The Imitation Game Script Book
The Imitation Game chronicles English mathematician Alan Turing as he is investigated under suspicion that he is hiding something from the authorities. During his interrogation, Turing recounts the story of the classified operations at Bletchley Park during World War II—operations aimed at cracking the German Enigma code. As he recounts his wartime experiences, the other aspects of his life unfold.
I was tasked with creating a dynamic book to tell this story using only the script and expressive type.
I began by watching the film several times over to understand every aspect of the dialogue. This included the cadence of the actors' performances and different vocal inflections, like Turing's slight stammer. Those minute details add great depth to the characters. I made note of every instance like these to make sure it all went into the book.
The story unfolds through three interconnected timelines: Turing's interview with the Manchester Police in 1951, his time at Bletchley Park during the War, and his school days. These three periods gave me a foundation for the book's structure and the opportunity for consistent visuals to thread throughout.
Next, I had to figure out how to represent the different characters, settings, and sounds using only type. All illustrative elements, with two small exceptions, are made from letterforms. I knew I needed to capitalize on the rhythm of dialogue, the atmosphere of mystery surrounding WWII-era Britain, and the poignancy of Alan Turing's story. I included stage directions to create the feeling of a classified report.
Next, I had to figure out how to represent the different characters, settings, and sounds using only type. All illustrative elements, with two small exceptions, are made from letterforms. I knew I needed to capitalize on the rhythm of dialogue, the atmosphere of mystery surrounding WWII-era Britain, and the poignancy of Alan Turing's story. I included stage directions to create the feeling of a classified report.
Ultimately, I wanted to make sure the intrigue, thrill, and heartbreak that permeates the film made it into the book. I knew attention to detail was critical to making this a reality. Through the balance of the calm and calamitous and amplified voice and tone, this script book tells Turing's story.
The goal was to draw readers in by their initial perception of the book, whether as a WWII spy story, a Turing biography, or their personal perception based on the cover, and leave them having gained insight into what film audiences anticipated.
