Penny Dreadful
CABINET OF CURIOSITIES PITCH CASE
Penny Dreadful is a psycho-sexual thriller filled with dark mystery and suspense, where personal demons from the past can be stronger than vampires, evil spirits and immortal beasts. This pitch case was created to appeal to Showtime and the creators of Penny Dreadful to prove that we understood them as a client and the unique viewpoint of the new series.
Network executives, the show director, and creator were shocked and delighted to receive the case during the meeting and within minutes upon opening it realized how in tune we were with their aesthetic and goals for the show. They awarded awarded us the account on the spot, the success of which led to further opportunities with Showtime and project collaborations.
By taking cues from gothic horror themes and the Victorian practice of a ‘Cabinet of Curiosities,’ I fashioned an experience of wonder and dread upon opening to exploring the contents. The case was fashioned from large books I painted and antiqued to create the illusion of a tome sealed away and lost in a fire. I hand painted vials to look decrepit and stained, filled with unknown concoctions. Several bottles were filled with strange and gruesome samples, and one even contained human teeth. Other objects were placed to evoke disgust and horror, such as the jaw bone of a deer, to the fake human skin I crafted and stitched together.
Literature’s most terrifying characters, including Dr. Frankenstein and his monster, Dorian Gray, and iconic figures from the novel Dracula are lurking in the darkest corners of Victorian London. Gruesome tales and chills were sold as Penny Dreadfuls. I designed the strategy deck to be in the format of a penny dreadful, layed out the deck design, and hand-stitched the binding of the deck with red thread. The entire case was then wrapped in hand-dyed fabric, wrapped in twine and secured with a wax seal.
