Out of Frame, Into Reality: Nakatomi Annual Report 1988

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Continuing the idea: what if we explored props that weren’t necessarily on set or even in the frame, but instead captured the spirit of the movie? Objects that feel like they belong just out of sight—familiar totems of a world we love.

The Nakatomi Corporation’s Annual Report for shareholders 1988. Highlighting on the cover, the brand new office plaza in Los Angeles.

While we know there’s no actual annual report for the Nakatomi Corporation, the building is actually Fox Plaza, but the building’s portrayal in Die Hard serves as a narrative device to explore themes of corporate power, international economics, and individual heroism against systemic threats. That’s one iconic building. The fictional Japanese multinational symbolizes the excesses of global capitalism, with its $640 million in untraceable bearer bonds stored in their vault serving as the focal point of Alan Rickman’s Hans Gruber's heist. Gruber and his team are not true terrorists but rather "corporate raiders," embodying the mergers and acquisitions culture of the 1980s, often associated with leveraged buyouts—today referred to as private equity.

Gruber is a character that can be seen as satirical reflection of capitalist greed, paralleling Nakatomi executive Joseph Takagi. Both pursue profit, albeit through different means: Takagi expands through market economies, while Gruber uses fear and violence. This duality highlights the blurred lines between legitimate business practices and exploitative tactics. Gruber’s ultimate goal—a luxurious retirement funded by stolen wealth, “sitting on a beach, earning 20%” —underscores his alignment with capitalist ideology rather than revolutionary principles. Whoever said they were terrorists? They’re corporate raiders akin to modern day pirates.

And while we’re at it - the Nakatomi logo looks a little bit like mistletoe…

Does The Nakatomi Corporation logo look a bit like mistletoe to you?

Out of Frame, Into Reality: The Caterpillar Power Loader P-5000

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I had this wild idea: what if we explored props that weren’t necessarily on set or even in the frame, but instead captured the spirit of the movie? Objects that feel like they belong just out of sight—familiar totems of a world we love. Today, I’m sharing something straight from that mindset: the Haynes manual for the Caterpillar Power Loader P-5000.

We can imagine this Haynes manual for the Caterpillar Power Loader P-5000 from James Cameron’s Aliens (1986) just beyond the frame of the camera.

Now, think about it—why, in the year 2122 (the setting of Aliens), wouldn’t this be some holographic PDF or futuristic tech? Maybe there’s a reason. Maybe, in a world of advanced technology, there’s still something reassuring about a tangible, dog-eared paper manual lying around. It’s a small nod to humanity’s roots amidst all that sci-fi grandeur.

When I started looking into this concept, first I realized I wasn’t the first person to think of it. But I did notice that most versions of the paper manual label the Power Loader as a Weyland-Yutani product. But let’s be real—the CAT logo is right there on screen! So, I took inspiration from an image shared by imgur fatherbrain (seriously, check out their work and buy a t-shirt from them if you like it) and gave it my own spin. I reworked the background and restored iconic CAT branding to create this homage.

It’s not just a manual—it’s a bridge between worlds: our industrial present and James Cameron’s gritty vision of the future. A little slice of cinematic history you can almost touch.

Holiday Road!

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“Why aren't we flying? Because getting there is half the fun!” ~ Clark Griswold

Accompanied by their children (Dana Barron, Anthony Michael Hall), Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) and his wife, Ellen (Beverly D'Angelo), are driving from Illinois to a California amusement park called Wally World. 1983 was the year.

For fun, I found this fake magazine insert on the internet today and thought I’d share it with all of you. You can almost hear Eugene Levy showing this ad to Clark just before he pushed, er rolled it off the lot.

Furd 1983 Wagon Queen Family Truckster. Twice the headlights, 4x the woodgrain. Half the mileage. If you think you hate it now - just wait till you drive it.