By Sandy Cohen, Entertainment Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) --Hayao Miyazaki is retiring from feature filmmaking, but the 73-year-old writer, director and animator says he'll make movies for the rest of his life.
An Oscar winner for his 2002 film, "Spirited Away," Miyazaki will accept an honorary Academy Award on Saturday at the film academy's Governors Awards. Actress Maureen O'Hara, screenwriter Jean-Claude Carriere and Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award winner Harry Belafonte will also receive honorary Oscar statuettes at the private ceremony.
"It's an honor to receive this award," Miyazaki said through a translator, adding that he's not looking forward to the trip to the United States from his native Japan. "It's going to be a bit of a bothersome thing for me to travel."
What he prefers to do is draw, write and tell stories, though doing so in a feature-length format has become physically challenging, he said.
"It became very difficult for me to concentrate for such a long time that it takes to make a whole film, to concentrate that much," he said. "I loved making feature-length films to be shown in theaters and making animation films, and my thought was to hand that over to the next generation."
Now he's turning his attention to animated shorts to be shown at the Ghibli Museum he designed and founded in Japan.
"One of the good points of making such short films is that I don't have to worry about it having financial success," he said. "The people who come to the museum are forced to see this film when they go into the little theater there. So even if it's a little bit boring, they'll probably sit through it and not raise a fuss."
Miyazaki's feature-film credits include 2013's "The Wind Rises" and 2005's "Howl's Moving Castle," both of which earned Oscar nominations, along with 2008's "Ponyo" and 1997's "Princess Mononoke."
Short films hold more appeal for him now, allowing him to pursue ideas he'd set aside to make features.
"That makes me very happy," he said. "I will continue to make animation work until I die."
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences established the Governors Awards in 2009 to recognize recipients of honorary Oscars. Highlights from the untelevised dinner ceremony will be included in the 2015 Academy Awards telecast.
The Many Hires Jeremiah Wassom As Group Creative Director
Independent agency The Many has added Jeremiah Wassom as group creative director.
Wassom most recently worked a decade at Deutsch LA where, as SVP/creative director, he led the Taco Bell account and won new business for the agency. His agency past also includes AKQA and TBWAChiatDay. His creative work has touched the QSR, video games, automotive, fashion, and culture brand sectors. He also served eight years with the United States Marine Corps.
“Throughout his career, Jeremiah has helmed work that has not only made me personally jealous but has consistently pushed brands to show up in memorable and innovative ways,” said Josh Paialii, head of creative at The Many. “One look at his body of work and you will see his passion for storytelling and craft has raised the bar for entire categories, driving participation with many brands’ most loyal fans. Beyond being a world-class creative director and maker, Wassom is a proven team player and strategic thought leader. He’ll be a great addition to the leadership team at The Many working across all accounts. His role will be immediately felt as he guides and supports each of the creative leads in the department.”
A 20-year creative with agency, brand, and freelance experience, Wassom has forged a creative approach which focuses on crafting engaging connections rather than simply make ads. He sees the need for advertising to mean more, not simply do more.
The Many believes that true business growth is made possible by harnessing the power of participation and partners with brands to forge deeper connections with consumers, cultivate trust and loyalty, and maximize marketing spend and execution. The agency is built around a flexible model that offers a suite of capabilities, including... Read More