The Pulse of Entertainment: Arts Sims Enlisted by Black Panther/Koryn
Hawthorne's #1 on Billboard
"
I was hired," said Art Sims, CEO of 11:24 Design Advertising Agency, about how he came to be enlisted to design the poster
for the Disney Black Panther film. "I was one of two agencies Marvel selected. We
both used the same photos. They hired us to come up with sketches, what it should look
like."
Marvel wanted Black Panther to
be a character that was large, powerful and a heroic super hero. Art Sims, who has created advertising
designs for Spike Lee, George Lucas and Steven Spielberg (The Color Purple), did not have his poster design
selected but large, powerful and heroic it surely is.
"I was the only African-American that worked on Black Panther (art-work),"
Sims said. "There is not many of us out there. Disney knows me. I've done all of
Spike Lee's work - Do The Right Thing, Red Tails...I get clients that more times have come up with expressions, directions
and ideas. Clients do tell me what they want. Most times I have the freedom of direction."
Art Sims' vision for the Black Panther poster had the hero masked front
and center and larger than life with a waterfall and scenes of civil war as the backdrop
making him seem powerful enough to smite his enemies. He is surrounded by his warrior
women - the love of his life who is an humanitarian to the right, the leader of his army who is
a true soldier watching his back and his sister who is a technology wiz to the left. Marvel selected a poster that
has the hero much smaller, masked off and used as the backdrop with more of the films
characters included, such as his mother the queen
, his rival for the throne - his abandoned cousin and an ally federal agent - just to name a few.
After reviewing the film I must admit that Art Sims' version better
shows the entity of the film - the strength of the heroic Black Panther and the three
women that helped him keep his throne. Art Sims' past work is visually just as historic
and iconic as the Black Panther character, which is why it appears at the Smithsonian National Museum of
African-American Art as art of the Paramount Collection.
"I
wanted to be an entrepreneur. I went to Detroit's' top high school. I went to Michigan
State U with high honors on a scholarship. I worked part-time at Sony in New York doing
album covers. Left there and went back to MSU. I came to Los Angeles to work for Capital
Records for two years, CBS TV (as Art Director) for a year. Then I wanted my own agency. I did work for Quincy,
Clarence Avant (on The Color Purple). I introduced myself to Spike Lee. I was not happy working
with others I wanted freedom. Our goal was not to be a movie poster company, more of an
artist studio...artists' reflections of African-American male and female consumers, not
the traditional ads...to try from an artistic experience."
Art Sims 11:24 Design did just that. He came
up with a poster of an artistic and client driven perspective, where as the other agency's
poster seems to be from a investor and cast driven perspective. Sims' 11:24 Design is based in Los Angeles
and its recent client includes Ava DuVernay. Past projects include Malcolm X, Jungle Fever, Love &
Basketball and Mo Better Blues. Other clients of 11:24 Design include Lionsgate, Starbucks,
Warner Bros., Fox and Coca-Cola. Sims also has a non-profit foundation, AIR (Artists in
Residence) Foundation to mentor to art designers. You can log onto www.1124Design.com to reach
out.
She was a finalist in season 8 of NBC's talent competition,
"The Voice." Contemporary Gospel artist Koryn Hawthorne, as a result, is now an artist
on RCA Inspiration and released her debut self-titled EP on August 11, 2017. She has received
two Stellar Awards nominations for the project and her latest single off the EP, "Won't
He Do It," hit #1 on Billboard's "Digital Tracks Chart." The single also reached
#4 on Billboard's "Hot Gospel Songs Chart" and #7 on Billboard's "Gospel Airplay Chart."
"This is incredible. I'm so thankful," Koryn said about reaching the #1 spot on Billboard. "To go #1 shows
people are actually supporting it. I want people's lives to be impacted."
Someone in her life had a positive impact on her from birth because she was only 17 when she became one of four finalists
on the nationally televised talent competition. This means she was performing in front
of millions of people.
"Every since I was a kid...I wanted to sing," she confessed
when I asked. "I was singing at two and performing since seven.‘The Voice'
was my reassurance. Insuring me I was on the right path."
She is so reminiscent of my own life. My mother said I was singing before I could
talk and performing in talent shows in elementary school. However, we had no national platforms
as "The Voice". Koryn has the vocal talent, Billboard topping support and a passion for the Gospel so
this assures me that she will be a inspirational icon one day.
"I am sure this is what God has for my life. We have free choice - to give
back to him," Hawthorne said sincerely.
The Stellar Award nominations are for this
year's ceremony but whether she wins or not she has reached Billboard's #1 spot so she
is already a winner. Her nominations are for "Best New Artist of the Year" and
"Contemporary Female Vocalist of the Year." The "Koryn Hawthorne EP" producers include Grammy winning
Warryn Campbell, Grammy winner Aaron Lindsey and Bernie Herms.
When talking about the business of entertainment the 20 years-old Louisiana native
said, "I have a strong support system. My mother is everywhere I go and is keeping
me grounded. The church and God too...I have good people in my circle that holds me accountable.
She (her mom) is incredible."
Learn and listen
to how incredible Koryn is by logging onto www.KorynHawthorne.com.
SYNDICATED COLUMN: Eunice Moseley, has an
estimated weekly readership of over ¼ million with The Pulse of Entertainment.
She is also a Public Relations Strategist and Business Management Consultant at Freelance Associates, and is Promotions
Director (at-large) for The Baltimore Times. www.ThePulseofEntertainment.com. EVENT: 19th annual "Uplifting Minds II" Free Entertainment
Conference (Baltimore Sat, April 21, 2018 at Security Square Mall and Los Angeles in October).
Entertainment Business panel and national talent showcase competition (vocal, songwriting
and dance) with over $13,000 in prizes. www.UpliftingMinds2.com.