Football (Soccer) insanity is personified in a new 3D collaboration between Santo, (Buenos Aires, London, Milan) and Bent Image Lab, (Portland Oregon). Helmed by mixed-media maestro Carlos Lascano, “Spirit of the Euro” is an outrageous romp through stylized landscapes of Eastern Europe with an eccentric cast of chameleonic characters. The Coke-drinking, silly dancing, trumpet blowing, costume wearing, song chanting, stranger hugging football fans are a unique combination of CG animation and real actors’ eyes—a first for Coca-Cola, and a ground breaking technique for cinema 3D stereo. Continue reading... “BENT Does Coke in Europe”
Behind the scenes footage from the making of “Rango”:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-Bc43WVoL0[/youtube]
Many of you may know Gary Kout as the president of Southern Oregon Film and Television (SOFAT) and producer of films like “Walk In,” “Calvin Marshal,” “Conversations With God” as well as many commercials. A few years back, he was contacted by Gore Verbinski’s team on the Academy Award winning film “Rango” to be the production supervisor on the live action performance capture shoot for the film. The process was unique to animated feature films, but helped the film makers create something special. Continue reading... “Ashland Producer Gary Kout Talks About His Work on Oscar Winning Film “Rango””
During the turn of the 19th century, in a tiny town nestled somewhere in the Netherlands, a husband and wife had once run a very unsuccessful candy shop. Desperate, broke and starving they had decided to trade their souls to a demon in exchange for a recipe that would teach them how to make the most delicious chocolate in the world. Much to their dismay, the next morning a basket was discovered on their doorstep, and inside – a young, living child made of chocolate.
We are anxiously awaiting the theatrical release of LAIKA’s “ParaNorman” this August, and were excited to see that they have released a new trailer for the film. View the trailer below, or visit the official site: http://paranorman.com for more.
“Portlandia” recently teamed up with Portland animation house Bent Image Lab to produce a stop-motion animated segment featuring Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein as rats attempting to break into a zero packaging grocery store. In “Zero Rats,” the animators at Bent Image Lab did a great job of translating the improvised sketch comedy into animation. As you can see in the picture below, the artists at Bent also created some beautifully intricate set pieces.
How has animation shaped cultural sensibilities of different societies? What does the international evolution of animation look like and how did a cultural context define that evolution?
This informal enrichment class for film lovers and students of cinema (self-appointed or formally enrolled) examines the rich history and evolution of animation from an international perspective, discussing its inventors and innovators and placing a wide range of animators and their works within a cultural context. Continue reading... “History of Animation: A Cultural Perspective”
Initial Plans for Film Tax Credit Auction Announced
As we get closer to the OPIF tax credit auction, new information on the Film Tax Credit Auction is available. Below is the most current details on how this auction will proceed:
The total amount of tax credits that will be auctioned is $6million
The Northwest Film Center’s School of Film is offering 
Initial Plans for Film Tax Credit Auction Announced