dvd packaging: the baron of arizona

process book

Representing a Story:Pictures & Meaning

Sally Carmichael

Tad Carpenter | Fall 2011

Package design, like all communication, has everything to do with context and

experience. It is similar to a museum displaying an object. A good exhibition

provides context or a “meaningful box” in which artifacts are viewed. That box

often tells a story that speaks to the artifacts maker, use, message, appearence,

visual form, or cultural associations and meanings. Every object is a sign that

exists in a network of meaning. A display or package protects the object while

interpreting the object by uncovering connections.

In this assignment, I was asked to create a new DVD package for the Criterion

Collection’s New Eclipse line that focuses on producing budget-priced, high

quality-editions of hard-to-find films for young audiences. My final deliverables

included the 3-fold DVD package itself, the disc art, and an eight page insert

booklet.

3

I chose “The Baron of Arizona”, a film by Samuel Fuller created in 1950. The

film focuses on the true events and life of James Addison Reavis, a con artist

and conspirator who forges documents in his plan to become the baron of

Arizona. Although the film was in black and white, a distinct color palette is felt

throughout the film and I tried to focus on the southwest and desert imagery of

the film in my work.

4

5film notes

6 sketches

7sketches

8 sketches

9sketches

10 sketches

11sketches

12 cover designs

13cover designs

14 cover designs

15cover designs

16 cover designs

spread designs 17

THE BARON

OF ARIZONA

peralta

land

grant

18 spread design

Collected Works.

The Baron of Arizona

19spread designs

chapter one: the essays

the

baron

of

arizona

20 spread designs

THE BARON

OF ARIZONA

THE BARON

OF ARIZONA

21spread designs

22 spread designs v.2

23spread designs v.2

24 spread designs v.2

25spread designs v.2

ARIZONA

a supplement to the film

26 spread designs v.3

27booklet design

ARIZONA

a supplement to the film

5

“Five percent of films are made because a man has an idea, an idea which he must express.”

- Samuel Fuller, director

chapter selection

01. Opening-Credits [7:13]

02. In-the-Night [7:35]

03. A-Mighty-Hot-Sun [8:27]

04. Aim-to-Collect [8:20]

05. A-Long-Journey [9:02]

06. House-Rules [9:56]

07. Heading-Out [7:30]

08. This-One’s-Mine [11:05]

09. A-Large-Bounty [10:26]

10. End-Titles [7:41]

2

The real baron

One of Arizona’s most infamous characters was a man named James Addison Reavis, a man of

dubious character and background and one of the great land fraud schemers of the 19th Century. His claim on 18,500 square miles of Arizona and New Mexico territory as part of an ancient Spanish land grant led to him being dubbed the “Baron of Arizona.”

Reavis was born on May 10 1843. He served as a soldier in the Confederate Army where he perfected his skills as a forger.He arrived in Arizona Territory in 1880, making claims he owned a large of part of Arizona. He collected rent and tribute from railroads, ranches, farms, and mines for about 11 years.

Finally, the United States District Court challenged Reavis’ claims. Reavis lost the case in the U.S. District Land Claims Court and was soon indicted in a criminal court.

3

reception

ARIZONA

a supplement to the film

4

“a bizarre but

intriguing little

Western”

- Craig Butler, NY Times

“even the most

cold blooded plan

can be warmed

by affection”

- Michael Sellers, Boston Globe

28 spread designs v.3

29booklet design

30 final spread design

31final spread design

THE BARON

OF ARIZONA

a film by samuel fuller

32 final spread design

33final booklet design

ARIZONA

a supplement to the film

5

“Five percent of films are made because a man has an idea, an idea

which he must express.”

- Samuel Fuller, director

chapter selection

01. Opening-Credits [7:13]

02. In-the-Night [7:35]

03. A-Mighty-Hot-Sun [8:27]

04. Aim-to-Collect [8:20]

05. A-Long-Journey [9:02]

06. House-Rules [9:56]

07. Heading-Out [7:30]

08. This-One’s-Mine [11:05]

09. A-Large-Bounty [10:26]

10. End-Titles [7:41]

2

The real baron

One of Arizona’s most infamous characters was a man named James Addison Reavis, a man of dubious

character and background and one of the great land fraud schemers of the 19th Century. His claim on 18,500 square miles of Arizona and New Mexico territory as part of an ancient Spanish land grant led to him being dubbed the “Baron of Arizona.”

Reavis was born on May 10 1843. He served as a soldier in the Confederate Army where he perfected his skills as a forger.He arrived in Arizona Territory in 1880, making claims he owned a large of part of Arizona. He collected rent and tribute from railroads, ranches, farms, and mines for about 11 years.

Finally, the United States District Court challenged Reavis’ claims. Reavis lost the case in the U.S. District Land Claims Court and was soon indicted in a criminal court.

3

reception

ARIZONA

a supplement to the film

4

“a bizarre but

intriguing little

Western”

- Craig Butler, NY Times

“even the most

cold blooded plan

can be warmed

by affection”

- Michael Sellers, Boston Globe

35

Over the course of this project I have gained a great deal of knowledge. The

process that goes into the preparation and planning of what seemed like a simple

design for a dvd package proved to be much move difficult than expected. I feel

that the research that was required of me made a huge difference in the content

and ideas presented in my work.

I now have a better ability to generate new ideas quickly, while still considering

a solid final outcome. This project has also let me explore both Illustrator and

InDesign more, which had aided me immensely. I feel very proud of the work

I have done on this project and believe that it successfully conveys the feelings,

imagery, and symbolism of Samuel Fuller’s The Baron of Arizona.