A tribute to the aesthetics of text on screen

“Interactions between sound and text are the basis of cinema.  Text appears in the credits as well as in the subtitles, but also on posters and other advertising media. Text never appears in the absolute: rather, it always comes in a form that is shaped by a culture, a society, or a story. The type of character, its movement and where it appears on the screen all participate in its meaning: they give it added significance.  Very often disregarded – due to lack of understanding – the choice of typography has an influence on the film’s overall style, beyond its purely cinematic nature.”

Lionel Orient Dutrieux’s first book is a treasure for any typophile who appreciates the art of the letters in the moving images. This based in Brussels graphic artist and film editor has decided to pay tribute to the importance of typography in the movie making in the most profound and informative way.

His book, an adaptation from his Master’s Thesis deals with the characteristics of writing, with its roles on the screen, and approaches it from two aspects, the shape (typography) and the media (cinema.)  “Typography and Cinema offers an overview of the possibilities and constraints of the media. It is meant for filmmakers who wish to expand their handling of text on the screen, and for graphic designers who are interested in the cinema” he adds. Here we present you with our favorite top ten letterforms in the movies as we know it. Get your own copy here