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ASIFA San Francisco, Newsletter March 1997
THE LATEST ON THE AMERICAN FAMILY ASSOCIATION'S ATTACK ON DISNEY AND THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS & MORE HINTS THAT THEY ARE HOMOPHOBIC The AFA's January newsletter continues to go after Disney with almost a full page on "Discovering Disney's Dark Side" and two of the three front page articles telling more about the nationwide attack on the corporation. The headlines are "More Christian groups doubt Disney" and "Disney signs occultic rock band." It turns out Disney owns Hollywood Records who released an album by Danzig, a record "laced with satanic themes."
Their current newsletter has 9 headlines in the issue that relate to homosexuals. They are "Homosexual workers' group gets red carpet treatment," "Disney demands decorum from some, ignores homosexuals," "Japanese car maker says it won't sell on homosexual shows," "San Francisco coerces companies without same-sex benefits," "HOMOSEXUAL AGENDA, Chrysler refuses to bend to criticism from homosexuals," "Coaches magazine spreads 10% homosexual myth as fact," "Taxpayers pay for national homosexual news program," "Mainline churches compromise on homosexuality, promote abortion" and "Episcopal embrace of homosexuality haunts church." Why does this group feel the need to report these stories?
The February newsletter tells about a group in Texas that is trying to sue Disney and has other articles including "Disney linked to homosexual projects, catches flack from lesbians."
AFA is also going after the National Endowment for the Arts again. In Feb. they sent out an attack against the NEA with cards to send to Newt Gingrich and Trent Lott saying "Two years ago the Congress voted to phase out the NEA in 1997. Even so, the NEA continues to fund pornography though groups like Women Make Movies. I am asking you to help make sure the NEA is closed down and decent, hard-working Americans don't have to worry about their tax dollars being wasted on this 'art' any longer. Thank you for your support of traditional family values over the years. I will pray for you in your leadership role. Sincerely..." Enclosed was a vicious 4 page attack on the women's group.
FINAL COMMENTS ON SPACE JAM One person wrote a note that said "I read your review of Space Jam and agree with your feelings..." That person knows somebody who worked on it. He continued by saying his friend was "so disillusioned he didn't even bother to go to the wrap party or the employees screening." Another person said trying to coordinate the animation being done by the 100's of people who worked on it was "disaster control." A couple of people commented that if it had been made for a reasonable sum of money it would have been seen as a big hit. It has grossed over 85 million which is a lot of money, but unfortunately recent estimates about the production and publicity costs range between $120 - 130 million. KC
Dear Karl,
Keep writing your great "stuff." It is refreshing to read honest thought about the passion we share.
Bill Shrewsbury
ANIMATRIX #9 FROM UCLA'S ANIMATION WORKSHOP The issue features a historical survey of the female animated character in American film and TV by Lynne Healy, Jason Raitt on the future of the animated Hollywood musical, Professor Dan McLaughlin on "The Retooling, Retraining and Rethinking of Film, TV and Animation," Anh Ta on "Female Subjectivity in Animated Narrative Film," "An Interview with Gene Deitch" by Belinda Starkie and other articles including an interview with Bob Clampett made years ago by Thomas Andrae.
Copies are $5 plus $2.50 for postage from Animation Workshop, Department of Film and Television, UCLA, Box 951622, Los Angeles, CA 90095
INTOON! WINTER 1996-97 features a long section on Chuck Jones Film Productions, which caries on the tradition of creating animated shorts that are fun and inventive. There is an article on the 101st birthday of the comic strip, reviews of new laser discs, photos of a party honoring the 30th aniversary of Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas, lots of auction news (animation art), information about Walter Lantz cels and a feature article on Kent Melton who does collectable statues that don't do a thing for me.
The magazine is a valuable source of information for animation art collectors. Subscriptions are $18 for 4 issues and $32 for 8 of this quarterly. PO Box 487, White Plains, NY 10603
NEW YORK EXPOSITION OF SHORT FILM AND VIDEO deadline is July 1, entry fee $35, some cash awards, other prizes, previews on 1/2" video, they show films, videos and have a CD-ROM category. For details write Robert Withers, Director, 532 LaGuardia Place, Suite 330, New York, N.Y. 10012. (212) 505-7742.
MARIN COUNTY NATIONAL FESTIVAL OF SHORT FILMS has an early deadline of March 21 and a late date of April 11. $20 entry fee before the 21st, $25 after. They have an animation category and about $500 to give away in that category so go after it (will it go to Hittle or Zimmerman?). The year I judged shorts there were not that many entries so a good animated short shouldn't have too much competition. The festival is held during the fair and the films are shown at set times to anyone who wants to walk in and see what is going on. The festival lasts several days and ends about July 4. For entry forms call (415) 499-6400 or write Marin County Fair and Expo, Ave. of the Flags, San Rafael, CA 94903.
STUDENT ACADEMY AWARDS DEADLINE IS APRIL 1 There are major cash prizes in the animation category ($2000, $1500 and 1000) and no entry fees. They only accept work on film. Contact Richard Miller, Awards Administration Director, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, 8949 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90211-1972 (310) 247-3000.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ANIMATION FESTIVAL OF OTTAWA is a new event with a July 1 deadline for a Sept. 18-21 event. For details call Chris Robinson or Stefanie Siska at (613) 232-8769.
2nd ANNUAL VERMILLION FILM FESTIVAL SEEKS DRAMATIC WORK including animation in 16mm, Super 8 and 35mm. Send previews on 1/2" VHS, May 10 deadline for June 19-23 event. No entry fee or entry forms needed. Mail entries to Vermillion Int. Film Festival, Attn: Mark Derby, University of South Dakota Educational Media Center, 414 East Clark St., Vermillion, South Dakota 57069 (605) 677-5409.
BRADFORD ANIMATION FESTIVAL has a May 1 deadline for a June 12 event at the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television in the UK. They screen film, but ask for 1/2" NTSC for pre-selection. Also send 2 stills, biography and return postage. No entry fee. Karl Cohen can send you an entry form. (415) 386-1004 or write BAF! The National Museum of Photography, Film and Television, Pictureville, Bradford, BD1 1NQ UK.
12th ODENSE FILM FESTIVAL celebrates all unusual short films whose content is original and imaginative. This is the first year the Danish event will be an annual event. Entry deadline is May 1 for an Aug. 12-16 event. The competition has two categories - fairy-tale films and experimental-imaginative films. They accept VHS video copies for previews, but show 16mm and 35mm films at the event. No entry fee, cash prizes awarded, they pay return shipping fees. Karl Cohen can send ASIFA-SF members a copy of the entry form if interested. (415) 386-1004
FILM ARTS FOUNDATION GRANTS PROGRAM awards money each year to proposed works, to works needing completion funds and for project development or distribution needs. You must live in the Bay Area (from Santa Cruz County to Sonoma County). Deadline is May 2. Contact FAF at 346 Ninth Street, 2nd floor, SF CA 94103. (415) 552-8760.
THE KEN WILLARD MEMORIAL GRANT FOR ANIMATED WORK will be awarded as part of the above grant awards (May 2 deadline). Details have not yet been announced. Send FAF a stamped, self-addressed envelop for a copy of the guidelines. Put on your thinking cap and come up with a project, or polish up the one you have always wanted to do. Since Ken was a stop-motion animator, the $4,500 in grant money may go to a stop-motion project.
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