CA – In Conversation

Brad Bird is the first guest in a series of conversations that S.F. Chronicle columnist Jon Carroll will host this year. Other guests will include authors Michael Chabon, Ayelet Waldman, Dave Eggars and Scott Rosenberg.

November 9:  Brad Bird from Pixar

Brad Bird is the director of the Academy® Award-winning films Ratatouille and The Incredibles, from Pixar Animation Studios. Prior to joining Pixar, Bird wrote and directed the critically acclaimed 1999 animated feature, The Iron Giant, which won the International Animated Film Society’s Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement in an Animated Theatrical Feature.

Bird began his first animated film at the age of 11, and finished it nearly three years later. The film brought him to the attention of Walt Disney Studios where, at age 14, he was mentored by Milt Kahl, one of a distinguished group of Disney’s legendary animators known as the “Nine Old Men.” Bird eventually worked as an animator at Disney and other studios.

Bird’s credits include acting as executive consultant on The Simpsons and King of the Hill, the two longest running and most celebrated animated series on television. He also created, wrote, directed and co-produced the Family Dog episode of Steven Spielberg’s Amazing Stories, and co-wrote the screenplay for the live-action feature *batteries not included.

Brad is currently preparing his next project, 1906, a live-action film.

Berkeley Rep Theater, 2025 Addison St, Berkeley CA 94704

Doors Open 6 PM with No Host Wine & Cheese
Events Begin at 7 PM

TICKETS

Each event: $30 per person
The series of four: $100 per person

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CA – Iron Giant Reunion

ASIFA-Hollywood will celebrate the tenth anniversary of Warner Bros. Animation’s The Iron Giant with a panel discussion featuring several of the key animators and crew members responsible for the 1999 animated masterpiece.

Among the many artists expected to attend will be writer and director Brad Bird, background artist Anne Guenther, art director Alan Bodner, lead animator Steve Markowski, and Scott Johnston who created the ToonShader software for the film. The panel will be moderated by animator Tom Sito.

The event will take place Friday, October 23, 2009, at 7:30 p.m. at the Fletcher Jones Foundation Auditorium, on the campus of Woodbury University, 7500 Glenoaks Blvd., in Burbank, California. Seating is limited. Reservations are required for this event and tickets are available through www.asifa-hollywood.org/irongiant. Members of ASIFA-Hollywood and students of Woodbury are $5; non-members $10. Parking is free. Proceeds from this program will benefit the ASIFA-Hollywood Animation Archive.