Writer/director James Gunn’s new “The Suicide Squad” spinoff “Peacemaker” successfully debuted on HBO Max last month, famously introducing yet another of the filmmaker’s iconic, buzz-worthy, music-driven title sequences. In this latest pairing with the creatives and producers from one-stop cross-media production company Sarofsky, star John Cena’s Peacemaker character performs a show-stopping dance number with his co-stars, colorfully setting the stage for the epic and the unexpected.
Led by Executive Creative Director Erin Sarofsky, Creative Lead Duarte Elvas, and Managing Director/Executive Producer Steven Anderson, Sarofsky also created custom titles, typography, and visual effects for “The Suicide Squad,” and for both “Guardians of the Galaxy” volumes. Referring to the illustrious director who has become such a frequent collaborator, Sarofsky explained, “We love collaborating with James. He is so unique and has a real vision… and we feel lucky to be on the same creative page with him so often. There is a trust and a shorthand built up at this point, that we don’t take for granted.”
For the highly acclaimed Max Original series exploring the origins of a vainglorious man dedicated to peace at any cost, Gunn conceived and filmed a choreographed dance routine with the entire cast, set to the glam metal track “Do You Wanna Taste It” by Norwegian band Wig Wam. With the music as inspiration, the designers homed-in on a typographic treatment to nail the series’ bad-ass aesthetic.
“Duarte was an All-Star on this,” Sarofsky confirmed. “He got to be very hands-on, and it shows with the precision and type mastery.”
Design Details
Sarofsky’s online case study details their “Peacemaker” design contributions, beginning with typography. By their account, a deep dive into glam metal logos and concert posters proved instrumental in numerous ways.
“A lot of typography from that genre, while stunning visually, is nearly illegible,” Elvas said. “As title designers, legibility is essential. When we discovered New Zelek, we were able to typeset it to do the job perfectly! It has the angular, geometric feel we were looking for, and the letterforms are clear and familiar enough that one can read the words effortlessly.”
“We also created a really cool treatment with a glowing outline,” Sarofsky added. “That look was painstakingly explored to match the set design and genre, and heighten legibility. It all looks so intentional and just as it should be, and that’s because of the hours put into making it just so.”
To complement the bold statements made by New Zelek in neon, Josefin Sans is used in white for all secondary typography. Also worth noting, discriminating viewers will notice several moments in the dance sequence where the designers introduced subtle interactions between dancers and type.
As with Gunn’s other superhero action features, Sarofsky once again created custom title cards. For “Peacemaker,” this includes “previously on” and episode title cards to be used throughout the season.
Designing and setting type with Adobe Illustrator, After Effects is Sarofsky’s main tool for look development, layouts, and animation. For Peacemaker’s main titles, Sarofsky’s handled typesetting, visual effects, and final compositing. Studio credits for “Peacemaker” also include Producer Dylan Ptak and Designer Chris Rodriguez.
“For this project, we developed some alternate approaches that we loved, that did not make the final,” Anderson concluded. “It’s yet another time where we are left wishing they could have used everything.”
To learn more about "Peacemaker," please visit Sarofsky’s case study (https://www.sarofsky.com/work/peacemaker), and https://www.hbomax.com/grw-pcm.
About Sarofsky
Director, creative director, and designer Erin Sarofsky kick-started Sarofsky in 2009 and formed a group of extraordinarily talented makers who have been providing their services to leaders in the advertising and entertainment industries worldwide. Today, Sarofsky's makers use animation, visual effects, motion design and live-action to collaborate with customers from concept to delivery, producing work that is visceral, innovative and diverse. With artistry that encapsulates in-house long format, sublime commercials, brand films, title sequences and much more, Sarofsky's reputation for breakthrough design, its proven multi-media production expertise, and its fabulous Olson Kundig-designed studio in Chicago's West Loop all constitute key components of the attraction. Learn more at https://www.sarofsky.com.
MUAHS Awards Unveils New Award Category For Theatrical Productions
The Make-Up Artists & Hair Stylists Guild (MUAHS) IATSE Local 706 will debut the highly anticipated new award category, Broadway International, to their awards ceremony on Saturday, February 15, 2025, at the Fairmont Century Plaza Hotel, presented by Giovanni Eco Chic Beauty. The new category will expand the recognition of outstanding Make-Up and Hair Styling Artists to encompass all live theater productions, including Broadway International live productions. With the addition of Broadway International, the ceremony will now shine a spotlight on beloved theatrical productions from around the world, recognizing the hard work and creativity of Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists in this genre. The MUAHS Guild Awards also honor Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists in motion pictures, television, commercials, and music videos in 23 categories. “We are so pleased to announce the addition of the Broadway and International Live Theater Production category. The MUAHS Guild Awards are now all-inclusive and participation is worldwide for film, television, and theater. We are very proud to be one of the very few awards shows that recognize the extraordinary work of Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists in theater productions,” said Julie Socash, President, MUAHS, IATSE Local 706. “I couldn’t be more excited to learn of the addition of the Broadway and International Live Theater Production category to the Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild Awards. I look forward to these amazingly talented artisans from the theatrical world receiving recognition for their hard work, expertise, and dedication to their crafts,” said Angela L. Johnson, President, Make-Up and Hair Stylists, IATSE Local 798. The qualifications for Outstanding Make-Up... Read More