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Martin Charles | Santa Monica, Ca
Heating Up The Big Screen
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Watch Making "Charlie Wilson's War" with the SOLJET XC-540 |
With more than 50 feature films to his credit and extensive experience working with many of the world’s foremost directors and stars, Hollywood graphic designer Martin T. Charles of SagaBoy Productions is at the top of his field.
To stay on the cutting edge, Charles continues to search for new, innovative ways to create the fantastic scenery, props and backdrops that frame those Oscar-winning performances. Key to his recent success has been the Roland SOLJET 54” inkjet printer/cutter which he introduced into his environment for the production of recent films including “Public Enemies,” “Leatherheads,” “Charlie Wilson’s War,” “Frost/Nixon” and “Miami Vice.”
Since acquiring his SOLJET, Charles has wrapped virtually every type of vehicle from cigarette boats to airplanes and recreated complex environments ranging from 1930s downtown Chicago to multi-exhibit trade show arenas and the interior of the U.S. Capitol. His graphics have set the stage for some of this decade’s most compelling stories and have captivated audiences and directors alike including Michael Mann, George Clooney, Ron Howard and Mike Nichols.
"If there was a one-and-only/must-have printer to a designer, the Roland SOLJET printer/cutter is that printer. It is far superior in its ability to print beautiful images on almost any material quickly, and the cutting technology is unmatched."
“I have the best job in Hollywood the greatest passion for my work. I am always searching for new ways to communicate visual graphic design,” Charles said. “If there was a one-and-only/must-have printer to a designer, the Roland SOLJET printer/cutter is that printer. It is far superior in its ability to print beautiful images on almost any material quickly, and the cutting technology is unmatched.”
Charles took full advantage of his SOLJET for his work on “Public Enemies,” where director Michael Mann called on him to recreate visual surfaces for more than 20 locations including the marble interior of a downtown Chicago bank. The movie was set during the Great Depression and chronicled the life of notorious bank robber John Dillinger as played by Johnny Depp.
“The marble surfaces were among the most important visual elements in the film, and they had to be perfect,” said Charles. “My task was to find a way to recreate 3,000 square feet of marble, flawlessly, in vinyl using high resolution digital photography and color management techniques.”
“Charlie Wilson’s War” presented its own challenges. Starring Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts, the story was based on Texas congressman Charlie Wilson's covert dealings in Afghanistan in the 1980s.
Charles said, “This film had at its heart one critical venue, the Speaker of the House Lobby of the United States Capitol. The Capitol building is enormous and impressive, and hasn’t changed in over a hundred years. So we had the sense we were recreating history. To accomplish this, we printed more than 2,000 square feet of vinyl for the intricate Minton tile floor and another 2,500 for wall paper and other interior décor elements. This was a precision undertaking. Wherever digitally printed graphics met to form walls, floors and ceilings, they had to seamlessly integrated. There was simply no margin for error.”
Recreating history is a common theme for Charles who also produced the graphics for “Leatherheads.” The film was set in the 1920s, an era that produced CocaCola “red” and made Barbisol the standard for that close shave. And without television to spread the word, companies relied on public events and venues to communicate their marketing messages.
“During the 1920s, printed advertisements were everywhere and they very much reflected the culture of that time,” Charles said. “So the graphics were very important for this film, which was all about football, fame and 1920s America. Ultimately, we created hundreds of billboards, posters and advertisements – some as wide as 40 feet. Our goal was to capture the style of the 1920s as authentically as possible. We were very happy with the results.”
“The interesting thing about working on films is that you realize how important visuals are to story telling,” Charles said. “When you see a film that works, you feel like you are there because you do not recognize the setting as a stage. It feels right, and you’re completely drawn in by its visuals and graphics.”
He continued, “My work requires enormous flexibility and flawless execution. The Roland SOLJET printer/cutter is right at home in my studio.”
About Martin T. Charles: Martin T. Charles is owner of SagaBoy Productions, a Santa Monica-based graphic design firm serving the film industry. Charles holds a BA in communication design from New York’s Pratt Institute. He relocated to Los Angeles in 1990 and has since served as graphic designer on more than 50 feature films including Public Enemies, Leatherheads, Frost/Nixon, Charlie Wilson’s War, Miami Vice, AI: Artificial Intelligence, Minority Report, Be Cool, 50 First Dates, Seabiscuit, Catch Me If You Can, Murder by Numbers, Stuart Little and That Thing You Do, among others.
Learn More about the SOLJET PRO III XC-540 Printer/Cutter.
What Got Me Started in the Business
I always had an interest in film. After 12 years in New York publishing, I moved to Los Angeles to pursue my interest.
My Design Philosophy
Simplicity. A design has to communicate an idea.
My Business Philosophy
When it's due, it's there.
My Favorite Expression
“Cheese and Bread”
What I Like Most About My Profession
I have the best job in Hollywood. I get to do really cool graphic design...but design that is always solving the problem at hand.
What I Hate Most on a Workday
Uptight people. Hollywood is about "I needed it yesterday." The tight schedule is not a problem...the problem is people who do not respect the work, or understand the things we need to do to achieve the look of the film.
My Favorite Recent Projects
- Public Enemies - Massive marble interiors for 1930s bank buildings
- Frost/Nixon - Retro set graphics including 1970s airport interiors
- Leatherheads - Vintage advertisements, billboards and other set graphics
- Charlie Wilson's War - Replicating the Capitol interior including set and floor graphics
- Miami Vice - High-impact set and boat graphics
My Roland Model
Why I Use a Roland
It's the end-all of printer/cutters. It's the perfect printer for my needs as a graphic designer. I can create anything from signs to backlits to beer labels to fabrics to wallpaper without having to send it out to be produced.
My Favorite Feature on the Roland
I love the sound it makes and the way it cuts.
My Roland Media
All of them. I don't know when I need it until I need it.
Champs like us, baby, were born to wrap
