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John Serpentelli

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What is your name and your current occupation?
John Serpentelli – I am an independent animator and an Associate Adjunct Professor at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia.

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
I was the world’s clumsiest caterer. I once knocked several boxes of glass soda bottles down a flight of marble steps. Fizzy explosions everywhere.

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
I made two short films for UNICEF for their Child’s Rights campaign and I was feature in a documentary called ‘Animating Autism’ where I taught a dozen kids with Autism to collaborate on an animated film.

Where are you from and how did you get into the animation business?
I’m from Toms River, New Jersey and I got into animation as a career while Continue reading

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SHOUT! FACTORY ANNOUNCES U.S. THEATRICAL RELEASE OF THE SEVENTH DWARF

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SHOUT! FACTORY ANNOUNCES U.S. THEATRICAL RELEASE OF
THE SEVENTH DWARF
Peyton List, Norm MacDonald, Nina Hagen and Joshua Graham Lead All-Star Voice Cast
HIGHLY ANTICIPATED CG-ANIMATED FEATURE
OPENS IN LOS ANGELES AND NEW YORK ON JULY 31, 2015
Los Angeles, CA – This summer, join your favorite storybook characters in a hilarious mash-up of the most celebrated fairy tales when the highly anticipated feature-length movie THE SEVENTH DWARF opens theatrically in New York and Los Angeles on July 31, 2015 from Shout! Factory Films.  This new CG-animated feature boasts an exceptional voice cast of Peyton List (Disney Channel series Jessie, Diary of a Wimpy Kid), Norm MacDonald (The Middle, Saturday Night Live), internationally renowned singer and actress Nina Hagen and newcomer Joshua Graham. Directed by Harald Siepermann (Tarzan, Enchanted) and Boris Aljinovic, THE SEVENTH DWARF is a wonderfully magical movie adventure packed with fantastical characters, non-stop laughs and toe-tapping songs that the whole family will enjoy!
Join all seven dwarfs for an adventure as big as they are small! It’s the eve of Princess Rose’s 18th birthday. Everyone in the kingdom has come to Fantabularasa Castle to celebrate, including Snow White, the Seven Dwarfs, Cinderella and Red Riding Hood. But just before the stroke of midnight Bobo, the youngest dwarf, accidentally pricks the finger of Princess Rose (a.k.a. Sleeping Beauty) with a cursed needle and sends the kingdom into a century-long slumber! To find Rose’s true love Jack to save her with a kiss, Bobo and the other six dwarfs must go on a treacherous journey, face a fiery dragon and outwit the jealous, scheming and evil witch, Dellamorta.
Written by Harald Siepermann, Daniel & Douglas Welbat, based on the characters by Otto Waalkes and Bernd Eilert, THE SEVENTH DWARF is produced by 7 Dwarves Animation Company in co-production with Cinemendo, Erfttal Film- & Fernsehproduktion, CC Medienproduktion, TransWaal Film, VIP Medienfonds 2 / VIP Medienfonds 4B, Rialto Film, MCC Independent, Universal Pictures Productions.

THE SEVENTH DWARF opens in New York and Los Angeles on July 31, 2015. The film is rated PG and has a run time of 88 minutes.  For more information about THE SEVENTH DWARF, please visit www.SeventhDwarfMovie.com .
North American film distributor: Shout! Factory
About Shout! Factory
Shout! Factory, LLC is a diversified multi-platform media company devoted to producing, uncovering, preserving and revitalizing the very best of pop culture. Founders Richard Foos, Bob Emmer and Garson Foos have spent their entire careers sharing their music, television and film favorites with discerning consumers the world over. Shout! Factory’s entertainment offerings serve up feature films, classic and contemporary TV series, animation, live music and comedy specials.  Shout’s audio division boasts GRAMMY®-nominated box sets, Broadway cast albums, new releases from storied artists, lovingly assembled album reissues and indispensable “best of” compilations.  In addition, Shout! Factory maintains a vast digital distribution network which delivers video and audio content to all the leading digital service providers in North America.  Shout! Factory also owns and operates Timeless Media Group, Biograph Records, Majordomo Records, HighTone Records and Video Time Machine. These riches are the result of a creative acquisition mandate that has established the company as a hotbed of cultural preservation and commercial reinvention.  Shout! Factory is based in Santa Monica, California. For more on Shout! Factory, visit shoutfactory.com
# # #
Press Contacts:
Tom Chen & Sarah J. De Bruin                                Melanie Klein, Alyssa Hackman, Brianne Fortuna
Shout! Factory                                                             Mammoth NYC
310-979-5602/ 310-442-5013                                  212-352-2200
tchen@shoutfactory.com                                         alyssa@mammothnyc.com
sdebruin@shoutfactory.com                                    brianne@mammothnyc.com
Steven Zeller
GS Entertainment Marketing
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Jobs: Storyboard Artist-Republic of Moldova, Chisinau

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Froggy-heart

Froggy Heart Animation Studio is Moldova’s fastest growing animation company with long term projects related to high end 3D animation series “A Little Frog’s Heart” written by Emmy Award-winning screenwriter Jeffrey Scott (www.jeffreyscott.tv).
Our young, talented, motivated and international team of experts and newcomers forms the basis of our successful animation project.
If you are passionate about animation and want to become a part of our successful story then apply now!

POSITION: STORYBOARD ARTIST
POSITION LOCATION: Republic of Moldova, Chisinau
REPORTS TO: Director
CLASSIFICATION: Full Time

Summary
Storyboard Artists illustrate the narrative, plan shots, and draw panels to demonstrate action and maintain continuity between scenes. They will work closely with the Storyboard Supervisor and, possibly, with the Scriptwriter, Producer, client or Director, to visualize and tell the story.

They will prepare the storyboards for production, including indications for dialogue, character performance and camera moves. At different levels of production Storyboard Artist will produce rough and cleaned-up images of shots defining the locations, characters and props.

They may need to revise their work to reflect a changing script or comments from the Director, Producer or client.

Responsibilities
• be able to tell a good story
• be highly film literate, with a good understanding of layout, composition, sequential drawing and editing
• have excellent drawing skills and the ability to adapt to a wide range of styles
• be able to work either independently or as part of a team
• be able to take direction, and be prepared to make changes to your work in response to constructive feedback
• be able to follow established designs and produce consistent work, drawn on model
• have good communication and presentation skills
• have good computer literacy
• be familiar with relevant storyboard, graphics and editing software
• be conscious of any relevant technical or budgetary restrictions
• be able to work calmly and efficiently to tight deadlines

Qualifications
There are no formal qualifications required to be a storyboard artist, although an academic background in Animation, Art and Design can be beneficial. This could be art, design or media production. The demand is for storyboard artists who can convey themes, concept and “blocking” (practical pre-planning of producible scenes) in an easy-to-understand way.

Skills
• An ability to understand complex or ambiguous production instructions given to the artist in the initial meeting
• A creative mind which can conjure new perspectives
• A sympathetic approach to the time constraints of media production
• Strong artistic ability, and knowledge of how to present visuals in a convincing way
• Willingness to consider and learn different/new artistic styles outside the “comfort zone”
• Strong understanding of computer design software suites, where appropriate

ADDITIONAL INFO:
• The base monthly salary is 600$
• The Company will cover the transport and accommodation expenses to/in Moldova

Please be advised that Moldova is a lovely small country from the south-eastern of Europe, with very warm and welcoming people who will make you feel almost as home.

Should you feel confident about your competency for this role and should you be interested in this position, please send your resumes and portfolios, links/reels directly to: hr@froggyheart.com.

Thank you for your interest and please be advised that only selected candidates will be contacted.

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Jobs: 2D Background Artist – Preschool Show

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From AnimatedJobs.com

We need about 20 backgrounds done. It could start immediately and then after an initial test, work around your schedule for the next couple months. Pay is $2k.

We’d do it in two parts – super-short term as a test for the first background, and then the rest all together.

For style, think Peppa Pig – clean, quick and colorful.

Please submit a link to your website, three background images you’ve made that are indicative of the quality level you can create for this budget, and you’re availability. Use the subject line: Background Artist: [Your Name]

I’m at jeremy@g-dcast.com

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Portfolio Entertainment’s Globe-Trotting Kids Series Land in New Markets

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DOKIPROMO_03_v06Portfolio Entertainment’s Globe-Trotting Kids Series Land in New Markets

New kids sales include DOKI, The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About That! and RoboRoach

(June 5, 2015 – Toronto, Canada) – International distributor Portfolio Entertainment has signed multiple deals for three animated series from its kids catalogue with broadcasters in Canada, Norway and UAE.

The animated hit series DOKI (26 x 30’) has been sold to NRK in Norwayand TVO and Knowledge Network in Canada. The series centres around curious Doki, as he and his five friends travel the world, exploring distant lands and cultures while answering important preschool questions.

The UAE’s E-Junior has acquired season two of the celebrated preschool series The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About That!(20 x 30’). Inspired by Dr. Seuss’ beloved Cat in the Hat, the series follows best friends Sally and Nick on magical journeys into the natural world. With the Cat as their guide and Thing One, Thing Two and their Fish along for the ride, every outing becomes an unpredictable adventure.

Additionally, RoboRoach(52 x 30’), a high-concept animated series about cockroach Reg and his half-robot, half-cockroach brother Rube has been purchased by BBC Kids in Canada.

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Animation Vets honored at UCLA’s 24th Annual Film Festival

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IMG_2699

THREE-TIME ACADEMY AWARD-NOMINATED PRODUCER MICHAEL DELUCA, ACME FILMWORKS’ RON DIAMOND AND ACADEMY AWARD-WINNING SCREENWRITER GRAHAM MOORE TO BE HONORED AT THE UCLA SCHOOL OF THEATER, FILM AND TELEVISION’S 24th ANNUAL FILM FESTIVAL

The weeklong festival celebrates the outstanding achievements of UCLA TFT students, while honoring some of the industry’s most distinguished talent

LOS ANGELES (JUNE 04, 2015) — The UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television (UCLA TFT), one of the world’s most prominent academic institutions for entertainment and performing arts education, announced today that three-time Academy Award-nominated producer Michael DeLuca, Acme Filmworks founder Ron Diamond and Academy Award-winning screenwriter Graham Moore will be honored at its 24th Annual Film Festival, presented by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, Kanbar Entertainment and SAGIndie. The festival takes place June 5-10, 2015 at the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television.

UCLA TFT alumnus Ron Diamond will receive the Crystal Anvil Award during the Festival of Animation on Saturday, June 6. Diamond is the founder and executive producer of the Los Angeles-based animation studio Acme Filmworks, which brings together renaissance animation filmmakers and agencies to create the right fit for advertising campaigns. Acme has created such memorable promotions as the Levi’s women’s jeans campaign and the long-running Charmin campaign featuring Acme’s iconic bear. Other notable Acme clients include director Ridley Scott, AT&T, United Airlines, Ford, Principal Financial Group, Hilton Hotels and Microsoft. Diamond is also the co-founder of the animation news site AWN.com and serves as its president. He is currently preparing his 17th annual Animation Show of Shows, representing his picks for the year’s best animated short films, which he tours around the world for animation professionals and students.

Graham Moore will receive the Distinguished Achievement in Screenwriting Award during the Screenwriters Showcase on Monday, June 8. Moore’s screenplay for The Imitation Game (2014) won the Academy Award and WGA Award for Adapted Screenplay. It was also nominated for a BAFTA and a Golden Globe, after topping The Black List in 2011. Moore recently adapted The Devil in the White City for Warner Bros. and Leonardo DiCaprio. He is currently writing original television pilots for HBO with director Michael Mann and SKY Atlantic with director Marc Forster, the latter which received a 10-episode, straight-to-series order at NBC. Additionally, Random House will publish Moore’s second novel, The Last Days of Wonder, about the early days of electricity, in fall 2016.   

Michael DeLuca, an esteemed production executive and prolific producer with nearly three decades in the film business, will be honored with the Vision Award during Producers Marketplace on Tuesday, June 9.He has been nominated three times for an Academy Award for Best Motion Picture of the Year and three times for a Producer’s Guild of America Award for David Fincher’s The Social Network, Bennett Miller’s Moneyball and Paul Greengrass’ Captain Phillips. Earlier this year, De Luca produced the box-office hit Fifty Shades of Grey, for Universal Pictures, where he currently has a production deal. De Luca will produce the next two installments of the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy.

Student films from many notable alumni have showcased at the annual UCLA TFT festival including Shane Acker (9); Dustin Lance Black (Milk, J. Edgar); Gil Kenan (Monster House, Poltergeist); Justin Lerner (The Automatic Hate); Justin Lin (Fast & Furious franchise, upcoming Bourne sequel), and Gina Prince-Bythewood (Beyond the Lights, The Secret Life of Bees), among others.

More information about the festival can be found at www.tft.ucla.edu/festival.

About UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television

The vision of the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television is to serve as a premiere global interdisciplinary professional school that develops outstanding humanistic storytellers, industry leaders and scholars whose diverse, innovative voices enlighten, engage and inspire change for a better world. Consistently ranked as one of the top entertainment and performing arts institutions in the world, UCLA TFT offers an innovative curriculum that integrates the study and creation of live performance, film, television and the digital arts. The distinguished graduate and undergraduate programs at UCLA TFT include acting, directing, writing, producing, animation, cinematography, lighting design, set design, costume design, sound design, moving image archive studies, and the school offers doctoral degrees in theater and performance studies and cinema and media studies.

Media Contacts:

Sandy Hall

shall@tft.ucla.edu

(310) 206-6835

 

Noela Hueso

nhueso@tft.ucla.edu

(310) 825-0965