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Crema Suprema opens for Buddy Valastro (AKA Cake Boss)

2011-09-22T16:13:00.002-04:00

Not only has "Crema Suprema" received worldwide recognition from festivals like Cannes International Film Festival Short Film Corner, and won 3 awards as well as 5 nominations, but the animated short will now be screened at the first Canada's Baking and Sweets Show at the International Centre in Toronto on Oct. 2.

The film opens for "the Boss" Buddy Valastro, from the TV show Cake Boss. Watch this award-winning short film, along with seeing the amazing decorations created by Pacha Balloon Creations (the exclusive decorators of the show), including a recreation of Carlo's Bakery on the stage made of balloons! Come by the Pacha Balloon Creations booth and pick up a copy of the film, or be wowed by the balloon creations, couture and more!
Other appearances include Cupcake Girls, the Happy Baker and more! Fun for the family, or the baker in all of us!

www.pachaballooncreations.com
www.canadasbakingandsweetsshow.com

Flash animation

2011-06-24T15:41:00.002-04:00

cute little Flash animation...don't forget to blow out the candles...

Kenya Help Project

2011-05-10T14:56:00.000-04:00

A title sequence created for filmmaker PJ Lee's documentary film called "The Kenya Help Project". It is about the children of Sidai. A heart-warming tale about children helping children and the possibilities we can accomplish for others.

Crema Suprema!

2011-05-10T14:53:00.000-04:00

It has been quite a journey for Crema Suprema...(and it is still requested in festivals today)

Inspired by the feel of the old rubber hose animations up until the introduction of technicolour, Crema Suprema (2008; 2 m. 50 s.) is a multiple award-winning stop motion animation about two bakers who are competing to win the World's Greatest Cake Contest. As the bakers sabotage each others "masterpiece" cakes, it seems as though neither baker has a chance of winning. Only one cake can win.

It has won 3 awards: Best Animated Short at the LaFemme Film Festival (Beverly Hills), Best Animated Short (Jersey Shore Film Festival) and Audience Choice Award for Best Animation (Jersey Shore Film Festival).
It has been nominated for the following: Best of Festival and Best Animated Short at the Miami Short Film Festival; Best Animated Short at the Action on Film Festival (Pasadena); Audience Choice of Best Animation (Sedona Int. Film Festival) and an Animation Semi-finalist (Angelus Student Film Festival).
It has been screened internationally, including the Cannes Short Film Corner in both 2009 and 2010.

Raindance Toronto

2010-08-18T17:42:00.003-04:00

For those of you in the Toronto area, check out:

http://www.raindance.co.uk/site/Toronto

Raindance Toronto offers amazing film courses as well as "shmoozing" opportunities.
Keep checking back for amazing opportunites/events that will connect you to other filmmakers!

...and yet another legend lost in 2009: Bow your heads in honour of Roy E. Disney

2009-12-16T23:55:00.004-05:00

Roy E. Disney, 79, has died today after battling stomach cancer for one year.
To me, he felt like the last closest person to the creators of the Disney Company themselves, Walt and Roy (Roy's father)...especially because of his personal influence on the Disney Company. I was happy knowing that an actual family member still had a direct influence on the direction the studio is headed. Now....

Well, he will surely be missed. Yet another amazing legacy lost in 2009. Coincidentally, Roy's passing is one day after the anniversary of his uncle, Walt's, death. Walt Disney died on Dec. 15, 1966.
I did not have the pleasure of meeting Roy, but I did meet Don Hahn, executive producer, who was quoted to have said that Roy helped redirect a new era of animation after taking over the animation department in 1984, including Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King. Roy "took it under his wing, was a cheerleader, a coach, a therapist", Hahn was quoted to have said in the Journal Pioneer.
journalpioneer.com

My condolences to his family. May Roy's hard work continue on in the new generation...long live the Disney legacy.

Christmas Wish List...

2009-12-12T12:06:00.000-05:00

Just heard about the release of the new book Walt Disney Animation Studios The Archive Series: Story

Also on my wish list...Animation (Walt Disney Animation Studios: The Archive Series) and A Disney Sketchbook (By Disney Animators)

All are available on Amazon.

Sheridan College - A Recipe for Success (Art School Reviews)

2009-11-23T12:55:00.000-05:00

I have been asked to write a review about my experience at Sheridan College. You can read my review here:

http://www.artschoolreviews.ca/reviews/sheridan-institute-of-technology/animation-sheridan/recipe-for-success

This new website called artschoolreviews.ca is a great source for those wondering which art school to apply to. It helps give a little more insight into the student life at each school, as well as what each program is really about "behind the scenes".

"Waking Sleeping Beauty" Premiere at TIFF 09 (Directed by Disney's Don Hahn)

2009-09-20T00:38:00.000-04:00

Video: The intro. by Don Hahn and Peter Schneider prior to the world premiere of Waking Sleeping Beauty at TIFF 09

Sept. 17, 2009
WAKING SLEEPING BEAUTY:

Hopefully everyone will be able to see Waking Sleeping Beauty very soon. I had the privilege of watching it at the TIFF 09. It is directed by Don Hahn and produced by Don Hahn and Peter Schneider.

Preview clip: http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi675480089/
At first, I assumed the title referred mostly to the type of information that will be presented in this documentary – a look into Disney’s animated films. After viewing the film, I realized the name “Waking Sleeping Beauty” is actually a metaphor for the events that occurred during the period of animation between 1984 and 1994. The animation department at Disney literally woke Sleeping Beauty up after her long sleep. Of course, Sleeping Beauty is a metaphor for animated films.

There is a unique quality to this film that no other Disney documentary has. Don decided to create the film directly from archival footage and home videos of the artists working at Disney at the time. By seeing the changes at the Disney Animation Studio through the eyes of the people who make up the team, as well as within the time period the home videos were filmed, helps the audience to actually spend the duration of the film living the same experiences. The film does not revert to the present, which helps the audience focus on the past alone. Although presented through the footage, there is no explanation into the political turmoil the Disney Studios suffered from. Instead, there is a rather limited view, as though the viewer is going along with the Disney employees for the ride.

For those in the industry, this is a great documentary essentially showing how the animation studio shifted power from the artists to the business leaders (who may or may not have artistic capabilities), as well as those who struggle to obtain that power. Today, this is all too familiar.*

Although the film is viewed from the perspective of the artists working within the studios, we are presented with the business side of the studio as well. In particular, the issues or politics typical with rising businesses, ultimately dealing with the “power” struggle, mainly between Roy Disney, Michael Eisner and Jeffrey Katzenburg. Who will eat the poisoned apple? Who will bow down to the other? Who will reign supreme? Of course, we know what happens to the heads of Disney after this time period, but it is interesting to see the roots that made that tree grow.

Watching the animators’ work environments, habits, etc… I felt as though I was back at Sheridan College, where we had a similar set up of light tables assigned to us, and yes, the occasional lack of personal hygiene issue when many bodies are working in the same room well into the night without stopping. Issues of lack of a social life are definitely familiar to any animator who works hard to make their passion come to fruition. Even Don poked fun at the instinctive training that kicks in after doing something for so long. During the Q and A session after the film was shown at the Toronto International Film Festival, Don Hahn described how his instinctive traits were utilized: "We are trained so well in the disciplines of animated films that we made another movie that is 82 minutes long and includes a laugh and a cry". He definitely did find a way to tell a great story simply by piecing together home videos and Disney archival footage. It was like a montage of the past that you cannot help but to get lost in.

More or less beginning with The Little Mermaid started the revival of animated films at Disney. It was like the Renaissance era of animation. An era most of us grew up knowing and aspiring towards.

All in all, I thought Waking Sleeping Beauty is a fantastic “behind the scenes” look into Disney’s past. It is a mandatory film for anyone interested in the Disney legacy. It was fantastic! I definitely rated this film a 9 out of 10 on the “hotspot” scale! It was a unique view into Disney’s past combined with entertainment and humour. Watch for it to be released after its journey through festivals some time after April 2010.

(*If you enjoy a glimpse into the animation politics and changes over the years, I recommend watching Dream On Silly Dreamer, directed by Dan Lund http://www.dreamonsillydreamer.com/ )

Above picture: Myself (Ellie) with Don Hahn (middle) and Peter Schneider (left). I was of course getting Don to sign my book "The Alchemy of Animation" Written by Don Hahn, which I also suggest you read.

Fan Expo Toronto

2009-08-28T13:42:00.000-04:00

Tron Legacy to be released in 2010...

First Post

2008-06-02T17:38:00.000-04:00

This blog will be dedicated to animation news/interesting links etc... within the animation entertainment industry. Anyone who is artistic or interested in the entertainment industry will want to check back here!