ASIFA-Hollywood: The International Animated Film Society
Monday, January 31, 2005
The Incredibles - Pixar Animation Studios - Best Animated Feature
2005 Annie Awards 
The Annie Winners List
The Annie Winners List
2005 Annie Awards / Annette O`Neil, one of the people behind the scenes that ran the show and made everything happen. Thank you Annette.
Certificates of Merit
2005 Annie Awards / Antran gives out certificates
DreamWorks Animation SKG (for always being there and always willing to help)
Sivert Glarum (for going to bat and saving a piece of animaiton history)
DreamWorks Animation SKG (for always being there and always willing to help)
Sivert Glarum (for going to bat and saving a piece of animaiton history)
2005 Annie Awards / Virgina Davis - Remeber, it all started with this little girl / this great lady. The highlight of this year`s Annies for me was the chance to spend about 20 minutes talking to the girl that started it all. Alice for Cartoonland.
Sunday, January 30, 2005
What Am I Doing Up At This Hour? (not to mention the 3 before)
I dreamed last night that I was on that boat to heaven. No, not really. I dreamed that I was the lawyer for Ed Gonzalez who was in court for breach of cell phone contract. I had just come up with a great defense when I woke up to remember that the forms for the video crew that had made their way from our lawyer to Antran had not made their way from Antran or our lawyer to me. Time to pull out my copy of Understanding Animation Contracts and do some serious cribbing.
All is done and all, I hope, is remembered for today`s Annies. Time for a bath for me, but you don`t need to hear about that.
Speaking of remembering, the son of Frank Thomas spoke about his father yesterday, he told one story about his father that I liked very much.
Frank called Disney H.R. to tell them when he wanted to take 2 weeks of vacation. The H.R. person told him that he could not take vacation because his H.R. folder was full and there was no more room to write the vacation information into his record.
Frank told the Anile Retentive that it sounded like they had a real problem because he was taking his vacation. He then hung up the phone a little forcefully.
Sometime it is a delicate dance between the creative and the legalistic and sometimes one or both of the partners are wearing steel toed work boots with a bag over their head and sometimes, like today, the e-mail chain of communications just does not flow correctly. We do what we have to when we have to and we all dance on.
All is done and all, I hope, is remembered for today`s Annies. Time for a bath for me, but you don`t need to hear about that.
Speaking of remembering, the son of Frank Thomas spoke about his father yesterday, he told one story about his father that I liked very much.
Frank called Disney H.R. to tell them when he wanted to take 2 weeks of vacation. The H.R. person told him that he could not take vacation because his H.R. folder was full and there was no more room to write the vacation information into his record.
Frank told the Anile Retentive that it sounded like they had a real problem because he was taking his vacation. He then hung up the phone a little forcefully.
Sometime it is a delicate dance between the creative and the legalistic and sometimes one or both of the partners are wearing steel toed work boots with a bag over their head and sometimes, like today, the e-mail chain of communications just does not flow correctly. We do what we have to when we have to and we all dance on.
Saturday, January 29, 2005
I did not take a camera to the Afternoon of Remembrance because I thought that it would be disrespectful. Other people had cameras so I was wrong. As fortune would have it my 14 year old daughter, Raven, did sketches of all of the speakers.
I will be dealing with some of the speeches and great stories later but right I have to charge the walky-talkies for the video archive crew and look at the John and Faith Hubley special that Martha and Sol taped for me.
All and all, it was a great event and well worth the trip into Hollywood. And to the girl from USC that I talked to about the ticket, e-mail me I just got a cancellation. larry(at)agni-animation(dot)com
Remembrance
I will be dealing with some of the speeches and great stories later but right I have to charge the walky-talkies for the video archive crew and look at the John and Faith Hubley special that Martha and Sol taped for me.
All and all, it was a great event and well worth the trip into Hollywood. And to the girl from USC that I talked to about the ticket, e-mail me I just got a cancellation. larry(at)agni-animation(dot)com
Remembrance
Party Games of Reality
So there is this game I play with my history classes when I want them to understand how concepts of reality and even reality itself changes from generation to generation. It is called different things by different people. It is that party game where you whisper something to the first person and then she/he whispers it to the next and so on and so on and scooby dooby doo until the message is completely changed by the time it gets to the last person.
History is like that game only you never get to ask that first person in the line of whispers what really was said.
I am off to hear the whispers of the past today and I am going to take notes.
History is like that game only you never get to ask that first person in the line of whispers what really was said.
I am off to hear the whispers of the past today and I am going to take notes.
An Afternoon of Remembrance
Lasky-DeMille Barn
2100 N. Highland (At the Hollywood Bowl)
Hollywood
Saturday Jan. 29th
1 PM
Thursday, January 27, 2005
If You Can Keep My Head, My Son, When All Else Are Losing Theirs
Back on All Hollow's Eve I told you that I had lost my head. This was a latex head, much deteriorated, that was my very first ever movie decapitation back in the days that I did FX for grade Z slasher flicks.
I was sad about this loss because it was a bridge to my distant past and a family All Hollow`s tradition. I am happy to report that my son has found my lost head in the bottom of his closet.
Ironically, I get my head back on the very day that Annette and I are losing our minds trying to handle all of the comp tickets for animation schools.
I was sad about this loss because it was a bridge to my distant past and a family All Hollow`s tradition. I am happy to report that my son has found my lost head in the bottom of his closet.
Ironically, I get my head back on the very day that Annette and I are losing our minds trying to handle all of the comp tickets for animation schools.
Are you wondering what to wear to the Annies to set off that tux? These are available at Target. Thanks to Steve Gattuso, long time ASIFA volunteer.
Wednesday, January 26, 2005
Annette O`Neil runs this month`s Act of Membership meeting. The main topic is the Annies but the Afternoon of Remembrance, Comic Con, and the Animation Rescue Team are also talked about.
these are some of the people that help make the Annies happen. Many come back year after year to work the event.
So I read over the stuff I wrote last night and man was I, well you know, tightly whatever. I guest that is the good thing and the bad thing about a web log. That was what was happening with me working on putting together the Annies. And that is just me. I am a small part of the show. There are all these other people out there doing as much and much more to bring this thing off. It makes you think when you have the time.
Tonight is the monthly volunteer meeting for ASIFA. This meeting will be about the Annies.
2114 W. Burbank Blvd.
Burbank
7 PM
Tonight is the monthly volunteer meeting for ASIFA. This meeting will be about the Annies.
2114 W. Burbank Blvd.
Burbank
7 PM
Tuesday, January 25, 2005
Stream of Conscienceness Pollution
It was the best of days it was the worst of days. I`ve been having a dickens of a time with my e-mail server and schools are calling up saying can I just have 9 more tickets and I`m playing phone tag with people and schools and I have no idea (yes, he said dickens of a time) if I got the e-mails back with the answers (sorry about that) I desperately need, and I lost my ASIFA animation wheel pin today that I have had for over 10 years and I am miga-bummed about that.
On the up side my Research and Development class went okay and my talk to the Brooks College Animation Club went really well and had a big turnout, and I really think I got across the importance of networking and membership in ASIFA-Hollywood as a part of any animation career plan, and if that didn`t work, the naked greed should have cut in when I flashed all of the invites to screening and this year`s Annie swag.
Another thing on the up side. I just got a call from Martha Sigall telling me that she taped a John and Faith Hubley special for me. Martha always puts me in a great mood and I am looking forward to seeing Sol and Martha this Saturday at the Afternoon of Remembrance. (make sure you go) Thank you Martha, you made my day. It was the best of days, it was the best of days.
On the up side my Research and Development class went okay and my talk to the Brooks College Animation Club went really well and had a big turnout, and I really think I got across the importance of networking and membership in ASIFA-Hollywood as a part of any animation career plan, and if that didn`t work, the naked greed should have cut in when I flashed all of the invites to screening and this year`s Annie swag.
Another thing on the up side. I just got a call from Martha Sigall telling me that she taped a John and Faith Hubley special for me. Martha always puts me in a great mood and I am looking forward to seeing Sol and Martha this Saturday at the Afternoon of Remembrance. (make sure you go) Thank you Martha, you made my day. It was the best of days, it was the best of days.
Monday, January 24, 2005
Getting Ready for the Annies
Rough day today. Lot on my plate. Spent all morning trying to give away Annie Tickets to students at Southern California animation programs, Cal Arts, USC, UCLA, Laguna College of Art and Design, Cal State Fullerton. Most of these people are not sitting in their offices waiting for someone to call them. They are out in classrooms teaching students. But by the end of the day all but one school has called back.
Then it was a meeting this afternoon of the Archive Video Crew for this year`s Annies. Ed Gonzalez, this year`s director, and I met with student volunteers at Laguna College today. This year we are trying to get the archive video out of the home video category and into a more professional end product that we will be proud to add to the Animation Archive.
For all of you on the Video Crew that are looking in to see your photos. Thanks it ups the number of hits on the web log. The Annies are at 216 Brand Blvd., Glendale this Sunday the 30th. Video Crew needs to be there at 1PM.
Still have to finishing prepping for my classes. Have the Act of Membership meeting Wednesday night 7 PM at the animation center 2114 W. Burbank Blvd. Where we have to hammer out all the loose ends for the Annies. (If you plan of volunteering for the Annies you need to make it to this meeting)
Tomorrow I talk to the Animation Club at Brooks College about ASIFA and the benefits of student membership in ASIFA-Hollywood. ($20 a year, the best deal in town - remember the Annies swag and the free screenings)
Sometime before Sunday I have to pick up the mini DV tapes for the Archive Shoot, print up more business cards, finish up giving out student comps, and brush my teeth, get some sleep, first star to the right and straight on til morning.
Rough day today. Lot on my plate. Spent all morning trying to give away Annie Tickets to students at Southern California animation programs, Cal Arts, USC, UCLA, Laguna College of Art and Design, Cal State Fullerton. Most of these people are not sitting in their offices waiting for someone to call them. They are out in classrooms teaching students. But by the end of the day all but one school has called back.
Then it was a meeting this afternoon of the Archive Video Crew for this year`s Annies. Ed Gonzalez, this year`s director, and I met with student volunteers at Laguna College today. This year we are trying to get the archive video out of the home video category and into a more professional end product that we will be proud to add to the Animation Archive.
For all of you on the Video Crew that are looking in to see your photos. Thanks it ups the number of hits on the web log. The Annies are at 216 Brand Blvd., Glendale this Sunday the 30th. Video Crew needs to be there at 1PM.
Still have to finishing prepping for my classes. Have the Act of Membership meeting Wednesday night 7 PM at the animation center 2114 W. Burbank Blvd. Where we have to hammer out all the loose ends for the Annies. (If you plan of volunteering for the Annies you need to make it to this meeting)
Tomorrow I talk to the Animation Club at Brooks College about ASIFA and the benefits of student membership in ASIFA-Hollywood. ($20 a year, the best deal in town - remember the Annies swag and the free screenings)
Sometime before Sunday I have to pick up the mini DV tapes for the Archive Shoot, print up more business cards, finish up giving out student comps, and brush my teeth, get some sleep, first star to the right and straight on til morning.
Sunday, January 23, 2005
It`s a Small World
Question, just how small is this industry, animation, we work at? Those of you on the inside know just how very tiny it really is.
Why am I talking about this question today, I may ask me? Very small, says I. In the last 2 days I have been called on, not once but twice, to comment on and make decisions affecting a school that is now being run by someone I taught with some time back, someone who was an out and out jerk to me, someone who stepped on me on his way up to whatever small heights.
The first time, yesterday, I was asked if I thought this school, now run by jerk person in question, was a good school for a former student, later team teacher, and friend of mine to continue his education at?
The second time was when I had to decide today which schools would be offered student comps for the upcoming Annies.
Now the school in question that said person is now running was only marginal on the list at best and was only being considered at all because the animation program had been run at one time by a person that was a good friend to ASIFA in the past.
I tell my students to look around the classroom because if they stay in the industry these are some of the people they will be working with for the rest of their lives.
I still work with, hang out with, and stay in touch with Kevin Alteri, Steve Bissette, Craig Boldman, Dave Dorman, Tom Foxmarnick, Chris Kalnick, Karl Kesel, Ron Randall, Dave Schwartz, John Totleben, Tim Truman, Rick Veitch, Stan Woch, and Tom Yeates, some of the guys that I went to school with at the Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Human Sacrifice all those years ago in ninteen hundred and seventy nine.
You have got to wonder about a person that does not know this simple truth. How can someone run an animation program and not know that you can`t afford to make enemies in the industry? You might wonder also just what my response was on the two questions about said person`s program?
The guy that asked about the school, I told him the truth. He is a good friend. I told him about cheaper options with better networking contacts. I also told him that the program was run by a person that had been a jerk to me, but that didn`t make it a bad program.
The Annies student comps? Hey, I would have had to justify swinging tickets to this program in the first place. I`m sorry for the students but I am not going out on a limb for someone that was a jerk to me. (/END OF INDUSTRY LESSON)
Why am I talking about this question today, I may ask me? Very small, says I. In the last 2 days I have been called on, not once but twice, to comment on and make decisions affecting a school that is now being run by someone I taught with some time back, someone who was an out and out jerk to me, someone who stepped on me on his way up to whatever small heights.
The first time, yesterday, I was asked if I thought this school, now run by jerk person in question, was a good school for a former student, later team teacher, and friend of mine to continue his education at?
The second time was when I had to decide today which schools would be offered student comps for the upcoming Annies.
Now the school in question that said person is now running was only marginal on the list at best and was only being considered at all because the animation program had been run at one time by a person that was a good friend to ASIFA in the past.
I tell my students to look around the classroom because if they stay in the industry these are some of the people they will be working with for the rest of their lives.
I still work with, hang out with, and stay in touch with Kevin Alteri, Steve Bissette, Craig Boldman, Dave Dorman, Tom Foxmarnick, Chris Kalnick, Karl Kesel, Ron Randall, Dave Schwartz, John Totleben, Tim Truman, Rick Veitch, Stan Woch, and Tom Yeates, some of the guys that I went to school with at the Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Human Sacrifice all those years ago in ninteen hundred and seventy nine.
You have got to wonder about a person that does not know this simple truth. How can someone run an animation program and not know that you can`t afford to make enemies in the industry? You might wonder also just what my response was on the two questions about said person`s program?
The guy that asked about the school, I told him the truth. He is a good friend. I told him about cheaper options with better networking contacts. I also told him that the program was run by a person that had been a jerk to me, but that didn`t make it a bad program.
The Annies student comps? Hey, I would have had to justify swinging tickets to this program in the first place. I`m sorry for the students but I am not going out on a limb for someone that was a jerk to me. (/END OF INDUSTRY LESSON)
Saturday, January 22, 2005
Creative Family
Just ran into an old painting I did about 15 years ago. It is based on some very nasty creatures from the earth`s core as told by Edgar Rice Burroughs. At the time I painted this painting I had just come back from a private screening of the restored Tarzan and His Mate.
Tom Yeates, the Tarzan illustrator and my best man; Danton Burroughs, the grandson of Edgar Rice; myself and a couple of other people headed up to MGM and completely enjoyed ourselves watching this movie with the nude scenes restored.
So what does this have to do with animation? I`m not sure that it has anything to do with animation, in another way it has everything. It sure has a lot to do with creativity and how the imagination of one person can capture the minds of generations.
How many artists have taken a crack at illustrating the works of Burroughs or Arthur Conan Doyle? For every Burroughs or Conan Doyle there are thousands and thousands of creative people that never create that one project that resonates down the ages. But they don`t stop trying.
So where am I going with this? I`m not sure but these people, all these people, in a very real sense are my family by the very act of committing to the creative process. It is a commitment, a leap of faith that makes us kin.
A few make it big, most of us hang on for years somehow making a living and trying to create because we have to. Some fall away and get square jobs and have benefits and big screen TV`s and late at night wonder if they could have been a contender. The ones that keep trying are my people.
This coming week the creative family called animation get together to honor our members that have left the ranks with their boots on. The ones that touched millions, the ones that were not really known outside the creative family, all of them my family because they have committed to the creative community called the animation family.
No RSVP needed to come hang out with your family
Just ran into an old painting I did about 15 years ago. It is based on some very nasty creatures from the earth`s core as told by Edgar Rice Burroughs. At the time I painted this painting I had just come back from a private screening of the restored Tarzan and His Mate.
Tom Yeates, the Tarzan illustrator and my best man; Danton Burroughs, the grandson of Edgar Rice; myself and a couple of other people headed up to MGM and completely enjoyed ourselves watching this movie with the nude scenes restored.
So what does this have to do with animation? I`m not sure that it has anything to do with animation, in another way it has everything. It sure has a lot to do with creativity and how the imagination of one person can capture the minds of generations.
How many artists have taken a crack at illustrating the works of Burroughs or Arthur Conan Doyle? For every Burroughs or Conan Doyle there are thousands and thousands of creative people that never create that one project that resonates down the ages. But they don`t stop trying.
So where am I going with this? I`m not sure but these people, all these people, in a very real sense are my family by the very act of committing to the creative process. It is a commitment, a leap of faith that makes us kin.
A few make it big, most of us hang on for years somehow making a living and trying to create because we have to. Some fall away and get square jobs and have benefits and big screen TV`s and late at night wonder if they could have been a contender. The ones that keep trying are my people.
This coming week the creative family called animation get together to honor our members that have left the ranks with their boots on. The ones that touched millions, the ones that were not really known outside the creative family, all of them my family because they have committed to the creative community called the animation family.
An Afternoon of Remembrance
Lasky-DeMille Barn
2100 N. Highland (At the Hollywood Bowl)
Hollywood
Saturday Jan. 29th
1 PM
No RSVP needed to come hang out with your family
Friday, January 21, 2005
Filling Space and Time
Every day I have to write something. The blank page is there looking at me and it is my self appointed job to fill this space. Sometimes it is easy and sometimes it is difficult. Lots of things are happening now that we are running up to the Annies so I should have lots of things to talk about and I do but no time to write it out.
That is what I have coming up. At least it should give me something to write about.
- I meet with Aubry Mintz from Laguna College of Art and Design for a breakfast meeting last Thursday morning. Looks like his students may be filling in some spots on the Annie Archive Video Crew. Ed Gonzalez and I will be meeting with prospective members of the video crew this Monday at Laguna College.
- Wednesday is the last Act of Membership meeting before the Annies, 7 PM at 2114 W. Burbank. If you are a Annie volunteer make sure you are there for the meeting.
- Saturday the 29th is the Afternoon of Remembrance. Don`t miss this event that starts at 1 PM at the DeMille barn.
- Sunday the 30th is the big event, the Annies. The last couple of years of have worked the front end, tickets and greeting. I'm planning on kicking back this year and just being part of the audience for a change.
- February I start visiting college animation programs in a new program to talk about the benefits of ASIFA membership for animation students.
- Next comes the ramp up for Comic Con. I lied about just being a member of the audience at the Annies, I will be buttonholing people about presentations at Comic Con. I shouldn`t have warned you about that.
Paper, What Paper?
The Annies are a project of love. Almost all of the labor is donated by hundreds of industry pros giving their time. The judging material is passed from hand to hand. From Nominating Chair, to Nomination Judges, back to Event Programming, then on to the Editor who selflessly cuts together the reel for the Nomination Screenings and the Annie reel for the Award Show.
There is a lot of handling by a lot of people and a lot of chances for something to go wrong. Surprisingly, very little does go wrong with the filmed categories. The problems always seem to happen with the paper categories, something always seems to get miss placed or out of order with Feature and TV Character Design, Production Design, or Storyboards. These people have worked hard they deserve to have their work seen.
The Annie ballots have to be in today at ASIFA. I turned mine in last night at DreamWorks. The sad thing was that I had to turn mine in with a couple of things incomplete, as did most of the other voters who had come out for the screenings. There was some mess up in the process with some of the paper categories and somethings could not be seen for judging.
Now I know that all of the work is done by volunteers that have real jobs and real lives and there is a lot of work and there is a basic chaos that sets in, in that kind of setup. Things are beings scanned and edited, and moved from volunteer to volunteer. The volunteers do a great and thankless job and are heroes but the paper categories have always been a problem by their very nature, always been the red haired stepchild. We know how to handle and produce film but paper is just a step in that process, not a finished product.
It is time to change the process. I would like to see the Pixar model followed in the future. They posted everything on a web site this year. It was right there for anybody to see. We wouldn`t have to paw through all the entries looking and comparing and holding up the start of the screening. I would like to see this done by every studio that has Character Design, Production Design, and Storyboards in competition next year. Then these people, these masters of visual storytelling, would truly get their due, would get a fair vote from their peers.
There is a lot of handling by a lot of people and a lot of chances for something to go wrong. Surprisingly, very little does go wrong with the filmed categories. The problems always seem to happen with the paper categories, something always seems to get miss placed or out of order with Feature and TV Character Design, Production Design, or Storyboards. These people have worked hard they deserve to have their work seen.
The Annie ballots have to be in today at ASIFA. I turned mine in last night at DreamWorks. The sad thing was that I had to turn mine in with a couple of things incomplete, as did most of the other voters who had come out for the screenings. There was some mess up in the process with some of the paper categories and somethings could not be seen for judging.
Now I know that all of the work is done by volunteers that have real jobs and real lives and there is a lot of work and there is a basic chaos that sets in, in that kind of setup. Things are beings scanned and edited, and moved from volunteer to volunteer. The volunteers do a great and thankless job and are heroes but the paper categories have always been a problem by their very nature, always been the red haired stepchild. We know how to handle and produce film but paper is just a step in that process, not a finished product.
It is time to change the process. I would like to see the Pixar model followed in the future. They posted everything on a web site this year. It was right there for anybody to see. We wouldn`t have to paw through all the entries looking and comparing and holding up the start of the screening. I would like to see this done by every studio that has Character Design, Production Design, and Storyboards in competition next year. Then these people, these masters of visual storytelling, would truly get their due, would get a fair vote from their peers.
Thursday, January 20, 2005
The Animals Show Up For Annie Screening #2
I of course am talking about Frank Gladstone not Annette or this great display of DreamWorks` upcoming Madagascar.
I did get Frank calm enough to ask about the upcoming Nick Park Wallace and Grommet feature. He said it would be coming out after Madagascar and gave a month but I am not going to pass that one on because I`m not sure if that info was for publication.
The screening went well, and was well attended but not completely full. We got to look at the production and character design artwork but did not get to look at storyboards that somehow did not make it to the theater last night. The storyboards will be there tonight at the third and last of this year`s Annie Award screenings.
Reminder, ballots are due at ASIFA on the 21st. We will be accepting ballots at tonight`s screening which would save you a stamp.
I of course am talking about Frank Gladstone not Annette or this great display of DreamWorks` upcoming Madagascar.
I did get Frank calm enough to ask about the upcoming Nick Park Wallace and Grommet feature. He said it would be coming out after Madagascar and gave a month but I am not going to pass that one on because I`m not sure if that info was for publication.
The screening went well, and was well attended but not completely full. We got to look at the production and character design artwork but did not get to look at storyboards that somehow did not make it to the theater last night. The storyboards will be there tonight at the third and last of this year`s Annie Award screenings.
Reminder, ballots are due at ASIFA on the 21st. We will be accepting ballots at tonight`s screening which would save you a stamp.
Wednesday, January 19, 2005
Its a Wonderful Life
I was at the Frank Wells Theater last night for the first of the Annies screenings. I always have to ask myself just what the world of animation would be like today if the helicopter hadn`t gone down.
Tonight would we be moving over to Dreamworks and the second of the three Annie screenings.
Original posting for-your-consideration
Tonight would we be moving over to Dreamworks and the second of the three Annie screenings.
Wednesday, January 19, 2005
DreamWorks Animation - Campanile Theatre
1000 Flower Street, Glendale, CA 91201
6:30pm - 8:30pm
*) Best Animated Feature
*) Best Animated Short Subject
*) Best Animated Television Production
*) Best Animated Television Commercial
*) Best Home Entertainment Production
Original posting for-your-consideration
Tuesday, January 18, 2005
Annie Award Nominations Site / Incredibles
Just got this link from Disney/Pixar with all of the Annie nominees` work. I wish all of the studios would do this. It would make it a lot easier to fill out my ballot.
Dear ASIFA-Hollywood Member,
The Walt Disney Studios and Pixar Animation Studios are proud of the
16 Annie Award nominations for THE INCREDIBLES!
Since we think it's important for you to be familiar with each of the
nominees work before voting, we have created a website specifically
to help you, the ASIFA-Hollywood member, view the specific work done
by each of the Pixar artists who are nominated.
Please click on the link below to view THE INCREDIBLES site:
http://www.buenavistapicturesawards.com/annieawards/
Thank you for your consideration.
Sunday, January 16, 2005
John Gibbons Saves SpongeBob`s Square Pants
The Annies are coming at us like a freight train and so are my business taxes that I have to have out by the end of this month. Very strange year cash flow wise and my accounts are a mess and they are going to be a bear but you don`t need to hear about them.
I am in the process of putting together a digital video archives shoot for this year`s Annies. There is so much that goes on at the show that should be saved for the future or at least for blackmail. Like this photo of my friend John Gibbons who was the man of the hour last year with some quick thinking that literally saved Tom Kenny`s square pants.
We will be working in Mini DV and DV formats, Mini DV being the preferred. We are still looking for a few more film techs, a camera or two, and a lot of equipment for the crews. So if you are interested in being a part of the crew or have equipment to loan contact me larry@agni-animation.com
All Video Crew members and other Annie volunteers should make sure to show up at the January 26th Act of Membership meeting at 2114 W. Burbank Blvd., Burbank starting at 7 PM. This really is the right meeting place this time, I swear it is.
I am in the process of putting together a digital video archives shoot for this year`s Annies. There is so much that goes on at the show that should be saved for the future or at least for blackmail. Like this photo of my friend John Gibbons who was the man of the hour last year with some quick thinking that literally saved Tom Kenny`s square pants.
We will be working in Mini DV and DV formats, Mini DV being the preferred. We are still looking for a few more film techs, a camera or two, and a lot of equipment for the crews. So if you are interested in being a part of the crew or have equipment to loan contact me larry@agni-animation.com
All Video Crew members and other Annie volunteers should make sure to show up at the January 26th Act of Membership meeting at 2114 W. Burbank Blvd., Burbank starting at 7 PM. This really is the right meeting place this time, I swear it is.
Saturday, January 15, 2005
A Moving Message
I am setting in the library at Mission Viejo High School minding the computers at my daughter`s Model UN conference. I would rather be moving archive boxes in Burbank but I was way committed to this gig before we decided on the date for the Archive move.
There was a mess up on meeting places for the archive move, I swear Antran told me that we would meet at the new place and he swears that he told me we would meet at the old place. Since I am writing this we can take it as fact that I was right, right?
That is not really what I want to talk about. What I want to talk about is our volunteers. They waited and when no one showed they went looking. Linda Lee drove over to the old building and looked. She then called the group and the move, moved on.
Not only are they giving of their time but they care enough about ASIFA and the archives to wait and look and find out when they had an easy out. Antran really did tell me to have everybody meet at the new building, he did!
There was a mess up on meeting places for the archive move, I swear Antran told me that we would meet at the new place and he swears that he told me we would meet at the old place. Since I am writing this we can take it as fact that I was right, right?
That is not really what I want to talk about. What I want to talk about is our volunteers. They waited and when no one showed they went looking. Linda Lee drove over to the old building and looked. She then called the group and the move, moved on.
Not only are they giving of their time but they care enough about ASIFA and the archives to wait and look and find out when they had an easy out. Antran really did tell me to have everybody meet at the new building, he did!
32nd Annie Awards Ballot Mailed
The 32nd Annie Awards Ballot was mailed this last Wednesday, the 12th of January. If you are an active member of ASIFA-Hollywood you should have received your ballot mailing by now. If you have not received you ballot, you need to contact ASIFA-Hollywood to ask about it.
The deadline for mailing them back is January 21st (must be received by that date). But I always hand mine in at the last screening after I have finished marking my ballot.
The screening are this week on the 18th, (Frank Wells Theater at Disney) 19th and 20th at Dreamworks Campus. (See Below)
RSVP for the screenings was by e-mail and directions are to be e-mailed out to attendees at the start of next week.
The artwork (storyboards, character design, etc) will be on display at the screenings.
You have to be on the list to get in. Studio security is very tight since 9/11 and I for one am glad it is, even if Warner Bros. does go through the trunk of my car. Hope to see you all there, at the screenings not in the trunk of my car.
The deadline for mailing them back is January 21st (must be received by that date). But I always hand mine in at the last screening after I have finished marking my ballot.
The screening are this week on the 18th, (Frank Wells Theater at Disney) 19th and 20th at Dreamworks Campus. (See Below)
RSVP for the screenings was by e-mail and directions are to be e-mailed out to attendees at the start of next week.
The artwork (storyboards, character design, etc) will be on display at the screenings.
You have to be on the list to get in. Studio security is very tight since 9/11 and I for one am glad it is, even if Warner Bros. does go through the trunk of my car. Hope to see you all there, at the screenings not in the trunk of my car.
Friday, January 14, 2005
Looking for Crusader Rabbit
The other day I found a Crusader Rabbit VHS from the mid 70`s. I checked the box back and it raved about Jay Ward`s first creation (Sorry Alex, they forgot about you). At last, I think, the black and white masterpiece. But no it was the TV Spot color piece of crap again. They just packaged it to make people think it was the real thing.
Who owns what is always strange in Hollywood. Jay and Alex got screwed when Jerry Fairbanks folded. Then they got blackmailed out of the master copyright. Now after all these years it has passed to Fox. So Fox owns the rights to the first every made for TV animation and they have it locked up it a vault somewhere and could care less about people that would love to see it, show it to my students.
Some time ago Rhino brought out some VHS Crusader Rabbits, thinking it was in public domain. Fox cared enough about their property to stop them cold. Made them pull them from from the shelves. So why don`t they care enough to put them out themselves?
If anybody from Fox is reading this. Come on guys, DVD`s are cheap. Give us a break. Open your vaults. I promise to push it for all I am worth and buy the complete set. And if anybody has a copy of the Rhino VHS my birthday is coming up.
Who owns what is always strange in Hollywood. Jay and Alex got screwed when Jerry Fairbanks folded. Then they got blackmailed out of the master copyright. Now after all these years it has passed to Fox. So Fox owns the rights to the first every made for TV animation and they have it locked up it a vault somewhere and could care less about people that would love to see it, show it to my students.
Some time ago Rhino brought out some VHS Crusader Rabbits, thinking it was in public domain. Fox cared enough about their property to stop them cold. Made them pull them from from the shelves. So why don`t they care enough to put them out themselves?
If anybody from Fox is reading this. Come on guys, DVD`s are cheap. Give us a break. Open your vaults. I promise to push it for all I am worth and buy the complete set. And if anybody has a copy of the Rhino VHS my birthday is coming up.
Thursday, January 13, 2005
If any of you are interested in really touching animation history and are free this Saturday morning, ASIFA-Hollywood is moving the archives.
Saturday Jan. 15th
9 AM
2114 W. Burbank Blvd.
Burbank
If you can`t get there right at 9, just show up when you can. There will be people there all day.
Saturday Jan. 15th
9 AM
2114 W. Burbank Blvd.
Burbank
If you can`t get there right at 9, just show up when you can. There will be people there all day.
This in from Jon Reeves, our ASIFA Volunteer of the of the month. As I mentioned in his bio he is very involved in the design and building of the Burbank float for the Rose Parade. He sent along information about the design contest is case any of our readers was interested.
DESIGN06.pdf
Key information: Deadline is January 26. Parade theme is magic, as in enchantment, not as in rabbit-in-hat (actual theme to be announced January 21). Black-and-white sketch, max size 11x17.
Float-building volunteers also welcome - we especially need carvers and people who can do welded sculpture. We usually build a mini-float for Burbank on Parade in late April, then start on the main float around May/June, working mostly on Saturdays at our construction site in the Burbank Water and Power yard. (Starting in October/November, we usually add more work sessions.)
Jon Reeves
The Internet Movie Database http://imdb.com My God! It's full of stars!
DESIGN06.pdf
Key information: Deadline is January 26. Parade theme is magic, as in enchantment, not as in rabbit-in-hat (actual theme to be announced January 21). Black-and-white sketch, max size 11x17.
Float-building volunteers also welcome - we especially need carvers and people who can do welded sculpture. We usually build a mini-float for Burbank on Parade in late April, then start on the main float around May/June, working mostly on Saturdays at our construction site in the Burbank Water and Power yard. (Starting in October/November, we usually add more work sessions.)
Jon Reeves
The Internet Movie Database http://imdb.com My God! It's full of stars!
Wednesday, January 12, 2005
Return to the Classroom
There is this story exercise I do with my Research and Development classes on the first day of class. It is called the Squiggle Exercise. I start by drawing a meaningless squiggle on the board. I then look at the shapes until I can identify the shape of some kind of character. Then I draw in that character.
I draw another squiggle and hand the marker to one of the students. That student finds the character in that shape, creates another abstract shaped squiggle and passes it off to the next student and so on around the class.
At the end of the first phase we have a board full of characters. Then we do a mini biography for each character. And finally we bounce the characters off of each other to see how they react.
There was an Elvis impersonator toucan heading to Los Vegas for an impoersonator contest, a female laming that refused to follow leaders, and a failed specter of death thinking that he failed with Elvis because of all the Elvis impersonators.
Yesterday everything clicked. All the pieces fell into place and at a certain point I could step back, raise my arms, and say to the class we have a story.
The look on their faces when they realized that we did, in fact, have a story and a very good story and that we got it for free out of our unconscious minds was well worth the price of admission.
I called a break right after this exercise, I know enough about teaching to know that you can`t top that kind of thing, and all the students stayed in their seats talking about the story, fleshing it out. I watched them for a little bit, smiled to myself, and then headed out to the room of rest.
I draw another squiggle and hand the marker to one of the students. That student finds the character in that shape, creates another abstract shaped squiggle and passes it off to the next student and so on around the class.
At the end of the first phase we have a board full of characters. Then we do a mini biography for each character. And finally we bounce the characters off of each other to see how they react.
There was an Elvis impersonator toucan heading to Los Vegas for an impoersonator contest, a female laming that refused to follow leaders, and a failed specter of death thinking that he failed with Elvis because of all the Elvis impersonators.
Yesterday everything clicked. All the pieces fell into place and at a certain point I could step back, raise my arms, and say to the class we have a story.
The look on their faces when they realized that we did, in fact, have a story and a very good story and that we got it for free out of our unconscious minds was well worth the price of admission.
I called a break right after this exercise, I know enough about teaching to know that you can`t top that kind of thing, and all the students stayed in their seats talking about the story, fleshing it out. I watched them for a little bit, smiled to myself, and then headed out to the room of rest.
Tuesday, January 11, 2005
Big Brother
One of the strange things about the Internet and Blog writing is that the writer, me, does not know if there is anybody out there. It is kind of like being a D.J. at your local radio station. Am I just talking to myself every day?
I am currently wearing a rain coat that I got from an ex-KGB officer. I have been doing a little spy work. The marvels of the computer age.
About 53% of the readers of this Blog are on the Pacific Coast, California and places north. One time zone west and one time zone east clocks in at about 2%. The Heartland is around 7%. The right coast is at 19% readership. England and Europe total out to 15%. There are about 2 or 3 % readership either in Australia or Siberia.
We have had visitors from Disney, Blur Studios, Blue Sky, and American Greeting. The rest of you guys are hiding you tracks very well. Keep up the good work even if Big Brother is watching.
I am currently wearing a rain coat that I got from an ex-KGB officer. I have been doing a little spy work. The marvels of the computer age.
About 53% of the readers of this Blog are on the Pacific Coast, California and places north. One time zone west and one time zone east clocks in at about 2%. The Heartland is around 7%. The right coast is at 19% readership. England and Europe total out to 15%. There are about 2 or 3 % readership either in Australia or Siberia.
We have had visitors from Disney, Blur Studios, Blue Sky, and American Greeting. The rest of you guys are hiding you tracks very well. Keep up the good work even if Big Brother is watching.
Delusions of Sugarplums
Delusion are a very important part of education. The student can not believe the teacher when we tell them just how hard it is going to be to get into the industry. I didn`t believe Hy Eisman, Ric Estrada, Tex Blaisdell. I could not believe them without giving up my dream.
Sometimes it is a good part of the human mind that we will not look at reality or we would be a world of accountants and tax attorneys. You have to fight against the odds. Stick with it.
A new semester, new minds to warp, a new group of students to tell the truth to knowing that the ones that are going to make it are the ones that will not believe my truth. They can`t afford to believe that next week they really will not be working at Pixar, Disney, fill in the blank.
Sometimes it is a good part of the human mind that we will not look at reality or we would be a world of accountants and tax attorneys. You have to fight against the odds. Stick with it.
A new semester, new minds to warp, a new group of students to tell the truth to knowing that the ones that are going to make it are the ones that will not believe my truth. They can`t afford to believe that next week they really will not be working at Pixar, Disney, fill in the blank.
Monday, January 10, 2005
A Call to Arms
The weatherman says it will be clear this weekend. ASIFA needs to strike while the weather is clear or even if it is not. We have got to move the archives from the old animaiton center to the new center before the rain washes it away.
It is time to call up the volunteers. We will be moving the archives from the old animation center to the new center this Saturday the 15th.
We will be meeting at the new center,
If you can make it to this volunteer event please e-mail me at: larry@agni-animation.com
Thank you
Larry Loc
It is time to call up the volunteers. We will be moving the archives from the old animation center to the new center this Saturday the 15th.
We will be meeting at the new center,
2114 W. Burbank BlvdIf you have a dolly it could be useful and you might want to bring work gloves.
Burbank
at 9am
If you can make it to this volunteer event please e-mail me at: larry@agni-animation.com
Thank you
Larry Loc
Historian vs History Teacher
I make a distinction between Animation Historian and Animation History Teacher. A Historian is someone like Jerry Beck, John Canemaker, Tom Sito, someone with firsthand knowledge gained through research and a lot of talking to the people that made the history.
A teacher of the history of animaiton, if the student is lucky, is someone who has read a lot of books about that history by those historians.
It has long been my goal to make that trip from book learning to firsthand knowledge in the field of animation, from history teacher to historian. That is just one of the reasons that I never miss the Afternoon of Remembrance.
There is no where or when else where you can find so many generations of animation all willing to talk about the past. Don`t miss this very special envent.
A teacher of the history of animaiton, if the student is lucky, is someone who has read a lot of books about that history by those historians.
It has long been my goal to make that trip from book learning to firsthand knowledge in the field of animation, from history teacher to historian. That is just one of the reasons that I never miss the Afternoon of Remembrance.
There is no where or when else where you can find so many generations of animation all willing to talk about the past. Don`t miss this very special envent.
AFTERNOON OF REMEMBRANCE
Saturday January 29th, 2005 - 1:00pm
THE DeMILLE BARN - HOLLYWOOD HERTIAGE MUSEUM
2100 N. Highland Ave (at Odin - across from the Hollywood Bowl)
Hollywood, CA
Share the memories with speakers who will recall departed friends who
made their mark in the animation community at our annual "Afternoon
of Remembrance".
Among those we will honor (as of November 2004): Dayton Allen, Arthur
Alsberg, Pete Alvarado, Lila Bakke, Jill Bauman, Jackson Beck, Elmer
Bernstein, Mary Bloomquist, Jack Bradbury, Michelle Charest, Else
Cruz, Bill Danch, Danny Dark, Ruth Eisengart, Leota Gibeaut, Yvonne
Hansford, Helen Hanson, John Hench, Renee Henning, Harry Holt, Guy
Hudson, Volus Jones, Richard Kempster, Jack Kerns, Jim Ludtke, Sam
McKim, Dr. Bill Moritz, Joe Morrison, J.P. Miller, Bill Nunes, Mike
O'Mara, Lee Orgel, Robert Peluce, Tony Pope, Ronald Potter, Jason
Raize, Frank Thomas, Donald Trumbull, Kathrin Victor, Ivor Wood,
Mitsuteru Yokoyama, and Lou Zukor.
Sunday, January 09, 2005
Annie Nominee Screenings
As posted in an earlier entry, ASIFA-Hollywood will be screening the nominees for the 32nd Annie Awards at the Walt Disney Studio and DreamWorks Animation Campus. A formal invitation for the sceenings will be mailed to all members of ASIFA-Hollywood, along with the ballot, this week.
If you would like to download the PDF version of the screening invitation (which includes screening addresses and a list of what will be shown each night), please go to http://www.annieawards.com/AnnieScreenings2005.pdf or visit the official Annie Awards website at http://www.annieawards.com/
To RSVP, send an email to anniescreenings@yahoogroups.com. Seating is limited and availability is on a first come, first serve basis.
If you would like to download the PDF version of the screening invitation (which includes screening addresses and a list of what will be shown each night), please go to http://www.annieawards.com/AnnieScreenings2005.pdf or visit the official Annie Awards website at http://www.annieawards.com/
To RSVP, send an email to anniescreenings@yahoogroups.com. Seating is limited and availability is on a first come, first serve basis.
Blogger Troubles
Yesterday was a mess. Could not upload anything to Blogger. I was fighting half the day to get anything up on this blog. Today I am going to be too busy getting ready for my new classes to do much.
Saturday, January 08, 2005
ASIFA Event Flyers
Blogger has been down all morning, I`m trying to sneak this in the back door with the image upload link.
Each month David Derks creates all of the flyers for upcoming ASFIA-Hollywood events. Then he e-mails them out to all of the schools and studios on our ASIFA Rep contect list. The ASIFA Reps then print out the flyers and post them up at their studio or school.
If you would like to be part of this program you can contact David at: David Derks Be sure to put ASIFA Rep in the subject line.
Here is a link to the flyers is you want to print them out from the web Jan2005Mailing.pdf (It may take a bit to download)
Each month David Derks creates all of the flyers for upcoming ASFIA-Hollywood events. Then he e-mails them out to all of the schools and studios on our ASIFA Rep contect list. The ASIFA Reps then print out the flyers and post them up at their studio or school.
If you would like to be part of this program you can contact David at: David Derks Be sure to put ASIFA Rep in the subject line.
Here is a link to the flyers is you want to print them out from the web Jan2005Mailing.pdf (It may take a bit to download)
Friday, January 07, 2005
For Your Consideration
ASIFA-Hollywood invites you to view the Annie Award nominees
*The screenings are for members of ASIFA-Hollywood only
Please RSVP by email only to anniescreenings@yahoogroups.com by noon of the day you want to attend to reserve your seat.
For security purposes, you must have your name on the RSVP list, and you will be asked to a show photo ID when arriving on the studios lots - no exceptions. Seating is limited to 116 people at the Walt Disney Studio and 150 people at DreamWorks Animation Campus.
Due to limited seating, we cannot accept all requests. We ask that everyone on the guest lists be in attendance at the screenings.
For more information on the Annie Awards, visit us on
the www.annieawards.org
Tuesday, January 18, 2005
Walt Disney Studio - Frank G. Wells Building Theater (1st Floor)
500 S. Buena Vista St., Burbank, CA 91521
6pm - 9pm
*) Writing in an Animated Feature Production
*) Music in an Animated Feature Production
*) Voice Acting in an Animated Feature Production
*) Writing in an Animated Television Production
*) Music in an Animated Television Production
*) Voice Acting in an Animated Television Production
Wednesday, January 19, 2005
DreamWorks Animation - Campanile Theatre
1000 Flower Street, Glendale, CA 91201
6:30pm - 8:30pm
*) Best Animated Feature
*) Best Animated Short Subject
*) Best Animated Television Production
*) Best Animated Television Commercial
*) Best Home Entertainment Production
Thursday, January 20, 2005
DreamWorks Animation - Campanile Theatre
1000 Flower Street, Glendale, CA 91201
6:30pm - 8:30pm
*) Character Animation
*) Animated Effects
*) Directing in an Animated Feature Production
*) Directing in an Animated Television Production
*The screenings are for members of ASIFA-Hollywood only
Please RSVP by email only to anniescreenings@yahoogroups.com by noon of the day you want to attend to reserve your seat.
To guarantee your reservation include:
*) Your full name
*) Your contact information
*) The screenings that you wish to attend
For security purposes, you must have your name on the RSVP list, and you will be asked to a show photo ID when arriving on the studios lots - no exceptions. Seating is limited to 116 people at the Walt Disney Studio and 150 people at DreamWorks Animation Campus.
Due to limited seating, we cannot accept all requests. We ask that everyone on the guest lists be in attendance at the screenings.
For more information on the Annie Awards, visit us on
the www.annieawards.org
Annie Awards Nominees Screening First of 3
Just got confirmation on the first of three Annies Screenings. The next 2 should be on the 19th and the 20th. I will post that info as soon as I get it.
Annie Awards Nominees Screening
Tuesday, January 18
6:00pm - 9:00pm
Walt Disney Studios - Frank G. Wells Building Theater (1st Floor)
500 S. Buena Vista St.
Burbank, CA 91521
Park in the 500 S. Buena Vista lot - entrance is at stoplight on Buena Vista St. between Riverside & Alameda. Guests should allow time to walk across the lot to the Frank G. Wells Building.
Theater Doors Open: 5:30pm
All guests and ASIFA personnel will need to be on a guest list for Studio entry & Security clearance. No Changes or substitutions after 12 Noon on Tuesday, January 18. Please format list alphabetically last name, first name and include screening information at top of each page.
Categories Covered:
1) Writing in an Animated Feature Production
2) Music in an Animated Feature Production
3) Voice Acting in an Animated Feature Production
4) Writing in an Animated Television Production
5) Music in an Animated Television Production
6) Voice Acting in an Animated Television Production
FGW Screening Room capacity: 116
I am waiting for RSVP info and will post it as soon as I get it.
Annie Awards Nominees Screening
Tuesday, January 18
6:00pm - 9:00pm
Walt Disney Studios - Frank G. Wells Building Theater (1st Floor)
500 S. Buena Vista St.
Burbank, CA 91521
Park in the 500 S. Buena Vista lot - entrance is at stoplight on Buena Vista St. between Riverside & Alameda. Guests should allow time to walk across the lot to the Frank G. Wells Building.
Theater Doors Open: 5:30pm
All guests and ASIFA personnel will need to be on a guest list for Studio entry & Security clearance. No Changes or substitutions after 12 Noon on Tuesday, January 18. Please format list alphabetically last name, first name and include screening information at top of each page.
Categories Covered:
1) Writing in an Animated Feature Production
2) Music in an Animated Feature Production
3) Voice Acting in an Animated Feature Production
4) Writing in an Animated Television Production
5) Music in an Animated Television Production
6) Voice Acting in an Animated Television Production
FGW Screening Room capacity: 116
I am waiting for RSVP info and will post it as soon as I get it.
Thursday, January 06, 2005
Ballot Prep Re-Scheduled to 11th
Just got an e-mail from Annette O`Neill stating that she is moving the 1st Annie volunteer meeting from Monday the 10th to Tuesday Jan. 11th. (same time and place) Her reason is the Appleseed screening just announced. Below is her reasons in her words. Makes sense to me.
My thinking on the date change was this: it isn't fair to ask people to choose between contributing to ASIFA and enjoying the benefits of the organization.And best to you Annette, I like the way you think. The original posting on this meeting is here if you want to contact her and volunteer. volunteer post (she told me that she wanted to see this movie too, don`t blame her at all)
Best
Annette
Wednesday, January 05, 2005
How I spent my Winter Vacation
I was at 2 meetings today. One was in Long Beach at a college and the other in Burbank at the new ASIFA center.
The first is what is called in the trade an In-Service, a teacher / administration meeting driven by administration telling teachers things they think we need to know. Yeah, the paperwork is important but it is not what I am into teaching for. Below is a little bit of what I got out of the first meeting.
Notes from the meeting
I enjoyed the other meeting a lot more. The board meeting was cool with lots of projects coming together. The energy in the room was electric. Everybody was excited and reporting on things that they had been working on.
The Annies are on track. The ballots mail on the 12th. (I`ve had some phone calls and e-mails from members on this subject, so here is your answer) The Annie screenings are scheduled and will be announced here tomorrow after they are completely locked in.
There are a lot of exciting things coming our way for 2005. The AFI screenings are returning, maybe as soon a February. The move is coming up this month. I will be begging for warm bodies soon. The archives is coming together. It is so close that I can almost taste it. I've got my white gloves all ready.
Since this was the first board meeting of the year there was an election of ASIFA officers with all of the current officers retaining their offices. Tom Sito was still in Europe, leaving the country didn`t work Tom we re-elected you anyhow. All and all a lot was accomplished and I came home feeling good about myself. Something that does not always happen at yee old college In-Service.
The first is what is called in the trade an In-Service, a teacher / administration meeting driven by administration telling teachers things they think we need to know. Yeah, the paperwork is important but it is not what I am into teaching for. Below is a little bit of what I got out of the first meeting.
Notes from the meeting
I enjoyed the other meeting a lot more. The board meeting was cool with lots of projects coming together. The energy in the room was electric. Everybody was excited and reporting on things that they had been working on.
The Annies are on track. The ballots mail on the 12th. (I`ve had some phone calls and e-mails from members on this subject, so here is your answer) The Annie screenings are scheduled and will be announced here tomorrow after they are completely locked in.
There are a lot of exciting things coming our way for 2005. The AFI screenings are returning, maybe as soon a February. The move is coming up this month. I will be begging for warm bodies soon. The archives is coming together. It is so close that I can almost taste it. I've got my white gloves all ready.
Since this was the first board meeting of the year there was an election of ASIFA officers with all of the current officers retaining their offices. Tom Sito was still in Europe, leaving the country didn`t work Tom we re-elected you anyhow. All and all a lot was accomplished and I came home feeling good about myself. Something that does not always happen at yee old college In-Service.
Programs For Families at The Museum of Television & Radio
This came by way of Jason Jones, a lone time ASIFA volunteer.
Programs For Families at The Museum of Television & Radio
465 N. Beverly Drive
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
www.mtr.org
Family Event
Animation Celebration
Saturday, January 22, 2005; 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Come celebrate the power of animation in a spectacular family event full of excitement and surprises. Watch a delightfully varied screening of vintage and current animated programs from the collection that will reveal the range of possibilities for this dynamic technique. Then learn the animation process firsthand by creating and taping your own animated video with the help of professionals from Royer Animation Studios.
Meet the talent behind some of your favorite programs in a special presentation:
Lauren Faust, Story Supervisor, Foster`s Home for Imaginary Friends
Butch Hartman, Creator, The Fairly OddParents and Danny Phantom
Steve Marmel, Writer, The Fairly OddParents; Writer/Coproducer, Danny Phantom
Craig McCracken, Creator, The Powerpuff Girls and Foster`s Home for Imaginary Friends
Van Partible, Creator, Johnny Bravo
Billy West, Voice of Popeye, Woody Woodpecker, Bugs Bunny, and Ren of
Ren and Stimpy
Tara Strong, Voice of Timmy Turner on The Fairly OddParents and Dil Pickles on The Rugrats
Admission for this event is $5. Tickets go on sale January 5. Purchase in the Museum lobby during regular hours, or call (310) 786-1091 from 12:00 to 5:00 p.m. daily.
Programs For Families at The Museum of Television & Radio
465 N. Beverly Drive
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
www.mtr.org
Family Event
Animation Celebration
Saturday, January 22, 2005; 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Come celebrate the power of animation in a spectacular family event full of excitement and surprises. Watch a delightfully varied screening of vintage and current animated programs from the collection that will reveal the range of possibilities for this dynamic technique. Then learn the animation process firsthand by creating and taping your own animated video with the help of professionals from Royer Animation Studios.
Meet the talent behind some of your favorite programs in a special presentation:
Lauren Faust, Story Supervisor, Foster`s Home for Imaginary Friends
Butch Hartman, Creator, The Fairly OddParents and Danny Phantom
Steve Marmel, Writer, The Fairly OddParents; Writer/Coproducer, Danny Phantom
Craig McCracken, Creator, The Powerpuff Girls and Foster`s Home for Imaginary Friends
Van Partible, Creator, Johnny Bravo
Billy West, Voice of Popeye, Woody Woodpecker, Bugs Bunny, and Ren of
Ren and Stimpy
Tara Strong, Voice of Timmy Turner on The Fairly OddParents and Dil Pickles on The Rugrats
Admission for this event is $5. Tickets go on sale January 5. Purchase in the Museum lobby during regular hours, or call (310) 786-1091 from 12:00 to 5:00 p.m. daily.
Tuesday, January 04, 2005
APPLESEED Screening
Just got a request to post this. I guess you can print this as your ticket. Should work.
APPLESEED
Monday, January 10th, 7:30pm
The Egyptian Theatre
6712 Hollywood Blvd.
Hollywood
** This is a free sneak preview screening. Theater is overbooked to ensure capacity and we strongly recommend that you ARRIVE EARLY. At the theatre, seating is on a first come, first served basis. Passes DO NOT guarantee seating. No one will be admitted without a ticket (PLEASE PRINT THIS EMAIL -- THIS WILL SERVE AS YOUR TICKET FOR YOU AND YOUR GUEST).
For more info on the movie please visit
APPLESEED
"Appleseed" is one of the biggest and most anticipated anime films for 2005. The film features a groundbreaking animation style known as "3D Live Anime," a blend of motion-capture technology and 3D computer animation, which is further enhanced by the new generation of "toon-shading" programs, which renders 3D CGI into 2D cel-style images.
The film is a huge leap forward in technical and visual terms, far exceeding the revious benchmark for computer animation from Japan, set by Final Fantasy: The pirits Within. In fact, even before the picture is released in the U.S., the filmmakers behind this revolutionary anime film have already set at least one record: they have
greenlit two sequels and a television show to "Appleseed", which is unprecedented for
an anime film, particularly one that has not yet opened in North America.
Geneon Entertainment will be releasing "Appleseed" in North America on January 14, 2005. A long-time major player in the US anime industry, Geneon will be moving into theatrical distribution for the first time with "Appleseed", a further sign of its confidence in the success of the film. "The animation style is like none other, and
anime gurus, curious fans and general audiences will be attracted to this amazing sci-fi adventure," stated Yosuke Kobayashi, president/ CEO of Geneon Entertainment. "Appleseed" first appeared in 1985 as a manga created by Shirow Masamune (The Ghost in the Shell) and went on to garner a worldwide fan base. "Appleseed" is directed by Shinji Aramaki (Bubblegum Crisis).
Using cutting-edge music as the backdrop for this visual tour de force, the "Appleseed" soundtrack features an eclectic mix of music from around the world, including new tracks created by world-renowned DJ/producer Paul Oakenfold (The Matrix Reloaded, Swordfish), Ryuichi Sakamoto (The Last Emperor) and Basement Jaxx, Boom boom Satellites, among others.
Set in a war-ravaged 2131, the film's story centers on Deunan, a female soldier who is rescued from the violent ruins of an old city and taken to Olympus, a utopian metropolis. She is reunited with her former partner and lover, Briareos, who has been turned into a cyborg after sustaining a critical battle injury. Olympus is a complex society, a mixture of humans and the near-indistinguishable cybernetic human clones, with both sides locked in a constant power struggle. Deunan and Briareos are soon entangled in a desperate struggle to prevent a plot that threatens to destroy the delicate balance of power and bring about a terrible war between the two races.
APPLESEED
Monday, January 10th, 7:30pm
The Egyptian Theatre
6712 Hollywood Blvd.
Hollywood
** This is a free sneak preview screening. Theater is overbooked to ensure capacity and we strongly recommend that you ARRIVE EARLY. At the theatre, seating is on a first come, first served basis. Passes DO NOT guarantee seating. No one will be admitted without a ticket (PLEASE PRINT THIS EMAIL -- THIS WILL SERVE AS YOUR TICKET FOR YOU AND YOUR GUEST).
For more info on the movie please visit
APPLESEED
"Appleseed" is one of the biggest and most anticipated anime films for 2005. The film features a groundbreaking animation style known as "3D Live Anime," a blend of motion-capture technology and 3D computer animation, which is further enhanced by the new generation of "toon-shading" programs, which renders 3D CGI into 2D cel-style images.
The film is a huge leap forward in technical and visual terms, far exceeding the revious benchmark for computer animation from Japan, set by Final Fantasy: The pirits Within. In fact, even before the picture is released in the U.S., the filmmakers behind this revolutionary anime film have already set at least one record: they have
greenlit two sequels and a television show to "Appleseed", which is unprecedented for
an anime film, particularly one that has not yet opened in North America.
Geneon Entertainment will be releasing "Appleseed" in North America on January 14, 2005. A long-time major player in the US anime industry, Geneon will be moving into theatrical distribution for the first time with "Appleseed", a further sign of its confidence in the success of the film. "The animation style is like none other, and
anime gurus, curious fans and general audiences will be attracted to this amazing sci-fi adventure," stated Yosuke Kobayashi, president/ CEO of Geneon Entertainment. "Appleseed" first appeared in 1985 as a manga created by Shirow Masamune (The Ghost in the Shell) and went on to garner a worldwide fan base. "Appleseed" is directed by Shinji Aramaki (Bubblegum Crisis).
Using cutting-edge music as the backdrop for this visual tour de force, the "Appleseed" soundtrack features an eclectic mix of music from around the world, including new tracks created by world-renowned DJ/producer Paul Oakenfold (The Matrix Reloaded, Swordfish), Ryuichi Sakamoto (The Last Emperor) and Basement Jaxx, Boom boom Satellites, among others.
Set in a war-ravaged 2131, the film's story centers on Deunan, a female soldier who is rescued from the violent ruins of an old city and taken to Olympus, a utopian metropolis. She is reunited with her former partner and lover, Briareos, who has been turned into a cyborg after sustaining a critical battle injury. Olympus is a complex society, a mixture of humans and the near-indistinguishable cybernetic human clones, with both sides locked in a constant power struggle. Deunan and Briareos are soon entangled in a desperate struggle to prevent a plot that threatens to destroy the delicate balance of power and bring about a terrible war between the two races.
1st Annie Awards Volunteer Meeting
Monday, January 10, 7:00pm (date changed to the 11th - see above)
If you were planning to volunteer to work the Annies this year and have not done so yet contact Annette O`Neal for details and directions to the meeting.
Will Eisner, R.I.P.
Another master comic book artist passes from our ranks.
Sadly I have to send you over to Mark Evenier`s site one more time where he reports on the passing on another comic book legend. Will Eisner
Sadly I have to send you over to Mark Evenier`s site one more time where he reports on the passing on another comic book legend. Will Eisner
Bad Puns Come Back To Haunt
Last Sunday, while going through the art files looking for some artwork by Kelly Freas, I came across this cartoon from my days of editing an art zine.
It was an old, old joke but I had to do something because I was on a tight deadline. The strange thing is, the best puns are on the wall in glyphs. Hey, I took the time to learn a dead language so I use it when I get the chance.
It was an old, old joke but I had to do something because I was on a tight deadline. The strange thing is, the best puns are on the wall in glyphs. Hey, I took the time to learn a dead language so I use it when I get the chance.
Monday, January 03, 2005
Back to School
It is back to school today. Here`s a paper my daughter wrote for her English class. Since it is on the subject of Comic Con and fan based madness I thought I would do more than just post it on the family refrigerator.
It is back to school today. Here`s a paper my daughter wrote for her English class. Since it is on the subject of Comic Con and fan based madness I thought I would do more than just post it on the family refrigerator.
Raven Loc
Mrs. McClure
Eng. 1 Honors
14 December 2004
The Comic Con International; a yearly ritual for freaks worldwide to gather in San Diego, and partake in their geeky obsessions. Since I was five I have endured the many disturbing images of scantly clad women draping themselves over mangled bodies. For the some 85,000 comic nerds, this is as close to heaven as it comes.
In late August, we pile into our Saturn and head out for the largest convention in America. As we draw closer to our destination, signs of unimaginable weirdness in its purest form begins to emerge. A women wearing nothing but 6 inch duct tape in two long strips saunters casually toward the nearest Ralphs store. A klingon complete with latex headgear leers menacingly out at all that pass. Never before or since have I experienced such fear or fascination in my life.
Upon entering the convention center, we set up at our temporary abode; the ASIFA-Hollywood booth. The people managing the booth next to us are displaying a looped preview for a horror film. Every five minutes a man screams I want my life back! I want to know why! Escape from the monotony is essential. I make my way slowly through the crowd, stopping occasionally to view the manga booths.
At the back wall there are T-shirts for sale, and a lone man ranting passionately to no one in particular. My interest is caught immediately, and I pause for a moment to listen. This is a very bad move on my part. The incessant talker is Phil Yeh, writer and illustrator of The Winged Tiger. He`s half-Asian and hysterically funny, but has a knack for catching his victims in a conversation and never letting them leave.
I stand for two hours, incapable of anything but nodding and indulging on the free M&M`s in order to survive. Eventually he notices the last name on the tag around my neck and inquires if my father`s name is Larry. I respond in the positive, and he announces himself a close friend to my father. The irony was too thick here, I had to break away to buy a Spock shirt. I stumble back to the booth, clutching my new shirt in a desperate search for salvation.
Towards the end of the day the woman over the intercom attempts to dislodge a few of the fans from the convention center. Her brief messages are growing increasingly irritated, as she is blatantly ignored by the uncontrolled masses. My father has to exchange my badge for a vendor one. All who see me now know me as Pam Waterbee young vendor.
The woman on the intercom is becoming rapidly more insulting. The door lay less than twenty feet from our booth. Frantically, we gather our merchandise and make a path through the lingering exhibitors to freedom.
Our attention on the escape route is usurped by a rather large but friendly looking man. His tag identifies him as Bob Schreck, the man my father worked with in filming The Incredible Hulk Meets the Ever Loving` Blue-Eyed Thing.
Along with him is a blonde woman in her fifties, and an anxious man sporting a goatee. They are introduced to us as Wendy and Richard Pini. I stand rooted to the spot as every intelligent thought leaves my head and are replaced by mindless drivel.
This was Wendy and Richard Pini, co-authors of the comic Elfquest. At the age of nine I had uncovered my mother`s old crate of comics, and made a point of memorizing every one of the twenty Elfquest within the box. Together this couple had breathed life into the tribe of elves I had obsessed over all those years ago.
I decided hi would be a simple way to aquaint myself with the comic book gods before me. Only by the time I had thoroughly thought out my witty conversation starter, they had left. My father leans over and mouths Why didn`t you say something? to me.
Then he nonchalantly mentions to Bob that I was a fan of Wendy and Richard`s comics. Bob grins and proceeds to drag me over to the Pini`s booth, pronouncing me their number one fan. Anyone who has witnessed the desperate fans residing at the Comic Con had a good reason to look as nervous as they did.
I muttered something about how amazing Elfquest was. Richard asks me if I had one of their Twenty-fifth Anniversary Edition Comics signed. At my blank look he explains the reason they`re here today is to celebrate the twenty-five years of Elfquest, and would I like one signed? I nod vigorously and he retrieves a sharpie and a comic.
Wendy smiles and says Is this to Pam Waterbee? As she touches the pen to the cover, I finally find I can speak clearly once more. No my name is Raven Loc. I`m not really your number one fan, but I really love the series and I`d love an autograph! She blinks a few times, then writes out a message and signs.
I am free to go at last, so we gather the last of the animation cels and trek to the ever-distant door. A girl in her late teens jumps out and taps us on the head with a plastic green baby spoon. She then places the spoon on her pink-haired head and skips away.
Finally we are through the door, in the car, and on the way home. The hard won autograph resides on my lap, and causes me to smile. I can`t discriminate against the freaks of the Comic Convention; I had coverted over to the masses of obsessive fans. Except perhaps the girl with the baby spoon, I can still discriminate against her
Sunday, January 02, 2005
ASIFA Volunteer of the Month
I spent New Year`s day creating a Database for the ASIFA-Hollywood`s Animation Rescue Team.
One thing I have found when it comes for asking for volunteers, it`s the busy people that always have enough time. It is the people who always volunteer who always volunteer.
There is a core of dedicated ASIFA members that always make the time. Pay attention animation studio hiring agents, these are the people you want working for you.
I have decided that it is just about time for a new feature. Something I will do from time to time when I run out of things to say about myself. Here is my first profile on one of our volunteer heroes.
Jon Reeves answered the phone late that Saturday night with the words "Hi Larry, I have already got you e-mail on the Mural, I will be there in the morning." I thanked him and signed off quickly. I had other people to call.
If you have been to any of the ASIFA-Hollywood screening then you have seen Jon. Most times he wares an IMDB ball cap and has his laptop case strapped over his shoulder. Sometimes you will see him timing cartoons as they play.
Jon is a film buff (read obsessive) and the LA rep for Internet Movie DataBase. The first time I meet him I was giving a Silent Animation screening at San Diego Comic Con.
One of the audience asked me the date on a Paul Terry cartoon and I was not quit sure so I took a stab at it and said that I thought it was 1915 or 1916. Jon`s voice came from behind his laptop telling everyone that it was, in fact, 1916.
"Okay, just who are you and what do you have on that laptop?" I said hoping that I didn`t get any more date questions.
"Internet Movie Data Base" he answered and we have been friends since.
Jon is a database professional with a passion for animation and film. He comes to most of the ASIFA events, most of the screenings at AFI, most of the Volunteer meetings, he works the ASIFA booth at Comic Con, and for the last couple of years he has been very involved in building floats for the Rose Parade.
I salute you Jon, and thank you for your years of service to ASIFA and animation. I look forward to working with you for some time to come.
Jon Reeves is our ASIFA Volunteer of the month. Sorry that I don't have a bumper sticker for your parents to put on the back of their car.
One thing I have found when it comes for asking for volunteers, it`s the busy people that always have enough time. It is the people who always volunteer who always volunteer.
There is a core of dedicated ASIFA members that always make the time. Pay attention animation studio hiring agents, these are the people you want working for you.
I have decided that it is just about time for a new feature. Something I will do from time to time when I run out of things to say about myself. Here is my first profile on one of our volunteer heroes.
Jon Reeves answered the phone late that Saturday night with the words "Hi Larry, I have already got you e-mail on the Mural, I will be there in the morning." I thanked him and signed off quickly. I had other people to call.
If you have been to any of the ASIFA-Hollywood screening then you have seen Jon. Most times he wares an IMDB ball cap and has his laptop case strapped over his shoulder. Sometimes you will see him timing cartoons as they play.
Jon is a film buff (read obsessive) and the LA rep for Internet Movie DataBase. The first time I meet him I was giving a Silent Animation screening at San Diego Comic Con.
One of the audience asked me the date on a Paul Terry cartoon and I was not quit sure so I took a stab at it and said that I thought it was 1915 or 1916. Jon`s voice came from behind his laptop telling everyone that it was, in fact, 1916.
"Okay, just who are you and what do you have on that laptop?" I said hoping that I didn`t get any more date questions.
"Internet Movie Data Base" he answered and we have been friends since.
Jon is a database professional with a passion for animation and film. He comes to most of the ASIFA events, most of the screenings at AFI, most of the Volunteer meetings, he works the ASIFA booth at Comic Con, and for the last couple of years he has been very involved in building floats for the Rose Parade.
I salute you Jon, and thank you for your years of service to ASIFA and animation. I look forward to working with you for some time to come.
Jon Reeves is our ASIFA Volunteer of the month. Sorry that I don't have a bumper sticker for your parents to put on the back of their car.
Saturday, January 01, 2005
An oldie From Mark`s Vaults
I have a number of sites that I visit daily if not more often, cartoonbrew, animated-news and Mark Evenier`s POV news site. When I have some time I wander all over the site just looking at things he has posted over the years.
This morning I ran into this 4 year old article about voice actor Frank Nelson. YesssSSSS? It is a great story about the world of Hollywood voice acting. I am going to steal a quote here:
This morning I ran into this 4 year old article about voice actor Frank Nelson. YesssSSSS? It is a great story about the world of Hollywood voice acting. I am going to steal a quote here:
I will never, as long as I live, forget summoning Frank Nelson. He was sitting in the recording studio`s lobby, absently paging through a magazine older than he was, surrounded by young actors who didn`t know who he was. I stepped into the lobby and said, "Mr. Nelson?"Isn`t that great? Here is the link to the whole story. Frank Nelson . Check out some of this other stuff while you are there. It is a fun site full of all the things that makes Mark happy.
And he turned towards me - so help me - and went, "Yessssss?" Just like on the Benny show.
I broke into laughter and the other auditioners - the younger actors sitting in chairs around him - suddenly recognized him and they all broke into applause. I have never seen another actor get applause from his peers in the waiting room.
