Vermonters Len Britton and Bradford Broyles (pictured) are using an online contest to find a logo for their planned ski movie. This is the movie project we reported on back in March — not one of those “ski movies” that’s basically just cool skiing footage, but a “comedy-drama” type of thing that happens to be set at a ski resort. Tremors director Ron Underwood is helming the production.
Broyles says the production will get ski footage at Sugarbush and visit “selected Vermont towns for the off-mountain portions.” In keeping with the general Vermontiness of the project, its original working title was Woodchucks, but that’s since been changed to Down Hill: The Movie.
From now through Monday, August 29, the filmmakers are inviting designers to submit logos incorporating that title at the crowdsourcing site 99designs.com. They’d love to see some Vermont participation, says Broyles. Enter the contest here, or check out the 93 designs (and counting) entered so far. The ski-goggle-shaped logo seems to be doing well…
This article appears in Aug 24-30, 2011.
Got something to say?
Send a letter to the editor and we'll publish your feedback in print!
This is a weird thread.First, the movie…I agree with Bungalow Benchly who said that this movie ought to be titled Ski Patrol 2. Actually, it should be Ski Patrol 3, considering Out Cold should have been titled Ski Patrol 2: On Snowboards. Producers, are you even trying to be original? Gimme a break.Speaking of titles, why Down Hill: The Movie? Isn’t it a bad sign if you have to remind the audience that they are, in fact, watching a movie? A bit redundant, no?As for the graphic design debate, I don’t really see the big deal. It’s the free market at work. I’m guessing all the people opposed to the idea have jobs or steady freelancing gigs, but for students or recent grads who want to break into the industry, this could be a good way for them to build a portfolio. (Besides, if the producers don’t want to pay for professional work, they won’t get professional work. That much is clear from looking at the submissions so far.)One last question: Why does a movie need a logo, anyway? Logos are for products and brands.
Re: JimmyI couldn’t have said it better myself. Things change, and you’ll either adapt and learn how to embrace those changes and make them work for you, or you’ll just sit there and wish things were like how they used to be and get left behind. Going the traditional route didn’t work for these producers, so they are trying something new. I applaud.
Supporting artificially inflated rates is not unethical. Supply and demand is a real concept. Things are worth what they sell for by definition. If I can consistently pay someone $20/hr to do what you do for $100/hr, and they’re as good at it or better than you are, then guess what – that work is worth $20/hr.”most logo design/branding strategies have higher price tags”That’s because this kind of thing wasn’t prevalent before. Things change.”reputable design may be reluctant to hire those who participate in these types of practices.”Why? Careers like Design are supposed to be based, almost exclusively, on how good you are. Do you really think that any design shop is going to take a pass on a kickass designer because he cranked out a couple of logos for $400 in his spare time?
I find it unethical in that it mainly targets unemployed/underemployed designers and students who are simply looking to get any money for the doing any work and hoping that it helps them get their name out there. $400 is not market standard for a logo design as far as I am aware, most logo design/branding strategies have higher price tags. I worry too that students who are doing this in an effort to make a name for themselves may be damaging their careers as reputable design may be reluctant to hire those who participate in these types of practices.
“would a talented and ethical designer participate? I sincerely doubt it.”What does ethics have to do with it? By what possible interpretation is this kind of thing “unethical”?Threatening to mediocre designers, sure. It’s painful to see a gravy train that you’ve been riding grind to a halt.
I’m really surpised at the blanket negativity and bashing in this thread. Really people? This kind of bashing usually happens where people feel threatened or defensive.I hope your idea serves you well and it works out on your behalf. I think it could generate interest, curiosity. Maybe some absolute unknown will put together something original, unique and effective. I wish you luck with your project as well.
Oh gosh, here’s some great reading on this topic, as well. Now I’ll shut up.http://www.aiga.org/logo-warehouses-crowdsourcing-lack-of-understanding/http://www.aiga.org/whats-the-harm-in-crowdsourcing/
I would assume that there is some kind of lack of communication between client and designer(s). I am hard pressed to believe that there aren’t any Vermont freelancers or agencies that can produce a suitable logo for this project. Should the Vermont design community as a whole take offense to actions of Len Britton and Bradford Boyles? Probably. As my friend Michael said above… would a talented and ethical designer participate? I sincerely doubt it.Not only have we neutered so many of our country’s markets with laughable amounts of outsourcing, we now take it a step further by crowdsourcing; commoditizing creativity, and turning critical business decisions into popularity contests.We all may be barking at a brick wall here, but I would hope that Len and Bradford decide to revisit the idea of employing one of Vermont’s many talented freelancers or agencies, as opposed to leaving Vermont’s design community in the dust for a cheap, detached solution.
Crowd sourcing to me is also an indication of our economic trouble. The reason this site exists is lack of design jobs. Business today has changed. The human connection and a solid handshake are dieing traditions. 🙁
Flatlander is correct when he/she said, “Its sad to see design devalued this way time and time again.”