Quoted from valgalder:Yes, I am aware he works for JJP.. I specifically mean, what HAPPENED to his art.. used to be so good and now is mostly generic and lame.
You should contact him directly and ask.
Here is his LinkedIn page:
(Topic ID: 242000)
Plainfield, IL
This may mean nothing but a few days after hearing the Gomez comments a.friend from work said Franchi had given my friends ex band mate a gotg,munsers and beatles playfield for free earlier that week.
Quoted from Puffdanny:after hearing the Gomez comments
what were the gomez comments?
It's mentioned in this.thread but pretty much how Franchise wanted to do Beatlejuice and Gomez didnt
Franchi has absolutely no filter, I like that. Unfortunately it’s not “politically correct” and not fitting with today’s political climate. I’m sure he said a few things that didn’t sit well with “the lifestyle company” Sometimes people with such a free spirit can be held back creatively, so it’s only inevitable that he’ll leave eventually.
Franchi is a creative and a damn brilliant one at that. He's really found a niche in pinball where he really excels. The creative personally type is very independent and outspoken which is very much part of their DNA. It is very much what makes him such a great artists...
It would be a shame if Stern and he can't continue a relationship... But if Stern are stifling his creativity accidentally by pushing projects off like Beatlejuice Batman 66 Catwoman, and generally being corporate... he is likely frustrated...
Franchi's mouth is a liability to Stern. I've seen him post some pretty cringe-worthy comments on social media. Stern doesn't need their own monkey drama after skating through the Trudeau thing unscathed.
Quoted from Aurich:Doing playfield art is, imo, tricky. Some experience helps. But plenty of good artists would be up for the challenge. If you're working with a good company that knows how to make pins and can give you the kind of guidance and resources you need it helps.
Rob Zombie is a good example of fabulous backglass and cabinet art, not so great playfield art. It needs some understanding of what a playfield requires for sure. I dunno that I'll ever do another playfield again, but if I did I'd definitely learn from my own mistakes.
I don't know or care about rumors or podcasts. What will be will be. But I do think pinball has a minor 'art problem' in that the same wells get visited over and over.
This isn't a diss on any of the people who do pinball art. Nor do I wish them a lack of work or anything else. It's cool to see old favorites, and see new people grow. I think Zombie Yeti is a great illustrator. Franchi has a style that isn't my personal favorite, that photorealism thing he does is a real talent, I just prefer a little more stylization. For the right project he's a perfect fit though. I thought Batman66 was a really good match for his style for instance.
But, that said, it would be nice to see more variety in the artists to be a good match for the themes. Dialed In is a good example. Mom jeans guy didn't help the feeling of "old men designing a game for young people" vibe. There are so many people out there with skill, just seeing more variety would be cool.
My 2 cents.
True on the jeans, but Dialed In is the best pin!
Quoted from romulusx:True on the jeans, but Dialed In is the best pin!
You just wish you could draw jeans that tight! 
Quoted from Guinnesstime:OMG I had a Welcome Back Kotter lunchbox w/thermos that looked similar!
By the way, great podcast about this lunchbox if you haven't heard it:
https://gimletmedia.com/shows/mystery-show/8wh956/case-6-kotter
Quoted from cletus:I think Brian Holderman could put a cool spin on Elvira.
Brian Holderman would be great
Bullet-Holderman-10 (resized).jpgBullet-Holderman-11 (resized).jpgPAPA20-Holderman (resized).pngStern30thAnniversary-Poster-Blue (resized).pngQuoted from cletus:I think Brian Holderman could put a cool spin on Elvira.
[quoted image]
I like Brian's work, but Greg has already done the artwork for Elvira 3.
Quoted from JodyG:Franchi's mouth is a liability to Stern. I've seen him post some pretty cringe-worthy comments on social media. Stern doesn't need their own monkey drama after skating through the Trudeau thing unscathed.
And you want to be my latex salesman...
Newcastle
oh No!! Who will Gary find to apply the Oil Paint photoshop filter to licensed assets!?!? Is the bubble about to BURST?!
Quoted from Macca101010:I hope he doesn't stop working for Stern. I'm a Franchi fan-boy, and was awesome to meet
Check out his facebook page. He has a few comments on there about what is happening and what is true and what is not!
Kamloops, BC
Quoted from MrBally:Let's not forget his Twipy performance at TPF 2019.
Unless it was staged.....
It obviously was, and was confirmed by those involved...
Quoted from Coz:Franchi has absolutely no filter, I like that. Unfortunately it’s not “politically correct” and not fitting with today’s political climate. I’m sure he said a few things that didn’t sit well with “the lifestyle company” Sometimes people with such a free spirit can be held back creatively, so it’s only inevitable that he’ll leave eventually.
It isn’t about not having a filter... it’s about having a professional approach.
Quoted from jellikit:And I will put the name of Mitch O'Connell out there,...
He'd be great for pinball. Does he still do commercial work?
.................David Marston
Quoted from pinballaddicted:Check out his facebook page. He has a few comments on there about what is happening and what is true and what is not!
What is happening?
Quoted from FalconPunch:Admit it, the pinside community would cry 1000 tears if it was on a Stern commercial product.
Brian Holderman or Mike Fudge or Brian Allen pin? Tears of joy.
Franchi is great at what he does, but I’ve had my fill of photorealistic 1960’s art for a while.
Quoted from PaulCoff:What is happening?
I am a Franchi fan! See below what he posted. Remember he is also active on Pinside.
"If you want to know what I have to say about the rumors that I left Stern, what people who assume it's true have to say about it, and the comments that I have aired any of Sterns dirty laundry, assuming they have any... Tune in to my podcast on Slap Save next Monday. I'll address those things and more. I'll also be giving out an email address where you can ask questions I'll answer on the air. Be patient and don't believe everything you hear. Consider the source."
Quoted from yancy:Brian Holderman or Mike Fudge or Brian Allen pin? Tears of joy.
Franchi is great at what he does, but I’ve had my fill of photorealistic 1960’s art for a while.
Brian holderman. I like it. But if that style was on a NIB stern game the pinside mob would not like it.
Quoted from valgalder:I would like to know what happened with John Youssi.. he did some incredible and iconic work in the past that fit pinball perfectly, with the illustrations and hand drawn art, and since the early 2000's mainly does generic looking photoshop art? what a waste!
Agreed, his Whitewater art package is superb. But they don't make cartoony non-licensed games like that anymore. Although Oktoberfest should have been would have GREATLY benefited from his old illustrative skillset.
Quoted from yancy:Brian Holderman or Mike Fudge or Brian Allen pin? Tears of joy.
Franchi is great at what he does, but I’ve had my fill of photorealistic 1960’s art for a while.
Quoted from solarvalue:Love that Holderman mermaid/diver poster, such a clever rework of the Fathom backglass.
Here we go; An updated Seawitch using the Beatles play field re-work with Brian Holderman on art.
Make it happen.
Quoted from Doctor6:Why are people downvoting op's comments in here? I'm confused what's going on.
Because the cool Pinside thing to do is say you don't like Kaneda.
Quoted from Doctor6:Why are people downvoting op's comments in here? I'm confused what's going on.
Quoted from Doctor6:Why are people downvoting op's comments in here? I'm confused what's going on.
A downvote means you don't agree with a posting.
Quoted from Coz:Franchi has absolutely no filter, I like that.
But businesses that are trying to sell products to the general public do not - & rightly so.
Quoted from Coz:Franchi has absolutely no filter, I like that. Unfortunately it’s not “politically correct” and not fitting with today’s political climate.
It has nothing to do with politics. Stern is running a business and dealing with major licencors. If Franchi leaks art in violation of the terms of a license, or burns a bridge with a licencor costing Stern a deal, then real people suffer. Stern loses money, Stern might have to lay off people. "Sorry you are getting laid off, but our art guy's just got no filter, unlike all the other adults who understand how to behave at work".
I like Franchi's art too but I don't air my company's dirty laundry or petty squabbles and he shouldn't either. It's unprofessional.
I think Franchi will bounce back from whatever is going on. His art is a big part of modern pinball at this point and I am a fan of his work.
... but I’m also going to keep the Holderman love fest going since his artwork is everywhere except on a production pinball machine. I believe Stern could remake Meteor featuring this Brian Holderman character. I’m feeling she has a killer story to tell.
E7C42DCE-B261-4498-8611-58DCF4D586AB.jpegYeti said he was done with pinball for a while a few months back. Franchi is supposedly done. Dirty Donnie is supposedly done. Time to find some new blood...or maybe they already did? Lots and lots of excellent artists out there to choose from.
Quoted from JodyG:Yeti said he was done with pinball for a while a few months back.
I think that meant a short break after the madness of Maiden/Deadpool/Primus. Hopefully he's already at work on something new. Could be a year before we see it anyway.
Quoted from Doctor6:Why are people downvoting op's comments in here? I'm confused what's going on.
Thank you for noticing... I asked for a confirmation and that's the reward...
Quoted from MrBally:A downvote means you don't agree with a posting.
I don't agree with this post...
Quoted from yancy:I think that meant a short break after the madness of Maiden/Deadpool/Primus. Hopefully he's already at work on something new. Could be a year before we see it anyway.
I talked with Yeti at MGC. He said he is currently working on a Stern project for release next year.
Quoted from Doctor6:Why are people downvoting op's comments in here? I'm confused what's going on.
I'd hazard to guess it's because he mentioned Kaneda as a source at the beginning of the thread
Quoted from Richthofen:It has nothing to do with politics. Stern is running a business and dealing with major licencors. If Franchi leaks art in violation of the terms of a license, or burns a bridge with a licencor costing Stern a deal, then real people suffer. Stern loses money, Stern might have to lay off people. "Sorry you are getting laid off, but our art guy's just got no filter, unlike all the other adults who understand how to behave at work".
I like Franchi's art too but I don't air my company's dirty laundry or petty squabbles and he shouldn't either. It's unprofessional.
Quoted from cletus:I think Franchi will bounce back from whatever is going on. His art is a big part of modern pinball at this point and I am a fan of his work.
... but I’m also going to keep the Holderman love fest going since his artwork is everywhere except on a production pinball machine. I believe Stern could remake Meteor featuring this Brian Holderman character. I’m feeling she has a killer story to tell.
[quoted image]
Interesting that you mention this as I am currently working with Brian Holderman on retheming a Stern Meteor. He has also done the artwork for our podcast t-shirt which has been popular. Not trying to advertise here so I apologize in advance. I am a huge fan of Holderman and Franchi.
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