PSYCHO

PROJECT

Alfred Hitchcock
Alfred Hitchcock is an English film director
and producer. He was born in England in
1899, when cinema was just invented and it
wasnt as we know it nowadays. He died in
1980.
After a successful career in British cinema
in both, silent movies and early talkies,
Hitchcock moved to Hollywood in 1935 and
became a U.S. citizen in 1955.
He is considered the master of suspense because he pioneered
many cinematographic techniques in suspenseand psychological
thriller genres. For example, he was the first film director using the
camera as if it was the eyes of the spectator, forcing viewers to engage
much more in the film and increasing tension. He was also a pioneer in
the plots he developed.
Suspense refers to keep the interest of the viewers, make the spectators
take part in the film, draw their attention... It depends on the information
that viewers receive. The director must decide what information gives

For example, a man taking a taxi doesnt

create any suspense. However, if we know
that he must be at the airport in 5 minutes
because his lover is taking a flight or that
he has to deactivate a bomb, then
suspense is created.
Some of his most famous films are: Rear
Window (La ventana indiscreta, 1954),
Dial M for a Murder (Crimen perfecto,
1954),
Vertigo
(1958),
North
by
Northwest (Con la muerte en los talones,
1959), Psycho (Psicosis, 1960) and The
Birds (Los Pjaros, 1963).

Psycho
Psycho was based on a book inspired in
a serial killer.
It was a risk to film it because it was a
very unusual plot at that time. It
was unpredictable to know if it would be
a success or a failure.
The
cinematographic
studios
(especially in Hollywood) were the
producers and the distributors of the
films. They were the owners of the
movies and established the rules
despite the directors. They controlled
what directors made and showed in the
movies.
Despite the studio system Hitchcock
achieved to be the author of his
films (making the most important
decisions in his movies).

By that time (1969), Hitchcock had a contract

with Paramount studios. Hitchcock wanted to
film Psycho, but Paramount rejected because
it considered that the book it was based on
was disgusting and it was impossible to adapt
it for a movie. They thought it was going to
be a failure and they denied the usual
budget, so Hitchcock had to look for
additional ways of financing it.
Paramount established their rules: No
nudes, no truculence, etc. (Censorship).
Even so, Hitchcock managed to create a
masterpiece of suspense, being able to
create tension, psychological fear and horror,
showing that not seeing and not knowing
what you fear makes it more frightening.

THE PROJECT

You must create an illustration for the poster of Alfred Hitchcocks

Psycho.
First of all we are going to watch the film. Pay attention to:
The scenes, shots and elements that you consider emblematic,
specially frightening or that represent the soul of the film in order to
use them later for your poster.
The typography in the title sequence. Is there any relationship
between the typography and the story? Maybe you want to use and
design typography in your poster too.
The elements Hitchcock uses to create suspense: What shows and
doesnt, what tells us and what doesnt, camera positions (viewers
eyes, etc.).
The soundtrack.

The project:
Hitchcocks film

Create an illustration for the poster of Alfred

Psycho.

The illustration has to represent the spirit of the story.

You must choose colours according to symbology of colour, colour
contrast and in order to draw viewers attention.
You must apply the principles of composition that we have
studied.
Choose the appropriate support (vertical, horizontal, square, round).
Create balance taking into account the size, placement, colour,
texture and form of the shapes that you are using.
Apply composition diagrams and composition rules.
Use rhythm to create tension and movement.
You must use a minimalist design. Minimalism is an art based on
simplest shapes and few colours. Less is more is its motto.
Minimalists try to show only the most important elements in order to
focus on the content. They simplify shapes to the abstraction.

Instructions:
You can only use shapes (no lines). You must simplify the shapes that you
use.
You can only use three colors plus white (including the background).
Environment must add tension to the scene.
Start by drawing some sketches in a white sheet of paper. Try horizontal
and vertical supports and the colours and shapes that you are going to
use.
The final illustration must be created using only pieces of colored paper,
(no markers, crayons, etc.). You will have to draw the shapes on the
colored papers, cut them out and glue them onto the support.

Material:
Scissors, glue stick, white sheets of paper, pencil, ruler and set squares.
The size of the support will be half A4 colour card. (I will give them to
you).
Colour cards and colour papers for the different shapes. (I will give them
to you).