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Joe Blow Short Lands Landmark Theatre Run

JOE BLOW, the latest Vinton Studios short film, directed and conceived by Emmy Award-winning director Mark Gustafson, bows at Landmark Theatres starting April 16, 2004 in New York City and LA with wider distribution to follow. The short film will run prior to the steamy drama YOUNG ADAM, starring Ewan McGregor and Tilda Swinton.

JOE BLOW is the story of one man's quest for companionship, says Gustafson, who also directed MR. RESISTOR and BRIDE OF RESISTOR. Its a cautionary tale of passion, loss and pneumatics. Joe, who lives by himself in a trailer, finds that love can be a breathtaking experience.

Gustafson came up with the idea for the film 10 years ago while trying to blow up a balloon. It was so difficult and it made my cheeks hurt, says Gustafson. Blowing up a balloon is a frustrating thing to do. At the same time, I was thinking about the difficulty of relationships. You can work and work at a relationship, and have nothing to show for it. Joe spends all of his energy inflating a blowup doll and has nothing left. Hes all foreplay and no fun.

Gustafsons concept had to wait for technology to catch up with his vision. The blow up doll, which is done in CG, would have been very difficult to produce in stop motion, says Gustafson. The film seamlessly combines stop motion and CG. Jazz singer Rebecca Kilgore recorded a rendition of Fever for the soundtrack.

"We are extremely proud to continue our animated short film tradition with the release of JOE BLOW, said Vinton Studios ceo Jeff Farnath. The film contains Marks irreverent sense of humor that makes you laugh and blush all within four minutes.

Vinton Studios (www.vinton.com), with offices in Portland, Oregon and Los Angeles, is recognized as one of the premier creators of character animation in the world. The studio has garnered every major entertainment and advertising award, including an Academy Award, four Academy Award nominations, 11 Emmys and 10 Clios. Vinton Studios is co-producing the stop-motion animated feature film CORPSE BRIDE with director Tim Burton and Warner Bros. for release in 2005.Recent TV series credits include THE PJS and GARY AND MIKE.

JOE BLOW Credits:

Written & directed by Mark GustafsonProduced by Lourri Hammack, Mary SandellExec producer, Jeff FarnathDirector of photography, John Ashlee PratEditor, Cam WilliamsStop motion animator, Jeff MulcasterCG animator, Kyle BellAdditional stop motion animator, Tony MerrithewAdditional CG animators, Travis Knight, Chris Ohlgren, Patrick Van PeltProduction design, Nelson LowryCharacter design, Colin BattyCharacter fabrication, Faon Lewis, Danh Nguyen, Scott TomSet/Prop fabrication, Rob Melchior, Kathleen Nichols, Robert WillardMotion control, John Ashlee PratProp master/wrangler, Rob MelchiorStage manager, Toby EthridgeDirector of digital production, Alvaro E. CubillasCG technical artists, Clay Connally, Charles Ramos, Richard Semple, Patrick, Van PeltFlame artists, Tom Burney, Rex CarterPost-production supervisor, Rebecca BowenPost-production scheduling, Mandi Hood

JOE BLOW screening dates:

April 16Los Angeles/Santa Monica, Calif.: NuWilshire TheatreNew York City: Sunshine Cinema

April 23 Berkeley, Calif: Act 1 & 2San Francisco: Embarcadero Center Cinema or Lumiere Theatre (TBD)Seattle: Guild 45th TheatreBoston: Kendall Square CinemaWaltham, Mass.: Embassy Cinema

April 30San Diego: Hillcrest CinemasDenver: Mayan TheatreChicago: Renaissance Place Cinema

May 7Boulder, Colo.: Crossroads CinemaMinneapolis, Minn.: Lagoon Cinema or Uptown Theatre (TBD)

MAY 14Austin, Texas: Dobie TheatreSt. Louis: Tivoli TheatreBethesda, Maryland: Bethesda Row CinemaDetroit: Main Art Theatre

May 28Milwaukee: Oriental Theatre

June 4New Orleans: Canal Place Cinema

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