Things that make editors happy...

You see, this is what makes being an editor fun (sometimes)... bribes from artists! Of course, I did have to enter MacFormat and Men's Health illustrator Bill McConkey's 1980s Classic Last Supper Movie Quiz first.

I'm not sure if it's a good or bad thing that I was able to name all the films in his wonderful image (which has garnered him at least one commission, so the effort was worth it). But since one of the prizes was chocolate, who cares?

... although I do note that 'Baby Ruth' is an American chocolate bar and wonder how long Bill had it in his fridge/cupboard/competition prize box.

Wikpedia reveals that although the name of the candy bar sounds like the name of the famous baseball player Babe Ruth, the Curtiss Candy Company traditionally claimed that it was named after President Grover Cleveland's daughter, Ruth Cleveland.

The candy maker, located on the same street as Wrigley Field, named the bar "Baby Ruth" in 1921, as Babe Ruth's fame was on the rise, over 30 years after Cleveland had left the White House, and 17 years after his daughter, Ruth, had died. The company did not negotiate an endorsement deal with Ruth, and many saw the company's story about the origin of the name to be a devious way to avoid having to pay the baseball player any royalties.

Curtiss successfully shut down a rival bar that was approved by, and named for, Ruth, on the grounds that the names were too similar.

Bill's additions to the wrapper are of course, homage to Sloth in The Goonies, befriended by Chunk with a chocolate bar.

I know, I really should get out more.

Apart from mailing out bribes, Bill's  been busy with a number of projects including a cover for Insurance Age and an infographic-based image on the subject of a new targeting system on an Apache Helicopter, which saw print in Nuts magazine.

• View Bill's art here on his web site: www.billmcconkey.co.uk


• Check out his latest work at: http://billmcconkey.blogspot.com

How to Engage Prospective Art Directors: Bill McConkey's Film Quiz

Art © 2011 Bill McConkey. Used with his full permission

Ever mindful of the need to stimulate the interest of prospective employers, SciFi Art Now contributor Bill McConkey mailed me a postcard using the nostalgic 1980s inspired image above - and a fab film challenge.

"Usually in February/March/April I've already sent out my mail outs to existing and prospective clients," he explains via his blog. "Last year, that was my 20 page booklet Kaleidoscope and I had every intention of producing a second volume for this year. However since before Christmas up until now I've been too busy with actual jobs, in fact almost with a guarantee every time I've tried to start this booklet I've had an email or a phone call from a client."

Some familiar characters used for an article for
Men's Health: Broccoli verus Spinach.
Art by Bill McConkey

Despite his workload - Bill's recent credits include work for Accountancy Age, Men's Health and Nuts - he found time to mail out his postcard challenge, aimed at reming Art Directors up and down the land he was available for work.

"This, as you can hopefully see, is an 80's movie themed tribute to Da Vinci's Last Supper," he explains. "I'm inviting anyone who got hold of the card to tell me the films that each of the characters appear in and they'll get a prize... also bonus points for anyone who can name the film posters in the background. Some of those are a bit tricky!"

There are 16 characters at the tables - see if you can name all the films - and the posters on the walls, too.

Of course, I'm pleased to report (or maybe that should be confess!) that I've already sent Bill my entry and he's told me I got every one right. I'm also quite chuffed that I did it without resorting to the Internet for all but one of the posters, although I will admit that I had some help from the ROK Comics art director on a couple of those, who's an even bigger SF film fan than I am.

You'll notice that the artwork above includes a little copyright stamp at the bottom. Usually Bill don't feel a need to do this, but this is one of those images that goes walk-about online, and then it ends up on all manner of websites etc that he haven't given the thumbs up to: so please respect his copyright and contact Bill if you want to use it.

• Bill's Official web site: www.billmcconkey.co.uk 

• Bill's official blog: www.billmcconkey.blogspot.com

• Bill McConkey's Last Film Supper © 2011 Bill McConkey