This is a fun list of western calligraphy being used in public theatrical films and TV shows. The calligraphy in this list may have appeared in titles, credits, used by characters in the film, or included calligraphic elements on objects. There are two sections to this list, Calligraphy in Movies and TV, and Calligraphy in Titles and Credits. I have not verified the correctness of this list; if there are any mistakes, or if you have more to add, please write in the box at bottom. Thanks to all who submitted material! (For non-theatrical how-to or demonstration videos, see my list at: https://stevehusting.com/calligraphy/2013/08/18/favorite-calligraphy-videos/.)
Article format used:
Movie or TV name (TV or movie release date) calligrapher name
Where or how calligraphy is used in the movie. Link.
You can learn more about these movies by going to imdb.com and pasting the title into the search box.
Calligraphy in Movies and TV
12 Years a Slave (2013)
Solomon writing with what looks like a quill pen with ink of berries. Screenshot: http://images.christianpost.com/full/66003/solomon-northup-12-years-a-slave.jpg
Amistad
Big Love HBO TV Season 3. Janet Martorello
A letter about the mandate for plurality of marriage written by the head of the Mormon Church
Bologna Towers (2000) Brody Neuenschwander
Book of Secrets DeAnn Singh
Box Trolls Annie Atkins
Credits, etc.
Breaking the Maya Code documentary Mark Van Stone
All the Maya and Oriental graphics and calligraphy, including hand-inserts where his hand (painted brown to look Mayan) writes on codices and vases.,
Brush with Silence Brody Neuenschwander
Buffy the Vampire Slayer TV De Ann Singh
Charmed TV DeAnn Singh
Dangerous Liasons (1988)
Dateline NBC television special Bernard Maisner
Wrote as Leonardo Da Vinci http://www.bernardmaisner.com/hand-lettering/hand-lettering-for-film-and-TV/
Dead Letters Daniel Reeve
http://www.danielreeve.co.nz/SmallProjects/ — scroll down
Fallen DeAnn Singh
http://www.designingletters.com/html/fs/gallery.html (click on Movie Production)
Firefly TV
Inara, the Companion, practices calligraphy
Finding Forrester (2000) Bernard Maisner
Sean Connery’s writing
Flying over Water (1997) Brody Neuenschwander
Game of Thrones TV (2011-2015)
screenshots: http://imgur.com/a/Xe5pS
Gangs of New York (2002) Bernard Maisner
Did the props for this movie by Martin Scorsese
Harry Potter movie series
Addressed envelopes, potion labels, mystery map, Harry Potter writing, signage in shop.
Henry VIII: Mind of a Tyrant BBC TV (2009) Brody Neuenschwander
http://www.brodyneuenschwander.com/?page_id=7)
Highlander 2 Carole Johnson
Log entry and map pages for the 19th-century logbook of the captain of the “Rose Marie.” A bookbinder neighbor of mine created the book for the movie. http://highlander.wikia.com/wiki/Highlander_II:_The_Quickening
How I Met Your Mother TV (2005-20014)
Ted is a calligrapher.
Huell Howser’s Visiting… TV ep. #1603
HH visits calligraphy convention, Letters California Style http://www.calgold.com/visiting/Default.asp?Series=1600)
I Am Love (Io Sono L’Amore) (2009) Luca Barcellona
Opening credits; calligraphy
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
I, The Worst of All (Yo, la peor de todas) Carole Johnson
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0100990/
Jagged Edge Jill Bell
Jobs (2013) Carrie Imai
Carrie Imai was hired as the “calligraphy consultant” for the movie – the early life of Steve Jobs, when he learned calligraphy at Reed college. She trained Ashton Kutcher and other actors in calligraphy and supplied all the art for the classroom scene.
King Kong Daniel Reeve
http://www.danielreeve.co.nz/KingKong/)
Lincoln
Writing at his desk with quill
Lone Ranger Mark Van Stone
Labels on the medicine bottles.
Mulan
Narnia Daniel Reeve
http://www.danielreeve.co.nz/Narnia/
National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets (2007) DeAnn Singh
http://www.designingletters.com/html/fs/gallery.html (click on Movie Production)
NOVA: Saving the National Treasures. TV PBS Brody Neuenschwander
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayJoTSO0wwU
Outlander (2014, Season 1, Ep 6)
Contract of Marriage for a wedding in1743. Mixture of broad pen and pointed pen styles.
Penny Dreadful Annie Atkins
P.S. I love you (2007) Bernard Maisner
Psych: The Musical 2-part Psych TV show special, season 8 (2013)
Opens with a storybook written in calligraphy. Also seen in middle of show and at end.
Sample 1, sample 2
Quills (2000)
Rediscovering Alexander Hamilton PBS TV Bernard Maisner
Filmed and interviewed as a handwriting expert
Rome TV series (2005-2007) Carrie Imai
Rushmore Mark Van Stone
The hero was a calligrapher, and a brief cameo shows him at a table promoting the
“Rushmore Calligraphy Club” for example. Calligraphic props
Shakespeare In Love
Writing with a quill.
Sleepy Hollow (1999) Bernard Maisner
screen shots: http://imgur.com/a/zNBkW Johnny Depp’s hand in Tim Burton’s movie.
Sometimes They Come Back Again DeAnn Singh
http://www.designingletters.com/html/fs/gallery.html (click on Movie Production)
Sons of Liberty
History Network’s TV series
Spartacus: Blood and Sand TV Daniel Reeve
http://www.danielreeve.co.nz/SmallProjects/)
Stigma
The Affair of the Necklace (l’affaire Collier, 2001) Julian Chazal
The Age of Innocence (1993) Bernard Maisner
Writing as Daniel Day Lewis’ hand in Martin Scorsese’s film.
The Grand Budapest Hotel Annie Atkins
Calligraphy documents, letters, and signage
The Hobbit Daniel Reeve
http://www.danielreeve.co.nz/Hobbit/)
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
Bilbo writes his bio at end
The Legend of the Laundry Warrior
(retitled The Warrior’s Way)
The Letter Writer
The Lord of the Rings Daniel Reeve
Biography book, ring, maps. http://www.danielreeve.co.nz/LOTR/)
The Name of the Rose
Sean Connery, trying to solve a series of murders, enters a scriptorium at a monastery where colorful illuminated manuscripts are on display. Two of the illuminators had been killed.
The Pillow Book Brody Neuenschwander and Yukki Yaura
Writing on woman’s body. http://www.brodyneuenschwander.com/?page_id=7 scroll down)
The Pirates of the Caribbean Xandra Zamora
Third movie: Pirates’ Code Book calligraphy by Mark Van Stone.
The Rose Haggadah Barbara Wolff
The Secret of Kells
https://thecelticjourney.wordpress.com/2013/05/01/the-secret-of-kells/
Ink from berries. Drawing on stretched skin with goose feather.
The Sorcer’s Apprentice (2010) Anna Pinto
Calligraphy and illumination on pages.
The Tale of Despereaux Veiko Kespersaks
The Tudors TV Annie Atkins
The Wedding Planner
Tintin Daniel Reeve
http://www.danielreeve.co.nz/Tintin/
Underworld 3: Rise of the Lycans Daniel Reeve
http://www.danielreeve.co.nz/SmallProjects/ — scroll down)
Valmont
(same story as Dangerous Liasons, but came out in 1989)
Van Helsing Daniel Reeve
http://www.danielreeve.co.nz/SmallProjects/ — scroll down)
Vikings TV ep. 3 (2013-2015)
Shot of illuminated ms with monk; screen: http://i.imgur.com/pIDRf7i.jpg
Who Do You Think You Are (TV / Brooke Shields episode) Ann Miller
Writing to Vermeer (1999) Brody Neuenschwander
Calligraphy in Titles and Credits
Calligraphy has been used for movie titles on posters and box artwork. Links below take you to the Internet Movie Database or Netflix sites to see the lettering.
A Promise (2013)
http://www.imdb.com/media/rm4223650048/tt2191082?ref_=tt_ov_i
Beyond the Mask (2015) End credits.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2433040/?ref_=nv_sr_1
Casper titles Mark Van Stone
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112642/?ref_=nv_sr_2
Clan of the Cave Bear Georgia Deaver
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090848/?ref_=fn_al_tt_3
Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters TV (2013)
http://www.imdb.com/media/rm347516672/tt1428538?ref_=tt_ov_i
Kindergarten Cop Jill Bell
(I don’t know where the calligraphy was. Perhaps it’s the child’s scrawl in the title.)
Lark Rise to Candleford TV (2008-2011)
http://www.imdb.com/media/rm2195622656/tt1077744?ref_=tt_ov_i
—-Broad Edge Nib—-
A Murder of Crows (1999)
http://www.imdb.com/media/rm1889573888/tt0133985?ref_=tt_ov_i
Celtic Woman concert (2005)
http://www.imdb.com/media/rm1265081600/tt0481404?ref_=tt_ov_i
Mysteries of Egypt IMAX documentary (1999)
http://www.imdb.com/media/rm3040124672/tt0145921?ref_=tt_ov_i
Songcatcher (2000)
http://www.imdb.com/media/rm3827470848/tt0210299?ref_=tt_ov_i
The Secret of Kells animated (2009)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0485601/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
The Tale of Despereaux animated Veiko Kespersaks
http://www.calligraphy-lettering.com/gallery.php?id=4)
—-Brush Lettering—-
300 (2007)
http://www.imdb.com/media/rm1056741632/tt0416449?ref_=tt_ov_i
A Coffee in Berlin (2012)
http://www.imdb.com/media/rm2915815168/tt1954701?ref_=tt_ov_i
A Letter to Three Wives (1949)
http://www.imdb.com/media/rm4255030528/tt0041587?ref_=tt_ov_i
A Wedding (1978)
http://www.imdb.com/media/rm2648216320/tt0078481?ref_=tt_ov_i
Baywatch TV (1991-1992)
http://www.imdb.com/media/rm48861952/tt0096542?ref_=tt_ov_i
Bewitched TV (1964-1971)
http://www.imdb.com/media/rm3725237504/tt0057733?ref_=tt_ov_i
Cirque Du Soleil: La Nouba performance (2004)
http://www.imdb.com/media/rm1284087040/tt0442043?ref_=tt_ov_i
Hercules (2014)
http://www.imdb.com/media/rm3776237312/tt1267297?ref_=tt_ov_i
Jules and Jim (1962)
http://www.imdb.com/media/rm3813393664/tt0055032?ref_=tt_ov_i
Mood Indigo (2013)
http://www.imdb.com/media/rm2950549248/tt2027140?ref_=tt_ov_i
My Reputation (1946)
http://www.imdb.com/media/rm2703856384/tt0038765?ref_=tt_ov_i
Otello (1986)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091699/?ref_=fn_al_tt_4
Otello TV movie (2001)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0418035/?ref_=fn_al_tt_9
Othello (1995)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114057/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
Red Tails (2012)
http://www.imdb.com/media/rm632994816/tt0485985?ref_=tt_ov_i
The Belle of New York (1952)
http://dvd.netflix.com/Movie/The-Belle-of-New-York/70075809?
strkid=1075876856_0_0&strackid=426ded46dcc8f408_0_srl&trkid=222336
The Boogens (1981)
http://www.imdb.com/media/rm1940037376/tt0082094?ref_=tt_ov_i
The Dagger of Kamui (Kamui no ken) (1985)
http://www.imdb.com/media/rm3033832704/tt0088983?ref_=tt_ov_i
The Earrings of Madame de… (1953)
http://www.imdb.com/media/rm1443283200/tt0046022?ref_=tt_ov_i
Willow Creek (2014)
http://www.imdb.com/media/rm872861440/tt2885364?ref_=tt_ov_i
Wild China TV documentary (2008)
http://www.imdb.com/media/rm2316932864/tt0884762?ref_=tt_ov_i
—-Pointed Pen—-
Comfort and Joy TV (2004)
http://www.imdb.com/media/rm998939904/tt0383278?ref_=tt_ov_i
Moliere Julien Chazal
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0796335/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
http://julien.chazal.free.fr/travaux_entrepri/Moliere/Titre/FrameSet.htm
Romeo and Juliet (1968)
http://dvd.netflix.com/Movie/Romeo-Juliet/60000774?
strkid=883973546_1_0&strackid=3de73af32ca9edc8_1_srl&trkid=222336
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows Anne Robin, Prologue (Fabien Barral and Reno Orange)
Titles and credits. http://www.annerobin.com/2013/01/sherlock-holmes/, http://www.graphic-exchange.com/exellence/prologue.htm
Sleepy Hollow (1999)
http://www.imdb.com/media/rm598512640/tt0162661?ref_=tt_ov_i
