Conversations with filmmakers selected to the festival.
If you like your film history, then you’re going to love Mr. Spam Gets a New Hat, a beautiful homage to our cinematic past of the1920’s. In this interview with Academy Award-winning director/writer William Joyce, we discuss what motivates his storytelling and how he’s able to resurrect a feel and a tone we haven’t seen for a century. From title cards, to a varsity choir, to bowler hats and surrealism, he reveals it all.
“Gee whiz! It’s the cat’s meow.”
SPEAKER
William Joyce
Writer, Director // Howdybot Studios
(Epic, Rise of the Guardians, Meet the Robinsons, Rolie Polie Olie)
Academy Award-winning illustrator, William Joyce, is the multi-talented writer and genius behind the concepts and art design of some of our favourite films, Toy Story, A Bug’s Life, as well as Epic, Rise of the Guardians, Robots and Meet the Robinsons. His television series include the groundbreaking Rolie Polie Olie, for which he was the creator and show-runner.
In 2009, he founded Moonbot Studios, a multimedia storytelling company producing books, apps, films and video games. Along the way, Joyce has won 6 Emmys, 3 Annies and an Academy Award for his short film The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore. His 50 bestselling children’s books and novels, all written and illustrated by himself, have been translated into over 40 languages.
With Joyce having achieved worldwide recognition as an author, illustrator and pioneer in the digital and animation industry, the only thing left for him is to serve one day as the first "Secretary of Cheerful Endeavours" for the United Nations.
IMDb // Facebook // Instagram // Twitter
MODERATOR
Keith Blackmore
Sr Lecturer // Vancouver Film School
As an animation historian, Keith Blackmore has been a passionate cheerleader and a voice for all-things animated in the Vancouver area for almost 30 years. As one of the producers of the SPARK ANIMATION Festival and an active member of the local SIGGRAPH chapter, Keith has presented, interviewed and moderated at many festivals, local and national.
Since 1995, Blackmore has educated, entertained and inspired students in the history of animation and media studies at the Vancouver Film School. When he’s not reading, teaching or talking about animation, he’s watching it.
Conversations with filmmakers selected to the festival.
If you like your film history, then you’re going to love Mr. Spam Gets a New Hat, a beautiful homage to our cinematic past of the1920’s. In this interview with Academy Award-winning director/writer William Joyce, we discuss what motivates his storytelling and how he’s able to resurrect a feel and a tone we haven’t seen for a century. From title cards, to a varsity choir, to bowler hats and surrealism, he reveals it all.
“Gee whiz! It’s the cat’s meow.”
SPEAKER
William Joyce
Writer, Director // Howdybot Studios
(Epic, Rise of the Guardians, Meet the Robinsons, Rolie Polie Olie)
Academy Award-winning illustrator, William Joyce, is the multi-talented writer and genius behind the concepts and art design of some of our favourite films, Toy Story, A Bug’s Life, as well as Epic, Rise of the Guardians, Robots and Meet the Robinsons. His television series include the groundbreaking Rolie Polie Olie, for which he was the creator and show-runner.
In 2009, he founded Moonbot Studios, a multimedia storytelling company producing books, apps, films and video games. Along the way, Joyce has won 6 Emmys, 3 Annies and an Academy Award for his short film The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore. His 50 bestselling children’s books and novels, all written and illustrated by himself, have been translated into over 40 languages.
With Joyce having achieved worldwide recognition as an author, illustrator and pioneer in the digital and animation industry, the only thing left for him is to serve one day as the first "Secretary of Cheerful Endeavours" for the United Nations.
IMDb // Facebook // Instagram // Twitter
MODERATOR
Keith Blackmore
Sr Lecturer // Vancouver Film School
As an animation historian, Keith Blackmore has been a passionate cheerleader and a voice for all-things animated in the Vancouver area for almost 30 years. As one of the producers of the SPARK ANIMATION Festival and an active member of the local SIGGRAPH chapter, Keith has presented, interviewed and moderated at many festivals, local and national.
Since 1995, Blackmore has educated, entertained and inspired students in the history of animation and media studies at the Vancouver Film School. When he’s not reading, teaching or talking about animation, he’s watching it.
