Casino

“There are three ways of doing things around here: the right way, the wrong way, and the way that I do it.”

January 2021

24x36” Screen printed poster inspired by Martin Scorsese’s Casino.

Client: Private Commission.
Printers: VGKids
Colour Separations: Saniose.

Synopsis: In early-1970s Las Vegas, low-level mobster Sam "Ace" Rothstein (Robert De Niro) gets tapped by his bosses to head the Tangiers Casino. At first, he's a great success in the job, but over the years, problems with his loose-cannon enforcer Nicky Santoro (Joe Pesci), his ex-hustler wife Ginger (Sharon Stone), her con-artist ex Lester Diamond (James Woods) and a handful of corrupt politicians put Sam in ever-increasing danger. Martin Scorsese directs this adaptation of Nicholas Pileggi's book.

13 x Colour Screen Print on French Paper Speckletone Starch White paper.

Creative Process.

The design and composition is presented as Sam ‘Ace’ Rothstein’s (Robert De Niro) own playing card. Ace’s square stature commands authority and presence, inspired by that of the posture from a King on his own card. His broad frame purposefully extends beyond the borders of the print, ideally allowing viewers to fill in De Niro’s likeness without being provided the visual.

Each of the subjects likenesses are intentionally obscured foreshadowing their two-faced nature as the movies plot develops.

Class and prestige were the main themes for this poster reflecting that of the bright Vegas lights and royal lifestyle acquired by Ace’s role as overseer of Tangiers Casino.

“In traditional cartomancy, the Ace of Clubs is the card of marriage. In olden days, marriages were often arranged based on money and prestige.”

Created using Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Lightroom on a Wacom Cintiq.

Sketch to Final.

Bleeding illustrative aspects of the smoke with the photo realism of the characters is a heavy part of the artistic style found in this poster. The marriage of these two approaches creates an Art Deco vibe that compliments the atmosphere of 70s Vegas. Title placement and font selection changed through the development of this poster also to match that same period setting.

The rising flow of the smoke also tracks the viewers attention up the piece, until it is brought back down again by the falling Tangiers chips and translucent red dice. Symbolising Ace’s rise and eventual decent throughout the events of the movie.

“No one stays at the top forever.”