Author’s Note
This is not a sponsored post! I just really like A24’s more edifying, non-moving picture works.
If you aren’t familiar with the studio name A24, you almost certainly recognize some of the films they’ve shepherded into the world: MIDSOMMAR! UNCUT GEMS! HEREDITY! EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE! THE LIGHTHOUSE! So many more!
They’re referred to by some as producing ‘elevated genre’ work, which is a terrible descriptor because genre work over the decades has often have been substantial, inquisitive, and thought provoking, but sadly it has stuck so now we all have to live with it.
What’s lesser known about A24 is that they also sell all sorts of merchandise. Yes, they have the requisite graphic t-shirts and enamel pins and vinyl, but look past those and you’ll see some inspired physical endeavors. Here’s a small selection: iron-cast, scale statue of Marcel from MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON (he’s surprisingly heavy!); wearable hot dog fingers and a pet rock from EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE; HEREDITARY gingerbread house kit; a grooming kit inspired by THE LIGHTHOUSE! That’s just a handful of their offerings!
They also offer a roughly quarterly zine, which are always immaculately designed and engrossing. Sometimes they’re overseen by the director of an upcoming A24 film, such as an entire zine about Claire Denis musing about seeds for the overlooked HIGH LIFE, or SAINT MAUD’s Rose Glass scrutinizing the theme of salvation.
Sometimes their zines simply indulge the cinephile, either by unearthing obscure film history, or are laser-focused on a specific niche.
The latter is my favorite. There’s an entire zine about films that were advertised, but never made it to the silver or home screen. The latest zine reminisces on the neon-soaked design of pre-naughts multiplexes. There’s another that is mostly comprised of photos of Brendan Fraser. The Daniels modeled a zine entirely about taxes.
While you can buy the zines individually, they’re automatically included as part of AAA24, A24’s membership subscription. The subscription is well-worth the $5+tax/month or $55+tax/year as it nets you a bunch of free goodies, a birthday gift, early access to merch as well as exclusive merch, free screenings, discounts, and more.
Again! Not a sponsored post! I definitely do not claim to be an A24 fanboy — one of the free gifts I received as part of my AAA24 membership was a bog standard A24 shirt that I refuse to wear outside the house because nothing says ‘I’m an insufferable film nerd’ like an A24 shirt.
Among the other free merch I’ve received: The aforementioned THE LIGHTHOUSE grooming kit! It is cute but pungent enough that I had to seal up the soap in a sandwich bag; an A24 dog collar and I do not have a dog but I occasionally make use of it; a number of Marcel stickers, so you can litter your house with Marcels in the least expected places.
While the merch and discounts are nice, I get far more mileage out of the zines and perhaps you will too. Maybe you’ll even indulge in a subscription as well, ensuring reading delight for a full year!