“THREE FRAGMENTS OF A LOST TALE SCREENED AT DREAMWORKS”
On Tuesday of this week Johnny Coffeen and I had the good fortune to spend several hours on the DreamWorks campus in Burbank. A few of the folks lucky enough to work there had seen the exhibition at the Huntington and were interested in having me give a talk, which I did in the Campanile Theater at noon. After a PowerPoint presentation and screening of a portion of the animation I demonstrated how the figures (Mr. R, Argus and Pip had graciously agreed to join us) are constructed and how they move. The audience was very attentive and asked really great questions. Among them was one about whether or not the Cast would be interested in doing music videos. Acting as the Tottentanzers (et al) agent I have learned from experience that they are rather picky about what they will and won’t do, having turned down two earlier invites to do music related videos. So, rather than thinking on my feet, I more or less said no. Later that day, I was roundly criticized on all sides. D’Artand was especially angry and informed me that I was, “A thoughtless and incompetent DOLT!!” after which he lit my hair on fire. The biggest, and certainly most reasonable complaint was that they are, in fact, VERY interested, as a working repertory company, in performing anything from the “legitimate” theater….their rendition of King Lear being a first choice. Given a second opportunity I would enthusiastically pimp for the little beggars lest I find myself skewered in the night by tiny, but very sharp, kabob spears.
My thanks to everyone we met at DreamWorks, especially CS and VL-S, for making it a most enjoyable and memorable day. We absolutely loved the Scotch selection in the Secret Room.