New Year Babies.. leyendecker..

Added a few new ones to my collection this year.. I didn't put it in chronological order:-/ Hope everyone has a great new year and an even better 2014!!  oh, also, i dropped a Rockwell in here.. can anyone tell me which one? hahaha


 

 

 

hmmm... one of these things is not like the other..

Cheatin' Update

It's been a while since I've given you, my fans, news about the progress of "Cheatin'".  We were hoping to get the film into the Sundance Film Festival, but alas, they turned it down.  I'm not sure why, but I do know that I've probably shown more films, shorts and features, in Sundance than any other filmmaker.  So perhaps they felt I was over-exposed.

But not to worry - my office manager noticed that Slamdance had a category for alumni filmmakers (we screened "Hair High" there in 2004) so we entered that festival too.  Slamdance loved my film and offered it the opening night slot - Yeah!  It should be a very prestigious night - so our "Cheatin'" crew is flying out to Utah in January to present the film at the U.S. premiere and hopefully get some distribution for the film.

"Cheatin'" will screen at Slamdance on Friday, January 17 at 8 pm, and again on Monday, January 20 at 9:05 pm.

 You can see the whole Slamdance Festival line-up here:

http://showcase.slamdance.com/Film-Festival

And you can buy tickets here:

http://slamdance.festivalgenius.com/2014/films


My French distributor, E.D. Distribution, is now holding preview screenings of the film in selected festivals.  I heard that at one screening, the film got a 3-minute ovation - I love the French!  They didn't feel that the title "Cheatin'" would work in France, so they came up with an alternative title: "Les Amants Electriques", which means "The Electric Lovers".  Perfect!

Also, even though the film is only now entering the U.S. festival circuit, it's already won two prizes at international festivals.  So we feel very optimistic about the future for "Cheatin'" - I just hope we can break the damn U.S. distributors' prejudices against animated films that are hand-drawn, not CGI, and for mature audiences.  I've been banging my head against those barriers for 6 films and I believe that "Cheatin'" is the film to break through.

Keep checking this blog for updates on the film's progress -

Bill

Obscure Namesakes #19

Obscure Namesakes #18

Buttnumb-a-thon

I became aware of Harry Knowles and his "Ain't It Cool News" website a few years ago when we wrote a glowing review of "Hair High" in his blog.  I was amazed by the power of his site and his knowledge of film.

At this year's New York Comic-Con, Harry came by my booth in his wheeled chair pushed by his hot girlfriend and we got to talk about my new film "Cheatin'", and he said he'd like to show it in his "Buttnumbathon".  And what, you may ask, is a "Buttnumbathon"?  Basically, it's Harry's 24-hour film screening held in Austin, Texas at the famous Alamo Drafthouse.

                                 Bill and Harry working out the screening details at NYCC.

He's been holding this weird event for a number of years and it's become so popular that thousands of film fans send in long letters as to why they should be invited to the event, hoping to be one of the 250 or so select few who get to watch Harry Knowles' favorite films.

Because Harry selected to show "Cheatin'", I was awarded a select seat in the theater.  So my executive producer James Hancock and I flew out to a freezing cold Austin to partake in the Buttnumbathon.

Harry has a seat in the back of the restaurant/cinema - where, much like "The Wizard of Oz", his image is projected on the screen as he introduces the films with amazing tidbits of trivia.  His tastes vary from 1950's exploitation films to Hollywood blockbusters - two of the films which Hollywood allowed him to show, because he's such a power in the Geek World, were Peter Jackson's "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug", which is wonderful, by the way, and Martin Scorsese's "The Wolf of Wall Street", which (along with "Gravity") is now one of my favorite films of the year.

So, if your butt is iron-willed, and you love weird films, please apply to Harry Knowles' 24-hour Buttnumbathon, it'll be the highlight of your life.  I give it an A+.

--Bill

Maverick Philosophy

I found this speech, from one of my heroes, as he was accepting the AFI's Lifetime Achievement Award.  I realized that it reflected my philosophy perfectly:

"There are a few of us left in this conglomerated world of ours who still trudge stubbornly along the lonely, rocky road and this is, in fact, our contrariety.

"We don't move nearly as fast as our cousins on the freeway.  We don't even get as much accomplished, just as the family-sized farm can't possibly raise as many crops or get as much profit as the agricultural factory of today.

"What we do come up with has no special right to call itself better.  It's just different.  No, if there's any excuse for us at all, it's that we're simply following the old American tradition of the maverick.  And we are a vanishing breed.  This honor I can only accept in the name of all the mavericks.  And also as a tribute to the generosity of all the rest of you, to the givers, to the ones with fixed addresses.

"A maverick may go his own way but he doesn't think that it's the only way or ever claim that it's the best one except maybe for himself.  And don't imagine that this raggle-taggle gypsy is claiming to be free.  It's just that some of the necessities to which I am a slave are different from yours."

--Orson Welles

Maureen McElheron's new book

If you know my films at all, then you know about Maureen McElheron.  She's the musical genius behind the wonderful songs heard in "Your Face", "The Tune", and the great "Hair High", among others.

I met Maureen when I first moved to New York and she was performing in a Greenwich Village nightclub.  I immediately fell in love with her voice and her original songs.  Fortunately, we became friends and when I began to create animation, I asked her to contribute some songs for the film.  Her music just seemed to fit perfectly with my style of art and humor.

And speaking of humor, she has a brand new book out, co-written with another friend of mine, Richard Smith - it's called "There Is a God!", published by Tarcher/Penguin Books.

Just so you know, it's not a religious book, although I suppose there's a bit of religion in there.  No, it's about that expression "There is a God" that people say when something miraculous happens - like
"#4 - Watching your toddler take his first steps"
 or
"#261 - Mob justice for the neighbor with the leaf blower"
or
"#270 - He doesn't know they're implants"
or
"#114 - Hitting the lottery 4 months after your divorce is finalized"

Now that it's the holiday season, this is a great gift to get for your friends.

I think Maureen and Richard should receive the Nobel Prize for Humor.  Oh, wait, there isn't one.  Well, there should be.

I give "There Is a God!" an A+

Check the book out here:
http://tarcherbooks.prohost.mobi/144995/show/ec5343a653d829fd9af6cdd4d60fefcf/

and here:
http://www.amazon.com/There-Is-God-Heartwarming-Hilarious/dp/0399167803/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1386356231&sr=8-1&keywords=There+is+a+god+1001

Bill

                                   Bill and Maureen at the Traverse City Film Festival, 2012
                                              (my thanks to Brian Harwood for the photo)

Sunday Film Series, Brooklyn, Dec. 15

For all you Bill Plympton junkies who live in the NYC area - I have good news!

I'm having a very special screening of all of my new films, an excerpt from "CHEATIN'", plus some surprise films.  This will be part of the Sunday Film Series in Brooklyn, on December 15, at 6 pm.

I'll end by taking questions - although I won't answer them....just kidding.  Also, everyone who comes will get a free drawing from Mr. Plympton himself.  I'll also be offering DVDs and special prints from my new feature - they make terrific Christmas gifts.

So, tell all your friends to come by.  The screening will be at 61 Local, located at 61 Bergen St. in Brooklyn, $5 admission - and join the festivities.  See you all there!

Bill

Obscure Namesakes #17

Obscure Namesakes #16

Best of Annecy Program at SVA

As you all know, the Annecy Animation Festival in France is my favorite festival in all the world.  They have the best films, the best audiences and the greatest location.

Well, luckily for you, the artistic director of Annecy, Marcel Jean, will be in New York City to present the Best of the Annecy Festival of 2013.

So if you want to see the coolest animation in the world, come to the SVA theater on Tuesday, November 26 at 6:30 pm.  The theater is located at 333 West 23rd St. in Manhattan.

Bring your friends - and I'll see you there!

Bill

Cucalorus Film Festival

In the past, I've always enjoyed having my films shown at the Cucalorus Film Festival.  They've always been fun to talk to and communicate with.  So when they invited me to visit the festival in Wilmington, North Carolina, I thought it would be a fun weekend.  In fact, they promised me a "wild weekend" of sorts.

The problems began when I was picked up at the airport.  The driver handed me a program, and then dumped me at the hotel, with no explanation or guidance.  OK, I figured there must be a welcome bag or orientation packet in my hotel room...

No, nothing.  What to do now?  No one called about what I should do.  OK, maybe I'll run into someone on the street.  (It's a small but historic town on the Cape Fear River.)  Fortunately, I found someone with a badge, and he directed me to the check-in area.  But once I checked in, I was again met with indifference.

Maybe I'm spoiled, but usually when I attend a film festival, people are happy to see me and get very excited.  Here, it was like I was a bum off the street.  Where's the famous Southern hospitality?  There was no orientation or welcome.  Only later, by accident, did I find the filmmakers' lounge.  It was like they were trying to keep it a secret from me.

And then when my screening came up, they weren't sure whether they wanted to introduce me.  What?!  They flew me there, put me up in a hotel, and then didn't want me to talk to the audience?  That's crazy!  Finally, they relented and let me appear on stage. 

I point all this out not to criticize Cucalorus, but as more of a "what not to do" if you're running a film festival.  The films and the filmmakers are the reasons that people come to a festival.  So it really behooves the organizers to show some hospitality to the visiting guests.

I just hope my bad experiences at Cucalorus were unique to me.  Unfortunately I have to give this year's Cucalorus a C-.

Bill

                                         The U.S.S. North Carolina, on the Cape Fear river,
                                                          right across from my hotel

Obscure Namesakes #15

Obscure Namesakes #14

Fredrikstad Animation Festival

A number of years ago, Biljana Labovic, my producer at the time, visited the animation festival in Fredrikstad, Norway, and came back raving about the fun she had.  So, when CHEATIN' was invited, I decided to check it out.

In general, I had fun - the audiences were great, with packed houses, and the food was great too.  But the mystery to me was the empty streets.  The cinema was right downtown with all the shops, yet the streets were empty.  Strange.

But there were two highlights for me - the seminars featured some very exciting artists - Benjame Renner, the director of "Ernest and Celestine" gave a fantastic presentation that featured pencil tests, character designs, color models and finished animation.  It was a super show for a super film.

Then, Tomm Moore showed backgrounds and animation from his upcoming feature "The Song of the Sea", and the artwork just blew me away. 

If the story can be half as powerful as the artwork, it's going to be a masterpiece.  His previous feature "The Secret of Kells" was also a brilliant film.  So I look forward to seeing his new feature next year.

Bill

Obscure Namesakes #13

Obscure Namesakes #12

CHEATIN' Update

Good news, we've finally wrapped production on my newest feature film, CHEATIN'.

I know, I've said that before, but this time it's final.  Hollywood filmmakers say you never finish a film, you just give up on it.  And I think that's true - I could work on CHEATIN' for another three years, trying to make it as perfect as possible - but I simply don't have the time or the money, and quite frankly, I'm a little tired of the film.  I want to move on to more exciting projects.

However, if some big distributor buys the film and pays me to make a few changes, I could be persuaded to jump back in there.

So, we're now in the process of entering festivals and trying to pick up distribution.  I really believe this film is something different and unique.  It's the film America is waiting to see.

I'll give you more information and screening dates as they develop.

Thanks,

Bill

Frozen

I just saw the new Disney animated film "Frozen", directed by Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee, and I wasn't impressed.  It's loosely taken from the Hans Christian Andersen story "The Snow Queen", but they forgot the story.  I was never really caught up in the characters or the plot.

The problem starts in the beginning of the film, when the youngest daughter of the King and Queen has an accident, brought about by her older sister, who somehow has magic powers with ice.  They're taken to the troll village, which looks suspiciously similar to the bear clearing from "Brave", and there the head troll mentions some kind of magic mumbo-jumbo that the two sisters can never meet until one becomes Queen.

This setup for the story is all based on these troll rules, that I never quite understood.  So, as the film progressed, all their motivations seemed foggy and confused.

Also, the two male suitors for the younger sister, Anna, seemed almost interchangeable, so I was never sure who I was watching.  That problem could easily have been fixed with better character design.

I did, however, enjoy the acting and animation of the two lead female characters, Anna and Elsa.  Their body movements and character designs were enchanting.

People have raved about the backgrounds and settings - however, when compared to the lovely settings of "Tangled" or "How to Train Your Dragon", they fall way short.

Another minus was the insipid music - straight out of Broadway show tunes.  They must now be organizing a lavish Broadway version of this.  But why can't they use more original music, something that's fresh and from the area?

Of course, as a Disney film you must go see it, but all in all, I can only give it a C+.

Bill

Obscure Namesakes #11

Obscure Namesakes #10

Kurt Cobain and Jerry Garcia..

More episodes from PBS's Blank on Blank series I've been doing for while now..  We played around with Jerry and threw in some color, still fairly limited stuff, but really fun to draw! Picked up a nice review from Slate, also Rolling stone (for both these episodes).


Kurt Cobain was done a few weeks ago, I forgot to post in on SJ. Enjoy.

Oscar Animated Shorts Screening

One of the benefits of being an Academy member is the power to help select the Oscar-nominated short films, and (along with all of the other members of the animation branch), the eventual winner.

About 20 of the New York and Canadian members met at the Academy's screening room last weekend, to watch 56 Oscar-eligible animated shorts over two days.

It was a great opportunity to catch up with old friends and talk about animation. Of course, when you have 56 films from all over the world, there could be a bunch of duds, but all in all, the quality of the films presented this year was quite high.

Here is my list of the films that I think will be "shortlisted", and thus eligible for the final list of 5 nominated films:

                                       "Subconscious Password", directed by Chris Landreth

                           "Get a Horse" from Disney Studios, directed by Lauren MacMullan

                                                     "Feral", directed by Daniel Souza

                                                     "Gambo", directed by Hiroaki Ando

                                         "Hollow Land", directed by Michelle + Uri Kranot

                                         "Kick-Heart", directed by the great Masaaki Yuasa

                                                     "Pandas", directed by Matus Vitar

                                 "The Blue Umbrella" from Pixar, directed by Saschka Unseld

                             "Mr. Hublot", directed by Laurent Witz and Alexandre Espigares

                                              "The Missing Scarf", directed by Eoin Duffy

Of course, my animated short "Drunker Than a Skunk" is also competing for a nomination, but it's a tough challenge because a lot of these films have million-dollar budgets, and "Drunker" cost me only about $3,000 out of pocket and was made with a ball-point pen.

So, watch the media, we should get the Short List soon.

Bill