A few months back Lineboil interviewed Dean Lennert about his quest to finish his traditionally animated short film, Dear Anna Olson, , which is a story based on a true life experience, about a lonely woman in a nursing home, who reaches out to the world by tying notes to balloons, and letting them go out her window. The film follows a red balloon released by Anna, as it passes on to three other characters, who are experiencing their own form of personal isolation.
They’re following up with this post to show out support for Dean and getting the film finished by letting you all know that, Dear Anna Olson has been accepted as part of the PEPSI REFRESH EVERYTHING Project for a possible $25K grant! When you go to the Refresh Everything link for Dean’s film, you can check out some clips, get info about the film, as well as information on how he plans on using the grant money to finish the film. All you need to do is cast your vote, which you can do ONCE DAILY throughout the month, to show your support.
Voting ends May 31st, so go VOTE, and good luck to Dean!
Holm Helms In A Nut Shell at CalArts
The CalArts final films keep pouring into the web. Here’s Ben Holm’s traditionally-animated 1st year film, titled In A Nut Shell. Quite an impressive start to his career, no?
SD Comic-Con’s Obscene Exhibitor Badge Price Increase
Artwork by Jeff Pidgeon
The San Diego Comic-Con is pushing forward with its misguided agenda of appeasing corporate interests at the expense of alienating the indie comic and animation community. Their latest bone-headed move is to increase the price of additional exhibitor Comic-Con badges to $200 each, up from $75 last year. As anybody who has ever exhibited at Comic-Con can tell you, artists typically don’t earn truckloads of money at the event, and when all the costs of booth rental, travel, and lodging are factored in, the obscene $200 exhibitor badge essentially guarantees that an independent artist will leave the convention empty-handed.
Considering the Comic-Con is a non-profit, it is inexcusable to increase the price of additional exhibitor badges by 266% in one year. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the artistic community is deserting the Comic-Con in record numbers. Even successful independent artists are fed up, like Flight and Amulet creator Kazu Kibuishi, who noted on Twitter today:
“This will likely be our last Comic-Con with a Flight booth. Will continue to attend the show, but as an author, not a booth manager.”
Comic-Con’s strong-arming of the indie comic and animation community only lends credence to the viability of a West Coast Creator-Con, especially one that isn’t operated by the Comic-Con organizers themselves. Personally, I exhibited at the MoCCA festival in New York last month and had a delightful time. It had the kind of low-key artist-oriented vibe that I would hope to experience at a Creator-Con. I also netted as much money at MoCCA as I did when I used to exhibit in San Diego, which is notable because MoCCA’s attendance is roughly 1/75th of Comic-Con’s.
(Thanks Cartoon Brew)
New Yorker Profiles A Cartoon Schlepper
This week’s New Yorker offers a towering 11,000-plus word profile of self-described “cartoon schlepper” Haim Saban, who made his money composing the music to dozens of Eighties animated TV series before becoming a producer of children’s TV series. Animation buffs will run across many familiar names in this unflattering portrait of billionaire Saban including DiC’s Andy Heyward and Michael Eisner.
The most disturbing passages in the New Yorker piece describe how Saban enlisted former president Bill Clinton’s help to complete his sale of Fox Family Channel to the Walt Disney Company which netted him one-and-a-half billion dollars, and the lengths he went to to avoid paying taxes on the money he earned from the deal (naturally he blames his accountant). Understandably, there’s controversy surrounding the criminal aspects of this story, and Sharon Waxman at The Wrap has a detailed blog post about how Saban and his lawyers have been dealing with the New Yorker. The business of children’s TV entertainment can be dirty and corrupt as this piece makes quite clear, but what is most disheartening, to me at least, is that so many animation artists have to rely on individuals of questionable character like Saban for their financial livelihoods.
(Thanks Cartoon Brew)
Plant Girl titles
I haven’t posted an opening title sequence in some time. This one is from a short live action fantasy currently making the festival rounds: Plant Girl by the Affolter Brothers.
Animator Nathan Affolter (Ren & Stimpy’s Adult Party Cartoon, Wayside and El Super Beasto) co-runs an independent production company, Affolter Entertainment, with his three brothers in Vancouver, BC. He created this stylish opening title; simple, elegant and effective:
(Thanks Cartoon Brew)
Headless Studio
Headless Productions is a small independent animation studio founded by Adrian Garcia, Victor Maldonado and Alfredo Torres (directors/production designer of Nocturna) in Barcelona. These guys are good.
(Thanks, DeK)
(Thanks Cartoon Brew)
Official Selections for Cartoon Brew TV’s Student Animation Fest
The time has come to announce the selections for Cartoon Brew TV’s Student Animation Festival. When we put out the call for entries for our inaugural online festival, we didn’t really know what to expect. So we were thrilled to receive 122 student films from all corners of the globe including Brazil, Singapore, India, Australia, and all over Europe, the US and Canada. The quality of entries impressed us greatly, and it was no small challenge whittling down our choices to ten films. Thank you sincerely to each and every filmmaker who submitted work. Because of your enthusiasm, we are encouraged to continue building on this idea and turning CBTV’s Student Animation Festival into the premiere online showcase for young animation filmmakers. Here are the ten films that will comprise the first-ever Cartoon Brew Student Animation Festival. Screenings will begin on May 17:
August
Directed by Matthias Hoegg
Year of Production: 2009
School: Royal College of Art
Country: Great Britain
Pdingpdoong
Directed by Krishna Chandran Nair, Manasi Parikh, Nupu Mukherjee, Chewang Lepcha
Year of Production: 2009
School: National Institute of Design
Country: India
Always, Only, Ever
Directed by: Barbara Benas
Year of Production: 2010
School: Columbus College of Art and Design
Country: USA
Pillow Peter
Directed by: Nigel Clark
Year of Production: 2010
School: School of Visual Arts
Country: USA
Slim Pickings Fat Chances
Directed by David de Rooij and Jelle Brunt
Year of Production: 2010
School: Willem de Kooning Academy
Country: The Netherlands
Fuzzy Insides
Directed by Michaela Olsen
Year of Production: 2009
School: Rhode Island School of Design
Country: USA
Tiny Hats
Directed by Penelope Gazin
Year of Production: 2010
School: California Institute of the Arts
Country: USA
Artichoke Hearts
Directed by: Kazimir Iskander
Year of Production: 2010
School:Minneapolis College of Art and Design
Country: USA
Death Buy Lemonade
Directed by Kyu-bum Lee
Year of Production: 2010
School: Sheridan College
Country: Canada
The Facts in the Case of Mr. Valdemar
Directed by Bahij Jaroudi
Year of Production: 2009
School: Kingston University
Country: Great Britain
(Thanks Cartoon Brew)
British actress Lynn Redgrave dead at 67
Tall, blue-eyed British actress Lynn Redgrave, part of a famed dynasty of performers, has died at 67.Speaking on behalf of her children, publicist Rick Miramontez said that she died peacefully Sunday night at her Connecticut home. Children Ben, Pema and Annabel were with her.
"Our beloved mother Lynn Rachel passed away peacefully after a seven-year journey with breast cancer," they said in a statement Monday. "She lived, loved and worked harder than ever before. The endless memories she created as a mother, grandmother, writer, actor and friend will sustain us for the rest of our lives. Our entire family asks for privacy through this difficult time."
Born in London on March 8, 1943, she was the youngest child of Michael Redgrave and Rachel Kempson. Though never as well-known (for better or worse) as elder sister Vanessa, she was nominated for Oscars for Georgy Girl and Gods and Monsters. She received Tony nominations for her performances in Mrs. Warren's Profession, Shakespeare for My Father and The Constant Wife.
Redgrave provided the voice of the Nanny in Film Roman Productions' 2006 animated series Me, Eloise. She was also Cordelia Thornberry in the 2002 cartoon feature film The Wild Thornberrys Movie, based on the TV series.
In 2000, she was the voice of The Wicked Witch of the East in CineGroupe's Lion Of Oz.
A year ago, her niece Natasha Richardson died from head injuries sustained in a skiing accident. Her death came only a month after the death of Corin, her older brother.
Warner Home Video Re-Issuing "Justice League: The Complete Series" DVD Release
A strong seller in late 2009, Warner Home Video is re-issuing the Justice League: The Complete Series DVD collection.
Warner Home Video is slated to reissue the Justice League: The Complete Series DVD collection on Tuesday, May 25th, 2010. When asked why this title is being reissued, the representative for Warner Home Video could not confirm any specific reason. High demand resulting in a new re-issuing of the collection was cited a possible reason, though it could not be verified.
The Justice League: The Complete Series was originally released in November 2009, repacking previous Justice League multi-disc releases into one single collection.
New G.I. Joe Series Cast and Show Details Revealed
HissTank.com and ForcesofGeek have reports from the recent JoeCon convention where it was officially announced that the title for the new series is G.I. Joe Renegades.
Of note from these reports is that the first season will include:
- A 2-part pilot with a total of 26 episodes.
- Episodes 7-8 will focus on Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow.
- The animation is traditional 2D, hand-drawn style "with extensive focus on light and shadow [and the] backgrounds appear to have a watercolor look."
It was also announced that the series is a relaunch with a "Year One" approach and "no continuity with prior classic series, Resolute or the film series."
Elsewhere, Voice Actors in the News has news via Michael Bell (G.I. Joe, Transformers) on the voice cast:
Just did a guest spot on the new GI Joe animated series. Played Duke's dad. Duke being the ever talented Jason Marsden who incidentally, I directed in the Fox animated " Peter Pan" series way back when he was a mere teen. B J Ward played Duke's mom. What a kick to be back in the saddle again with old friends.
Bell adds that the new show seems to him to be "very intelligent and well directed by Ginny McSwain, [with] lots of fine young talent."
As for him being cast in any roles on the new Transformers series, he says, “So far no bites.”
Hugo Weaving Confirmed As Red Skull In 'Captain America' Movie
Marvel Studios has confirmed that Hugo Weaving will play The Red Skull in "The First Avenger: Captain America," Joe Johnston's live-action movie based on Marvel's superhero soldier.Weaving will star opposite Chris Evans, who was cast as Steve Rogers in March, ending a long search for the film's lead actor. British actress Hayley Atwell will play the female lead, Peggy Carter, and Sebastian Stan will reportedly play Bucky, Cap's sidekick. Weaving's involvement was first rumored a few months ago, and it's reported that the character of Red Skull will be updated for the 2011 film.
In Marvel's comic book universe, Red Skull originally rose through the ranks of The Third Reich as American industrialist Johann Schmidt, who was secretly a Nazi spy and saboteur. He made his first appearance in "Captain America Comics" #1 in 1941.
Written by Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely (and possibly being re-written by Joss Whedon), "Captain America" will cover the early days of the Marvel hero, including his decision to subject his body to an experimental "Super Soldier Serum" that gave him the peak of human abilities.
The casting reunites Weaving with Johnston, who directed the actor in his most recent film, "The Wolfman."
'Kick-Ass 2' To Begin Production In 2011?
The comics world was buzzing today with the news of "Kick-Ass" and "Wanted" co-creator Mark Millar's plans to launch a new U.K. comics magazine titled "CLiNT" that will feature original comics and comics-related content.Not only did Millar promise to kick off the sequel to his "Kick-Ass" comic in the first issue of CLiNT, but there was also mention of a film sequel, too.
According to the official statement, "'Kick-Ass 2: Balls To The Wall' has been scheduled for production in 2011 for a 2012 cinema release, but fans of the first movie can find out what happens two years in advance by picking up CLiNT."
Along with the "Kick-Ass" comic sequel, British television host Jonathan Ross and stand-up comedian Frankie Boyle will also contribute original content to the magazine, which will have its first issue hit shelves September 2 in the U.K.
Over on Bleeding Cool (which broke the news about the project well ahead of today's announcement), there's some speculation regarding other contributors (including former "Doctor Who" lead writer Russell T. Davies) who might factor into upcoming CLiNT features.
"This isn’t aimed at comic stores (though I’m delighted if comic stores want to stock), but instead aimed at the huge potential of a UK mass market, the like of which hasn’t really been reached in a generation," wrote Millar on his website. "It’s going to be a massive venture and one aimed almost entirely at the UK. If people in the US want a copy that’s great, but this is being put together with casual British readers in mind, a combination of comic-books, interviews and features for 16-30 year old men."
'Iron Man 2' Actress Scarlett Johansson Explains Why She's 'An Honorary Fanboy' Now
One has to wonder whether "Iron Man 2" actress Scarlett Johansson can ever get away from comic books these days. Along with playing Black Widow in Jon Favreau's much-anticipated sequel to 2008's "Iron Man" (and possibly again in "The Avengers"), she's also married to "Green Lantern" and "Deadpool" star Ryan Reynolds.
So, one would also imagine there are stacks of comics to rival any collector's horde piled around their house these days, right?
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