Directing Madagascar, May 20, 2009

by Artvisualizer Press Media Saturday, May 09, 2009

Vancouver SIGGRAPH: Directing Madagascar

May 20, 2009

VanArts is proud to sponsor the following event in Vancouver:
Wednesday - May 20, 7:30 PM
An Evening with Eric Darnell

Vancouver ACM SIGGRAPH makes a big-screen splash to celebrate its sixth anniversary, presenting one of DreamWorks Animation's bright lights, Director/Writer Eric Darnell, fresh from the success of Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa. Start the evening in style mingling at the licensed industry mixer with free snacks and drinks. The first 50 through the door receive a free movie poster. Eric Darnell will be on hand at the mixer signing copies of the book for sale: The Art of Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa. At 7:30 pm get set for the main presentation and a screening of this visionary experimental director's latest animated film.

6:30 pm – Book signing & industry mixer*
7:30 pm – Directing Madagascar w. Eric Darnell
8:30 pm – Q&A & door prizes
8:45 pm – Intermission
9:15 pm – Screening: Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (free)

* All ticket holders are automatically registered to industry mixer and screening. To register to the mixer or screening only, please email rsvp@siggraph.ca with your contact info.

SPEAKER SESSION

Wednesday - May 20, 7:30 PM
Directing Madagascar
An Evening with Eric Darnell
with Eric Darnell

Members: 15 // Regular: 25 // Groups (5+): 20*
* Group pricing only available through on-line advance sales.

Hear DreamWorks Animation feature film director and writer Eric Darnell (Antz, Madagascar, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa) share his thoughts on directing, animation and developing one's own vision and career. In this open and far-ranging session, Eric will talk about his early days as an animator, treat us to some rarely shown early films and behind-the-scenes development clips, and share stories from the front lines of the films he has directed. Join us on May 20 (bring your own questions) for this rare opportunity to meet and listen to one of computer animation's busiest and most successful feature film directors.

FILM DESCRIPTION

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa

In the sequel to Madagascar (2005), New York City zoo mates Alex the lion (Ben Stiller), Marty the Zebra (Chris Rock), Melman the giraffe (David Schwimmer) and Gloria the hippo (Jada Pinkett Smith) - still stranded in Madagascar - escape in an airplane wreck reassembled with spit and ingenuity by a quirky crew of penguins. Although headed back to Central Park Zoo, they crash land in the great game reserves of Africa where Alex is reunited with destiny, Marty finds comforts in numbers, and Melman and Gloria discover that love is sometimes closer than you think. Along the way, the friends escape a scheming lion king wannabe, a raging granny, guns, drought and a flaming volcano. Fast-paced dialogue and good-hearted humour are set to the dancing tracks of Will.i.am (I Like to Move It), who is also the voice of the hefty, seductively funny hippo Moto Moto.

Capture more of this star-studded movie sequel's mood and music at www.madagascar-themovie.com

SPEAKERS BIOS

Eric Darnell
Director/Writer
(Madagascar, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, Antz)

Eric Darnell has been with DreamWorks Animation since 1995. He directed DreamWorks' first animated feature, Antz, and then went on to direct and share writing credit on Madagascar and Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa. He is currently developing the third and final installment in the Madagascar series.

Before coming to DreamWorks, Darnell was with Pacific Data Images, where he helmed numerous commercial and film projects. His in-house animated short entitled Gas Planet garnered international recognition, including the Ottawa Animation Festival Special Jury Prize.

The Ahmanson Foundation and the Princess Grace Foundation funded two of Darnell's experimental film projects, Grasslands and Filter Gallery which have been shown at venues around the world including the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. He also directed a music video for REM's Get Up off of the Green release.

Darnell earned a BA in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Colorado in 1984 and an MFA in Experimental Animation from CalArts in 1990.