Animation &Animation Artifacts &Commentary &Disney 08 Jan 2011 08:45 am
Oscar shorts & Poe & Plane Crazy
- Today’s the day for Oscar voting narrowing the 10 films of the short list down to a reasonable five nominees. The Academy will screen the films for us, and after each one we vote a numerical score. The top five get in.
The two coasts, NY & LA have very different tastes, so I rarely expect that the films I like will be liked by others, nevermind the West Coast people – who are more studio oriented, thus favoring what I consider some dreadful films. I can only hope they won’t make it to the finals.
Part of the fun of voting is the get-together the people in NY prepare for us. Patrick Harrison and John Fahr put together a day that makes it as easy as possible for us. The lunch they serve is always the high point of the day, and we animators get to mingle and catch up on our disparate career waves. It’s just fun, even if it is a day of sitting on the butt riding out some bad movies. There are also some really good ones, too.
If you want to see what films are in the shortlist, Cartoon Brew did a nice little announcement of the titles back in November, with stills and links etc.
- Tissa David turned 90 this past week. If, as I expect, the money for my feature POE comest through in the next month, I suspect (but can’t prove it), Tissa will be the oldest animator working regularly on a film. At least, I will be privileged to have her input on my film. It’s all very exciting for me. I intend to ask Ed Smith to get involved, as well. Perhaps he’s the same age as Tissa?
- To leave off with something nice let me post this drawing I have from PLANE CRAZY. That’s a short that deserved an Oscar – but, alas, ikt came before the award existed. I bought this drawing from John Bruno, who sold such material at the time, so many years ago. He wanted $50 for it in 1977, and I couldn’t give him the money fast enough.
(Click to enlarge to see the full animation page, holes and all.)
on 08 Jan 2011 at 9:57 am 1.Mark Mayerson said …
Please extend my birthday wishes to Tissa.
on 08 Jan 2011 at 5:08 pm 2.Eric Noble said …
Happy Birthday to Tissa and many more!! I hope you complete your feature film. I would love to see it.
on 10 Jan 2011 at 7:13 am 3.Stephen Macquignon said …
Happy Birthday Tisa!
Working on Tisa’s animation was always a joy, her contribution to your film will only make it more special.
Congratulation on Poe.
on 11 Jan 2011 at 7:42 pm 4.Dan Haskett said …
I learned a hell of a lot about good drawing from that woman. And, just as important, what’s worth worrying about as an animator, and what isn’t. She’s truly a Grande Dame, and I know your film will benefit from her presence. Please give her a Happy Birthday shout for me.
on 13 Jan 2011 at 8:05 am 5.Andrew said …
Hey Michael, don’t know if you know this information but what would you say is the ratio between the West Coast people and the East Coast people in the academy?
Do you expect your favorite films to not be nominated because there are much more people in the academy in the west coast?
If the ratio is pretty split, then maybe your favorites may have a chance!
on 13 Jan 2011 at 8:34 am 6.Michael said …
90% of the voters are probably on te West Coasst and their bias is definitely more toward cgi studio films.
on 14 Jan 2011 at 2:26 am 7.Andrew said …
But it seems like the ones that actually end up winning are always the less commercial ones,
Even looking back at the past 6 years, from Ryan, Canemaker’s Moon and the son, Danish poet, Peter and Wolf, La Maison en Petite Cubes, and Logorama had plenty of much more commercially driven competition, yet ended up winning.
So even if the majority of voters are West Coasters, the typical west coast taste doesn’t seem to factor in much… What do you think?
on 14 Jan 2011 at 2:30 am 8.Andrew said …
Do only Animation and short film branch members vote on the final winning best animates short?
on 14 Jan 2011 at 8:34 am 9.Michael said …
Unfortunately, as a member I’m not supposed to speak too freely about the workings of the Academy. I’ve gotten in serious trouble for it already, so I’ll pull back at this point. Sorry.
However, only Animation and short film branch members vote on the final winning best shorts.