This exclusive one-night-only premiere screening will begin at 8pm on Thursday, April 12, 2012 at the Parkland Theatre. The director will introduce the film and join a panel discussion immediately following the screening. This event is a benefit screening with all proceeds going toward Parkland College’s Fine and Applied Arts Department. The donation is $7 at the door.
Signed copies of this limited edition letterpress poster designed by Molly Poganski will be available for purchase on the night of the premiere.
A distinguished panel of knowledgeable individuals from the local graphic arts community will join the director in a post-screening discussion about the film and this amazing historical machine:
Rick Baier, president, Baier Publishing Co. Baier Publishing is a small, family-operated printing business in Cissna Park, IL that also publishes two newspapers, The Cissna Park News and The Rankin Independent. “I have operated numerous machines in the printing industry over the past 40 years, but the one that amazes me the most is the Linotype — I have fond memories of the sounds, the smells, and the burn of a ‘squirt’ of hot lead as it hits your leg because of a ‘loose line.’” Rick still has a Linotype machine sitting in his shop that he just can’t let go.
Molly Poganski, shop manager of the Living Letter Press in Champaign, IL. Molly interned at Hatch Show Print in Nashville, TN five years ago, then spent the rest of her time in and after college trying to figure out how to “do letterpress” for a living. She now works on the LetterMpress app for iPad and Mac, and teaches, manages, and prints most everything that comes out of the Living Letter Press. Molly is fascinated by all things old and mechanical, and is still a spring chicken trying to learn all she can about this craft. “Type high since 2007.”
John Walker, Graphic Design Professor, Executive Associate Dean for the College of Fine Arts, Director of the Arts Technology Program at Illinois State University. John began teaching at Illinois State University in 1985 and has taught all levels of graphic design including Graphic Design History, a class he initiated at ISU. He has presented papers on graphic design curriculum and pedagogy at professional conferences, most recently at the University and College Designers Association National Education Symposium and the International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Annual Meeting. “I love to talk about how technology influences how we design.”
Doug Wilson, director, LINOTYPE: THE FILM. Doug comes to filmmaking from a background in graphic design and letterpress printing. He has a BFA in Graphic Design and has worked as a university typography instructor. He loves travel and long walks on the beach. This is his first film. “The Linotype was the Twitter of 1886. It took information and multiplied it at a speed that didn’t even exist at that time.”
Ray Wright, volunteer at Kennekuk County Park in Vermilion County at the Bunker Hill Historic Village (currently nursing their Model 8 Linotype machine back to health). Previously worked as compositor in the hot metal type unit at U of I Printing Services (retired in 2009). Formerly ran the Model 31 Linotypes and the more automated Comet Blue Streaks at Interstate Printers and Publishers in Danville. “I love to get my hands dirty.”
For additional information about the premiere, please contact Paul Young.