Pablo Ferro

After graduating from Manhattan High School of Industrial Art, he began working at Atlas Comics in 1951 as an inker and artist in the EC horror tradition. A year later he began to learn the factors of an animator of UPA cartoons and worked for top commercial studios, including Academy Pictures, Elektra Films and Bill Stern studios which is where he animated Paul Rands drawings for El Producto cigars. In 1961 he founded the creative production studio later named Ferro Mohammed Schwrtz. With high levels of experimentation, Ferro introduced a quick cut method of editing, whereby static images where infused with speed, motion and sound. Ferro maintained a strong appreciation for typography such that in the late 1950’s he experimented with the use of moving type on the television screen. Ferro often used vintage wood-types and Victorian Gothics due to their popularity and their boldness on television.

After seeing Ferro’s advertisements Kubrick hired him to do the trailers and teasers for Dr Strangelove. Ferro accepted the opportunity with the aim to direct a few British adverts. The Black and White film Ferro made was produced via his quick cut technique using 25 separate images in a single minute. This coveyed the dark humor and political immediacy of the film. Words and images flew across the scene to loud sound affects and short bursts of dialogue.

Dr Strangelove is an important work to mention as it was the key to Ferro’s shift from television to film. His style is not always recognizable yet the style in Dr Strangelove can be compared with that of his other works such as; The Addams Family; Family Values (1993) and Men in Black (1997)which all consist of his distinctive hand lettering. however Ferro is less interested about creating a distinctive style than he is creating work that supports the film. His work all has the same purpose to introduce another artists work.

Ferro worked with Kubrick on the main titles of the film as well as the trailers. Ferro filled the entire screen with lettering which had never been done before. Although the hand written text all over the screen does look effective in a way i cant help but not like it, i think its a little bit too simple and some refining to the letter forms may have improved the clip.

As for this second clip which is the trailer for the film i think is brilliant. The Flashing of the images and the upper case lettering is really effective i cant help but think the screen is shouting at me, the white text on black background really helps also. Within the trailer the viewer just gets short snippets of the film and it relies almost solely on the type to give you a taste for the film. this helps build the tension and definitely teases the audience.