ASIFA-Hollywood: The International Animated Film Society
Saturday, March 12, 2005
In favor of a Scrat movie:
The funniest thing about the Blue Sky coming attractions was this Rat-Squirrel scene stealer. As good as Ice Age was, every time Scrat was on screen he up staged everybody else. He is a force of nature.
He is the reincarnation of Wily Coyote without the need for a Road Runner. He is pure comic genius. More shorts, many more shorts, please and how about a feature with other characters with their own agendas and plots but told all from the point of view of the monomaniac Scrat?
The funniest thing about the Blue Sky coming attractions was this Rat-Squirrel scene stealer. As good as Ice Age was, every time Scrat was on screen he up staged everybody else. He is a force of nature.
He is the reincarnation of Wily Coyote without the need for a Road Runner. He is pure comic genius. More shorts, many more shorts, please and how about a feature with other characters with their own agendas and plots but told all from the point of view of the monomaniac Scrat?
Thursday, March 10, 2005
ASIFA-Hollywood Screening of Robots
Fox pulled out all the stops last night at the ASIFA screening of Robots. As luck would have it I was in attendance (luck had nothing to do with it, I spent 2 hours in a car driving in from O.C. and well worth the drive, too)
Lots of cool people hanging out, talking and eating at the Academy of television Art and Science theater.
After enjoying the film there was a Q & A with the Chris Melendandri (Exec Producer & President of 20th Century Fox Animation) , David Torres (lead animator), and David Esneault, master lighting lead.
The panel was hosted by Jerry Beck who did a great job of steering questions and getting to the design and story elements behind Robots.
David Esneault, master lighting lead
Lots of cool people hanging out, talking and eating at the Academy of television Art and Science theater.
After enjoying the film there was a Q & A with the Chris Melendandri (Exec Producer & President of 20th Century Fox Animation) , David Torres (lead animator), and David Esneault, master lighting lead.
The panel was hosted by Jerry Beck who did a great job of steering questions and getting to the design and story elements behind Robots.
David Esneault, master lighting lead
Wednesday, March 09, 2005
Steamboy
I use to be able to go without sleep for long periods of time. I didn`t get in until midnight last night and then had to get up at 5 this morning. I thought I would come right back from teaching class and finish the Steamboy blog I started before I went off this morning. Did not happen.
That does not mean that I didn`t have a great time. Quit the contrary, I enjoyed the movie very much. It may have taken 10 years to get to us but it was well worth the wait.
As most of you now know, Katsuhiro Otomo was unable to be with us as planned because of health reasons. A number of people clucking copies of Akira under their arms were saddened a bit but seemed to snap out of it once the program started.
Antran read a very nice letter from Otomo-san and then the movie started. I am not going to tell you anything about the movie except that it was good, I enjoyed it, and you should go out and see it.
After the screening there was a question and answer with Jerry Beck as mediator. Our guests were Shinji Komori, producer; Keiichi Momose, sound; and I believe Shinji Takagi, animation head (Thanks Jon for correct crew name)
There were some very good questions and some very informative answers. The translator was very good. He would write down everything that was said, both in Japanese and in English, and then translate it. There was none of that 10 minutes of talking followed by a 2 word translation that you get some times. This guy knew what he was doing.
Thank you Sony pictures. My family and I had a very nice time. I need to see Steamboy again real soon and I don`t plan on waiting until the Annies come back around.
Keiichi Momose and Shinji Komori at last night`s Steamboy screening.
That does not mean that I didn`t have a great time. Quit the contrary, I enjoyed the movie very much. It may have taken 10 years to get to us but it was well worth the wait.
As most of you now know, Katsuhiro Otomo was unable to be with us as planned because of health reasons. A number of people clucking copies of Akira under their arms were saddened a bit but seemed to snap out of it once the program started.
Antran read a very nice letter from Otomo-san and then the movie started. I am not going to tell you anything about the movie except that it was good, I enjoyed it, and you should go out and see it.
After the screening there was a question and answer with Jerry Beck as mediator. Our guests were Shinji Komori, producer; Keiichi Momose, sound; and I believe Shinji Takagi, animation head (Thanks Jon for correct crew name)
There were some very good questions and some very informative answers. The translator was very good. He would write down everything that was said, both in Japanese and in English, and then translate it. There was none of that 10 minutes of talking followed by a 2 word translation that you get some times. This guy knew what he was doing.
Thank you Sony pictures. My family and I had a very nice time. I need to see Steamboy again real soon and I don`t plan on waiting until the Annies come back around.
Keiichi Momose and Shinji Komori at last night`s Steamboy screening.
Tuesday, March 08, 2005
DVD things are happening over at 99 cents only stores. A new flock of cartoon releases of brand new old animation.
The Van Beuren Classics Vol. 2 has a Tom and Jerry (not the cat and mouse) and a 1933 Cubby Bear. Classic Cartoons Vol. 5 has an Egghead and 5th Column Mouse. And the Hunky & Spunky Vol. 1 has 7 of this little known Fleischer series. (It is not one of their best but still nice to see) and the Famous, Yankee Doodle Donkey.
The Betty Boop Vol. 3 has a lot of the Grampy and Puggy ones and one with Betty with a kid (no one tells us who he belongs to) but they do tell us on the package that they are all in Black and White.
The Van Beuren Classics Vol. 2 has a Tom and Jerry (not the cat and mouse) and a 1933 Cubby Bear. Classic Cartoons Vol. 5 has an Egghead and 5th Column Mouse. And the Hunky & Spunky Vol. 1 has 7 of this little known Fleischer series. (It is not one of their best but still nice to see) and the Famous, Yankee Doodle Donkey.
The Betty Boop Vol. 3 has a lot of the Grampy and Puggy ones and one with Betty with a kid (no one tells us who he belongs to) but they do tell us on the package that they are all in Black and White.
Monday, March 07, 2005
Big Week For ASIFA Screenings
It use to be that we only got screening just before the Annies. Now it is a year round happening. It puts a lot of miles on my car but is way worth it. We have got some goodies coming up this week.
Steamboy:
Tuesday, March 8th
7 PM
Laemmie Sunset 5
8000 Sunset Blvd. (Corner of Crescent Heights Blvd. and Sunset Blvd.)
West Hollywood.
The bad news is that Otomo has had to cancel his appearance because of illness. I really wanted to meet my long time hero but can completely understand him not wanting to fly while sick with the flue for fear that his head will burst open like a scene from Akira. Maybe we will get another chance later like we did with Brad Bird.
Still, this is going to be a killer movie. And my bet is that they will have other cool people there. I am really glad that this one has made it to the screen.
Robots:
Thursday night, March 10th is Robots. I have been looking forward to this one. The Blue Sky bug stuff in Joe`s Apartment was great, Ice Age was a killer, all the reports I`ve had on Robots have been very good. Tom Sito stopped in on Blue Sky about 6 months ago on his return from Ireland and had some great things to report about this movie while it was still in progress. I for one will take Tom`s word on movies any day.
Do not know if Chris Wedge will be there but there is a good chance since the event starts at 6 PM with a reception. Of course it is really close to the opening of the movie which could have pulled him out of town for PR. Whatever the case there will be creators from the movie on hand and it should be very cool. Thanks to Foix for the cool screening.
Academy of Television Arts and Sciences
5220 Lankershim Blvd.
North Hollywood
6:00 PM Reception
7:30 PM Screening
Steamboy:
Tuesday, March 8th
7 PM
Laemmie Sunset 5
8000 Sunset Blvd. (Corner of Crescent Heights Blvd. and Sunset Blvd.)
West Hollywood.
The bad news is that Otomo has had to cancel his appearance because of illness. I really wanted to meet my long time hero but can completely understand him not wanting to fly while sick with the flue for fear that his head will burst open like a scene from Akira. Maybe we will get another chance later like we did with Brad Bird.
Still, this is going to be a killer movie. And my bet is that they will have other cool people there. I am really glad that this one has made it to the screen.
Robots:
Thursday night, March 10th is Robots. I have been looking forward to this one. The Blue Sky bug stuff in Joe`s Apartment was great, Ice Age was a killer, all the reports I`ve had on Robots have been very good. Tom Sito stopped in on Blue Sky about 6 months ago on his return from Ireland and had some great things to report about this movie while it was still in progress. I for one will take Tom`s word on movies any day.
Do not know if Chris Wedge will be there but there is a good chance since the event starts at 6 PM with a reception. Of course it is really close to the opening of the movie which could have pulled him out of town for PR. Whatever the case there will be creators from the movie on hand and it should be very cool. Thanks to Foix for the cool screening.
Academy of Television Arts and Sciences
5220 Lankershim Blvd.
North Hollywood
6:00 PM Reception
7:30 PM Screening
