Los Angelinos – tickets are now on sale for Short Films Directed by Chuck Jones, the screening of his 9 Oscar-nominated and winning shorts. Nine? I would buy a ticket if he’s nabbed 3. So head over to the Oscars.org site to buy yours. They’re $5 ($3 for Academy members), and they’ll surely go fast. The screening is at 7:30pm on August 20th at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills.
Fellow NYer’s, Max Porter and Ru Kuwahata, a dynamic duo of the NY animation scene, have shared with us and the rest of the online world their latest short, Something Left, Something Taken, a dark comedy inspired by a trip to San Franciso, which was in production for about 2 years and 3 months, in between commissioned work and done at night and on weekends.
I had the pleasure of seeing it several times already, and I can’t say enough good things about it. The style is fresh, the animation is amazing and full of clever subtleties. But I think what gets me excited the most is getting to see all the making of material on their blog. They’re certainly not shy with their creative process and it’s shows just how much pride and enthusiasm they have for even for the tiniest details.
The film has already received a number of achievements, and I am sure will continue to do so in the coming months, so check their site for updates, as well as the full list of credits for the film. Also check out some of their other work, including Electric Car which recently took home a 3rd place award at the ASIFA East International Film Festival. Congrats Max and Ru!
Back in October, we highlighted Jim Capobianco’s traditionally animated short, Leonardo, when it was screened in NY and LA. Since then the film has gone on quite a ride through the festival circuit and a 35mm print of the film has even been acquired by the MoMA for their permanent collection. And now for a limited time you can see and VOTE for Leonardo, online at Indieflix as part of the Palm Beach Film Festival. So go check it out before April 26th! Also just a side note, Jim has set up an online “Swag Shop,” where you can get items like shirts, calendars, mugs, and other stuff with artwork from the film.
BYU’s animation program seems to have the secret sauce that wins the Student Emmys, otherwise known as the College Television Awards. Last year, Pajama Gladiators and Kites took home awards, and this year Carson McKay (who is now at DreamWorks) snagged a statue for X-ing, his CG-animated short. Below is a clip-assembly for the film.
Over at the Roosevelt Hotel on Hollywood Blvd, I met up with 3 of the clever people behind the Oscar-winning film Logorama yesterday – (inset: left to right) co-director Hervé de Crécy, producer Nicolas Schmerkin and co-director Francois Alaux. They all had a look in their eyes that I think only Oscar winners get, and I heard quick mentions of partying with Madonna the night before and an upcoming CNN interview – all while their cell phones endlessly rang.
Next up for Autour de Minuit founder Schmerkin is a series of CG/live-action shorts called Babioles. I’ve seen the first episode, and it’s wonderful. Here’s a teaser from the project, which is being directed by Matray:
Surprising almost noone, Up took home the Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film last night. In this clip below, director Pete Docter offers advice on how to get your own Oscar – “draw, draw, draw.” He also touches on the collaborative nature of his fellow Pixar directors like John Lasseter and Brad Bird. Big congrats to the whole team at Pixar, and to François Alaux, Hervé de Crécy and Ludovic Houplain, the three directors of Logorama, which won the Best Animated Short prize.
With an Oscar nomination in hand, the team behind Granny O’Grimm’s Sleeping Beauty dusted off ol’ Granny for a little gloating. Big congrats to the whole team at Brown Bag Films.
