Congrats to Executive Producers Charlotte and Bill Rinderknecht. PETE’S ODYSSEY been awarded an INDIE FEST award.

Please, pass the statue.

The Indie is about helping independent filmmakers secure distribution, the Holy Grail of filmmaking. We have relationships with distributors friendly to independent filmmakers.
Indie awards go to those filmmakers who produce fresh, standout entertainment, animation and compelling documentaries. The Indieis a showcase for cinematic gems and unique voices.

The Indie is a virtual festival. It does not have physical screenings. Rather, winners are promoted via targeted press releases to media outlets and The Indie’s email database of more than 28,000 filmmakers and industry insiders.

The Indie recognizes filmmakers who demonstrate exceptional achievement in craft and creativity. First-time filmmakers are often recognized. It receives entries from all over the world.

My official Holiday card

First off… MERRY CHRISTMAS! Second, I hadn’t posted in a while thinking that any day my blog was to be moved to AWN. As busy as they are… that hasn’t happened yet… so, I will just continue with my current blog entries until is does happen.

Here is a Holiday card with PETE

The last month or so has been busy with the Holidays, finishing up projects and making sure PETE’S ODYSSEY is out there at festivals.

So far we have been selected to 4 film festivals. We won a first place for Best Animated Short… at the AG Indie Film Festival in Smithfield, NC. By the way, I usually stop of at Smithfield when I travel North to see clients in D.C. and in New Jersey and other places in the Northeast.

Also, PETE is a finalist in the Beaufort Film Festival in South Carolina. It is an official selection in the Savannah International Animation Festival and the Amelia Island Film Festival.

I am gearing up for my next project and will try to share what I can…

The Youtube link thingy doesn’t seem to be working - so my Christmas Film Festival has gone by the way side. But I will try to add PEACE ON EARTH here…

here is a list of films on youtube you can peruse.

Cosmic Christmas
A Wish for Wings That Work
Ziggy’s Gift
Mickey’s Christmas Carol
Christmas Carol, a Ghost Story (produced by Chuck Jones)
Claymation Christmas
A Peanuts Christmas

and most importantly, PEACE ON EARTH by Harmon and Ising

These will keep you in the Holiday spirit

I still like this one from last year

Have a wonderful Holiday Season!!!

WHAT A NIGHT THAT WAS!!! An event we will remember for years.

PETE makes her debut on the BIG screen

Lynne Oddo CAT Chair and Francis’ head

art director Francis Acupan’s front with animator Dwight Phillips

For me it was gratifying to see the students again. When you do a project like this you tend to form bonds with your co-workers. The students were so amazing (probably the 20th time I have written that)!

animators Carrie Hermann and Orlando Feliz

Those of you in New Jersey can catch the making of PETE’S ODYSSEY on cable and the New Jersey Network (NJN).

Speaking of the premiere - it was the first premiere of one of my films I have attended for the last the films.

When the North/South project, ANIMAGIC, premiered December 7th 1995 in Belfast, I was already working for Disney and that weekend was a big press weekend - prior to the opening of the Disney Institute. So I kind of had to stay. Now, I wish I had gone to see the kids and teachers who participated on the project. Actor Bob Hoskins presented the film…

The next premiere I missed was of OUR WORLD. It premiered in Cologne, Germany at the Ludwig Museum in October of 2005. I missed that one because I was teaching in Europe in Provence. I should have hopped a flight from Marseille.

They say three times are a charm - so this one worked big time.
Yea!

Incredibly Animated!!!

Hello.

The premiere of PETE’S ODYSSEY went extremely well last Friday night, October 9th at Bloomsfield College in New Jersey. It has taken me a week to come back to Earth and resume my daily tasks.

This video was presented at the premiere…

Where are my “skinny” pictures?

Again many thanks to the folks at Bloomfield - to the students, the faculty, Lynne Oddo and Vincent Potuto and especially my partner in crime, Charlotte Rinderknecht

Okay, tonight is the premiere of PETE’S ODYSSEY at Bloomfield College in Bloomfield, NJ. - just minutes from the Big Apple!

A scene from the PETE’S ODYSSEY

The festivities begin at 6:00 pm.

Singer/songwriter Michelle Armstrong will perform several songs including the soundtrack from the music video, UNAFRAID TO FIND.

To say that we can’t wait to see the film on the big screen is an understatement!

Yesterday, was media day at Bloomfield College, the New Jersey Channel folks descended on the campus to interview the students, educator/filmmakers.

The atmosphere in the halls outside the studios was carnival-like with students,crew and everyone else milling about…

Michelle flew in from Austin, Texas to be interviewed and to perform live for the crew.

The afternoon was a combination of hectic activity and high energy.

For my part, it was wonderful to see Michelle, PETE Executive Producers - Charlotte and Bill Rinderknecht and  Bloomfield faculty - Lynne Oddo and Vinny Potuto.

It was especially wonderful to see the students who worked on the project. They all seemed to have grown in confidence and stature. There plenty of hugs to go around!

After the media activities, we all enjoyed the familiar buzz of a pizza party hosted by the college. They do know how to do it right!
I know that tonight will be a special night! I will have pictures and maybe some video up soon.

Westmister Hall at Bloomfield College

A huge THANK YOU to the folks at Bloomfield College for hosting this event…it seems so right that the efforts of the students should be rewarded this way.
In the meantime, several “PETE” sightings have occurred.

An Inn in New England

Tybee Island, Georgia before this weekend’s Pirate Festival

Santee State Park in South Carolina

Even a local fruit bowl

ALWAYS ANIMATED!

Finally, the animated film PETE’S ODYSSEY will premiere on Friday, October 9th at 6:00 pm at Bloomfield College in Bloomfield, NJ. The event will take place in Van Fossan Theater, 476 Franklin Street (on the corner of Franklin St. and Fremont St.) on the campus.

Here is the official poster-invite. Many thanks to Lynne Oddo and crew.

Special musical guest, Michelle Armstrong will appear live to sing her song UNAFRAID TO FIND which is the basis for this music video.

For more information call 973-748-9000 ext. 507

The event is FREE and open to the public. For maps and directions go to:

a close up of PETE - a top banana

Here is the best for last…an Oscar winning animated film directed by Richard Williams and produced by the legendary Chuck Jones

Next, A CLAYMATION CHRISTMAS BY THE WILL VINTON STUDIOS…a true classic

Forgot all about this one and then I heard the theme on DirecTV’s Hol;iday Pops station…and I had to put this one up.

In 1982, this book was turned into a 26-minute animated movie by Dianne Jackson for the fledgling Channel 4. It was first shown on Channel 4 late on Christmas Eve in 1982 and was an immediate success. The film was nominated for the Academy Award for Animated Short Film in 1983. It has been shown every year since and has become a part of British and international Christmas popular culture. (from Wikipedia)

Unfortunately, Diane Jackson passed away way too early during a brilliant career. She also found time to animate the Snowmen dance sequence. She’s amazing!

A Wish for Wings That Work: An Opus Christmas Story was a children’s book by Berkeley Breathed that was published in 1991. It was made into an animated television special that same year.

The animated special, which was directed by Skip Jones and produced by Steven Spielberg’s Amblimation animation studio for Universal Studios, featured the voices of Michael Bell as Opus the Penguin, John Byner as Bill the Cat, and Alexaundria Simmons as Ronald-Ann Smith. It also featured the voices of Robin Williams (credited under a pseudonym) and Dustin Hoffman.