ASIFA-Hollywood: The International Animated Film Society
Monday, May 30, 2005
Jason Jones is a film student, a lover of animation, and one of the hardest working volunteers at ASIFA-Hollywood.
He is not flashy. He never makes a big deal out of his work or calls attention to the things he does, he just pitches in and does what needs to be done.
After a volunteer meeting he will clean up the animation center, bagging up pizza stained plates and empty water and cola containers.
He will step out and buy ice went he sees that we need it. And when Tom Sito and I are looking for reasons to get out of the hot sun and move down to the cooler parts of the archive move, Jason just keeps working away like a well oiled machine.
Jason Jones is always there to help out, to run the door, to do what needs to be done without being asked. He is June`s Volunteer of the Month. You may not make a big deal about abut what you do but some of us see your work and it is a big deal. You are the type of person that makes ASFIA work. Thank you! Thank you!
¶ 9:27 AM
Sunday, May 29, 2005
Animal Farm, Britain`s first animated feature, is now available at Walmart for $1.
It is good to have this film available but the quality of the film this was taken from is poor, washed out, faded.
Still, it is only a dollar and I have paid more for poorer quality videos. And it is not unwatchable, it is just not as good as I would hope.
¶ 10:16 AM
I am spoiled. I am use to seeing animation movies with animation fan and professionals who have a deep love and respect for film and animation, people who have common courtesy in a movie theater.
I almost enjoyed Madagascar, if it wasn`t for the talking cretins on all sides of me and the monster kid next to me. It is a shame, because what I saw of the film looked very good.
I would have liked to have seen more but the kid two seats down from me stood up on his seat about half through the movie and instantly fell between the cushion and the chair back and became trapped and his parents had to do a major jaws of life rescue on his screaming butt.
This is no way to watch a movie. And if this is the way the rest of America sees animated film it is a wonder that any animated movie has a chance of being enjoyed and doing well at the box-office.
Here is hoping that Madagascar gets an Annie nomination so I can see a screening of it with real people and enjoy it the way it was meant to be seen.
Jon, thank you very much for the free ticket. It was a very kind gesture on your part but I really think that the gods were out to get me on this one.
¶ 9:32 AM
Saturday, May 28, 2005
So when you are in the area checking out the Chuck Jones Gallery at Fashion Island (see below) you might want to swing by Laguna Beach and check out the banners. Lynn Kubasek, a good friend and former animation student at my state funded ROP animation program, has two banner designs up for this year`s Festival of the Arts.
Her fish wave banner is the first one you see coming down the Canyon toward the Festival of the Arts. Her bird paint banner from last year is near Ocean and PCH, just down from Hennesy's Tavern.
¶ 9:30 AM
Friday, May 27, 2005
Chuck Jones Gallery - Fashion Island
Here are two very cool events in my neck of the woods. One is with my good friend Martha Sigall and the other is with Bill Melendez, (animator, teacher, director and legend). Both events are at the Chuck Jones Gallery in Fashion Island.
For those of you that have never been to Fashion Island, it is a very big and confusing place that covers acres and acres. So here is how to get there.
For those of you that have never been to Fashion Island, it is a very big and confusing place that covers acres and acres. So here is how to get there.
¶ 9:46 PMFrom LA area
- Take the 405 South to Orange County
- Take the Jamboree exit South
- Turn left on Santa Barbara Drive
- This will dead end at a Fashion Island parking garage
- The Chuck Jones Gallery is not listed on the mall maps but the koi pond is listed. The Gallery is in the center of the Mall just outside the food court.
(or do a map quest of 401 Newport Center Dr - Newport Beach, CA 92660)
Join the Chuck Jones family as they premier their newest gallery in
a weekend - long gala celebration!
Saturday June 4th, 2005
1 PM to 4 PM
Starring these special guests. Martha Goldman Sigall author &
co-worker of Chuck Jones at Termite Terrace Rob Minkoff.Chuck Jones Protege,
Director of The Lion King and Stuart Little.
Stephen Fossati Chuck Jones
Film Productions Writer & Director
Bugs Bunny making his Newport
Beach debut!
Sunday June 5th, 2005
1 PM to 4 PM
Meet the
Legendary Bill Melendez Director and Producer of the animated Peanuts films.
Plus the world`s most famous beagle, Snoopy, will be making a live appearance!
Dedications and Photo Opportunities Available
RSVP for
both events by June 2nd
at 800/959-7175 or at ChuckJones.com
The Chuck Jones Gallery at Fashion Island, Suite 231, Newport Beach
(across from the koi pond)
A Tribute To DICK HUEMER!
Fleischer animator; Creator of Scrappy; Disney story artist, Comic strip creator, etc.
Animation producer and historian Ray Pointer presents a full retrospective of the career of animator Dick Huemer with special guest, his son Dr. Richard Huemer, Jr.
Screenings of rare cartoons include Huemer`s earliest work in the silent era, his work with the Max Fleischer and Charles Mintz Studio, and examples of his career at Disney.
Thursday June 9th - 7pm
THE GLENDALE CENTRAL LIBRARY
222 E. Harvard Street
Glendale, CA ¶ 8:38 PM
Fleischer animator; Creator of Scrappy; Disney story artist, Comic strip creator, etc.
Animation producer and historian Ray Pointer presents a full retrospective of the career of animator Dick Huemer with special guest, his son Dr. Richard Huemer, Jr.
Screenings of rare cartoons include Huemer`s earliest work in the silent era, his work with the Max Fleischer and Charles Mintz Studio, and examples of his career at Disney.
Thursday June 9th - 7pm
THE GLENDALE CENTRAL LIBRARY
222 E. Harvard Street
Glendale, CA ¶ 8:38 PM
Volunteer Sub Committee Formed
Jon Reeves cajoled into accepting the position as Head of the Archive Volunteer Committee. As ASIFA-Hollywood makes steady headway in our ongoing archive project it has become necessary to create an important volunteer sub-committee to deal with the sorting and scanning of our archive materials.
Long time ASIFA volunteer and active Animation Rescue Team member Jon Reeves (the LA Rep of Internet Movie Date Base) has agreed to head up this important ASIFA committee. Congratulations. ¶ 6:10 PM
Jon Reeves cajoled into accepting the position as Head of the Archive Volunteer Committee. As ASIFA-Hollywood makes steady headway in our ongoing archive project it has become necessary to create an important volunteer sub-committee to deal with the sorting and scanning of our archive materials.
Long time ASIFA volunteer and active Animation Rescue Team member Jon Reeves (the LA Rep of Internet Movie Date Base) has agreed to head up this important ASIFA committee. Congratulations. ¶ 6:10 PM
On Tuesday May 24th ASIFA HOLLYWOOD Pres. Antran Manoogian and VP Tom Sito began the first in a series of interviews to document the creation of the ANNIE AWARDS.
We all traveled out to Malibu to visit with former ASIFA VP animator Bill Littlejohn and former ASIFA/Hollywood Pres. June Foray. There we talked about how the Annie Awards were created back in 1971.
The first Annie went to Max Fleischer. June said no one was sure how many people would show up for the dinner at the Sportsmans' Lodge in Sherman Oaks. Imagine their surprise when 400 people came!
The award was accepted by Max's son, movie director Richard Fleischer. Since then for over thirty years Annies have gone to greats like Walt Disney, Tex Avery, Frank & Ollie, Chuck Jones and Art Klokey!
ASIFA hopes to have a highlight reel of great Annie Moments to open our next Award ceremony in February. In the meantime please look in your closets and garages for any old videos or photos of past Annie ceremonys and send them in to us to use. (they will be returned) Contact the ASIFA office, Kellie-Bea Cooper or Tom Sito at the 839 Guild office. Thanks!
Tom Sito
¶ 2:04 PM
Thoughts on Art and Teaching
This last Thursday I was going to get some animating done and maybe get my resume in order and out to someone I had promised it to.
Wednesday I got a call from Patrick Despres, friend, follow teacher, and lifedrawing guru. So Thursday I subbed for Patrick with his animation drawing class. It has been a while since I have taught a basic drawing class but it all comes back, shadow and light sources, prospective and form.
I really enjoyed myself. I think I shocked my students because they have only seen me as an animation history teacher.
And as always at times like this I speak in the voices of my teacher. I found myself speaking the words of Dick Ayers, Hy Eisman, Ric Estrada, and most of all Tex Blaisdell. And I know that the words I speak are not just the words of my teachers but the words of their teachers before them.
It always gives me a lot to think about. Where did all the words come from? How far back does the knowledge go? Will these kids be saying my words in some classroom in the future? It makes me feel like a link in a chain going back to the beginning of art. And that is a good thing to be, and that is a good thing to be! ¶ 7:38 AM
Wednesday I got a call from Patrick Despres, friend, follow teacher, and lifedrawing guru. So Thursday I subbed for Patrick with his animation drawing class. It has been a while since I have taught a basic drawing class but it all comes back, shadow and light sources, prospective and form.
I really enjoyed myself. I think I shocked my students because they have only seen me as an animation history teacher.
And as always at times like this I speak in the voices of my teacher. I found myself speaking the words of Dick Ayers, Hy Eisman, Ric Estrada, and most of all Tex Blaisdell. And I know that the words I speak are not just the words of my teachers but the words of their teachers before them.
It always gives me a lot to think about. Where did all the words come from? How far back does the knowledge go? Will these kids be saying my words in some classroom in the future? It makes me feel like a link in a chain going back to the beginning of art. And that is a good thing to be, and that is a good thing to be! ¶ 7:38 AM
The ASIFA-Hollywood Act of Membership monthly volunteer meeting took place this last Wednesday with about 30 members in attendance. Items talked about were the 2-D Expo, the upcoming Dick Huemer event, comic con, the Terry Thoren Collection, and the new equipment for the Animation Archives. A good time and pizza was had by all. ¶ 5:20 AM
Wednesday, May 25, 2005
Dreamer
Below, Tom Sito talks about Dream on Silly Dreamer. When I went to the L.A. screening on Monday night I thought wrongly that this film would be an attack on Eisner`s running of Disney. Strangely, that was not really the case. Yes, there was some finger pointing and a lot of anger, but this film is a true documentary of the passing of a way of life.
Dan Lund looks at what happened and that means everything that happened including the bidding war for animators and the whole every animator with an agent and lawyer phenomena of 1997 and 1998. Dream on Silly Dream is not an Anti-Disney film, it is a love story to a magic time now passed.
As a teacher of Animation History I hope that Dan makes this film available on DVD for in class use. It is about Disney Feature Animation at a set time but it talks to all of creative magic times. They all pass and it is only after they have passed that we can stop and say something of great note just happened here. This movie is something of great note and should not be feared because it is about something that happened at a company. ¶ 5:17 AM
Dan Lund looks at what happened and that means everything that happened including the bidding war for animators and the whole every animator with an agent and lawyer phenomena of 1997 and 1998. Dream on Silly Dream is not an Anti-Disney film, it is a love story to a magic time now passed.
As a teacher of Animation History I hope that Dan makes this film available on DVD for in class use. It is about Disney Feature Animation at a set time but it talks to all of creative magic times. They all pass and it is only after they have passed that we can stop and say something of great note just happened here. This movie is something of great note and should not be feared because it is about something that happened at a company. ¶ 5:17 AM
Do Not Go Gently Into That Good Night . . .
On Monday evening May 23rd the Alex Theater, which was the place Walt Disney used to test screen his Silly Symphonies, became the place where the Walt Disney Animation Crew came to view the film especially about them - DREAM ON SILLY DREAMER.
After being laid off with hundreds of his colleagues in the lay offs of March 25, 2002, young effects animator Dan Lund decided to make a statement by making a film about the experience. Joined by his friend Tony West they created a documentary with clever animated sections on a shoestring budget. The film is a record of how young artists came to Disney with stars in their eyes, were trained by the Nine Old Men and created some of the most memorable hits in film history like THE LITTLE MERMAID, LION KING, ALADDIN and BEAUTY & THE BEAST. Then as things started to change and economics and bureaucracy stifled artistic expression, their final reward was to be laid off.
It is hard to tell people today that the crew who gave life to Ariel, Belle and Simba are mostly all gone. And it wasn't their idea. Assistant animator Jacky Sanchez fearlessly told the execs: "You have the London Philharmonic here, and you are busting it down to a Boy Band!" Other artists interviewed including Dorse Lanpher, Joey Mildenberger, Sue Nichols, Merry Clingen, John Tucker, Brian Ferguson, directing animator Andreas Deja and Carmen Sandersen, a painter with fifty years at Disney. An early admirer of the film was Roy Disney. He said: "I have to say how very human a face it puts on an institutional tragedy. Thanks to Dan and Tony for bringing a tear or three to this eye."
For the LA premiere if Dan & Tony worried if enough people would come their fears were soon allayed. The Alex was packed with hundreds of Disney craftsmen old and young. Animators, assistants, directors, techs, production people, all Disney veterans. It was like a wrap party, except what was wrapping was not one film but a way of life. Roy Disney introduced the film and was greeted with a thunderous standing ovation. An occapella vocal group sang versions of Circle of Life, Kiss the Girl and When you Dream Upon a Star.
After the film concluded, the lights went up, the singers finished, for a moment no one stirred from their seats. It was as if no one wanted to admit it was over. Sometimes we don't understand when we were part of something special until it is over. Like the 300 Spartans, Charlemagne's palladins, Termite Terrace, the Xerox Parc Group- on occasion a band of people come together at the right time and create a legend. The Disney Animation Crew of the 1990's now passes into legend. The future may see new crews and new legacies, but for now I am proud to have been part of their number, and their films will live on forever.
Tom Sito ¶ 4:55 AM
After being laid off with hundreds of his colleagues in the lay offs of March 25, 2002, young effects animator Dan Lund decided to make a statement by making a film about the experience. Joined by his friend Tony West they created a documentary with clever animated sections on a shoestring budget. The film is a record of how young artists came to Disney with stars in their eyes, were trained by the Nine Old Men and created some of the most memorable hits in film history like THE LITTLE MERMAID, LION KING, ALADDIN and BEAUTY & THE BEAST. Then as things started to change and economics and bureaucracy stifled artistic expression, their final reward was to be laid off.
It is hard to tell people today that the crew who gave life to Ariel, Belle and Simba are mostly all gone. And it wasn't their idea. Assistant animator Jacky Sanchez fearlessly told the execs: "You have the London Philharmonic here, and you are busting it down to a Boy Band!" Other artists interviewed including Dorse Lanpher, Joey Mildenberger, Sue Nichols, Merry Clingen, John Tucker, Brian Ferguson, directing animator Andreas Deja and Carmen Sandersen, a painter with fifty years at Disney. An early admirer of the film was Roy Disney. He said: "I have to say how very human a face it puts on an institutional tragedy. Thanks to Dan and Tony for bringing a tear or three to this eye."
For the LA premiere if Dan & Tony worried if enough people would come their fears were soon allayed. The Alex was packed with hundreds of Disney craftsmen old and young. Animators, assistants, directors, techs, production people, all Disney veterans. It was like a wrap party, except what was wrapping was not one film but a way of life. Roy Disney introduced the film and was greeted with a thunderous standing ovation. An occapella vocal group sang versions of Circle of Life, Kiss the Girl and When you Dream Upon a Star.
After the film concluded, the lights went up, the singers finished, for a moment no one stirred from their seats. It was as if no one wanted to admit it was over. Sometimes we don't understand when we were part of something special until it is over. Like the 300 Spartans, Charlemagne's palladins, Termite Terrace, the Xerox Parc Group- on occasion a band of people come together at the right time and create a legend. The Disney Animation Crew of the 1990's now passes into legend. The future may see new crews and new legacies, but for now I am proud to have been part of their number, and their films will live on forever.
Tom Sito ¶ 4:55 AM
Tuesday, May 24, 2005
Floyd Norman strikes again, with another book of in your face cartoons. I talked to Floyd last night before the screening of Dream on Silly Dreamer and he gave me a flyer for his new book which is at the printers even as I write. For more information on this book go to http://www.afrokids.com/index.html Floyd said the information would be posted on this site sometime soon, so if you do not find it today be sure to stop back in later.
¶ 11:28 AM
Monday, May 23, 2005
Good Things Come to those that Volunteer
So Sunday I slept a lot, I`m turning into an old fart. Loading truck in a heat wave is not as easy as it use to be. Today I`m teaching a class that deals with getting internships. What do these two things have to do with each other?
One of my former students helped move boxes Saturday as part of the A.R.T. move of Terry Thoren`s festival archives. This student is a semester away from needing to find an internship. Can`t graduate without the internship.
To make the story shorter, he made a contact because he was lugging boxes next to the head of a small studio. This volunteering thing really works.
That is what I tell my students over and over and some of them listen. Those are the ones that make the contacts. Those are the ones that lug boxes with the animation pros. Those are the ones that get the cool internships. And who knows, from cool internships can come cool jobs. ¶ 7:33 AM
One of my former students helped move boxes Saturday as part of the A.R.T. move of Terry Thoren`s festival archives. This student is a semester away from needing to find an internship. Can`t graduate without the internship.
To make the story shorter, he made a contact because he was lugging boxes next to the head of a small studio. This volunteering thing really works.
That is what I tell my students over and over and some of them listen. Those are the ones that make the contacts. Those are the ones that lug boxes with the animation pros. Those are the ones that get the cool internships. And who knows, from cool internships can come cool jobs. ¶ 7:33 AM
Sunday, May 22, 2005
Drawing by Raven Loc
A.R.T.
Yes it was a bummer that I didn`t get to the AFI Fred Crippen event yesterday and yes I am stiff and sore this morning after moving about 500 boxes filled with videos (over 25,000 tapes of world animation from the early 70`s till 2001) and another 250 boxes filled with paperwork and animation magazines. But I would do it again. I will do it again. The stuff we are saving is priceless.
We saw a 1 inch tape of pre-Luxo Jr. Pixar animations and I saw a bata of the Hubley`s The Hat go by while I was sorting the boxes of videos from the boxes of paperwork. And the 35 mm and 16 mm, we haven`t even gotten into that yet. All of it saved from being broken up or thrown away. I feel good about myself today. I did something that has long-term meaning for the history of animation.
The Animation Rescue Team is a valuable part of the ASIFA-Hollywood Archive project and I feel proud to have had the idea of formalize what ASIFA-Hollywood has been doing for year and year and give our volunteers a team name.
I think that the ART volunteers should have t-shirts that marks them as members of an elite team. I am going to push real hard for the creation of such a T-shirt at the next board meeting. Then we can have a design contest for the logo. More on this when I am done making a pest of myself at the next board meeting.
¶ 8:48 AM
Saturday, May 21, 2005
Moving the Terry Thoren Collection
Jason Jones and Tom Sito just starting to load the truck with videos from the Terry Thoren donation from his years of running animation festivals. The films and 1 inch tapes will moved later. 10 ASIFA volunteers gave up their Saturday to move about half of this giant, one of a kind collection. Thank you volunteers and thank you Terry Thoren. My daughter forgives you for stealing her water pistol. ¶ 10:02 PM
Jason Jones and Tom Sito just starting to load the truck with videos from the Terry Thoren donation from his years of running animation festivals. The films and 1 inch tapes will moved later. 10 ASIFA volunteers gave up their Saturday to move about half of this giant, one of a kind collection. Thank you volunteers and thank you Terry Thoren. My daughter forgives you for stealing her water pistol. ¶ 10:02 PM
Paul Abramson, who got left out of last year`s Annie Program Book and said he would forgive us for the oversite if I made a big deal of his help on this move here on the ASIFA Blog. How`s that Paul? ¶ 9:53 PM
What we were moving: festival entries from the events that Terry Thoren held between the early 1970`s to around 2001 ¶ 9:48 PM
Paul Abramson, Jeff Price, Jason Jones, Pat Sito, Eric Graf, Tom Sito, (not in photo: Larry Loc taking photo, Steve Gattuso who had to run the gate at AFI, Will Ryan and Tom Knott) ¶ 9:41 PM
Shoot Out at the Roosevelt Pool
Well, I`m off to Klasky Csupo this morning to move boxes. Maybe I will find my daughter`s stolen green water pistol.
It was Saturday night of what was to be the last World Animation Celebration. The Klasky Csupo synchronized swimming team had just preformed in the shallow end of the Roosevelt hotel`s pool.
One of the vendors had been giving out water pistols and I had taken a red one for my son and a green one for my daughter (green is her color).
I was on the second floor and had just said goodbye to a friend from AXA and was heading home when Terry Thoren ran past chased by what must have been water pistol packing Klasky Csupo employees set on wetting him down.
As he passed me he said let me borrow that and snatched my daughter`s green water pistol from my right hand.
Terry, borrow means that you give it back. My daughter has been waiting for over 4 years without her water pistol. Today is your chance to return that stolen green water pistol to my heartbroken, teary eye, girl child. This is your chance to do the right thing. ¶ 7:51 AM
It was Saturday night of what was to be the last World Animation Celebration. The Klasky Csupo synchronized swimming team had just preformed in the shallow end of the Roosevelt hotel`s pool.
One of the vendors had been giving out water pistols and I had taken a red one for my son and a green one for my daughter (green is her color).
I was on the second floor and had just said goodbye to a friend from AXA and was heading home when Terry Thoren ran past chased by what must have been water pistol packing Klasky Csupo employees set on wetting him down.
As he passed me he said let me borrow that and snatched my daughter`s green water pistol from my right hand.
Terry, borrow means that you give it back. My daughter has been waiting for over 4 years without her water pistol. Today is your chance to return that stolen green water pistol to my heartbroken, teary eye, girl child. This is your chance to do the right thing. ¶ 7:51 AM
Friday, May 20, 2005
Cartoon Craze #14 - Available at Walmart - $1
These are all Schlesinger Merrie Melodies except for the Baby Huey filler that is on every other dollar DVD. I must have 20 copies of this im-Famous Studios clunker.
The transfers ranger from great to so-so. Clampett`s Falling Hare looks the best I have ever seen on a non Warners Box Set disk. They even minimize the jarring color shift after Bugs puts his finger on the hammer that has always driven me crazy.
But Tex Avery`s last Schlesinger cartoon All This and Rabbit Stew is muddy and faded in places.
The rest fall somewhere in between these two. Nothing too rare here. I have everything on this disk in my collection in VHS and some of it in much better transfer. Falling Hare is the find on this disk.
1. Falling Hare - 1943 - Clampett
2. Fresh Hare - 1942 - Freleng
3. All This and Rabbit Stew - 1941 - Tex Avery
4. The Case of the Missing Hare - 1942 - Chuck Jones
5. A Day at the Zoo - 1939 - Chuck Jones
6. Robin Hood Makes Good - 1939 - Chuck Jones
7. Pest Pupil - 1957 - (Baby Huey - Famous Studios)
8. Ding Dog Daddy - 1942 - Friz Freleng ¶ 6:21 AM
These are all Schlesinger Merrie Melodies except for the Baby Huey filler that is on every other dollar DVD. I must have 20 copies of this im-Famous Studios clunker.
The transfers ranger from great to so-so. Clampett`s Falling Hare looks the best I have ever seen on a non Warners Box Set disk. They even minimize the jarring color shift after Bugs puts his finger on the hammer that has always driven me crazy.
But Tex Avery`s last Schlesinger cartoon All This and Rabbit Stew is muddy and faded in places.
The rest fall somewhere in between these two. Nothing too rare here. I have everything on this disk in my collection in VHS and some of it in much better transfer. Falling Hare is the find on this disk.
1. Falling Hare - 1943 - Clampett
2. Fresh Hare - 1942 - Freleng
3. All This and Rabbit Stew - 1941 - Tex Avery
4. The Case of the Missing Hare - 1942 - Chuck Jones
5. A Day at the Zoo - 1939 - Chuck Jones
6. Robin Hood Makes Good - 1939 - Chuck Jones
7. Pest Pupil - 1957 - (Baby Huey - Famous Studios)
8. Ding Dog Daddy - 1942 - Friz Freleng ¶ 6:21 AM
Thursday, May 19, 2005
Move of Terry Thoren Donation
So here is the final word. The move of the Terry Thoren Donation has been moved back to Saturday, May 21, because Terry can not be with us on Sunday and we need Terry to get up on the lot.
The truck can not be picked up until 10 AM which dictates the starting time.
Everybody needs to be at Klasky Csupo (6353 Sunset Blvd. Hollywood, CA. 90028) 5 minutes before 11 AM. (10:55) That is the only way that we can get you on the lot.
I know this is going to put some of you out of the running and I know that we have the Fred Crippen thing at AFI which may knock some other people out. But if you can make it, we really need your help.
Thank You
Larry LocDirector, ASIFA-Hollywood Animation Rescue Team
Terry Thoren has just donated his festival files and videos to ASIFA-Hollywood. We are going to need voluneers to help move this stuff. In the message below Antran talks about Saturday the 21st, but because of the availablity of the truck it looks like the move is going to be on Sunday the 22nd. (WRONG - Saturday) We need to move 850 boxes of videos and festival files out of Klasky Csypo and into a truck. We need your help. Here is the text of the massage I got from Antran. More details like time and meeting place will be coming. If you can help give me a e-mail.
Larry Loc
larry@agni-animation.com
Thank You
The truck can not be picked up until 10 AM which dictates the starting time.
Everybody needs to be at Klasky Csupo (6353 Sunset Blvd. Hollywood, CA. 90028) 5 minutes before 11 AM. (10:55) That is the only way that we can get you on the lot.
I know this is going to put some of you out of the running and I know that we have the Fred Crippen thing at AFI which may knock some other people out. But if you can make it, we really need your help.
Thank You
Larry LocDirector, ASIFA-Hollywood Animation Rescue Team
Terry Thoren has just donated his festival files and videos to ASIFA-Hollywood. We are going to need voluneers to help move this stuff. In the message below Antran talks about Saturday the 21st, but because of the availablity of the truck it looks like the move is going to be on Sunday the 22nd. (WRONG - Saturday) We need to move 850 boxes of videos and festival files out of Klasky Csypo and into a truck. We need your help. Here is the text of the massage I got from Antran. More details like time and meeting place will be coming. If you can help give me a e-mail.
Larry Loc
larry@agni-animation.com
Thank You
===============Text of Antran`s massage=========¶ 2:19 PM
Hi Larry,
In speaking with Tom Knott yesterday, we need to plan on moving out this stuff on Saturday.
Therefore, we need to put the word out to the ART, to see about getting their assistance.
One of the keys to this operation, is finding a volunteer who would be willing to pick up the truck
from UHaul (Alameda & Victory) and drive it to Klasky Csupo (Sunset & Ivar), the location of the donation.
Since the storage facility is not open on the weekend, the truck will probably need to stay a Klasky Csupo over the weekend, then driven to Glendale early next week.
Another possibility would be to drive the truck back to Burbank on Saturday, after it was loaded. But I understand the weather is going to be very hot on Sunday. So I don't think it would be a very good idea having videotapes sitting in a truck out in the sun all weekend long.
That said, we should make sure that the truck can be parked somewhere in the shade at Klasky Csupo.
As Tom knows, I will be going out of town on Friday and won't be returning until Sunday evening. Therefore I won't be present during the move. Therefore, I am hoping that between yourself and
Tom, you can get this all organized and happening.
I will make the arrangements to rent the truck, and I will contact the storage facility to let them know that we will be bringing the materials to them sometime next week.
Thank you in advance for all your help. Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have questions.
Antran
Cartoon Craze Presents Felix the Cat Woos Whoopee:
1. Felix Woos Whoopee -1930
2. Felix in Forty-Winks - 1930
3. Felix in Arabiantics - 1928
4. Felix in False Vases - 1930
5. Felix theCat in Futuritzy - 1928
6. Felix in Sculls and Skulls - 1930
7. Felix the Cat in Outdoor Indore - 1928
All of these animations are either 1928 or 1930. Just before or just after Steamboat Willie brought sound into animation to stay. Pat Sullivan was living the high life and did not want to know for sound. Felix was/is the king of silent animation. He was too buzy running is house to see his train leave the station.
The transfers are very clean on all of the subjects. The problem is the sound. At some time in the life of these silent animations someone postdubbed in half assed sound that is very irritating. It would have been nice while restoring these Felix cartoons to restore them to their silent purity as well. Background soundtrack yes, stupid voices no. An okay view if you turn the sound off on your TV and put an old 78-RPM record on your antique turntable.
$1 at Walmart:
¶ 6:02 AM
Wednesday, May 18, 2005
Cartoon Craze
There is a new cheap DVD company in town. Digiview LLC www.digiviewus.com I am not sure where the town is but the DVD pressing is happening in China and Walmart is selling them at $1, a whole penny more then the 99 Cent Only Store.
Their Cartoon Craze series seemed to be licensed material instead of public domain films. Good stuff too.
The Van Beuren Aesop`s Fables Sound Cartoons are from the very early days of sound animation 1929 to 1931, with a 1932 Schlesinger Harman-Ising Bosko cartoon and a 1949 very sad Bill Tytla famous Studio Cartoon.
What makes the Tytla so sad is the recreation of the Dopey head slosh scene from Snow White in this over sweet Leprechaun`s Gold piece of do-do.
The 6 Van Beuren sound cartoons are from the same time period as their Tom and Jerry (not the cat and mouse) classics and shares the same surreal twisted point of view as the musical bean poll and his ball shaped friend.
- A Close Call 1929
- A Dizzy Day 1933 (very twisted)
- A Toytown Tale 1930
- Animal Fair 1931
- Circus Capers 1930
- Cinderella Blues 1931 (least twisted of the group)
- The Bosko is from 1932 and is named Yodeling Yokels
- Leprechaun`s Gold is from 1949 and is of the over sweet Famous style. A small price to pay for the other films.
The transfer is very good. The image is clean and clear and the sound is pristine. All and all a good buy and a nice job of restoring.
More reviews to follow:
Animation Archive Project
Those who are interested in the Animation Archive Project will want to attend the May Act of Membership meeting at 7pm on May 25th at the new ASIFA Animation Center on Burbank Bl. We will be discussing exciting news about the progress of the archive, and will be establishing committees to get the project underway. See you there!
ASIFA-Hollywood
Act of Membership Meeting
May 25th at 7pm
2114 West Burbank Bl
Burbank, CA 91505
Steve Worth
Director
ASIFA-Hollywood Animation Archive Project ¶ 9:32 PM
ASIFA-Hollywood
Act of Membership Meeting
May 25th at 7pm
2114 West Burbank Bl
Burbank, CA 91505
Steve Worth
Director
ASIFA-Hollywood Animation Archive Project ¶ 9:32 PM
The week coming up is insane:
- Tonight (May 18th)
An Evening with Joanna Priestley - Saturday (May 21st)
A Master Session with Fred Crippen AFI
& Martha Sigall World Book Tour San Diego - Monday (May 23rd)
Dream on Silly Dreamer
Masagasgar - I also have an ASIFA related meeting on the 24th but you don`t have to worry about that.
- Wednesay (May 25th)
Act of Membership Volunteer Meeting (7 PM 2114W. Burbank Blvd, Burbank)
E3 is going on all week and all the madness attached to that.
All the events listed are talked about in more detail further down this page.
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
Good Things Come From Blog
I have been feeling good of late. An article I wrote on these pages way back in December of last year Al Zinnen has sparked interest in the life and work of a forgotten Disney layout artist. I spent last week putting John Canemaker in touch with Al`s family.
To be truthful, John was already looking into the work of Disney layout artists when he found my reference but now he is thinking of doing another article just on Zinnen. And it makes me feel good that I had something to do with this coming to pass. ¶ 6:50 AM
To be truthful, John was already looking into the work of Disney layout artists when he found my reference but now he is thinking of doing another article just on Zinnen. And it makes me feel good that I had something to do with this coming to pass. ¶ 6:50 AM
Riding That Train
I read this great article yesterday over at Jim Hill Media. Then today I get a link from Kellie-Bea Cooper to the same article. It is about an act of kindness by John Lasetter to his mentor Ollie Johnston. Jim talks about the other motives of some of the side people in the story but the core of the story is about friendship and caring of one animator for the person that help train him. train
¶ 6:35 AM
Sunday, May 15, 2005
An Evening with Joanna Priestley
Wednesday May 18th - 7:30 pm
ASIFA-Hollywood presents
An Evening with Joanna Priestley
Jonanna Priestley In Person; Moderated by Craig Bartlett Indie Toon Queen Brings Innovation, Imagination and Squiggly Lines For Her Los Angeles Premiere!
"I Have Enjoyed Her Work for Years. You Have to See This!"
--Gus Van Sant
"She is the Queen of Independent Animation!"
--Bill Plympton
Acclaimed animator Joanna Priestley celebrates 20 years of innovative work as filmmaker with a retrospective screening of her best works at the American Cinematheque at the Egyptian Theatre on Wednesday, May 18 at 7:30. The event, which is co-sponsored by ASIFA-Hollywood, will include many of Priestley`s most acclaimed works including VOICES (1985), SHE-BOP (1988), GROWN UP (1993), UTOPIA PARKWAY(1997) and her newest short DEW LINE (2004) as well as a question-and-answer session moderated by Craig Bartlett, creator of the hit animated series Hey, Arnold! The evening will also include a new documentary short about how Priestley created her most recent and most cutting edge animated shorts.
Working out of her studio in Portland, Oregon, Joanna Priestley has created a career out of making truly independent and iconoclastic animated works that are deeply personal while being thoroughly universal. Using a wide variety of media sand, glass, candy, hands and paws, and more her animation is wickedly alive and full of depth and strangely organic motion. Eschewing traditional character animation in favor of exploring human behaviors in fascinating new ways, Priestley has created a bold look for her films, which have humorously and touchingly riffed on the range of human fears, the goddess within, prison life, the delights of turning 40, and the pitfalls of romance. Her recent work has grown more abstract and innovative, drawing inspiration from rural Spain, Yucatan dives, and the sculptor Joseph Cornell, among others.
Joanna Priestley has produced and directed 17 films, all of which have screened at top film festivals all over the world, including the New York Film Festival, the Sundance Film Festival, the Telluride Film Festival, just to name a few. In addition to her own animated films, Priestley has also created animation for wide variety of projects, ranging from "Sesame Street" to music videos for Tears for Fears ("Sowing the Seeds of Love") and Joni Mitchell ("Good Friends"). Joanna Priestley is the founding president of ASIFA-Northwest, and she runs an apprenticeship program through her studio in Portland, Oregon.
Wednesday May 18th - 7:30 pm
The American Cinehatheque
THE EGYPTIAN THEATRE
between Highland and Las Palmas
6712 Hollywood Blvd.
Hollywood, CA
For tickets and information, please visit the Cinematheque website or call 323/466.3456
TICKETS: $9 General; $7 Cinematheque and ASIFA-Hollywood Members. $7 Seniors (65+ years) and students with valid ID card. Must be shown at box office at time of purchase. ¶ 7:09 PM
ASIFA-Hollywood presents
An Evening with Joanna Priestley
Jonanna Priestley In Person; Moderated by Craig Bartlett Indie Toon Queen Brings Innovation, Imagination and Squiggly Lines For Her Los Angeles Premiere!
"I Have Enjoyed Her Work for Years. You Have to See This!"
--Gus Van Sant
"She is the Queen of Independent Animation!"
--Bill Plympton
Acclaimed animator Joanna Priestley celebrates 20 years of innovative work as filmmaker with a retrospective screening of her best works at the American Cinematheque at the Egyptian Theatre on Wednesday, May 18 at 7:30. The event, which is co-sponsored by ASIFA-Hollywood, will include many of Priestley`s most acclaimed works including VOICES (1985), SHE-BOP (1988), GROWN UP (1993), UTOPIA PARKWAY(1997) and her newest short DEW LINE (2004) as well as a question-and-answer session moderated by Craig Bartlett, creator of the hit animated series Hey, Arnold! The evening will also include a new documentary short about how Priestley created her most recent and most cutting edge animated shorts.
Working out of her studio in Portland, Oregon, Joanna Priestley has created a career out of making truly independent and iconoclastic animated works that are deeply personal while being thoroughly universal. Using a wide variety of media sand, glass, candy, hands and paws, and more her animation is wickedly alive and full of depth and strangely organic motion. Eschewing traditional character animation in favor of exploring human behaviors in fascinating new ways, Priestley has created a bold look for her films, which have humorously and touchingly riffed on the range of human fears, the goddess within, prison life, the delights of turning 40, and the pitfalls of romance. Her recent work has grown more abstract and innovative, drawing inspiration from rural Spain, Yucatan dives, and the sculptor Joseph Cornell, among others.
Joanna Priestley has produced and directed 17 films, all of which have screened at top film festivals all over the world, including the New York Film Festival, the Sundance Film Festival, the Telluride Film Festival, just to name a few. In addition to her own animated films, Priestley has also created animation for wide variety of projects, ranging from "Sesame Street" to music videos for Tears for Fears ("Sowing the Seeds of Love") and Joni Mitchell ("Good Friends"). Joanna Priestley is the founding president of ASIFA-Northwest, and she runs an apprenticeship program through her studio in Portland, Oregon.
Wednesday May 18th - 7:30 pm
The American Cinehatheque
THE EGYPTIAN THEATRE
between Highland and Las Palmas
6712 Hollywood Blvd.
Hollywood, CA
For tickets and information, please visit the Cinematheque website or call 323/466.3456
TICKETS: $9 General; $7 Cinematheque and ASIFA-Hollywood Members. $7 Seniors (65+ years) and students with valid ID card. Must be shown at box office at time of purchase. ¶ 7:09 PM
Saturday, May 14, 2005
Masagasgar Dreaming on a Saturday Afternoon
DreamWorks animation and ASIFA-Hollywood invite you and your family (limit 4) to a special screening of
MADAGASGAR
Directed by Eric Darnell & Tom McGrath
You may RSVP to 818/695-9021 for either screening. This invitation is non-transferable, and space is limited.
Reservations are taken on a first come, first serve basis.
Conflict:
Damn, I really want to see Masagasgar. It looks really good, but there is no way I am going to miss Dream on Silly Dreamer over at the Alex on the same night. I have my ticket for Dreamer.
I guess it won`t hurt me to pay for a animated movie like the rest of the world but I love the Q & A with the directors. So if you are not going to Dreamer with me there is another cool animation event on the 23rd that you might want to check out. And as a member of ASIFA-Hollywood you get in free. I`ll just have to see Masagasgar at the Spectrum 21 with natural animation fans (you know, kids and intellectuals )
¶ 3:34 PM
MADAGASGAR
Directed by Eric Darnell & Tom McGrath
May 23, 2005
Egyptian Theater
6712 Hollywood Blvd.
Hollywood, CA
7:30 p.m.
or
May 23, 2005
LCE Metreon Imax 16
101 4th St.
San Francisco, CA
7:30 p.m.
You may RSVP to 818/695-9021 for either screening. This invitation is non-transferable, and space is limited.
Reservations are taken on a first come, first serve basis.
Conflict:
Damn, I really want to see Masagasgar. It looks really good, but there is no way I am going to miss Dream on Silly Dreamer over at the Alex on the same night. I have my ticket for Dreamer.
I guess it won`t hurt me to pay for a animated movie like the rest of the world but I love the Q & A with the directors. So if you are not going to Dreamer with me there is another cool animation event on the 23rd that you might want to check out. And as a member of ASIFA-Hollywood you get in free. I`ll just have to see Masagasgar at the Spectrum 21 with natural animation fans (you know, kids and intellectuals )
¶ 3:34 PM
Friday, May 13, 2005
Theater Arts
I normally use this space to talk about animation. That makes sense since this is the International Animation Film Society page. True I did do a piece on the April Fools, but that is because my animator friend Aki is a member.
Today I will talk about live theater. Last night my family and I went to Cal State LA to see the Inaugural production at the SegWAY theatre. We had comps from Steve Rothman, my best friend from 8th grade on.
The show was Eyes For Consuela and it plays until Saturday. It stars Cliff De Young and strong cast of pro, student, and semi-pro actors. www.calstatela.edu/univ/calendar
So why am I talking about live theater? Am I trying to give a plug to a good friend? Yes! Am I going to try and make some connection between animation and theater? Okay, lets do that. The staging and set designs of this piece looked just like a 3-D UPA background. But the important thing is the way most good theater and most good animation trust the audience to be smart enough to figure it out without being spoon fed. A leason well worth learning. ¶ 7:35 AM
I normally use this space to talk about animation. That makes sense since this is the International Animation Film Society page. True I did do a piece on the April Fools, but that is because my animator friend Aki is a member.
Today I will talk about live theater. Last night my family and I went to Cal State LA to see the Inaugural production at the SegWAY theatre. We had comps from Steve Rothman, my best friend from 8th grade on.
The show was Eyes For Consuela and it plays until Saturday. It stars Cliff De Young and strong cast of pro, student, and semi-pro actors. www.calstatela.edu/univ/calendar
So why am I talking about live theater? Am I trying to give a plug to a good friend? Yes! Am I going to try and make some connection between animation and theater? Okay, lets do that. The staging and set designs of this piece looked just like a 3-D UPA background. But the important thing is the way most good theater and most good animation trust the audience to be smart enough to figure it out without being spoon fed. A leason well worth learning. ¶ 7:35 AM
Thursday, May 12, 2005
Martha Sigall World Book Tour
If you are in the San Diego area on May 21 you might want to stop on over to the Chuck Jones Gallery in Old Town San Diego.
2501 San Diego Ave.
Old Town
San Diego
2 PM to 4 PM
Be sure to RSVP to 1-888-294-9880 (space is limited)
http://www.chuckjones.com/events.php
- Martha will also be at the Grand Opening of the new Chuck Jones Gallery at Fashion Island (Laguna Beach - Orange County) on the afternoon of June 4th more details as I get them.
- Martha will also be at San Diego Comic Con this year for ASIFA. More details when I get those too.
The Art of Animation Timing:
hosted by Amid Amidi
Join animation legend Fred Crippen (creator of Roger Ramjet) for a retrospective of his work and thought-provoking seminar on animation timing. In between the films, Fred will discuss the methods and ideas behind his animation style and offer insights into his intuitive and most innovative cartoon timing style.
Films from all eras of Crippen's animation career will be screened:
- UPA shorts from the Fifties
- Roger Ramjet episodes from the Sixties
- Sesame Street spots from the Seventies
- Plus short films, graphic
- projects with Saul Bass, unaired TV pilots and more!
Saturday May 21st - 3:00pm
The American Film Institute
TED ASHLEY/WARNER BROS. SCREENING ROOM
2021 N. Western Ave.
Hollywood, CA
Tink Talks
Welcome to Tinker Bell Talks, the official web site of Margaret Kerry, the original alter-ego, actor and reference model for the famous pixie from Walt Disney's Peter Pan. ASIFA-Hollywood`s own Tinker Bell has joined the web community with her official web site.
tinktalks ¶ 7:17 AM
tinktalks ¶ 7:17 AM
State of the Site Report
In the words of the late great gonzo reporter: when the times get weird the weird turn pro. We have had 12,000 site visits 16,556 Page Views. Most of them are since I took over the blog back in October of last year.
Asifa-Hollywood Blog
(sm5asifablog)
Site Summary
Visits
Total 12,001
Strange things have come out of the writing of this blog. This week I have had John Canemaker contacting me for information on a Disney layout artist which I was able to find for him. He never would have known that I had that information setting on my backup disks if I had not made mention of it on this site.
This last week too I had a student from a very good East Coast animation school contact me to do an interview for a class report. Why he wanted to talk to me is anybody`s guess.
I have found that if you mention the KGB on the Internet the number of hits from GOV servers goes way up. Strangely enough, and I am really not trying to make a connection here, but the mention of Twentieth Century Fox on the site increases the visits from the Fox server.
I suspect Internet search robots are at the bottom of the above phenomena, but if the stats are slipping I know the subjects to address in these pages.
I have found sites in Germany and Australia linked to articles I have written. I have been contacted by people with artwork that they were trying to link to an animation artist. This site has been linked to by other animation news sites. All and all a very strange ride. So stay with us for the next 12,000 visits. ¶ 6:33 AM
Asifa-Hollywood Blog
(sm5asifablog)
Site Summary
Visits
Total 12,001
Strange things have come out of the writing of this blog. This week I have had John Canemaker contacting me for information on a Disney layout artist which I was able to find for him. He never would have known that I had that information setting on my backup disks if I had not made mention of it on this site.
This last week too I had a student from a very good East Coast animation school contact me to do an interview for a class report. Why he wanted to talk to me is anybody`s guess.
I have found that if you mention the KGB on the Internet the number of hits from GOV servers goes way up. Strangely enough, and I am really not trying to make a connection here, but the mention of Twentieth Century Fox on the site increases the visits from the Fox server.
I suspect Internet search robots are at the bottom of the above phenomena, but if the stats are slipping I know the subjects to address in these pages.
I have found sites in Germany and Australia linked to articles I have written. I have been contacted by people with artwork that they were trying to link to an animation artist. This site has been linked to by other animation news sites. All and all a very strange ride. So stay with us for the next 12,000 visits. ¶ 6:33 AM
Wednesday, May 11, 2005
Annie Footage Wanted
Tom Sito and Kellie-Bea Cooper are heading up a group that is looking for photos, audio tape, video, 16 mm 8 mm or any oher kind of coverage of past Annie ceremonies so that they can create a highlight Annies reel for next year`s award show.
If you have any footage of any kind please contact:
Kellie-Bea Cooper
If anyone has stuff to send (which they will get back) they can mail it to:
If you have any footage of any kind please contact:
Kellie-Bea Cooper
If anyone has stuff to send (which they will get back) they can mail it to:
Kellie-Bea Cooper¶ 4:54 AM
1355 Cordova Ave.
Glendale, CA 91207
Calling all Short Filmmakers!
Here is an update on The Nicktoons Film Festival:
My name is Melissa Wolfe and I work at Frederator Studios in Burbank, CA. We are currently producing "Nextoons: The Nicktoons Film Festival in conjunction with Radar Cartoons and Nicktoons Network. It is the first ever all animated film festival on a digital network.¶ 4:48 AM
In as few words as possible, we`re looking for the best 10-minute-or-less, completed animated shorts you have to offer. Feel free to submit any medium of animation, be it Flash, traditional
cel, or CG. Shorts must have been completed after January 2001. The last day to submit films for consideration is: June 17, 2005, and the Grand Prize winner will receive $10,000! Last year`s grand prize went to Mark Simon and Travis Blaise for "Timmy`s Lessons in Nature".
I have included a link to the Festival Site which will provide you with more details on the competition, as well as a Festival Entry Form and Festival Agreement.
http://www.nick.com/all_nick/nicktoons/site/filmfest/index.html
Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions regarding submissions. We look forward to hearing from you, and screening your work. Best of luck to everyone!
Sincerely,
Melissa Wolfe
Nextoons
Festival Coordinator
http://www.frederator.kz/
Tuesday, May 10, 2005
Torror, Treasures and Garage Sale Toys
Here we are at the first day of E3 and I am setting this day out. Gas and parking prices. Last year I saw parking prices as high as $40. I was going to get out the ear plugs (not joking here) and give today a try but my to-do list is much too long. My main website got hit by a Russian hacker yesterday, which is why I was not here to write to you and everything just spilled all over the rest of the week.
Yesterday was hell and it knocked over all my plans for today to the point that I am not going to even get to animate, which was what I should be doing. The good think is that I got my ticket for Dream On Silly Dreamer in the mail. I have been dyeing to see this documentary. (See Below)
Speaking of Disney, their Treasures series really is filled with treasures. I just picked up the Behind The Scenes 2 disk set that I missed when first came out. I was a fool not to buy all of them when they first hit the store. Do I really need to eat?
It is great to have a copy of Baby Weems in such pristine condition. The Disneyland TV show was truly wonder-filled. I picked my copy up new off of Amazon at a reduced price that covered shipping. Really great stuff here. I’ve got to get the rest of them!
Below is a little sample of what I have been up to and why I have not been blogging every single day:
Still needs some color correction on the shadow on the wall. But starting to get there.
My wife scored big at a garage sale last Saturday. Since we are not willing to eat hamburgers this is the only way we poor veggy ever gets these cool toys. ¶ 11:20 AM
Yesterday was hell and it knocked over all my plans for today to the point that I am not going to even get to animate, which was what I should be doing. The good think is that I got my ticket for Dream On Silly Dreamer in the mail. I have been dyeing to see this documentary. (See Below)
Speaking of Disney, their Treasures series really is filled with treasures. I just picked up the Behind The Scenes 2 disk set that I missed when first came out. I was a fool not to buy all of them when they first hit the store. Do I really need to eat?
It is great to have a copy of Baby Weems in such pristine condition. The Disneyland TV show was truly wonder-filled. I picked my copy up new off of Amazon at a reduced price that covered shipping. Really great stuff here. I’ve got to get the rest of them!
Below is a little sample of what I have been up to and why I have not been blogging every single day:
Still needs some color correction on the shadow on the wall. But starting to get there.
My wife scored big at a garage sale last Saturday. Since we are not willing to eat hamburgers this is the only way we poor veggy ever gets these cool toys. ¶ 11:20 AM
Sunday, May 08, 2005
Thoughts on Art and Artists
Joe Grant died at his drawing board just shy of his 97 birthday. I have been thinking about that fact since I first read about it. If an artist has got to go, and face it we all do sometime, dyeing at the drawing board is the way we would choose.
It speaks to the relationship between the artist and their work. It is not just a job something we do for money. Which may be why artists tend to live long lives. There are much better ways to get money that the path of art. We that follow this path do so because it is the only thing that makes us happy.
The good artist are all about the process, the act of creation. Joe Grant was, without a doubt, one of the great artist of his time.
I am reminded of the story that comic book artist, Tex Blaisdell, use to tell about the death of his friend and colleague Rube Goldberg. Rube died the slow painful death of cancer. On his last night on earth he was setting at his drawing board penciling a page.
Mrs. Goldberg wanted him to go to bed You`re not going to live to finish that page! She didn`t get it. It is not about the finished product, or even finishing the page, it is about the process. Rube wanted to die the way he lived.
Rube told his wife, Tex can finish this page. (Tex Blaisdell was famous for being able to copy anybody`s style) Mrs. Goldberg told this to Tex at Rube`s funeral but she never asked Tex to ink that page so maybe she did understand that it wasn`t about the finished product, it was about the love of drawing even in the face of death.
I am saddened by the passing of Joe Grant but he went the way every artist wants to go, at the drawing board doing what he loved to do. I guess what really saddens me is that he has put his direct mark on his last film. ¶ 8:28 PM
It speaks to the relationship between the artist and their work. It is not just a job something we do for money. Which may be why artists tend to live long lives. There are much better ways to get money that the path of art. We that follow this path do so because it is the only thing that makes us happy.
The good artist are all about the process, the act of creation. Joe Grant was, without a doubt, one of the great artist of his time.
I am reminded of the story that comic book artist, Tex Blaisdell, use to tell about the death of his friend and colleague Rube Goldberg. Rube died the slow painful death of cancer. On his last night on earth he was setting at his drawing board penciling a page.
Mrs. Goldberg wanted him to go to bed You`re not going to live to finish that page! She didn`t get it. It is not about the finished product, or even finishing the page, it is about the process. Rube wanted to die the way he lived.
Rube told his wife, Tex can finish this page. (Tex Blaisdell was famous for being able to copy anybody`s style) Mrs. Goldberg told this to Tex at Rube`s funeral but she never asked Tex to ink that page so maybe she did understand that it wasn`t about the finished product, it was about the love of drawing even in the face of death.
I am saddened by the passing of Joe Grant but he went the way every artist wants to go, at the drawing board doing what he loved to do. I guess what really saddens me is that he has put his direct mark on his last film. ¶ 8:28 PM
Saturday, May 07, 2005
The Passing Of a Giant
Pause a moment to acknowledge a legend who has just left us. JOE GRANT died Friday afternoon May 6th. Joe Grant (born 1908) was a story artist, writer and character designer who contributed to every Disney film from THREE LITTLE PIGS (1934), to the INCREDIBLES (2004). Joe was a major contributor to DUMBO, FANTASIA, SNOW WHITE and had a cocker spaniel named LADY from which LADY & The TRAMP derived.
He retired from Walt Disney in 1949 to start his own graphic design firm. He returned to Walt Disney Feature Animation in 1992 to resume work on story. He contributed his expertise to ALADDIN, POCAHONTAS, TOY STORY I & II and FANTASIA 2000. He named the film MONSTERS INC, which before had been called SCAREY MONSTERS. Joe possessed the gentle humor that was quintessentially Disney,- simple, visual and witty without becoming maudlin.
Living and working to just short of his 97th birthday, he had amazing clarity and health. He was what Frederick Back referred to as "one of God`s athletes." Joe died the death all artists would desire. At his drawing board, pencil in hand. Plans for a memorial will be forthcoming.
Tom Sito ¶ 4:51 PM
He retired from Walt Disney in 1949 to start his own graphic design firm. He returned to Walt Disney Feature Animation in 1992 to resume work on story. He contributed his expertise to ALADDIN, POCAHONTAS, TOY STORY I & II and FANTASIA 2000. He named the film MONSTERS INC, which before had been called SCAREY MONSTERS. Joe possessed the gentle humor that was quintessentially Disney,- simple, visual and witty without becoming maudlin.
Living and working to just short of his 97th birthday, he had amazing clarity and health. He was what Frederick Back referred to as "one of God`s athletes." Joe died the death all artists would desire. At his drawing board, pencil in hand. Plans for a memorial will be forthcoming.
Tom Sito ¶ 4:51 PM
Friday, May 06, 2005
Los Angeles Premiere of Dream On, Silly Dreamer 5/23
This just in from Tom Sito:
Once upon a time, more than 1300 animators worked for the Walt Disney
Company. They did not live happily ever after...
The long-awaited Los Angeles Premiere of Dan Lund and Tony West's short
documentary, Dream On, Silly Dreamer, will be held Monday, May 23rd at the
Alex Theater in Glendale, CA. The screening will be at 8:00 PM.
Tickets are $7:00, and can be purchased at the box office or via the Alex
Theater website as of Noon, Thursday, 5/05/05. Phone orders: call
818-243-ALEX (2539). Seating is not guaranteed.
A cash bar will open at 6:30PM in the Alex forecourt.
Alex Theatre
216 North Brand Boulevard
Glendale, CA 91203-2610.
818-243-ALEX (2539)
DREAM ON, SILLY DREAMER features recollections by the creative force behind
the classic hand-drawn animated films of Walt Disney Feature Animation's
modern era -- the animators themselves. The documentary was Written,
Directed & Edited by Dan Lund and Produced by Tony West, both former
animators from the Disney Studios.
This live action/animation documentary short subject tells the story that
began March 25th, 2002 when more than 200 Disney artists working at the
studio's legendary Feature Animation Department in Burbank were told that
their services were no longer needed by the Company. As these events were
replayed at Disney's other animation studios in Paris, Tokyo and Florida,
doors were closed for good and in total nearly `300 skilled artists and
craftsmen were fired. The Walt Disney Company, best known for its
handcrafted animated features, no longer wanted these highly-skilled
traditional animation artists to draw for them.
In this documentary, you will meet a handful of these artists, hear their
side of the story and share in their recollections of "the good old days,"
from the thrilling rise to the tragic fall of Disney Feature Animation. An
artist's sketchbook becomes the viewer's window into this documentary realm
with original, animated vignettes helping to tell a side of the story that
the world has not heard. This film will touch anyone who has ever dreamed,
believed in fairy tales, wished upon a star or shared in a special Disney
moment.
SaveDisney commends this remarkable film and we heartily recommend it to
everyone who cares deeply about the Disney legacy. Click here to read
Merlin Jones' review of Dream On, Silly Dreamer and view a trailer on the
Dreamer website.
"I have to say how very human a face it puts on an institutional tragedy.
Thanks to Tony and Dan for bringing a tear or three to this eye - it should
be seen by all those who still believe in the magic of Disney." - Roy E.
Disney
---------------------------------
WestLund Inc. presents "DREAM ON SILLY DREAMER", Produced by Tony West.
Written, Directed and Edited by Dan Lund with an Original Score by Mike
Brassell and Kuno Schmid. Technical Lead and CG Animation by Jamie
Kirschenbaum. Narrator, Richard Cook.
Based on the experiences of Disney Animation artists with recollections by
Thomas Baker, Joel Biske, Paul Briggs, John Cashman, Merry Clingen, Ed
Coffeey, Barry Cook, Andreas Deja, Brian Ferguson, Larry Flores, Kris
Heller, David Karp, Dorse Lanpher, Susan Lantz, James Mansfield, Mauro
Maressa, Derrick McKenzie, Joey Mildenberger, Michael Montgomery, Sue
Nichols, Sean Ramirez, Jacqueline Sanchez, Carmen Sanderson, John Tucker,
Dougg Williams, Garret Wren.
With the voice talents of James Harris, Kelly Hoover, John Tucker and Tyler
Jones as "The Dreamer."
(Please forward this message to other former Disney Feature Animation
alumni and supporters) ¶ 2:26 AM
Once upon a time, more than 1300 animators worked for the Walt Disney
Company. They did not live happily ever after...
The long-awaited Los Angeles Premiere of Dan Lund and Tony West's short
documentary, Dream On, Silly Dreamer, will be held Monday, May 23rd at the
Alex Theater in Glendale, CA. The screening will be at 8:00 PM.
Tickets are $7:00, and can be purchased at the box office or via the Alex
Theater website as of Noon, Thursday, 5/05/05. Phone orders: call
818-243-ALEX (2539). Seating is not guaranteed.
A cash bar will open at 6:30PM in the Alex forecourt.
Alex Theatre
216 North Brand Boulevard
Glendale, CA 91203-2610.
818-243-ALEX (2539)
DREAM ON, SILLY DREAMER features recollections by the creative force behind
the classic hand-drawn animated films of Walt Disney Feature Animation's
modern era -- the animators themselves. The documentary was Written,
Directed & Edited by Dan Lund and Produced by Tony West, both former
animators from the Disney Studios.
This live action/animation documentary short subject tells the story that
began March 25th, 2002 when more than 200 Disney artists working at the
studio's legendary Feature Animation Department in Burbank were told that
their services were no longer needed by the Company. As these events were
replayed at Disney's other animation studios in Paris, Tokyo and Florida,
doors were closed for good and in total nearly `300 skilled artists and
craftsmen were fired. The Walt Disney Company, best known for its
handcrafted animated features, no longer wanted these highly-skilled
traditional animation artists to draw for them.
In this documentary, you will meet a handful of these artists, hear their
side of the story and share in their recollections of "the good old days,"
from the thrilling rise to the tragic fall of Disney Feature Animation. An
artist's sketchbook becomes the viewer's window into this documentary realm
with original, animated vignettes helping to tell a side of the story that
the world has not heard. This film will touch anyone who has ever dreamed,
believed in fairy tales, wished upon a star or shared in a special Disney
moment.
SaveDisney commends this remarkable film and we heartily recommend it to
everyone who cares deeply about the Disney legacy. Click here to read
Merlin Jones' review of Dream On, Silly Dreamer and view a trailer on the
Dreamer website.
"I have to say how very human a face it puts on an institutional tragedy.
Thanks to Tony and Dan for bringing a tear or three to this eye - it should
be seen by all those who still believe in the magic of Disney." - Roy E.
Disney
---------------------------------
WestLund Inc. presents "DREAM ON SILLY DREAMER", Produced by Tony West.
Written, Directed and Edited by Dan Lund with an Original Score by Mike
Brassell and Kuno Schmid. Technical Lead and CG Animation by Jamie
Kirschenbaum. Narrator, Richard Cook.
Based on the experiences of Disney Animation artists with recollections by
Thomas Baker, Joel Biske, Paul Briggs, John Cashman, Merry Clingen, Ed
Coffeey, Barry Cook, Andreas Deja, Brian Ferguson, Larry Flores, Kris
Heller, David Karp, Dorse Lanpher, Susan Lantz, James Mansfield, Mauro
Maressa, Derrick McKenzie, Joey Mildenberger, Michael Montgomery, Sue
Nichols, Sean Ramirez, Jacqueline Sanchez, Carmen Sanderson, John Tucker,
Dougg Williams, Garret Wren.
With the voice talents of James Harris, Kelly Hoover, John Tucker and Tyler
Jones as "The Dreamer."
(Please forward this message to other former Disney Feature Animation
alumni and supporters) ¶ 2:26 AM
Friday Catch Up
It is that time of year, I am making lists again, lists of things to remember to do, Comic Con is upon me. To tell the truth I have been hitting up people to be guests on our panels since January, but now it is really starting to heat up.
Stole yesterday to work on my animation. Got to work fast, comic con is going to bury it if I don`t get a move on.
The board has just scheduled the first Annie meeting to start getting ready for the 2005 Annies. This year is screaming on down the road.
It is great to see some movement on the Archive project. It has taken so much work to get here and it is not moving fast enough for me but it has got to go one step at a time to do it right. Money, money, money, money! as the Incredibles` Rick Dicker says.
Months and months of going through the archives and scanning it into the system, this is what I have been waiting for. The fun part. This is what Bill Scott envisioned all those years ago. But we need a couple of thousand dollars more to get phase one off the ground so I can get to look at all the cool stuff we have been squirreling away all these years. So you can get to look at it.
How cool is that, to have big chunk of animation history in an easy to search virtual archive. To be able to call up the History of Animaiton and look at it on the screen.
Animation History is not just a class I teach to want-to-be animators. It is people and the artifacts that they leave behind. The big studios do a good job of keeping track of their history. But what about the animators and story-people, the inkers and painters, the small studios that come and go, who is keeping track of the individual people that make the magic?
That is what this project is about, the individuals that are animation history. Every year we gather at the DeMille Barn and we say farewell to our comrades in art. Do not go silent into that goodnight.
If you have a few dollars you can kick in to help build a lasting memory of the art form that we all love, I know that times are tough and the economy is a mess and doing what you love does not always pay that much . . . enough said. All the relatives on my mother`s side of the family were ministers and sometimes I channel some of them, but it is a good cause.
Scooter Milne and I are moving forward on plans for some kind of Stop Mo Expo for the Fall. Should be fun. Not sure what form it will take but got some ideas on who we want on the panels. ¶ 2:05 AM
Stole yesterday to work on my animation. Got to work fast, comic con is going to bury it if I don`t get a move on.
The board has just scheduled the first Annie meeting to start getting ready for the 2005 Annies. This year is screaming on down the road.
It is great to see some movement on the Archive project. It has taken so much work to get here and it is not moving fast enough for me but it has got to go one step at a time to do it right. Money, money, money, money! as the Incredibles` Rick Dicker says.
Months and months of going through the archives and scanning it into the system, this is what I have been waiting for. The fun part. This is what Bill Scott envisioned all those years ago. But we need a couple of thousand dollars more to get phase one off the ground so I can get to look at all the cool stuff we have been squirreling away all these years. So you can get to look at it.
How cool is that, to have big chunk of animation history in an easy to search virtual archive. To be able to call up the History of Animaiton and look at it on the screen.
Animation History is not just a class I teach to want-to-be animators. It is people and the artifacts that they leave behind. The big studios do a good job of keeping track of their history. But what about the animators and story-people, the inkers and painters, the small studios that come and go, who is keeping track of the individual people that make the magic?
That is what this project is about, the individuals that are animation history. Every year we gather at the DeMille Barn and we say farewell to our comrades in art. Do not go silent into that goodnight.
If you have a few dollars you can kick in to help build a lasting memory of the art form that we all love, I know that times are tough and the economy is a mess and doing what you love does not always pay that much . . . enough said. All the relatives on my mother`s side of the family were ministers and sometimes I channel some of them, but it is a good cause.
Scooter Milne and I are moving forward on plans for some kind of Stop Mo Expo for the Fall. Should be fun. Not sure what form it will take but got some ideas on who we want on the panels. ¶ 2:05 AM
Thursday, May 05, 2005
Animation Archive Project is ready to roll!
Thanks to the help of all of our contributors, and the generous support of Sony Pictures Classics and the Walter Lantz Foundation, we have just placed the order for our main computer for the Animation Archive. For those of you who are tech savvy, here are the specifications...
Macintosh G5 2.7 ghz dual processor
2 gigs of RAM
Two 400 gig hard drives
16x dual layer DVD burner
30 inch high definition flatscreen cinema display
We are very close to being able to purchase the three workstation iMacs. All we need to reach our fundraising goal for the first stage of the project is a few thousand dollars. We're so close we can smell it!
I'll post pictures of the equipment as soon as we receive it and set it up at the Animation Center in Burbank. I will be addressing the Act of Membership meeting at the end of May about volunteer opportunities with the archives. Please come on down and learn how you can help.
Thanks
Stephen Worth
Director
ASIFA-Hollywood Animation Archive ¶ 11:32 AM
Macintosh G5 2.7 ghz dual processor
2 gigs of RAM
Two 400 gig hard drives
16x dual layer DVD burner
30 inch high definition flatscreen cinema display
We are very close to being able to purchase the three workstation iMacs. All we need to reach our fundraising goal for the first stage of the project is a few thousand dollars. We're so close we can smell it!
I'll post pictures of the equipment as soon as we receive it and set it up at the Animation Center in Burbank. I will be addressing the Act of Membership meeting at the end of May about volunteer opportunities with the archives. Please come on down and learn how you can help.
Thanks
Stephen Worth
Director
ASIFA-Hollywood Animation Archive ¶ 11:32 AM
Wednesday, May 04, 2005
Did ya miss me???? probably not....
So I'm here again. Alive and kicking. I've been running around for the past few months like I never have.
I've finally completed a rough draft of the Annie Awards Archive DvD. But it's enough to bring back the memories.
This years Annies was my first attendance and also as the Director of the archive video. What a way to show up! To think we're still talking about the Annies. Shoot I can't wait for next years!
As I'm going through all the footage, seeing everyone out there in there Sunday's best. It brought back the laughs, the smiles, and the heart warming moments of what it means to each an everyone to win a major award. How many times can I watch Sponge Bob try to make out Bill Fagerboke and drop his pants on stage. Or listen to all the amazing speaches that we all heard that night. Wow. People I saw on the video having a blast. Many people I really didn't know, by face that is. It was amazing to see the talent that makes up the animation and film industry, Tv too!
I started this video montage with keeping it only 5 minutes long, but then it kept growing and growing. "I can't not put that in there"" oh that's a good one too". It's a good thing I didn't have any time restraints on how long it could be. I wish I could have fit everyone. But none the less we have some great moments I will never forget! ¶ 10:36 PM
I've finally completed a rough draft of the Annie Awards Archive DvD. But it's enough to bring back the memories.
This years Annies was my first attendance and also as the Director of the archive video. What a way to show up! To think we're still talking about the Annies. Shoot I can't wait for next years!
As I'm going through all the footage, seeing everyone out there in there Sunday's best. It brought back the laughs, the smiles, and the heart warming moments of what it means to each an everyone to win a major award. How many times can I watch Sponge Bob try to make out Bill Fagerboke and drop his pants on stage. Or listen to all the amazing speaches that we all heard that night. Wow. People I saw on the video having a blast. Many people I really didn't know, by face that is. It was amazing to see the talent that makes up the animation and film industry, Tv too!
I started this video montage with keeping it only 5 minutes long, but then it kept growing and growing. "I can't not put that in there"" oh that's a good one too". It's a good thing I didn't have any time restraints on how long it could be. I wish I could have fit everyone. But none the less we have some great moments I will never forget! ¶ 10:36 PM
Tuesday, May 03, 2005
Yesterday I spent the whole day working on my animation so I did not really put much on this page. Monday I am walking down the hall cutting through a group of computer labs looking for an open room of rest.
Students grabbed me, thank god after I got to use the little animator`s room.
We want you to voice a character.
And that character is?
Well, it is you! You know that you are a character in our animation.
I did know that. In fact that is what set me off on my latest animation. They handed me a script and a mic and I nailed a Larry Loc impression on the first try. The last time I was in a student`s animation I did my voice too.
You know, if I get enough students out there in the industry, there just might be a voice acting career out there for me?
Wednesday, May 4th is the ASIFA Board meeting, 7 PM at the new Animation Center. (2114 W. Burbank Blvd) The board meeting is open to the membership.
¶ 10:31 PM
We Need Your Help!
ASIFA-Hollywood is getting close to reaching its fundraising goal for the first phase of the Animation Archive Project. Just a few thousand dollars is all we need to put us in a position to be able to purchase the equipment necessary to implement the archive in the new ASIFA Animation Center in Burbank. If you are able to, now is the time to help us push the fundraising figure over the top and get the project started. Please send your donations large and small to...
ASIFA-Hollywood
Attn: Animation Archive Project
2114 West Burbank Bl
Burbank, CA 91505
All donations flagged for use by the Animation Archive Project will be used to establish the world's first virtual archive dedicated to animation. Please join us in helping to create this exciting project.
Stephen Worth
Director
ASIFA-Hollywood
Animation Archive ¶ 8:04 PM
ASIFA-Hollywood
Attn: Animation Archive Project
2114 West Burbank Bl
Burbank, CA 91505
All donations flagged for use by the Animation Archive Project will be used to establish the world's first virtual archive dedicated to animation. Please join us in helping to create this exciting project.
Stephen Worth
Director
ASIFA-Hollywood
Animation Archive ¶ 8:04 PM
Monday, May 02, 2005
Sin City Digital Noir
The Los Angeles Professional Chapter of ACM SIGGRAPH
Presents:
Journey Into Sin City: Creation of Digital Noir
Tuesday, May 10, 2005
SPEAKERS:
The Orphanage
The event is free to Los Angeles ACM SIGGRAPH members and $15 for non-members. New members that sign up on site and pay the $35 annual membership fee (checks or cash only) do not have to pay the $15 fee.
DUE TO THE GRAPHIC NATURE OF SIN CITY, NO ONE UNDER 17 WILL BE ADMITTED. NO EXCEPTIONS. PLEASE BRING ID.
For updates on this meeting go to www.la.siggraph.org ¶ 8:35 PM
Presents:
Journey Into Sin City: Creation of Digital Noir
Tuesday, May 10, 2005
SPEAKERS:
The Orphanage
- Ryan Tudhope, Visual Effects Supervisor
- Mike Terpstra, Senior Visual Effects Artist
- Jonathan Harman, Matte Painter/Technical Director
Cafe FX
- Everett Burell Visual Effects Supervisor
- Jeff Goldman, Visual Effects Supervisor
- Akira Orikasa, 3D Generalist
- Domenic DiGiorgio, Animation Supervisor
Key contributors from The Orphanage and Cafe FX, creators of a substantial portion of the visual effects for the film Sin City, will illustrate computer graphics and animation techniques used in bringing Robert Rodriguez's adaptation of the Frank Miller graphic novels to life.
PROGRAM:
6:30-7:30 P.M. Social Hour - Free Hors d'oeuvres and beverages
7:30-9:30 P.M. Sin City Program
Members will be given priority entrance from 6:30-7:00 P.M.
LOCATION:
Digital Cinema Laboratory
at the Pacific Hollywood Theatre
6433 Hollywood Blvd.
Hollywood, CA 90028
DIRECTIONS / PARKING:
FEES / REGISTRATION:
- From the 101 freeway take the Cahuenga Blvd. exit
- Turn Right (South) on Cahuenga Blvd.
- Turn Right onto Hollywood Blvd.
- The Pacific Hollywood Theatre is on the corner of Wilcox and Hollywood
Parking lots are available both North and South of Hollywood Blvd. on Wilcox and Cahuenga,
including behind the theater. Rates vary from $5 to $7. Street parking may also be available.
The event is free to Los Angeles ACM SIGGRAPH members and $15 for non-members. New members that sign up on site and pay the $35 annual membership fee (checks or cash only) do not have to pay the $15 fee.
DUE TO THE GRAPHIC NATURE OF SIN CITY, NO ONE UNDER 17 WILL BE ADMITTED. NO EXCEPTIONS. PLEASE BRING ID.
For updates on this meeting go to www.la.siggraph.org ¶ 8:35 PM
Sunday, May 01, 2005
Scrappy-ly Ever After
Saturday, April 30th was Scrappyland day at AFI. The heavy hitters in the animation history and animation world showed up to see new 35 mm prints of the hard to find Columbia Pictures` Scrappy cartoons.
Two of the cartoons had not been seen since their theater release 70 years ago.
Thank you to Jerry Beck, Harry McCracken, Dr. Richard Huemer, Michael Schlesinger, Columbia Pictures and AFI for making this event happen. ¶ 3:33 PM
Saturday, April 30th was Scrappyland day at AFI. The heavy hitters in the animation history and animation world showed up to see new 35 mm prints of the hard to find Columbia Pictures` Scrappy cartoons.
Two of the cartoons had not been seen since their theater release 70 years ago.
Thank you to Jerry Beck, Harry McCracken, Dr. Richard Huemer, Michael Schlesinger, Columbia Pictures and AFI for making this event happen. ¶ 3:33 PM
