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| Tour host Ron Diamond (l) and Madame Tutli-Putli director Maciek Szczerbowski (r) run into John Lasseter on the Disney lot. © 2008 AWN Inc. |
On Feb. 20th, the day belonged to Disney on the Oscar Showcase tour. Here is the photographic evidence.
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| The Oscar nominees (l to r) Maciek Szczerbowski, Chris Lavis, Hugh Welchman, Suzie Templeton, evening MC director Curtis Hanson, Josh Raskin, Samuel Tourneux and Simon Vanesse. © 2008 A.M.P.A.S. |
On the evening of Feb. 19th, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences hosted a screening of the animated and live-action shorts. Check out the pictures from the star-studded event.
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| At the Academy reception, new Academy member Marcy Page poses with Academy governor John Lasseter and NFB exec producer David Verrall. © 2008 AWN Inc. |
After the Q&A at 20th Century Fox, tour host Ron Diamond had to quickly move the nominees toward the road so that we could make the reception before the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences screening. With the event filled with press from all over the globe, the nominees were given the star treatment. On the way to the screening, I asked I Met the Walrus producer Jerry Levitan what went through his mind when he heard that his film was nominated. He said that is was surreal and knew that his life would be different from now on. With dozens of photographers clamoring to get his picture, I guess he was right. Walrus director Josh Raskin said his food was pulled away from him three times, as he was spirited away to another interview. During the reception, Madame Tutli-Putli producer Marcy Page was able to thank John Lasseter for his endorsement in getting her into the Academy. The Disney animation head said it was warranted and thanked her and fellow NFB exec David Verrall for continuing to fund short animation.
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| Ron Diamond (center) poses with the animated short Oscar winner Torill Kove and the live-action short winner Ari Sandel. © AWN Inc. |
Here they are — pics from the exciting Oscar day. Lots of winners, excitement and fun!
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| Bill Kroyer poses for a pic with Little Matchgirl's Don Hahn and Roger Allers at Sony. © AWN Inc. |
Ron Diamond has created as new Oscar tradition: his yearly tour of the major West coast animation studios by the nominees for Best Animated Short Film. In a few short years this has become such an established event that all of the nominated films are represented by their respective directors, producers or both. At studios, which include ILM, Pixar, PDI, DreamWorks. and Sony, all five of the nominated films are screened for crowds of enthusiastic employees. The nominees have a chance to meet their professional counterparts and see their facilities.
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| The Disney leg of the Oscar Tour poses for a pic in front of the studio. Courtesy of Disney. |
Officially one week of the Oscar Tour is up and we’re nearing the home stretch. Today was less crazed than yesterday, but still wonderfully eventful nonetheless. The day was a home coming for Roger and Don. Every time we turned a corner someone was ecstatic to see them. After Tenny Chonin, head of artistic development at Disney Features, introduced the screening, Don took us on a special tour of the old animation building across the street from the new animation complex (you know, the building with the big hat on it). On the way, even, someone crossing the street lit up when he saw Don and pleaded him to come back to work soon. He has been like the Zen master of the group. His peaceful nature is just unforgettable. I had thought before that it must be a pleasure to work for him and after today I think many of the Disney employees confirmed my feeling.
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| Canemaker & producer Peggy Stern |
It’s exciting to able to share with the rest of the community the thoughts and experiences of the Oscar nominees. And it’s a great pleasure to share with you today the feelings of last year’s Oscar winner John Canemaker. The Moon and the Son director tells us why the Oscar Tour was such a special event in the whole Oscar extravaganza. Here is what he had to say:
Read the rest of this entry »
AWN travels along with the Oscar animated shorts nominees to bring you their journey to the big night. Rick DeMott, AWN's managing editor, has chronicled the tour since 2007.
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