hard to find DDR era typefaces without much fanfare. Schools seem to have little interest in integrating letterpress into design/art curriculum. Finding metal fonts at a Berlin flea market proved to be only moderately inconvenient to bring home in carry on luggage. Erik Spiekermann consistently refers to his love of letterpress printing in most of his talks I have seen in recent years, but he is an exception among high profile designers. Perhaps it was just the small survey that left me with this impression that letterpress is still considered mostly an archaic craft that contemporary European designers do not embrace as much as in North America, but there are signs that it will become more alluring to a new generation of designer/printers.

Trailer on YouTube

2010-05-27T14:23:00.000-07:00

This 3 minute trailer was edited in Early 2008 shortly after the footage was shot at Jim Rimmer's studio in New Westminster BC. Now at 11,000 views, there must be some interest in this film. The conspicuous and optimistic "Coming Spring 2009" at the end is obviously wrong. A final release date is still undetermined but in-progress screenings will be announced soon.

Kickstarter

2010-05-27T13:58:00.000-07:00

A month or so ago, I decided to try a fundraising source I had heard about. Kickstarter turned out to be a great asset in moving this project along. This method of raising funds allows for 'backers' to pre-order the DVD or just donate towards the project. The modest goal that was set was achieved very quickly. With the additional funds, many details can be attended to in making the project even better and screening it to a wider audience. With some time left on the kickstarter campaign, please encourage anyone interested in this project to donate towards one of the several levels of rewards for helping out. thanks.
RK

Making Faces - Metal Type in the 21st Century

2010-05-27T13:52:00.000-07:00

Since there is currently no website dedicated to this film project, this blog will act as a central point for updates and information on the project. This first post is following a screening at typoberlin on May 22, 2010. additional updates will be posted as the film develops and nears completion.