Animation Event In Portland

Cascade ACM SIGGRAPH and ASIFA Portland Welcome Celebrated Animation Filmmaker, Richard Williams

DMN Newswire--2008-10-14--PORTLAND, Ore. �?? Oct. 14, 2008 �?? Cascade ACM SIGGRAPH, Oregon and Southwest Washington's local ACM SIGGRAPH chapter, and the Association International du Film d'Animation - Portland (ASIFA) today announced that renowned author, animation director and three-time Academy Award® winner Richard Williams will present his series of instructional DVD Master Classes based on his bestselling book, "The Animator's Survival Kit," on Thursday, Oct. 30 at 6 p.m. at the Portland Community College (PCC) Cascade Campus. Williams' presentation will introduce his DVD series and detail how he achieves the illusion of life in animation.

Known as one of the finest animation filmmakers and mentors of the late 20th century, Williams began his animation career at United Productions of America in the 1940s, where he apprenticed under notable artists such as Chuck Jones and Ken Harris. After moving abroad, Williams produced the work that boosted his career, the renowned British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) nominated, "The Little Island" in 1958. Following his noted work in the mid-1960s, Williams went on to direct the Oscar®-winning "A Christmas Carol" (1971). During the 1970s, his London-based studio created scores of stunningly crafted, award-winning commercials, titles, short films and television specials boasting the work of veteran animators from the Disney studio's "Golden Age" and Warner Bros. Cartoons, including Grim Natwick (Snow White), Art Babbitt (Fantasia), and Harris (Bugs Bunny).

A distillation of his acquired knowledge went into his animation direction for "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" (1988) �?? for which he received the Oscar for Special Achievement and Visual Effects - and, more recently, into his unparalleled and indispensable series of instructional DVD Master Classes based on his bestselling book, "The Animator's Survival Kit." Published in 2000 by Farber & Farber, the book includes over 350 specially animated examples intercut with his four day Master Class filmed at Blue Sky Studios in New York.

For additional information regarding "The Animator's Survival Kit," please visit: http://www.theanimatorssurvivalkit.com/.

Location and Registration
The evening will begin with a networking and social hour beginning at 6 p.m. in the lobby of the PCC Cascade Moriarty Arts Building. Light refreshments will be served. Richard Williams' presentation will begin promptly at 6:30 p.m.

Admission is free for Cascade ACM SIGGRAPH and ASIFA members and $5 for non-members, payable at the door. For planning purposes, attendees are asked to RSVP to cascadesiggraph@gmail.com.

The PCC Cascade Campus is located at 705 N. Killingsworth St. in Portland. Use of public transportation or carpool is encouraged due to limited street parking.

For more information regarding this event, Cascade SIGGRAPH, ASIFA and membership registration, visit the Cascade SIGGRAPH Web site at www.cascadesiggraph.org or the ASIFA Web site at www.asifaportland.org.

About Cascade ACM SIGGRAPH
The Cascade ACM SIGGRAPH Chapter exists to serve the needs of the Oregon and Southwest Washington computer graphics industry and students. Through meetings, workshops, conferences, and other activities, the Cascade ACM SIGGRAPH Chapter works to promote an increased knowledge of and greater interest in the educational, artistic, and scientific aspects and applications of modern technology to graphics. The Cascade ACM SIGGRAPH Chapter works to enhance communication between people and organizations in Oregon and Southwest Washington that have an interest in any aspect of computer graphics.

About ASIFA �?? Portland
ASIFA Portland is based in Portland, Oregon, a city gifted with an established, world-class animation community. Award-winning independent animators Joan C. Gratz, Rose Bond, Joanna Priestley, Will Vinton, Chel White, David Daniels, Laura DiTrapani, Marilyn Zornado (and more) call Portland home, as well as respected international multi-media studios and institutions such as LAIKA, Bent Image Lab, Happy Trails Animation and The Art Institute of Portland.

ASIFA Portland was originally founded by members of this community 1991 as ASIFA-NW, an organization that grew to include members from throughout the Pacific Northwest.