The story of RUPERT’S OLYMPIC FEET… part 1
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| Here is Rupert carrying the torch- in years past it was a more welcomed job |
It was February 1st, 1984, Charles Samu from HBO was in town- and, since I was president of ASIFA Washington, we along with our wives enjoyed dinner. At one point, Charles looked at me and asked, “So, are you making a film for the Olympiad of Animation?”” Yes.” I replied. “How is it progressing?” Charles responded. “I don’t know…” I quipped”…we begin it tomorrow!”
He just looked at me with a quizzical, partially horrified stare.
At that moment, I fully understood his emotions. Today was February 1st and the film had to be shipped by April 1st…that gave us just under 2 months to produce, direct and animate a film.
The film, Rupert’s Olympic Feet (just over three minutes long) was completed in time to be shipped and was one of 28 films selected to be screened at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences theater in Beverly Hills, California.
You have probably never heard of the Olympic Arts Festival – it is a part of every Olympics. Obviously, the athletic portion of the Olympics is the mainstay of the event.
In the spring or summer of1983, Fini and Bill Littlejohn spearheaded the Olympiad of Animation to be a part of the Cultural Festival of the Games. Animators from all over the world jumped on board. Bill was a Vice President of ASIFA International (a French acronym for the International Animated Film Association). Fini was a ball of white energy calling people, sending out reminder cards, calling, etc. - she was amazing. Her calls ranged from pleading, to cheer leading as she and Bill kept everyone focus and on task.
The artists themselves attempted to communicate with each other with mailings and phone calls. Remember 1984 was B.I. (before the internet).
Rupert’s Olympic Feet was the story of a torchbearer who brings the flame from Greece through Europe, across America to Los Angeles. The original storyline called for Rupert to run cross-continents. The music was composed and performed by George Michael- no the other George Michael who live in the Seattle with his wife Julie. The idea was to animated to the beats and instrumentation of the music.
The final track was VERY electronic- sooooooooooo that story changed from one that was set on land to a “run through space” sort of motif.
Then, the race really began….not the torch run - but the race against the clock to finish Rupert.
…more on that later…in part 2.
