(From left to right) Carol Frank, Ron Diamond, William Joyce, Brandon Oldenburg, Patrick Doyon, Bonnie Thompson and Marc Bertrand in front of San Francisco's Mark Hopkins hotel.

By Lauren Brown

The Bay Area Oscar nominated short film tour began this morning in the south bay. For those of you who have not been able to attend a screening event, it is a special opportunity to see the nominated films on a large screen. It is also an opportunity to spend time with the creative talent behind the films. The filmmakers visit a group of Bay Area animation studios and they are able to connect with people that share their love for animation.  This year's Northern California stops include Pixar, PDI/Dreamworks, Lucas Animation, The Walt Disney Family Museum and an evening with ASIFA San Francisco.

This year we have on tour with us, Patrick Doyon and Marc Bertrand, the director and producer of Sunday/Dimanche; directors William Joyce, Brandon Oldenburg and producer Lampton Enochs of The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore; and Bonnie Thompson, the producer of Wild Life, a film by Wendy Tilby and Amanda Forbis. They have traveled from as far as Shreveport, Louisiana, Montreal and Ontario Canada.

The Walt Disney Family Museum. And some cars.

Written by Dan Sarto

Like intrepid but warmly dressed explorers venturing into mysterious but GPS-identified territory, our group set forth into the crisp morning air in search of our first tour stop, the new Walt Disney Family Museum.  We caught a break – the rain had stopped, at least for a few hours, leaving behind a beautiful sunny sky.  No traces of the hail that had pounded our motel earlier that morning. Max Lang, Jakob Schuh, Geefwee Boedoe, myself, Ron and his daughter Sara (who is also my niece and our photographer) all drove together.  Teddy Newton drove separately and met us later in the day at Skywalker Ranch.