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No One Wants to Ever Leave Skywalker Ranch, Because…

By Dan Sarto | Saturday, February 16, 2008 at 2:00pm

Once arriving at Skywalker Ranch’s breakfast area, after much more sleep than I had on my last visit, many of the tour members were already having a bite to eat before starting the hectic three-screening day. During the screening, the tour group split into two to tour the main house. Despite having seen the sights last year, it doesn’t diminish the wonder at all, especially when accompanied by a group who have never experienced it before. Adjectives like “awesome” and “insane” wafted through the air.

Blogs

BULLETIN: Osamu Tezuka spinning in his grave!

By Joe Strike | Friday, February 15, 2008 at 6:00pm

Just got this press release in the Email:

"Los Angeles (February 14, 2008) – Timothy Harris is writing the screenplay for Imagi Studios’ upcoming CG-animated feature film Astro Boy, it was jointly announced by Cecil Kramer, Executive VP of Production, and Maryann Garger, producer of Astro Boy. Writer of such box office [s]hits as Space Jam, Kindergarten Cop, Twins and Trading Places, Timothy Harris has been authoring screenplays for almost 30 years..."

Damn. And I was looking forward to this one. Well, it's being directed by David Bowers, co-director of Flushed Away, so maybe not all hope is lost.

Blogs

ILM’s Valentine’s Gift — A Night at Skywalker Ranch

By Dan Sarto | Friday, February 15, 2008 at 4:27pm

As we drove up to Skywalker Ranch, the excitement was clearly growing in the packed van. After watching the Skywalker Sound reel and some animation clips in the impressive Stag Theatre, we met with Randy Thom, who is nominated for his sound work on Ratatouille.

Blogs

Nominees Have A Date with Brad Bird, Ed Catmull & The Rest of Pixar’s Staff

By Dan Sarto | Friday, February 15, 2008 at 3:50pm

A first for the tour, but most likely not a first for the Madame Tutli-Putli team was about their enigmatic ending. Maciek explained that the intention of the film was less about plot and more like a poem where one scene doesn’t dictate the next, but informs the preceding scene.

Blogs

Love for Pixar on Valentine’s Day

By Dan Sarto | Friday, February 15, 2008 at 3:34pm

The Animation Pit, where the artists work, is filled with intricately decorated offices, a haven for toy lovers. When more office space was needed, traditional cubicles were brought in, but the artists hated them. So after a little research, for the same amount of money, they were able to bring in little huts called tough shed, which have been transformed into mini-offices in the middle of the wide halls.

Blogs

On Hiatus For Oscar Tour

Currently, I'm touring the studios of San Francisco and Los Angeles with the Oscar nominees for Outstanding Animated Short Film. While I'm busy blogging about the experience, Rick's Flicks Picks will be on hiatus. I will return on before the Oscars with this year's RFP Overlooked Awards. So for the meantime, you should check out my exploits over at the Oscar Tour Travelogue.

Blogs

Panda doesn’t pander

By Joe Strike | Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 7:01pm

My first reaction to Kung Fu Panda was, (bored, Droopy voice), whoopee, here we go again: hopeless slob (Jack Black, who else?) makes good in spite of himself, done with that trademark DreamWorks unattractive angular character design.

Mea culpa, friends. I just saw a lengthy promo reel for the film hosted by Ol’ Bullet-head himself, Jeff (nyah-nyah Michael, I’m still a player, what are you doing these days?) Katzenberg – and I am blown away. This is going to turn into an Anton Ego review (end of Ratatouille Anton that is), but here we go.

Blogs

Panda doesn't pander

By Joe Strike | Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 6:23am

My first reaction to Kung Fu Panda was, (bored, Droopy voice), whoopee, here we go again: hopeless slob (Jack Black, who else?) makes good in spite of himself, done with that trademark DreamWorks unattractive angular character design.

Mea culpa, friends. I just saw a lengthy promo reel for the film hosted by Ol’ Bullet-head himself, Jeff (nyah-nyah Michael, I’m still a player, what are you doing these days?) Katzenberg – and I am blown away. This is going to turn into an Anton Ego review (end of Ratatouille Anton that is), but here we go.

This is the most gorgeous cgi film I’ve seen to date, in terms of the world it’s created for itself, surpassing Pixar’s best. There are some backgrounds so otherworldly they look as if they came out of a sci-fi film, while at the same time obviously inspired by Chinese landscape art.

Blogs

Peter and the Wolf Director Suzie Templeton Answers The Six Questions

By Dan Sarto | Tuesday, February 12, 2008 at 4:44pm

I banned them from talking about it as I was getting so nervous and then I checked the Oscar website in the afternoon and there we were! And then the phones all started ringing and Rosto gave me some flowers and champagne and whisked me off to dinner!

Blogs

Cartoon Hand Demo

Someone emailed about our upcoming ONLINE lessons and asked specially about cartoon hands and how to construct them. So here is a demo - hot off the camera - on the topic.

Our online lessons will be out soon...

Thanks for asking!

[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/6E4Wcht_r0A" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]

Blogs

STEP UP (2006) (**)

With STEP UP 2 hitting theaters this weekend, and the tradition that unrelated sequels are worse than the originals, than you want to step away from this franchise. Cheap dance movies of late have been a dime a dozen, but they make their studios millions. Most of them feature plots that serve as an excuse to strip great dance numbers together. This clunker gives viewers two dance numbers that are not worth your time.

Tyler Gage (Channing Tatum, COACH CARTER) is a white kid who leaves in the ghetto. He's a well-mannered and well-meaning young man, who gets in trouble by stealing cars with his friends Mac and Skinny Carter (Damaine Radcliff, GLORY ROAD, & De'Shawn Washington, screen debut). When Tyler isn't stealing or scamming kids on the basketball court, he dances. Tyler finally gets nabbed and is sentenced to community serve as the school for the arts. While working as a janitor, he volunteers to help out senior Nora Clark (Jenna Dewan, TAKE THE LEAD) with her senior dance after her original partner gets injured. The poor guy and the rich girl sure make for an odd couple.

Blogs

REDS (1981) (****)

Warren Beatty's epic chronicling American reporters John Reed and Louise Bryant and their involvement with the Russian revolution was nominated for 12 Academy Awards, taking home three Oscars for Best Director (Beatty), Best Cinematography (Vittorio Storaro) and Best Supporting Actress (Maureen Stapleton). At 194 minutes, the film takes its time to develop its characters bringing us into their history before they begin to play key roles in important historical events of the 20th century. Mixing documentary interviews of people who knew the couple with dramatic recreations, REDS not only gets a wide view of its protagonists, but also the era in which they lived.

Married Louise Bryant (Diane Keaton, ANNIE HALL) meets playboy reporter John Reed (Beatty, MCCABE AND MRS. MILLER) at a Liberal Club meeting, where she asks to interview him. He agrees, with the hope of a one-night stand, but after a long night of debate, Louise sends John packing. The pair will meet again and Louise will take the aggressor's role. Later Louise will leave her husband and follow John to New York, where she becomes overshadowed by the dynamic personalities of John's Greenwich Village friends, which include outspoken activist Emma Goldman (Stapleton, COCOON) and writer Eugene O'Neill (Jack Nicholson). John and Louise's relationship will be tumultuous, spurred by infidelity of both of their parts, loneliness when they are separated and artistic competitiveness.

Blogs

First Festival for Student Animation - Deadline soon!

Nik and I do love Portugal - so when we were invited to participate in the FIRST INTERNATIONAL STUDENT MEETING FOR ANIMATION ARTS we jumped at the chance. I was very pleased and honored to be invited to be a part of the International Jury along with renowned Ukrainian animator Evgeniy Sivokon and Portugal’s animation treasure Sepe. Nik gave a three day workshop with music students from the school during which they composed and performed in live performance two programs of music with animation.Needless to say I recommend this festival to all students and animation schools. Your work will be given serious consideration and if selected screened in the lovely theatre on the campus and on a DVD which will be shown at other festivals. HURRY THOUGH, the DEADLINE is near.Students can enter both Monstra and First.

Blogs

17th Edition of MONSTRA ANIMATION FESTIVAL IN LISBON, PORTUGAL

Two years ago Nik and I were guests of festival director Fernando Galrito at the MONSTRA ANIMATION FESTIVAL in Lisbon, Portugal where Nik performed an IDEAS IN ANIMATION program with three Portuguese musicians and gave a hands-on music workshop. I can personally attest to the high quality of the festival. This event is a meeting of animation and various mediums and art forms including workshops, exhibitions, seminars, and music. Competition films alternate yearly between short and feature length films, and this year will be devoted to films under 30 minutes with all techniques and genres accepted.

In the 2008 MONSTRA FESTIVAL there will be a student competition with a cash award of 1500.00 Euros. Students from schools all over the world are encouraged to send their films and are eligible to win the top prize.

Blogs

THE SAVAGES (2007) (***1/2)

Tamara Jenkins follows up her solid first feature SLUMS OF BEVERLY HILLS with a sophomore effort that shows her tackling more mature material, as she matures as a filmmaker. For her work she was rewarded with an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay, which chronicles the tale of two aging siblings dealing with the impending death of their father. Part character study, part black comedy, this satire makes you go ouch more than it makes you go ha ha.

Wendy and Jon Savage (Laura Linney, BREACH, and Philip Seymour Hoffman, CAPOTE) have been called upon to travel from New York to Arizona to deal with their father Lenny (Philip Bosco, WORKING GIRL), whose physical and mental abilities have declined quickly following the death of his longtime girlfriend. They move him to a nursing home close to Jon's home near Buffalo where he teaches. Wendy, who lives in NYC, moves in until the end of the winter holidays to help deal with the transition.

Blogs

THE CIDER HOUSE RULES (1999) (***1/2)

Director Lasse Hallstrom works from John Irving's own Oscar-winning adaptation of his novel creating a thoughtful coming-of-age story that was nominated for a Best Picture Oscar. Michael Caine won a Supporting Actor Oscar for his pragmatic and ornery doctor. Additional Oscar nods were given for the film's art direction-set direction, Hallstrom's direction, editing and original score. The love for the film by the Academy was great, but it might be remembered in the future for its early performances from then up-and-coming stars Toby Maguire and Charlize Theron.

Dr. Wilbur Larch (Caine) oversees an orphanage in Maine where he has raised Homer Wells (Maguire) as if he were his own son. Homer has trained under Larch to be a fine physician, but he questions the morality of the abortions his mentor performs. When Wally Worthington (Paul Rudd, KNOCKED UP) brings his pregnant girlfriend Candy Kendall (Theron) to get an abortion, Homer's longing to see what the world outside the walls of the orphanage is like comes to a peak. Despite Dr. Larch's protests, Homer heads off with Wally and Candy to work as an apple picker for Wally's family orchard. Wilbur comes under the tutelage of Mr. Rose (Delroy Lindo, HEIST), a migrant worker who has been picking fruit with his daughter Rose Rose (Erykah Badu, BLUES BROTHERS 2000) for years. As Homer breathes in the joys of his new freedom, he learns that life is full of tough moral decisions, especially when he falls for Candy after Wally goes off to serve in WWII.

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