Legendary movie-poster artist Drew Struzan was an unwanted baby, an unwanted child and an unwanted student. He says he didn't miss being happy because he didn't know what happiness was supposed to feel like. He was only content when he was able to draw. He drew on toilet paper, the backs of old flyers, and discarded newspapers. He enrolled in art school and was thrown out for failure to pay his tuition. He simply went around to the rear, entered the back door and went on with his studies.
His faltering career was shared by a young woman who flirtatiously lobbed a ping-pong ball at him and never looked back. Decades later, they are still married and now he knows what happiness feels like.
Some of the interviews are with:
- Dylan Struzan - his wife couldn't trust him with grocery money, he'd buy paint!
- Christian Struzan - his son is proud of his father's enormous legacy.
- George Lucas - who has a major collection of his work, including the "Star Wars" series.
- Harrison Ford - says Drew inspired him to be as good as his posters. "Indiana Jones" was one result.
- Steven Spielberg - insists Drew's posters make the story better. Just look at "E.T."
- Guillermo del Toro - loves Drew's ability to simplify. He did the poster for the remake of "The Thing" overnight.
- Frank Darabont - used Drew for "The Shawshank Redemption" and "The Green Mile."
- Steve Guttenberg - says "Police Academy" owes its sequels to Drew.
- Thomas Jane - Drew tried to teach him how to draw for a movie role but failed miserably.
- Joanna Cassidy - was surprised by the quality of his "Blade Runner" posters.
- Alice Cooper - used Drew for an award winning album cover.
- Thousands of adoring fans at the 2012 Comic-Con in San Diego.
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This is a great sampler of his work:
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