New Screenings and a new Festival

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

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

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

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

'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

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

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

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.

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