Nick Cavalier’s Forced Perspective is a character portrait of artist Derek Hess, exploring his rise to success and the complicated relationship between creativity, mental illness, and dark subject matter.

Nick brought Coat of Arms on to create the film’s opening titles, graphics, and color. We drew directly from Hess’s artwork to build a title sequence that feels like an extension of his world. We explored ways to bring his drawings, textures, and compositions into motion, creating transitions that blur the line between artwork, portrait, and title sequence. The result keeps the personality of Hess’s work intact while giving it a cinematic rhythm designed specifically for the film.

The sequence was selected as a finalist in the 2015 SXSW Excellence in Title Design Competition.