Saturday, February 25, 2006

"You're nuts...I applaud that!"

Following the ceremony for the first Texas Avery Animation Award last November, Reel FX hosted a private party at the studio for award recipient Brad Bird, Reel FX employees and their families, and selected other guests. I had my camera in tow, and shot a ton of photos and video throughout the evening. This is just the first of several posts I'll be making to share little tidbits from the event.

The focus of this first post is a comment that Brad made to a budding young filmmaker. Chuck Peil, our executive director of business development, told Brad that the young man wanted to be a filmmaker. Here's the entire exchange, which I was lucky enough to capture on video...


Quicktime - H.264 - 1.44 MB

I like Brad's final follow-up remark just as much as his initial reaction, because it really says a lot about this industry. There's nothing the least bit logical about making animated films. Where's the logic in taking several years to craft an experience that's over in an hour or two? Or in telling stories with characters that don't really exist except as drawings on paper, or as numbers on a computer? Logic has nothing to do with it. It's all about emotion. If you're willing to let your emotions -- and your desire to share those emotions -- carry you through the roller-coaster ride that is the creation of an animated film, you've gotta be just a teensy bit loopy.
Personally, I think that's part of the attraction. :)

2 comments:

sushipajamas said...

there's no picture... :( i can hear it though.

Anonymous said...

ahhh brad bird. I was lucky enough to work with him on a film called Iron Giant. He is just the coolest guy in the world!
good that you got to talk with him.