The differences between production design for animation and live action will be explored in detail during the first installment of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ series “Evolution or Revolution? Production Design in the 21st Century,” on Monday, April 25, from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Academy’s Linwood Dunn Theater in Hollywood.
“Production Design in the 21st Century” will be hosted by two of the Academy’s Art Directors Branch governors, production designer Jim Bissell (“300,” “Confessions of a Dangerous Mind”) and set decorator Rosemary Brandenburg (“Unstoppable,” “Public Enemies”). Special guests for the first evening will be production designers Kathy Altieri (“How to Train Your Dragon,” “Over the Hedge”), Scott Chambliss (“Salt,” “Star Trek”), Harley Jessup (“Ratatouille,” “Monsters, Inc.”) and Lilly Kilvert (“Valkyrie,” “The Last Samurai”), as well as set decorator Karen O’Hara (“Alice in Wonderland,” “Disney’s A Christmas Carol”). The session will feature film clips and open discussion between the evening’s special guests and members of the audience.
The schedule for subsequent sessions is as follows, with all participants subject to availability:
May 2 – Memorable Images: Production Designers and Set Decorators Choose Their Favorites. Production designers can create powerful images that embed themselves into the collective cultural consciousness. The panel will give examples of those unforgettable instances when dramatic design surges from a support role to the forefront of the storytelling process.
William Creber, production designer (“The Poseidon Adventure,” 1972; “Planet of the Apes,” 1968)
Jack Fisk, production designer (“There Will Be Blood,” “The New World”)
Alex McDowell, production designer (“Watchmen,” “Fight Club”)
Beth Rubino, set decorator (“It’s Complicated,” “American Gangster”)
May 9 – Set Decoration and the Design Collaboration. Production designers and set decorators discuss their collaborative process.
Jim Bissell, production designer, and Jan Pascale, set decorator (“Leatherheads,” “Good Night, and Good Luck.”)
Lauri Gaffin, set decorator (“Iron Man,” “The Pursuit of Happyness”)
Alex McDowell, production designer, and Anne Kuljian, set decorator (“The Terminal,” “Minority Report”)
Jeannine Oppewall, production designer, and Jay Hart, set decorator (“Pleasantville,” “L.A. Confidential”)
Victor J. Zolfo, set decorator (“The Social Network,” “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”)
May 16 – The Criteria for Good Production Design. Production designers and set decorators discuss what they look for in their peers’ work as hallmarks of great creative design.
Jim Erickson, set decorator (“Watchmen,” “There Will Be Blood”)
Alex McDowell, production designer (“Watchmen,” “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”
Jeannine Oppewall, production designer (“The Good Shepherd,” “Seabiscuit”)
Registration for the entire series is $40 for the general public and $30 for Academy members and students with a valid ID. Admission for individual evenings, if available, is $10 at the door. Tickets may be purchased online at www.oscars.org, by mail, or in person at the Academy during regular business hours or, depending on availability, on the night of the session when the doors open at 6 p.m. The Linwood Dunn Theater is located at 1313 Vine Street in Hollywood. For more information, call (310) 247-3600 or visit www.oscars.org.
About THE ACADEMY
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is the world’s preeminent movie-related organization, with a membership of more than 6,000 of the most accomplished men and women working in cinema. In addition to the annual Academy Awards – in which the members vote to select the nominees and winners – the Academy presents a diverse year-round slate of public programs, exhibitions and events; provides financial support to a wide range of other movie-related organizations and endeavors; acts as a neutral advocate in the advancement of motion picture technology; and, through its Margaret Herrick Library and Academy Film Archive, collects, preserves, restores and provides access to movies and items related to their history. Through these and other activities the Academy serves students, historians, the entertainment industry and people everywhere who love movies. www.oscars.org
Tarrah Lee Curtis The ACADEMY Contact Tarrah via email
“Ǝvolution” Comes Full Circle At The Chelsea Film Festival
The Chelsea Film Festival, running from October 16th through October 20th, 2024, at Regal Cinemas here in Union Square, is set to host the East Coast premiere of Ǝvolution, a thought-provoking experimental micro-short film that proves big ideas can come in small packages and in perfect circles.
In just 1 minute 16 seconds, this cinematic gem by Award-Winning Director Romina Schwedler, with original music by Argentine Composer Ignacio Montoya Carlotto, explores a cycle as old as time: life leads to progress, progress leads to destruction, and destruction, well, leads back to life. But is this vicious circle unbreakable? Ǝvolution suggests the answer is yes, unless we decide to open our eyes.
Inspired by the overwhelming number of recent events that threaten human existence, Ǝvolution, possibly the shortest film in this 12th edition of the festival, plays out entirely through the symbolism of circles, cleverly illustrating —in the blink of an eye— the repeating patterns of history, and confronting viewers with the uncomfortable truth that our so-called “progress” may, in fact, be guiding us to our own ruin.Premiering at the Regal 14 Union Square, New York City, on October 18, 2024, at 11 a.m., Romina Schwedler's micro-short, featuring Leah Young with cinematography by Alan J. Carmona, will be sure to spark conversations longer than the film itself! Forcing viewers to reconsider the true meaning of evolution, not just as a biological process, but as a reflection of our collective journey as humans.
With a string of festival appearances across the globe, including CineGlobe at CERN (Switzerland/France), Oscar®... Read More