As
you continue to dig deeper and deeper into this mainframe, the eye being kept
on you watches closer and closer. With that said, closer still watches the
public eye each time the next and newest James Bond film is revealed. However, GOLDENEYE
would launch a more than memorable teaser campaign that would bring the new
face of Bond to light like never before… Your credentials precede you, so
access to this file has been granted. The following data is what we have on the
teaser campaign artwork for GOLDENEYE, twenty years removed from its original launch.
This transmission begins with a few preliminary
data entries that one must be briefed on to better understand the material
within this file. So, let’s get into it, shall we? Firstly, it is important to
understand that by the time the holiday season of 1995 rolled around, Bond had
taken a six year hiatus from appearing on the silver screen. After all, legal
trouble and distribution rights can be a terrible business! Secondly, the Bond
franchise would fall victim to the stepping away of former agent, Timothy
Dalton. As if that didn’t provide enough turbulence, the world in which Bond
operated in had changed dramatically. Everything he risked his life and limb
for had changed. The Berlin Wall stood no longer, the Soviet
Union ceased to exist, and the Cold War had finally thawed. Was England
The new face of Bond, Pierce Brosnan, would
be a great piece of the revitalizing process, and it was up to the work of
famous photographer John Stoddart and art directors Randy Braun and Earl
Klasky, to help prove that. Every question and more would be answered with one
simple idea, that when it came to James Bond films, there was no substitute.
As our file suggests, this first teaser style
poster would grace theaters by early 1995. As a statement addressing popular
action movies at the time, this piece would get audiences excited to see the
return of James Bond and confirm the fact that his presence on the silver
screen could never be replaced. A close up of Pierce Brosnan’s eye staring down
the sites of the famed Walther PPK, with the bold red 007 logo underneath,
suggested that something big was on the horizon. The film’s title was only
presented in the small print at the bottom of this striking poster, on purpose.
Because, despite Janus’ best efforts and the obstacles that the franchise had
to clear, Bond was indeed back and that’s all that really mattered.
The intrigue pushed forward by this piece
was all it took to really get people talking. Through the clever design,
theater goers would be reminded that it was Bond that set the gold standard of
action films. As if to silence all the naysayers at once, this bold-yet-classy
poster would succeed greatly in its mission to get the imagination of the
public flowing and Bond imagery at the forefront of film once again.
As several Janus reports state, partnered
with this promotional piece, was the mouth-watering teaser trailer hidden
within the previews before several movies in early 1995. The explosive trailer
would cast viewers directly into the action of GOLDENEYE, giving them the first
sneak peek of Pierce Brosnan in action. Janus calculated his movements from
there. Timing in at about one minute and thirty seconds, United Artists would
masterfully present a teaser trailer that would not only further expand on what
the teaser poster for GOLDENEYE put into motion, but turn the hype for the
upcoming film up several notches.
“It’s a new
world, with new enemies, and new threats. But, you can still depend on one man…
007!” can be read within the first thirty seconds of the trailer. Now, if that
didn’t get fans to clap out loud in the theater, surely the rapid flashing of
action starring Pierce Brosnan, Izabella Scorupco, Famke Janssen, Gottfried
John, and Sean Bean was. I must admit, watching it back now gets me to want to
watch them film… strictly for archival purposes, of course. The trailer is capped off with Pierce Brosnan
uttering the famous line that no real Bond film should go without, a graphic of
the film title, and text reading, “Christmas 1995”. If I can appreciate Bond
for one thing, it’s his special knack for making a rather impressive impact.
Data also suggests that the theme music
heard in the teaser trailer is widely considered to be another key to the
success of the teaser campaign of GOLDENEYE. Sources indicate that American
partnered composers Starr Parodi and Jeff Eden Fair would provide a fresh and
modern spin on the James Bond theme, specifically made for this GOLDEYE teaser
trailer. The theme would immediately be considered iconic and would eventually
earn the duo a RIAA Gold Record.
Side notes for this file are rather scarce.
Out of all the Bond films’ promotional campaign, GOLDENEYE’s still resonates
with many fans as a benchmark shift in the series. And to be fair, with all
things considered, the effectiveness of the teaser campaign of GOLDENEYE could
not be denied. It would undoubtedly redefine who and what Bond was to become
into the mid nineteen nineties and beyond. The promotional work of the past for
the Bond franchise would not be forgotten, just built upon, expanded, and taken
much, much farther. The teaser trailer and poster for GOLDENEYE would serve as
a new launching pad for the film and the series as a whole. And, I suppose without
its great success, I might not be relaying this information to you right now.
Putting to rest all the criticism and worries that the Bond franchise faced
after six year absence was no small feat. You can thank this campaign and the
quality of the film for that!
In conclusion, it is in the best interest
of this organization to take note of this campaign. As you continue on,
referring back to this strong and primary imagery work from time to time may
serve you well. It marks the beginning of a new era for MI6, James Bond, and
the Janus Syndicate. After all, only the smartest of Janus operatives keep in
close mind where it all began.
That’s
about all we’ve gathered on the subject, old boy. You’ve been given a preview
of what’s to come. Your orders are to respond accordingly. Much like the teaser
work, I trust you won’t let me down… Trust? What a quaint idea.
- End transmission, Trevelyan.
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