Designing “Necromania”

"Basically, the design for Fleshbot Films' DVD release of 'Necromania' is based on a joke.

"It's designed from the point of view that this is a 'porn classic' ... which to me really just means 'kinda old,' because I don't think there is such a thing as a 'porn classic'. Since the smut market has always been saturated with the idea of BIGGER! and HARDER! and FASTER!, it's hard to stand out from that. Everything's so excessive that the idea of something being a classic is completely laughable.

"But what does stand out? Archetypes and humor. The best porn films are all about fantasy, and they're even better when they're not self conscious about themselves. They can be trashy and sexy and hot—and as long as they don't care whether anyone else thinks they are or not, that's what makes them work.

"So I wanted the designs for Fleshbot Films to address this notion. When you look at the individual elements in the 'Necromania' packaging, the design is based heavily on Literature-with-a-capital-L: stuffy typography from the fifties and early sixties, ornament that looks sort of over-the-top Edwardian. But then the whole thing is BRIGHT PINK with white and gauzy accents ... like a trashy little negligee, sort of like the one Rene Bond is wearing in the image I chose for the DVD cover and menu design. It's basically just a silly and trashy take on the whole idea of what constitutes a 'classic.' I think Ed would've liked it."