You see them while walking on the jet bridge from the gate to the airplane; in an office as part of the decor; or in the windows of travel providers around the world: the ubiquitous travel poster, which is designed to inspire us and compel us to travel to some far corner of the earth. Staring at a travel poster has our imaginations visiting in that part of the world — even if only for a brief moment, wondering how it would feel like to actually be there.
7 Travel Posters — If Designed By 7 Film Directors
Similarly, film directors also transport our imaginations to different places and times through their work in the form of movies and videos.
A series of fictitious travel posters for seven destinations has been created using the signature styles of seven film directors — and this article from Big Domain can ultimately inspire you to pack your bags, lending initial insights and compelling you to launch more detailed research pertaining to these gems which interest you.
I have been given express written permission to use the images in this article. Verbatim text from the aforementioned article is in quotes above each travel poster, with brief notes added by me for some of the destinations below each travel poster.
1. Wes Anderson — Jaipur, India
“Having just released his new movie Isle of Dogs, Wes Anderson keeps busting out box office gold. And his films are instantly recognisable, due in large part to his infamous colour palettes and eye for perfect symmetry. In 2007, Anderson applied his unmistakable style to India for The Darjeeling Limited — a tale of three estranged brothers on a train voyage through Rajasthan. Jaipur is the region’s capital — affectionately referred to as the Pink City — and it’s not hard to see the attraction for the director. A fantastic place to visit, and maybe, like the brothers in the film, you’ll also find yourself along the way.”
I have never been to India; so I have no comment.
2. Tim Burton — Cornwall, United Kingdom
“Tim Burton’s penchant for dark imagery has made him a favourite among goths the world over. From Edward Scissorhands to Alice in Wonderland, his worlds are full of the weird and the fantastical. His 2016 film Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children told the tale of a mysterious children’s home, and the tiny Cornwall hamlet of Portholland had a starring role as the island that houses the crumbling school. The surrounding cliffs and beaches of the beautiful Cornwall countryside make this a perfect place to escape your ordinary life.”
I have been to the United Kingdom; but not specifically to Cornwall — but this movie poster does evoke Tim Burton to me.
3. Sofia Coppola — Tokyo, Japan
“Sofia Coppola’s dreamy visual style and explorations of the human condition have established her as one of the best directors of modern times. Lost in Translation is a tale of friendship – and a love letter to the city of Tokyo. Shot entirely on location in Japan, this instant classic received four Oscar nominations and has since inspired countless tourists to visit Tokyo for themselves. Not just an eye popping urban adventure, Tokyo is also a place to relax and rediscover life’s possibilities.”
I know nothing about films directed by Sofia Coppola; but I am rather familiar with the work of Marc Coppola, who is well known as a radio personality in New York.
Yes, yes, I know about Francis Ford Coppola and Nicolas Cage.
Anyway, this travel poster does remind me of when I was in Tokyo, which is a city where I surprisingly felt at home when I visited. I enjoyed the food; I marveled at the sights; the transportation system is remarkably efficient; and the people were accommodating and friendly — especially as they greatly appreciated when I spoke to them with my very limited command of Japanese…
…and yet, one really does not need to know Japanese to get around, as English is rather prevalent in Tokyo.
If you have never been to Tokyo, you should experience it at least once.
4. Peter Jackson — Wellington, New Zealand
“Peter Jackson exploded (or splattered) onto the scene in 1987 with his low budget horror comedy Bad Taste. Nowadays, his budgets are a bit higher and he is best known as the director of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, much of which was filmed in Wellington, New Zealand. It’s not difficult to see why Jackson chose this location — the spectacular countryside was exactly what he needed to bring Tolkien’s fictional world to life. So just like Sam and Frodo did, be brave and take one more step into Wellington. You won’t be disappointed.”
I am not familiar with the work of Peter Jackson, as Lord of the Rings never interested me; and although I have been to both the north and south islands of New Zealand, I have never been to Wellington.
5. Chan-wook Park — Seoul, South Korea
“Chan-wook Park is famous for his painterly sense of composition, dark humour and toe-curling gore. His wildly popular 2016 movie, The Handmaiden, stunned audiences with its jaw-dropping twists and explosive technicolor. But he is perhaps best known for Oldboy, in which a desperate businessman is imprisoned for 15 years and goes on a journey to take revenge on his captors. The chilling film was set in the South Korean capital of Seoul. Whether it’s temples, parks or cutting-edge architecture you’re looking for, this dynamic mashup of a city has something for everyone. You’ll want to stay for fifteen years.”
I do not know about staying for 15 years; but like Tokyo, I enjoyed my visit to Seoul almost four years ago — and I sadly still have trip reports which I have yet to write.
The articles which I have already written pertaining to Seoul include:
- …So I Was Stopped by a Police Officer in Seoul…
- Hanoks: A Way to Possibly Reduce Lodging Costs in Seoul
- Review of an Authentic Hanok in Seoul: Yoo’s Family Guest House Byeolhadang
- Review: N Seoul Tower
- All Economy Around the World? Umm…No. A Review of Grand Hilton Seoul
- Review: Aloft Seoul Gangnam
- My Few Minutes in North Korea at the Korean Demilitarized Zone
6. Christopher Nolan — Chicago, United States of America
“Over the course of his 15-year career, Christopher Nolan has gone from making low-budget independent films to directing some of the most popular blockbusters ever made. Known for his cerebral, mind-bending films, his Batman trilogy revived the franchise in spectacular fashion. Choosing the city of Chicago as the location for Gotham was a genius choice. The mega city has all the offerings you’d expect during the day, from museums and vibrant shopping districts to Millennium Park and its famous ‘bean.’ By night, Chicago definitely takes on more of a Gotham vibe. It really is the city that you deserve.”
Gotham has been a nickname for New York for decades; so I am somewhat confused about Chicago being chosen for the setting of Batman…
…and this travel poster design does nothing for me. I guess I do not get the slogan “The City You Deserve.”
What do I know?!?
7. Steven Spielberg — Petra, Jordan
“He’s one of the most influential and best known directors in the history of cinema, and he’s taken audiences on more incredible adventures than most. Steven Spielberg’s latest offering, Ready Player One, is doing incredible business at the box office, proving he’s still got it. When he was looking for a location to serve as The Temple of the Sun in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Petra was the obvious choice. It’s one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world and Jordan’s most valuable treasure. But if you want to play Indy, make sure you don’t forget your hat.”
I have never been to Jordan; but it is on my list of countries I would like to visit sooner than later.
Summary
This topic interested me because it involved travel, graphic design and the film industry. Travel is a passion of mine; I am experienced with graphic design; and I am an actor on the side — and I just completed another short film within the past week…
…and yet, I am not an avid movie watcher. The only times I watch movies is if I am aboard an airplane, in a hotel room, and sometimes — actually, rarely — when I am at home.
Perhaps these posters have sparked that wanderlust in you to travel to some of the aforementioned places mentioned in this article. To how many of these destinations have you been — and do the travel posters accurately reflect them, in your opinion?
Photograph ©2014 by Brian Cohen.
