Director Justin Ward brought me on to create compelling promotional artwork and photography for The Meanest Man in Texas a gritty Western film based on the true story of Clyde Thompson, a convicted murderer who found redemption behind bars. The goal was to produce visuals that captured the film’s raw emotional intensity and rugged period aesthetic, culminating in key art and posters that reflected the powerful arc of its protagonist.
To authentically represent the story, I photographed a series of on-set portraits and action-driven scenes with actors in character, staged in the hills north of Los Angeles—an area steeped in Hollywood Western history. The natural setting added a timeless, cinematic texture to the images, helping ground the work in the visual language of classic Westerns. These photographs became the foundation for the film’s key art, including the official poster and promotional materials.
Impact & Results
The promotional imagery played a pivotal role in the film’s marketing campaign, effectively encapsulating the film’s tone and drawing audience interest. The key art, particularly the main poster showcasing the protagonist’s grit and determination, received positive feedback for its authenticity and visual impact.