Podtalk: Director Jennifer Hou Kwong & Producer Ellis Goodman on the film ‘Art Paul of Playboy’

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CHICAGO – There was a time in America when the medium of the magazine produced superstars. Famous writers, reporters, photographers and illustrators ruled the day, from the magazine’s invention in the 1920s to their ebbing in the 1960s (when TV became a rival) to their last gasp before the internet. One superstar that emerged worked for Playboy Magazine, and was as influential as founder Hugh Hefner in creating the ethos of that particular empire. A legendary art director is profiled in the documentary, “Art Paul of Playboy: The Man Behind the Bunny.” The film is screening at the 54th Chicago International Film Festival on Sunday, October 14th, 2018 (7pm). For details and tickets, click here.

’Art Paul of Playboy: The Man Behind the Bunny,’ Directed by Jennifer Hou Kwong
Photo credit: Chicago International Film Festival

The film is directed by first timer Jennifer Hou Kwong (also known as Jian Ping), and it is the second documentary she’s been involved in, after participating for her own story of the journey to America from China in “Mulberry Child” (2011). The producer of that film, British-born Ellis Goodman, also is the producer of the Art Paul story. He was an accountant for rock stars back in Swinging London of the 1960s, and later was an investor, author and film producer.

In a Podtalk with Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com, director Jennifer Hou Kwong and Producer Ellis Goodman talks about their documentary on Art Paul, his influence as a graphic/art designer and his legacy at Playboy Magazine.

By PATRICK McDONALD Editor and Film Writer HollywoodChicago.com pat@hollywoodchicago.com