Today I went Waterside Arts Centre to see an interview with puppet masters from around the world. I went with my mum and sister. I saw some Year 1 and Year 3 students (Adam Lee, Oliver Barnacle, James Lawson and the first-year guy I meet when I was making my armature last year). It was a great day. There was a full 5-and-a-half-hour schedule from 12-5:30pm:
10.00 - 12.00 Cosgrove Hall Archive
12:00 - 13:00 Animated short film screenings
13.00 - 13.05 Introduction by Ric Michael
13.05 - 14.05 Phil Chalk
14.05 - 14.10 break
14.10 - 15.10 Francesca Berlingieri Maxwell
15.10 - 15.25 Animatics screening
15.25 - 16.25 Brian Trueman
16.25 - 16.30 break
16.30 - 17.30 Jo Chalkley
Cosgrove Hall Archive & Animated short film screenings:
So, the archive started at 10am but mum had a work appointment at the time so didn't get to the event till 1pm so I missed the archive and animated short film screenings **. But Annabeth got there on time to see the archive and took photos so I kind of saw the archive from her photo she took on the day. The photos Annabeth took on the day are here below:
Ric Michael:
The Host of the Event
Phil Chalk
Introduction
Phil is managing director of factory create, and Altrincham-based multi-genre animation studio working with global clients, broadcasters and partners, delivering world-class immersive content to thrill, excite and engage audiences of all ages.
Their work includes BAFTA awarded "Clangers" with the Best Pre-school Animation Award. Launched on the CBeebies in June 2015, Clangers was incredibly well received, immediately creating number one in the UK's top children's programmes.
Factory is committed to developing quality content for all age groups and genres that children and adults alike are enjoying around the world.
Facts during event
- New shows in America
- 5 rules of Factory - Explore, Discover, Enchant.
- Lead time - 2-10 years for some animations
- Worked for Nissan - Robotics - lead to
- Wrote children series books - before TV - Mark Hall / Cosgrove
- Fell in love with animation from Cosgrove - PLC interest in Digital - Mortzart
- 3 years at 'Cosgrove' - taken over by ITV
- (Keith Chapman) Animation:
- Rory the Racing Car,
- Fifi & the Flowertots,
- Raa Raa the Noisy Lion
- Strange Hill High / Simpsons Connected
- "Shot in hyper-hi-ber-nation
- Netflix Animation Studio in Burbank, USA
- Animation - in any genre -
- Example of writing wanted, 6-10 years, Comedy > etc / any mither to get contract with potential buyers to produce!
- Market for animation is at a faster pace in America (North) [This country likes a slower pace]
- Christmas day launch - Emily Gravit -
- (Norman Pickle Stripes) - Dreamworks - NBC - (Peacock)
- ☆3D Printed Mouth Shapes☆
- 'The Forest Next Door' - Xmas 2019
- Lica - USA - 3D Printed Mouths, Magnet to attach.
- Ball-and-Socket Joints cladded in Silicone Moulded.
- Fir on tail and ears for 'Marco'.
- Newzoids - for Addesents
- 'Bollywood theme' - dancing for the characters, but also
- Black & White minstrel's, singing in the rain, Ginger Rogers,
- Song in every episode of the classics!
Francesca Berlingieri Maxwell:
...trained in Fine Art in Milan and in Beijing and studies at Venice and Bologna Universities. After moving to England, she worked as a scenic artist; assistant designer; props, costumes and mask maker at the National Theatre, the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Bristol Old Vic, Opera North, Talawa Theatre Company and Many other theatres throughout the UK. She founded and ran for two years the Post Graduate Course in Scenic Art at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.
Francesca started working in stop-motion animation twenty years ago on Aardman's "Chicken Run" and Tortoise vs. Hare" as Painter, Model-maker and Set Dresser. She Was Painter on the Swiss stop-motion feature "max & Co.", Head Painter on Tim Burton's "Corpse Bride", Art Director on Wes Anderson's "Fantastic Mr Fox" and on Laika's "ParaNorman". She is now Production Designer on Mexico first stop-motion feature film, Luis Tellez's "Insomnia".
She is a visiting tutor in Animation Design at the National Film and Television School, Beaconsfield and she has run Stop-Motion animation workshops at the Academy of Performing Arts in Hong Kong and at the Third Latin American Stop Motion Seminar in Bolivia as well as lecturing in several universities in the UK and Mexico.
Francesca started working in stop-motion animation twenty years ago on Aardman's "Chicken Run" and Tortoise vs. Hare" as Painter, Model-maker and Set Dresser. She Was Painter on the Swiss stop-motion feature "max & Co.", Head Painter on Tim Burton's "Corpse Bride", Art Director on Wes Anderson's "Fantastic Mr Fox" and on Laika's "ParaNorman". She is now Production Designer on Mexico first stop-motion feature film, Luis Tellez's "Insomnia".
She is a visiting tutor in Animation Design at the National Film and Television School, Beaconsfield and she has run Stop-Motion animation workshops at the Academy of Performing Arts in Hong Kong and at the Third Latin American Stop Motion Seminar in Bolivia as well as lecturing in several universities in the UK and Mexico.
Facts during event
- Fantastic Mr. Fox
- Career - originally from Milan
- Creative process - concept, art director
- Transform - 3D aerial view puppets
- Pre-production - centre of screen or orderly
- Poetic fantasy background, colour palette “The Darjeeling Ltd” Title of Film (Eric Chase Anderson)
- “The Life Aquatic” – Title
- “Fantastic Mr. Fox” – Title Mood Colour Palette
- Warm colours bring picture closer, cool colour add depth within palette
- Different size puppets, human size that scale him (Micro Fox and Mini Micro Fox)
- Previs
- Storyboard – Maya programme
- Technical drawning -lens sizing
- Underground – 3D – view
- Apple Hill – Concept artist – colour pencil hand drawn, Texture for film.
- Building sets, – sky greenscreen
- Stop-motion – Tools perspective – 50m sets
- Fox’s Home Concept drawings
- Set with a painting canvass background
- Split sets for camera angle.
- Sign arrow “ to street Lovel” – Film looking like Mr Fox was in the sewers.
- Fire made of soap & smoke from cotton wool
- Sky painted canvas’s hot sky – Red/orange/yellow
- Blue sky – white rocky snowy mountains Green trees for depth
Animatics screening:
- Animatics – rough – story direction
- Socks animatic – good concept
- Patricia & the Witch – Great Concept
- Toyhood – Bit boring as no animation
Brian Trueman:
...is a writer, broadcaster and voice actor, known mainly for his work with the animation studio Cosgrove Hall Films. He wrote and/or narrated children's cartoon series, mostly during the 1970's and 1980's.
As voice actor he featured as villainous henchman Stiletto in Danger Mouse, a weasel in The Wind in the Willows, and the Nanny in Count Duckula.
His writing credits include Chorlton and the Wheelies, Jamie and the Magic Torch, Cockleshell Bay, The Wind in the Willows, The Treacle People, Alias the Jester, Danger Mouse, The Reluctant Dragon, Count Duckula, Victor and Hugo, Truckers, Budgie the Little Helicopter, Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends.
As voice actor he featured as villainous henchman Stiletto in Danger Mouse, a weasel in The Wind in the Willows, and the Nanny in Count Duckula.
His writing credits include Chorlton and the Wheelies, Jamie and the Magic Torch, Cockleshell Bay, The Wind in the Willows, The Treacle People, Alias the Jester, Danger Mouse, The Reluctant Dragon, Count Duckula, Victor and Hugo, Truckers, Budgie the Little Helicopter, Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends.
Facts during event
- Danger mouse, wind in the Willows etc.
- Started out as an actor on children's hour
- Then went on to be a news reader for Granada
- Worked on radio Ray Allen ventriloquist
- At Granada TV meet Brian Cosgrove and Mark Hall
- BBC invited to an animation script “devil mouse”
- The world 18 months later “Chorlton and the wheelies” 39 episodes film made in ‘Chorlton studios’
- “Jamie and the Magic Torch” 39 episodes
- INBD for Brian - look it up
- “Cockleshell Bay” - 104 episodes
- “Danger mouse” - David Jason, Terry Scott (Penfold) 20.3 million viewers
- Son died “Treade people” LWT (London weekend TV)
- Lead writer for “Count Duckula”
- Soak up characters invoices in real life to use later in productions etc.
Jo Chalkley:
...has been in the Animation Industry for over 25 years. After Graduating in 1991, she made her own short films with the bulk of her experience in Stop Motion, specialising in pre-school and children's animation for companies including Cosgrove Hall Films and Aardman Animations.
Her credits include household favourites such as Andy Pandy, Postman Pat, Shaun the Sheep, and Creature Comforts.
She has worked on feature films including 'Tim Burton's Corpse Bride', 'Wallace and Gromit: A Matter of Loaf and Death' and Most recently on 'Chuck Steel - Night of the Trampires'.
In 2007, she moved into the Computer Games Industry, working as a CGI animator, Director and Cinematic Production Manager on many projects in the award-winning LEGO Games franchise.
In 2014 she returned to stop motion and animated on the new Clangers production. Since then she;s directed ;'Dig and Lulu Bites' - 5 short films based on winning ideas from a student competition run with CBBC.
Her credits include household favourites such as Andy Pandy, Postman Pat, Shaun the Sheep, and Creature Comforts.
She has worked on feature films including 'Tim Burton's Corpse Bride', 'Wallace and Gromit: A Matter of Loaf and Death' and Most recently on 'Chuck Steel - Night of the Trampires'.
In 2007, she moved into the Computer Games Industry, working as a CGI animator, Director and Cinematic Production Manager on many projects in the award-winning LEGO Games franchise.
In 2014 she returned to stop motion and animated on the new Clangers production. Since then she;s directed ;'Dig and Lulu Bites' - 5 short films based on winning ideas from a student competition run with CBBC.
Facts during event
- Started as a student - Animation Degree – Newcastle
- Applied for funding everywhere
- Only send 2-minute showreel
- Bespoke showreel relevant to job
- NVQ at college “really animated productions” – Macclesfield
- Worked in CGI animation
- (Museum of the moving image) – London * festival/museum
- “Lavender Castle”, Rocking Ralph, Little Robots, Andy Pandy
- “Hamilton mattress” Film
- “Clangers” - 104 episodes Tip – Stroke the furry every 6 – 8 takes to keep the clanger alive looking!
- “Judge Steele”, “Scream Street”
- “Oh, what a night” TBC (Paul Driskell)
** Animated Short Film Screening
As I missed the the animated short film screening from 12-1pm these were the shorts that they didn't have time to show then so they showed us at the end of the event. I thought they were quite good but very unusual.
