Hey, everyone. "Moriarty" here with some Rumblings From The Lab.
There are few names that set geek hearts a-flutter the way “Pixar” does. We love them, and based on the care and attention they lavish on their films, they love us. Can you think of another company whose worst film is as charming as A BUG’S LIFE? Doubtful.
Reno Nevada has a bit of news first-up today:
Hey Moriarty,
Reno here and I just wanted to drop you a line with a couple of small PIXAR tidbits I picked up last night.
Last evening my lady and I traveled to Lewisburg PA, home of Bucknell University, for a screening of the movie ANTZ at the town’s local art house theatre the Campus Theatre (Central PA residents can check them out right here). Hosting the screening was Steve Bloom one of the editors on the film who is now working over at PIXAR in their shorts department. Bloom gave an interesting talk before the film about what an editor’s job on an animated film differs from working on a live action film. As part of the lecture he screened a 35 mm print of the MONSTERS, INC short “Mike’s New Car” and a CG short that he worked on while at ILM called “Work In Progress” which was produced by the crew that was developing the animated FRANKENSTEIN before Universal pulled the plug.
Afterwards, I managed to chat with him in the lobby for a few minutes and gleamed the following-
There will be no new PIXAR short attached to FINDING NEMO. Instead the old short “Knick Knack”, about the miniature snowman in the snowglobe, will be attached.
Bloom’s current assignment is working on the FINDING NEMO documentary that will appear on the DVD.
And speaking of DVDs, it looks like there will be DVD compilation of all the PIXAR shorts coming out sometime in 2004.
RENO out.
Next up, it’s our very own Quint, who just washed in from the Mill Valley Film Festival, where he spent the last week or so. He was right up there in Pixar country, and sure enough, he got us some scoop during his stay!
Ahoy squirts. That's right, it's Quint, the super seaman himself, freshly returned back to my quaint little shack after 10 long days amongst the Redwoods, Pines and giggly famous director necksacks... I have returned with some rather cool news and a bit of not so cool news... but I'm getting a little ahead of myself.
I was contacted while in Marin County covering the Mill Valley Film Festival by a source deep within the world of PIXAR. I was hoping this source had read the recent articles containing my pleas and beggings to be allowed access within those magic walls, but alas that was not the point of the call.
Apparently FINDING NEMO was screened for Pixar employees sometime in the last 10-12 days and unfortunately the reaction wasn't very strong. I was told that it's pretty much considered company wide that FINDING NEMO will be their weakest film. This is not to say it sucks and has no merit, but only that those who saw it were disappointed with the results so far. Keep in mind that the movie is far from being finished and that a weak Pixar movie has to be 100 times better than most passable Disney schlock.
On the upside, Pixar also had a very, very, very, very rough look at THE INCREDIBLES, Brad "IRON GIANT" Bird's first Pixar film and the word around the campfire is that everybody in the company is clamoring to get on this project, a film about a superhero family. My source told me that most at Pixar believe THE INCREDIBLES will come close to topping both TOY STORY films. That's a pretty tall order, but if anybody can do it, Bird can.
I got some top secret info about Lasseter's CARS, but I can't go into any of that right now. Sorry. BUT... Wait! BUT... I do have some info that I haven't found any evidence of anywhere else on the web regarding a new Pixar film. I do acknowledge that I am lazy and it could be the world's oldest news, but I have found nothing on this film so far. I couldn't get the title out of my source... He/she/it/them said only a few select people within the company know this information and wouldn't even tell me if he/she/it/them was one of those people. However, this hush-hush project is being directed by GERI'S GAME director Jan Pinkava and somehow involves a "crazy chef," whether in a large or small degree, I don't know.
If you don't remember, GERI'S GAME was the Pixar Academy Award winning (1997) short about an elderly man playing chess in a park with himself... but given the character, emotion and warmth that only Pixar can deliver in 3-D animation. Anyone who has seen it should be eagerly awaiting any further news on his Untitled Pixar film.
I know that's not too terribly much, but my source got a bit antsy. He/she/it/them likes their job very much and who could blame them? Pixar is producing the best animated material out there these days... at least in America... and even John Lasseter is responsible for Miyazaki's brilliant SPIRITED AWAY getting a theatrical release in this country. So, in short... Pixar rules.
I'm hope against hope that whatever is off with FINDING NEMO can be fixed. If I have faith in any production company right now, it's Pixar. Go get 'em guys! I believe in ya'!
Anyway, I have to get going. I'm one exhausted seaman, that's for damn sure. I'll be back soon with my Mill Valley Film Festival wrap-ups including reviews of Michael Moore's amazing documentary BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE, indie film BUG and a surprisingly touching foreign coming of age flick called SCARS... Not to mention a rather cool interview with one of the most interesting filmmakers working today... But that's all for another day. 'Til then, this is Quint bidding you all a fond farewell and adieu.
-Quint
