Jim Korkis is an amazing individual! His in your face style of presentation is hilarious as well as delightful!

Here’s some of the gang from the Disney Institute with Leonard Maltin at a character breakfast…thats Jim upper right in the blue shirt and grin

He is one of best authorities on Disney History and he has penned several books including Cartoon Confidential. I have learned a lot from Jim in so many ways.

He has been the guest of many festivals and conferences including the COMICON in San Diego.

He left his job and his acting career in L.A. and moved to Orlando to take care of his ailing parents.

He joined the staff at the Disney Institute in 1995 and immediately made an impact on our team. His specialty was writing, acting and presentation. As I have said time and time again- you did NOT want to follow Jim during a presentation - his skill levels are so high - the only way for you… was down! That said, Jim was always gracious and warm and wonderful.

When I first joined Disney, I found Jim’s folder under the 2^nd or 3rd tier of candidates for the animation department at the newly formed Disney Institute. Jim’s articles for Animation Magazine were legendary! I was amazed that he had applied for the Tute and immediately hired him. I had to have him on the team. At the time, he was working as Merlin in the Magic Kingdom. How fortunate we were to add him to our staff!

Jim and I did several special presentations together at the Institute. I did what I had to do as an animator, that is balance Jim’s presentation skills with drawing funny pictures of him- usually as a sheep or a chicken with Jim’s glasses. Sorry Jim- thanks for being a good sport!

Lately, Jim has had some set-backs physically. I want to extend to him the warmest wishes for a speedy recovery…so that the new, old Jim will soon be bouncing along again…we love you man!
GET WELL JIM KORKIS!

The Beaufort Kaleidoscope

We had a wonderful time this past weekend at the BEAUFORT KALEIDOSCOPE in beautiful, historic Beaufort, South Carolina. EVERYTHING was incredible - the people, the films, the receptions, the hospitality - everything.

I had entered the festival with our film OUR WORLD. A wonderful film, IDEA DEVELOPMENT by Dane Webster won the Animation category. IDEA was a very clever film that had very good story, visuals and a wonderful soundtrack. The animated films displayed an awesome range of techniques with CG, experimental drawn on film/after effects and 2D animation. One had to feel good being in the company with such works.

The Festival began with a red carpet reception for the filmmakers and dignitaries at the Beaufort Inn. We met so many people that night including live-action director, T.K. (Tom) Reilly and his lovely wife Ellen.

There was an open bar in a room with Low Country delights especially the fresh local shrimp and crab cakes. There was also a dessert room, thats right…a dessert room.

This is the best reception I have EVER been attended. The folks in Beaufort were welcoming and warm!

Friday the films rolled! The animated films program screened four times each on Friday and Saturday in the

Enter the Film Festival

Then I jetted across the bridge over to Lady’s Island Cinema to watch the last half of FLY BOYS, a very slick indie film starring Tom Sizemore and Stephan Baldwin. The acting was very good and some of the action sequences were breath-taking.
All of the live-action feature, docs, shorts and student films were screened at the Lady’s island Cinema.

I also caught RIVER WAYS a documentary film about the salmon breeding grounds and water control on the Snake River.

After a dinner brake at Plums in town I was back across the river to watch an 8:45 PM screening of

BOBBY DOGS was over around 11:00 pm, and the evening was not over…THE BIG CHILL PARTY was next on the agenda. THE BIG CHILL was shot in Beaufort twenty five years ago. So to celebrate a party themed after the film was held at the PRINCE OF TIDES house which overlooks the water. The party had been in progress since 9:00 pm- so it was winding down by then…but it was still very lively!

We ended up having a 40 minute tour of this historic house from the owners Gwen and Scott. The entire house so incredible…the lower level was built in the 1700’s!

The Old Point Inn - a great place to stay in Beautfort - note the EYEBROW window on the 3rd floor

Inside the Old Point Inn

Yours trulyafter a workout in my room

The view from the skylight in my room

Fortunately, the B and B where I stood, the Old Point Inn was around the corner and right next store. Not a drinker, I was still very grateful to be so close to my bed after such a long fruitful day.

The next morning, we were treated to a huge breakfast which I gobbled down and was off to teach a 2 hour animation workshop.

One half of the space set-up for the animation workshop

The Beaufort County Arts Council was a perfect place for the workshop. We did a bouncing ball on a flipbook and then turn the balls into faces and some folks added hair, arms, legs and other appendages. I shared some of the pencil drawings from my sequences of OUR WORLD and then, did a basic demo about character design. Everyone had fun and learned a bit more about the art form.

While at festival, I met a kindred spirit in T.K. Reilly. Tom is really into his art form and also sports. I really enjoyed hearing his stories about the making of his films, his ideas, history… and talking b-ball, football and running.
That afternoon, I took a bit of a break from the Festival to rest-up for the Awards Dinner which was held out at Habersham- a planned community on the banks of the Broad River in Beaufort County. Again, they literally rolled out the red carpet! The folks in Beaufort know how to do an event! Local restaurants and cafes showcased their cuisine. There was a wine tasting room, a refreshment room, a jazz trio…again, only the word amazing can truly describe the event.

During the evening’s festivities I hung with Tom, and his wife Ellen and their daughter.

The Reilly’s at the awards dinner

While talking to another couple, I discovered that producer Jody Schiesser and his wife Sarah, live only about 7 doors away from me. Jody and his film partners had a film,

J.W. Rone emceed the evenin and it was lively, quirky and a really fun. The night ended with more food, coffee and J.W. playing a wicked harmonica with the band.

It was a great weekend! I have to thank Liz Mitchell, J.W. Rone, Christine Hipp, J.W.’s wife Jennie, Ron Tucker and everyone at the Film Council, the Arts Council and Habersham for their hard work, dedication and positive approach at time when the weather did not cooperate.

The Beaufort Kaleidoscope was really amazing!!!