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Building A New British Empire - A Tribute to Clare
Kitson
(continued from page 4)
In 1989 Clare Kitson and I set up `Animate!' -- a unique collaboration
between the Arts Council of England and Channel 4 which set out to
commission experimental animation for television.
Ten years later, the scheme is still going strong. `Animate!' has
commissioned 44 projects to date, including work by Mario Cavalli,
Phil Mulloy, Karen Kelly, Paul Bush, Stuart Hilton and Ruth Lingford,
and many of these have gained critical and popular success at international
festivals and achieved television sales around the world. More recently,
3 Ways to Go by Sarah Cox and Feeling My Way by Jonathan
Hodgson won British Animation Awards.
Without fail, Clare has robustly championed the cause of experiment
and risk; she has always been generous in her assessment (I haven't
a clue what it means but I think it's marvellous...) -- and, unusually
for a commissioning editor, there was never the problem of having
to negotiate an ego. It has been a great pleasure to work with her
and we will miss her very much.
David Curtis
Senior Visual Arts Officer (Film and Video)
Arts Council of England
When we heard Clare was leaving Channel 4 we were both really devastated.
Throughout the 12 years we have known her, Clare has been Channel
4. Her total dedication to her job, her genuine modesty and her warmth
always made her really approachable and supportive. What makes her
so special is her selfless commitment to animation, her incredible
knowledge and understanding of animation at all levels and her intelligence.
She has earned the respect of not just the
British animators whom she has supported through Channel 4, but also
of animators all over the world. We sincerely hope that Channel 4
recognizes Clare's astonishing success as a pioneering commisioner
and continues to build on the reputation she has established at Channel
4 for innovative animation production.
We are both very sad that she is leaving.
Joanna Quinn & Les Mills
Beryl Productions International Ltd.
Once in a while you meet a person who is so
genuine, who is so utterly lacking in 'side,' that it stops you in
your step.
Clare is such a person.
And that quality coupled with her width of intellect, flair, ability
and professionalism, has manifested itself in an extraordinary eclectic
commissioning record. She has garnered Oscars and as important, launched
new careers, and all this whilst retaining the respect and affection
of the whole industry.
Her interests are wide, animation was one of them, and she now moves
on to a new part of her journey. She travels with our love, secure
in the knowledge that through her guiding hand, the British animation
industry aspired to new heights. What an achievement, what a person.
Chris Grace
Director of Animation
S4C
We feel very indebted to Clare for helping
us establish ourselves in the animation industry in the UK. Clare
commissioned us to make Bob's Birthday almost as soon as we
arrived from Canada and gave us a lot of creative freedom. She also
provided us with the support and encouragement that helped inspire
us. This is so essential to us frail, sensitive animation types.
We are also very proud of our relationship with Channel 4's animation
department. What is so great about the legacy of work over the past
ten years is the sheer scope and variety. Clare was not looking for
one type of thing; she appreciated so many styles. There was room
for Bob's Birthday and The Brothers Quay, amongst so many others,
and that, we feel, is what distinguished Clare's tenure.
David Fine and
Alison Snowden
Creators
Bob and Margaret
On behalf of the students and staff
at the Arts Institute at Bournemouth I would like to take this opportunity
of thanking Clare Kitson publically for all the encouragment and support
she has given to our animation course over the years.
Clare's influence offered and inspired our students to aim high and
hard at their goals knowing that rewards would not be a dream but
a reality. Her presence at Channel 4 has helped to fuel a passion
in animation from our graduates that has led them to achieve success
with their ambitions.
Our internationally award winning film The Wooden Leg by Darren
Doherty and Nick Smith, was purchased by Clare for Channel 4, and
has led to development funding for a further project in the independent
sector. Her achievement in education did not go unnoticed when we
received The Queen's Prize for Film and Animation, presented to us
by Her Majesty at Buckingham Palace in February this year.
We thank her for her honesty, integrity and the forthright manner
in which she gave advice to our students and the staff of the course;
always gratefully received, enabling us to develop and move forward
with quality and confidence and in turn to offer another generation
of aspiring animators to achieve here at Bournemouth.
Clare we thank you.
Peter Parr
Programme Director Animation
The Arts Institute at Bournemouth
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