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High Definition Video for Independent Filmmakers
A How To Guide for Digital Filmmakers
Welcome all! This is my blog to share my latest research,
thoughts, etc. on utilizing HD for independent filmmaking.

YES, I am available for consulting
Contact me at mike@hdforindies.com

All content copyright 2004-2007 Mike Curtis.

Thursday, December 13, 2007

Trajan: The Wretchedly overused movie font 

Goodie Bag :: Trajan is the Movie Font

I used to do motion graphics and VFX work, some time before that I worked in desktop publishing (late 80s/early 90s) and I have slung a Trajan or two in my time. So this little video about the typeface Trajan's massive overuse really caught my funnybone just right.

Thanks to robogeek for sending this in.

-mike

PS - and yes, I do know what kerning pairs means.

: D
Comments:
Haha!!

And Banque Gothic is the TV font.

You know "24"? And how many other shows! And ads, too.

CK.
 
Haha, yes, Trajan, Font of Kings... it's got to the point where people think you're an original thinker if you use TIMES FRIKKIN NEW ROMAN just because that indicates a conscious artistic choice not to use Trajan ;)

Add on Bank Gothic, Arial, Impact, Gill Sans, Futura, Dogma and Helvetica Neue and I think we have it 90% covered... maybe the odd distressed typewriter font, a DIN / OCR style one, and a sprinkling of "cool stuff".

Currently I'm seeing a resurgence of Mason... anyone else? Maybe it's just all of the Golden Compass TV spots we did...

The best sites I've seen so far are Linotype's nicely-presented but short Movie Fonts section of their lounge (not just current movies but some older stuff too)
http://www.linotype.com/2255/moviefonts.html

...and this rather, um, comprehensive one...
http://www.shillpages.com/movies/user.shtml

Bruce Allen
www.boacinema.com
 
Nothing said the 90's like Bank Gothic. If we escaped that, we'll one day get past Trajan.
 
Trajan never a fave of mine either but one thing I have learned in years of design work and all creative work;

it's not the font,
it's how you use it.

it's not the idea,
it's what you make of it.


nitpicking about font choices is
for 1st year design students or
stifled editors looking for something fresh to distinguish their work.

Sometimes simplicity of expression
is depth of thought, or experitise in design. ie; don't blame the font, your gripe is a trajan horse
 
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