Bill Gold: PosterWorks: Limited Edition Hardcover – October 1, 2010

I have mixed feelings about this book. The book is beautiful and historically important, but I have an issue with how the author went about explaining Bill's role in the campaign. I admit it is hard for someone not in this business to understand and I am sure Bill's role throughout his long career changed over time which can be confusing.I worked for Bill in the 80's as an Art Director. At that time, his input in the campaigns was that of a Creative Director; meaning he gave creative input, inspired the Art Directors and gave suggestions. He was amazing at doing just that and he didn't hold your hand creatively. The Art Directors had freedom to do their work. In the book, he is quoted as sayings things like "I did some comps of ideas". Well, what that really means is an Art Director worked on comps with his direction as Creative Director. In some cases in the book, he credits an Art Director's name in the brief description and in many others he does not. I get the impression that when Bill is quoted as saying "I did" he really means his company did it at his direction. This isn't made clear in the writing. There is one high profile poster highlighted in the book that won a Key Art Award. Back in the day, for the Key Art Award I was given credit as Designer and Bill credit as Art Director. (The award credits can be tricky too.) In the book, I am not even mentioned in the description for this poster. In an industry where credit is important, that doesn't sit well. I know Bill loved my work on that campaign, so it doesn't make sense to me. Decades later, did he remember?Bill was very talented, incredible to work for and deserves a tribute to his long career. I just wish the team working on this book realized they were over simplifying the process designing a movie poster and that eyebrows would be raised in the film industry at lines like "one man designed all these posters".

The best work in this Bill Gold book is the work done by Bob Peak. My Fair Lady and Camelot just to name a couple of Peak Art Movie Posters. You can get an equally nice book on "The Art of Bob Peak" for $ 79.00. A great price compared to the over priced book on Bill Gold. Bill should have been thinking of his audience first and his ego second when producing his book.

I saved, I saved and finally bought one of these. It is absolutely mind boggling. I cannot emphasise this enough. I am in complete awe of this book.

This is an amazing retrospective of pop culture, but because of it's exorbitant price only a handful of people will ever be able to see it. Why put so much work into making a product this great, and then keep it out of reach?