Michael Sporn Animation – Splog

– Back in 1984 when I was nominated for the Academy Award, I learned of the nomination the night before the full list of three nominees was announced. Prior to that I had no clue I was even being considered. As a matter of fact, after submitting the film, Doctor DeSoto, I had virtually forgotten that I had entered it. I’d considered it such a ridiculous long shot that I knew there was no chance of it happening.

Then I happened to run into Jerry Beck in an elevator on the day before the nominations were announced. He congratulated me on having been nominated. The blood dropped from my head, and it wasn’t the speed of the elevator. The next day, 6am – New York time, I phoned LA to find that it was true. I can remember the Academy operator reading the list of nominees to me. When she said my name, I said, “That’s me.” I made that operator’s day, she was so happy. Things were different back then. I was in a state of shock – happyShock.

That was the first year that the Academy had created the “Nominee Luncheon.” Those that were nominated were invited to a luncheon in Los Angeles. Things were pretty tight back then – financially – and I saw little possibility of my being able to afford the trip. However, just when I was deciding to say no, I’d received a call from American Airlines saying that a special deal was created between the Oscars and American to charge half rate for nominees going to LA. One just had to agree to fly West for the luncheon AND the Oscars. Since I’d already budgeted to fly to LA for the ceremony, now I could fly West twice for the same amount. I went to the luncheon and had a grand time.

I was seated at a round table at the Beverly Hills Hotel suite. I was the only animator at the table. Pat Sito was my “date” for the evemt, and I couldn’t have had a better one. Pat’s always been such a fun person, yet so smart. It was perfect. To my left was Bill Scott. He said he’d asked to be at my table. He’d seen a short I did about the library for kids’ use. Nobody knew that film, yet I thought it was a sweeet piece I’d done. I couldn’t believe it. Mr. Scott will alwayhs be beloved by me. No matter that I loved him for being the voicer of Bullwinkle J. Moose. Forget that he wrote all those great UPA films I loved. It’s just that he was the guy. I won the Oscar at that first nominees’ luncheon, and I’ll never forget it

- Beginning Dec 12th, The Film Forum will feature a two week run of the original home-grown animated feature, Consuming Spirits, Chris Sullivan’s original and complex work of art. The multi-media animated film comes at us with an original story which is set in motion when a nun is killed in a car accident.

Priscilla Frank of the Huffingtonn Post wrote: “The animation took 15 years of work… (and) seamlessly combines cutout animation,
pencil drawing, collage, and stop-motion animation to create the haunting atmosphere of a self-contained world…ugly characters (who) make up the most beautiful spectacle you’ve ever seen.”

CONSUMING SPIRITS (2012) was produced, written, & directed by Chris Sullivan with editing, and sound also by Sullivan. It’s a film to be seen. Give yourself a Christmas resent; take a chance on it.

Hopefully, I’ll see it in full this week and can write about it next Saturday.________________________________________________Chris Sullivan

- There are some other animated features well under-way in New York. I’ve seen two in-progress films and I am really excited about what’s going on.

In the past week I saw a half-hour of Elliot Cowan‘s fine film, the Boxhead and Roundhead feature. This is the feature length version of the short films he’s been doing for years. Graphically, those black and white shorts were brimming with exciting animation in vibrant black and white. The feature, of course, expands on what was done in the shorts and is graphically one of the most exciting animated films I’ve seen in ages. Elliot has about a hlaf hour done, and the film is well on its way. I can only speak high of it, but I’m reluctant to say much of anything for fear of giving away something I don’t have the right to say. If you’ve heard any chat about this movie, it’s true. This film is as good as anything I’ve recently seen. And I’ve seen it all – big budget and no budget.

Then, last night I saw a rough cut of the brilliant film Signe Baumane has been making. Rocks In My Pockets. Wow.

What else can I say. The animation is done, and about half of the film is in color, but all of it is top rate. Art is what it is. I love the 3D backgrounds and also wish Sine made more of them, but it’s telling that she has a brilliant element in her film, and she’s not exploiting it for all she could. This film is original in the way any work of art would be. I can’t wait to see more, and I’ll do anything she needs to help out.

After reading her blog for the past year or two, I’ve been a dedicated follower. Her writing is just first rate. When you put it together with the work on this film, you realize just how great a storyteller she is.

Signe is putting together the final color of the film, and has connected with a composer who will write the score for her. As expected, she’ll need money to complete the film, and naturally she’ll want to put together a Kickstarter campaign. Once she gets into that mode, the film will be well on its way to completion. Of course, I’ll be there – as will this Splog to tell you about it – giving any help Signe can use from me. I’m hot to see this movie completed. It’s good. In the meantime, read her blog, Rocks in My Pockets.

- Then this week there were some events with stars built in.

On Tuesday, there was a luncheon. Marion Cotillard and Matthias Schoenaerts were going to be there representing their Belgian film, Rust and Bone. She played a double amputee, and he played a hard-beaten fist-boxer who were attracted to each other. There were other complications like a child for the guy and his sister who was taking care of the pre-teen. The film was raw and honest and had two great performances at its center. She was, if anything, better than him, and that’s saying a lot. She was just great and deserves a nomination.

At the luncheon (chicken over some sprinkled lettuce type things) I was seated with a number of PR members. They were totally entertaining, and it was a good lunch. James Toback also sat nearby. He’s a wild kind-of producer/director whose last great film was the 2008 documentary, Tyson (that was the title of the biography of Mike Tyson.) Before long Matthias Schoenaerts was sitting between me and James Toback. Toback talked about how Tyson probably would have loved his boxing in the film. I think he would have, too. We had a great conversation that must have lasted about 40 miutes. Meanwhile, Marion Cotillard came by and introduced herself to me. Boy is she beautiful. She was sharp, too, and kept a nice conversation going. The luncheon was fun.

That night Heidi and I went to see Lincoln. I’d seen it, she hadn’t, and there was an opening. No one can beat Daniel Day Lewis this year. The film is fabulous, but it needs an ending. Spielberg didn’t get that and left the film hanging. It reminds me of Elvis Presley’s first film. He get killed at the end of the film. They couldn’t leve him dead and brought him back as a double exposure in the sky singing his song, “Love Me Tender.” Lincoln brings back D.D.Lewis as the President double exposed in the sky reciting some speech as honest Abe. There were so many more creative things they could have done. No honest ending. Sall Fields does a good job, too. Though every once in a while she shows up as Sally Field.

On Wednesday, there was a luncheon for Michael Caine and Chris Nolan of the Dark Night. Somehow I was sitting next to Michael Uslan who owns the rights to Batman ____________Michael Caine and Michael Uslan
and made a fortune off the
past half dozen films he licensed. We talked a while about the animated films done by Bruce Timm et al. I love them almost as much as he does. It didn’t take long before Michael Caine was sitting next to me, actually, between me and Mr. Uslan. (When sitting down Mr. Caine leaned on my shoulder to get into the seat at the table for dessert. I may never wash that shoulder again.) Mr. Caine is a great storyteller, and it was my treat to be sitting there.

That evening I went to see Brad Pitt in Killing Me Softly. This film was something of a low-rent mob treat. Lots of killing and poor type mobsters. I was caught up in the film.

Yeah, this was a good week. Up coming this week will be a dinner with Jessica Chastain and Katherine Bigelow seeing her film, Zero Dark Thirty. Maybe i’ll get to sit next to Ms. Chastain, who has Monday off from her play, The Heiress.

This Oscar season business has turned out to be a real treat for me.

- This week also saw a theatrical debut in the family. My sweetheart, Heidi Stallings, got a job not too long ago, working for the Upper West Side YMCA. There they produce plays for kids, junior versions of some of Broadway’s greats. Heidi has, in the past, directed quite a few of these shows in many of the outer boroughs. Last year she did The Music Man, previously she’d done Into the Woods, Beauty and the Beast, and Annie. Currently, she’s also doing Fiddler on the Roof in Maspeth, Queens. They’ve all been fun, and I get to see these shortened versions of the shows. Essentially, the heart of these shows is there as done by youngsters – kids from 10-15. These have all been fun.

This past Wednesday her version of The Music Man opened with a live band under the direction of John Prestianni with choreography by Alana Marie Urda. Bonnie Hilton has been the show’s stage manager. Kara Branch did costumes, and Sara Schetterdid the stage design/sets.

The show is directed by Heidi Stallings. It’ll play though Sunday’s matinee.

Steven Macntosh is the Managing and Artistic Director of the Kids Company. It’s quite a troupe, and they put on very sophisticated shows in only a short couple of months with a large cast of kids. It’s pretty wonderful, if you ask me, and I couldn’t be prouder of Heidi if she were directing anything other.

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