CENTER FOR COMPUTATION & TECHNOLOGY

Source: The Advocate 

Animation enthusiasts had better get in line for the coveted “gold pass,” which is the hottest ticket in town next week.

It opens the doors to everything from workshops to film screenings to Cartoon-a-palooza — all events presented by the 2008 Red Stick International Animation Festival April 16-19 in downtown Baton Rouge.

Now in its fourth year, the festival brings together animators, directors, students, artists and designers in a fun, friendly atmosphere to share their skills and promote the art of animation.

The field that used to be limited to Saturday morning cartoons long ago stepped out of the box and into every area of entertainment … web sites,  video games, toys, special effects, digital media, music videos and more.

The Red Stick Animation Festival is making sure that Baton Rouge stays on top of the animation game. It is designed to showcase animation as a career and Baton Rouge as a market for the industry. Events combine science and art, color and motion, fact and fiction to create a special experience.

“The festival reminds us that we (Baton Rouge) are a first-class entertainment community,” said Stacey Simmons, director of the festival and of the Baton Rouge Digital Industries Consortium. “Media is no longer something limited to Los Angeles or New York. Movies, games, television shows, visual effects and animation are all done for a global market right here in Baton Rouge.”

One of the featured festival events is a sneak preview screening of the soon-to-be released Delgo at Citiplace Theatre. The 3-D feature film will be shown Thursday, April 17, at 7 p.m. and is free.

(Viewers must be registered for the festival, however, in order to attend. See accompanying story.)

Other festival events include:

Workshops conducted by industry pros. Meet Stuart Sumida, Barbara Slade and Eric Shaw. (Shaw is a writer for Nickelodeon’s hit show SpongeBob SquarePants.) Aspiring animators and digital artists get tips from the experts.

Cartoon-a-palooza. Children can visit the Old State Capitol for breakfast and Saturday morning cartoons on April 19, beginning at 9:30 a.m. Featured guest is Scott Innes, the voice of Scooby Doo. The day will also include clowns, a spacewalk, a cartoonist workshop at 1 p.m., and a prize for the best pajamas. Yes, wear your P.J.s!

Premiere of Santa Versus Claus. Comet Entertainment’s new holiday film will make its world debut at the festival on Saturday, April 19, at 7 p.m., at the Manship Theatre. Meet Santa in person at the free screening at 6:15 p.m.

Princess Ball. Girls are invited to dress up and enjoy being a princess for a night on Friday, April 18, at 7 p.m. at the Old State Capitol.
“They can learn how to dance with a father, brother, uncle, grandfather or special friend,” said Kristen Sunde, public relations manager. “Red Stick will give away a prize for the prettiest dancing slippers, and afterward, guests can watch a special screening of Enchanted.”
The event is free, but a $5 donation per family is suggested.

Performance by J Walt Adamczyk. Here’s a brand new art form in which the artist creates original animation live in front of an audience. Set to music, Adamczyk will present a cutting-edge, immersive, 3-D, real-time show at the planetarium at Louisiana Art & Science Museum on Friday, April 18, at 4 and 7 p.m.

Film competition. A total of 207 films from 27 countries are represented in the annual contest, with a prize going to “Best of the Fest.”
“I think people enjoy the screenings and the chance to meet filmmakers,” Simmons said. “It reminds them that people who make movies, like Baton Rouge’s own Karey Kirkpatrick (Over the Hedge, Chicken Run), can be successful in this field.

“There are just so many events I’m excited about this year,” she said. “Working on this festival, bringing it to Baton Rouge, I’m constantly reminded how wonderful this place is and what a unique environment we live in.”

Red passes are free to registrants and give access to all festival screenings. The Gold Pass is $50 ($25 for faculty/$20 for students) and covers all screenings and lectures.

For details, go to http://www.redstickfestival.org, or call (225) 389-7182.

The Red Stick International Animation Festival is sponsored by the LSU Center for Computation & Technology, the EBR Parish Mayor-President’s Office, Baton Rouge Area Chamber, Baton Rouge Area Foundation, Baton Rouge Area Convention and Visitors Bureau and La. Dept. of Culture, Recreation and Tourism.